Piece of Parchment

by Metemponychosis

Ice Queen

It was late in the night. Or early in the morning… It didn’t really matter. The important thing was that everypony slept, most of all, Princess Celestia. Princess Luna was busy chasing nightmares, and the airship hospital worked on a reduced staff. Nopony bothered the princess from leaving the Break of Dawn to go there, it was a hospital after all. Plenty of reasons somepony might wish to visit a hospital in the late hours of the night. So, Twilight used her telekinesis to open the door as slowly and quietly as possible. Closed it like so and finally turned on the light.

An angry griffon stared at her from inches away.

She squeaked and flared her wings open taking a step back and bumping into the door before she recognized that it was indeed the griffon she needed talking to.

“Is there a particular reason we are meeting in a bathroom in the middle of the night, Princess?” Grigory ignored her outburst, preferring to remain angry at the location.

Ceramic floor, white ceiling. Bathroom stalls and mirrors above sinks. Citronella aroma. It was a bit silly, she had to admit, but there were good reasons why she had chosen that place!

She closed her wings and tried to recover her breath. “It’s the only place in the airship that isn’t being watched with some sort of divination spell or a hoofful of royal guards and changelings!

He just stared angrily at her, judging ‘her pony self’ and the ‘pony things’ that she did.

“Look! It’s the best we could get!” She half defended herself, half accused him. “Also, my friends are in. So, what is your great plan?”

“The Skoll used a technology, created by Gallensa, called the Stormdrive. It allowed the airship to teleport long distances between storm clouds by using the magical energy of thunderstorms and other things you wouldn’t understand. She hates the idea, but she believes that she can install it on your airship and allow you to escape to a stormcloud near or over Manehattan.”

“Sounds reasonable, if that thing will work…” Twilight nodded. “Since nopony expects that, an escape should be doable without too much of a hassle and should give us plenty of time before the Princess reacted. The problem is that we won’t have a storm cloud here.”

“We will emulate one. It will take a great amount of magical energy, but Gallensa also believes that your Elements of Harmony should suffice.”

“But… But… What if there isn’t a storm cloud?!” She squealed. “At our destination, I mean. It sounds like that thing could fling us miles off-course if it doesn’t obliterate us.”

“There will be. One of our cells in Manehattan will ensure of that.”

“You have cells operating in pony cities?!” She squealed again.

“Will you calm yourself, Princess?” He wasn’t amused. “I’m sure Princess Celestia has agents infiltrated on griffon cities. She doesn’t even need that. She rules the griffon cities.”

“Alright. Alright.” Twilight inhaled and exhaled calmly while Grigory waited patiently. “The only problem I can foresee is that my airship is going to shut down inside a storm cloud. But we should be able to deal with that without the others bothering us. But I’ll need my crew. Other than that, how do we get to the Stormdrive device? How do we get it installed?”

“We’ll make sure that you have your crew.” He spoke calmly. “I imagined your unicorns, including yourself could help Gallensa. She’s likely to not sleep with me for months, but she will obey. Meanwhile, my griffons will stage a rebellion to distract the Royal Guards and the princesses. Things are being organized right now.”

“I only have one unicorn in my crew, but there is me and Starlight Glimmer. Rarity certainly could help too. With your friend’s knowledge of the device, we should be able to make it work. Or at least, we have the best chances possible.” Twilight rubbed her chin with a foreleg. “Sounds good. But how can we get to the device?”

“That is being covered too.”

“Hey!” She pointed an angry hoof at him. “Be straight with me.”

“Fine. Master Flying Snake will recover it from the crashed airship or from the salvage area Celestia has ordered near it.”

That sounded fishy. “I don’t like this. Why would he help us?”

“Because he has good reasons do to as I say.” It started to grate on her nerves how he always seemed so certain of everything he said, but rarely gave good reasons she should be too.

“I like this even less!” She complained. “What is going on?”

“I don’t have to disclose everything to you, Princess. There may come to be a war between us.”

“Fine! But don’t kill anypony!” She frowned at him. “Can we agree on that?”

“I can guarantee I will do my best to prevent that.” Of course, he didn’t want to actually compromise. Ugh! But he went on because she must have showed her annoyance. “You cannot guarantee that my soldiers or even friends will not be injured by the royal guards, much less the damn changelings.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Her ears flopped and she sighed. “I guess that is the best I can ask for. When will it start?”

“When we are ready. I can’t tell you for sure. The royal guards and those damned changelings are watching us.”

“Hum. I’ll see what we can do about that.” Twilight nodded. “I’m sure the girls must have some ideas.”

“Good enough.” Grigory finally seemed to be at least a bit friendly. “I’ll do my best to give you some forewarning when we are ready to start. But don’t expect a lot. I’ll have to coordinate with Flying Snake and his is the most critical part of the plan. All the rest will have to adapt.”

“I understand.” She nodded at the door and walked towards it. “Well, I guess we are done here, then.”

“Are you sure you weren’t followed?” He asked from behind.

“This is a hospital, not an actual prison.” Twilight rolled her eyes. Yes, she was nervous, but not that much to think that she might have been followed as though it was some cloak and dagger novel. The important thing after their meeting was to remaining calm and not draw suspicions.

She opened the door and bumped into somepony.

It probably wasn’t somepony that had followed her or something, but it was likely just as bad. A nurse earth pony stared at her with huge, surprised gray eyes. A blue male with darker mane cut short and a nurse hat.

“Hum… Hi?” She stuttered. “Can I help you?”

Very smooth, Twilight… She mentally kicked herself.

Then the nurse frowned at her. “Princess, what were you doing in the males’ bathroom?”

“What?” She stared at the sign at the entrance and… It was, indeed, the males’ bathroom. “I… got confused in the dark!”

Not only the corridor was as bright as Celestia’s day, but he stared behind her to see Grigory and gasped. “Oh my gosh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude!”

“Wait! What? No! It’s not… It’s not like that!” Her wings flared and her plan of remaining calm went down the drain faster than the pony turned tail and ran away. “Wait! Oh, come on!”

Grigory walked to her side. “Well, there is your distraction. You’ll be the talk of the entire fleet by the morning.”

“Not funny!” She turned her hot face to glare at him. He wasn’t grinning or anything, but she knew he was making fun of her. At least she could hope that his friends would bother him about that too!

“Well, careful what you say because your princess will be curious, and we can’t let her catch wind of what we were actually doing.” She wanted to smack that serious expression out of his face, but instead simply grumbled to herself and walked away as fast as she could before somepony else happened upon them.

***

Discord saw it from afar, and despite traveling all night, he expected it would take longer to arrive. It did seem that the magical effect in the region that hastened their travel did return after it was disturbed last day. He still had no idea what that was about, but he supposed he wouldn’t take long to find out.

The mountain chain was monstrous and the central mountain imposing. He could see it from afar despite the storming winds and snow in the blizzard. He could clearly see the outline of the mountain flanked by a large chain of mountains it spearheaded like the fangs of the world itself. The four surrounding peaks, tall and thin, were weird, but that definitively identified it as the place. The lights all over the city helped and the entire mountain looked like it was alive, despite the time of day and allowed an easier glimpse of it from within the storm.

Suddenly they left the blizzard, and he could see the huge city that encompassed the mountain with its lights and the thin smoke that rose from the chimneys. If compared to giant cities, like Manehattan and Griffonstone, they dwarfed in comparison, and that was the city proper. Vast fields of whatever would grow in that biting cold surrounded the mountain with the occasional little house here or there. Gigantic black walls surrounded everything and connected the four flanking peaks at their base as though they were gigantic defensive towers and, at their top, he could see fortifications. That place was a fortress.

“How did you build this place?” He called Lord Gilad over the wind.

“We did not!” He shouted back. “It was built before the Windigos. My ancestors fled them from Stormy Eyrie, way up north, but the first of them stopped here. Griffons much more powerful than I am. They fortified the city and drew the line in this place. They didn’t allow the abominations from the Windigos to chase their brothers and sisters that continued down south and southeast.”

Discord was stumped. ‘They drew the line’ was something he had never ever heard of in relation to the Windigos. The ponies built the Crystal Empire, but that was an attempt at taking back some land and they had a legendary magical artifact with them. Apparently, Griffindell was also Grigor’s last stand. It must be insanely important to these griffons. Celestia did the right thing respecting that.

Inside the walls, where a few of the fields ought to be, he saw a large gathering of tents. More than he could count. He had no idea how many griffons would live in those, but that was an army. A large one. Many times worth the one the Chancellor managed to assemble. His gaze also found the top of the mountain, crowned with a large fortress with black walls and a gray mansion at the center. He supposed that was Gilad’s home and the fortress where ‘no alicorn ever set hoof’. Actually, a fortress within a fortress.

It also radiated magic. Like a giant and pulsating beacon of magical light that only his special eyes could see. There was talk of griffons peregrinating to the city… He could imagine all that magic had some effect on their minds, drawing them in. Maybe it was the recent encounter with the ‘archlich’ that turned out to be a ‘Discorded’ Battlehorn stranded in the Frozen North, but the magical defenses in that place made him think of the Citadel from many thousands of years ago. He didn’t know if magic which could breach that thing still existed in the present time. Certainly, Celestia and Luna could damage it, but he couldn’t imagine the Royal Guard unicorns even coming close from scratching that thing.

The mountain city itself was surrounded by the mountains on all sides and the only approach was the valley that opened, flanked by diminishing mountains and hills into a vast snowfield until it vanished under the blizzard they just came out of.

It was also cold. Unnaturally cold. Colder than anything Discord had ever experienced and certainly colder than the Crystal Empire. It must be the proximity with the Frozen North. He could feel the malice from the Windigos in that cold, like tendrils of malevolence trying to reach further. It made him shiver, as though the actual cold wasn’t enough. How did those griffons live in that place? Why did they live there? That city must really be important to them. Well, of course it was, being the ‘last stand’, but in the sense that they just didn’t want to let go.

Gilad let himself lose some altitude to fly low above the valley and Discord followed, aware of the ‘no flying around cities’ rule. He wondered for a second if that was another ‘simp rule’…

Regardless, he was distracted. There was something weird about that place in a similar way he thought Chaos was funky in the area where he saved that griffon army from being ambushed. It was different though. Not like a smell, but more like an inkling. A feeling that something wasn’t quite right in that place. Not something bad, but out of place.

He landed on the soft snow and a jagged rock sticking out of it called his attention like it beckoned to him. More like it radiated ancient magic so powerful it left an imprint of its existence on the rock. Then he saw another, and another. A line of rocky spears, such as lines of teeth in the mouth of some terrible monster, protruded from the snow. He noticed an old griffon lady wearing a blue cape close to the place he had landed on. Underneath she had silvery fur and a white head with a delicate iron chain as a collar. She just stared at him and didn’t say anything.

Finally, he touched the tip of the closest stone spear and flashes of images and sounds intruded on his mind. Screaming wind. Biting cold… Actual screaming. A battle cry under a stormy sky that echoed in the mountains. Too many diamond dogs to count charged as best as they could in the deep snow, wearing not very impressive armor and holding shields and spears forward. Brave and heedless of consequences. Or rather, fully conscious of them, but still moving forward.

His hand recoiled from the still sharp stone tip. The old griffon lady still stared at him and Gilad landed close to him. “What happened here?”

It was the old griffon female that answered with a croaky voice. “Three thousand diamond dogs, what remained of their Matriarch’s pack spearheaded in the first maneuver of the Battle of All Armies.”

“The Battle of All Armies?” He looked at Gilad, next to him.

Gilad stared at the old griffon female. “When the Loremasters speak, even the kings are supposed to shut their beaks.”

So, Discord figured he ought to pay attention as she went on. “The entrance to the valley was closed with countless frostmanes under the command of Her Imperial Highness Princess Giselle, daughter to Emperor Grigor and one of his best Swordmaidens. Two thousand minotaur warriors followed the diamond dogs for the attack was a feint to draw her out. Celestia herself would cast a mighty spell of sunfire to end the frostmanes and one of the Changeling Queens, Chrysalis herself, would seek her target, as she usually did, hiding in the shape of others and striking unknown to murder in the battlefield.”

“Chrysalis, huh?” Discord mused. “Never figured that she would put herself in danger for the sake of others.”

“She did not.” The old griffon explained. “As Celestia’s Battlehorns and Grover’s rebels won victories and more victories against Emperor Grigor in the saddle arabian deserts more races felt emboldened to rise up. The changelings were among the last to join. Though we suspect they were involved much sooner as our enemies seemed to know things they shouldn’t about the positioning of the Emperor’s forces and his movements.”

“In warfare, however, the changeling strategy was a cowardly one. They would infiltrate enemy camps and murder captains and lieutenants in their sleep. Until the Mother of Storms gave her chosen the power to see past their gimmicky magic and we started extracting their secrets. The Swordmaidens excelled at hunting and killing changelings within our camps and in the end, they resorted to stalking the battlefields where The Harpy’s Chosen couldn’t carefully examine their magic. They still had to fight, though, and Swordmaidens had become exceptionally skilled at putting them out of their misery. That day, Chrysalis would be the only one with the courage to fight Giselle.”

The griffon lady showed a small grin. “But that was one of many lessons The Conqueror would teach the High Queen of Equestria. Giselle revealed the five thousand diamond dog slaves from the city, tied to these very rocks and Celestia held her magic. The frostmanes slaughtered diamond dogs and minotaurs alike, despite Celestia joining the battle. The changeling did manage to slay Princess Giselle, however. Unfortunately. I would have liked to live in a world where I would not have to suffer that murderous, dishonorable, and vile sororicidal and matricidal monster forgiven and given a position where she can voice her opinions on my race. And now you comprehend where we stand. I suppose The Princess didn’t learn that lesson, after all: she still tries to save all of them. If she prefers changelings to griffons, we will not complain, but she ought to be prepared for the consequences of her choices.”

“Our senators submit too much to Celestia’s rule and our chosen leader does not lead for ourselves. That is why we must take things into our own paws, and why the Children of the Harpy cry that our nation must change. That is why The Lion will be made king of Griffonia. In reality, we need one that will challenge the Princess’ power and fight her for what we believe.”

She concluded with a polite nod to Lord Gilad. That sounded strange. That final touch. The Lion might be different and powerful, but he was not on Celestia’s level. In fact, Discord could picture Twilight or Cadance defeating him if it came to that. But those were thoughts better left unsaid.

In reality, Discord didn’t understand many things about the present world that might have had an origin in that time. Such as diamond dogs. It sounded grim, to put it lightly.

“Greetings, Gehenna.” Gilad said calmly and she bowed to them. “Your Lordship, this is Gehenna, one of our oldest Loremasters. Also, one of Gwendolen’s favorites, I believe.”

“You are too kind, my liege. You should know that Lady Gwendolen has returned from Stormy Eyrie shortly before your arrival and she is in a foul mood. I would advise against meeting her now, but I suppose my liege, and her mate, has privileges. Though, I am also sure that My Lady looks forward to seeing the Lord of Chaos.”

Discord wanted to know more about the battle. It sounded as though it was something important, certainly significant for Celestia. But he also had a job to do, and he would have time later. “Will you take me to her, Lord Gilad? I feel as though a conversation could answer many of the questions that I have.”

“Agreed.” The griffon nodded. “The best way to the mansion is into the city and up the Highway. It leads directly to Griffinsky’s gates.”

Discord nodded and walked with the griffon. Gehenna followed them, if from a small, respectful distance. The gates seemed close, but they were actually monstrous, and it took them a while to reach them. Gates that were already open to receive them, but Discord was distracted by the marks where magic pummeled the walls in that battle. There were depressions in the stony walls in places where spells had hit, and slash marks too. It was ancient, but it was powerful magic that also left an impression that his perceptions could capture. It was the kind of combat spells that just didn’t exist anymore. That died with the age of the Battlehorns.

Above the walls was an intricate mesh of something that looked like barbed wire, or something of that sort in between solid metallic poles that kept them firm. That too was enchanted, and he assumed it was a sort of defense against flying invaders. It made sense if they waged war on flying creatures. After all, griffons themselves could fly. That was also, probably, a good reason for the ‘no flying around cities rule’. Those things looked nasty, as in ‘rip your wings off nasty’. The flying equivalent of boiling oil, he supposed.

He silently sighed to himself. War was awful. It would so nice if creatures could just chill.

Such as his arrival at Brokenhorn, griffons gathered to receive him. Mostly soldiers in the city’s black and gold cuirass armor that were posted nearby and a few other curious that had some business by the city’s gates and walls. They gaped and pointed, speaking excitedly. Nothing formal, though. At least not more than a couple of soldiers accompanying a large griffon with tan body and white head wearing a black cape over the city’s armor who seemed to be in command. He and The Lion greeted each other silently, but he didn’t disturb further.

Meanwhile Discord paid attention to the scenery. It certainly looked like an army was stationed there and he supposed it was a good thing that Lord Gilad hadn’t deployed them to the south border of his holds. If anything, it showed that he really wasn't interested in a war. It was concerning that he was massing an army, though. Not to mention that those griffons, much like the ones involved in the ambush he avoided, would eat the griffonian army griffons alive. He didn’t even want to think of what would happen if a civil war happened and those griffons started fighting in the cities.

They walked past the tents and no one disturbed them. Those griffons seemed busy with some sort of military drills. The kind of stuff Discord wouldn’t understand anyway, but they shot muskets repeatedly and some of them participated in what seemed like fighting matches, complete with cheering and betting. Others simply stood guard and nodded respectfully.

The fields started past the tents. He didn’t know what they planted there since the plants hadn’t grown much yet, but those were some big fields with a few houses in between. He smiled at some griffon cubs having fun chasing away crows and the like. They also passed a griffon leading a wooly ox that pulled a cart full of hay bales. He looked tired, but he respectfully nodded at Lord Gilad and Discord, who nodded back out of politeness.

Past the fields they reached the city itself. A transition with cow pens, pigsties and sheep pens, tanneries and some artisan shops that worked the leather and the wool. At least the place was clean and the animals in the pens didn’t look sick or anything. To be honest, he couldn’t see if those creatures understood their situation. But he didn’t linger. He was used to the ponies and that place smelled of death to him, even if that wasn’t real.

The path they followed connected to a wide stone walkway flanked by stone and wooden houses. Stores with local artisanship in display: musical instruments, fine jewelry, clothing, cooking, and housing utensils… Everything griffons might need on their daily life. Blacksmiths with their forges bellowing black smoke and stacks of long tubes which would certainly become muskets, but also swords, axes and spear points. A few fixed cart wheels or made nails, hinges and metal tools. Wood workshops displayed bows and shafts for weapons. Also homes from which griffons came out to look at Lord Gillad and The Lord of Chaos walking up the stone path.

Nothing other than a few curious or happy griffons cheering at them happened and Discord kept quiet. Taking in the details. It was a griffon city. Nothing much more than that other than the field of camping soldiers where a plantation ought to be.

The higher and closer they got to the mansion, the larger and richer the houses flanking the walkway became. Large families stood outside to greet them but also didn’t disturb them. Not that different from the ponies they didn't like, rich griffons adorned themselves with gold and fine fabrics and their houses with noble woods and stones.

The gates to the fortress mimicked the ones that gave access to the city and were also open to them and the guards formed up on the inside, by the gates, to meet them. Soldiers looked young, but many seemed like veterans from the previous war and their armor was adorned with a red scarf that held a brooch of a pair of wings in white and black. An older griffon female with steely gray fur and a white head stood next to two griffons ladies who wore the same black dress and a fancy white lacy headdress she too wore.

“My lord.” She spoke apologetically. “I wanted to have the maids in formation to meet you, but Lady Gwendolen was angry the metalwork on the front doors weren’t very shiny, so she’s ordered it polished and all the windows cleaned, since she felt only that would be too easy.”

Talk about bad mood. He stared at Gilad and the big griffon let out a sigh. “She has a… Bit of a temper.”

Then he turned to the head maid. “Just get the windows and the metalworks reasonably clean. She’s lashing out and it’s nothing personal.”

Curious. Something had happened and that outburst from the last day surely had something to do with her ‘mood’. He would see.

The female nodded and one of the soldiers opened the door for them to enter. The atrium, or main hall, was a giant combination between a throne room, with a pair of tall and heavy chairs made of wood and adorned with all sorts of tapestry showing griffon motifs. There was also one of the maids cleaning a mess of broken glass and wine by the center of the room, next to a firepit that currently burned, and three carcasses of large animals roasted above it. They looked like large pigs, but Discord wasn’t sure. The room was nice and warm too, because of the fire and there were a few doors on the sides and two behind the thrones. He followed Gilad as he rushed past the one on the right.

It took them to a small corridor with a sword displayed on a case and another door on the stone walls took them to a nice atrium with some sitting furniture, a tall window to the outside and a large wooden door with black ornate metal hinges.

Discord could hear someone screaming and he was sure he heard glass breaking at some point. A maid, a young gray and white griffon girl wearing their uniform rushed out the door and closed it, quickly retreating past them.

Behind the doors something glass-like broke again, followed by a shrill cry and something heavy tumbled over followed by a ripping noise.

“Is this normal?” Discord stared at Gilad.

“Well, I did say she was on a bad mood.” The old griffoness said while Gilad knocked on the door.

He did not look amused. “It is not usual.”

The door opened to show a small and annoyed silvery and platinum griffon girl flying to reach the lock and landing to talk to them. Big, brown, expressive eyes. “Yes? Lady Gwendolen is a bit indisposed right now.”

Behind her, in the center of the room was a big, if slender and shapely griffon lady. White fur with black stripes on her hindlegs and blackening feathers on her head and neck, with a crest of black feathers behind, like a crown. She held her head with both black paws and mumbled something frantically to herself. Discord didn’t understand, and when she noticed them by the door, she literally cawed, gawking at them with surprise.

“Close the door, you little idiot!” She cried and flapped her wings frantically.

The girl did as she was told, contemptibly pushing the door closed and Discord worried a bit because he could swear he saw pieces of something that looked like gore in the floor, as well as red all over.

Gilad seemed even less amused than before and knocked again. Harder. “Cub, open this door.”

It didn’t take too long, and the cub did open the door, with the same annoyed expression she held before. Behind her the room was a nice meeting room with sofas, chairs, a red-stained rug that used to be some creature’s brown furry coat. A window let in the fresh air and it carried out of the room the smell of wine rather than blood. What Discord had originally thought of gore around the floor were wine-stained pieces of plushie filling, and pieces of a life-sized Celestia plushie doll ripped to pieces and spread all over the room. Its head was stuck to a decorative wooden wall with an axe through it.

It was a nice room, otherwise.

He looked down at the cub waiting by the door, who seemed a little bored despite all that was happening. “Lady Gwendolen is in the living room, Lord Gilad, Lord Discord.”

Funny… Discord thought that the name was only used by the other griffons and ponies. He turned his attention back at the griffon child. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Lady Gwendolen is a bit scary, and she makes me read big and boring books, but she’s mostly nice and lets me do anything I want. Uh… Provided I’m done with my studies.” She said and Discord nodded. Yes, the ‘chaos in their nature’. “She is also very intelligent. But it’s better not to make her angry.”

She seemed fine, so Discord simply followed Gilad in, taking time to stare at the plushie doll’s head on the wall. “Not a big fan of Princess Celestia, is she?”

The cub just shrugged, and Discord talked to her again, as she followed them. “What is your name?”

“I'm Sunny!” She blinked twice. “Actually, that’s my nickname. Mom and dad call me that. My real name is Gilberta.”

“And where are your parents?” He rose an eyebrow.

“They’re away. Doing stuff… They left me with Lady Gwendolen, and she’s supposed to teach me things.” The small griffon told him and shrugged. “Anyway, Lady Gwendolen will see you in the next room.”

He followed Gilad and the child followed them to the other room. It was another nice room, meant for the owners of the mansion to pass their time rather than meeting a guest. It had a large desk, several books on a bookshelf, a few hunting trophies and several decorative items that seemed made from bone, leather, and other leftovers of game. A neat fireplace smelled nicely with the burning aromatic wood and provided a comforting heat.

A large and beautifully crafted harp stood in a corner and there were also several places to sit and relax. The griffoness in question, Lady Gwendolen, sat on the stone floor before the desk, all regal poise.

She was the most beautiful griffoness he had ever seen. More so than Gwineth, who seemed young when this one seemed mature and her beauty held some type of physical power and majesty that seemed hard to quantify. He could only agree that the photograph he saw back in the Crystal Empire didn’t really do her justice. She looked big and powerful, like Gilad, but a white, slender, lioness with black stripes on her hindlegs, a collar of black feathers and a white face with sharp features adorned with blackening feathers behind her head, a crest of feathers that looked like a natural crown, and black wings that made it look like she constantly wore a cloak. An elegant jet-black beak and sharp features to complement her delicate gold and diamond diadem over her head, the symbol of her position as the matron of the castle. Her paws were black and had long talons of a hunter. She looked dangerous as she was beautiful, almost as much as her stormy gray eyes.

She had that… Stare. That way of looking at another like she could see into the depths of their soul that came with a very ‘Celestia-like’ aura to her that mystified him, exuding a natural majesty that commanded his attention, even when she discreetly kicked away a fluffy piece of plushie filling. But she lacked Celestia’s soft stare. Hers had a dangerous, predatorial quality.

“Greetings, Mad God.” Her voice had nothing of Celestia’s inviting softness, but carried with a haughty authority, even if she smiled. It cut even deep with that title. “I am glad you have finally come to us.”

“What happened, Gwendolen?” Gilad asked her, though, and drew her attention before Discord could reply. It was clear she wanted to talk to Discord, but Gilad seemed worried. He got the impression that Gilad feared that she had done something.

She inhaled petulantly and sighed. “Celestia’s caused us a bit of headache. That is all.”

“What. Happened?” He wasn’t amused nor dissuaded by her posture. Discord noted he didn’t mention what they had heard and perceived in their travel.

“The Skoll was destroyed.” She spoke again, still set in her haughty poise, talking about something being destroyed as though it was nothing too important. Trying to avoid his questioning.

“Impossible. There is no way the shipyard has been discovered, much less infiltrated. Who did it? Changelings? Traitors?” He looked like he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“She was not on her berth.” The female kept her haughty poise. “She was lost in battle.”

Oh boy… Gilad was not amused.

“The Skoll was moored to her berth in the shipyard’s dock less than a week ago when I went there with Gallensa to see her to completion.” His temper started to flare, and he rubbed his temples. “How was she destroyed in battle? She was supposed to be safely waiting deployment to the southern line if Gail created problems in the transition!”

She shrugged, completely calm and collected, with an infuriating little smile, while he stared hard at her. Discord couldn’t decide if he was angry or frustrated. Maybe both. “I will not ask again, Gwendolen! What happened?”

She inhaled deeply, more frustrated than anything, annoyed, holding the top of her beak with a paw. “Grigory took the Skoll to Baltimare through a teleporter. Gallensa found a way to use the airship’s Stormdrive to hijack a freight teleporter platform. He tried contacting Princesses Twilight and Cadance but…”

Her eyes shifted to the side. “Celestia found them. The Skoll ended up in a battle with a Royal Guard fleet and was destroyed.”

“Is Grigory hurt?” He asked seriously.

“No. Celestia has him captive, but, as far as I know, he is not injured.” She seemed relieved.

“Excellent. I want to kill him myself!” He roared and she squawked again and flared her wings, completely forgetting her composure. She was going to say something, reaching for him, but he beat her to it, staring hard at her. “Did you put him to this?”

“No! I did not!” She held her paws before her white fluffy chest. “I never told him anything, but he wanted to help! It is all because Celestia got in the way! Was it not for her, Grigory would have brought me the two princesses without an issue!”

Discord took note of the funny way she spoke, but obviously didn’t mention anything yet. They seemed to be having ‘a married moment’.

It was funny because The Lion massaged his temples. “Gwendolen, you just told me Grigory took a military vessel, a secret warship, no less, and hijacked a teleporter facility to reach Princesses Twilight and Cadance. A warship, flying around Celestia's backyard! How was that her fault?!”

He reached forward with his paws like he was going to wring her neck, or something, and she squeaked, before looking amused for a second, but he didn’t follow through. “All the while I’m trying to be diplomatic and reach the throne of Griffonia with her help, avoiding loss of life among our race! The only reason he would ever do that would be that you ordered him! You promised you would not try anything. That you would leave military matters to me!”

She gasped with a paw on her chest as though she had been slighted. “I did not break my word! I did not even tell him that I needed one of them, much less knew he would do something like that! Grigory deduced that on his own! For once, his brilliance is a problem! I would even prefer he had not!”

“His ‘brilliance’ cost us the most advanced warship in the world and exposed military secrets to the last creature in this world they should have been exposed to! And who knows what else?!” He rubbed his forehead and calmed a little. Just a little. “Where is he now, again?”

“Celestia has him prisoner with his friends and the two princesses. But this is not the problem!” She shook her head, looking frantically at him and holding his shoulders, like she finally let her composure collapse. “He will be furious I could not help him, and now I need to figure out how to fix this mess before he comes back! I cannot bear the thought that Grigory will doubt me!”

“What are you talking about?” He freed himself of her paws.

“He tried summoning a magical lightning storm! In front of all his companions and the crew! Our soldiers! It was embarrassing! But I could not help him, or I would reveal myself too soon! Celestia would find me!”

“Gwendolen.” He calmed himself and called her calmly while she babbled on. His expression read ‘what a mess’. “Calm yourself.”

So, that is what that was about last day. And it really was her, casting the spell. Interesting. And somehow Grigory needed her help to cast a spell. Hum…

But she didn’t shut up. “She will find me! And I am not ready to deal with her! And now Grigory will lose all his faith in me! He needed me and I failed! All because that filthy cake-eating equine was there! And now she will not take long before she will realize what is happening and she will find me, and she will kill me!”

“Gwendolen, you are prattling on as a moron.” He said and then nodded at Discord. “Get a hold of yourself and shut your beak.”

“Excuse me…” Discord raised a claw. “Should I leave and come back later?”

“No!” She almost scared him with her outburst when she lunged at him and came short of holding on to him. “You can help! You have the solution!”

“I do?” He took a step back and Gilad sighed to himself with a paw on his face.

“You have the key to their minds!” She smiled wildly at him and approached again. “Celestia changed everything, but you can open the locks to their minds and let me reclaim my Children! Just as when you turned the ponies into the Lost Herd. You can help me reach the souls of My Children and make them remember!”

“I don’t have an inkling of a clue of what you are talking about!” He stepped away from her again.

“Please! Do you not recall?” She pleaded, sitting on the floor and holding her paws together. “The Black Sun? All time connected in a single moment. All that ever was and would ever be in a single instant. You allowed my Children to glimpse their Mother from within their dreams of past lives. They clung to me in throes of a dying world. They brought me into the world of the living. Thanks to you!”

Okay. Time out. From what he could gather, Discord unwittingly allowed some ancient entity to return from the past because he tried to return existence to the moment of creation since he believed the ponies had messed up. He didn’t manage to summon the Black Sun, but enough damage was done that the process had begun, even if it didn’t reach completion. Probably something like the alicorns being summoned happened and this griffon lady got dragged by the mortal griffons in their despair.

Cool... That made sense. Just, who the heck was she?

“I don’t know who you are.” He told her calmly and apologetically. Worried too. “And I didn’t mean for you to be here. All I wanted was for the ponies to go back and for their creators to have another shot at making things right. But I was wrong, and what I did was wrong. I almost ruined everything. Not that I’m not glad you’re back… Whoever you are… But what you’re asking for… I can’t really give it to you. I don’t even know if that would be possible. Why would you want that to begin with?”

She changed her poise and smiled. Her eyes shone with amusement. “You do not recognize me.”

She spoke haughtily again, sitting on the floor and inflating her chest, raising her head. “You truly do not recognize me. How amusing.”

That might’ve sounded creepier than she intended, but the thought didn’t help Discord feel any less uneasy. And then her grin grew even larger. “I expected you to understand of such matters. How amusing, indeed. Although, I am much older than you are.”

Oh boy… That didn’t sound good at all. The thing is he really had no idea. He had some idea of what was it that she wanted. But wouldn’t give it to her even if he thought she had good intentions. He didn’t even know if what she wanted it could even be given like that! No one has ever asked anything like that of him. It would be even weirder than somepony asking Celestia to give them the sun!

He took a step back and put forward his paws. “Look… Ma'am… I'm not sure what is it that you believe, but I can assure you that things are fine, and nobody needs what you want.”

“Oh, but they are not.” She kept her arrogant, condescending grin. “And you may not have intended it, but magic makes everything possible. As you well know. Particularly, powerful magic such as the Black Sun. Ironic that it stems from Celestia's own magic, is it not? But then again, it is her job to make that thing in the sky work and nothing more. Ponies are the ones that came up with Equestria and all that madness.”

Her voice took a sharp, dangerous tone.

“They played for long enough. I am back. And I want My Children returned to me. My world returned to me.” She frowned at him. “It is the right order of the world as it is a mess now. But, as I said, I have returned, and I am ready to take my rightful place that Celestia has stolen from me.”

“Just… Hold on a second!” He put forward his paws again. “It’s not like that. Ponies are doing great and there is really no need for… Uh… Whatever you want to do.”

Certainly not replacing Celestia, or any of the alicorn princesses. Things were as great as they could be! Even Chrysalis was growing a conscience! It was great!

“Is that so?” She gave him a smug grin, condescendingly motherly. “I doubt it. Her own ponies are tired of her sitting on the throne of the world. It is poetic… They have sought us in secrecy to rebel. Much like Grigor’s unhappy followers, ages ago, brought her to My Children. And she, for the second time, stole them from me.”

“Look.” He started in the most cautious and least offensive way he could. “I don’t like where this is going. I came here to build a bridge, you know. Princess Celestia asked me to come here and understand you guys. See what your problem with her is and get things sorted. And here you are asking me something that most creatures wouldn’t even know to ask, much less have the ability to use. And you are accusing her of stealing your children… What is going on?”

“You are confused, and that is understandable. I am not like most creatures.” Having said that, she walked to the large window showing the mountain range under the fortress. Densely clouded and violent sky above. There, she stood on her hindlegs and opened her wings showing a black and white stripped pattern, putting out her paws. “Conflict drives everything. Existence itself is the stage for a never-ending battle of wills. This, she never understood and that is why she is incapable of sustaining the world as she wanted. Hunter and prey are the most basic and honest expressions of this. The hunt… It is the defining moment of life, when two creatures meet, and the winner takes everything. Her own ponies understand that, even if they see it in other ways… One wins, the other loses, and the prize is everything. Money. Prestige. The Crown. Existence itself.”

“However, in my absence, My Children have forgotten my Commandment and they have allowed themselves an immense serving of the fool-hardy ideas the ponies came up with once they found themselves unrestrained. My Children have forgotten the harsh mountain where I birthed the first of them and they seek lairs that are too comfortable. They eat and drink of the pony food. It rots their bodies, and the lack of discipline rots their minds. They have become feeble and weak and most would die of exposure if not for the comfortable cities the equines taught them to build.”

Discord’s eyes shot wide open. She was getting angrier the more she talked. Her gestures and mannerisms changed to the aggressive and the surrounding magic responded. The room grew cold and dark as the light from the window waned. Outside, suddenly the wind picked up and howled, flinging open another window, and a lightning flashed. A terrible thunder echoed in the mountains.

“They seek softer beds and warmer halls instead challenges and adventure. They accumulate wealth, coins in the image of the equine face of Celestia instead of the aquiline visage of conquerors of the past and have become corrupted by it. They want more and more of it and the comfort it brings and know not what to do with their wealth other than acquiring more and more like an uncontrolled cub that gorges on sweets until they cannot eat anymore!”

“They conform themselves to ideologies where resources must be shared and freely given to any regardless of their effort, their cost or their value. It created a mob of whiny adult-cubs that would rather seek another easy meal to gorge themselves or find comfort in the lies that they are worth it no matter how much of a failure they are.” She closed her black paws into fists and rose her voice. “They have forgotten the example of raw power and sharp mind of their old lords and ladies. The minds that shaped the world and earned respect and wealth. The might of a warlord that cannot be denied. The will of an emperor that cannot be resisted.”

“They loved me! They obeyed my Commandment… There was nothing that was not ours! They offered me sacrifices and danced for me in my temple! Immense celebrations to our greatness and they feasted on noble meat, wine, music, and lust! They understood my teachings. The balance of unwavering discipline and shameless surrender to the senses!” She put up her paws and almost cried. “Now My Furious Angels would rather befriend a mindless bovine than rule an empire! They lost their claws! They lost their mettle! They speak softly out of fear they should offend someone, and they cower from lust and carnal release out of fear of rejection!”

Finally, she calmed herself and the room didn’t seem so dark anymore. The fireplace had extinguished though, and Discord still had goosebumps over drop in the temperature. She turned to him again, sitting on the stone with closed her eyes for an instant, breathing deeply before flashing him her grey eyes. “No more. Mother has returned home.”

They stared at each other for a while as Discord processed what she had said. The small cub stood next to the Loremaster and both watched. Lord Gilad sat near the door, nervously staring at the white griffonness and at him.

Okay. First of all, The Lion’s mate was not what she had appeared. Second, she had Celestia’s mother complex, cranked up to eleven and turned into some creepy sort of religion. Third, she made Discord feel normal and that was never a good sign. Scratch that, she made King Sombra seem normal. She would probably spank him for not enslaving enough ponies or something. He didn’t know what was wrong with that griffon lady, but there was no way that was healthy!

Alright. Chill. Focus.

“You want to mind-control the griffons into accepting your way of life. Then force them into turning their nation into your ideal of what it should be.” He said, finally. Tried not to sound accusatory.

But she shook her head and scowled. “It is literally what Celestia has done. You merely do not notice it because you are immersed.”

“You have been a prisoner of Celestia’s ideology for so long you cannot feel your shackles anymore.” She angrily gestured a handcuff over her wrist. “But no. I want My Children to remember me. Celestia stole them from me. She lied about their history and about me. I was forced to hide not to be destroyed while Celestia did what she wanted with my world and My Children.”

She started screaming again. “She took it from mine and gave it to hers! The equines were never even supposed to have free-will. Their job was to care for the plant life. Her job was to care for the sun and her sister the moon. The world belonged to me and My Children and I want it back!”

She took a deep breath and calmed herself. “I wish for them to see her for what she is. Not only her, but all of them. The deceiving thieves that Celestia and her… Sisters? Her daughters? Whatever they are, I want My Children to know the truth.”

And then turn to your side and become you ideal ‘Furious Angels’, cause a war and bring nothing more than suffering to the world. It all made sense… Twilight and Cadance would eventually find their way to her and, not only she would, somehow, find the way into the souls of griffons, but she would use whatever it was that they would uncover about the reasons Celestia helped Grover hide everything and turn it against her. Then she would play the victim and show the world that Celestia lied. Only she would paint the truth with her intentions. She would blow the whole story and ruin King Grover’s legacy along with Celestia’s.

Good plan, but it went wrong somewhere. Probably because Twilight and Cadance went to Chrysalis instead of The Lion. Scary… It almost worked.

The real problem was another, though. Celestia could survive the slandering and would certainly find and rescue Twilight and Cadance with Luna, that dumbass boyfriend of theirs and the entire world, because that was what the griffon lady would get. Celestia would sic the entire military of the Equestrian Confederacy on her and his mate. Another war…

But, beyond that, the real problem was the Black Sun. The truth that must remain hidden, else it would be summoned. That part she didn’t even care about. All she cared about was her mad ravings of the perfect little griffons that adored her.

And that is without taking into consideration that she wanted to throw the griffons back her ideal little ‘Furious Angels’. Granted, some might enjoy huge celebrations of food and horny griffons, but that wasn’t the point! The rest of the world be damned to her and it was a good thing Celestia stole her children from her!

Yeah, Discord wasn’t the brightest bulb on the shed, but he was quite educated in that mater of taking over the world for the sake of some petty thing.

He stopped himself. He was too quick to judge. Maybe that was all she understood. Maybe there was a middle ground that could be reached.

Amazing… Without ever knowing what happened up there in the North, Celestia had the right idea of sending him there for his experience alone. He only needed to figure out how to deal with that. He needed time. Some allies. Preferably, reach Celestia.

“I can’t help you.” He said plainly.

Her scowl deepened and she spoke rather angrily, like it made no sense in her head. “Why would you side with the hoofed? You tried to destroy them. You saw they failed their task many times. The Alicorn Tetrarchy failed. They cheated their way past oblivion. You know well that they failed, and that the Windigos ought to have destroyed them. You said it yourself.”

He frowned. “I thought you taught your griffons that the ponies summoned the Windigos to destroy your lands in the north…”

“That is a matter of perspective.” She grinned. “It was so, and it stemmed from their greed that summoned the Windigos. The unicorns broke the Ancient Pact, their wickedness stabbed Amicizia through the heart and buried her gift of the Fire of Friendship in a hundred cubits of freezing snow. They wanted more. They had all they could need, but they wanted more. They wanted everything and even the minds of their fellow pegasi and earth ponies. They wanted our lands. They wanted the rare stones in the mountains and the gleaming gold. They wanted the Sun and Moon themselves so that they wouldn’t have to share!”

She knew! That was why she didn’t care for the truth of Celestia’s changed History. She knew the truth. And she didn’t care! For all Discord knew, she was prepared to gamble summoning it just so that she can have it her way! That had just got dangerous. More dangerous.

She grinned some more. “Ironic, is it not? What ponies did once they had free-will.”

“You know things, but you don’t understand them!” He clenched his fists. Not good. He didn’t control the conversation. He didn’t know enough about her and she knew more than he did. “I was wrong! They are inherently good. Things worked out in the end!”

“I think not.” She kept her superior grin to him. “They were never meant to be trusted with so much power, much less the gift of free-will. Which they now use to rebel against their matriarch. Again, isn’t that ironic?”

“Most ponies don’t! They are content doing what they are supposed to be doing.” He argued back. He could have worded it better, but he was losing his grip on the argument.

“Ponies were never meant to rule the world, Lord of Chaos. My Children were.” She insisted. “How soon before their greed, the same greed of the Unicorn Kings stains Generosity black again and they summon the Black Sun?”

She knew! She certainly knew! “Don’t you care? It would destroy everything that everyone, not only ponies worked so hard to achieve.”

“By then I will have returned to my rightful place. Everything will be the way it was supposed to be.” She scowled. “Either way, My Children will return to their rightful place where I always wanted them, and Celestia will go back to her place, as will the other alicorn princesses, and as will her ponies. Everything back to the way it was always meant to be. No ponies and their greed or their foolhardy ideas. No more Windigos. No more Black Sun.”

“You’re… What is the word Twilight uses?” He started, but then rubbed his chin and the griffon lady looked bored at him.

“Generalizing.” Little Sunny/Gilberta helped.

“Yes! Generalizing. Most ponies are perfectly fine and the ones that made things go awry realized they were wrong. Other ponies fixed everything and it’s all fine today. Celestia saw to it.”

“Two of the four princesses would beg to disagree.”

Damnit! Damnit! Her superior grin was starting to unnerve Discord and she knew she had control over the conversation. “How long before The Sisters, or simply Celestia herself falls on the same trap her younger sister fell a thousand years ago? One could say that Celestia has already slipped. But I do not care for the equines. All I want is the key to enter the heads of the griffons and remind them who I am. For their own sake… They need me. Enough damage has been made.”

Well, at least Discord knew where Gwineth had gotten her subtlety from… It was overly concerning, though, that this Lady Gwendolen seemed to have plans of her own that The Lion hadn’t disclosed to him. And more worryingly, Discord doubted Celestia knew of her aspirations.

A quick look at Lord Gilad told him The Lion seemed concerned. He didn’t know exactly what for, but at least Discord knew that he wasn’t happy about whatever happened with the airship they mentioned. He hoped he disagreed with her ideas.

His instinct was defending Celestia. She did slip, but she learned. Her friends dragged her back from it a long time before modern times. But ponies didn’t know. It was hidden too…

“What are you thinking of?” She asked, after some silence with his thoughts, and she frowned a little. Of course, she wouldn’t let him think. “You should see that my request is legitimate as Celestia stole My Children from me, if anything.”

“I don’t understand. Why do you say that Celestia stole the griffons from you?” He could understand, a little, since Celestia was effectively above the griffon leadership, but she didn’t intrude, and she let them rule themselves. There must be more to it. If what he knew of Emperor Grigor was true, she didn’t steal them. She saved them. Celestia never mentioned anyone else other than the Emperor. Maybe something before the Black Sun. She did say she was older than him.

He initially imagined she was some sort of noble from ‘that time’, or something of the sort. But the issue seemed to be something much older. Her claim just seemed excessively dramatic.

Of course, one could say that wanting to cover the world in chaos was rather dramatic too, so he didn’t feel like he could judge her. But he was there to understand. And he needed to understand what exactly her beef with Celestia was… Ha ha… Beef… Carnivore… He needed to get a grip!

“I do not blame you for not knowing, considering Celestia herself does not. I was forced to hide and would not dare show myself for she would stop at nothing from destroying me before I regained my full power.” She said sorrowfully.

He almost let show his frustration at his own lack of perspicacity. He did frown, and his voice did change to a worried tone. “That is why northerners don’t discuss The Harpy with outsiders. That is why Lady Gwendolen is their big guide.”

She frowned slightly and shifted a little. “Does that bother you?”

“Clever, I will give you that.” He pointed a finger at her. “Why all the secrecy? I doubt it simply is because you believe Celestia would try to kill you. That is simply not the way Celestia deals with problems. It actually is because you wish to take the world from her.”

“It is the way she will deal with me because she knows what I know. That I know she stole Creation from me. That she stole my Children from me and that she cannot stop me from claiming all that is mine by any other means other than murdering me again.”

Again, with that. Had he somehow allowed some bizarrely ancient entity he didn’t even know about to return from a past so distant that predated Creation? Did she and Celestia fight in the past, at some point. Perhaps way into the past, past the Black Sun?

“Unfortunately, I trust Celestia a heck lot more than I trust you.” He frowned, running out of arguments, and oh boy, she didn’t like that at all. “I think you need to talk to her. I'm not sure what is it that you want, but I doubt it is good. Everything is perfectly fine and I’m not helping you come this short of mind-controlling the griffons. Much less effectively destroy the world.”

She looked amused. “All you will cause by refusing to help is more pain. It is inevitable.”

“In fact, I’m going home right now!” He snapped his fingers and remembered he couldn’t teleport. Still, he tried again a few more times while she had that creepy smile at him. “Oh, for crying out loud!”

He turned to the door and opened it to see Gwineth on the other side, smiling like she’d won the world, balancing her sword downward on the floor and resting her paws on its pommel while standing on her hindlegs.

“I cannot afford to have you running back to Celestia and telling her things too soon.” Gwendolen told him simply, then turned to a threat. “It saddens me you would rather side with our equine enemies, but you are either giving me what I want, or you are not leaving this place. What is at stake is too important.”

Discord looked back at Gwendolen, and back at Gwineth. They seemed too confident. He tensed up and grimaced. Not exactly a fighter, but he knew how to use his magic to cause harm if needed.

“Enough.” Gilad intervened and Discord almost collapsed to the floor in relief. “Step away from the door, Gwineth. That is not the way to deal with this. This is not how we treat our guests.”

“Gilad?” Gwendolen gawked at him. Surprised? Angry? Perhaps a bit of both, despite keeping her voice under control. “What are you doing?”

“I am helping you.” He kept calm. “You are being irrational and treating a revered guest in the worst way possible. He is my guest and will not be threatened in my lands. You are scared and you do stupid things when you are scared. You are better than this. He is also your guest, and you taught our kind that guests are to be treated with all the respect, even if they are the enemy.”

She just stared for a second as though she couldn’t understand what he had said. “Have you forgotten who gave you everything that you have? Have you forgotten who I am? I have mated you, but I am above mortal laws, and I can leave you to fend for yourself and find another that will be wiser than challenging me.”

“And that worked wonderfully for you in the past, hasn’t it?” He held his ground.

It was rather amusing to see. She stepped back as though he had physically hit her, and her expression changed from amusement to rage to surprise and to sorrow. He would pay all the Bits in the world to know what went on her head in those seconds. But them she actually teared up and in a second turned to pure wrath. “Fine! Let him pass, Gwineth.”

The other griffon stepped back and grabbed her sword, looking not pleased at all, but obeyed and sat out of the way while Gwendolen mumbled to herself and turned her back to them, sitting and crossing her forelegs. He didn’t see it, but she sounded like she was ready to cry. “I am not lifting the spell! The pony lover can walk all the way to Elderwood for all I care! And you will regret this Gilad! I swear on every cubit of snow in the Frozen North that you will regret this!”

Discord hurried out the door and out the other room, not stopping for a while until he reached outside, by the doors of the mansion in the yard inside the inner walls of the fortress. He had expected a lot of things, but this was not among them. How was he supposed to deal with that?

Before he questioned himself further, he heard Gwendolen screaming again, and, after a while, The Lion walked out the doors too.

“I apologize.” He sat next to Discord. “I expected Gwendolen would be wiser, but the situation with Grigory affected her. She was frustrated you would not side with her, that is all. She is usually much more dignified. And mature. She is conniving and scheming, sometimes arrogant and malicious… But she is passionately in love with griffons and she wants the best for us. Even if she always gets to decide what is the best.”

“You weren’t entirely honest with me.” Discord tried not to sound offended, rather professional, or something, simply stating the fact.

“I apologize for that too, but you saw what happened. It could have been worse and I didn’t think that I could have explained.”

Discord agreed. “She is The Harpy, isn’t she? You hid her in a clever way.”

“I met her in Stormy Eyrie a couple of decades ago. My father and mother taught me the story of Emperor Grigor, his empire and the events of the past. After my father died fighting monsters that roamed towards the south I decided that something needed to be done. I traveled to her tower seeking enlightenment, seeking insight into our History and our future. Many griffons try this. It’s supposed to be a journey of self-discovery. I didn’t expect to find her there… Then again, I might as well be the first that she let in. She taught me what my ancestors had forgotten and then she taught me the griffon magic.” He shrugged. “I suppose it worked as self-discovery as I ended up knowing much more about me and my race than I expected.”

“She promised me the crown and a legacy. To fix the problems I saw in my race and our nation, I accepted it. She didn’t really ask for anything. She said I was worthy and that we would remake the griffon kind into its past glory.” He frowned. “In the beginning she was a tool to reach what I wanted, and once I had it, I would dispose of her and her dangerous ideas. But I saw her raise our cub and instill a pride into my countrygrifffons that we had lost. My brothers and sisters had been disheartened by the corruption in our government and by the blind eye the Equestrian Confederacy turned to it… More than that, I came to know her, underneath her unquenchable thirst for revenge and haughty superiority.”

He stopped short, uncertain of how to express himself further.

“You love her.” Discord could understand. He felt something similar. “What is she?”

“It doesn’t matter if it is the truth.” Gilad began carefully. “We believe it. She is our creator. The Mother of Storms of the legends. The Harpy that Grigor’s empire worshiped. Griffons that come here believe that and she becomes everything to them. More so to me.”

It probably also helps that griffons that come here are already disheartened and feel disenfranchised, as he put it, and then find their own ‘Celestia’ in Lady Gwendolen. Or rather, The Harpy. That sort of stuff was dangerous.

Discord simply nodded in understanding. There was no way of ripping her away from the griffons without causing more damage. He didn’t want to see another split in the griffons as one side would follow Gilad and the other Gwendolen. It was too late, and that was if they were lucky. But maybe she really didn’t understand that there was another way other than her bizarre notion of conflict. Discord himself took millennia and one yellow pegasus to understand that. Luna almost lost everything and Celestia took a deep dive into the darkest abyss before they understood.

Apparently, gods were stupid.

“I don’t know much about her, Gilad. I need to learn about who she is and why she makes the claims that she does. It would be better if I asked Celestia.”

Although Celestia probably has an awfully bad image of her if what Gwendolen said is remotely true. It’s possible that they fought in some distant past, way before timelines that Discord knew thanks to the Black Sun being involved. It sounded awful…

“I fear she and Celestia are on a collision course. It may be better for you to understand through knowing her. She may have lied to me. But I know that she is not completely wrong either. Even if she is not entirely… Nice… And some of her ideas cause a lot of suffering.”

“I don’t think that Celestia will be very agreeable.” The griffon went on. “Or even your lordship after I tell you of Gwendolen’s most extreme ideas.”

Gilad certainly seemed convinced they could make it work, just not happy about their odds.

“Well, I don’t think that I have the moral high ground to judge her a whole lot.” Discord grinned.

He also thought it was funny that Lord Gilad grinned a little too. “Well, might I invite your lordship to breakfast? I am famished from that trip. Gwendolen should be in a more reasonable mood soon, now that situation is revealed, and we reached a stalemate. She just needs some time.”

“Uh… Do you think you’re going to be in trouble or something? Is she gonna put you to sleep in the couch or something?”

Gilad smiled. “The tales say that Emperor Grigor was defeated because he lost the favor of The Harpy. She left him after he failed to kill the dissidents within his empire. He couldn’t cast spells anymore. I don’t think that she will be too harsh on me. She just needs to cool her head. I am more worried about how you mean to deal with this situation.”

“I’m going to put her and Celestia in the same room with a mediator.”

“I don’t want to be in that room…” Gilad grinned.

“Luckily for you, I know just the pony to help…” Discord smirked. Friendship Is Magic, after all.

***

Gilberta remained with the three adult griffonesses. At least the whole thing wasn’t boring, even if she was a bit sleepy at being up so early and also hungry. But it wasn’t like she could do anything about that. In the Pequod she could just ask the diamond dog cook and she’d slip her a snack. In Griffinsky the cook would rat her out to Lady Gwendolen and she’d get an earful at best.

“Well, that didn’t go very smoothly…” Lady Gehenna complained more to herself than anyone else while Gwineth looked bored by the door and Lady Gwendolen massaged her temples in the center of the room.

“Things rarely do when there are males involved.” The younger, bored, griffonness grumbled from the door. “Grigory messed everything up.”

“Grigory did nothing wrong, Gwineth. Celestia interfered.” Gwendolen stopped and stared at her with that same annoyed expression her mom would stare at Gilberta when she had said something dumb. “If that accursed grassbreath had not been involved, Grigory would have returned with the princesses by now.”

“Really? How about making away with that fucking expensive airship and then losing it? How about being captured?” She growled.

“Shut your beak, Gwineth.” Gwendolen threatened. “It was Celestia’s fault!”

Yeah… Shut your beak. Saying things like that usually got Gilberta in trouble and Gwineth better not push her luck. Not that she liked that creep-face, Gilberta just didn’t want things spilling over at her, because when Lady Gwendolen got angry… Well… Everyone had a bad day.

Gwineth rolled her eyes, and Gehenna seemed to judge her. Gilberta thought she was lucky Lady Gwendolen didn’t see it or pretended she didn’t. Still, the weird lady spoke again. “Maybe you should’ve gone with an empress rather than an emperor… I mean, Grigory wasn’t supposed to do anything other than remain here and follow on his studies until it was time. Maybe put a cub in Gallensa's belly already.”

Gilberta pouted. Seriously, what a creep.

“Shut your beak before you should say something you would regret, Gwineth.” The older one ragged her only to receive a petulant stare back.

“Well, the problem remains.” Gwineth shrugged. “What now?”

“I am not happy, but I must move forward the plan. I cannot afford to wait for Celestia to remain clueless until I have what I need from the brain-addled princesses. Grigory planed on exchanging Celestia's consort for a way out, but a traitor escaped with the prince-consort and that was when things fell apart. Gilad is correct, however and the loss of the Skoll was significant. He must reach the throne for the whole plan to work and Celestia has the power to ruin everything if we are not careful, because we will be forced to fight Chancellor Gail and the Griffonian Standing Army eventually. I would rather grassbreath not be involved. I need a viable excuse to escalate tensions and bring griffons to our side faster because Gilad will need them if Celestia and Luna do get involved, but I am not ready to use our assets in the capital yet. Furthermore, I do not believe Celestia can stop the princesses from reaching us. Especially Cadenza, if my divinations are correct. But escalating the situation until then will be dangerous. I should wait for the support of the majority of the population, at the least, before I reveal myself, but that might take too long. Especially because support outside of the griffon population would be ideal.”

She stared at the other two as though they might have the answer ready for her, and so she actually looked disappointed they didn’t. Gilberta didn’t feel any pressure to provide an answer and was just entertained to see Creepy-Blue-Gwineth with that worthless expression.

Eventually, Lady Gehenna spoke, though. “Maybe you can convince the two young princesses to support us. Or rather, support Gilad.”

Gwendolen nodded as though that was a good idea but said nothing.

Then, as though she had the answer to their woes, one of the mansion’s many maids, a cute and young little griffon girl, all gray and cyan entered the room in her maid uniform. “Milady, I’m sorry to interrupt, but a messenger just arrived with urgent news from Thunderpeak. He wanted to speak directly to your ladyship. May I bring him in?”

“Yes. I will see him.” The Lady told her, and she soon brought inside a very young and fit male, all greenish white and gray wearing a very light leather armor messengers typically wore. He smelled like her dad when he came back from a mission, all sweaty and dirty. But before speaking, he put a paw on his chest and nodded deeply to Lady Gwendolen and the present. Even Gilberta. It felt weird.

Then, he took little time to announce his message. “Lady Gwendolen, the museum in Thunderpeak was attacked. We lost the museum and our supporters who congregated there have been put under preventative arrest for conspiracy while investigations progress.”

Lady Gwendolen's reaction was inscrutable, but Gwineth smiled and chuckled. “Who in the feather attacks a freaking museum? Was it the front for the artifacts? It was, right?”

“All the artifacts are gone. It was Princess Luna!” The young messenger said. “She arrived with a squad of thestral Night Guards and simply barged in while they kept the doors! We don’t know the details but as soon as our local supporters arrived a firefight started, and they are all under arrest in Thunderpeak. While the museum's curator, Master Gabriel, was injured fighting Princess Luna and was sent to the hospital in Griffonstone!”

“Ah, man… I really liked that statue.” Gwineth whined. “We should get it back. Or better yet… We should return the princesses the favor. I don’t know… Put her precious orphanage on fire. I’m pretty sure there are no griffons there.”

“Master Gabriel is an old History professor! He was my tutor, and he is such an intelligent and caring member of his community! How dare that blueberry…” Gehenna probably had a string of sweet and blueberry related imprecations trained at the not present Princess’ honor, but she stopped short at the sight of Gwendolen's devilish grin. Oh boy…

“Good job timely delivering this message.” She smiled pleasantly at the young male. “Maid, will you kindly escort the young tom to the guest quarters to freshen up and enjoy our hospitality? For however long he wishes to stay.”

The maid grinned at Lady Gwendolen, and then at their visitor, excitedly flapping her wings. “Right away Ma’am! Please follow me!”

“There is more!” He cried. “Master Grufnor was taken to Shatteredrock for attempted murder, conspiracy, property damage, resisting arrest and lèse majesté.”

“Oh my. Lèse majesté!” Gwendolen laughed. “He will take over that place and find us some new recruits. I almost feel bad for Celestia. She knows not what a ‘bad griffon’ is.”

Then the messenger bowed and allowed the maid to lead him away. Gilberta saw Gwineth’s eyes lingered on the two as they retreated. She knew that Shatteredrock was a really, really, really bad place were the bad griffons got sent to. It was supposed to be some island she didn’t know where and didn’t want to find either.

Lady Gwendolen interrupted her thoughts and drew Gwineth’s attention. “Go to Thunderpeak. Free My Children, then rally them to Griffonstone and free Master Gabriel. Make them see that some legends are better believed. You should enjoy this as this situation would benefit from your personal touch. Master Gabriel was well-known by our griffons and the outrage will convince many to join us. Most important, I wish to see him, and his employees returned safely to Griffindell. Their service and sacrifice must be rewarded.”

“This is dumb!” Gwineth whined. “I should just go to Grigory and bring the two princesses.”

“What happens when a rogue Swordmaiden out of nowhere reveals The Harpy’s magic and then gets her hide tanned by Celestia, Luna and Queen Chrysalis?” Gehenna admonished her. “Don’t be stupid, Gwineth. It is not time yet and you are nowhere as powerful as the Swordmaidens of the past. Do not question The Harpy’s wisdom.”

“We’re taking too long to do anything!” She shot back angrily with the shrill crying that griffons in that place did when they were too angry. Then she pointed at Lady Gwendolen. “It will end up costing us everything! If you screw up, I’m going back to Thunderpeak and that is if I’m lucky because Celestia might as well just send me straight to Shatteredrock! I am not going to Shatteredrock!”

Lady Gwendolen didn’t look pleased and Gwineth rose her voice… It was usually a good sign that Gilberta should look for cover.

“And then you lost it with Discord like tha-”

She looked at Gwineth and didn’t see how it happened exactly; she didn’t really see any movement. All she saw was that Gwineth’s sword clanged on the floor and Lady Gwendolen, much bigger than Gwineth was next to her, staring her down from above, holding her head in her strong paws and black claws pressing at her skin.

“Sweet child… Did you forget? You should always do as I say.” She spoke all motherly, holding Gwineth’s stare to her, their beaks almost touching.

Gilberta started worrying. When she got creepy like that things could go bad really fast, and she was already miffed about what had happened with Discord and Lord Gilad. She quickly found a place under a corner table to hide.

“I’m sorry… Please…” Gwineth started, but Gwineth interrupted her, hissing gently.

“You spent your youth with your brother after your parents left you. You clung to your drug-addicted brother and he abused you. He prostituted you to his coworkers for a few coins with Celestia’s face. Time and again you convinced yourself that he loved you and that things would change. That you would make it through. One day I saved you from some thugs on the street. One of his friends that recognized you for the cheap harlot you were. Remember his words? He wanted seconds.”

“What would have happened if I wasn’t there? Still, you were taken to the town militia. Some unicorn social worker tried to help you.” Gwendolen laughed. “The same one that kept trying to help your brother.”

“But he picked you up from jail and took you home. You both cried like the directionless infants you were. He promised he’d find a job and that things would change. Then his incompetent and useless self got himself fired and gambled your money away. Then he turned to you and before you knew, you had another ugly, dirty peasant using you. You cried. Remember? You cried for me.”

“I took you from there. I taught you the secrets of our race. I gave you comfort and food. A home. Now, where is your gratitude? You have a place to stay whenever I send you. You have the best food. You can even have any male or female you may wish to fornicate with, and nobody will judge you: it is your privilege Swordmaiden of The Harpy. One of My chosen. You are special.”

She grinned wickedly and Gwineth whimpered and whined her name. “But do you know what is funny? You still do what I want you to do. You still are a dependent sycophant because you crave my acceptance. You will murder. You will whore yourself out for your next dose of my acceptance. You switched you brother for me.”

“Does hearing that hurt you? It is the truth, and you know it. You knew full well, you little idiot.” Her long obsidian claws pricked on Gwineth’s skin and she spoke in her condescending tone. “It is alright. I still love you… It is what you do. You, little mortals, you lie to yourselves until you have convinced yourselves that it is not futile. That you are special. That there is a good reason behind it all. That all the pain will be worth it.”

A sharp claw danced over Gwineth head as though Gwendolen drew something. “Inside your little brains there is this desperate desire to be something. To own something. To belong. Something that will motivate you to endure through everything and that makes you feel good when you perceive that something did work. It needs not even be real! It is just a little substance. It rewards you for doing what you are supposed to. It is the same thing that makes you feel good when you eat. When you copulate. When you talk to a friend. When you manage to impress a little cub with how ‘awesome’ you are. It is addictive and you cannot wait for another dose without even realizing it.”

She chuckled, caressing Gwineth’s jaw. “I made you like this. It makes you useful. It keeps you from despairing and stopping. It keeps you going in your little cycles until your fragile bodies have spent their lifetime and break. Had I not, you would be worthless. A waste of life.”

Then she smiled motherly, caressing the back of Gwineth’s head, keeping her close. “You are welcome, by the way. But perhaps the best of it all is that despite all I have just told you, your thoughts are not of despair and nihilism.”

Her claws touched the top of Gwineth’s head, playfully prickling her. “I can see the little pieces that make up your brain, informing their neighbors of what is happening. The strings of thought connecting in a conclusion. You ‘screwed up’. You want to cry, and you are sorry. But you are safe. Mother can hurt you, but she will keep you. You see, you cannot truly tolerate pain. You shove it to the back, dark corners of your fragile little minds so that it does not get in the way of your resolve. You must, after all, convince yourself that maybe… Just maybe I have told you all that because I expected you to see that your pathetic little self is safe with me. And all you have to do to shove away that terror that you would be alone without me is to keep doing what I want you to.”

“Oh, how special you are… Gorgeous Gwineth, so powerful and desired by all the males and females. You get to choose you pick off the top, do you not? All because The Mother of Storms chose you. What if I you wanted to be with me, but I said… ‘No’?”

Gwineth’s beak clicked and she closed her eyes before Gwendolen spoke again. “Would you realize that you have been doing the very same thing I have just described to you? But then, ‘Why is my adored Lady Gwendolen torturing me so? There must be a reason…’ Your idiot little brain asked.”

“Why, yes, idiot little brain. Little helpless Gwineth needs to understand that she loves me helplessly. That she needs me. That she is bound to me. It is how I made you so that you would have some use rather than gorging until your stomach burst and emptying your bowels for the rest of your life expectancy. I’ve given you so much, yet all that has been given can be taken. You can be replaced. So, do not question me, lest your usefulness might be spent. And if you cease to be useful…”

Her paws glided gracefully to her neck, pressed on it and Gwineth whined teary eyed while her own paws weakly held Gwendolen’s forelegs. The big white and black griffoness lifted her up and she trembled. Gilberta gasped and closed her eyes, covering them with her paws.

She heard Gwineth whimpering again and the smell of urine filled the room.

“Your little spark of life would be trivial to extinguish.” She whispered before letting go. Gilberta gasped when she looked again. At least Gwineth was still alive, even if she was left in a puddle in the floor, covering herself and trembling like a scared dog. “Now get out of my sight, get yourself cleaned as a civilized griffon, and do as I command, my dear Child.”

Finally, she caressed Gwineth’s head and smiled motherly. “Because this is for your own good… Do not forget.”

Gwineth didn’t respond or make a sound. She dragged herself out of the room as quickly and quietly as she could while grabbing her sword and Gilberta remained tucked in her corner under the table, making herself as small as she could. Gehenna stood next to Lady Gwendolen and watched impassively while Gwineth made her way out.

“I don’t like Gwineth.” She said.

Gee… Neither did Gilberta, but that was a bit too much!

“I am aware.” The white and black one turned to her. “You can see through her, wise and experienced as you are.”

Gilberta would have said she was a dumb McCreepyface, but she felt bad for her right now and the older griffon knew better words.

“She is disgustingly vulgar. Untrustworthy. Arrogant. Unreliable and disrespectful. It is a dangerous combination.” Gehenna didn’t really hold her words.

“Gwineth is a resourceful agent and a dunce that likes to fool herself.” Gwendolen spoke plainly. “Given a little warmness and acceptance, she fell over herself and became a faithful tool, ready to be sharpened and then used. And Gwineth is very sharp. She just needs to be reminded every now and then that she is a servant. All griffons need that every once in a while.”

“Will Grigory be able to control her once it is time?” Gehenna rose an eyebrow. “I can’t picture her rearing a cub.”

“Gwineth will do anything that earns her my acceptance. And then Grigory’s. She will even submit to Gallensa once she realized that she is Grigory’s actual mate. It is the duty of the Swordmaidens and she understands that well enough. She is happy enough to be special.”

After a second Gwendolen spoke again. “There is another Swordmaiden that should come to us. Maybe two. They will entertain Gwineth long enough that she will stay out of trouble.”

“There is another matter that we must discuss.” Gwendolen didn’t seem too pleased while she picked a small bell from the table and sounded it a few times. “I find it most unpleasant.”

“The Skoll and the traitor which interfered with Master Grigory’s plans.” Gehenna called her guess correctly, as Gwendolen frowned a little.

A maid promptly arrived and needed little time and no words from Gwendolen to notice the mess that needed cleaning, so she went for the needed supplies as Gehenna went on. “And I assume that the traitor was Grinolf.”

“I fear he will become even more of a liability. I warned him and he still proved to be a waste of talent and resources. He became a brilliant soldier only to betray us.” Then she stared disapproval into Gehenna. “All of this is your fault. You chose his sire poorly.”

“I am aware, Lady Gwendolen. Please, allow me to deal with this situation.”

“If he cannot be saved, you will end his life.” Gwendolen scowled while the maid returned and set to clean the wet floor. “This is his last chance, because you are his mother, not because he deserves, and if it is so much of a problem to him, I will have him neutered. At least then he will be able to focus on his duties.”

“I understand, Milady.”

“Go, then.” Gwendolen pointed a claw to the door. “Every second is a hazard we cannot afford to entertain. Deal with the situation with the utmost celerity and use the full scope of your abilities. And do not allow yourself to be captured.”

Gehenna bowed and left while Gwendolen remained watching the maid cleaning the floor. Gilberta, still on the corner she had claimed for herself, let her wings flare and stood. “Your evil! Didja know that?”

From under the table, but she did challenge Lady Gwendolen. The outburst drew both the maid’s and Gwendolen’s attention, but the first kept to her job while Gwendolen responded.

“’You are’ and ‘did you’.” She scowled. “Speak like a civilized griffon, not like one of the diamond dogs your parents keep on their airship.”

“Well, speaking right somehow makes you seem even more evil!” Gilberta yelled back. “And diamond dogs are plenty cool!”

“I am not evil, Gilberta.” Gwendolen defended herself. “I was educating her. Life becomes much easier once one understands their lot in it, like Gehenna’s ugly son. And Gwineth oft forgets her place. Such as diamond dogs. Their place is in the mines. Perhaps in the fields if they behave.”

“I’m not Gilberta! I’m Sunny!”

“You are in a bad mood, cub.” She spoke reassuringly and motherly offering her paw. “Come, we should get you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry! I’m angry! Miss Gwineth didn’t deserve that.”

“I see… Are you questioning me, then?”

The small griffon blinked a couple of times and then giggled a little. “You know, I think I am a little hungry.”

Gwendolen smiled at her. “Very well, then.”

Sunny then took her paw and used it to climb onto her back and made herself comfortable as the adult walked out the room. Then she supported her forelegs on Gwendolen’s head. “Wait! You’re messing with my brain, aren’t you?!”

Gwendolen chuckled. “We are constantly doing that to one another. You do that since the day you are born. When you cry, it is supposed to communicate your distress to your parents and drive them to action. It can be quite stressful for them, the sound of a crying babe, and cubs catch on to that within weeks of being birthed. Experienced parents will learn to recognize the crying of a child that only wants attention and one that needs attention.”

She stopped for a second. “In fact, it is when everything is too quiet that one ought to worry.”

“Babies are evil too.”

“Evil does not mean anything and can mean anything you want it to mean. It is one of those words the ponies invented so that they could justify their rebellion. We are ‘evil’ because we eat things that are alive. We are evil because we don’t agree to their ideals of what society should be. We are evil because their princesses said so.”

“The point is ‘conflict’ in one way or another, and that understanding of how those things work is key in becoming a leader. What do griffons need? What can you give them? What can you demand of them? Therefore, we have a caste system. Nobility needs to understand complex matters that will only get in the way of the commoner, and the commoner deals with menial tasks that would distract the noble from their duties and don’t require their time.”

That actually made sense. “Can I learn that?”

“Of course, you can.”

“I mean… Mom and dad aren’t from here… And you’re angry at Miss Gehenna because she didn’t choose the father for her son right… Or something.”

“Don’t be silly. Your father is as pureblooded as a griffon can be. Even if your mother is not the best I have seen.” She looked up at the cub in her back. “Your only problem is that your parents raised you more like a pony than a decent griffon. We will fix that, however. That is why you are here.”

The cub deadpanned. “I thought I was here because you wanted dad to do what you wanted.”

“Your parents suffer from a lifetime of thinking that ponies are his friends.” Gwendolen didn’t miss a beat. “We will fix that too and you four will be a happy family again. A proper, happy, griffon family. Even if I am not sure what is the deal with that Ocelot.”

That sounded nice. Gilberta did think that Lady Gwendolen was scary sometimes, but her mom was too. Especially if Gilberta had done something wrong. So, that must be right. She supposed so.

They quickly passed through the main hall where something roasted above the fire. The smell drew Gilberta, but Lady Gwendolen didn’t stop there. She went through another corridor and reached the kitchen. It smelled deliciously of all sorts of salted and smoked meats and that was only the beginning. Whole pieces of dried, salted, and smoked meats hung from the ceiling as well as cheeses, garlic and some herbs. The cooks worked the ovens and grills preparing something while others cut pieces of meat and some herbs and other stuff on the countertops, and the mansion’s maids went every which way to help, but they all stopped as soon as they entered.

One of the older ones, a dark tan griffon lady with green highlights on her head and a ‘chef hat’ came to them and smiled. “Can we help, Lady Gwendolen?”

“The little one could use a snack before breakfast.” She put Gilberta on the closest counter and walked away to another to sample something one of the maids was cutting into filets.

“Hi, Gilberta!” The older maid smiled at her. “What would you like?”

“Can I have some cereals?” She knew it was probably futile, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

The maid grinned at her. “You know we don’t eat that pony trash here, sweetie.”

“She is probing her limits.” Gwendolen said, unworried, while she sampled what seemed like a raw slice of game meat.

“I know!” One of the other maids approached with a small chunk of dark pink smoked meat that had an amber coating to it. “Try this! Honey-baked ham! Not too much honey, just enough for the perfect taste!”

“Won’t Lady Gwendolen get angry at me for eating honey?”

“Honey is okay, sweetie. Just don’t eat a whole jar and you'll be healthy.” She stole a glance at the mentioned griffon. “And she won’t be angry.”

She held it in her paw and took a bite of it. The first thing she though was that it was ungodly unfair that she had spent eight whole years of her life without knowing the honey-baked ham. There was something about little piggies, something, something. More!

“Can I have some more?” She begged.

“Sure! I’ll get you some more!” The younger maid giggled.

Gilberta worried she’d end up eating too much honey. It was sweet and sweets were supposed to be bad. So, she looked at Lady Gwendolen and she stared at the other side of the kitchen, where was the door to the cold room and the pantry, and a griffon tried to make himself as small as he could, but his black and golden armor didn’t help a lot.

“Is the kitchen under threat of invasion? Or is it the maids that need protection?” She asked, walking over there, not incredibly happy, and the maids giggled quietly, but Gilberta didn’t understand why.

“Hum… Good morning, Lady Gwendolen.” He stood up, holding a bottle of something. “I came here to fetch a bottle of Crimson Bloodwine. We’re… Uh…”

She approached like a lioness ready to jump on a scared prey. “Yes? Explain why you were stealing a bottle of wine from my cellar.”

“Well…” He gulped and his armor started making noise at his shaking. “The boys in the gatehouse… We decided to make some bets playing a game of darts and the winner would get a bottle. They said it was okay to fetch one.”

It was a noticeably young griffon with shades of cyan and bright blue eyes that Gilberta thought were very pretty. He was still in trouble though… She bit another piece of the ham.

Then one of the maids came out of the pantry and squeaked at the sight of the big griffon. She was also very young and wore the maid’s uniform that went well with her brownish coat and highlights.

“Well, this keeps getting better. What are your names?” Gwendolen asked in that scary, dangerous, ‘I’m about to ruin your day’ tone that she used whenever Gilberta did something wrong.

The older maid, the green one, came over to Lady Gwendolen and spoke respectfully, trying to avoid her anger. “Milady, it’s alright. He is a Sky Sentry.”

“He is in the Court!” The younger maid cried and showed Lady Gwendolen a red scarf in her paw. “He forgot it in the pantry!”

“Oh.” Gwendolen immediately softened up. “You mean the inner gatehouse. You should have told me that, you silly tom. Please, forgive me. And Allow me…”

She took the scarf and placed it around his neck and over his shoulder to show the brooch with the black and white wings. “It looks ravishing on you. I remember you now, Gendar. You came for the Gathering Storm last year and decided to join our military. A Loremaster scouted you for the Court of the Harpy and your scores in training gave you a place in the Sky Sentry in less than a year. Impressive. Good job.”

“Um… Thanks, milady.” His clawed fingers drummed the glass bottle. “Should I return this?”

“No. It is alright. You are practically a member of our family. Enjoy your game.” She smiled.

“Thank you, Lady Gwendolen. I’ll be more careful in the future.” He bowed and left in a hurry.

After he was gone, she smiled in that creepy way she does. “Good catch, kitty.”

“I’m sorry Lady Gwendolen!” The young maid squeaked softly. “We didn’t mean to be a bother.”

“I do not care that you meet during your working shift, if you are not busy with anything important, but next time take him to one of the mansion’s guest rooms, or even the Sanctum, if you are feeling fancy.” She turned to the maid. “But I am going to skin someone next time I hear of my maids using the pantry for fooling around with their toms.”

The older maid hid her beak while she chuckled. “I’ll be sure to remind them of that, milady.”

She didn’t answer. Instead walked to the cub that was done eating.

“Adults are weird.” Gilberta declared.

“Sometimes I wonder if griffons do grow up at all.” Gwendolen agreed with her and offered her a paw to jump down from the counter, which she did and then followed the big griffon out of the kitchen. “We should wait for breakfast now. Gilad and Discord ought to join us. It will not do for a young lady to not participate in a meal with her hosts. I will see if I should ask the maids for more of the honeyed ham for you.”

They entered the main hall again and it was empty other than one of the maids and a cook tending to the roasting carcasses. Gilberta followed the adult on her way to the sitting area on the side of the hall. It had a few comfy chairs and sofas, as well as a nice fireplace and a few of the tall windows they had in the mansion. They showed the patio outside and the walls, but it was still nice because they let in the sunlight. Despite the cloudy sky.

Gilberta sat on the stone floor, close to the fireplace. It was nice. That place was so cold she got used to it and sitting by the fire was always a delight. Gwendolen laid on a chaise sofa with her elbows supporting her raised head and complained to no one in particular with a sigh, while stretching her neck. “I feel that so much unnecessary drama could be avoided if the Mad God had simply given me access to the souls of the other griffons. They are My Children. They miss me. They merely do not realize it.”

Gilberta giggled. She was usually angry or ordering others around. It was so rare to see Lady Gwendolen complaining.

Then she massaged her brows. “And Gilad will complain to no end about the airship. I need a drink…”

“I can fetch something for you in the kitchen!” Gilberta immediately stood and flared her wings. After all, the kitchen was also where the honey-baked ham was!

“No.” The adult returned a smug grin to her midway through massaging her brows. “You will wait for breakfast.”

Oh well… It was worth a try. She sat back down.

“Hopefully I can relax for a while. Would you like to hear a story?” She smiled.

“Oh! Story! Sure! What is it about?”

“It is about how Princess Celestia murdered the regent ruler of Everfree.” She grinned.

“I don’t think that is the sort of story you should tell a cub.” Gilberta raised an eyebrow.

“Quite the contrary. Especially to a cub that is used to live under her reign.” Gilberta wasn’t very convinced, but she stared up to see the headmaid approaching them from behind Lady Gwendolen.

“With all due respect, milady… I think that you need to have a new cub.” She spoke with a giggle. “Maybe adopt another from the streets and make a future ruler of them too!”

Gwendolen looked up and grinned playfully. “Maybe I should steal one from the commoners. They usually waste their time with dumb things.”

At least Gilberta thought that she as joking, but she couldn’t decide because something drew Lady Gwendolen’s attention, despite neither the headmaid nor Gilberta hearing anything. She grunted and stood on her four feet. “Tell the soldiers outside that members of the Court of The Harpy may have access to the mansion at all times.”

The griffon maid blinked and stared dumbly at Lady Gwendolen before she understood she had received an order and excused herself. Gilberta pouted at the realization that she was in a bad mood again. Stupid dumb griffons should let her rest a bit. Geez!

The headmaid accompanied a pair of pretty and young griffon ladies. Both were tan but one had green highlights and the other had yellow. Gilberta did gawk at them because they were really, really pretty, but one of them, the green one was kinda fat. She thought that the griffon in those parts didn’t like the fat ones.

The other, though, had a beautiful pattern of flowers painted up her forelegs, neck and her face. Like she wore her own coat with a beautiful piece of art for an accessory. She also wore a bracelet with the symbol of the black and white wings, while the first wore a tiara with the brooch on the side of her head.

Lady Gwendolen smiled though. “Gaia, you look gorgeous.”

The fatty one beamed and sat, lifting her forelegs to let Lady Gwendolen touch her belly. It was kinda rude… Lady griffons had their little bumps in there and nobody really liked it to show them like that. Much less when someone touched their belies like Lady Gwendolen did. But then again, saying no to Lady Gwendolen could be kinda dangerous.

“You look very healthy, Gaia. Good job.” Gwendolen beamed at her. It took Gilberta some time to understand that she wasn’t fat, she was going to be a mommy! Still, didn’t make touching her like that any less creepy.

“Thank you, Lady Gwendolen. I came here to ask you a question. It is an important one…”

Gwendolen nodded that she was paying attention, but the other giggled first. “I’m here just for moral support!”

The first, Gaia, finally spoke then. “I am here to ask for your blessings to mate with Gorey. I wish to leave the Order and mate with him, if your ladyship will allow it.”

Lady Gwendolen didn’t answer immediately, and Gilberta looked up at her. At first, she thought that she was sad, but she wasn’t. She was thinking about something and she stood there, pondering about whatever for a few seconds before she finally spoke.

“It saddens me to see one of my students. A future Loremaster abandon her training, but at the same time, I am overfilled with joy at a future family in our midst. I remember Gorey. He is the sire, correct?”

“Yes, milady!” The soon to be mother skipped a little jump.

“You do understand that you are forfeiting your place in the Order, and that you cannot ever return. Do you not?” She asked seriously.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m not happy about this, but Gorey lives in Brokenhorn. And I feel that we must live together. For the sake of our cub. I also like his family. They will teach me their trade. My family is prepared too. To see me go.”

“You have prepared. That is good, you being so young. You parents have prepared you well for this day.” She touched her forehead with her right paw. “If it is so that you wish, I do grant you my blessings and wish you a happy and prolific life in Brokenhorn. If either of you ever find yourselves lacking in anything remember that you are both members of the Court of The Harpy for life.”

“Thank you, Lady Gwendolen.” Gaia bowed all respectful.

“You may go, Gaia.” Gwendolen simply sat on the floor with the other while Gaia left. It was only when the soldiers closed the doors that they spoke again, starting with yellow one.

“A Loremaster is supposed to seduce a male, not the other way around.” She sounded frustrated.

“If she had priorities other than her training, then she was not cut out to be a Loremaster. It is better this way: not all are prepared for the sacrifices the Order requires of them.”

The other pouted but didn’t speak anymore. Gilberta had a question though. “Lady Gwendolen! Does the brooch say that you are a Loremaster?”

“No, Gilberta.” The younger griffoness answered. “The brooch says that you are in the Court of The Harpy.”

“What is the big deal with it, anyways?” Gilberta looked at one and the other. Lady Gwendolen answered.

“I created that to facilitate good griffons meeting each other. I cannot have good pure griffons mating with bad griffons. Some griffons cannot be allowed to mate at all. And I mean not only mating, but some griffons cannot be allowed to have offspring.”

“Such as Lady Gehenna’s son?” Gilberta frowned. “I remember you said that his supra… Super…”

“Supraorbital ridge.” She corrected and pointed at the other griffon. “Like you see in Gervina. It is the prominence above a griffon’s eyes. When a griffon has their ridges too shallow it is a sign that they are descendants from hippogriffs. It is a trait they inherit from the ponies and I cannot have a filthy-blooded pony-mixed-breed touching my beautiful Children, now, can I?”

Gilberta hummed. But before she could say anything, Lady Gwendolen went on. “Such a griffon can live the normal life, just as any other griffon. They merely must never breed. It is not too much to ask, a small sacrifice for the betterment of our race. If it bothers them, they can go live with the pony-lovers, or the hippogriff. I do not care.”

“Summing it up…” Gervina grinned at Gilberta. “Griffons who are members of the Court of the Harpy may only breed amongst themselves. They are the best of the best. There are also the mansion’s maids. They are in the Court too.”

“Hum…” Gilberta’s eyes shifted from one side to the other. “Shouldn’t they mate before they have cubs?”

“Only if they want to. We are prepared to give all the support a mother would need if she found herself alone.” Gwendolen explained. “We need good griffons right now, Gilberta.”

“But how do I know who are the Loremasters then?”

Gervina lowered herself to speak. “When we finish our training, we earn our chains and our capes. Like the ones Lady Gehenna uses.”

“But you can also identify them by their posture. The older ones have a certain majesty to them. You learn to identify it. They behave different because they are paying attention to their environment. To what griffons are doing and saying. They also do not speak unless they are sure that they should.”

Gilberta kept that on her mind while Gwendolen talked to Gervina. Loremasters seemed to be cool. They knew a lot of stuff and they were so respected. And they, somehow, knew which griffons were good enough to be in Court of The Harpy. Huh…

She pulled on Gwendolen’s feathers at the edge of her wing and interrupted. Her ‘cub privilege’. “Are they like the Swordmaidens?”

“You are curious today, are you not?” She smiled. “They share parts of their training, but would you call Gwineth wise?”

That sounded so cruel, especially with the way she treated her not long ago, but Gilberta couldn’t keep from holding her beak and giggling. Beyond that she quickly got bored watching the two adults talking about things that didn’t interest her.

Maybe she should try and meet some of the cubs that lived in Griffindell. Some of them often visited the mansion with their parents or something. They kinda intimidated her in the beginning, but they wouldn’t be dumb enough to hurt her since she lived with Lady Gwendolen and Lord Gilad. But for the time being, she just sat there on the floor, looking for things to entertain herself until something happened.

The doors opened again, and a pair of griffons walked in without any warning. Geez. They just won’t leave Lady Gwendolen alone. At least she didn’t seem so annoyed seeing them.

“Milady.” One of the griffons greeted her. A large and tough looking older griffon lady accompanied a much younger and scared male. She did greet Lady Gwendolen with a very respectful bow though and Gervina distanced herself a few paces.

Gilberta squinted and stared because she seemed important and had that… Posture and demeanor Lady Gwendolen had mentioned. All white with blue eyes and travelling gear in the form of an elegant cyan cloak with white feathers on the rim. She also wore a small and discreet diadem made of gold, little feathers like ears on her head, and had a sword on her back. She must be the Lady of some of the nearby cities or castles. Why did she bring that guy though?

He didn’t wear anything, and it really looked like that they stopped at a beauty parlor, or something (if that even existed there), because his feathers were perfectly preened, and his coat was brushed and lustered. It reminded her of all the fuzz her mom did when Gilberta went to school meetings and some ponies talked to her to see if she was being educated correctly, or something. Speaking of his coat, it was a vibrant tan, like bronze, and his head was white with golden-ish accents to go with his yellow eyes.

Gwendolen directed her full attention at the pair and stared at the male for a few seconds, rubbing her jaw, and smiled. “Greetings, Lady Geena. Welcome to Griffinsky. Who is this delightful young male you have brought me?”

“He came with the Griffonian army we intercepted near Frozenlake.” The other said respectfully.

“Is that so?” Gwendolen smiled a little more.

“Hum…” The male sat reflexively and covered himself with his wings to plead speaking the Common Equestrian. “I really don’t feel comfortable with this. I’m a prisoner of war and I would prefer to be returned to my unit, please. I don’t think that this is acceptable under the warfare conventions.”

“Hush, cub.” The big Geena admonished him calmly in his language. “Do not speak unless Lady Gwendolen asks you something.”

Gwendolen smiled at him and also spoke in the universal language. “What is your name?”

“I’m Geordi…” He stuttered a little but managed to answer.

Suddenly Gwendolen held his beak and stared at his face, pulling his beak around to examine every detail. He closed his eyes and started trembling a bit and Gilberta felt bad for him because he was so scared but going against Lady Gwendolen would only make it worse. She was a lot bigger than he was.

She also spoke while she examined him, but talked to Lady Geena, in High Griffonese. “Stop calling adults cubs, Geena. It makes me feel awkward when I lust after them.”

Finally, she let go of his beak and he reeled back a little, but the other held him. “What a wonderful specimen of the Haderani variant. Good job scouting this one out, Geena. He looks like an ‘A’.”

“C-can you please talk in Common Equestrian?” He whined but went unheard.

“What’s a haderani?” Gilberta felt confident enough that she wouldn’t be punished if she spoke.

Gwendolen stared at the griffon critically, even if he covered himself, and spoke calmly. “The Haderani are one of the lineages of griffons. They are the ones that left the north and settled in what is today Saddle Arabia. We called it the Hader. Today the lineages are mixed, and you cannot trivially identify them only by the color of their coats nor for the regions they hail from. It is a mess, but the trained eye can discern it. Unless they are so pure.”

“Put out you paw.” She ordered and put out hers as an example, turning her attention back at the male, and spoke the language he understood, but he didn’t comply, so she simply grabbed his foreleg and pulled it to expose his paw. Then she held his foreleg and punctured his skin with her claw. He cried and pulled back, but she held it for a second before letting go. While the other female held him, Gwendolen tasted his blood on her claw. Eww.

He seemed worried, but he didn’t really actually bleed more than a line of blood down his leg or anything.

“He is scaredy and lacks confidence.” Geena held him by the shoulders. “He can’t even talk to an unflattering female without stuttering.”

Gwendolen, instead of becoming angry as Gilberta imagined gave her creepy smile. “He is physically sound and biologically mature. All that can be fixed with proper tutoring.”

“What is your age?” She asked him. “Where were you born? What about your parents? Do you have any brothers? Or sisters?”

He shook his head, shaking more than the Pequod during a storm and he was beginning to annoy Gilberta. Gee… They weren’t hurting him or anything. But he managed to speak. “I’m not supposed to talk about such things, ma’am!”

“You are not a prisoner of war anymore.” Gwendolen softly caressed his jaw with her paws and almost scared him even more, but he relaxed a bit, curiously. She whispered softly and motherly. “You are a prodigal son come home to me. A lost Child of the Harpy that found your way back, from the sands of the desert, through the Pool of Souls under the stare of the Sun and found Holy Griffindell. Your ancestral home where you belong.”

He didn’t answer and pulled his face from her. He tried, at least. “All in due time, My Child. For now, you are a guest in The Lion’s home. And you will be treated as such as soon as you understand your new situation.”

Gilberta stared at her and the griffon, somewhat curious, a bit confused, but she heard the tip-tap of someone approaching. It was the headmistress in charge of assisting Lady Gwendolen with the mansion’s servantry. A pretty griffon lady, a little older than most of the maids, with steely gray fur under her dress.

“Lady Gwendolen, I’m sorry to disturb, but we heard nothing from your ladyship. Should we prepare breakfast? I hear things didn’t go as you intended…”

“Yes. Please do. Breakfast for me, Lord Gilad, Lady Geena, little Gilberta and the Lord of Chaos.” She let go of the poor male to look at the maid. “Will you join us, Geena?”

Sounded more like one of those questions you’re supposed to say ‘yes’ anyway, if Gilberta would be honest.

The other, of course, nodded ‘yes’ and the vigilant maid nodded positively too. But before she left, Gwendolen spoke to her again. “Please. Master Geordi will be our guest. Accommodate him on the tower. Ensure that he has food, water, and all the comforts we can provide.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She smiled at the male. “Will you follow me, Master Geordi?”

He just stared at her until Lady Gwendolen translated for him. “She will accommodate you in your new temporary quarters. Don’t do anything stupid and follow her. My maids are likely to murder you if you try to hurt one of them. They are trained to defend themselves. And I would hate to see you spoiled.”

He did. Followed the head maid past one of the side doors where she stopped and talked to another two of the maids. Meanwhile Gervina spoke to Lady Gwendolen. “I’ll be going. I’ll make sure that the other students are up for the day’s lecture.”

Gwendolen nodded positively and Gervina left while she and Geena sat at the table by the fire where the big animals still roasted. Lady Gwendolen on her throne and Geena on the nearest chair. One of the maids went to one of the roasting carcasses to cut the meat for serving.

Gilberta, too, hurried to the table. Her highchair next to Lady Gwendolen. Meat had become a guilty pleasure of hers for breakfast. She missed her cereal and waffles, but Lady Gwendolen certainly knew what she was doing. She knew ponies complained about meat and whatnot, but she was supposed do as the griffons up north anyways. It was easy to ignore whining ponies while the smell of… Boar? It was definitively boar that she smelled.

One of the maids served her a chalice (seriously, she loved that place sometimes) with pure grape juice. “There you go, sweetie!”

“Thanks!” She cheered and took the thing on her two paws to drink from while the maid served something that smelled of alcohol to the two adults along with bowls with dried fruits, some bread and, more important, a big fatty rib on the bone. She licked her beak and teared at the meat.

“What did you make of the army Chancellor Gail sent against us?” Gwendolen asked while watching Gilberta devour the wild boar rib.

“It’s pathetic, milady. If the Lord of Chaos had not shown up, I don’t know if I would have been able to keep Graham from slaughtering all of them.”

“Good thing that he did.” Geena added. “It would break my heart to know that one specimen such as our little Geordi might have been put down like a rabid diamond dog simply for being in the middle of that dirty rabble.”

Geena shook her head sadly. “It is disheartening. One of them became feverish and he cried for his mommy. I didn’t know wherever to cuddle or slap him. It is a small sample, and our Loremasters aren’t through them yet, but it looks grim. The rate of miscegenation is much higher than you had calculated. Celestia knew what she was doing… If we don’t broaden our standards we may be left with not enough griffons when this is over.”

“What’s miscegenation?” Gilberta put her rib on the plate, looking at the two adults.

“That is when different races mix together.” Geena explained.

“Do you believe that Lord Graham would be willing to have another cub or two?” Gwendolen drew Geena’s attention back to her.

“I wouldn’t have to ask for his attention, milady.” The other grinned mischievously. “Easiest thing in the world. He would not reject a new cub that surprised him.”

“Why is that bad?” Gilberta frowned confused, pulling at Gwendolen’s feathers. “Mixing races together?”

“For you to understand,” Lady Gwendolen started, all patience. Her mood had improved again. “You must understand the origins of your race.”

“You created us in the Stormy Eyrie!”

“That is a very simplified version. In reality, I did create the first griffons in the Stormy Eyrie. But I did not exist as you know me now. I was only inside the heads of My Children. It took the Mad God almost destroying the world for them to bring me to the realm of the mortals. The Windigos destroyed the Stormy Eyrie much earlier, and only my tower remained. The place where griffons worshipped me. It used to be a large city of clouds and mountain tops. There lived the Children of the Harpy.”

She scowled. “We will rebuild it tenfold its original glory.”

Gilberta was smart. Though she typically spoke High Griffonese with Lady Gwendolen and the others, she knew that ‘Children of the Harpy’ in Common Equestrian was a translation of ‘Ditty Harpiyi’, which were the words Lady Gwendolen used to name those griffons. It was different than the word ‘grifen’ that was the High Griffonese word for ‘griffon’ and ‘copi’ that was the word used to mention ‘child’. The thing that she understood was that Ditty Harpiyi was a specific name.

“The ponies attacked us with the Windigos and My Children were forced to flee. Only a few remained and they became the Astrani. The purest of the griffons, they are few today for they held the Windigos for generations and allowed their brothers and sisters to flee. Their descendants are the purest and most powerful, including Lord Gilad, Grigory, Gallensa and Gwineth.”

“The others left in a massive migration, but their pride wouldn’t allow them to flee too far and they started settling the lands as close to Stormy Eyrie as possible. A group of them defied the cold and settled in the border of the Frozen North, halting its advance and forming the first line of defense against the malice of the Windigos. They were called the Nartani and settled the northern lands of modern Griffonia, fortifying the ancient city of Griffindell and moving further to the south, founding cities such as Brokenhorn and Stormvalley. Like the Astrani, they specialized in fighting in the skies and were dubbed Lords of the Skies for the mountains were their territory and they never forgot their ancestral home.”

Gwendolen smiled. “You are almost one hundred percent Nartani, with some Astrani and Shadanni, and so is Geena, but with more Shaddani.”

“The others split after they left the Nartani, feeling safe that the Windigos would not reach them. The Shaddani went south and the Haderani traveled southeast, all the way to where is now the Saddle Arabian desert. They took time to settle and before they did, they became nomadic, raiding tall pony settlements for food and slaves until they discovered irrigation systems and other technologies that allowed them to domesticate cattle and other animals. They founded cities lost to the Mad God and the war Celestia waged on us. Then the Haderani scattered to the west and south, where the Shaddani had settled, and that is why they are also rare today.”

“They, the Shaddani, built cities such as Beachhome, Thunderpeak and Griffonstone.”

“Oh! Griffonstone! Was King Grover Shaddani?”

“No.” She smiled in that patient way that also meant she should shut her beak and pay attention. “The Shaddani were inherently ingenious and realized they could not fly past the great ocean, so they built ships that carried them over the waves. They settled Mount Aris and reached what is today the Equestrian Heartland, to the regions of Manehattan and Fillydelphia. There, they met the Equestrians and mingled with them, becoming the Saddani, which later gave rise to the hippogriffs.”

“And that is why we will retake the desert and Mount Aris. It belongs to us, more than anything.”

“You see, when a pony and a griffon mate…” She coughed and stopped for a second, taking a paw to her beak, like she tasted something bad, and then took a sip of her drink. “There was a three to four chance that the offspring would die before it was born as a monstrous, malformed creature, if it were not rejected by the mother’s body before she even knew she was pregnant. But there was a one to four chance that a hippogriff would be born. They were sickly and did not survive past one year, dying of lung and muscle diseases. But, as parents learned and healers became better, their chances of survival improved dramatically. Then, the more they bred in between themselves, the more viable they became.”

“I know we’re not supposed to like the hippogriffs…” Gilberta mused.

“Well, there is a reason we do not like them. The Saddani did not disappear. They mated with the Shaddani and with the hippogriffs too and when a griffon mates with a… Ugh, my feathers…” She took a larger gulp of her drink. “When they mate… With… A hippogriff… They have a three to one chance of generating a griffon, which would be Saddani. The problem is that the Saddani can easily mate with other griffons. Not only are they distant from the original Children, but they carry pony blood in their veins they got from their hippogriff parents. So, the intrusive pony traits are pronounced, therefore, if a Saddani mates with any other line, their cub will be less pure. And since you asked, the Traitor King, Grover, was Saddani.”

Her food completely forgotten, Gilberta wanted to know more, because she had questions! “What is so bad about the pony blood? Does it hurt us?”

“My feathers, milady.” Geena grinned at Gilberta. “She is ravenous for knowledge.”

Gwendolen smiled brightly and that was a great thing because it meant that Gilberta was doing good. “I wish she had been born in Griffindell!”

Then she turned back to Gilberta. “There are many complex things that you are not ready to understand, but I can tell you something: the Saddani carried traits they inherited from the ponies, through the hippogriff which cause the griffons to become more docile, and as though that was not enough, they were introduced to the greens and grains-rich food of the ponies. Before them, our race used to eat mostly animal proteins. Now griffons outside of Snow Mountains eat too much fat, sugars and grains from the processed foods ponies invented. Such as those cereals, and pizzas and cakes… Ugh… Makes me feel sick, just thinking about those things.”

Gilberta giggled at Lady Gwendolen’s disgust of those foods and Geena took over for her with a grin while the former took another sip of her drink. “You know… All the things cubs want to eat too much, and their mothers won’t let them.”

“Griffons are meant to gain their sustenance from proteins, which make up muscle. There is usable protein in vegetables and milk, eggs, but our digestive systems are specialized to meat, unlike the pony one. The Mother of Storms made us hunters and predators, not grazers. That is why griffons that live with ponies are weaker, less disciplined, meeker.” Geena added. “We can’t chew grains like the ponies, much less greens, but their processed food is easy to eat. And that is not even considering the things ponies teach them.”

“From that stems the political disagreement between both races. Not only the pony food is bad for griffons, but you were also made for conflicting ways of life.” Gwendolen concluded. “Griffons were supposed to be fierce, independent and brave. While ponies were supposed to be cowardly, interdependent and compliant. But there is another reason we do not like hippogriffs.”

Gwendolen spoke again. “The Saddani have lost their ability to summon our magic because of the pony magic that intrudes on them. Which is all too convenient.”

“Why?”

“Princess Celestia hates us, cub.” Geena explained. “Despite preaching peace and coexistence, she demands that we submit to her designs. She likes the descendants from the Saddani because they are easier to indoctrinate and control. She doesn’t care that we become frail and sickly with the pony diet anymore than she already doesn’t care that she has lied to our brothers and sisters about our past and our creation. Both are as convenient to her as how easy she can control the descendants from the Saddani. Her sister will stop at nothing to keep us from realizing our past through every dirty trick that her special magic will allow her.”

“Under the guise of friendship her newest Princess created a school specifically designed to indoctrinate the children of other races to their culture.” Gwendolen put her face on her paws. “I die every time I think of Gilad’s young brother sharing a pony meal with a yak moron or hippogriff royalty!”

“Lord Gilad has a brother?”

“His name is Galus and he lives in Griffonstone though today he spends most of his time with his hippogriff girlfriend, Silverstream, who is cousin to Princess Skystar. To make matters worse, Galus and Silverstream both attend to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s school and Skystar attends to Princess Celestia’s school. I hope that at least he is not… Touching those things!”

“You know, this is wrong! More griffons should know of this! This is important!” Gilberta gasped again. “Princess Celestia is making the griffons… Hum… Less griffon!”

“Remember when I told you that some griffons need to know some things, but not others?” Gwendolen explained and Gilberta paid full attention. “This is one of those things. This is knowledge that the Loremasters need to know. Most good griffons just listen to the Loremasters and benefit from that knowledge without knowing it. Most griffons don’t know anything about Astrani, Saddani. Or the little pieces from the pony brain that makes them more docile.”

“Oh!” Gilberta jumped on her chair. “You’re sharing a secret with me!”

Gwendolen smiled in that creepy way that she did every now and then. “There are many secrets in the world, cub. Secrets about griffons, about yourself. About me. About ponies and all the other races. Knowledge that I keep to my Loremasters for they are my tools with which to make My Children perfect again.”

“How do you make griffons better with the Loremasters?”

“Young Loremasters, after trained, are exceptionally knowledgeable in our History, our traditions and our laws, but also in their bodies. It is an exceedingly difficult training regimen, that has killed many griffons and involves potions and magic.” Gilberta kept listening

“What I am about to tell you is a secret. And you cannot share it with anyone. The only ones who know of these things are Loremasters.”

“Does that mean I’m going to be a Loremaster?” Gilberta beamed at the big griffoness.

Gwendolen smiled. “They have memories of past lives, and of other griffons in their bloodline. Therefore, they are always skilled fighters, speakers, leaders and the sort. But more important than that, they are capable of understanding subtle cues in the way others speak and behave to know if they are lying. If they are hiding something. That is because they have exceptionally well-trained senses and mental capabilities. Such control over their bodies, through their natural magic, that some of the best ones can use their voices to influence the thoughts of others and lead them, unknowingly towards their goals. The best among the best can use magic and influence the magic in their own soul and body.”

“I teach them everything there is to know about all the races of the world. I teach them about the minds and bodies of griffons, the workings of magic and the sciences of life for them to use to our benefit. They excel at exploring the weaknesses of other races and at leading our soldiers in that regard. Best of all… Secretly. So that their ways are not discovered and understood by our enemies. When their training is complete a Loremaster must combine the seductive wiles of a courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a virgin goddess so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have been replaced by the years, she will find that has become a wellspring of cunning and resourcefulness.”

“They will help me lead our race towards perfection or work their way upwards the hierarchy of any association we deem beneficial to our cause, using body and mind to bend those of others. For the betterment of our race. Things that not even Lord Gilad knows because I do not share with him. Only with my Loremasters. For his own benefit. Some knowledge is too dangerous.”

“Don’t worry Lady Gwendolen! I won’t tell anyone!” Gilberta giggled right at the time the door opened to let in Lord Gilad and Discord.

“Sharing secrets with the cub, Gwendolen?” The big griffon raised an eyebrow at her.

“Girl things, love.” She said, all sugary affection. “I must apologize for my outburst earlier. I am a concerned mother.”

“Uh-huh…” Discord deadpanned and that caused Gilberta to giggle quietly.

“Please, take your seats. Breakfast will soon be served.” She gestured to the table.

“Oh. Greetings, Lady Geena. How fares Lord Graham?” Gilad made his way to his throne next to Gwendolen’s.

“He is fine, my liege. Sends his regards.” Geena bowed respectfully. “The southerner griffons are still under our custody and are being well-taken care of.”

Discord sat in front of Geena, on the other side of the table. “I am glad you are taking good care of them.”

“They are important, milord.” She spoke respectfully. “They are, after all, griffons too.”

Then the food started arriving and Gilberta stared at the adults talking. She used to think that it was so unfair that the ponies had the awesome Princess Celestia. And Princess Luna. And the other princesses too. They were all so pretty and wise and awesome. It was so unfair that the griffons didn’t have their princess too since King Grover died a long time ago and Chancellor Gail was an evil corrupt politician. Though she shouldn’t call him evil… Right? And then, when she first arrived and met Lord Gilad and Lady Gwendolen, she had thought that they were evil too because they had kept her away from her parents and forced them to do things.

But then she started seeing things differently. Initially, she thought that Lord Gilad was going to be a great king for the griffons, since he was so powerful and impressive. But she looked at Gwendolen as the maids placed the food on the table. She was just done talking to Lord Gilad and seeing her on her profile… She was so pretty, so big and powerful. So intelligent and… There was something about her that made her so awesome.

She reminded Gilberta of all the cool things ponies always talked about Princess Celestia. But Lady Gwendolen was a griffon like her. And she was even cooler.

“Lady Gwendolen… You are so awesome. Can you teach me to be more like you?”

She turned to Gilberta and smiled. “I already am, dear.”

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

Why are the chapters getting even longer?

[Metemponychosis]

10659845
The short:
I started feeling like I was leaving too much out. The thing is that this story is a bit like a few stories wrapped together, but it will all wrap up in the end, so I decided that it should all be a single story. Plenty of spin offs in the oven already.

The long:
I originally wanted 10K per chapter, or around that (7k-13k). Around the time I posted Singularity I realized I was cutting stuff that I wanted to remain in the chapter.

That chapter is a good example. I was going to cut the scene about the other battlehorns replacing the Flamehearts at the broken gate, the scene with Star Swirl, Discord and Rockhoof didn't exist, Star Swirl's friends wouldn't make that cameo, and the scene of Cadance witnessing Daffodil with the neolithic ponies was going to be a lot shorter. But Daffodil's scene would be too barebones, and now it also sets up a joke about dating in a chapter to come, and without introduction I felt that Cinnamon would've lost a lot as a character in this story. Even if there will be a whole story dedicated to that battle, I felt like she deserved to be better fleshed out in this story. It is meant as the introduction for the AU, after all.

Dines with Griffons had that big scene where Celestia is explaining parts of the plot that is convoluted. I didn't want it to be too bare bones. Much less the scene where they are discussing Luna's session with Grinolf. Gee... That chapter is missing the conversation about no deaths during the battle. That scene I was comfortable postponing until the next chapter. It is a good scene because it will contain development for the relationship between Celestia, Cadance and Twilight.

Another good example is Ice Queen. I felt like Lady Gwendolen and the city needed a lot of exposition And I needed to work on Discord's thoughts about all that. I even cut a scene where Lady Gwendolen is angry at some Loremaster students because they went into 'the tower' and wanted to use some potions. That one I can put somewhere else without too much of a problem.

But chapters shouldn't grow any bigger now, by my planning.

[Frazikar]

Gwennie, Gwennie, Gwennie, got some nice truth shaving going on there ... big point, you fought and lost (and won't let it go) ...

[Redlord321]

Is Discord stronger than Celestia in this fic?

[Metemponychosis]

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Comparing them is not very helpful because Celestia's power comes from her magical output, and her experience at manipulating magical energies as per that system Twilight explained in Chapter 12 - The Stupid and the Petty. Discord's power comes from an instinctual understanding of the Chaos component of Creation, and the power to manipulate it. Measures of power don't apply to him, even if his magic still needs to 'connect' to the magic of the world to work.

So, if they were to fight, they couldn't match their power one against the other like Chrysalis and Celestia in Canterlot Wedding, way back in season 2 from the cartoon. It would be more a game of trying to undo the other's magic, while trying to get the upper hand, like a mental chess. A good example was Celestia hijacking Twilight's teleportation and sticking her in a bird cage in Chapter 20 - Planning to Fail.

[Redlord321]

This Discord seems is to much of a cheerleader for Celestia

[Metemponychosis]

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It's intentional, though it is meant to be justified. Chrysalis is a bit too. One of the themes in the story is how much good she has done to the world and Discord (and Chrysalis) is one of the few characters from the distant past that knows how bad things used to be, and he regrets a lot of what he did. Discord also likes her a lot in the present time because he sees that Celestia is responsible for the Mane Six becoming what they were, though that may not be very obvious in this story as is the fact that the world is almost an utopia thanks to her being the central figure that unifies the confederacy. But it is also in the context that Lady Gwendolen wants to upend all that is good in the world for the sake of her vision of perfection. He understands the threat, even if he doesn't get exactly what Lady Gwendolen is yet.

[Kevin Lee]

The Sun Made Flesh, the Night Made Flesh, the Heart Made Flesh, the Magic Made Flesh, the Mad God, and now, Gwendolen has finally and openly revealed the Harpy Made Flesh.
Seems like a lot of the Old Gods are getting ready to sit at the Monopoly board for some fun times to come.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

And it looks like poor Gallus is about to discover he has an intractable enemy who's out for his blood....because they share the same blood!

[Metemponychosis]

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Actually, the poor boy has two, but that is for later.

[Jinnchin]

Some highlights from this chapter.

As yes, I see The Harpy is falling back to the age-old cult classic of “we’re not a brain washing cult, everyone else is the brainwashing cult!” schtick.

Wow, gotta say The Harpy is a LOT more unhinged here than she ever seemed to be in Fólkvangr! Guess that just shows how much she hates it when things don’t go her way. Also I can’t say I was expecting Gilad to be the adult in the room here! Then again it doesn't sound like "Gwendoline" is telling him everything...

"Apparently, gods were stupid." Nice to see Discord is still on point here. He also isn't exactly wrong!

Yikes! I know it isn't uncommon for us to treat different breeds of domestic animals like this, but this its a whole heck of a lot creepier when you start treating a sapient species this way. Creepier still when it's a prisoner of war!

And finally:
“Lord Gilad has a brother?”
“His name is Gallus and he lives in Griffonstone”

Oh dear... getting the distinct felling Gallus is in real danger of getting snatched up if and when the Cult of the Harpy makes it's move on Griffonstone!