A young griffon found a few weeks after the events of Nightmare Moon on the grounds of the castle. The questions continue to mount over time with no solid answers as they find that communicating with the young griffon going to be more challenging.
A few weeks have passed after Nightmare Moon's defeat and Princess Luna's freedom and she has returned to Equestria to rule once more by her sister Celestia's side. However, a mysterious young griffon is discovered, and the questions about this young unknown griffon grow as Celestia and many others try to find out how and where he came from.
No solid answers come and communicating with the young griffon is going to be more of a challenge then they could believe.
(The one rule is revealed in Chapter Six. If you wish to be spoiled, reveal the spoiler, but if not, read to Chapter Six. Also, if there is a better way of wording this, please let me know.)
The one rule is: Letting someone hold the Griffon's (Young one's) plush and returning it to him is for him to have absolute trust in someone without the need for words.
Chapter 1: Proofread by Truthseeker Chapter 2 to 4: Proofread by Katarina Mau Chapter 5.5: Checked over by Mr_Mopey Chapter 65.5, 75.5: proofread by Akira Dragonborne Chapter 99.25 to 100.75: Collaboration with Goldfur Chapter 99.25 to 100.75: Proofread by Goldfur
Over 4,000 years before the events of Nightmare Moon...
The lands where the mountain of the great city of Canterlot should be, appears instantly through a bluish tear in the sky, crashing into the ground with smaller rocks smashing into the plains around it, the large mountain-sized rock sparkling with electrical energy, snow and ice falling from it after impact, embedding itself into the ground as a wave of rock and dirt are blown outwards.
On a small part of the mountain a small figure glowing with the same sparking energy as the rest of the mountain appears, the energy surrounding it fading away with the rest of the sparking energy. The mountain stands tall, and as the dust clears, a goat stands on the hillside, "Hmm... Now this is interesting," he chuckled darkly while walking towards it, "Come my monsters, I believe we found our new home. Now to build my empire." The large goat taps his bell and the monstrous creatures behind him lower their heads and march towards the mountain.
Canterlot, moments after the defeat of Nightmare Moon...
A few guards doing their rounds notice the sun rising once again with the moon lowering. It had been an unnaturally long night. They watched and felt the warmth of the sun when a bluish light sprang into exsistance dancing around the entire city of Canterlot.
As they looked around wondering what it could be, one guard asked, "What is this?"
"I have no idea," the other guard said as he waved his hoof through the waves of cloudy light all around them, "It seems harmless." For minutes, many streams and waves of the light flowed around the mountain and city.
Shining Armor came out of the castle and took a good look around, awed at the mysterious light. Seeing the two guards close by he approached and ordered, "Report."
"Captain, the light just came out of no-" the unicorn of the pair began as the light faded away. Within half a moment the city was returned to its original state, as if it were never there. "Where did it go?" the unicorn guard asked as he looked around curiously, "That was odd."
The pegasus guard next to him flapped his wings, taking to the air to get a better look around, "Other than the light show, nothing seems to be out of place, sir." he reported.
Shining Armor rubbed the underside of his snout in worry, "That is odd... I'll inform the princess on her return. Until then, continue the rounds as usual."
"Yes sir!" the guards saluted and left to continue their rounds, unaware of something watching, trembling in fear.
Canterlot, two weeks later...
Shining Armor stood before Princess Celestia, reading out a report to her as she sat on her throne with her sister Luna watching and listening from her side. Still recovering from the events of a few weeks ago, her magic was slowly recovering, as was her true appearance once more. "–The theft of food from the food waste bins has been discovered yet again, Princess. Nopony seems to be able to discover who is behind it or why they enter the castle grounds to steal from the bins, as the food at the time of the theft would have pretty partially decomposed and unhealthy." Shining Armor stated as he finished the report.
Celestia used her magic to levitate the parchment from the Captain's own magical grasp. Levitating it up to her own face she took a look at the report herself, "That is very strange indeed, Captain. Not only has this thief managed to get past all the patrols, including the newly increased number of guards, but they have been able to get to the waste bins and eat semi-rotten food instead of entering the kitchen to steal perfectly good food." Celestia's mind started to tick as she thought of other possibilities that could have been easily been overlooked.
"We do not understand, sister. Why would one of such skills in stealth do such a thing for the past two weeks?" Luna inquired as she used her still limited magic to take the report and read it herself.
"That Luna, is an interesting question." Celestia said as she turned to face Shining Armor, "Hmm..., maybe we're looking at this the wrong way." Celestia said as she came up with an idea as she was speaking.
Shining Armor gave a confused expression. "Princess?"
Celestia rose from her throne, "Luna, Captain, please come with me. I believe I've just solved this mystery." Luna and Shining Armor looked at each other for a moment before following Celestia out of the throne room. They walked through the castle, out one of the rear entrances, and to the large dumpsters used for uneaten food and general waste.
Shining Armor looked around and said, "I do not understand why we are here Princess, the guards reported no sighting of the pony."
"Thou heardest this too sister," Luna chimed in.
At that Celestia turned around to the both of them, "I believe the reason why you haven't seen anypony come or go is because they've been here all this time." Using her magic, she moved the waste bins to reveal a crude pile of crushed cardboard boxes, worn and torn blankets, and under them both, a young yellow griffon with black chest fur and wings, a creamy yellow head, and short black feathers around both eyes.
The three ponies noticed he was wearing scraps of a green shirt and the tattered remains of old blue socks around both of his hind legs close to the paws. Shining Armor started towards the youngster, still asleep and unaware that he was discovered. The griffon was holding a plushie tightly to his chest, a plushie that looked exactly like him, except that it was wearing a brown vest.
"I never would've thought to look back here..." Shining Armor whispered.
As he was about to approach the griffon he was stopped by Celestia, "Princess?" He asked in confusion.
Celestia motioned for he and Luna to move away, "Captain, has anypony seen a griffon who looks like this in the city?" She asked quietly.
With a shake of his head he answered the princess at the same volume, "No, I haven't, nor has the guard. Why?"
"I would like you and the guard to ask around the city to see if anypony had seen a teenage griffon in the last two weeks." Celestia requested.
Shining Armor looked towards the griffon and back to her, "What of the griffon?" He asked.
"I will stay here and wait 'till he wakes." Celestia replied.
"No disrespect Princess, but this is not the place for somepony to stay at for long periods of time... It's not exactly the cleanest place in Canterlot." Shining Armor said as he looked around and got a good smell of the stink coming from the large dumpsters.
Luna also took a good sniff and shook her head, "Sister thou cannot be serious, this is not fit for a princess."
Celestia turned to the griffon, "It may not be, but I believe it to be–" Suddenly, a flash of green flame and a letter, appeared before Celestia. She opened it, seeing two tickets with it. She proceeded to quickly read the contents of the letter then giggled good naturedly, "Oh, Twilight..." She shook her head and summoned a new scroll and quill to appear. Writing out a brief response and putting four more tickets in it, sending it off to Spike, "Oh, I forgot about Spike," She said as she put another ticket into another scroll and sent that one too, "There, that should solve that problem."
Shining Armor then spoke up, "That it may, Princess, but how does that solve the new problem you created?" He asked.
"I created?" Celestia asked, confused by what the captain said. Shining Armor lifted his left forehoof and gestured behind her. She turned around to see the young griffon was wide awake and had huddled himself and the plushie into the furthest corner away from the three Ponies. He was shivering with fear, fear that was also shown on the griffon's face and in his golden brown eyes. That said it all. "Oh..."
The teenage griffon’s eyes shifted right and left, his heart pounding in his chest. He was scared, confused and trapped. His golden brown eyes searched for some way to escape from these strange creatures, holding the plush tightly while trying to back up with paws pushing and kicking slightly against the torn blankets and cardboard.
“It's okay. We won't harm you.” Celestia softly said, as she tried to reason with the young griffon.
“Princess, I believe it would be best to give the young griffon some space.” Shining Armor said in suggestion to Celestia.
Celestia could easily see the tension from him as he tried to back up further. “You are correct captain, all guards take a step back.” she ordered. They did as asked and the two princesses backed up as well.
The griffon relaxed a little, but that is when he noticed something just above him, a hole in the ceiling. Looking right at it, then back at them, he flared his wings open. With a push from them, he leapt up, grabbing ahold of the edge of the hole.
“Buck! He’s trying to escape!” Shining Armor exclaimed. By the time they could react, the griffon had already slipped through the hole in the ceiling.
Shining Armor used his magic to light up the hole, looking for any sign of the teenage griffon. “That can go anywhere inside the castle! All guards spread out and search every floor thoroughly for the griffon!”
“Yes sir!” They replied, then quickly split up to start their search for the young griffon. Shining Armor rushed to the princesses to join in the search for the griffon.
Luna and Celestia walked up to the hole, both looking up at it. “The young one is acting in fear, they could end up anywhere.”
Celestia kept looking at the hole in the ceiling. “This is my mess... I caused this problem unintentionally...” Celestia then walked away from the hole. “What am I to do Luna?”
“Walk Sister, clear your head. Rest. We will wait here.” Luna turned her gaze to the hole.
“Luna...”
“In thy state of mind, thou will try to do the right thing, but will not. Unintentionally or not, it is not your fault. Twilight Sparkle did not know, nor did you.” Luna stated without facing Celestia.
Celestia took in her words and turned to walk away. “If you find him-”
“We will inform you.”
“Thank you...” Celestia said, then left to go inside the castle.
Celestia walked towards her room, and with each hoof step her thoughts came back to those fearful eyes locked with her own. The way the teenager fled, and now guards rushing back and forth around her, searching for the griffon that was now in the castle itself weighing heavily on her mind.
Celestia stopped, looking out the window to the city of Canterlot. “How can I rest when my thoughts are stuck on that poor, terrified griffon? I know Luna means well, but how can I even think of resting?” She whispered to herself, while watching a few guards flying outside doing sweeps around the castle. With a few words exchanged between them, the guards parted ways.
Celestia shook her head softly, then turned to walk down the hall, but she noticed Cadance handing out some food to some of the guards. They thanked her with a salute of their free hoof before leaving to continue their search. “Cadance.”
“Aunt Celestia. Why are the guards searching every room from plant pot to ceiling lights?” Cadance asked, approaching Celestia. “I haven't seen the guard this tense in a long time. Even Shining Armor seems desperate to find whatever they are looking for.” Cadance added, as she turned her head to a guard passing by looking behind the drapes.
Celestia motioned with her head for Cadance to follow. “There is a young griffon and from the looks of him during our contact, he is roughly around late teens at my best guess. He is yellow, black and cream, with ill fitting scraps of clothing on, and he has a plush toy of himself.” Celestia described, as Cadance joined her aunt.
“The griffon is inside the castle somewhere. He quickly fled with fear and terror in his eyes, through a hole in the ceiling where we keep all the waste.” Celestia said, adding the finer details.
Cadance put a hoof out, stopping Celestia from walking. “Auntie, a griffon is a hybrid of two predatory species, raptor and feline. If any of the guards back him into a corner, you are going to have more than a terrified teenage griffon to deal with. He will lash out, clawing, pecking, biting to defend himself and whatever he feels the urge to protect, with every ounce of life he has in him.”
“Like a cat backed into a corner...” Celestia muttered, eyes drifting left and right, watching the guards rushing around them in groups of two. “I see your trip to Trottingham was a worthwhile trip.”
“It was auntie.”
Celestia turned her gaze to one guard that was sitting down, while eating the meal Cadance had given him. “Hmm...”
“With griffons and ponies living together on the Griffish Isle, you have to pick up on a few...” Cadance noticed Celestia wasn't paying attention. “Auntie are you liste-” She noticed where Celestia had her eyes locked on. “Ooooh.”
Both princesses walked up to the guard as he was in the middle of chewing a bite of the food. He didn't notice either of them now standing only a few feet from him, until he looked up. The guard swallowed hard, seeing that both princesses were looking down at him. “Erm... Am I in trouble your highnesses?”
Smiles crept onto their faces, making him feel even more nervous. “Why would a genius be in trouble?” Cadance asked, turning to Celestia. “Right?”
“Indeed. Why would we? And Breaker.”
“Yes?” The confused guard responded.
“Expect a raise.” Celestia told the guard, as she and Cadance walked away. “Cadance, find Shining Armor and bring him to my private dining room.” Celestia said. Cadance nodded, turning to the right as Celestia headed onwards down the hallway.
Breaker looked down at his meal and where the princesses went. “Genius? Raise? I'm sooooo confused.”
Cadance found Shining Armor brought to the private dining room to find Celestia at the table with blueprints of the castle rolled out. From hidden passageways, to each and every room throughout the ages, from construction to recent upgrades to the castle. “Where did all these construction blueprints come from? I have never seen these before.” Shining Armor asked, looking at each of them.
“These are my own personal blueprints of the castle. I gave them to the construction crews to build and improve the castle through the many years I've ruled.” Celestia replied in a calm manner. “Cadance brought you here because we both agree that searching high and low for the griffon in such an aggressive manner will result in many getting hurt or worse if they find him.”
“He will react badly.”
Shining Armor removed his helmet, placing it on the table. “I had that feeling myself. What do we do? He is inside the castle right this second. I am the captain of the guard, and have to do my duty Princess.”
Celestia looked over the plans. “That is why you are going to do your job with Princess Cadance's help.”
“With what exactly? All I have heard is that food is going to win him over.”
Celestia walked around the table looking over the blueprints. “I've got a plan that should work, if the pieces are in the right place.” Using her magic, she moved chess pieces onto the blueprints.
“Your guards going to focus on the far side of the castle and thin out towards here where we are right now.”
Shining Armor stared at the blueprints in confusion. “Princess, that would lead him right here. Is this what Cadance meant? You want to feed this griffon?”
“In a way, yes.” Celestia replied as she sat down on the far side of the table. “I know it will take most of the night to pull this off, but I believe we can do it. Princess Cadance will make sure to help create a channel that will lead the griffon to here. You and I will be waiting for him here after you have given the orders to the guard.”
Shining Armor was confused more than ever while taking note of the chess piece locations. “Princess with no disrespect but this teen, this griffon has been on the castle grounds for two weeks from what we know.” Shining Armor said as he walked around the table. “We do not know how he got here, or why he lived behind those dumpsters. But he has fled into the castle and-”
Cadance cut in. “Shiny, what did you see in his eyes before he fled?”
He turned to Cadance. “What does this have to do with the intruder?”
“Oh he is an intruder now?”
“Yes, for the last two weeks!” Shining Armor countered.
“Let me guess... your pride is damaged because the youngster been able to avoid you and the guard until now. Hmm?” Cadance mocked, now right in his face.
Shining Armor looked into his special somepony’s eyes and gulped. “M-maybe... No...” He nodded slightly. “Yes...” He finally said his true answer.
Cadance walked around him. “Shiny I love you, but you need to use that head of yours.” She tapped Shinings head with her hoof. “Now close your eyes think back to when you met him. What did you see?”
Shining Armor closed his eyes, thinking about then opened them in realization. “Terrifying fear...”
“If you saw an opening to escape would you take it?”
“Yes...”
“Now be a dear and tell the guard so I can do my part.” She kissed him on the snout and put his helmet back onto his head. “Please.”
Shining Armor rolled his eyes. “Fiiine...” Shining Armor said in resignation, then turned to Celestia and saluted. “I do not like this plan, but Cadance managed to sway me.” Cadance smiled slyly, just to the right of him. “I will inform the guard of Operation Bait and Breakfast.” He said, as he left the room.
Celestia raised an eye. “Bait and Breakfast? Interesting off the top of the head name for this operation.”
“It is a Sparkle Family thing.” Cadance replied with a smile. “I will do my part, and tell Shiny to enjoy his breakfast.” Cadance said, turning to leave the room too.
Celestia started cleaning up the table and looked back at the door. “I wonder when Shining is going to drop the question.” Celestia smiled, shaking her head. “Better get everything set up and ready for our young griffon friend.” Celestia hummed to herself as she started to get everything set up for breakfast, using her magic moving sheets over the table top and put the chairs in place.
Shining Armor walked back in, seeing Celestia setting everything up. “I've informed the guards of the plan, and they will make sure to not go after him if spotted. They will make openings that should lead him here...” Shining Armor paused. “...If it goes to plan.” He said as he finished reporting to Celestia “I still don't understand this plan of yours Princess...”
“I am trying to make up for the mistake that I made when rushing to send those letters off. If I thought before I had, the young griffon wouldn't be in the castle running around and hiding from all the guards...”
“Also I think he'd be sick of eating food waste by now.” Celestia said without looking at Shining Armor, but turned to him to ask a question. “Pancakes with syrup and whipped cream. How does that sound?”
“I do have to admit, it sounds tasty.” Shining Armor replied, using his magic to help prepare the table. “I never thought being captain of the guard would lead to directing an intruder to your private dining room to have breakfast...”
“I have to agree with you on that part. Think of him as a scared and terrified guest.” Celestia replied with a laugh.
Shining Armor had confusion once more written on his face. “Urm... Sure your highness...” Shining Armor had to press on with the subject at hoof. “In all seriousness your majesty, why are you taking such a keen interest in this teenage griffon? I don't see anything special about him, apart from carrying a plush toy of himself and wearing what looks like ill fitted clothing for a griffon to wear.”
Celestia simply replied with “I believe you've just answered your own question captain.”.
The captain closed his eyes once again, picturing the griffon’s, his clothing and plush. His eyes opened as he realised that he'd overlooked a few minor factors about the griffon. “That plush... It looked too well made.”
“Exactly. The clothing and the plush are two parts of the question that has been building. Another is why was he so terrified of ponies?”
Shining Armor took off his helmet and placed it on the side table by the wall. “He was wasn't he?” Celestia nodded. “Why?”
Celestia brought a mixing bowl over with her magic and gave it to Shining Armor, who took it with his magic. “Two questions I can not answer. Maybe... Just maybe having breakfast with us might allow him to relax and not be so fearful of us, to the point we can get answers.” Celestia picked up her own bowl. “Now follow my instructions and we will prepare breakfast.”
He look at the bowl, floating in his magic and back to Celestia. “Princess I-” She gave him a stern look. “Okay... Don't demote me if this goes wrong.” He muttered as Celestia started to show and tell him what to do, as she did it herself while hinting at him to follow.
Not paying much attention to what Celestia said, he stared at the inside of the bowl. “I'm doomed...” He whispered.
Deep in the castle catacombs, the young griffon flapped his wings as flew. Landing on the ground, he looked around for where to go next. He looked at the burning torches above him, around the stony ceiling and down to the floor. The sound of hoofsteps nearby got closer, and with a soft squawk the griffon walked backwards while trying to find a way out, bumping into a pressure switch.
The wall to his right opened up, causing him to jump and turn around. Standing on two paws and one talon, with the other holding the plush tightly to himself, the passageway opened up and gave him the chance to slip through. As he did, the wall closed up as the guards entered. The six of them looked around with one noticing a feather by the wall. “Sir.” He said as he showed it.
The other guard replied with a nod. “Nothing here, let's move on.” They left, to keep searching.
The wall opened up with the griffon looking around seeing they had moved on. Breathing in relief he quickly moved off in the opposite direction of them, heading up some stairs to find himself in a large and open corridor.
Red carpets with white pillars. Violet tapestries hung from each pillar. Large, white windows, with the view of the city, with lamps between to light up night time activities. The griffon looked around then he squawked in fear, seeing a few guards nearby.
Quickly moving towards a pillar, he hid behind it as the guards turned in his direction. They walked until they were near him, one pointing to the tail. Another nodded and they moved away, the griffon peering around to see them walking away. Not waiting around he ran the opposite direction, away from them.
Throughout the hours that passed, the griffon kept playing hide and seek with the guards. When saw him, the guards kept creating openings for him to take. Cadance watched from a tower with two guards, seeing him heading in the direction they planned for. “Princess I am very surprised this plan is working.” A female guard stated with surprise.
Cadance used the telescope watch him through the windows as he passed them. “He has been on the move for hours. He is scared of us ponies for some reason, and must be tired too, so he may not be thinking very clearly.”
The other guard in dark grey armor spoke. “Why is he scared of us?”
“That I do not know.” Cadance replied as she turned away from the telescope. “Continue playing our part of the plan, and let my auntie handle it okay?” Cadance looked back into the telescope. “The final act is a go. Make the final push.” She raised her hoof to give others the signal too, from a distance.
They saluted. “Yes princess.” Then the two guards left the balcony.
“Okay auntie, the ball is in your and Shiny's court...” Cadance said to herself, having lost sight of the young griffon. Looking out to the land far and below, she watched the sun start to rise. “As the sun rises, a new morning comes. Shall we start a new and start fresh...”
The young griffon noticed the sun starting to shine through some of the windows. This gave him the warning of shadows from the guards nearby. He ran from them, noticing more in front. Sliding to a stop, he turned to the only path that was left...
...and rushed right down the hallway towards a set of large double doors.
The sound of hoof steps got closer from behind. He pushed at the doors that easily opened and turned around to close them just as the guards came into view. He let out a breath of relief, having escaped the guards, but when he turned a surprised squawk came from him, seeing that he was not alone.
Celestia warmly smiled and pointed a hoof to the far end chair. “We have been expecting you young one. Come and take a seat, there are some freshly cooked pancakes for you.” Celestia said making the offer to the young griffon.
He stared at her and Shining Armor sitting at the table. One thing that confused him at the sight of this was Shining Armor was covered with cream coloured pastry stuck on his fur, mane and armour.
Even with that he wanted to run, but looked back through the crack of the door to see the guards now present at the end of the hallway.
Closing it back up the griffon looked to the table in the middle of the room again, the smell of fresh food and general welcome from Celestia, with the messy state of Shining Armor now muddling his mind.
Sit at the table and eat with these strange creatures, or flee to try and escape though the maze of hallways. One thing that was weighing more to the first option, was the delightful smell of a freshly cooked stack of pancakes.
He was trapped in a conflicted state of mind.
The doors in the middle far side opened with Luna walking in, using her magic to pick up a few apples from the bowl. “Morning sister. Care to join us?”
“Tired... Smell of trash... Griffon not found... Going to have a bath... Then bed...” Luna muttered, biting into the first apple and walking towards the griffon, who quickly shifted to the wall, pinning himself to it.
The door opened with her magic, his eyes widening from the glow from her horn to the door, but Luna completely ignored him, or didn't even notice him as she walked through. The doors closed with the same magical glow.
Shining Armor and Celestia stared at the closed doors with dumbfounded looks upon their faces.
The young griffon blinked a few times, unable to process what had just happened...
Celestia turned her attention to the young griffon that was still staring at the closed door. “Are you going to stare at the door or join us young one?” Celestia asked, giving the teenage griffon a call sign of 'young one' until she knew of his name.
The tilt of his head and not moving from the wall showed that he either didn't completely understand or still had little to no trust in her or Shining Armor. She opened up one wing and flapped it a few times in his direction, blowing the smell of hot pancakes towards him. He sniffed the air, his stomach grumbling with his free talon hand over it.
Celestia kept her genuine smile. “We are sitting on the far side so you can have your room. Please sit.” She gestured to the chair on the far side of the table.
He still didn't move, staring at her. “I don't think he believes you Princess...”
Celestia closed her eyes her horn glowing, then all doors gently opened up in the room at once. The griffon watched all of them open, looking back at her quickly, then at all the doors to see guards standing by each door like statues.
He quickly shifted away from them, but none of the guards reacted to him, which caused him to pause his movement.
“You may leave if you wish. I won't stop you, nor will the guards.” She gestured to the doors. “I won't force you young one.”
Shining Armor quickly turned to Celestia. “Princess Celestia wh-” She gestured a hoof up to him and he went quiet. The griffon tilted his head, watching Shining Armor go silent. He quickly looked back at the doorway, slowly walking up to it until he stood between the guards, looking to the right to the left as they seem to not even look at him.
The griffon turned around to one standing up on his hind legs waved his free talon close to the snout of the guard, getting no response. With a chip and soft squawk, he sounded confused by the lack of reaction “Hmm...” Celestia said to herself and Shining, looking to be deep in thought. “I don't think he can speak...”
The griffon got down back on his free talon and his paw feet to turn towards the table. “It sure seems like it, and the plan appears to be working....” Shining Armor's, doubts lingering, and turned to the griffon himself after what he just saw.
Celestia raised a cup of tea to her lips. “I was in doubt too.” Celestia replied sensing his doubts. “The guard being stationed after he arrived to gave him an option to stay or go was a risky one.” Celestia said, as she drank some of her tea, watching the griffon walk over to the table slowly while looking at each of the doors as they closed back up. “But I am glad it paid off.”
The teenager walked up to the seat that was gestured to by Celestia at first, then he put the plush down on the edge of the table and climbed up onto the chair to sit on it. He looked to the pile of pancakes, seeing the syrup oozing over them, to the whipped cream picture of a griffon face on it.
He had a very questioning look about it and looked to Celestia.
“I got a bit creative. Hope you don't mind.” Celestia giggled, seeing a slight smile from the griffon. “You have a nice smile young one.” She softly told him, causing him to blush shyly, a wing covering his face. Celestia stifled a laugh, a hoof to her snout.
A quick confused look came from him a few seconds afterwards.“I am sorry. It’s just good to see you are not running away. I see you are still a bit wary of us, from the way you were looking around.”
The griffon set his wing back to his side and looked confused again. “It look like he understands to a point, but loses track.” Shining Armor observed, and was having more doubts about the griffon, his suspicions growing.
“It seems so Shining Armor.” Celestia agreed, using her magic to pick up the knife and folk, the griffon seeming to act a bit fearful of the magic. “It’s okay. I am only using them to cut and eat my pancakes, see?” She put the fork into the pancakes, than cut them with the knife before picking up the bite of pancakes, putting them in her mouth and chewing.
He looked down at the knife and folk reaching out to each with his talons. Holding them, he watched what she did and tries to mimic the movement of the knife and fork, making a bit of a mess. He growled a little and tried again, until a bit of a messy mix of whipped cream, pancakes and syrup were stuck on the fork.
Putting it into his beak, he pulled the fork out, chewing on it. His eyes widened as the flavour exploded in his mouth. Chirping with a slight whistle, he swallowed and licked his beak, the griffon eagerly eating some more.
“Would you like something to drink?” Celestia asked. He looked up after a few more mouthfuls, his beak messy. The feathers around the beak also covered in whipped cream and syrup, blinking a few times.
Celestia using her magic float over two jugs to him. “This one is orange and this one is apple.” She pointed a hoof to each. “Which would you like in the glass?” He tilted his head. “Hmm... Smell and see which you like, like this.” She brought them back to her and sniffed at them, then placed both to the left of his plate.
The griffon leaned over to the orange filled jug, taking a sniff, he instantly recoiled with a scrunched up beak, shaking his head and pawed at his nostrils with his talons.
“I think he hates the smell of orange juice.” Shining Armor stated. “And didn't know that griffons had teeth in their beaks, let alone that they could scrunch them like a pony's muzzle.”
Celestia pulled the jug away and poured the apple juice into the glass. “Apple juice it is.” She said as she turned to Shining Armor. “Well at least we getting somewhere.”
“I don't know princess... Maybe he is playing dumb.” Shining Armor suggested, looking back over to the griffon as he picked up the glass with both talons to sniff at it then drank some.
“He seems to know the basics well enough, maybe the two weeks and the runaround was all a ploy...” Shining Armor's doubts growing about the true extent of the young griffon. The griffon happily ate more pancakes, squawking happily, his wings fluttering.
“Captain Armor, we know very little about him.”
“That’s the point princess. My doubts about him are because of the plush. I didn't say anything because I was uncertain, but now I think he maybe playing us.” Shining Armor whispered to Celestia.
Celestia look directly at the captain before something came to mind. Yes. I can use this to gain the trust of the young griffon. Maybe this will work.
The thought that came to mind allow Shining Armor to continue, to see if he would do what she'd thinks he will do. “You’re playing us for a foal, aren't you?” He raised his voice at the griffon, the young one’s head rising up and swallowing hard when he saw the look Shining Armor had.
“That plush is too well made you-” As he got off the chair, the griffon instantly grabbed his plush and with a beat of his wings, moved backwards, knocking over the chair and squawking in panic.
“CAPTAIN SHINING ARMOR!!!” Celestia used her Royal Canterlot Voice. The griffon covered his ears quickly, closing his eyes. As soon as the echoing stopped, he opened his eyes to see the white stallion flinched and showing slight fear on his face and eyes.
Shining Armor slowly turned around to an angry looking Celestia. “Sit back down and leave the griffon alone! If the young one approaches, you will be able to talk to him! Not the other way around! Understood!?”
“Bu-”
“Understood!?” She repeated, pointing to the chair.
Shining Armor's ears flattened, and he looked to the floor. “Yes, your majesty.” He dragged his hooves as he walked back to the seat and sat back down on it.
The griffon watched and relaxed, as Celestia smiled towards him. He went back to the table, grabbed hold of the chair and pushed it back up. He still watched Shining Armor now eating his pancakes and not even looking up. “Sorry if I went overboard, but I think this may work in our favour.” Celestia whispered to Shining Armor, using her magical mane as a cover to block her face and mouth while speaking to the captain.
Shining Armor glanced to her quickly without a word, then back to his food, until he felt something near him. Shining Armor slowly looked to his right, to see the young griffon holding his plush while looking directly at him. ‘Okay…’ Was the only thought he had at seeing this.
The griffon pointed to the other side of the table, chirping and squawking as if he was trying to give a command. Shining Armor smiled at seeing that he was trying to copy Celestia. “Nice try kiddo, but it’s going to take more than that.” He said. The griffon pouted and then tried another idea that came to him.
Shining Armor drunk a little, only to spit it back out into the glass when he saw the massive eyes and sad look the griffon was giving him. “Okay that is cute and-” He instantly pauseed. “Can you stop! That is creeping me out!”
The Griffon kept doing it for a whole minute, which felt like an eternity to Shining Armor.
Shining Armor quickly got up from his seat and used his magic to pick up his drink and plate. “Fine fine! I'll move! Please just stop!”
The griffon smiled and chirped happily as Shining took his new seat, Celestia laughing now that the tables were turned. This griffon was learning fast and had used a cute charm attack to get the captain to move chairs.
Also her plan was working, the griffon felt slightly safer with Celestia now.
The griffon put the soft plush by Celestia, which she looked to as he flew over to the side he sat at, taking the plate and glass. He returned to the seat Shining Armor had been at, and sat there after putting his plate and glass down, looking up at Celestia with a big cheeky grin on his beak.
“Feeling not so scared of me and Shining?” Celestia asked. He looked over to Shining, still a little wary, but not too much. He reached out with a flat talon out, twisting it left and right slightly.
“That’s either a maybe or so-so...” Celestia said, surprised by how he seemed to understand her now, compared to a few minutes ago. “How can you understand me better now than before?” He gave a confused shrug. “This is very strange...” Celestia muttered as she rubbed the underside of her snout.
Shining Armor looked over from the other side. “That’s why I had my doubts Princess, and thought he was playing on it.” The griffon cooed looking down at his plate sadly. “Wow you really did pick up on what we said quickly... How?” He gave a confused look at the captain. “Not sure are you?” The griffon haked of the head.
“Hmm... Do you know what happened, or how you came to be in Canterlot?” He gave a confused look as if he had never heard of the city. Celestia was surprised. “You do know you’re in a castle?” Still confused. “Do you know what a castle is?” He shook his head.
“Village?” Shining Armor asked, getting a shake again.
Celestia was next to speak. “Town?” He shaked his head once more.
“City?” Another shake from the griffon, as he groaned and rubbed the back of his neck.
Celestia gestured to the food and drink. “Drink your apple juice and eat your breakfast, okay? Don't worry about not knowing.” He nodded and started to eat again. Celestia looked over to Shining Armor. “This is very mysterious...”
“I'll say Princess... He understands us speaking, but not exactly what we are saying. Not knowing about settlements from small to large? How is that possible?” Shining Armor as well as Celestia were confused by this new development.
Celestia looked to her own food. “We can think about it after we have eaten. Having him sit by me is an achievement in and of itself.”
“Understood, your highness.” Shining Armor went back to eating his breakfast, but kept glancing at the cheerful griffon eating his breakfast, The questions the captain had were mounting, and if he had to guess, Celestia also shared them.
Throughout the exchange, the griffon still didn't know exactly what they were saying, or how he started to understand them all of a sudden. It was bits and pieces until he knew exactly what they were saying for word for word, but many of the words he didn't even understand. From ‘the castle’, ‘village’ and other words spoken by them.
Something about the one that was called 'Highness, princess, and majesty' by the one called Shining Armor... he felt a bit safer as he sat by her now, since she'd protected him from the Shining Armor creature, from what he witnessed in the way she told him off.
Drinking what she called apple juice, it tasted and smelled better than the other overpowering juice he smelt, that had a taste in the air that made him shudder. He finished off the ‘breakfast’, as they called it, with a happily filled belly.
“Enjoyed it did you?” He nodded. She gestured to the napkin as she used her own to wipe around her snout. “Now you do it, young one.” The griffon picked up the napkin opening it up. He wiped it around his beak and feathers, then pulled it way to look at the mess now on it.
He put it down on the empty plate, but one thing that got him curious was the waving stuff from her head, now staring at with his eyes following with the movement.
Celestia noticed his eyes moving up and down. “You’re looking at my mane?” He blinked a few times and turned his eyes to her own. He nodded. “Curious about it?” He nodded again and reached out to it. She lowered her head to allow him to touch her mane.
He laughed slightly from the feel of it through his talons.
Celestia smiled, but suddenly there was a sharp gasp. Celestia moved away quickly, and saw him staring out to space with eyes shrunk to pin pricks. “Young one... are you okay?” No response came, and she watched as his eyes roll upwards.
His eyes closed, and he fell backwards, pulling the chair over with him, Celestia tried to catch him with her magic, only to feel parts of the telekinetic spell being cancelled out around the scraps of clothing. This resulted in the griffon landing on his back unconscious, but her magic softened it.
Shining Armor knocked over his own chair while jumping up onto the table then off it to land next to the griffon. “Princess, what happened!?”
“I-He-I-” Celestia stuttering.
“PRINCESS!”
She blinked and shook her head. “Sorry...” Celestia looked down to the griffon.
“I don't know. He touched my mane when I let him, then suddenly gasped and passed out! I tried to stop him from falling but the clothing... it interfered with my magic!” Celestia said with worry.
Shining Armor put the right side of his head against the griffon's chest, listening for a heartbeat. He heard and felt it. Shining raised his head. “Princess, he is still breathing! We need to get him to Canterlot General right away! I don't want to take any chances!”
“Right! I will teleport all of us there at-”
“Princess, if the clothes interfered with your magic, teleporting won't work!” Shining Armor quickly tried to pick up the soft toy with his magic, but it fizzled out around the soft toy. “Princess, take the plush with your wing. I will carry the griffon!” He commanded as he put his head under the griffon and pushed the griffon onto his back.
Celestia picked up the plush with her wing. “Why am I carrying the toy?” Celestia asked.
Shining Armor noticed her mane stopped flowing as if the magic from it was being interfered with. “Your mane.”
“My mane?” She looked and noticed. “Well...”
“If that plush can cancel out magic, it is not safe to leave here.” Shining Armor quickly said, Celestia now getting the point.
Celestia knew the captain was right as looked at the plush she now held in her wing.
He quickly rushed to the doors opening them with his hooves. “Private Spirit! Get any four pegasi guards and meet us out by the chariot! Get the rest to clear the airspace from the palace to Canterlot General! This is Alpha One priority!”
The earth pony saw the unconscious griffon on the captain's back and saluted. “Right away, Captain!”
“Damn the salute and go!” Shining Armor screamed out, as the guard galloped down the corridor. “Princess, let's go. By the time we get there, the Pegasus guard should be ready to get us to the hospital!” Celestia didn't say a word but nodded as they both galloped down the hallway towards the chariot outside.
Celestia looked at the teenage griffon that was unconscious on Shining Armor's back as they galloped, and all that could come to her own mind was...
Inside a private waiting room of the hospital, three ponies waited. Walls painted with green hills, blue skies and white clouds, along with green floor tiles.
Shining Armor and another guard watched Celestia pace past them from one side of the room to the other. She muttered something to herself that they couldn't quite hear from the seats they sat on as she walked past them again.
The guard whispered to Shining Armor. “Captain, a few years ago, I saw her like this back in the throne room when it was about your sister.”
Shining Armor gave a light sigh. “Oh I know... Princess Celestia was like this a week ago.” He took a look around the room. “In fact in this very... Room.” He stared at the article of ruined clothes and plush.
“Princess, what are we going to do about these?” He asked, hinting to the very items on the table side beside him. “They are heavily resistant to magic and need to be dealt with.”
Celestia stopped her pacing and turned to address Shining Armor. “We will return them to the young one, captain.”
Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect Princess, I need to have a good reason before giving the griffon back something that can easily interfere with both active and passive magic.” Shining Armor hinted to the flickering light from the lamp that was affected by the said items.
The guard looked past Shining Armor at the items and frowned. “How is that even possible? Fabric and stuffing shouldn't be resistant to magic.”
“Indeed you are correct Sergeant Blue Star. Yet for some strange reason they are.” Celestia answered, speaking directly to the grey unicorn guard. “And yes, I was in this state of worry a few years back when you asked your fellow guard pony the question. As I quote. 'Are we supposed to say something?' Am I correct?”
He slipped almost off the seat when she quoted that very thing. “Y-Yes your majesty...”
Celestia raised her hoof. “At ease Sergeant. I am open to all subjects of thought about these items and the young one. The captain has voiced his uneasiness already about the path that I am taking.” Celestia glanced at Shining Armor.
“However I have never seen anything like this in my long life...” Celestia added.
Blue Star blinked. “Ne-never?”
She shook her head. “I may have lived far longer than most in this world Blue Star, but I am not as all knowing as many think I am.” Celestia smiled. “As you’ve seen I've been in a panicked state twice in the last few years.”
“I-I see what you mean Princess...”
“Princess” Both of them turned to Shining Armor. “Something needs to be done.”
“And it will Captain.”
“I am just doing what a captain needs to do for both yours and other ponies protection.” Shining Armor stated.
“As we already know, those items could bring harm to many, if they were to fall into the wrong hooves. I would rather see them-” The door opened before he could finish the sentence about the plush and clothing.
They all turned to see a cobalt blue unicorn with a silvery white mane and tail, wearing a doctor's coat, with a cutie mark of a magnifying glass over a magical set of stars magnified by the glass. “Doctor Trace!?” Celestia and Shining Armor said unison, surprised to see him.
Doctor Trace already knew about them from statements given to the nurses that he had on him including the results. “Top of the class twenty years ago in detecting magic, as well as mastery of transfiguration magic at your school Princess Celestia.” He said, with a hint of sarcasm.
He walked up to a seat and sat down on it. “Ten years later you specially requested my services for the Captain's parents to be tested for said magic. Another ten years later I am called from Manehatten to Canterlot, for your sister that no pony knew about till a week before, which was after the extended night and the Mare of the Moon vanishing.”
He continued to speak to them, without letting them have a chance to respond as the irritation grew in his voice.
“Just before I was about to leave from filing my report in, I got an Pegasus guard storming in shouting out the highest alert from the castle that a patient is coming in.” Doctor Trace said, looking annoyed. “I took charge instead of going home, and now I wish I had gone home after what I have found.”
He used his magic to pull a sheet of paper up, looking at it. “Three times in ten years I've been caught up in something strange and no longer see this as a coincidence. The chances of that are astronomical.”
Celestia and Shining Armor looked at each other with confusion. “I don't follow...” Shining Armor said, seeming oblivious to the connection presented by the doctor.
“I am surprised to see you here. We brought the griffon here because we feared he had a reaction to Princess Celestia's magic.” Shining Armor stated. “How is this connected to my parents and Princess Luna?”
Doctor Trace rolled his eyes slightly. “Okay I will play along.”
The three ponies stared in confusion,Trace took a look at the papers. “It as you said in this statement you've given, you believe the griffon did have a reaction to said magic.” The blue unicorn ran a hoof over it. “However, the griffon is in perfect health.”
“Perfect health? But the young one has been eating out of the food waste for the last two weeks!” Celestia exclaimed in surprise.
“That is true Princess, but from the look at his health, I say he took what was thrown in on a daily basis. So even if it would taste nasty, it would be edible and not spoiled.” Doctor Trace informed her.
Celestia was relieved. “That is good news, doctor.”
Doctor Trace pressed the subject he had in mind. “Indeed Princess. Now... what are you two not telling me?”
Shining Armor was still oblivious as was the Princess, but Blue seemed to be catching on. “Not telling you? I said everything in the report that you got from the nurse.”
“Fine... I'll continue to play your game.” Doctor Trace said with a sigh.
Going over the report, he shared his findings. “I believe from what I read in both of your statements about his reaction to the magic, it is something I have seen in those with memory loss when regaining an traumatic memory, or are overwhelmed by a wave of memories.” Looking to Celestia he spoke on. “So indirectly, this was caused by touching your mane, the magic setting it off. That is what I believe.”
Celestia felt dejected at the news. “So my magic did harm him...”
“Indirectly Princess.” Doctor Trace specifically stated. “There was no way of knowing that he would react to your magic like this.”
Blue Star was listening to them talk and it finally clicked as to what Doctor Trace was pressing towards. “Doctor, you said you specialize in magic detection and transfigurations, correct?”
“That is my specialization.” Doctor Trace answered, now focused his attention on Blue Star
“And you said this was the third time.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going somewhere with this Sergeant?” Shining Armor asked, turning towards Blue Star.
Blue Star answered. “I am Captain. You two are so concerned about the griffon that you didn't pay attention to what Doctor Trace said when he'd walked in.” Blue Star turned to the doctor.
Doctor Trace smiled. “I like you, youngster. You listened and paid attention.” Doctor Trace now had a serious look upon his face. “Now, we can press on with the serious matter at hoof.”
“Please tell us.” Celestia requested.
“I ran a scan of his body, and nearly had to max out my magic to complete it. He is too perfect of a griffon in every way.”
“Too perfect?” Celestia repeated those words. “Are you suggesting that he wasn't a griffon?”
“Indeed. I think the ill-fit of clothing was the easiest clue to that.” He hinted to the scraps of clothes by Shining Armor, seeing how they had overlooked the simplest of details.
“An extremely powerful transfiguration spell, unlike anything I know of or have seen must have been used on the poor teenager for the magic in his body to still be faintly present at this time.”
Shining Armor looked at the clothes, then back at Doctor Trace. “Do you know what he looked like originally from the magic you found in him?”
“Faintly. He could belong to any of the bipedal races.” Trace used his magic to bring up a grid image of the griffon on it and show what looked bipedal being beside it, but it was a very degraded image. The being couldn't be made out clearly, and could belong to any of the bipedal races in Equestria or outside of it.
Celestia looked at the magical display before it disappeared. “I see what you mean, there are many from what I know of, so knowing what he may have been would be very difficult to discover.”
“Indeed, now shall I continue?”
“You may.”
“Whatever level of magic did this, it put even your magic level of power to shame Princess. The level used was most likely torturous... Being melted alive by lava would be the best way to describe the pain he must have felt.”
Celestia's gaze suddenly seemed to just bypass Doctor Trace, staring off into space as she heard what he just said. “To-to-torturous...” The word barely escaped her snout.
“How can you be sure of this?” Shining Armor demanded.
“I can't, but from everything I have gathered, it seems the most likely explanation” Trace showed all the papers to Shining Armor.
“From tests and statements, to how long ago he was turned into a griffon. The traces of the original form are far too gone to recover...” He explained, having paused to directly look Shining Armor in the eyes with his golden yellow ones.
“The clothing and that plush are like him, resistant to our magic.”
“What!?” The two guards were surprised by this. Celestia was non-responsive.
“You heard me!” Doctor Trace confirmed what he said and continued to speak.
“I found that even if he isn’t as resistant to magic now, he still is partially resistant due to the traces of his true self that remain. He was a being that showed little effect from our form of magic. In fact, I would go as far as to say he was on the opposite side of the magical spectrum.”
Shining Armor got up off the chain. “That is impossible!”
Doctor Trace walked right up to him, putting the folder down on the table. Now only a foot of air was between them the doctor spoking once more. “Shining Armor, everything has an opposite for balance.”
“Without balance there would be no reaction, no way of progress, no point in life. Not all opposites are good, such as the dark forces that would rip us a new one and take over the kingdom, as some have tried in the past.”
“So...” He lifted his hoof up and poked it against Shining Armor's chest plate a few times. “Don't you dare question my findings. I have twenty years of experience and this! THIS….” He pointed to the door he'd come through.
“...Is a whole new level of magic that I have never felt before! Whoever did this used magic to not only change that poor griffon into what he will be for the rest of his life, but ripped him apart in such a way that when he was put back together as a griffon, his memories were most likely scrambled! The way he has been acting since you found him is most likely because of that!”
Doctor Trace growled and turned to Princess Celestia, looking directly up at her, leaving Shining Armor lost in his own thoughts about the words spoken by the doctor.
“Promise me that you will find the ass that did this, Princess Celestia! I have been patient and calm as best I can, but now I tremble at the thought of that kind of magic out there! If they can use magic that interferes with our own magic with ease, to do this to a poor soul like that griffon... I do not want to think about what it could do to one of us.”
Celestia slowly turned to the plush and clothes. “Tortured... Transformed by transfiguration against his will... A teenager tortured...” She was trembling with fear and pain from what she just learned.
“Princess?” Shining Armor asked, seeing the pain in her eyes.
“I want answers captain...” She turned to the captain. “I want whoever did this to be found!” Celestia's rage wasn't just by just words, but by the burst of magic coming from her.
Shining Armor lowered his foreleg as the magic burst died down. “Of course, but where do we start?” Shining Armor asked.
Celestia thought about the reports of blue light and lightning that were seen throughout the city after Luna was restored. “Talk to everypony in the city about the morning of two weeks ago. The morning of the blue light and lightning. Any clue that can be found could be the answer we need to figuring this out.”
Shining Armor saluted. “At once Princess, but what about you?”
Celestia turned to Blue Star, ignoring Shining's question. “I have a special task for you Sergeant.” She leaned down and whispered into his right ear. “Got it?”
Blue Star saluted. “Yes Princess.” He took the remains of the clothing and departed at once.
Celestia turned to Doctor Trace. “Take me to the young one please...” She picked up the plush with her wing. “And I promise.”
Doctor Trace smiled slightly having gotten the promise he wanted. “Follow me.” He said, heading for the door and gesturing for her to follow. Celestia nodded, following the Doctor towards the door.
“Princess!” Shining Armor exclaimed, his voice raised to get her attention.
Celestia stopped without looking at the captain. “I must do what I can to protect the young one from anymore harm.” Celestia then hinted for the doctor to keep leading.
Shining Armor was soon left alone in the waiting room. “Scrambled memories... Can't speak. Rapid understanding... Not knowing what we are or where he is?”
“Now it makes sense...” He whispered to himself.
“That kind of damage to the mind may take days, weeks, months or even years to heal... What sick being would torture a teenager?” No answers came to his mind.
He looked to the empty spot on the table. “Princess I hope you know what you’re doing...” Shining thought back to Blue Star taking the scraps of clothing away. “...and what do you have planned with the griffon's clothes?”
With no answer coming to mind, Shining sighed and turned to walk to the door of the waiting room. “I have never seen you like this. I don't think anypony has.”
Shining Armor left the waiting room, to start on finding the answers Celestia wanted as the mystery of the young griffon deepened.
Laughter came from the darkness, nothing but darkness. The sound of hooves on stone echoed through out the blackness. “Time may not pass but it shall. I have got what I needed and now the time has come. The magic of the mountain will be mine!”
Two glowing golden and black auras around two horns shimmer lightning up his face showing an evil stare and smile. Shifting from left to right the same shimmer came from six objects all around. “Now the final steps. This will hurt a lot.” He laughed as the magic flared up.
The griffon eyes snap out with him screaming out sitting up looking around breathing heavily, his eyes shifting around the unknown room rapidly. Before he could get his bearings one of those hoofed beings with a white hat and red cross on it came in a hurry.
He squawked and growled at it backing up on the soft unknown object he woke up on.
“Calm down I'm a nurse, I heard you scream and ca-” He backed up against the bed backrest as the nurse pony tried to calm him down, to only get a more defensive squawking and growling at her.
She could see his heart rate was going through the roof on the heart display.
The nurse quickly backed up to the door way hoping this would work and calm him down. It was the first thing she could think of and just as she did he seem to slightly relax with the heart rate dropping.
“Sweet Celestia...” She whispered. “How the hay am I suppose to do my job if being in the same room as the poor griffon will freak him out?”
A set of hoof steps came to her left. Those steps was Princess Celestia and Doctor Trace. “D-Doctor, Princess. I-I-well-”
“From your reaction Nurse Pink Heart. I gather the young griffon is awake and alert?” Doctor Trace calmly spoke to the white mare with pink mane and tail and eyes.
She glance into the room. “Alert... Yes... Awake... Screaming.” She sighed. “I tried to help the poor thing and he-”
“Freaked out and backed up as far as he could?” Celestia interrupts.
“Yes...” Pink Heart lower her head.
Celestia use her hoof to raise the head back up gentle. “Nurse it not your fault. He did the same thing with me, my sister and Captain Shining Armor.” Celestia gave a light smile.
“It took all night with misdirections to get him in the same room as us for breakfast. I haven't slept in over 30 hours.” The nurse now noticed the dark circles under Celestia's eyes.
Pink Heart turn back to the room. “Could you maybe try to tell him that I won't hurt him and that my job is to make him feel better. Please?”
Celestia nods. “I will try.” She turn and walk into the room, both nurse and doctor watching as the griffon calming down even more.
“Hmm... An imprint of trust has be placed on the princess.” He took notice of the sadness fallen on the griffon as Celestia approached. Trace didn't say anything else as he observed with Pink Heart.
Celestia noticed he was looking up for a second and quickly looking down towards the talons, he held the sheets firmly. “Do you think your in trouble?” She asked gentle.
He nods without making eye contact, Celestia sits by his bedside. “Your not young one.” He rose his head slowly and his eyes meet with the eyes of his own plush. “I believe this will make you more comfortable.”
The griffon lean forwards take it with his talons and held it close to him, lowering his head to rub it against the soft plush to his short feathered face. “Doctor Trace.” He look up to Celestia. “He said there was two things that might of happened to you...” She sighed.
He blinked a few times tilting his head. “When you touched my magic through the mane. You might of remembered a lot of things or something very scary and terrible.” Celestia didn't say tortured to the griffon, she thought it was best not mention that word.
The flashes of the two horn magic and laughed came before his eyes, quickly the griffon shook his head to get those frightening images out of his mind.
Celestia saw the fear and the way he acted. “Something terrible wasn't it?” He looked up with tears falling from his eyes down through his cream feathers to his beak.
Celestia closed her eyes breathing in and letting it out with an anger blow through her nostrils. “Young one I promise you whatever did this to you, will not hurt you again. I will protect you with every ounce of magic I have.”
Using her magic to bring over a tissue to wipe his tears away, the plush was a good twenty or so centimetres away but didn't effect her magic as much. The griffon reached out to her and in kind Celestia lean down, she put her hoof around his back gentle and let him hug into her neck crying. “Go on let it out. Cry my little griffon.”
Trace and Pink Heart watch the griffon cry for what seem forever till he finally stopped with Celestia using more tissues to wipe the tears away. She place one over his beak. “Go and blow little griffon.” He did so and Celestia put all the tissue waste in the bin.
“Now do not worry about what you remembered and let me ask a few basic questions that I can answer for you. Okay?” He nods with a smile now present.
“A promise can I keep?”
“NO! I will keep! This young one has been through too much. Now I believe what Doctor Trace said to be true. Somepony or something out there did this to him and I will not allow whatever did this to do it again to him or any other.” She thought with a promise that intended to kept.
Celestia decided to start with him. “You are a griffon.” He blinked and point to himself with a finger. “Yes your a hybrid race. Made up of a feline and an avian species.” Celestia uses her magic to create a grid before him.
The griffon looked surprised by it. She point to the griffon and he nods. “That is your kind. A griffon.” Two other races a cat and a bird appear. “This is what you are made up of. Half feline or cat, which ever you prefer to call it and avian or bird.” The two merge and turn into a griffon.
Celestia now change it to three ponies. “I and those over there are called ponies.” He nod. “I am also like you.”
The griffon tilt his head. “A hybrid but unlike you I am made up of Earth Pony, Unicorn Pony and Pegasus Pony.” She point her hoof at each as she spoke and than merge them into one form before his eyes.
He look to her pointing at himself and than her. “Yes we are sort of the same. But unlike you I am called an Alicorn made up of all three pony races.” She look to the two ponies. “Now which one is a Earth Pony?” He quickly point to Nurse Pink Heart. “Correct and Unicorn Pony?” He point to Doctor Trace.
“Amazing. His learning as Princess Celestia speaks to him.” Doctor Trace whispers to himself with surprise.
“Alicorn?” He now point to Celestia.
“Griffon?” He held up the plush and got a smile from her. “Yes young one that is indeed a griffon.” He laughed and she did too. “And you are too right?” She giggles a bit more and got a happy grin from him.
Celestia now turn her attention to the next task in mind. “Now Doctor Trace the unicorn and Nurse Pink Heart the Earth Pony are not going to do any harm to you, in fact they work to make others better like you.” She turn to the machine on the other side of the bed. “You see that over there.”
The griffon look at it making beeping sounds tilting his head as he now noticed it. “That the sound of your heart beating, those wires attached to sensors on your chest right now.” He pull the green shirt away from his neck to see the wires lead to two round objects on his fur. “You didn't even know they there till I told you.”
He let go and look at her with an questionable look in his eyes. “They only want you to get better. So will you let them come to you? I will stay right here by your side the whole time.” He wearily looked over to them and back to Celestia with a hard swallow the griffon nods.
Celestia gestures them to enter. They did so and he shifted slightly on the bed but Celestia kept a wing over him. “First thing I do like to ask is a name.” Doctor Trace stated. “I mean we can't keep calling you griffon. It your race not your name afterall.”
The griffon eyes shift left and right with something in his mind ticking till he gasped. Quickly picking up his plush turning it upside down to show a tag on it right paw, poking it. Celestia lean over to take a look, soon as she hit as she guess about less than fifteen centimetres the magic in her mane started to act up.
Celestia figured out by that the plush has a small effect radius. Her mane was that close to her own wing she'd held the plush against. “Hmm...” Celestia look at the tag at the characters on it. “I never seen characters like this in my life. I wouldn't even to guess how to say it.”
Doctor Trace took a look. “Indeed this is an mysterious form of writing. First time any of us have seen it.” He turn to the griffon. “You can understand it?” He nods. “Can you say it?” The griffon lower his head with a soft coo. “I will write it down under griffon for now.”
Pink Heart came up to the bed side near the machine. “Hello there young griffon. I want to say sorry for scaring you.” She put her hoof out to him.
He look to it and back at Celestia. “She like you to shake it and accept her apology.” He gulped and reach out to grab her hoof with a slight shake before letting go quickly and shivered slightly. “I guess touching a hoof for a first time is a strange feeling right, young one?”
He nods fluffing his wings slightly.
Pink Heart walk around with a smile taking the chart. “From the look at things. I believe tomorrow morning he can be discharged into your care Princess Celestia. The papers should be ready by then.”
“M-my care?” Celestia was startled by what she heard.
“I have to agree with the nurse.” Doctor Trace backs the nurse. “The young one as you keep calling him, has grown to trusting you and feeling safe. Taking him out of it would most likely put him back to square one.” Celestia's eyes dart to the griffon and back to the two ponies. “This is a bit fast isn't it?”
“Well you did act without thinking Princess.”
“How can I care for him as-as erm...”
“A guardian? An parent?”
“Yes that Doctor Trace! I'm a ruler of an kingdom! I don't know if I have the time for that!”
The griffon listened to them talking to each other. He wasn't sure what exactly they was talking about, he knew somewhere inside that a promise that was made is something really important.
“Well you did openly promise to protect him. You acted on impulse and anger-” Doctor Trace said calmly as Celestia started to breath in and out rapidly unable to finish what he was trying to say.
The griffon wondered what a guardian or this parent thing Doctor Trace spoke of meant, he scratching lightly on top of his head trying to know the meaning of these words. But he saw the Alicorn called by the doctor Princess Celestia was in distress and reached out to her side.
A talon was felt against her side. “I think he trying to calm you down. How the tables turned Princess.” Doctor Trace chuckled. “Now before you let me finish speaking, I have a few suggestions to aid you in this Princess.”
“I was your personal student twenty years ago was I not?” He gave an sly smirk.
“Yes you were.” Celestia replied calming down as her eyes not leave the sight of the golden brown griffon eyes looking back up at her. “Trace, what are your suggestions?”
Doctor Trace coughs and they turn to face him directly. “My suggestion is the two other Alicorns, your sister Princess Luna and your niece Princess Cadance.”
“Hmm... I-”
“Didn't think?” Celestia got interrupted by the doctor. “Also you do have your captain too, he is one of the first ponies to get close to him.” Trace turn to the griffon. “I did notice though. The magic residents that plush creates seem to emit a distribution field around 15 to 20 centimetres.”
“When in contact with somepony like you Princess Celestia it directly caused interference to your magic within, which in turn block the flow of magic to the mane and tail.” Trace explained. “You thought the mane magic was interfered due to close proximity am I correct?”
Celestia smiled. “Indeed. It seem one of my formal students still can keep me on my hooves. Thank you for explaining how it effected my magic.”
Trace bow his head slightly. “It been my pleasure.” Trace rose it and turn to Pink Heart. “Shall we do our rounds?”
“Of course Doctor.” Pink Heart notice the trolley of books out in the corridor. “Princess. May I make a suggestion.”
“You may.”
Pink Heart picked up a book with her mouth and place it down on the end of the bed. “Read this to him, he seem to like adventures.” She winks to the griffon and leaves with Doctor Trace.
Celestia use her magic to pick up the book, she looked at the title and cover. “Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone. Hmm...” She turn to the griffon. “So... Young one would you like me to read this to you?”
He narrow his eyes looking at the book's words. He rubbed his feathered head not having a clue what it says. “Don't worry; it will be one of the things I and a few other ponies will teach you. It may take time but you will be able to read. Also to write and speak.” He nods hugging his plush tight to himself as Celestia kept her wing draped over him.
“Now... Shall I begin?” He nods getting comfortable against Celestia's wing. She open the book to begin reading the adventure novel. “As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step.”
“-You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself, but you are sadly mistaken, Miss Do. And now, you shall meet your doom!” Ahuizotl blows his whistle and various of big cats and an-” She stared at the page with an raised eye. “Kitten? Really an kitten emerged with tigers-” Celestia pauses.
Her eyes slowly turn to the griffon whom looked annoyed. “Sorry young one. It just strange that you have a group of large cats and than a k-” He gave a huff. “Story right.” Celestia look out the window.
“Oh my is it that time!?” Celestia quickly put the book down and moved. “I'll be back in a second. I got to lower the sun!”
He tilt his head as she quickly walk to a double window door to the balcony and open it with her magic. Celestia used her magic and the sun starts to lower, his eyes widen as he watched the dusk sets in as the sun sets.
“There all done.” Celestia turn closing the double door windows and walk back in with him pointing at the now closed double window. “Oh sorry. I forgot to mention that I control the sun and my sister control the moon with our magic, we basically give the day and night.” The griffon still in shock at what he saw.
“It a normal thing young one. We do this to give the days and nights through out the year.” The griffon looked very puzzled as the shock wears off.
Celestia walked over to the bed side and sat back down beside it letting out a deep yawn, making the griffon yawn too. “I promise you young one, I never misuse my magic. Even it look scary this is my duty to bring day and set the day. It part of who I am.” He looked over at the double windows seeing the moon rise into the sky and back to Celestia.
“I made a promise too didn't I?” The griffon gave an thoughtful look and recalled her promise. “Now you have two promises from me.” Celestia whispered softly to him.
He nods and she put her wing back over him. “Ready for me to continue?” He squawk happily eager to hear the last of the story, excited even.
Celestia continues to read the story. “The cats move in and Daring Do down for the count surrounded by the cats, Ahuizotl laughing-”
….
Later that night Princess Luna, Cadance and Captain Shining Armor walking with Doctor Trace to the griffon's room. “So Auntie Celestia decided to stay with the griffon, on top of that you twisted her hoof to take him in.”
“Not exactly. I just hinted that he took to being safe with her, sending him some place else we could end up destroying all that progress made.” Trace replied as they continued their way to the room. “Also I might add she did this with haste.”
“From what we have heard and read about this griffon, we see why our sister would do such a thing. We believe that this action Celestia took was just.” Luna looking through the file as they walked.
Shining Armor glance to Princess Luna. They arrived at the room, guards salute. “Princess I think th-” Upon the door opening he stopped in his tracks.
Before them was Celestia fast asleep and tuck under her wing was the young yellow, black griffon holding his plush close to his chest also sound asleep.
The guards glanced in the room seeing this, a quick glance from Luna they instantly went back to standing attention at either side of the door.
“Let's talk about this somewhere else shall we?” Trace whispered.
“They so adorable.” Cadance smiled warmly. “Don't you think Shiny?”
Shining Armor rubbed the back of his head. “I have to admit I didn't see this coming.”
“Please. Come to my temporary office.” He point his hoof down the hallway.
“Of course.” Shining Armor and Cadance follows but Luna walked into the room.
Trace watched for a moment but got a glance from Luna, with a bow he left with the other two ponies. Luna crept up using her magic to move the sheets over to cover Celestia and the young griffon. He opened his eyes slightly yawning and looking at her.
Luna put her hoof to the tip of her muzzle. “It okay little one, go back to sleep, we shall make sure thy have pleasant dreams.” He closed his eyes and drift back to sleep.
Luna smiled softly at her sister and the griffon. “Sweet dreams sister, little one. Sweet dreams.” She turns, just before she leaves a book catches her attention. “Daring Do? Why would our sister read this?”
Luna takes it with her leaving the room and closing the door quietly.
“Speak of this to those unaware we will act on it and thou will be punished severely.” Luna walk to the office.
One guard glance over to the other. “Did you see anything?”
Luna the last to enter the office closing the door behind with her magic, Doctor Trace took his seat behind the desk. Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor stand before the desk ready to hear what Doctor Trace has to say about Celestia's actions. They watched as he place a wooden cube on the table and cast a spell that shimmered all along the walls, doors, floor, windows and ceiling.
Cadance took a look around as the magical shimmer died down. “An silent spell. Correct?”
“Indeed. I rather our little chit-chat doesn't wake the patients.” Trace replied. “And captain before your sister was even born I was Princess Celestia's personal student. That is why I know a fair few spells.” He turn to Shining Armor speaking directly to the captain.
“I gather you sparked an interest with Princess Celestia?” Shining Armor questioned.
Trace uses an transfiguration spell to turn the cube into a red rubber ball, knocking it off the desk to bounce a few times before rolling to an stop by Shining Armor's hoof. “Indeed when I was about eleven years old. I spent around nine or so years as her student.”
“Did thy choose to leave our sister?”
Trace now turn his attention to Luna as Shining Armor using his magic to pick up the ball and examine it. “Yes, she taught me all that could be learnt. I respect what Princess Celestia did for me. I could have been in a darker place but in the direction I was pushed to, gave me what I need to follow my heart.”
Cadance understood what he meant. “Being a doctor. Tending to sick and injured.”
“Correct. Also helping those magical injured to attacked as well. Manehatten is quite the lively place day or night.” Trace put his two front hooves together giving them a dead serious look. “I came to Canterlot as a request for Princess Celestia.”
“Princess Luna was once Nightmare Moon and why I am here.” He around the desk and around them. “I gave Princess Luna a complete clean bill of health and Princess Celestia was more than pleased. So was you.”
“Correct.” Luna replied as he continue to walk around them and head back to the desk.
“So... Let's recap shall we?” He came back to his desk.
“Somehow a griffon ends up on the castle grounds, he found two weeks later after all other options about the theft of the waste food is exhausted. Two of you and Princess Celestia find him, because of the magic used he wakes, freaks out and flees.”
“Next you find a way to get him to the private dinning room of the princesses. Shining Armor and Princess Celestia have breakfast with the griffon.”
Luna looked confused. “They did?”
“You were half awake.” Shining Armor stated.
“Ah yes, that was true. We was.” Luna admitted.
Trace continues. “By touching Princess Celestia's mane he sees something from his past. Remembering something terrible. The result of that was the magic. Then he submitted to the hospital and we know how that played out.”
Trace still kept his serious expression as he finally comes to the very reason for them being in the office.
“Princess Celestia made a promise she can not break. By morning she will sign papers and will take full custody of the teenage griffon. In other words Princess Celestia let this get personal and acted on impose.”
Shining Armor bounced the ball a few times testing it bounce and surprised by how the transfiguration spell worked. “Impressive.” Shining Armor got a look from both princesses.
“Right...” He gives the ball to Trace via telekinesis and got back on topic. “As for what Princess Celestia did. I had an feeling this may of happened.”
Trace pulled out the file from the draw opening it up. “I believe you are right captain. I read through your statements and have to say it detailed.” Luna and Cadance now knew how Trace was well versed in what happened so far.
Trace point a hoof at a part of the papers. “This part where Princess Celestia raised her voice at you during breakfast to gain his trust.”
Cadance eyes drift away thinking about what just been said by Trace. “Showing authority to one that may bring harm to the confused and scared. Bring a sense of safety and confidence to said griffon.” Cadance theorised.
“With what I discovered adding to his tortuous memories resurfacing while coming in contact with Celestia's magic. I say this is no longer a theory but an fact. His now imprinted a sense of safety and familiarity with your sister Princess Luna.”
Trace explained to them and turn his attention to Luna. “That familiarity is griffon and Alicorn.”
Luna walked to the window looking out at the city lit by street lights and many activities going on at night. “That familiarity is in the hybrid race. We are both made up of difference races.” Luna sighed. “Celestia has taken this personally.” She turn to Trace.
“What is there to do? This has escalated in the last two days.”
Cadance took a good look around at the ponies in the office. “I believe the answer is clear. We're Alicorns, so he may trust us. As for Shining Armor, he doesn't feel threaten by him because of Aunt Celestia.”
Shining Armor gave Cadance a puzzled look. “Just from standing down by Princess Celestia's command, he now sees me as somepony to be near cause I may feel scared of what Princess Celestia might do if I did something to him?”
Trace nods. “In a way the griffon sees that. His mind set is scrambled. It amazing that his learning as he goes. So the next month at least will be a trying one at most. We have to teach him the differences from right and wrong or he will see-”
Luna interrupts. “Wrong is right and right is wrong.”
“Yes Princess Luna.” Trace confirmed. “Princess Celestia will not have the time to fully commit to this. She will need all of your help.” Trace stated. “I know it sudden and out of the blue but each of you now play a vital role in his up bring.”
Luna didn't like this being put into a spotlight but she understood why. “We will do what we must. This young griffon been through too much already.”
Shining Armor sighed heavily. “As captain of the guard, my duty to Equestria and it citizens. I will aid in his up bring.” Shining Armor reluctantly agreed.
Candace the last to accept her part in helping the griffon. “I had foalsitting experience with Twilight Sparkle. So I will be up for the task at hoof.”
Trace smiled but lost it a few seconds later. “Now we sorted that out. I got on finding that is troubling, it be best that it doesn't go beyond us...” They look to each other and turn to Trace giving their word.
“Care to explain?” Shining asked.
Trace used his magic to turn the rubber ball into a wooden sculpture of Luna. “When I and Pink Heart was heading to Canterlot City Hall of Records to acquire the forms. I decided to track any form of magic similar to that within the griffon.”
Luna felt a ping of within, it was an awful feeling within her gut. “Doctor Trace... What thy found?”
“The magic that changed him... It's faint but it in Canterlot...” He slowly begisn to say and turn to Shining Armor. “Whom ever did this was here a few weeks ago.”
Shining Armor felt a chill run down his spine to his tail. “Can you track where the spell came from in the City?”
“No.”
“Why not!?” Shining Armor demanded.
Trace sighed. “I wasn't here two weeks ago. If I was, then I could of tracked where it originally came from. The magic in the air at this very moment is so fate now. Not enough to get a location, sorry.”
“For magic to linger in the air around an large area like the city after two weeks, means we are dealing with something that could easily dwarf any form of magic we know or knew.” Cadance wearily stated. “Aunt Luna. This can't get out. If this was to get it would cause panic and mistrust among the ponies as a whole.”
Luna sighed. “We not one for keeping such things from our sister but... We have to agree.” Luna turn to Shining Armor. “Captain you are to investigate this discretely. Whom ever is behind this does not know what we know. We can not scare them off into hiding. Less they know the better it will be.”
“Princess are you sure?”
“We are... Thou the reason may not be sound. It has to be. This pony or creature has power of an greater transfiguration then even we have.”
“Which means whom ever this is may come after the griffon again?” Luna nods to what Shining Armor said. “I can see why Princess Celestia made it her personal mission to take custody of the griffon. She aware that something out there that did this to him and may return.”
Trace closes the folder up. “That is why I am staying. I' will inform my wife via letter that I will be home for the weekends, but during the weekdays I'll be working here in Canterlot General on a special assignment for the crown of Equestria”
“A good call.” Cadance agreed. “You are the doctor he feels safe around. Right?”
“In a way me and Pink Heart are. But only when Princess Celestia is most likely present.” Trace partly confirmed what Cadance said. “For now there is little information to work with, prepare for an possible attack and hope it doesn't come.”
With that Luna choose to end the meeting by using her magic to cancel out the spell. “Thy has our thanks. We bid thy an good night. We have much to work on.” Luna turns around opening the door and leave the office.
Cadance suddenly came up with a crazy idea. “Shiny. There a empty room on the same level as the aunts rooms correct?”
“There is. It usually used for VIP guests of the crown. Why?” Shining Armor asked.
Cadance quickly came around behind him and pushed. “Hey what are you doing Cadance!?”
“Your helping me.”
“With what exactly!?”
“Oh you see! Come on Shiny stop sliding and start trotting!”
“Alright!” The Alicorn of Love and captain of the guard leaves the office.
Trace look down at the closed folder than at the open door. “Temporary office now became my permanent office.” He open the draw up and put the file inside it. Looking at the figure he used his transfiguration spell to turn it into a diamond sculpture of the griffon.
Trace took out the sealed envelope staring at it.
“Well... I hope Amber Flare will not fry me for this.”
The golden glow around the quill as it's tip danced around on the piece of paper creating the signature of Princess Celestia. Little over two days ago Celestia wouldn't even thought she would become an guardian to a teenage griffon, yet as she signed the last of the papers her eyes trail from them to that very griffon sitting on top of the bed eating cereal.
He was completely unaware of how sudden this was for the princess of the sun, the griffon happily chowing away with each spoonful of cereal and milk. Doctor Trace had to show him how, but as Celestia was told by the doctor. The teenage picked up quickly on how to use the spoon with the bowl to eat his breakfast.
Pink Heart checked through the papers. “This all looks good Princess, you and the griffon may leave when your ready.”
Celestia replies without taking her eyes off the teenage. “Thank you Nurse Pink Heart.” Celestia was still trying to wrap her head around all that happened in the last two days. “Nurse... Do you have any young foals?”
As the griffon cheerfully eat away as Pink Heart responds to Celestia's question. “Yes, an eight year old colt. Love him with all my heart but tend to be a bit of a hyper little thing that gets into trouble.” She laughed softly. “I am gathering your asking me because of the young one?”
Celestia turn her head to now focus on Pink Heart. “Yes.”
“Am I rushing this? Am I doing right?” Celestia said with concern.
“Princess. I can not exactly answer that.” Pink Heart glance over to Doctor Trace and the griffon. “He is far better than I first met him before you came. So...” She turn to Celestia. “What does your heart says?”
Celestia put a right hoof on her chest. “I am doing the right thing. Yet I do not understand how or why...” Celestia lower her hoof.
Pink Heart looked around for the Daring Do book. “That I can't answer Princess. Each answer to that differs.” Pink Heart look over to the griffon again at the end of the bed to see no book. “One thing I can say for sure. His a teenager and from what I seen his a fast learner via visual.”
“So teaching him from right and wrong will be one of those top priorities?” Celestia asked Pink Heart nods.
“Yes. That would be a good idea Princess.”
Celestia noticed Pink Heart opening up a cupboard and closing it. “What are you doing? If I may ask.”
Pink Heart sighed. “The book you read is missing.”
Celestia noticed a dark blue feather under the bed. “I believe my sister has the book.”
“Your sister?” Pink Heart look to where Celestia was looking at. “I see...” She took the feather in hoof.
Celestia smiled. “She unaware that it most likely not allowed to leave the hospital. I will get Luna to return it.”
Doctor Trace walked up to them. “That would be grateful Princess.” The mares turn to him. “Also the young one be free to go when you are ready.” He gave the discharge papers to Celestia.
Celestia looked at the papers and made them disappear into a magic pocket dimension. “Thank you Doctor Trace, Nurse Pink Heart beat you too it.” Doctor Trace look over to Nurse Pink Heart with an smirk.
Celestia continues to say. “Your services been amazing as always.”
“Just doing my job Princess.” He replied and leave the room.
Pink Heart smiled bowing. “I got my rounds to do. Hope that you and the griffon have a safe journey home.” Pink Heart lift her head up and leave the room.
Celestia walk up to the bed. “Almost finished?” He nods. “We be flying back to the castle via chariot.” He tilted his head. “You will know what it is when you see it.” She smiled.
Celestia turn to the door. “Guards. May one of you go and inform the Pegasi Chariot Guards we be departing in a few minutes?”
One came into view and salute. “Right away Princess!” He turn and head off to the chariot outside the hospital.
The teenage griffon drunk the last of his apple juice and removed the green hospital gown. That is when he noticed his own items were missing, looking around he pull the sheets up to see if they was in there but nothing was found.
Celestia coughs and he pulled the sheets off his head looking at her. “I had Sargent Blue Star take them to be remade into something more presentable.” He gave her an annoyed look.
“Do you want to walk around looking like your living on the streets to ponies?” The griffon eyes drift away before refocusing on her and lowering his head in defeat. “I promise you will like what I have in mind.” He rose his head with a hopeful nod.
Grabbing the plush he jumped off the bed landing beside Celestia. “Eager to leave?” He nods. “Keep close to me and you will be fine.” Celestia starts to walk and he keeps up to her paste as they leave the room.
Walking down the corridor the griffon look into the rooms that were opened to see all sort of injured to ill ponies in each of them from all ages. He look up at Celestia with an questionable tilt of the head in asking a question without words.
“Am I to guess that you are curious about those in the wards you've looked into?” He gave a nod as they walked and turn to the stairs. He look down at it and carefully started to walk down them using the wall for support with each step of his three limbs.
Celestia watched him walk down the steps. “Those ponies are ill or injured. Some even here to have treatments.” Celestia explained walking down following the young griffon. “You was brought here because of your reaction to my magic. We learned a lot about you, but at the same time we got more questions as well.”
They arrived at the ground level walking by the reception desk with the guard behind them and two more now stood attention at the presents of Celestia. “Ready for a ride to your new home?” He tilted his head. “You are my responsibility now.”
Upon exiting the hospital he got to see part of the city. “Impressive isn't it?” The griffon flapping his wings to hover a few feet to get a good look around at Celestia's eye level. “I take that as a yes and good to see you can use your wings.” She warmly smiled at him.
He look around to his wings with each flap and turn to Celestia with a shrug before landing back on his paws and one talon. “You just know how to do it without knowing?” He nods. “Impressive instincts.” The griffon gave a toothy smile by that response.
An guard came over to them. “Princess the chariot is ready.”
“Thank you Private Wind Storm.” He salutes and flies off to clear the sky for the chariot flight path to the castle. Celestia lead the griffon to the chariot with four Pegasi guards standing ready for take off.
The chariot was gold with purple between the gold star on each of the two largest wheels at the back with purple lining on the floor of it and backing. It had a star on the top of it with a flag pole and purple flag with the sun and moon displayed on it in gold.
The griffon couldn't tell who was who from the four guards. They all look exactly the same from the helmets to the tails, armour, hoofshoes and their eyes. The guards seem to have two or three different colour of guards which confused him.
But his attention shift to an uneasy feeling as he saw how open the chariot was. “It perfectly safe young one. Come on.” She walked onto it and sat down.
Celestia tap her hoof down to her side and he reluctantly got onto it sitting close to her holding his plush tightly to his chest. “To the castle please.” They nod and with a short run up with a flap of their wings the chariot is airborne.
At first the young griffon kept really close to Celestia's side as the chariot gain altitude, soon he started to get curious at the sights around them. He carefully moved to the edge of the chariot to look over it at the city below as the castle grew closer with every moment that past.
As Celestia watched him move around her from left to front and then to the right looking at the view of the city she began to wonder. “Young one.” This got his attention turning to face her. “Is this your first time seeing the city?” He nods.
She became even more curious. “Do you remember the bluish white aura and lightning two weeks ago?” He nods.
“By any chance you remember anything before that?” He shook his head.
“So your first memories was on the castle grounds.”Celestia rubbed the hoof under her chin. “Young one, you saw Shining Armor on that night didn't you?” He nods.
Celestia came up with the conclusion from this. “It seem whatever happened to you, did an number on your memories before that night.” Celestia sighed softly. “I am sorry this had to happen you.”
He rose up the plush to her with a smile. “You want me to hold your plush?” He nods and she took it with her hoof. “I guess we found rule one.”
He tilted his head. “Letting somepony or in this case someone hold your plush means you trust them and feel that they would return it to you in kind. Such as this.” She gave it back to him.
He happily chirped and went back to looking over the side at the view of the city passing by them far below. “Such a pure heart...” Celestia whispers to herself as she continue to watch him with an warm smile.
Soon descending to the castle grounds the chariot touched down with hooves landing with a short gallop to a slow trot from the guards. They came to a stop outside the main entrance to the castle, Celestia got off and the griffon follows her into the castle to be welcomed by an orange Pegasus in the gold armour.
He saluted and spoke directly to Princess Celestia. “Princess Celestia. By request of Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor, I am here to escort you and the griffon to the Royal Suites.”
“What are you two up to?” Celestia thought.
Celestia gracefully nod to the guard. “Very well Private Flash Sentry. Please lead the way.” Flash Sentry lower his hoof turning around to head up the stairs. “Come young one. Let see what the captain and my niece been up to.”
The griffon follow the guard named Flash Sentry close to Celestia heading up first a set of stairs, a corridor followed by turning to a right down another hallway and up another set of stairs. They went to the left and down the next hallway past many doors till they came to another level of stairs finally coming up to the top.
At the top two guards either side of two large doors salute and using their magic the doors open to the Royal Suite. The bedrooms of Celestia and Luna as well the guest rooms of the invited by the royal sisters.
“This young one is the place we go to get sleep, I and my sister have our rooms on this level. Also there is a few guests rooms too for the more important visitors such as rulers of other lands.” Celestia explained to the griffon. “Though... Why would they be up here in one of those rooms?”
Cadance emerges from one of those rooms. “Private we got it from here, thank you for bring my aunt and the young one.”
Flash Sentry saluted once again. “I will be at my station.” He turn walking up to the wall, turning back around he stood attention.
Cadance wave her hoof for Celestia and the griffon to come inside. “Mind the fresh paint smell and the mess Shining Armor got himself into.” Cadance walk back inside.
Celestia raise an eye brow. “Fresh paint smell?” The griffon shrugged in confusion. “I am with you on that young one.” Celestia walk towards the door with the griffon. “Shall we see what they been up to?” He nods holding the plush close as the smell of something strong hits him as they about to enter the threshold.
Upon entering the room both Celestia and the griffon were surprised at what they saw, the room had been painted with a massive picturesque landscape of snowcap mountains with forests, grass and an lake with flowers around it. Blue sky and white clouds were behind the mountains and beyond the horizon of the landscape to the very ceiling above them. Sheets covering all the furniture, bed and interior doors out the bedroom to the private bathroom.
In the middle of the room was Shining Armor covered in different shades green, brown and blue paint on the mane, tail, fur and armour.
Celestia laughed and Shining Armor rolled his eyes slightly. She calms down and speaks. “Captain... Did you and Cadance spend all night doing all this?” Celestia hints with her hoof to the whole room.
“We did Princess.” Shining Armor replied. “It was Cadance's idea and I went along with it.” He smiled. “What do you think of the young one's room?”
The griffon walking up to the wall to touch it with a talon got a white wing pulling him away. “Best not young one. It still drying, you want to be covered it paint like Shining Armor?” He look over to Shining Armor and back at Celestia with a shake of the head.
With that said, like to reply how you like your room?” He tilted his head with a few confused blinks. “This room is yours.” He looked very surprised and point all around the room. “Yes it is.” She laughed.
He squawked happily and rushed to give Shining Armor a hug, but got a white wing blocking him again. “Paint.” She giggled. He gave a O expression on from his beak and backed up from Shining Armor. “After the captain cleaned himself up than you can give him a thank you hug okay?” He nods happily to that idea.
Cadance sat down on her hutches. “I am able to give you a hug if you wish.” Cadance open up her forelegs out to him. He look up to Celestia whom nods, he flew up at her and hugs her with Cadance returning it with her forelegs around him. “Happy with what we did for you?” He nods.
She let go of the hug and turn to Shining Armor. “Come on Shiny, best get you cleaned up. We having lunch around your parents home aren't we not?”
Shining Armor gasped. “I completely forgot!”
“Luckily I didn't” She giggled. “Come on.”
With a salute he left with Cadance in a hurry. “Hmm... They forgot to take the paints out.” Celestia using her magic to pick them up with the brushes and trays. “Come young one, best not to be in here too long. Best let the paint dry.” He took a good look around and with a nod they exit the room.
“Private Flash Sentry can you get a guard or two to help you take this stuff back to the utility room please.” Celestia place them down by the room door.
He salutes. “At once princess.” He leaves to find a few guards to help him out to clear up the paints, brushes and trays.
Celestia look down to the griffon. “Come with me. I like to show you something.” Celestia walk away from the room and the teenage griffon following.
A whitish grey unicorn with brown mane and tail wearing a glasses and a collar came up to them. “Princess there you are! I been looking all over for you! You've got three meetings to attend before lunch!”
Celestia turn to her. “Raven! I do apologise. Unexpected events happened in the last 48 hours. I completely forgot about the meetings!” Celestia explained to Raven.
Raven brought up a scroll looking over it. “Well we can make up for lost time by going now Princess.”
Celestia look down at the griffon. “Whom will look after the young one. I can not possibly leave him alone.”
Raven came up to him. “Don't worry I will get-” He growled at her and kept close to Celestia. “Really? Growl at me fo-” He quickly retreats and now directly behind one of Celestia's hind legs squawking at her to get away from him.
Celestia sighed. “He only trusts a few and those he doesn't he acts in this manner. Shining Armor and Cadance just earned his trust with what they did to his new room.” Celesita explained.
“His scared of you Raven.” Celestia turn to the griffon. “It okay.” She whispered to him.
He calms down a bit but still staring at Raven as she step back a few feet. “What do we do Princess? These meetings can not be missed.”
Celestia look over to her sister's bedroom door and an idea came to mind.
The clock ticking was the only sound coming from Luna's dimly lit room for the last few hours after the griffon was dropped off by Celestia. The clock continue to tick as Luna awkwardly watch the teenage stand at the main source of light into her room via the window.
He was curiously watching the view of the land far beyond and below. The griffon watched a train come and go every so often up the mountain trail. “We-” Luna paused as he gaze shifted to her and sighing the princess of the night looked away.
The Griffon turn back to looking out the window. “Why can we not speak to thy griffon...” Luna muttered. “Why we are awkward to him? Sister we do not know what to do...” Luna closed her eyes thinking back to the moment Celestia had her look after the young one.
“WHAT!? We shall not!” Luna protested
“Luna, I have meetings I can not miss. Plus he let you hold his plush and you gave it back.” Celestia point a wing to the teenager watching them argue in front of him unphased but confused.
Luna now point her own wing at him. “What does that have to do with us looking after him?”
Celestia calmly smiled. “One he trust you and two it either this or punishment for taking a hospital reading book out without permission.”
Luna growls under her breath. “Sister, this is extortion! Thy will not accept either!”
“Luna we maybe rulers but rules are rules.”
Luna weighed in what Celestia just said and sighs. “Fine... We do it.”
Celestia give her a wing hug. “Thank you Lulu.” She whispered.
“Sister. Go before thy change our mind...”
“Thou we did do wrong and accept the crime we did.” She whispered opening her eyes. “Yet how does one interact with this young griffon Celestia took in. That would make us an aunt would it not?” Luna asked herself without a clear answer coming to her.
She just wished it was a dream.
Luna suddenly came up with an idea. “Dreams... Of course! Dreams does not require to know our language! Speak can come for the young griffon! Yes that is a good plan!” Luna said proudly and quickly turn to the young griffon.
Without a second thought she cast the dream walking spell that she haven't cast in over 1000 years, Luna's horn glowed with white magical energy spiralling up from her forehead up to the tip of the horn.
The griffon turn around to see the string of magic moving in a wavy pattern towards him, curiously his head and eyes followed it movement as it got closer to him. He reached up to it with his right talon, the claw tip touching the magical white string.
With a sudden rush everything around him seem to have changed to an mountain range, he was sitting on the cold white snow with a cold wind blowing. Strangely that neither seem to be effective against his feathers and fur.
He looked around at the captivating landscape, it was a breath taking view of the clouds below blowing by with the sight of plains far below.
“Interesting.” He turn around and look up to see Luna come down with a few short flaps to land on the snow. “The most happiest place within your dreams are here?”
He looked puzzled for a second and recalled touching that magic string, it felt safe to touch he recalled. “Yo-” He paused placing his talon over the neck looking surprised and open his beak to speak again. “I am talking! I think of the words to say and I say!” His voice was slightly broke between deep and semi squeaky.
Luna warmly smiled. “Indeed, dreams differ to reality.” Rubbing the top his feathered head with both talons he started to freak out. “Dreams? We dreaming? I am talking in my dreams! I know but are you, you!? How are you with me in my dream? Am I day dreaming because of that weird magic string!? IS-”
Luna quickly embraced him with wings and forelegs. “Shhh, shhh... Calm down. I will explain. Relax before you throw us both out of this connection.” Luna tries to calm him down from the sudden panic attack.
After what seem forever he calms down and She relaxes with a gentle smile.
The griffon look up at her. “O-okay... I-”
“I know. I did this without thought. If anyone to blame is I.” Luna let go and step back a bit. “Feeling better?”
He took a good look around and finally set his eyes back on Luna. “I think so...” His eyes shifting around. “I am very confused... I didn't know magic can dream share. That is what we doing right?”
Luna walk by him to the top of the peak looking around at the land far and wide. “Indeed.” He joins her looking out to the same landscape. “Do you know where this is?” He shook his head. “But is this place real?”
“I think so. But I don't know why... I feel safe here when I sleep. When I dream of scary things, I come here. It makes me feel safe.” He responded with semi broken sentences.
The griffon sat down beside her. “You not speaking with we, thou or thy. Why?”
“As you are speaking with your beak without trouble. The realm of dreams has no barrier to the words we speak.” Luna explained to the griffon about why they speaking to each other.
He looked at the sun just over the horizon. “When we wake I won't speak but I understand.” He lowered his head sadly.
“Indeed but me and my sister will help you to learn to speak again.” Luna insured him.
He lifted his talons up twiddling the claws between each other. “I know what family is...” She looked over to him. “But I didn't till what she said at the hospital. I do not understand...” He rubbed his foreleg with his talon.
“Why I know this stuff without knowing before?” His words plagued him in sentence.
Luna knew whom he spoke about and why he was knowing some things. “Celestia. My sister your speaking off. Correct?”
He nods slightly. “I have a weird wrong feeling that I can't call her by her name but call her a-as-” The last word he couldn't bring himself to say with fear of rejection.
“A connection between you and my sister. You found a bound that only can be one thing.” The mountain faded away with Celestia standing on the hospital balcony setting the sun with her magic.
Luna and the griffon look to the bed seeing himself on it looking at her with shock. Celestia walk up to it and speak to his dream-self reinsuring him.
“Nephew...” He turn to Luna quickly as the hospital room disappears and replaced by a whitish cloudy ground with millions of stars around them as far the eyes can see.
Luna stood tall with the moon raising through the whitish clouds far behind her. “You have been through a lot in the last two weeks. My sister cares for you and such you feel safe with her.”
Luna continue to speak with the moon shining bright behind her. “As such your hesitation To you young griffon my sister is in all it purpose your mother now.” Luna put her hoof out to him. “Rushed or not this has happened. All we can do is proceed from this point forwards.”
“Aunty... Luna?” He begins to ask feeling a bit uneasy calling her aunt and not sure how he knew it but did. It was confusing for the griffon.
“Yes?”
“What does two weeks mean?” The moon's bright glow turns off instantly and crashed in a comical way with a big cloud of dust poofing up afterwards. Luna had fallen over on her back with an hind leg twitching.
Staring at what was the moon the griffon tilted his head. “Moon goes poof?”
Luna sat up instantly with her mane frazzled. “Nephew! You do not know what a week is!?” He shook his head. “What about a day? Month? Year? Minutes? Hours?”
The tilt of his head and confusion was clear for Luna. “Do they all mean something and is that why the moon went poof?” Luna's right eye now twitched.
“I was on the moon for 1000 years... 1000 years and I even knew time. How do you not know time?”
“I know the words but I do not know what they mean.” He lowered his head. “Am I in trouble?”
Luna shook her head. “No Nephew. But there is much I have to teach you.” Luna walk up to him draping her wing over his back. “It seem we-” The dream realm starts to glow with white light coming up all around them. “My spell is coming to end sooner than I thought.” She turn the griffon.
“Can we do this again? I like talking, not the other thing I do cause I can't get words out of my beak...” He sighed heavily as the white rapidly closes in on all sides. “Will I be able to?”
Luna rub her hoof over his feathered head gentle. “Yes Nephew... Yes. But I will also teach you many many things.” Luna hugged him close to her and he return it with his talons around her neck closing his eyes.
An explosion burst of energy erupts as the spell comes to sudden end, it creates a shockwave that knock both of them over onto their backs. Luna gasped and quickly sat up looking over to the griffon as he sat up looking around with confusion before setting his eyes on Luna's.
With an confused tilt of the head he got an answer from Luna. “Yes it did happen and yes we shared the dream.” He slowly smiled to starting to snort a bit with laughter followed by a full blown laughter. Luna tried to not laugh but his laughter got to her and she joined in.
The guards open the door quickly to see both of them leaning back with front hooves and talons out behind them looking at each other while laughing their heads off. “I think they okay.” The first said.
Second guard glance over to the first. “You sure? There was an magical blast from in here.”
“Could be many things. Best not to ask unless you want to.” The first look over to the second guard.
He shook his head. “Nope.” They step back out and one last look they about to close the door when Celestia arrived.
"Princess!" They saluted.
"At ease." Celestia walked in and look upon her sister and the griffon laughing still. "It seems you two have gotten on the right hoof."
Luna turn to her sister wiping the tears away. "Indeed we have dear sister." He nods to her to tell. "Oh sister..."
“Happy... Mothers... Day...” Celestia slowly repeated the words her eyes set upon the griffon. “H-How di-”
Luna answered the question Celestia tried to ask. “We dream shared sister. Within he spoke and knew what family was the moment thy took him in.”
The teenage griffon nods to confirm this. “Th-that means you've accepting me as your mother till we find your real one?” Celestia managed to say gulping nervously at what she caused to fall on her hooves.
The griffon nods hugging his plush with a smile. “At least one of us seem to be calm about this...” Celestia muttered under her breath half glaring at her sister without Luna noticing.
Luna did notice the tilted head confusion from the young one and turning to Celestia. “Sister we believe thy know that the young one was nervous and unable to exactly say it.”
“It was also only mere moments, ten maybe more minutes to that of the waking. To our perspective he just said it in the dream. Not hours ago.” Luna further explained to her sister.
Celestia turn to the griffon. “So... Speaking in the dream is possible hmm?” He nods with a smile and groans lowering his head soon afterwards. “Yet not so when awake it seems.” Celestia smiled.
“That will change over time.” Celestia reinsured him.
With a raised head and few blinks came the confusion. Luna realised from the last moments of the shared dream, he didn't truly understand time. “Sister, we shall explain what happened in the day-dream.”
“Very well Luna.” Celestia replied.
As Luna start to explain to Celestia the griffon walk over to to the desk looking at papers, ink well and quill. Suddenly a flash of images came to him making the teenager wobbly a bit at first, after a few blinks he slowly reached out to the quill recalling a skill he did not know he had a moment ago.
Putting the plush down on the desk he held the quill in his right talon, thumb press over the top with the index resting over it to the middle finger. The last finger under the middle, he twist and look at how he'd held it as if he did it before but unable to recall when or how.
“Luna it seem that his semi residence to magic may resulted in the backfire you two got hit by-” He listen to part of what Celestia said but lost in the word of his own looking at the ink well and paper.
Lowering the tip into the ink he recalled words spoken at some sort of trip about what students used an long time ago. Blinking he seem to get a understanding as the ink dripped from the quill tip about what is and what was.
To his mind was the quill used before or now? Or was it now or before?
He was confused by the concept of what came to mind. Moving the quill to the paper he started to draw lines along the paper, what seem random at first started to form an rough image.
Each stroke from think to thin gave him more understanding at what he was doing, sticking the tongue out to the left side of his beak he'd continue to work on the forming image before him.
As he continued to draw away on the scroll of paper the sisters had finished talking to each other with Celestia asking the last dreaded question. “Luna, did you ask for his name?”
Luna groans. “We did not.” She continues to speak with a hoof out to stop Celestia from replying. “We saw how he enjoyed speaking to us, thou did not think of asking for thy name.”
“That I can understand.” Celestia smiled and glance over to the desk. “Hmm... Now that is curious.”
Luna turn to it and saw the teenager's back to them doing something out of view of them. “Indeed sister.”
They crept over and stood over him looking down at what the griffon were doing. What the sisters saw was a surprise, they saw a bit runny sketched ink out drawing of both of them. Celestia put her wing tip on the muzzle tip towards Luna.
Luna nods and they watched without a word as the griffon continue to draw without a hint of knowing they was behind him watching. He was so into it that the world around him seem to just melt away to white noise as he smiled and happily draw what came to his mind.
What was on his mind were the two Alicorn sisters, Celestia he saw and felt protection, love and care of an mother would be. So she is his mother to mind and Luna was his aunty.
This made him happy that hybrids like him gave a sense of family and meaning from the last two weeks of the only true memories he had. The other ones that kept appearing through minor dizzy spells were confusing to the griffon.
Putting the quill down he picked up the scroll to get a good look at his drawing. Smiling at what he created, the smile faded a second later when silence came to his attention.
Now he felt as if something was watching above him, slowly raising his head up the golden brown eyes met the two set of Alicorn sisters eyes. Sheepishly smiling at them he rose up the drawing to show them it.
Celestia using her magic took it from his talons to get a better look with Luna. “Have you ever drew before?” He shrugged. “Interesting.”
“Indeed it is. We wonder whom this dragon is.” Luna took it from Celestia.
Celestia noticed the head of the dragon behind their own heads. “Indeed. Who is this?” He shrugged. “You remember seeing a dragon look like this?” He rubbed the back of his head trying to give them a answer from that.
“We gather his not sure. But it could help us.” Luna stated and look to him with a warm smile. “Yet what matters at this moment is what he drew and feels.”
He smiles. “Thy look happy and should be.” He gave a happy nod.
“I think we should pin this somewhere that we all can see day to day.” Celestia suggested.
Luna tap her snout with her hoof. “We could set something up on the corridor wall.”
Celestia take the picture from Luna and give the drawing back to the griffon. “What do you think of that?”
“Hmm...” With a hum he nods liking that idea.
An knock comes from the door and they all turn to it. “Come in!” Celestia called out.
A blue glow and the door opens with a guard stepping in. “Ah Blue Star. It good to see your back.” She notice the flat box held by his magic.
“Princesses, I have what is asked for and also been informed the coach is ready to take you all to Donut Joes.” He informed and saluted.
“Thank you Blue Star, have the rest of the day and tomorrow off. You earned it.” Celestia gracefully nods to the guard taking the flat box with her magic.
He salutes once more. “Thank you Princess. I will report back in on Sunday! Have a nice meal out and goodnight.” He leaves the room closing the door behind him.
The griffon went to grab the box but Celestia quickly pull it away. “Not till we eaten at Donut Joe's young one.” He grumbled crossing his forelegs. “Get your plush and let's go.” He nods picking up the plush from the desk. “Come Luna time for both of you to enjoy something I have done for many years.”
Luna looked a bit lost. “What is this Donut Joe's thou speak of?”
“Donut Joe is a name of a pony that run his own restaurant that sells all kinds of doughnuts with amazing hot drinks.” Celestia answered.
“Next question. What is a doughnut?” Luna asked with the confused look still present, the griffon sharing his own confusion.
Celestia sung in her reply walking by them. “Oh you will see~!”
“Sister! Thy will answer!”
“Nope!” Celestia open the door and leaves.
Luna look down to the griffon. “Shall we nephew?” He shrugs putting the drawing down on the desk. “My thoughts exactly...” Luna muttered and they leave her room to follow Celestia down the stairs.
The griffon noticed she said my and not our before leaving.
After a short track through the corridors and stairs they approached the pony drawn coach, it was roundish and white. It has gold patterns swirling around it and on the door was the gold markers of the Equestria flag on it.
A guard open the door for them and the princesses enter with a thankful nod to him. The griffon follows them inside but freezes at the sight inside, it was roomy red soft seats. Too roomy for the coach size.
He quickly came out flying over it and around seeing the size of it from the outside he lands to go back inside. The griffon looked very confused at the size of the inside to the outside, this made him unnerved at the sight of the irregular dimensions.
Celestia pat the red cushion beside her. “Come on sit by me and I will explain.” He nervously nod and sit down beside her as the door now shuts. “We ready to depart.”
“Yes Princess!” Came a female guard's voice and the slight shift within showed they were moving.
Celestia put her wing around the griffon and begin to explain to him about what he experienced. “Now young one, you are aware there is magic in us and all around us right?” He gave an unsure look but nods slightly.
“Unicorns and Alicorns can show this through our horns via picking up things with telekinetic magic to an wide range of spells, like how I can raise and lower the sun including Luna's with the moon as well dream magic.”
Celestia's horn lights up picking up the box floating it around, but one thing the griffon noticed it was flickering slightly as if something in it was interfering with her magic. “Now the same thing applies to all forms of life, most noticeable are Earth Ponies and Pegasus Ponies.”
“Good example is how you can fly. Have you noticed your wings not exactly the right size for flying?” He look over to the uncovered wing opening it out slightly seeing she was right. “Now the magic in you flow through the wings more than other parts of your body.”
Celestia continue to explain. “When you open them and flap to fly do you feel as if they are bigger yet they don't look it?” He nods to confirm that feeling he had while flying. “That is the internal magic in you effecting the dimensions of your wings without changing the size of them but within.”
His eyes drift left and right with thoughts coming to mind. He finally clicked after a moment to the inner parts of the coach they was in. With an squawk of surprise pointing to his wings and to the interner, Celestia understood without words he now knew what she was talking about.
“Indeed even structures are affected by this irregular form of dimensions within to the outside. It something that became part of the norm to all forms of life that live in homes to forms of transport like this.” Celestia said nuzzling the side of his face with her own. “I can see what Luna means about you being a smart little griffon.”
He cooed with happiness and hugs her side and she return the hug to the griffon as Luna watched with silent smile. The coach slows to a stop and a call comes from outside from the same guard pony. “Your highnesses. We have arrived at Donut Joe's.” Follow up by the door opening.
The two Alicorns and the Griffon step out the coach, they walked up to a pair of large glass doors. Using her magic Celestia opens it with a jingly, Luna coughs catching her attention. “Yes Luna?”
Luna hints to the sky. “Are thy forgetting something?”
Celestia turn to the sky with the door open.. “Oh my!” Celestia using her magic to lower the sun with Luna casting her spell to raise the moon. “Better sister?”
“Better.” Luna walk through the open doors into the Donut Joe's. “Coming Nephew?”
The griffon staring at the sky seeing that they just changed it from day to night together, this was the second time for him to see but it still amazed him. With a nod he quickly follows her and Celestia letting out a giggle walk inside while the guards stood either end of the two glass doors.
Donut Joe the light amber coat unicorn with orange mane wearing white hat and jacket on. His green eyes locked on the princesses and the griffon entering his shop. “Princess Celestia! It good to see you again and I see you brought your sister Princess Luna with ya!”
“And whom may this cool looking griffon be?” The griffon tilt his head in confusion of the words spoken. He had a feeling what cool might mean but wasn't very sure, this also was the first pony he seen that fear didn't set in like so many before.
He also took notice of the white and dark grey chequered floor to wooden tables with stalls around them. The green wars with circle objects and holes in them on pictures as well in a case behind Donut Joe. The lamps hanging over each giving light in the room equally in the room with the different shades of green diamonds banner on the squirting board.
Celestia looked around noticing the shop was empty. “Always come at the right hour Princess. How do you do it?” Celestia slyly smiled as Donut Joe talked to her.
Luna leans in to the griffon. “We guess those are doughnuts.” She hints to the display and he nods in agreement.
“That would be telling Donut Joe and for this little griffon here.” She put her wing over the griffon and gentle pulling him into a hug. “I recently took him in as his guardian or as one would say... His new mother.”
An short silence fell in the room till Donut Joe using his magic brought over many cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows in them and three plate full of doughnuts onto the table.
He smiled as he sits down at the table. “Let's hear all about it Princess!”
Chapter 9 – Hole of an Reaction and Sister's Surprise!
Chapter 9 – Hole of an Reaction and Sister's Surprise!
Luna rubbing the griffon's back with her hoof as he emptied more of his stomach into the bin, holding onto the rims of it he groaned in discomfort with a few sniffs. He felt really bad from eating the orange flavoured doughnut, it did not agree with him or his stomach at all.
Donut Joe comes over from behind the counter with an cup of water and a few napkins. “Here Princess Luna. Use these to clean his beak and give him this water.”
Luna took them. “Thank thou for thy help.” Luna used her magic to wipe the griffon's beak as he rose it up and place the glass in his talon hand. “Drink this dear nephew. It will help.”
The teenager nods and drunk a little as he sat on his hunches, he felt dizzy and drowsy as well look it via the paling colour in his feathers. Breathing a few lengthy times he still felt uneasy in the stomach from that cringe worthy doughnut he ate.
Recalling that moment he took a bite and spitting it right out with a deep shiver from the taste he'd swallowed some in the process, this added to that moment he had threw up. Those moments still plaguing his mind as he drunk the cool cold water.
Luna put her wing over him. “Take it easy nephew. Celestia be back shortly.” With an bright flash of light her words came true.
Celestia teleported in with Trace beside her with an medical bag. “Luna how is he?”
“No longer throwing up. Thou look unwell.” Luna moved her wing away to show the poor state the griffon was looking.
Trace quickly went to the griffon. “Is he going to be okay Doctor Trace?”
“I will tell you in a moment Celestia. Let me check first!” He took a quick glare at Celestia. “You did drag me out of an meeting for your son. So...”
Celestia lower her head. “Sorry I-”
“Throwing up and reacting badly to oranges? Yes I understand your reason and reaction. Just let me do the check to see if this is only a mild allergic reaction”
“Mi-mild!? Throwing up being-”
“Celestia...” He said deeply to the princess as he opened his bag up.
Celestia pasting back and forwards now. “Okay okay okay... I-”
“Anypony please calm the Princess before she goes into an panic-attack...” Trace said in an deadpan expression.
Donut Joe walked up to Celestia. “Come with me Princess. Let get you a cup of hot chocolate to calm your nerves. Your son in perfectly good hooves.” He push her slightly to follow.
Celestia nods and follows but keeping an eye from the corner of her eyes. “Right.” Trace turn to the griffon before him. “Let see what I can do for you young one.” The young groggily nod as the glass it removed from his talons being placed on the table beside him.
Trace light up his horn. “Say ahhh.” The griffon tries with an mix squawk in it opening his beak up. “Hmm... Your throat look a bit red and swollen.” He said calmly to the teenager.
“That kiddo is from you throwing up mostly. If your not aware when you do the stomach acids come up too, giving a slight burning feeling that you most likely have right?” The griffon nods in reply coughing a little.
Trace give him the glass back. “Continue to drink this slowly. Take deep breaths, you will feel a bit unsettled for a little while.” Trace continues to check him over with standard tests.
While this happened Donut Joe sat with Luna and Celestia. “Ease it up Princess.” Donut Joe seeing that Celestia's right leg with bouncing, this showed how easily worried she was. “I am sure Trace will make sure the young griffon is fine.”
Celestia drunk some of the hot chocolate before responding to Donut Joe. “In all my years... All those years. Not once I felt like the way I do now...” Celestia's gaze was locked on the doctor checking over the young griffon. “He threw up and turn so pale... I only knew one pony that could help him and acted on it...”
“Thy did right, we were here for him.” Luna said placing her hoof on Celestia's. “Thy should be proud at how fast thou acted.”
Celestia still anxious but understood. “T-thank you Luna...”
After a short time paste Doctor Trace seem to finish doing his check up on the teenage griffon.
Donut Joe walked over to the counter using his magic to bring over a box with doughnuts entering it and closing the box up. “These are the caramel filled doughnuts, the kiddo seem to like them a lot.”
“So when his better give these to him will ya?” He smiled.
Celestia took the box from him. “I will Donut Joe. Thank you for your support and help.”
“All in a days work Princess. I will make sure to keep the orange filled and flavoured ones out of reach.” He insured them.
“An lesson learned... Not one we wish to happen but it has.” Luna said walking over to Trace with Celestia.
Trace finished his check over and turn to the sound of the pair of hoof-steps. “Princess Celestia, good news! Your son will be fine. A good night rest and take one of these after eating some toast and drinking either tea or water he should be fine in no time at all.” Trace presented the small pouch of two capsules in it.
Celestia sighed in relief. “Thank you Doctor Trace. I am glad my little griffon will be alright. It an relief.” She took the pouch from him.
Trace rubbed the griffon's back gentle. “Just make sure to keep him from eating anything with orange in it and he will be fine.” Trace notice the box on the table side. “Is that what I think it is?”
Celestia nods. “It is, but I think I will give to him in the morning.”
“Good idea.” Trace packed his stuff away. “I will get something to eat here and head back to the hospital to update the griffon's charts.”
“Come on my little griffon. Let's go home.” He nods and walk with Celestia to the door, Luna pick up the plush with her wing and follows out of the restaurant.
They travelled back via the coach back to the castle and Celestia at the end carried the young griffon on her back to his room. She turn her head every so often seeing him lying on her back half awake and half asleep. “Keep awake a little longer my sweet griffon.”
He nods slightly yawning afterwards.
Walking into the bedroom, Luna and Celestia went up to the bed, Luna put the plush down on the right side of the pillow while Celestia using her magic place the griffon down on the bed putting the sheets over him.
“Now we have one last surprise for your bedroom.” Celestia step back with Luna their horns glowing as they touched tips. “This is our home welcoming gift.”
“We hope thou like it!” He watched from where he laid as the magic builds up and bursts upwards dancing around each other, blue and yellow orbs with sparklingly light.
They hit the ceiling and as the burst of magic spread outwards. He watched the magic not only spread over the ceiling but down the walls, suddenly the sunny theme of the painting came to lift and changed to a purple night sky with the moon shining with the stars.
The landscape also showed the night time feel as well, the painting now magical transformed. “During day and night, the painting Cadance and Shining Armor created will change magically. This is our gift to you.” Celestia said with a sweet gentle voice.
Luna smiled. “We hope thy like this gift.”
The griffon looked around with surprise at what they just did. “Goodnight my little griffon and sweet dreams.” Celestia walk up to the bed and kiss him on the forehead. “Sweet dreams.” He nods with a happy squawk at the gift she and Luna gave but also wishing them goodnight best way he could.
Yawning and grabbing his plush the griffon turn to his side. Luna nuzzled his side of the face gently with her own. “Goodnight nephew. We will make sure thy have good dreams.” They walk up to door and Luna left.
Celestia closing the doors stop to look at the griffon now asleep. “See you in the morning my child...”
Celestia knocks on the door with her hoof a few times to get no response from her now griffon son. “Young one are you awake?” No reply came. “Has my little one came out of his room?” She asked an guard.
The guard in question shook his head. “No princess. But I have heard the sound of a shower running for about five or so minutes.”
Celestia listen to the sound within. “Hmm... It seems he figured out how to take a shower.” Celestia carrying a tray of toast, eggs and hash browns with a pot of tea with an cup, milk and sugar beside it.
The guards open the two doors and Celestia walks inside with them closing the doors behind her. “Hmm...” She saw the bed had been attempted to be made with the griffon plush sitting on top of the pillows. “Basic memories of how to do things return, but how is another story.”
Magical the room's landscape walls and ceiling had shifted back into an daytime feel, Celestia happy to see her's and Luna's joint magical present is working with wonderful results.
She put the tray down at the table. “S-” Celestia caught her breath on the word and taking a calm deep breath of air she spoke. “Son!” She knocked on the door. “I got you breakfast.”
The shower stopped running and Celestia step back from the door, it opened a few moments later with Celestia trying not to laugh at the feather and fur fluffed griffon before her. “Oh my... You poor thing. It look like you need a good brushing.”
The griffon looked over himself and shrugged. “Not bothered huh?” He nods. “Well I can help.” She picked up a brush with her magic. “While you eat of course.” Celestia hints to the table.
He accepts it with a nod and a few flaps of his wings the griffon walked up to the table, he sat down at it to eat his breakfast while Celestia started to use the brush on him.
First thing he did was make himself a cup of tea from pouring the milk into the cup followed up two tea spoons of sugar. Celestia watched him pour the hot water into the cup and mixed it together, she was impressed by the way he did it.
Moving on from that he took the knife and folk cutting into the toast and placing it on the egg to cut that too. He placed the food into his beak enjoying the taste of the breakfast. Celestia curiously watched as she continued to brush his fur and feathers back into the right place.
“Am I to guess you know how to have a shower, brush your teeth and even use the toilet but you do not know when or how?” The griffon almost choked on his food when Celestia said it, he squawks angrily in response raising his head looking upwards at her while hinting to his food.
“Not the right time to ask.” He nods. “You are correct.” Celestia continue to brush him.
He nods annoyed and goes back to eating.
Celestia put the brush down and used her magic to bring over a hand held size mirror to him. “Finished.” He stops eating once more as the mirror now floating before him.
“Will this be forgiving?” Celestia smiled slyly as he saw that Celestia sorted out his fur and feathers. With a nod and slight smile he continue to enjoy his breakfast.
Celestia walked over to the box sitting on the dresser. “After you've eaten the breakfast and drunk the tea, I think it finally time to open your present.” Celestia sat down on a set of cushions by the balcony doors.
The teenager looked over at her with a nod, taking a sip of tea he loved the flavour that came from it. With a gleeful sigh he drunk a bit more of it, feeling the refreshing semi hot liquid go down his throat.
After finishing his breakfast and tea he went over to the cushions sitting down on it looking at the box beside Celestia. “You look a lot better.” She gentle moved her hoof over his side the face. “Feeling better?” He nods
“But still feeling a bit unwell?” He nods again. “Maybe this will help brighten your day.” Celestia place the box down on his lap.
He look down at it with talons grabbing it sides. “Go on.” Celestia eager to see his reaction when opening it.
The teenage griffon dig the claws in and tear the paper off with the lid to see inside was an green bandanna with two blue silky bands. He somehow knew what they were and what they were before, these was the scraps of clothing he had on now something more wearable.
“Like me to-” She was about to offer to help him but suddenly saw him doing it all by his own.
“Nevermind, I see you can handle it. Son.” Celestia watched the griffon slip the bands over his paws and up his hind legs slightly, then tie the bandanna around his neck adjusting it.
He stood up on all fours and showed off his new duds to his mother the princess of the lands Equestria he knew so little about. Celestia Smiled warmly at the sight of her griffon son looking very handsome in her own eyes, the sight of him so happy with what he now wears it was an wonderful feeling to have.
The teenager gasp and flies over to the desk pulling out some papers, a quill and ink well. He point to it and to her. “You want to draw me?” He nods rapidly and eagerly. “Very well you shall my little griffon.” She sat still smiling as the griffon got to work on drawing her.
Celestia watched as his eyes quickly gazed over to her before going back to staring at the paper on the table as he drew on it. “Why do you want to draw a picture of me?” He use a wing to point to his bandanna and then at her. “And how did you learn to do that with your wing?”
He glance over to the doors and back over to her. “Ah I see, the Pegasi.” The griffon nods slightly as he continue to draw.
After a little time that pasted he grins and pick up the paper handing it out to Celestia. He eager for her to see what he created for his mother, he hoping she likes what he drew.
Celestia using her magic took it from him. “Well let's see what we got right-” Suddenly looking at it the drawing was a different shades of blue and moving. “H-” Celestia flare her wings with surprise seeing she was surrounded by the same stuff.
Looking around it was moving around her. “What is this aurora? Is this what Shining Armor saw a few weeks ago on the day my sister came back to me?” Celestia asked no one.
She thought it was no one but the griffon watched with a curious and confused look. His mother was looking around with wings flared out moving in an odd fashion still holding the picture, he didn't know why Celestia was acting so weirdly while holding a drawing of herself he created.
Flapping his wings the griffon flew over to the paper and took it from her magic as he did Celestia blinked a few times, her eyes finally set on him holding the picture showing it to Celestia. “What happened to the blue aurora?”
He hovered with a tilt of the head confused by the words she said and showed the picture he drew. “Your drawing it was of-” She paused seeing he was still confused. “That is the drawing you created?” He nods slowly and put his talons out to her.
Celestia took it with hesitation but didn't get the same effect from the first time only the feel of paper in her levitation magic. “It a beautiful drawing.” She decided to put aside what she experienced since her griffon son wasn't even aware of what just happened.
“I love it. Thank you for this wonderful gift.” He hummed happily and hugged her, in turn she hugged him back. “Now...” She let go of the hug.
Celestia sighed slightly. “I and my sister have meetings attend to sadly.” His ears lowered and his head too with sadness falling upon him. “Son...” He looked up. “Your still recovering but I believe you can go to the castle library.”
The griffon looked excited at the news of that. “Captain Shining Armor and my niece... Your cousin now Cadance will take you there and look after you.” Celestia said walking over to the tray picking it up. “I will see you just before sunset. I do apologise but duties as princess is an busy one.”
He cooed in disappointment. “I am not sure how to explain it...” Celestia said looking over to the door. “They be around shortly and I advise reading up on a duty of an princess or prince. Then I hope you understand.” Celestia opens the door. “Love you son.”
The griffon tapping his beak with an finger trying to think of how to reply and recalled an expression all the sudden. Blinking he did it by putting his talon over his beak and pushing it out with a smush sound from his beak.
Celestia laughed at what he did and repeated it back with her own hoof over the snout. Pushing the hoof out and saying. “Yes you love me too.” They laughed for a moment, Celestia left the room a moment later with tray and drawing.
The griffon walked over to the window jumping up on his hind legs placing his forelegs on the window frame, he took a good lookout to the town in the distance. Curiously wondered about that town and what kind of ponies live there.
Unknown amount of time past for him as he just kept staring out the window letting his mind wonder into countless imaginative thoughts. A knock on the door got his attention turning to it Shining Armor and Cadance stepped into the room.
“Ready to go?” Shining asked.
He nods.
Cadance took a good look at the new bandanna and leg bands. “That a nice look for you...”
He nods.
“Cousin.”
He squawked happily and Shining Armor waved his hoof. “Come on kiddo, the library awaits.”
Within the Canterlot Castle Library the dim light within and the light of the sun shined through the hourglass, filled with many books of different ages to many scrolls holding all kind of contents from historic rules to very powerful old spells.
The teenage griffon sat at a desk next to the large hourglass that the sands endlessly fall, he was reading a book about Canterlot and the country of Equestria. Quietly watching over the griffon, Shining Armor and Cadance sat at a desk across the way.
They were reading through books on the very race of Griffons from culture, kingdom to a book filled with many griffon names. “Now this is odd.” Cadance whispered.
Shining Armor glanced over from his book. “What is it Cadance?”
“I am reading a book on the rulers of Griffonstone and the very Griffon Kingdom Griffina.” Cadance begin to tell Shining. “Listen to this...”
“In ancient times the griffons were to be known as greedy as dragons hoarding their gold and other treasures, all that changed when King Grover discovered an mysterious golden artefact called the Idol of Boreas. Legends says Idol of Boreas made from the dust of golden sunsets blow access the mountains by the north winds.”
“Processing this idol filled the griffons hearts with pride and made Griffonstone the most majestic city in all the lands.”
Shining Armor saw her confusion. “What odd about that Cadance?”
Cadance flip through some of the pages coming to the end of it. “After the fourteenth ruler King Guto there is nothing. No history, no details... Nothing. It just stops.”
“And?”
“And Shining that was almost 200 years ago.” Cadance showed the date the historic book was created in. “I had to look at the sections covered in thick dust to find this.”
Shining Armor took the book from her skimming through it as Cadance took the book with griffon names in it. “That is odd. I ran into a fair number of griffons in my time and many live on the Griffish Isles at the town Trottingham among ponies.”
Shining Armor put the book down. “I did recall they was charging insane prices for things.” Rubbing his hoof under the snout thoughtful expression.
Cadance flipping through the pages respond. “That sound like the griffons of old. Not the prideful griffons stated in the books.”
“Indeed and the kiddo over there isn't anywhere near prideful or greedy. He seems so...”
“Innocent?”
“Yes. But do you think before he lost all his memories he was either of these?”
“Maybe Shining. But we did discover he wasn't a griffon to begin with. So that can play a part.”
Shining Armor sighed. “Your right. I totally forgot about that.”
Cadance looked over at the griffon drinking some water and continue to read. “You can easily forget with this youngster. Just little over four days ago he would of clawed and kicked if you even got near him.”
“That is true Cadance.” Shining Armor rubbed his mane. “I would of believed he was faking it. But Trace showed us all the facts and I can not ignore what I saw in that report...” He staring at the griffon.
Shining Armor shivered. “The thought of me going through that is a scary-”
Cadance put her hoof on his. “That is why we do what we can to help him.” Shining Armor put his other hoof over hers and their snouts drew closer till-
“Phtttp!” They both turn their heads at the griffon staring at them blowing a raspberry.
Shining frowned. “You did that on purpose didn't you!” The griffon nods and go back to reading. “That cheeky griffon.” Shining chuckled.
“Guess he doesn't like kissing.” Cadance giggled. “Interesting that he knew what we was about to do.”
“Maybe past memory of something like that for a young teenager find gross. I sure had that feeling a few times before back when I was that age.” Shining Armor recalling the way he acted with his parents kissing, Cadance laughed with him.
Cadance push the book between her and Shining Armor. “Well we just have to later on tonight.” Shining Armor nods in agreement. “The matter of the youngster need to be addressed.”
“A name correct?”
“Yes.” They were in agreement. “It just persuading a teenager to agree to it.” Cadance knew this would be a challenge to address.
She already attempted to call him some names and all were rejected while they were heading to the library earlier. Through out the day they spent in the library Cadance been thinking of ways to get him to agree and maybe found one. Shining Armor need to help her to pull this off.
Cadance put her wing over Shining Armor to cover him from the view of the young griffon. “Cadance wh-”
“Follow my lead Shining.” She hints to the book between them.
“Alright you lead, I'll follow.” Shining agreed, for a few moments they didn't say anything and she kept her wing in the way of them and the griffon.
Just as Cadance hoped for as she lowered her wing the griffon now stood before their table holding his plush close to him. He had gotten curious at what they was saying under her wing, tilting his head and noticed the book between them.
That when he realised what they may have talked about. Quickly back-stepping from them and a shake of the head with total refusal to even look at that book.
Cadance picked up the book with her magic. “Here the thing cousin. Your mother my aunt Princess Celestia has the rights to call you whatever she wishes since we do not know your name.”
He quickly sat down and point to the plush tag. “We know that your name and you understand it. But you can not speak or even know how to even write it in our own words.”
The griffon snorts at Shining Armor's comment. “Also this would be a middle name.” The griffon curiously tilt his head. “My full name is Shining Sparkle Armor. I hold our family name as my middle name. So...”
The griffon snorts trying not to laugh but Cadance said it. “Sparkle Armor.” The griffon burst into laughter.
Shining rolled his eyes. “Yeah yeah I get it kiddo. I got an funny middle name. But would you like to have one from Princess Celestia that silly?” The griffon stopped laughing with eyes widen followed with a rapid shake of the head.
Cadance moved the book towards him placing it on the ground. “That would leave you two choices cousin. Either you pick the name or Auntie Celestia does.” Cadance's plan to get him to pick a temporary name was working.
“This book has griffon names in it. Thought since you are one kiddo you've wouldn't mind a griffon name.” Shining Armor following Cadance's lead.
The griffon placed his free talon over the cover of the book feeling the texture of the text and the griffon symbol engraving. They had made a very valid point about the name he couldn't disagree on, it was only now a matter of time before he would get an temporary name if they were right.
Placing the plush down the griffon open the book up as he sat there on the spot looking through the many names. Tilting his slightly the names all of them started with the letter 'G' of both female and male.
“You just noticed that they all start with G correct?” He nods without looking at Cadance. “That an traditional griffon name.”
“If you don't like it we-” Shining Armor got a anger squawk at him. “Okay no pony names got it.” Shining raise his hooves in defence.
Cadance laughed softly watching the griffon continue to look through the pages. “I saw this coming Shining.” Cadance turn to him. “We need to speak about how he going to learn to speak for himself.”
Shining Armor rubbed the underside of his snout. “Hmm... True Cadance.” He look cross eyed at his snout and to the griffon. “Snout... Beak... Snout... Beak...” Shining kept repeating the two words over and over again.
“Shining. Why are you saying snout and beak over and over?” Cadance stared at her love in concern.
Shining Armor cleared that concern with his reply. “I believe that the reason we can not get him to talk because we don't have beaks.”
“We don't have...” Cadance paused realising what he was saying. “Of course! How did we miss it?”
He shrugged. “Never taught a griffon to speak before.” Shining glance over the griffon too engrossed reading the book of names to listen to them. “We can't go to any griffon to help us, we will need one that been friends with ponies for some time at least.”
“Because of those you met were more concerned with bits?” Cadance asked.
“Yes. I have a feeling Griffina isn't the kingdom the book say it is, if my past experience with griffons has anything to do with it I would say most likely.” Shining Armor sighed.
Cadance tap her hoof on the wooden surface a few times before coming up with an idea. “I am going to Cloudsdale tomorrow to check over the preparation for the 'Young Flyers Contest' that is happening in a few months time. Auntie Celestia attending it.”
“I can look over any files from different camps to flight schools.” She suggested.
“I do know of an 'Junior Speedsters Flight Camp' that some of the guards spoke about attending in their foal to teen years. That could be a good lead.” Shining Armor suggested an place in Cloudsdale to check out.
“Shiny I will do that, thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“Phtttp!” They both turn to see the griffon with his tongue stuck out at them.
“H-”
“Shining Armor best not question how teenagers know, they just do.” Cadance exclaimed. “Still deciding on names?” He shook his head.
“Kiddo did you pick out a name already?” He nods to Shining Armor. “Wow that was fast.”
“With the right push you be surprised how fast results can come in.” Cadance thought with a soft smile seeing her plan had worked.
The griffon turn the book around and tap the finger on the word with a smile across his beak. “So your name is-”
Shining Armor, the griffon and Luna sat in the private dining room with the griffon reading while the two ponies talked to each other. Celestia and Cadance with the help of the chefs came close to finishing their dinner and plating them.
While they continue to finish up the meals for themselves and the other three they spoke to each other about Celestia's adopted son. “The captain suggested this junior speedsters flight camp huh?” Celestia asked as she stirred the gravy in the large saucepan.
Cadance swishing the veg in the pan replies to her aunt. “Shiny did. After meeting with the officials at the Cloudsdale Stadium, I will check there right away for any records on a griffon or two attending it.”
Celestia look down at the brown swirling semi thick liquid smelling the herbal flavours of the gravy raising with the steam. “That would be a good start. The captain usual have good on the intel.”
“Tomorrow I plan to take my son out into the city of Canterlot. Go see a Wonderbolt Derby and erm...” Celestia became stuck with what mother and son could do.
“Why not ask Shining Armor for some suggestions?” Cadance made a suggestion as Celestia turn the stow off and walk over with the saucepan to the five dishes.
Celestia start to pour the gravy over the food. “I might do that Cadance.” They smiled. “Thank you for helping and preparing our meals with us.” They bowed their heads.
“Go have a good evening. I will clean up after we finished.” Cadance said to them.
The lead chef smiled and bow once more. “Thank you princess. Hope you and everypony have a good evening.”
“We will. Goodnight my little ponies.” They said their good byes and left.
Cadance and Celestia picks up the five plates with their magic. “Oh after dinner, your son got something to share and I promise you it a amazing surprise.”
Celestia raise an eye brow. “Oh? Wonder what it could be.”
“Sorry auntie you have to wait, it wouldn't be a surprise otherwise.” She giggled and Celestia rolled her eyes.
“Oh fine. Niece.” Celestia giggled back and they walked into the dining room. “Hope you all are hungry.” Celestia announced as she and Cadance placed the plates down in front of each pony and griffon.
Celestia and Cadance sat down at their own seats. “Sister, thy like what thou made. This looks very appetising.”
Celestia picked up her knife and folk with her magic. “I can not take all the credit, Cadance and the chefs all did their part too. We worked as a team and this was the results.” Celestia started to eat her meal.
Shining Armor swallowed and took another piece. “This would give mum a run for her money.”
Shining raise his folk up. “I even bet that you and mum would be able to cook up something really amazing together.” Shining ate the food off the folk.
The young griffon cutting up the food scooping it in gravy and eating his meal cheerfully, the hum of delight and the expression of happiness was what Celestia aimed to see. “Son.” He looked over to her with his cheeks puffed out with food in his beak.
Celestia laughed at the way he looked before the griffon swallowed laughing a little himself rubbing the back of his head. “Ahem... As I was going to say.” Celestia calmed herself. “Tomorrow you, I and the captain going out to see not only the Wonderbolt Derby but enjoy the day.”
“Last few days I been busy with meetings and so on, tomorrow I am making sure to clear my caldander to spend it with you.” She said to the griffon.
He nods happily at that and tilt his head in question. “I think he wondering what the Wonderbolts are.” The griffon turn to Shining Armor curiosity still in his expression. “Well you have to wait kiddo.”
The griffon grumble and goes back to eating. “Impatient isn't he?” Shining chuckled.
“Indeed that would be a teenager for thou.” Luna laughed as well before they went back to eating their dinner.
The teenage griffon enjoyed his meal so much that he not only finished first but picked up the plate and licked it clean. “Kiddo gives it a eleven out of ten.” Shining chuckled.
“And we agree on that statement!” Luna just finished her's off. “Sister and niece thy did wonders with dinner.”
Celestia smiled. “It was a joint effort from us and the chefs.” Celestia clarified as she finished hers off.
“We thanks all for their hard work!” Shining Armor spoke and took his last bite.
Cadance using her magic picked up all the used plates, cuttery and glasses. “I will start cleaning up.” Celestia went to protest but Cadance cuts in before she could. “While I am doing that your son can give you the surprise.”
“I'll help you out.” Shining got up taking half the items with his magic. “Come on Cady.”
Celestia slumped down on her seat watching them leave. “Sister we are curious, since they know the surprise already, it wouldn't be for them as it is for us. Which thou does not know what this surprise is.”
“Your right Luna.” Celestia sat up. “Young one, I and your aunt are ready for your surprise.”
He grinned and opening his wing up to pull from between the folds an piece of paper. The griffon hand it to Celestia and Luna now stood directly behind looking over Celestia's shoulder. “A drawing?”
The griffon shook his head.
“Hmm... I wonder what it could be.” Celestia opens it up to see an single word written in Shining Armor's horn writing.
The Alicorn sisters spoke together saying the word out loud. “Gale?”
Squawk!
They blinked and looked at each other before turning back to the griffon, Celestia this time spoke at him. “Gale.” He point to himself with a tilt of the head but keeping a cheeky smile.
Celestia teleports and a flash came from behind him, turning around Celestia scooped him up nuzzling him. “Oh I am so happy!” The griffon now named Gale squawked and squirmed, he tried to break free but failed as Celestia now gave him an motherly crushing hug. “Gale is a wonderful name! It perfect!”
Celestia continue to keep him in a locked hug and nuzzling while she spoke with excitement. “Tomorrow we will go to the Wonderbolt Derby to celebrate! Have a day out as mother and son! Oh I am feeling so amazing and joyest!”
Gale gave a pleading look to Luna. “Thy staying out of this.” Luna whispered with a shake of her head. Without words she could see the expression saying 'Traitor'. Luna just shrugged.
FLASH
Celestia blinked so did Gale both of their eyes turn to the door into the kitchen. Cadance and Shining Armor walks in with a colourful wrapped flat object. “Auntie I know your very happy with Gale getting his name, but could you let him go so we can give him this gift?”
“Of course.” Celestia blushed seeing the camera around the captain's neck, Gale didn't know what it was or what it did but Celestia knew he would find out soon enough. “Gale go on open it.”
Gale walked over to the table as Cadance placed it down. “Use your talons to rip the paper off the gift inside.” Gale nods and standing in front of it he did that.
Upon ripping the paper away he saw a wooden varnished plaque with his name on it, gentle moved his talon over it and felt the engraved letters. Gale picked it up to show to Celestia. “It beautiful Gale, we can put that right on your bedroom door.”
“We do wonder how thy did this so fast.” Luna turn to them.
Shining Armor smiled. “That for us to know, Princess Luna.”
“Thy wi-”
Celestia rose a hoof and speaks over Luna. “Sister, sometimes we do not need to know they did it. All that matters Gale likes it.”
Luna turn to Gale seeing the griffon admire the plaque. “Hmm... We can not disagree.”
Celestia put a wing over Gale. “Shall we go to your room to place this on your door?” He nods eagerily. “Then thank Shining Armor and your cousin Cadance for the gift first.” Gale give her the plaque and flies over to them, giving each a hug.
They returned it. “Goodnight cousin Gale.”
“Goodnight kiddo, see you in the morning.” Shining Armor raise his hoof to Gale. The griffon close his talon up and fist bump it against the hoof smiling at the captain.
He gives Luna a hug too, Luna slowly return it. “Goodnight nephew Gale. We will be watching over thy dreams.” He nods and go back to Celestia. They both left the room after Celestia said her goodnight to them all.
They soon arrived at Gale's room, Celestia look to the two doors. “Which door? Right or left?” Gale point to the left. Celestia placed it on the door using her magic to seal it to the very door itself. “There we go.”
Gale hovered in front of it placing his talon on it with glee. “Looking forward to tomorrow?” He turn and nod happily. “No looking up the Wonderbolts, let me surprise you okay?” He nod in agreement.
Celestia open the doors up. “Brush your teeth and I will tuck you in.” Gale goes over to the bathroom and closes the door behind him. Celestia stood by the balcony window looking out to the moon lit sky.
Celestia thought back about Twilight Sparkle and how it been refreshing to somepony or in this case somegriffon close to her again. Relying on her guidance, felt needed on a personal level and yet this felt very different to all her students of the past.
As Celestia waits for Gale to brush his teeth in his beak to other needs within, one thing that crossed her mind many times over as she look to Ponyville in the distance were...
“How do I tell my former student about my adopted son Gale?” Celestia's emotions was a mess at this point.
The door opens and Celestia turn around forcing herself to smile and not show anything worrying her. Walking over to Gale as he walk over to the bed, she picks up his plush with her wing and giving it to him. “Goodnight Gale, see you in the morning okay?”
He nods settling into bed and she give him a kiss on the forehead. She hummed to him softly an musical soft tone and Gale slowly closed his eyes drifting off to sleep.
As Celestia leaves her thoughts once again fall upon Twilight Sparkle, sighing slightly on the other side of the now closed doors. Celestia tries many thoughts on how to proceed and nothing comes to mind..
Celestia mutters to herself as she walk to her own room. “Why can I not find a way to tell Twilight? Why is this so difficult to send her a letter about it?” Questions Celestia left unanswered.
She looked at the doors into her own bedroom. “Why am I hesitating?” Celestia whispers and opens the doors into her room walking inside the doors close behind in a soft golden glow...
Thank you and Results: There was an total of 20 votes made and thank you for all of ya taking part!
The sky arena of Canterlot where the aerobatic show to the derby of the Wonderbolts happened came into view of Celestia, Shining Armor and Gale. A few guards walked either side of them as protection detail requested by Shining Armor, Celestia agreed to those terms of four guards no less.
Gale saw the arena as they got closer on the mountain edge road, the stands over looking a cloud shaped course with poles sticking out of the clouds. Each with the Equestria country flag flapping in the direction the wind. The stands had ponies already sitting at them with VIP level behind them to the Royal booth at it highest, two alicorn statues on ever side of the Royal Booth.
The view of the building next to the Canterlot Sky Stadium Gale recalled from the book he read about the city of Canterlot. He point the stadium and building followed by a few flaps of his wings trying to mimic the motion of papers turning.
“What are you trying to say?” Shining Armor watching Gale repeat it a few more times. “You want to fly around the stadium course?”
Gale shook his head.
Celestia closed her eyes picturing the movement of the wings. “I believe it a book Gale hinting to.” Opening her eyes looking down at the griffon beside her.
Gale nods happily.
Shining Armor thought about the pointing and gets what Gale was trying to say. “You read about the stadium in a book about Canterlot yesterday!”
Gale squawked happily as they continue to head to the stadium.
Ponies came up to them and instantly Gale retreated close to his mother, Shining Armor moved his hoof in motion with the four guards acting upon it. They quickly crossed their spears halting the advance of ponies, Celestia lower her head to Gale shifting her wing over him.
“It's okay.” Celestia whispered to Gale, he nods but kept close to her. Raising her head she gestured to the ponies. “My little ponies. I've came to see the Wonderbolt Derby today with my newly adopted son, a lot has happened to him that I took it personally to be his guardian.”
The ponies looking and speaking to each other. “His a griffon that easily scared of new things or those he doesn't know. Gale by unknown means lost almost all his memories, his past lost and the present I will guild him to relearn all that was lost.” They could see Gale trying to his best to be not seen by them and scared by their present.
“I will answer any questions from the press in time.” She slowly looking around the ponies. “For now please give us space and let him enjoy this day outside the castle.” They all nod and stood to the side.
Celestia push her wing forwards a little to get Gale to walk. “Come on it alright.” With a gulp he nods and walk alongside her, he wearily look to the left and right at all those ponies that look back at him from a mix of different emotions on their faces.
Shining Armor took a good look around as he walked behind them before coming back up to Celestia's other side. “That seem to go quite well Princess.”
“Indeed. I am glad it did.” Celestia sighed slightly. “I was hoping to avoid speaking to ponies about Gale after adopting him, specially the press.” She glance down at Gale whom been listening and looking up at her.
“The press can easily change what you really say and spin it into something that isn't. Not all but some” Celestia explained to Gale. “One time I yawned and the Canterlot Daily took the picture of it, they spinned it as if I didn't care about the show I was watching.”
Gale tilted his head. “Somepony making up something that didn't happen and frame it as true but it called lying or an lie.” Celestia explained and Gale still looked very puzzled. “You don't understand why somepony would do you?” Gale nods.
Celestia warmly smiled. “Gale your so pure.” He smiled back not sure what his adopted mum meant, but he knew with an feeling it was a good thing she said to him.
None of the ponies got close but bowed as Celestia, Gale and Shining Armor with the guards walked up the steps between the stadium seats of the lower levels to the Royal booth. The guards stopped just outside it turning around and stood attention as Celestia, Gale and the captain carried on walking up to the booth.
Gale noticed there was red carpet with gold rims on the steps they walked on into the booth, turning to the right and walking up a few more steps he saw nice comfortable seats. In front of them was a semi long table with an red table cloth over it and hanging over it on one side.
The griffon walked up to the wall and jumped up putting his talons on it to get a good look at the amazing view they had of the cloud course. Gale whistled with an impressed expression before pushing off and going to one of the seats.
Celestia shook her head before sitting down on her own chair, Shining Armor standing beside it and Gale gave a soft squawk as he points to the empty chair beside him. “Sorry Gale, I'm on duty. This is my station.”
Gale turn to his mum tilting his head with the questionable look. “His right son. Captain Armor is on duty till after the Wonderbolt Derby and meeting the Wonderbolts themselves.”
“Princess?”
Celestia got Shining Armor confused and now she drops the ball into his hooves. “After the show your going to give him the experience of having fun.”
Shining Armor shook his head recalling his talk with Cadance at breakfast. “I remember now. Cadance told me about this.”
“Will it be a problem?”
“Not at all princess.” Shining Armor replied.
Celestia smiled. “That good to know.” Gale rubbed his feathered head wondering what kind of fun they speaking about.
“Mares, stallions, colts and fillies! Welcome to the Canterlot Wonderbolt Derby! I present to you the Wonderbolts!” A grey Pegasus were an black and white shirt with a head set on spoke out to the stadium.
Seconds later Gale watched six pegasi flew over him and over them with smoke lightning trailing behind them. Each of them he did notice wore blue with yellow lightning suits that covered almost every inch of their bodies. They came back around to land on the clouds beside the grey pony, three to the left and three to the right.
The yellow face one pull up the goggles and took the headset off the grey pony putting it on her head. “Hello everypony! Those that are new to the derby I hope you all look forward to seeing our race followed by our aero acrobatic show!” The ponies cheer in response.
The pony noticed Celestia with a salute she and the others did in an instant. “Princess!”
Celestia nod slightly and those lower their hooves. “I look forward to seeing the derby and the race with my little griffon here Gale, this be his first time Captain Spitfire.”
“We make it a show he will remember!” Spitfire ensured Celestia.
“I have no doubt it your teams abilities captain.” Celestia gracefully smiled, she leans down to Gale. “You are going to like this Gale.”
Gale was curious and eagerly awaits to see what will be happening in a moment.
Spitfire give back the headset to the ref pony. “The line up of the Wonderbolts here today are...” He begins to role call the Wonderbolts one at a time.
“Lightning Streak!” Light blue stallion with two tone yellow mane and tail salutes.
“Misty Fly!” Cream colour mare with light blue and white mane and tail salutes.
“Fire Streak!” White colour stallion with orange and white mane and tail salutes.
“Fleetfoot!” Light green mare with white and light blue mane and tail salutes.
“Co-Captain Soarin!” The light blue stallion with the dark blue mane and tail salutes
“And last but least! The captain of the Wonderbolts! Spitfire!” The yellow mare with two tone of orange mane and tail salutes.
The ref pony point his wing to the starting slash finish line. “All Wonderbolts to your position!”The flew up to the line and land on the cloud behind the line. “This will be a twenty lap race! Good luck to all Wonderbolts!”
He turn to the stands. “On your marks!” They lower their fronts down and wings open. “Get set!” They flex their wings as he raise his own.
The ref pony lower his wing. “GO!”
All six Wonderbolts took off exploding the cloud they stood on, in seconds they rounded the first turning moving into the second straight before turning again a moment later. They pass through the line ending lap one as they continue to race around the cloud course.
Gale eyes was locked on the racers as they went through lap after lap, he leaned forwards on the seat he sat on keen on seeing this race taking place. Gale had guessed that the first through the twentieth lap wins and he wanted the captain to win the race.
Ponies at the lower stands screaming and cheering out different names. “Princess, would you and the young griffon like refreshments?”An pony in an black suit and tie with a white shirt asked.
Celestia glance over to him. “Apple juice for Gale and a cup of tea for myself please. And if you got some of those lovely cucumber sandwiches that would be perfect.”
“We do and I will be bring them up shortly.” He bows and leave the booth.
Gale got so engrossed in the race that he wasn't aware of how much time seem to pass, he read up about it but it was still confusing to exactly understand. A cough caught his attention and saw a unicorn in an black suit with refreshments. “Sir; your apple juice and cucumber sandwiches.”
The plate and drink float down onto the table before him, Gale try to think of a way to thank the unicorn and bow his head down to him. “Why are you bowing to me?”
“That my little pony is Gale saying 'thank you', due to the fact he can not speak at the moment.” Celestia explained to the waiter.
He looked surprised but understanding. “That princess makes sense. Thank you.” He turn back to Gale. “Enjoy.” The waiter pony bow his head to Gale and steps to the side.
Gale took one of the sandwiches, holding it in his talon taking a sniff of it and a bite of it. He chewed and took in the taste before swallowing it. “What do you think?” Gale give a thumbs up to his mum and she smiled. “They really make amazing cucumber sandwiches here.” He nods in believing it.
The attention turn back to the race seeing that it was coming to the last few laps, Gale saw that Spitfire was just behind two of the Wonderbolts Fleetfoot and Soarin. As they past the final lap Spitfire made her move squeezing into the inner turning, now all three were neck and neck as they came to the final straight passing the finish line in a blur.
The ref pony speaks out to the crowd as many talk to each other in wonder on who had won the race.
“What a finish! I could not even tell who crossed through the finish line first! We going to check on photos taken at the moment they all crossed! We will have an winner declared in a moment!”
Celestia turn to Gale who just put the last piece of food in his beak chewing on it. “Hmm...” He stopped hearing her hum. Gale's eyes shift to her. “How would you like to declare the winner?”
Shining Armor quickly took a double take at Celestia. “Princess!?”
Gale instantly swallowed and followed by an very loud surprised squawk.
Voting has ended and the tally been made. Results will be reviled in Chapter 13.5: The Winner is... This will be a short chapter on the winner announced and Gale being reviled to the city of Canterlot and beyond soon enough.
Celestia whispers into a Pegasus guard ear, he salutes and flies off to the ref pony. She now turn her attention to Shining Armor and Gale, the press had been informed about Gale and what happened to him in the briefest way possible.
“Princess you've just let the press know about Gale, why are you even thinking about letting him declare the winner!?” Shining Armor said with shock.
Celestia look over to the blacken screen she were holding up with her magic. “Captain. Do you really think they will sit on it for two days?” Shining Armor's eyes shift to the left and right.
“We both know they will do whatever research they can do and create a story for tomorrow's headlines. Ponies don't need it to be real to be news.” Celestia said firmly to the captain of the guard.
“This is the chance to give them something to write about and have it on our terms.” Celestia turn to Gale. “I know this seem very confusing to you but please trust me in this. I been dealing with stuff like this for a very long time.” Celestia lower her head to his level looking him in the eyes.
Gale slowing breathing in and out finally give a nod. “Thank you my little griffon. I will make this up to you, I promise.”
Shining Armor lowered his head slightly with a sigh before raising it back up. “I do not like this Princess but you have a valid point that is very much true.” Shining Armor turn to the black screen. “How would you want Gale to present the winner?”
Celestia smiled. “A rather simple way.” Gale tilt his head in curiosity and nervousness. “Gale put your talon around Shining Armor's right foreleg gentle.”
Gale does it and looked very confused by this action, so did Shining Armor. “Now Shining Armor raise your foreleg and Gale raise your talon.” They did so and now Shining Armor's hoof was above his head. “There we go, you just declared the winner.”
Letting go of the foreleg Gale rubbed the back of his head. “This was a testing kiddo. When you do the real thing you will go to the one that won the race, the photo will show it and be on the right side.”
Shining Armor face the same way as Gale raising his right foreleg. “This is right and this is left.” He rose his left foreleg after putting the right down.
Gale nods in understanding him. “Shall we go?” He nods again to Celestia this time and she cancel out her spell, the black screen fades away.
They leave the royal booth heading down the stairs. “I just been informed that Princess Celestia wishes to have a word before we announce the winner!” The ref pony gives her a wing signal to take the headset off him.
Celestia does so and put it on over her head. “Hello my little ponies, I do apologise for interrupting the results of that stunning race.” Celestia turning her head to the left to the right looking at each of the ponies. “As many of you know now this young griffon I recently took in as guardian and adoptive mother.”
Gale nervously wave at the ponies staying just between her forelegs. “Gale at first saw me and all the ponies in fear, he fled and ran. But soon we came to a calming setting that I gained his trust to the point he saw me as an motherly figure.”
“I first wasn't sure if I should take that role but soon I learned he begun to learn, gain memories and become this young curious griffon you all see. I decided from that moment to do so and I never regretted it, Gale will be fearful and shy to many ponies.”
Gale showing that all too well to the ponies that listened and watched, Celestia gestured for the photo. “I thought being the first step to bring him out is to announce the winner by raising the foreleg of that said Wonderbolt.” The pony gives Celestia the photo. “What do you think captain?”
Spitfire pulled up her goggles showing her eyes. “I say it a great start for the cub.” Spitfire and Gale looked at each other. “I saw you watching us fly. Those wings fluttering that excitement, your first time seeing the Wonderbolts right?” His gaze shifted ruffling his wings slightly before nodding in reply.
“Princess give Gale the photo and show us who out of us three have won!” Spitfire turn to Fleetfoot and than to Soarin, they both nod in agreement raising their goggles up too to show their eyes.
Gale took the photo from Celestia. “Go on son. Pick the winner!” He nods and looking at the photo he showed it to Shining Armor to get it right.
Pointing to it the captain nods. “That right that one won by the tip of the muzzle. Go on announce the winner!”
Gale looking around hearing sounds of clicking and slight flashes from the cameras around. He nervously gulped and flew over to them, looking at the clouds he slowly and carefully landed on it.
Gale looked suddenly surprised and excited, he bounced around on it. “Look like your having fun, first time on a cloud?” He turn to Spitfire and nods. “Well cub. Go on show who of us won.”
Gale look to the photo again and up at each of them, instantly he went right to Soarin taking his foreleg with the talon and raised it up.
Shining Armor chuckled seeing ponies now cheering as Gale announced the winner.“That was blunt.”
"Indeed." Celestia giggled.
“Look like we got a win Princess.”
Celestia give back the headset to the ref pony as he calls out the winner. “The winner of the Wonderbolt Derby is... SOARIN!” The ref pony point his wing to the co-captain.
Celestia glance down at Shining Armor as the Wonderbolts gather around Gale rubbing his feathered head talking to him with photos being taken.
“Indeed it is captain. Gale is happy and forgetting his fears at the moment, I know this is a push that could of gone badly but I am glad it worked out for my little griffon.”
Gale flew over to Celestia pointing and squawking at the Wonderbolts with excitement and joy also showing the photo with three hoof prints on it. Celestia didn't need to say a word as she hugs him and he hugs back happily, they both full of happiness at this very moment.
The ball is now rolling and Celestia knew by morning her former student Twilight Sparkle WILL know.
Gale had his head stuck in an cloud with both talons and paws pressing against it, wings flapping to pull his head free. With success he hovered in front of the cloud course inner wall he'd managed to hit while going around it, with a hefty laugh Gale span around a few times before returning to an stationary hover in front of Spitfire.
Spitfire smiling with forelegs crossed rolled her eyes as she hovered just in front of him. “I told you cub to fly slow and easy! Not fast and reckless! Be glad that the cloud barriers are the best safety clouds in Equestria!”
Gale pull a piece of cloud off his head and held it out to her with amazement. “Urg... What am I going to do with you cub?” He shrugged with a cheeky grin from his beak. “Alright shall we start again?” Gale nods throwing the piece of cloud behind himself.
Gale flies over to the start line and Spitfire lands next to him. “Now watch, follow and take account of your larger wings.” Gale nods. “Ready?” Again an nod.
Celestia watches from the edge of the now empty stadium lower sitting area with the other members of the Wonderbolts chilling, eating, drinking and talking among each other. Soarin the co-captain haven't said much during this time. “Something on your mind?”
Soarin turn his head looking up at Princess Celestia. “I'm just trying to understand Spitfire.”
“Oh?”
“The captain hardly act like this.”
“Maybe your looking at this all wrong.”
“I don't follow.” Soarin rubbed the side of his head.
Celestia looking back out to the race course seeing Gale having a lot of fun flying around even mucking around at points with Spitfire. “Gale doesn't see Wonderbolts as others see Wonderbolts.”
Soarin didn't even think about that very thing. It became very clear to him the sudden moment Celestia stated that about Gale's view on them. “Spitfire teaching someone that doesn't see us anymore then experienced flyers of the skies...“
“Clipper it took you long enough to figure it out.” Fleetfoot chuckled. “Here drink this, we be leaving soon for our next performance in Las Pegasus.” Fleetfoot throws with her wing a water bottle.
Soarin caught the water bottle and drunk out of it. “Gale will be disappointed that you have to leave, but hopefully he will understand.” Celestia knew how busy the Wonderbolts are.
“From what you've told us Princess Celestia. I think he will, Gale a bright young griffon.” Soarin said as the two flyers got around the bend. Gale crashed into the barrier again. “Wow he can really turn.”
Celestia giggled slightly. “Indeed and it doesn't seem to phase him failing at it. He goes back and tries again.” Celestia said with pride.
Spitfire shook her head and explains to him where his gone wrong and Gale nods to go again. After about twenty minutes of trying Gale almost turned too sharply into it but got around without crashing into it.
Spitfire slows and lands on the cloud course wall. “Nice one cub!” He lands in front of her and raise his talon closed in front of her. She taps it with her hoof. “Now practice those turns and fly into straight ever so often.” He nods as she took to the air.
“Well my team and I got to go.” He tilted his head with wonder. “Gale you will understand what it to be a Wonderbolt and how proud we are as a team.” Spitfire took off her goggles and threw them down to him.
Gale caught them and looked at the goggles before looking back up at her with confusion. “You got some raw talent and your turns are really sharp. Never seen a griffon pull off those kind of turns before.” Spitfire smirked.
“I'll be keeping a eye on you but for now you got some growing up to do first. Be a cub and enjoy those moments. What you lost you can gain through new experiences, memories and moments with those that care about you.” Spitfire hovering over him.
Gale took in her words and thought about them as he stared at the goggles he now held in his talons.
“Alright team, we heading to Las Peagsus. We need need to be there by sundown for tomorrows show!” Spitfire spoke out to her fellow Wonderbolt members. “Gale till next time.” She salutes and flies off with the other Wonderbolts taking off after her flying in formation.
Gale coos in disappointment sitting down and watching her leave. “Son they have other events to perform at. Also I think you've left a good impression on the captain.” Celestia lands on the cloud sitting beside him. “Talking about captains...” Celestia hints for Gale to look.
He does and sees Shining Armor walking into view from the mountain side path to the stadium carrying a basket and two objects in his magic. Gale point to the captain.
“Yes let's go meet him.” Both Alicorn and griffon fly over to Shining Armor landing in front of him with the guards either flying or walking up from behind standing attention.
Gale put the goggles on his head and shows Shining Armor. “Not to bad Gale. Guess Spitfire gave them to you.” He nods. “Well it seems you got a knack of impressing captains.” Shining chuckled but got a confused look from Gale.
“Oh come on that a good joke!” Shining Armor sighed seeing that he failed to pull off an joking pun.
Celestia laughed a little. “It was alright captain but I think Gale doesn't understand the concept of jokes all that too well.” Gale showed that answer by looking up at her confused. “Don't worry about it son.”
Shining Armor moved the basket and objects in front on himself. “I got a picnic basket with everything made by my mum and two kites to fly after we eaten.”
Gale stared at the objects called kites and curiously wondered how they fly without the telekinetic levitation spell Shining Armor had be casting on them. “I gather you have a location in mind?”
“Indeed Princess Celestia, this is a place me, Twilight, Spike and Cadance went to many times for this kind of thing.” Shining Armor turned around waving his hoof for them to follow.
Close to the castle walls Shining Armor lead them to, it was a water way with hills, trees, flower beds and fields. On the far side of the water way was a bridge over it before turning into a waterfall. “This is the place, nothing too fancy. Just a piece of Canterlot's green beautiful landscape” Shining Armor place the basket down on a picnic table with the kites.
Gale flew over to a flowerbed of roses, he curiously look at the red roses taking a sniff at the flowers. “They roses, be-careful they have thorns on the steams.” Celestia use her magic to push the flower to the side slightly to show the thorns. “These are grown by the ponies that keep this little place of beauty, beautiful and tidy for vistors like us.”
Celestia point her wing out to a few unicorns and earth ponies planting a few new flowers in another flowerbed. “You see those ponies, they the ones that maintain this place. Not just for a job but something they love to do.”
“Do you understand?” He rubs the back of his head slightly and nod a little bit. “Little huh?” He nods.
Shining Armor walked over to them with the two kites. “Princess I like to spend a little one on one with Gale, could you set up the picnic blanket, food and drink while I teach him to fly a kite?”
Celestia smiled. “Very well Captain. I yield time to you.” She bows in a mocking way with a wing out in front before walking off to the table.
“Pr-Princess I-”
“Relax captain I am teasing you.” Celestia giggled.
Shining Armor sighed in relief. “So...” He turn to Gale. “Ready to fly a kite?” Gale open his wings up. “No your not flying, this is.” He hints to the kites.
The griffon curiously stared at them and back at Shining Armor in a look that was asking how the kites fly without wings. “You see these sticks on this side.” Shining shows the reverse side of the kite.
“These are the skeleton structure of the kite that hold the fabric in place with string here, here and here.” Shining Armor pointing to each part of the kite with his hoof. “This string here.” He point to the string leading away from it to the handle. “This is what you hold onto as the kite gets lift from the wind.”
“The more string you unwrap from the handle here and the higher the kite goes depending on the strength of the wind.” Shining Armor explained and shows Gale with his own kite.
Gale watches with amazement as the kite flies high above but stops going any higher with Shining Armor controlling it. “Now you give a try.” He gives Gale the other kite.
The griffon took hold of the handle. “Ready?” He nods and Shining lifts it up with his magic to get the lift from the wind. Gale squawk in surprise by the force he felt and pulled back on it causing the kite to slam into the ground, he grumbled as he failed to hold it in the air.
“Nice try for a beginner, let's try again shall we?”
Celestia watched as she place the blanket down and placing the plates, cups, food and drink down. She saw Gale try and try again without giving up to try and fly his kite, he squawking angrily at some points with Shining calming him down explaining it over again and showing him how it done.
Celestia picked up a flask, opening and pouring tea into a cup. She sat and watched with the guards near by for about ten minutes of Gale trying to get the kite to fly longer than a few seconds till he got it to stay up for a few minutes before losing control once more.
“How about you take a break Gale and come over to eat.” Celestia called out. Gale picked up the kite seeing the picnic all set up, he flew over and took a good look around at the food and drink laid out on it.
“Mum sure went all out on this.” Shining Armor stated taking a good look at the food they get to sit down and eat. “There enough here even for the guards.”
Celestia look over to them. “Why not give them a plate each?”
Gale put his talon up. “Look like Gale want to do it.”
“Very well, here it the plates. Take two at a time and come back for the other two okay?” Gale hums with a nod before taking the two plates and flying over to the guards to give them some of the food they had.
They all had their share of the food and drink, Shining, Celestia and Gale sitting around the food and drink enjoying the day. Shining Armor and Celestia going over some pointers to Gale about how to fly the kite to help him improve next time around.
Shining Armor flying his kite again after their meal, Gale sitting beside him watch the kite fly high in the sky. Celestia sitting close by watching the two bond.
An orange Pegasus in armour flies in and lands before her. “Private Flash Sentry, this is unexpected. Aren't you assigned to be my niece's side while she in Cloudsdale?”
“I am princess but Princess Cadance made it clear that these two files got to you ASAP.” Flash Sentry give the files over and salutes.
Celestia using her magic take a look at the files that was given. “Hmm...” Celestia noticed who it was in the first one. “Rainbow Dash? She the element of loyalty.” She said to herself outloud. “Why would Cadance want me to see a file of her from Junior Speedters Flight camp?”
“There a second file your highness.”
Celestia open the second file and it became clear. “Flash Sentry.”
“Princess.” He stood to attention.
“Prepare the royal carriage for the overnight train to Ponyville.”
“Right away! Princess!” He salutes and flies off.
Celestia look to the file. “The chance to get my son to talk and write...” Celestia walk over to the bridge looking out to Ponyville in the distance.
“I am jumping at.”
Celestia tap her hoof on her snout. “Question is; Should I tell Twilight I am coming to Ponyville or just unexpectedly show up?”
“Either way Twilight Sparkle will have an freak out...”
“What to do... What to do?”
Freak out WILL happen from Twilight! But.....
48 hours to choose the two choices. 22/12/2019 9am GMT votes will close! Votes are in and closed: Results in chapter 14.5
1. Tell Twilight Celestia coming and tell Twilight about her new adopted son Gale the Griffon. 2. Unexpectedly show up without a word and Twilight find out via News Paper by morning.
Twilight skimming through a book in Golden Oak Library looking up on information when Spike walked in from the kitchen, he carrying a plate of cucumber sandwiches and glass of orange juice. “Hey Twilight what are you looking at?”
The purple unicorn rose her head up from the book as the purple dragon place the glass and plate down beside the book for Twilight. She sighed before replying to Spike. “I am looking up for any spells that could dis-spell invisible ink.”
“You got pranked by Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash too huh?” Spike sat down on the stall. “I did too. I hiccuped all the scrolls to Princess Celestia.” Spike rubbed the back of his head. “Weird thing is... She asked me to do it again.”
Twilight raise an eye slightly with an Questionable look. “Send a lot of blank scrolls at once? Why?”
Spike shrugged. “She wouldn't say.”
“That is strange...” The door opens and Pinkie Pie walks in. “Oh no... Please tell me your not pranking again!”
Pinkie Pie shook her head holding a rolled up news paper in her mane. “Nope not at the moment. Rainbow Dash flying around with a old friend of hers. She would do pranks with me later.”
“Old friend of hers? Wonder who that could be.”
“Some griffon called Gilda. First time meeting a griffon too!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “They did this funny sky dance thing about Junior Speedsters!”
Twilight turn back to the book. “Fair enough. I read up about it.” Twilight flipped a page over. “From what I know it a summer camp for Pegasi, never knew a griffon went to it. That new news to me.”
“Oh talking about news Twilight! That why I came! I decided to read this paper and found something about a griffon in there too! What the chances a griffon friend of Rainbow Dash showing up and news about one in Canterlot!”
Spike got off the stall walking over to Pinkie Pie. “Could I read it?”
“Sure!” Pinkie Pie gives it to him. “It a real head spinner of a dozzy!” Pinkie walked to the door. “Well it later now! So I going to catch up with Rainbow Dash and Gilda!” She giggled before bouncing off out the door and closing it behind.
Spike unrolled the paper opening it up to the big news page of Canterlot. Reading it a first time he blinked a few times and read it over a few more times. “Erm... Twilight...”
“Yes Spike?” Twilight said with a slight announce half way eating her sandwich. “I'm eating see.”
“I can but you got to read this! Really read this!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Fine...” Taking the paper off him and read the article.
Suddenly her horn fizzled dropping the paper with eyes shrunk and right eye twitching. “P-Pri-Prin-”
Unmoving and frozen Twilight stood staring into space. “Twilight?” Spike waved his claw in front of her face and clicking it without a response from the purple unicorn.
“Twilight!” Still no reply.
Spike rushed into the kitchen and came back with a cup of cold water throwing it over her face. The ice cold water snapped her out of her trance. “Ah!” She shook her head blinking a few times. “Spike please tell me I was seeing things!”
“That Princess Celestia adopted a teenage griffon named Gale as her son? Nope I saw it too.” Spike place the glass down. “That kinda explains why she wanted me to send all those scrolls in one burst of flame.” He rubbed the underside of his snout.
“That doesn't explain ANYTHING Spike!” Twilight pick up the paper again looking at it. “This said she adopted him almost a week ago! A WEEK AGO! Why didn't she tell me!? WHY!?”
Twilight walking towards him and he stepping back grabbing a book and hold it out in front of him as a shield. “I am her prized student! SOMETHIG this IMPORTANT I should have been told about! Not find out in some newspaper!”
Spike shrugged nervously. “Maybe she forgot?” Twilight's horn grew brighter the instant he said that, her mane frizzled and steam raising from her body as the water turn to vapour. “Uh oh...”
A knock came from the door. “WHAT!?” Twilight screamed at the door.
“Twilight it m-”
Celestia was outside the door, Twilight wasn't prepared for that...
“Princess Celestia!?” Twlight unleashed her magic in a short burst teleportation to the door.
Opening the door with her magic Twilight quickly bowing her head. “I am so so so sorry Princess! I didn't know you were coming!”
“Of course you didn't, I never sent you a letter.” Celestia responded with an calm tone.
Twilight rose her head up. “Wh-” She froze seeing not only her brother Shining Armor
He also stood with a orange Pegasus guard, but the griffon Gale from the newspaper was there too. Shifting her eyes to each of them rapidly as her mind just shuts down from trying to process everything that just happened.
“I-ha-ga-fj-ka!” Twilight's horn shorts out, her mane fizzles into a mess with smoke raising. “Hahaha...” Twilight laughed and her eyes roll to the back of her head.
They watch the purple unicorn tip backwards onto her back with all four legs in the air, the right hind-leg twitching. Gale curiously walked over to her as Spike stared in surprise from over the book he held.
The griffon tap Twilight's right hind hoof with a claw tip and tilted his head in confusion as he continue to hear her muttering words in a nonsensical way that made no sense at all to Gale.
Shining Armor put his hoof to the forehead rubbing it, Flash Sentry frowning with confusion at what just happened and Celestia was standing there calmly watching Gale try to make sense of what just happened.
Next words spoken by Celestia were...
“Well... That went better than I thought it would.”
Chapter 15 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part One
Chapter 15 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part One
The overnight train pulled up from Canterlot into Ponyville Train Station, ponies leaving the train soon as it stopped. Two guards stepped out of the royal carriage, they stood to attention as Shining Armor, Flash Sentry, Gale and Princess Celestia stepped out afterwards. Many ponies noticed Celestia in a instant and stopped to bow to her.
Celestia rose her hoof. “Please go about your business.” They stopped bowing and went on their way, some getting on the train to other ponies going off into Ponyville.
Shining Armor point his hoof over to the Golden Oak Library after the train pulled out from the station. “We do not have far to go Princess, the place my sister lives at just right there.”
Celestia rubbed her hoof under her snout. “Hmm... Strange. I thought it was a bit closer to Sugarcube Corner.”
“Are you certain Princess?”
Celestia shrugged. “Now I think of it. I was distracted by my sisters recent return and the festival held in her honour.” Celestia recalling the events of little over three weeks ago.
Gale tilted his head at the sight of the tree like house. “Let me guess, weird that a library slash home is an house tree?” Gale nods to Flash Sentry. “Your not the only one that find that weird and a bit ironic that paper comes from trees.”
They left the train platform walking across the rails to the Golden Oak Library, as they got closer the voice of Twilight could be heard alongside Spike's. “Twily must of just got the newspaper princess.”
“It seems she has.” Celestia walk up to the door and knocked on it.
“WHAT!?” Twilight screamed at the door.
Celestia quickly responded to Twilight's scream. “Twilight it m-”
Twilight screaming out Celestia's name and the sudden pop with flash interrupted Celestia. “Princess Celestia!?”
The door opens with Twilight's magic, she quickly bowing her head. “I am so so so sorry Princess! I didn't know you were coming!”
“Of course you didn't, I never sent you a letter.” Celestia responded with an calm tone.
Twilight rose her head up. “Wh-” She froze seeing not only her brother Shining Armor
He also stood with a orange Pegasus guard, but the griffon Gale from the newspaper was there too. Shifting her eyes to each of them rapidly as her mind just shuts down from trying to process everything that just happened.
“I-ha-ga-fj-ka!” Twilight's horn shorts, out her mane fizzles into a mess with smoke raising. “Hahaha...” Twilight laughed and her eyes roll to the back of her head.
They watch the purple unicorn tip backwards onto her back with all four legs in the air, the right hind-leg twitching. Gale curiously walked over to her as Spike stared in surprise from over the book he held.
The griffon tap Twilight's right hind hoof with a claw tip and tilted his head in confusion as he continue to hear her muttering words in a nonsensical way that made no sense at all to Gale.
Shining Armor put his hoof to the forehead rubbing it, Flash Sentry frowning with confusion at what just happened and Celestia was standing there calmly watching Gale try to make sense of what just happened.
Next words spoken by Celestia were...
“Well... That went better than I thought it would.”
Shining Armor raise a eye brow. “How exactly is that better?”
“She could of surged and blew the door off it hinges.”
Shining Armor rose his hoof to protest but thinking of what Celestia just said made him realise she was right. “Fair point...” Shining Armor put his hoof down, using his magic to pick up Twilight and walk over to the beanbag cushions to set her down on.
That when Gale noticed Spike and his curiously walked up to the purple dragon, circling around Spike looking up and down with wonder in his eyes. Spike nervously watch the teenage griffon circle around him a few times before he got his voice to ask. “What is he doing?”
Celestia put her hoof up over her muzzle realising her mistake. “I may have told him about you but not what you were.”
“When the blank scrolls came to you Princess?” Celestia nods to Spike's question.
“Well!” He puff his chest out. “I'm Spike a dragon!” Gale took a deep breath like Spike did and puff his chest out as well.
Shining Armor closed the door after the rest entered and the guards took station outside the library entrance. “It look like Gale likes you Spike.” Shining chuckled. “Why not show him some of the Daring Do books?”
“Sure! But afterwards could you explain to me why you all here? And why Twilight wasn't told you were coming?” Spike asked for two answers to his two questions.
“We will.” Celestia nods and wave her wing to Gale. “Go on follow Spike he will show you where the Daring Do books are.” He squawk happily.
Spike shows him where they are, Celestia and Shining Armor explains to him about the theory of why they can't get Gale to speak. Also how they found a clue that may lead to the best choice in griffon to have Gale taught by.
Spike poured some tea for the Princess and put the tea pot down on the plate. “So this is what made you choose Gilda huh? Because she best friends with Rainbow Dash...” He rubbed the underside of his snout. “That makes sense and weirdly enough Gilda in fact right here in Ponyville with Rainbow Dash.”
Gale quickly rose his head from the Daring Do book he was reading with surprise in his eyes. “Your serious?” Shining Armor asked.
Spike nods. “Yeah, Pinkie Pie told me and Twilight only minutes before you arrived.”
Celestia was surprised. “That coincidentally surprising Spike... The chances of a newspaper coming out with the article about my little griffon Gale, Gilda being friends with Rainbow Dash from a flight camp and being here at all days we come to see Rainbow Dash. The odds of that is-”
“Unbelievable huge!” They all turn to Pinkie Pie standing next to Gale, his eyes slowly turn to the pink pony. The griffon quickly moved when she reach a hoof out to him, before she could even have her hoof where he were Gale was already behind Celestia's right foreleg. “Wow his fast!”
Shining Armor turn to the door and back to Pinkie Pie. “How did you get in here?”
“Oh through the window on the balcony!” Pinkie points up to the open double doors.
Shining Armor stared up at it and turn to Celestia. “Sorry Princess I didn't think to place any guards up there!”
Celestia dismissed it. “It fine captain. A lesson to be learnt for next time.” He nods. “Now Pinkie Pie what brings you back to the library?”
“Oh!” Pinkie slap her forehead with her hoof. “I came to talk to Twilight about that meany griffon Gilda! She popped my balloons and caused me to crash my peddle chopper!”
“And why would she do that?” Celestia curiously asked as Gale kept his eyes on Pinkie Pie at all times.
Pinkie Pie start to walk back and forwards. “Well... I decided to meet up with them and hang out with Rainbow Dash! Cause it was later!”
“How later was this?”
“Erm... About a hour. Why?”
Shining Armor glance to Celestia mouthing the word 'hour?'
Celestia rose her hoof for a second to tell Shining she got this. “From the beginning Pinkie Pie.”
“Okay...” Pinkie Pie explains everything that happened.
Shining Armor sighed. “Gilda was irritated. by your actions Miss Pie. When she told Rainbow Dash to race her to a higher cloud it was for them to spend more time alone.”
“And that means?”
“That means you are jealous.”
“WHAT!? Me jealous!?”
“Green with envy... Well pink in your case.” Spike points out to Pinkie Pie.
Gale listen to them speak and even he could see how this Gilda reacted but he thought she overreacted too, but the thought of how he reacted to his mum, aunt and Shining Armor found him first came to mind.
His own reaction could be classed as overreaction by some.
“Gah! I-You-” Celestia rose her hoof to silent Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie Pie what you did was jealousy. You had no idea what Rainbow Dash and Gilda were up to and you wanted in on the action. But also the way Gilda reacted by this was in the wrong too.” Celestia sighed softly. “Both of you are at the end in the wrong, neither you acted in an respective manner.”
“You can't be serious! Rain-” Gale threw a pillow at her, she stared down at it and back at Gale with forelegs crossed frowning at her. “What was that for?”
Celestia smiled. “He telling you to be quiet and think of your actions.” Gale squawk with a nod. “I think his right, might not be able to talk but his actions does speak.” Celestia tap her hoof on the end of her muzzle.
“Let's put this in your point of view. You and Rainbow Dash are doing whatever you wish to do.” Celestia creates a grid image before her with a cyan and pink ponies on it. “Now Gale shows up and bothers you to play.” Image shows a teenage griffon on it.
Gale complains with a squawk. “It a reference not something you do kiddo.” Shining Armor rubbed his feathered head with a hoof.
“What would you do?”
“Let him play of course!”
“Urg...” Shining Armor shook his head. “What if it something only you and Rainbow want to do and he keep bugging you over it?”
“Erm...” Pinkie Pie tapping her snout a few times thinking it over and gasped as Celestia dispelled the spell. “Oh I-” Pinkie realises. “Oh... Wow... I was being jealous...” Pinkie dropped to her flank staring down at the floor.
Celestia walked over to the sudden sadden pink pony putting a wing over her. “Pinkie Pie we all not perfect, we think we are at times and act with actions we do not realise that would cause issues.”
Gale shook his head not going near Pinkie Pie as Celestia gestured him to come over. “Guess he doesn't feel keen in being near you.”
“Why?” Celestia remove her wing from Pinkie Pie walking back over to Gale standing by the teenage griffon.
“That something I can not know.” Celestia thought of a idea. “How about you join me and Gale for something to eat while we leave Rainbow Dash and Gilda to have their friend time?” Celestia offered. “My treat.”
Pinkie Pie smiled. “I like that! Thank you Princess!”
“Princess...” Shining approached.
Celestia turn to Twilight Sparkle still unconscious. “Flash Sentry will be with us, you stay here and explain to your sister and Spike about everything on Gale.”
“Fair enough, but only if you take the other guards with you.”
“Acceptable.” Celestia agreed. “Shall we go?”
“Yeparooine!” Pinkie Pie giggled bouncing to the door and opening it before bouncing out of it.
The two guards at the door look to each other with surprise turning to Celestia whom just shook her head with a 'no worry' gesture.
Gale tilt his head slightly and now look to his talons and paws. Bending down he pushed off both talons and paws to jump on the spot not moving from it, he tired to bounce like Pinkie did but no matter what he couldn't move from the spot like she could.
“Curious pony isn't she?” Gale still trying nods before he finally gave up after a few more tries breathing heavily. He wondered how Pinkie Pie did it.
“Time to meet Gilda, Gale.” Gale squawk happily and walk out the door with Celestia, Sentry with the other guards follow them to the café at the market.
A short time later Twilight woke up groaning. “Spike... I was dreaming that-” Her eyes met her brothers. “Shiny?”
“Twily.”
“Princess Celestia really did adopt a griffon didn't she?”
“Yes she did, come sit over here and I will explain everything to you Twily.”
She sits down beside Shining Armor and Spike joined them. “Everything, right?”
Spike raise a claw. “Princess Celestia did give him permission to do so!”
“That she did, only what I seen and know of. To get the rest you will have to ask all three princesses for their part.” Shining Armor explained. “Ready?” They nod.
“Just over a week ago I reported in about the food waste theft to Princess Celestia...”
Chapter 16 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Two
Chapter 16 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Two
Just outside Sugarcube Corner at a table with an umbrella Celestia, Pinkie Pie and Gale sat at, the guards stood close by watching over them. Gale happily eating on a cream filled cake and drinking the strawberry milkshake, even making a bit of a mess with the cake he found it too tasty.
Celestia drinking her tea looked over to Pinkie Pie sitting the opposite side of the round table to Gale, he had refused to be near her and Pinkie with caution sip her own milkshake looking up to the sky from the edges of the umbrellas obstruction.
“Pinkie Pie.”
“Yes Princess?”
“Looking up at the sky continuously isn't going to make them fly by any sooner.”
Pinkie Pie turn her head from looking upwards to looking over to Celestia sitting by Gale. “I know Princess.” Pinkie giggled. “I just doing it to not make Gale uncomfortable.”
Celestia frowned looking down to Gale. “Son. Pinkie Pie is taking account on your feelings about her.” Celestia turn to Pinkie Pie. “I know her sudden appearance beside you spooked you but she had no ill intend. In fact one of her main goals in life is to make others smile and be happy.”
Gale frown and tilted his head. “That right! I am the Element of Laughter after all!” Pinkie giggled.
Celestia knew if he could very well speak right this moment it would be questioning on the Elements of Harmony. “Gale to answer the question you can not ask, she one of six ponies that represent the Elements of Harmony. Pinkie Pie as she told you is Laughter, Twilight Sparkle my former student and the sister of Shining Armor is Magic.”
Gale instantly gasped and so did Pinkie Pie. “Twilight has a brother!?” Gale would of said 'That Shining's sister!?'
Celestia rubbed the underside of her snout. “I am sure I mentioned it when we were in the library Pinkie Pie and Gale.”
Flash Sentry standing guard by the door to Sugarcube Corner responded. “Yes you did Princess.”
“Thought so.”
Pinkie Pie and Gale looked directly at each other for a few seconds before slapping their own foreheads, Celestia laughed. Gale sunk down feeling his face warm up groaning with wings over his head, Pinkie giggled. “We did a silly.”
“Come on Gale! I know we forgot but it funny that we both did!” She giggled.
Gale lower his wings and nod with an slight smile. “See.” Celestia nudged him a little. “Now are you going to finish that cake or shall I?”
He squawks in defence taking it and shoving the last of it in his beak, the result was a messy face and laughter from two ponies. Gale soon joined in the laughter but soon stopped with his ears twitching to laughter coming by and above them.
Celestia and Pinkie Pie heard it too, while Gale wiped his beak and face clean they watched Rainbow Dash and Gilda land not to far from them. Gale gasped and points to Gilda. “That must be Gilda.” Celestia made the files appear, opening it up to get a look at the cub version of her. “Yes it is.”
Celestia closed her file up and noticed Gale was missing from the seat beside her. “Gale?”
Pinkie Pie points her hoof towards Gilda. “I think he eager to meet Gilda. Hope she isn't m-” The look Celestia gave her didn't allow her to finish what she'd was going to say. “Right... Both in the wrong.”
“Correct. Shall we?” Pinkie Pie nods as Celestia stood up.
Gilda looked around, she saw Granny Smith walking towards the market stall and a prank came to mind. About to head over to it quickly but only to have Gale hovering before her with his plush out to Gilda. “What the...?” Gilda frowned. “How about getting out of my way you-” He moved a bite closer with the plush out stretched to her.
Gilda growls slightly. “Fine! I'll hold your...” Gilda was about to say 'stupid' but holding it and looking at it closely. “Why the heck do you have a soft toy of yourself?” He shrugs. “Cub here yourself toy back. I got things to do.” She gave it back to Gale.
Gale squawks happily and the result was flying around Gilda rapidly, she turning her head to follow the teenage griffon with utter confusion. “Seriously cub! What the heck wrong with you!? Your making me dizzy!”
Gale stopped holding his plush close to himself hovering there. “Well your going to say something or what?” He points with the free talon to his beak and squawk softly. “Right... You think I am gonna fall for the can not speak gag?”
“That would be true Gilda.”
“Oh and ho-how-” Gilda turn around in mid-sentence to stare at a gold chest plate against a white furry chest, slowly raising her head to meet the eyes of Princess Celestia. “Dude your a really tall pony!”
Celestia smiled. “That I am Gilda. It a pleasure to meet you.”
“Did Dash tell you about me or something? Seriously who are you?” Many ponies gasped around her, some even stopped in mid movement staring.
Celestia waved Gale to come to her side and he did so. “I am Princess Celestia co-ruler of Equestria and this cub is my son.”
Gilda raise an eye before started to do a fake laugh. “Okay Dash you got me! Funny prank!” Gilda look around.
“This is no prank Gilda. I am really the princess.” Celestia smiled slightly. “Maybe this will help.” Using her magic the sun shifts slightly and Gilda's beak hangs open seeing the sun shift. “Impressed?”
“Impressed!? That was awesome! I heard stories of a pony princess could move the sun! But-” She stopped in mid-excitement. “Okay your the real deal. But seriously why are you speaking to a griffon like me of all griffons? What the catch?” Gilda crossed her forelegs.
Celestia open the file now floating beside her. “I will be blunt since you are.” Gilda's rolled her eyes. “In the last week since Gale came into my life due to unforeseen events that left him with only the memories of three weeks. None of us can figure out how to teach him to speak while he can read and understand us clearly.”
Gilda frowned. “So you have a teenage cub with brain damage. What that got to do with me?” Gale tilted his head not sure what 'brain damage' meant.
“I looked into your Junior Speedsters Flight Camp records and since your very good friends with Rainbow Dash from then to now. I came to find her to find you in aiding me to give my son the ability to speak.”
Gilda now turn her attention from the file to Gale. “You want me to teach him to speak?”
“Yes.”
“Teaching?”
“Yes.”
“Not happening! I am no egghead!” Gilda shook her head. “Well... I got to go. Se-” Gale flew up to her and gave a big hug around her neck to chest. “H-hey let go!” He shook his head squawking a few times. “Seriously! Get off me you crazy dorky griffon!”
Celestia wasn't sure what to do. One side she felt a rage building when Gilda called him dorky but on the other side Gale did latch onto Gilda in an surprising action, the guards moved in but Celestia rose her wing to stop them. “If she hits or throw him off then act.” The nod standing firm and ready to go.
Gilda looking down at his golden brown eyes with her own golden eyes. “Gale was it?” He nods. “Get the heck off me! I am not a toy! I don't do hugs! It uncool!” He shook his head. “What will it take to get you off me!?”
Pinkie Pie watched eating pop-corn as Fluttershy walked by backwards with ducks and ducklings. “Hi Fluttershy!” Pinkie giggled.
“Oh hi Pinkie Pie, what going on over there?” Her attention drawn on the two griffons.
“Gale is Princess Celestia's adopted son and he refusing to stop hugging Gilda till she agrees to helping him to try and speak.”
“Princess Celestia adopted a griffon?” The ducks and ducklings was as confused as Fluttershy.
Pinkie Pie pulled out a invite. “After you taken care of the duckies come to the party and you will know then!” She giggled.
Fluttershy took it with her wing. “Oh-oh okay.” Fluttershy turn to the ducks. “Shall we?” They nod and they carried on walking by.
Pinkie rubbed her puffy mane. “Hmm... Why do I get a feeling that wasn't suppose to happen...” Pinkie shrugged. “I guess it just me.” She went back to watching the scene unfold munching on pop-corn.
Gilda wanted to throw this griffon hug latched to her into the nearby fountain, but seeing and hearing this Princess that can move the sun call him son made that not a option at all. “Okay dweeb! What will it take for you to stop being in my face and latching onto me!?”
Celestia came up with an suggestion. “How about this... If you get him to say one word before this party Pinkie Pie invited you two too, you agree to become his teacher and we will write up an fair agreement.”
“And if it doesn't happen?”
“We will leave you in peace.”
“I'll go with that!”
“But I do might have to add one little detail.”
“And that be?”
“You held his plush and gave it back.”
“So?”
“So...” Celestia smiled mischievously to the adult griffon giving her a chill down her spine to the tail.
“You shown that he completely trust you. Break that trust and I will break yours.” Gilda for a second thought she saw the sun grow a bright but shadowy look behind Celestia as she towered over Gila, causing her to gulp. “Am I clear?”
Gilda managed to squawk out one word as she give out her answer to Celestia. “Perfectly...”
Power to the Readers 0.5 Chapter: How would you like a short of Gilda wrecking the Library for helping her to get Gale to say at least one word as well interact with Twilight Sparkle?
Voting is now closed, thank you for all the votes.
Gilda growled as she threw a book behind her landing on a bigger pile of books, soon after agreeing to help Gale say one word the griffon went into panic mode. Now Gilda was in the one place she never thought to be in, a library of all places. “Come on! One of these dumb books must have something I need!”
Gilda flew across to another shelve taking a book about speech. “The library has all the answers you seek...” She said with an sarcastic voice. “Yeah right!” Gilda searching through the pages.
“Grah! This is sooooo lame!” Gilda took another book. “Is there ANYTHING on griffons!?” She screamed out.
The door to the library opens and Twilight with Spike walk in to see the mess around the library. “What in Celestia's name is going on in here!?”
Gilda turn for a second before going back to the books. “I'm looking for a way to teach a cub in his teens to say a single word, so buzz off purple!”
“Purple!? My name is Twilight Sparkle and I will not buzz off!” Twilight snaps at her and continue to speak as Gilda just rolled her eyes ignoring her. “This is my home and look at the mess your making of it!”
Gilda turn around landing on all fours still holding onto the book she took out of the shelve. “The top of this lame place is Purple, not this area! It a public library!”
“Twilight Sparkle! Gilda! It Twilight Sparkle! You might be Rainbow Dash's friend but don't talk to me like that!” Twilight shouted back at Gilda. “This is a public library, but it not to be treated like this!” Twilight point to the mess with a hoof.
Spike rubbed the back of his neck. “Twilight got a point, your making a massive mess. But why are you looking for a book on teaching Gale to speak a word?”
Gilda turn to Spike. “I will give you two reasons! That Princess Celestia gonna fry me if I don't prove that I did my best to show I am not betraying the trust Gale has on me!” Gilda explained rather loudly.
“Princess Celestia fry you?” Spike scratched the top of his scaly head with confusion.
Twilight shook her head. “Spike that stupid! Princess Celestia will never do such a thing! She an understanding Princess!”
“Oh? How about this quote Purple!” Gilda growls. “Break his trust and I will break yours!”
“Princess will never say that! Never!”
“She did you dorky pony! She even showed off the movement of the sun to impress me and use it to scare the heck out of me when she said it!” Gilda shouted back.
Spike turning his head to Gilda to Twilight as they continued to shout at each other.
“Lair!” Twilight shouted pressing her snout against Gilda's beak.
“I am not lying!!!!” Gilda roared pushing back Twilight from the might lion roar mixed in her rage.
Spike had covered his ears and closed his eyes from the roar. Slowly opening his eyes to see Twilight now under a pile of books groaning. “Twilight!” He rushed over to her to help.
Gilda snorts. “All because I am friends with Dash from when we were young and I becamse friends with a pony! Not including that brain damage griffon giving me that damn toy of himself! He trusted me because I gave it back to him! What is it with every single one of you thinking I like being around ponies other than Dash!”
Spike let go of Twilight's hoof turning quickly to Gilda forgetting he was aiding her as she fell back on her flank. “Toy of himself?”
“Grrr.... Yes!”
“Erm... He has a rule that base on if he give that plush to somepony and give it back he trusts you right out. Also Princess Celestia might have had said that hybrids was to be trusted too...” Spike said in a semi panicked voice seeing Gilda roared out holding her head.
Spike stared in confusion as she flop backwards to sit down on the pile of books.
“Great! Just great! That princess put me in an complete impossible position! That DWEEB!” She laid on her back staring at the ceiling. “I am sooooo fried...”
Twilight using her magic pulled the books off herself putting the dozen so books onto a neat pile behind her without looking as she walked over to Gilda and stood over her. “All this mess because Gale takes everything for word?” Gilda just stared.
“You weren't lying... Princess Celestia really-”
“Said she break me? Yeeeeeah she did.” Gilda sat up. “Purple I don't care about the mess I am making! When my life is on the line I will do what it takes to do this.”
Twilight sighed heavily. “It's-” She sighed again. “Nevermind.”
“Nevermind what Purple?”
“Why would Princess Celestia say something like that to you?”
“You ever thought it to do with that dweeb being a parent?”
Twilight flinched at the word towards Princess Celestia. She didn't want to get into another argument and wish for Gilda to just get out of her sight. “Look... If I help you will you get out of my library!” She tried to move the subject away from the Princess.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Fine! It a deal!” She grab Twilight's hoof with a claw shaking it. “Now get on it Purple. So I can get out of this lame library!”
Twilight grumbled words not to be heard as Gilda called the library lame.
Twilight used her magic pulling Gilda's right talon over to her neck pressing two claws against it. “What are you doing!?” Gilda tried to pull her talon away.
“Feel that as I speak?”
“Yes! It your stupid muscles in your stupid neck! Now let go of my talon you crazy pony!”
Twilight ignores her. “Get him to feel your neck muscles and watch your beak Gilda and maybe... Just maybe you will get him to say a word.” Twilight released her talon, Gilda rubbing it.
“Geez your magic is strong.”
Twilight shook her head slightly. “You heard what I said right?”
“Yes Purple. Get him to press his claws on my neck, get him to read my beak's movement as I say a word.” Gilda gave a sarcastic remark.
“And get him to say your name!” Spike added.
“Fine I will...”
“Good, now get out!” Twilight open the door pointing to it with her hoof.
Gilda smirked. “Galdly! Oh and Spike was it?”
“Yeah?”
“Here!” She toss a odd oval clear shape gem with a lattice of shapes within.
Spike caught it and look to the gem. “Wh-”
“It a lame family heirloom, worthless by all the ponies I tried to sell it too and take it as my thanks! If this doesn't work I be back! Purple.” Gilda leaves the library.
Twilight slam the door shout. “Take my thanks!? I am the one that suggested it! Why do you get her thanks and she calling me Purple when my name is TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Twilight roared.
Spike looked around at the mess in the room. “Could I help after look over this gem! It look so tasty!” He nervously asked
“Fiiiiiine...” Twilight groans and he cheered rushing up the stairs leaving Twilight alone surrounded by the mess Gilda made.
A knock came from the door. “Gilda if that-” Opening the door to see Princess Celestia. “Princess!”
“Hello Twilight, I do wonder if you seen Gilda?”
“Yes just a moment ago. Something you said to her basically made her act like you would fry her. I had to have a really rough dealing with her and get that griffon out of the library before I did something I regretted." Twilight not so pleased by what unfolded.
"Fry?" Celestia blinked and recalled what she said. "Ooooh... Erm..." Celestia trying to think of something to say about that.
"Care to explain Princess Celestia?” Twilight hints to the mess in the library.
Celestia stared at the mess. “Ah... I can explain?” Celestia slowly said realising she was responsible for the chaos that most likely happened between Gilda and Twilight.
“Please do... And help me clear this mess up.”
Celestia had to make this up to Twilight. “I believe I own you this for what seems my own actions caused this. Being a parent is something very unpredictable.” Twilight lets her in.
Twilight only could respond with one word. “Indeed...”
Chapter 17 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Three
Chapter 17 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Three
Gilda flew around above Ponyville looking out for Gale, the clue to finding him was looking for the guards that kept close to him. Soon she spotted the orange Pegasus guard and lands not to far from him to find Gale. He sat at a table with Shining Armor dipping hayfries in ketchup and munching on.
“Hey dweebs!” She did a mock salute with two claws to the forehead pushing out to them. “I finally got a idea how to get Gale to say one lame word...”
“For sure or your just setting the bar too high?” Shining Armor sounding not very convinced by Gilda's boosting.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I just spent who knows how long in that lame library looking for something to help Gale.” Gilda walked up to the table sitting down on a stall. “I finally got help from this purple unicorn.”
“Twilight Sparkle.”
“Yep that the one.” Gilda clicked her claws.
Gale with a hayfry held in his open beak stared at Gilda's talon as she clicked the index and thumb claw together. He ate the fry, then looking to his claws to try and repeat what Gilda did with her's. “If that the case we solid.”
“Just like that? You think I got a shot?” Gilda raised an eye.
Shining Armor nods crossing his forelegs. “I do.” He picked up a hayfry with his magic and ate it.
“You know that purple unicorn don't ya?” Gilda stared at him.
“She my s-” Audible click came from Gale's direction whom squawked happily and clicked again and again. “Gale just learned that off you.”
Gilda grew annoyed of the clicking and put her talon right over Gale's. “Okay I get it! You know how to click! Please stop it getting annoying!”
Gale hummed it sadness as she let go and to apologise he pushed the plate over to her. “What are you doing?”
“He saying sorry and giving you the rest of his hayfries as part of it.” Shining Armor stated.
Gilda was about to protest but her hear stomach growl getting a confused look to her stomach by Gale and Shining Armor chuckling. “I'll accept your apology and these hayfries.” He smiled happily.
“But...” Gale listen to what Gilda was about to say. “After I ate and hopefully getting you to say my name at least.” Gale now was excited by this news.
“We going to work on you saying sorry and leave it at that. Not giving stuff to others to add to it, some may accept it and move on but others will use it against you.” Gilda explained and warned.
Shining Armor nods. “I agree with Gilda on that one. Kindness can be taken advantage of even you are doing the right thing. Just saying sorry is good enough.” Gilda was surprised to hear Shining Armor agree.
“Blue Hooves, thanks...”
“It Shin-” He pauses. “Nevermind. Let finish our meal and get you started Gilda.” Shining Armor decided to let it go by the odd name Gilda gave him.
Gilda shrugged. “Fine by me. Sooner the better to get Princess Celestia off my back.” She lean in to whisper the rest to Shining Armor. “No offence but she terrifying and you tell any of these ponies what I just said. I'll-”
Shining whispered in response. “Loud and clear, I know what image means. Just don't let it get in the way of helping Gale.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb I know.” She took a hayfry, dipping in ketchup and eating it. “Wow no wonder Gale put so much of this sauce on this. It awesome.” Gale grinning. “Yeah yeah I like it. Now let me eat cub.” Gale nods holding his plush watching and waiting.
Gilda felt unnerved being watched but didn't show it as she put on a brave stubborn face eating the hayfries. After she was done, Gilda took Gale along with the guards protecting him to small lake just outside Ponyville.
Shining Armor took a good look around pointing to one location to another, the guards salute walking or flying to those locations. “I don't like being in the open like this. But I guess you picked this lake for a reason.”
“Dash told me not many come by here. It got a good view and best place without the distractions of other ponies around.” Gilda move her talon around showing what she meant.
Shining Armor couldn't disagree with the logic Gilda brought forwards. “Very well. Proceed. I'll be just over here.” Shining Armor point to the tree next to the lake.
“Good by me. Your not half bad Blue Hooves.”
Shining shook his head slightly. “Thanks featherbrain.” He countered getting a roll of her eyes, both knowing it wasn't a good one.
Now Gilda was sorta alone with Gale, he sitting on his flank eager to say his first word. She didn't like the high hopes he gave her. “I am going to be real here Gale. What I got in mind is do or don't moment. If you don't pick up on this you may never know how to speak.”
Gale suddenly looked sad. “I am just dropping reality on you cub. I am not being a dorky duchy dweeb on purpose. So whatever happens...” Gale nods without her needing to finish as he got a understanding what she trying to push. “Now shall we?” He nods.
Gilda took a deep breath in and breathed it out. “Okay... Here we go.” She walked up to him sitting on her hunches. “Now place your claws gently on my neck here.” Gilda points. “And look directly at my beak as I say my name.”
Gale raise is right talon placing his claws around that part of the neck gentle as told to do and look directly at her beak. “PLEASE WORK!” Gilda cried in her mind. “Gil... Da... Gilda... Gil... Da...” She repeats over and over again.
Gale at first felt her neck muscles move with a startled shift of the eyes to his claws. “Gale eyes on beak!”
He nods and went back to watching her beak move with each time she told her name in slow to fast and breaking down Gilda's name. The movement of the beak with each time she spoke came to his dream talks he has with Aunt Luna.
Gale recalled seeing the mirror speaking towards it with the way the beak moved. “Cub try mouthing it first before trying to try and speak okay?”
He nervously nods with sweat forming and running down his feathered fur face. Gale started to attempt to mouth her name with no words spoke Gilda suddenly stared with amazement. “H-how the heck are you picking up on this so fast!? Your mouthing my name!”
Gale gasped in excitement and hugs her surprising her. “Gah! Get off! I don't do hugs!” He refused and continue to do it for a few more seconds before letting go. “Now let try saying it, you felt my neck muscles right?” He nods.
Gale gives it a try but came out a odd sounding squawk. Gale tries again with another odder one. Growling in annoyance he tried again and again. Gilda flinched at the high pitch squawks. “Gale cool it! Don-”
That when the next oddest squawk came with Shining Armor now turning to his directly with surprise and Gilda staring with beak hanging open.
Celestia sat at a table over looking Sugarcube Corner writing down on a scroll the terms to Gilda's contract together with the griffon, they were coming up with a fair and acceptable agreement that would work well for Gale to learn to speak after the minor high pitch success.
“As requested by you Gilda, work days will be Monday morning to Thursday evening with you having Friday to Sunday off to go home to Griffonstone. Also I added my own personal touch to this and will give you all exclusive pay for your train journey there and back.” Celestia gave the scroll to Gilda.
“As to the terms of working in Canterlot Castle teaching Gale to speak as well maybe if you have a chance to write as well. That one is optional by your own desire. The rules will be followed as any other staff that works in the castle and you will be given accommodations.”
Gilda scanning through what Celestia had written. “A simple room be fine by me. None of that girlish thro thro stuff.” Gilda dismissed with a wave her an talon. “I have a image to keep.”
Celestia drunk some of her tea before responding. “Sometimes trying to keep a image is worse off then you think. It could lead to more trouble than it worth, yes I keep a somewhat image among the ponies but I do tend to let my mane down time and again to throw them off their hooves.” Celestia smiled.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Yeah as if.”
“We sitting and talking aren't we? A princess enjoying her cup of tea talking with a lone griffon that try to make herself look awesome and somewhat arrogant?” Celestia calmly stated.
Gilda lift a claw at Celestia. “That uncalled-for!”
“But it true is it not?”
Gilda rolled up the scroll putting it under her wing. “Yes...” Gilda grumbled. “You got me! So what! What are you gonna to do about the way I am?”
“I'm not. You are. It your life not mine to change.” Celestia drunk a bit more tea and lower the cup. “My question is... What did you feel when Gale called you Sqida?”
Gilda lower her head on the table with talons over it. “Why... Why out of all the first things he said he said that! It soooo embarrassing!”
“Yet when you did what no one else could do, how did you feel?” Celestia repeated.
“Proud.” Gilda muttered. “I felt a sense of pride and proud.” Gilda removed her talons from her head and rose up. “Pride... How?”
“Hmm?”
“Nothing. It a griffon thing.” Gilda dismissed and turn to Gale chasing after a blue butterfly laughing as he tried to catch it. But he instantly stopped with a freak out flying to one of the guards keeping close to them, the ponies walk by giving him odd looks as he curiously watched them pass.
“Yet I don't get him... I only know that fuzzball for a few hours at least.” Gilda watched him go back to looking for the butterfly. “I see he like a egghead and other times his a comeplete doofus dweeb.”
Celestia watching Gale as well. “I have to agree on your colourful words Gilda. I have seen that myself and a concern to those he care about that suddenly became part of his and our lives.”
Celestia thoughts shift to the reports from Shining Armor and Cadance about his ability to learn at a rate that leaves the young griffon in a state of confusion.
“Maybe grounding him down slightly on the speed of learning he seem to have would be best. One thing I learned from being Twilight Sparkle's former teacher is that knowing more isn't always the answer. Her friends and Spike ground Twilight to slowing down and see the world in a whole new prospective.”
“Purple was your student!?” Gilda was startled at first but started to laugh. “Hehe I can see how now hehe. That egghead was the reason I got him to speak.”
Celestia chuckled lightly. “Oh I know. Twilight told me everything.”
Gilda stared. “Everything?”
“Indeed.”
“Hehehe...” Gilda nervously responded and Celestia just kept calm but inside she knew it was her own fault that it happened.
Flash Sentry returned with a camera around his neck holding photos in his hoof. “Princess I believe you need to see these.” He gave the photos to her right away. “Rainbow Dash is setting up pranks in the party to be, these photos I just took shows what I said is true.”
Celestia took a good look at each of the photos. “Thank you Flash Sentry, you did well.” He saluted and stood to the side.
Gilda got off her seat to hovering over Celestia's right side to take a look. “Wow they are pretty lame pranks.”
“Maybe but set off by the unexpected not so lame.” Celestia said with concern looking over to Gale. “I believe Gale wouldn't understand what a prank would be let alone a simple joke...” Celestia was even more concerned.
Gilda could see Celestia was about to act on this but a idea came to mind to the griffon. “Your about to end the party before it begins aren't ya?” Celestia turn to Gilda. “How about we turn the tables on the pranks?”
Celestia slowly smiled. “Please continue.”
Gilda frowned with a cheeky smirk. “Are you a prankster?”
Celestia gave a slight playful shift of her head and wings with her own sly smirk.
“Maaaaybe.”
Gilda turn to Gale. “Hey Gale! Featherbrain!” Gale turn to her with the butterfly caught in his talons. “Come here!” He let go of the butterfly flying over to table.
“How would you like to put your smarts to the test?” Gale tilted his head.
Celestia caught on to what Gilda was aiming for. “Oh I see what you got in mind Gilda.”
“Guess no matter how old you are you can be awesome.”
“Indeed.”
Gilda blinked as Celestia just brushed her off and they burst into laughter afterwards.
“Let's get to work.” Gilda closed her talon and Celestia bumped it.
Chapter 18 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Four
Chapter 18 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Four
Gilda, Gale, Celestia, Shining Armor and Flash Sentry walk into Sugarcube Corner to be greeted by Pinkie Pie bouncing over to them, she stood before Gale giddy with excitement as the griffon guests of honour had showed up for her signature welcome to Ponyville Party.
“I am honoured to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie parties, I really truly sincerely hope you feel welcomed here amongst us ponyfolk.” Pinkie Pie did a big smile with a hoof out to Gale.
He look to the hoof and back at Celestia. “Go on.” Gale took her hoof and shook it.
Pinkie Pie's smile shifted to a confused puzzled look. “That's odd.”
Gale felt something pressing against his palm of the talon, moving it from her hoof to see a strange red object with a silver metal button on it attached to a yellow strap around Pinkie's hoof. Removing it off her hoof he sat down examining it. He pressed it down with a claw with nothing happening, Gale turn to Gilda showing it to her wondering if she could tell what it is.
Gilda stared at it. “That's a hoof buzzer...” Gale tilted his head, he never heard of a hoof buzzer before or even knew what it did. All he could tell from pressing the button it make a clicking sound.
“Yeah it should of went off when we shook hoof and claw. It was a fun harmless shocking prank that well... Failed.” Pinkie Pie rubbing her mane with her hoof. “I don't get it. I tested it on myself just about five minutes ago and it worked perfectly fine.”
Celestia leans close to Shining Armor. “The buzzer created in Cloudsdale correct?” She whispered.
Shining Armor glance to her. “Indeed Princess. It uses a small electrical charged magical crystal.”
“Are you thinking what I am thinking why it didn't work?”
“I am princess.”
Gilda pressed it while in Gale's talon. “Look like a dud, good thing too.” Gilda took it from Gale. “Not sure how you would of reacted to being shocked by this.” Gilda chuckled lightly. “Would of been a real shocker for sure.”
“Hey G let me have a look at it.” Rainbow Dash came over to her from behind reaching a hoof out to it and as she pressed it.
ZZZZAAAPPP!
Rainbow Dash lit up with electrical energy dancing around her till she let go, eyes spinning and her mane frazzled as she fell backward on her back. Her right hind leg twitching. “What'cha know it works.” Gilda chuckled.
Gale was startled by it electrical sound and the discharge but stared with confusion, nothing happened to him when he pressed it so why did it do that to the rainbow mane pony?
“Yeah luckily me...” Rainbow Dash groaned rolling over and standing up on all four hooves shaking her head as Celestia, Pinkie Pie and a few others laughed at her own expense.
Gale took the hoof buzzer from Gilda and tried to activate it but nothing happened. He groaned in annoyance not seeing it work for him. “You seriously want to zap yourself?” Gilda asked staring down at the teenage griffon. “Your such a weird doofus of a griffon ya know that?”
Celestia blinking a few times at what was unfolding before her. “I do not know either to be upset at Gilda calling him a doofus or even trying to take that away from him. On top of that happy his interacting with others...” Celestia muttered to herself.
Rainbow Dash press her hoof against the hoof buzzer while Gale held it, nothing seem to happen. “Okay! Now it doesn't want to zap me. What up with this crazy thing?” Rainbow Dash took it from Gale with him grumbling as she took it.
“I'm only checking it out, I'll give it back.” Rainbow Dash said and pressed it again to get zapped. “What the heck!? Why now is it working!?” Rainbow Dash gave it back instantly to Gale to see it not working. “Does this make any sense!?”
Pinkie Pie giggled. “It sure doesn't but it fun to watch.” Many ponies was amused by how it all played out. “Why don't we move on to the party, there food!”
Gilda saw the vanilla lemon drops. “Hey Gale why not give one of those to your mum?”
Gale nods rushing over to the bowl, taking one he quickly go over to Celestia. “Thank you son.” Celestia took it with her magic and ate it.
Rainbow Dash cringed and closed her eyes waiting for Celestia to cry out but nothing happened. “Huh?” Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to witness Celestia calmly eating it. “What gives?”
Celestia walked over to the bowl picking it up with her magic. Gale squawk by complaint to have one but she moved it closer to herself. “Sorry Gale but these are really good and I'm taking the whole lot for myself!” Gale pouted in reply getting a small laughter by many ponies.
Rainbow Dash glancing around, they was laughing but not at her prank, it completely failed as Celestia WAS enjoying them and not being burned by any of them. “How about some punch?” Rainbow Dash suggested hoping this prank will work.
Gale went over to it with Shining Armor. “Hey Shiny!”
“Twily!” They hugged. “It good to see you made it to a party for a change.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Since I got here I've been getting my head out of the books once in a while.”
Shining Armor put his hoof on her forehead. “You don't feel hot or look ill.”
Twilight pushed it away. “Haha very funny big brother.”
“Brother!?” Most of her friends echoed in surprise.
“I like you girls to meet Shining Armor my big brother and captain of the royal guard.” Twilight introduced him to her friends.
Gale at this time got bored listening to them talk to Shining Armor and step up to the punch bowl. He took a glass recalling what Gilda told him about the glasses maybe not what they seem to be, Gale curiously felt the glass surface with his talons examining it.
He felt something odd on the side of it, Gale wasn't sure what it was but he poured some of the punch into it and tilt the glass to see it come out of the side a little over his talon. Gale grinned as he knew what to do with it, raising the glass over his beak, opening it and tilting the glass.
Rainbow Dash witnessed what Gale did and so did other ponies. “Oh come on!”
“Something the matter Dash?” Gilda noticed her outburst glancing to Celestia with an wink getting one back from the Princess.
“Nope nothing at all!” Rainbow Dash quickly replied.
Gilda smirk grew to a smile seeing that the plan she and Celestia came up with was working, Rainbow Dash's pranks was backfiring on her.
Pinkie Pie laughed as she spoke. “Haha that not haha how a drizzle glass works haha!”
“I think it a creative way of working out a prank into an practical application. Don't you think Twily?” Shining Armor glance over to his sister.
Twilight laughed a little. “It is, I would of never thought of doing that.”
Rainbow Dash points to the presents. “G why not open up some presents?”
“Sure Dash, but why don't we let the cub open one first since he never been to a party before.” Gilda suggested.
Rainbow Dash glance over to Gale pointing to the glass to Celestia and to the bag. “I see Gale, you want to keep the drizzle glass?” He nods. “Okay I'll put in the bag for safety. I am sure they won't mind missing a glass.” Gale clapped his talons in glee.
“Right...” Rainbow Dash was getting suspicious. All the pranks failed because of Princess Celestia's adopted son. “Hey Gale, Gilda suggested you open the first present or would you like G to open one first?”
Gale came over with Celestia, he looked at the colourful wrapped boxes to tube shaped. “You untie the bows and open the lids. Inside is a surprise gift.” Celestia explained.
He nods and took a good look at each of them, the tube he took and shook it a few times. “Whoa don-” Rainbow Dash didn't get to finish when it popped open and spring snakes flew out at her, Rainbow Dash groaned as the prank was set off by the heavy handling of Gale.
All the ponies laughing and Applejack spoke. “Spitting snakes! Somepony pulled that on me last month!”
“I wonder who that was.” Gilda chuckled seeing how Gale was now taking one of the spring snakes off Rainbow Dash.
Gale playing around with it pushing it against one talon with the other and letting go to see it fly a few feet away from him. He quickly went to where it landed picking up and did it again laughing as he launched the snake again and again.
Rainbow Dash watched in an unimpressed manner as Gale played around with the spring loaded snake getting laughs from other ponies, the laughter yet again wasn't for the prank but for the silliness from the young griffon.
The last one ends up on top of Gilda's head. “Nice shot cub.” Gilda chuckled taking it off her head giving it back to him.
“Gilda!” He cheered and squawked happily and afterwards giving her a hug to Gilda's annoyance.
“Seriously Gale! No hugs! Get off me you dweeb!” Awwws came around from ponies making Gilda half growl seeing they finding this cute not awesome or funny but... cute!
Rainbow Dash on the other claw laughing at her demise.
Twilight on the other hoof was surprised. “Did he-”
“Yes he did Twilight, yes he did.” Celestia warmly smiled with her eyes watering, this was the first time she heard him speak and it felt momentous.
Celestia suddenly shows a sly smile nodding to Flash Sentry, he salutes raising the camera at Gilda and Gale.
Gilda noticed it. “Don't you d-”
SNAP!
Chapter 19 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Five
Chapter 19 – A Different Griffon Brush Off: Part Five
Fluttershy moving her hoof hovering before the birds as they whistled their tunes, Gale sat watching intently and enjoying the musical whistling from them. Gale was curious if he could carry a whistling tune like these birds were, he did have a beak like them even he had teeth and they did not.
Gale thoughts wonder at that as ponies around chat among each other, Gilda drinking a bit of punch watched with Celestia. “It been a pleasant party so far.”
“Hehe, yeah it has. Part from when Gale latch hugged me again. Seriously what up with that?” Gilda said half happy and half annoyed.
Celestia drunk a bit of her punch. “Your the first griffon he met other then himself. Maybe he sees you as a big sister.”
Gilda spat out her punch. “You got to be joshing me!”
“It only a theory. Gilda, there is no reason to overreact.” Celestia drunk a bit more of her punch without a flinch or reaction to Gilda's outburst.
Gilda couldn't even get a read off the Princess, she was cool as ice. “R-right...” Gilda finial said looking back at Gale who continued to watch the singing birds. “This is the weirdest griffon by far! That saying a lot with that hyper friendly griffon Gabby!”
Pinkie Pie enters from the kitchen wheeling in a large three layer cake with candles lit on top of it. “Cake time everypony!”
Celestia leans in whispering to Gilda. “Here is Rainbow Dash's last prank the relighting candles.”
“Yep! I know exactly what to do!” Gilda whispered back pumping Celestia's hoof with her fist.
Rainbow Dash noticed their interaction frowning from the distance. “When did Gilda get so chummy with Princess Celestia?” She whispered and glanced over to the relighting candles.
“They know about all my pranks and working together turning my pranks back on me!” Rainbow Dash clicked. “If this prank goes awe, I will have to fall back on my back up plan.” She muttered to herself glancing over to the pony tail for Pin the tail on the Pony game.
Spike standing by Twilight looked up at the candles. “Hey can I blow out the candles?”
Twilight look down to Spike with a soft smile. “Why don't we let Gilda blow out the candles, she is the guest of honour after all.”
Gilda and Celestia glanced at each other as Gale caught attention of the large cake, his eyes widen at the size of it and tilted his head at the sight of the candles burning on top of it. “That kiddo are birthday cake candles, they lit up on top to be blown out.” Shining explained.
Gale rubbed the top of his feathered head still confused. “You know blow.” Shining blow some air at gale from his muzzle. Gale laughed feeling the ticklish feeling of the air blown over his head. “But you do that at the flames and they go out.”
Gale point to it and to himself. “Nah this is Gilda's honour, you can't have all the fun.” Shining Armor chuckled rubbing his feathered head.
Gilda walk up to the cake. “True. Let's give this one big puff and we can chow down on this awesome cake!”
“I couldn't agree with you more G!” Rainbow Dash stood by her. “Go on give them a blow!”
Gilda chuckled. “Sure thing Dash!” Gilda took a deep breath and blew hard to extinguish the flames. “There we go all-” The flames relit. “Huh?” Gilda blew at them again but they relit once more getting laughter from around her.
Spike laughed. “Relighting candles! I like that prank!”
“Hehe yeah, I wonder who did it?” Gilda looking around.
“Your not upset over some candles are ya G?” Rainbow Dash chuckled.
Gilda shrugged. “Not at all. But I doubt they be lit for any longer.”
“Huh? What do-” Rainbow Dash said Gale flying over the cake with a cup of water picking up one candle at a time and putting in the water with a sizzle. “Oh you got to be kidding me!”
“Well that one way of putting out relighting candles.” Rarity giggled. “I doubt any of us thought of that.”
“Not at all Rarity. I guess Gale didn't like them relighting like that and decided to put them out for good.” Twilight chuckled lightly.
Pinkie Pie had a slice of cake on a plate handing it to Spike. “Enjoy Spike! And one for you Galey!” Pinkie Pie raise a plate to him.
He gave her the glass filled with soggy candles exchange for the plate of cake, he ate a bit and dived right into the rest afterwards. “Breathe kiddo and look at the mess you made of yourself.” Shining Armor points to the beak.
Gale crossed eyed at the mess on his beak and licked it most of it getting a mix of laughter from all the ponies. “I am pleased to see Gale enjoying himself, his weary but a lot better among ponies.” Celestia said watching him sit down eating more of his slice of cake.
Celestia took her piece. “I know! It what I wanted! To turn frowns upside down!” Pinkie Pie replied. “We do have a really fun game for him to try after cake! Pin the tail on the Pony!”
“I am sure he'll like to give it a go. Just tell him what you going to do and Gale should be fine.” Celestia stated.
“Of course Princess!”
Rainbow Dash step back while no one was watching as they all happily ate their cake. “So his going first huh? Time to spring my final prank. This one sure to get everypony laughing.” Rainbow Dash turn to the tail with a mischievous smile on her muzzle.
Looking around to make sure no one looking over or see her in the corner of their eyes, Rainbow Dash quickly slipped away taking the tail with her.
Applejack spoke up. “Hey y'all! It's pin the tail on the pony! Let's play!” Gale looked at the tail before Applejack.
“Cub, you get a blindfold put over ya and you hold the pin side part of the tail and stick it on that poster there.” Gilda points to the poster, Gale looked over to it and back at the tail. “It might look simple but it not when you get spun around while blindfolded.”
“Oh my favourite game! Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?” Rarity reach down to it.
Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Why not let Gale go first? I'm sure the kid up for another challenge.”
“Hmm... Of course darling.” Rarity turn to Gale. “Would you like to try?”
Gale looked at it thoughtfully tapping the end of his beak for a moment and followed that with a happy nod. “Kiddo this blindfold Spike will put on you and even it dark everyone still here okay?” Gale nods as Shining Armor. “Go ahead Spike.”
Spike walks up to Gale and put the blindfold on, the young griffon gulped and almost panicking as he turn the head from left to right. “Calm down son. We here, now Spike will give you the tail.”
Gale slows his breathing and nods as he used his ears to pin point where Celestia spoke from. “Here you Gale.” He placed it in Gale's talon.
Pinkie Pie came up to him. “I am going to spin you around and around. Once you've stopped just walk straight ahead and pin the tail on the pony okay?” Gale nods and he get spun around by Pinkie Pie.
“Go Gale you can do it!” Rainbow Dash shouted and look around “Come on ponies cheer for him!” They all started to cheer loudly for Gale and Rainbow Dash grin grew.
Spike look to his claws noticing some pink powder was on it. “Huh what this?” He rose his claw up to take a sniff of it. “Weird I-I-Achoo!” He sneezed with flames shorting out. “Achoo!”
Celestia noticed his sneezing. “Spike are you okay?”
“I-ACHOO! Th-ACHOO! Po-ACHOO!” Celestia noticed the pink powder on his claw.
“Is that sneezing pow-” Celestia froze in mid-sentence, she turn to the nearest to her son she knew of. “Gilda!” The griffon turn to her direction from all the cheering. “There sneezing powder on the tail! Get it away from Gale immediately!” Celestia had no idea what sneezing powder would do to Gale.
But Gilda did as her eyes shrunk in a instant upon hearing those words.
Gilda pushing the ponies out the way to get to Gale, he had pined the tail already and looking curiously at his talon after lifting the blindfold off his head. Leaning to it and see what he got on his talon. “Gale!” The ponies cheering the name too stomping their hooves. “Don't sniff it!”
He didn't hear her and already had.
Gale rose his head blinked a few times with confusion at what he just smelt but the effects was showing, the teenage griffon turn to Shining Armor and suddenly Shining Armor looked like a huge soft toy before him! Gale flew right at him and landed on his back and hugged him around the back of the neck to the front rubbing his head into the mane.
“Gale why are you hugging me so tightly and rubbing your head into me like that? Come on kiddo stop it.” Ponies was laughing at this scene. “Haha very funny Gale, now please can you get off me?” Gale had a very content smile with his eyes closed continue to rub his head against Shining's neck.
Gale seem completely oblivious to his request as if he was in a world of his own.
Shining Armor now in a position to try and figure out how to get a teenage griffon off his back.
Gilda growls loudly looking around till she locked eyes right on Rainbow Dash. With a mighty anger roar all the ponies stopped laughing turning to her directly. “RAINBOW DASH!” She flew right by the ponies with talons out reaching for the Pegasus.
Rainbow Dash quickly flew up dodging her. “Whoa! Wha-GAH!” Gilda suddenly lands and with a sharp turn followed by a thrust jump she grabs Rainbow Dash by both forelegs. She pulls Rainbow Dash down and smash into the table breaking all it legs.
The round table fell flat to the ground, all the ponies staring with shock at what just happened. Rainbow Dash struggling to break out of the iron grip that Gilda had her in, pinning the rainbow mane pony to the surface of the round table. “Gilda! Get o-” Twilight tries to say and help Rainbow Dash.
“SHUT UP PURPLE!” Twilight instantly recoil from the outburst.
“Please don't hurt her!” Twilight pleaded to the Gilda.
Shining Armor was going to react but what Gilda said next cause him to stop casting a spell to part Gilda from Rainbow Dash.
“I will not Purple. I am keeping her from running off to face what she did!” She growled.
“She did?” Twilight asked but still concerned for Rainbow's safety. Shining Armor's new concern now was on Celestia as he saw anger from the sun princess.
“Rainbow Dash put sneezing powder on that tail!”
Rainbow Dash stared up at her. “Is that all about? My prank? Aren't you overreacting G?”
Gilda turn looking down at the pinned pony under her talons and her strength. “Overreacting!? You got to be joshing me! How can you say that when you PROMISED to never use that powder on a griffon! After what Hoops and his friends did to me when we were young!”
“Promised? What the heck are you talking about!?”
Gilda roars once again, Gale the only one not filching or even noticing this as he continue to hug and rub his head into Shining's neck. Shining Armor spoke up. “Can somepony or anyone explain to us why Gale is acting as if I am a oversized plush toy!?”
Pinkie Pie came in with the sneezing powder pot. “It might be because the sneezing powder has a red writing warning on the back on it about not using it on felines and hybrid felines cause it could course random strange effects to them and their personalities.” She said without coming up for any breath of air.
Celestia had her eyes closed breathing in and out hard. “Keep calm Celestia... Don't lose your temper... Keep calm... Approach this calm and collected...” She whispered to herself feeling a anger building within towards Rainbow Dash's careless actions.
“What!? Ho-”
“Don't How me Dash! You idiotic lame pony!”
“Idiotic lame pony!? You knew about my pranks and been ruining all of them!”
“Of course for Gale! But you went one step too far!”
“I!? You didn't bother telling me! You just decided to do this for the sack of a griffon you just met!”
“This isn't about Gale anyone Dash! This is about your damn promise! That was personal to me! I was humiliated when those ponies did that to me back in flight camp! You promised to never to do it to me or any griffon like they did to me!”
Gilda closed her eyes and reopen the looking directly into Rainbow Dash's “You broke it and my trust...” Gilda let go of Rainbow Dash's forelegs.
Gilda sighed heavily. “That why I am ending our friendship Dash. How can I be friends with you after this stunt? You not even sorry...” Gilda turn to Spike. “Quill!”
Spike put his claw behind him and reviles a quill, he hands it to her. “A-are you going to be okay?”
“I will be...” Gilda step over Rainbow Dash opening her wing up to take the scroll out from under it, opening the scroll up she wrote on it her signature. “Princess I'm in.” She close the scroll up throwing it to Celestia.
Celestia caught it with her magic. “Very well Gilda.” Celestia showed a very static calm expression.
“I'll be outside waiting... I'm getting out of here before I regret doing something more than I done to Dash already...” Gilda went to the exit but stop turning to Rainbow Dash as she got up on her four hooves. “Dash if you even really are sorry for what you did today, come find me. If not don't bother.” Gilda leaves.
Celestia turn to Shining Armor. “Go outside with my son.”
“Gale pretty much stuck on me Princess...” Shining Armor responded.
Celestia nods and speak on. “Flash Sentry go with him. I'll be in a moment.” They salute and leave with Gale still nuzzling into Shining Armor's back of the neck.
“Princess I-”
Celestia rose a hoof instantly stopping Twilight from speaking. “Twilight actions today have been foolish and reckless, a friendship has been ended due to such action.” Celestia turn to Rainbow Dash.
“You will have to learn to not always think of yourself but think of others aswell. There must be a balance between them. You may have forgotten your promise with Gilda but she did not, this was a personal blow to her. Hopefully in time you will be willing to come to her and apologise for your actions taken today.”
“Than maybe... Just maybe you will be able to become friends once again.” Celestia took a deep breath. “For one I almost acted myself when I saw the effects that powder had on my son. Luckily it seem to only effect how he saw Captain Armor and heighten his senses of love for soft toys...”
“Since this also had effected Gilda in the past, this effect is temporary and not harmful to my Gale...”
“You are very lucky... So I say this once and once only Rainbow Dash...”
“You ever prank my son again... I will not be as lenient next time.” Celestia leans down to Rainbow Dash looking at her in the eyes. “That is not of a princess that tells you this but of a... Mother protecting her young one.”
Rainbow Dash gulped and a nod of the head without a word said as ponies stared in silence.
“Pinkie Pie.” Celestia rose her head up looking more cheerful to the pink pony.
“Yes princess?”
“I do hope you can throw a party for Gale in Canterlot some day, can I expect your services when I send the letter?”
“Of course Princess! I love to throw a party in Canterlot for Gale!” She saluted with a giggle.
“Thank you and be a good friend to Rainbow Dash as well. Okay?”
“Okie Dokie Loki!” Pinkie Pie nods.
Celestia smiled warmly. “Thank you.” She looked around the room.
“Come on Dash let's get you cheered up.” Pinkie Pie offer her hoof to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash takes it.
Pinkie Pie smiled. “Girls I need your help for this!” They all nod ready to help Rainbow Dash.
Celestia finally spoke. “Sorry for what transpired. I hope you all enjoy the remaining part of this party and bid you all a good day my little ponies.”
They bowed in reply.
Celestia turn to the remaining guard. “Blue Star if you could bring Gale's gifts?”
“Of course Princess!” He saluted collecting the gifts and bags before departing Sugarcube Corner.
“Princess can I and Spike talk to you outside?” Twilight requested
Celestia took a look to Twilight with a nod before leaving the party, Celestia only hope that Rainbow Dash learns from these mistakes she made.
Twilight and Spike stepped out of Sugarcube Corner to find Princess Celestia standing with one guard, no sign of her brother, Gilda, the other guards or Gale. Celestia gestured for them to join her as she walks away from Sugarcube Corner to the train station and they caught up with her.
“Princess... I am so sorry for what Rainbow Dash did!”
“It partly mine and Gilda's fault as well Twilight.” Celestia responded as Twilight walked alongside her with Spike on the other side.
Spike gave a frown. “Huh? Your fault? How?”
Celestia closed her eyes for a moment and open them taking a deep breath. “Private Flash Sentry I sent to Sugarcube Corner to see what exactly going on in there, he witnessed Rainbow Dash setting up the pranks and took photos of her doing it.”
Celestia using her magic made them appear and give the photos to Twilight, she took them with her magic to take a good look at each photo. “Princess Celestia does this mean you and Gilda not only knew about the pranks Rainbow Dash set up, but you two planned a way to counter them?”
“Indeed we did, part from the sneezing powder. That I believe Rainbow Dash planned while the party was happening. Flash Sentry watched from afar and told me moments ago about her disappearing with the tail for a moment.”
Twilight started to put the pieces together. “Rainbow Dash must of figured out that you and Gilda was pranking her back with her own pranks! So Rainbow went the extra mile to pull one prank you never saw coming.”
Celestia sighed. “Yes Twilight and one that Gilda took to heart that no pony was even aware... Well part from the very one that forgot. Rainbow Dash.”
“Yeah that was rough...” Spike spoke. “I hope Rainbow Dash does find it in her heart to apologise.”
“You me both Spike...” Twilight hoped.
Celestia agreed. “That is something I like to see myself but only time will tell.”
“But... Even with this rather strong end to the party for I, my guards and my son. The results have been overly positive though.” Celestia softly smiled.
Spike responds. “That Gilda agree to work for you to help Gale and she even got him to say her name!”
Celestia nods. “Correct and you can thank Cadance for that.”
“Cadance!? My foalsitter!?”
“Yes Twilight your former foalsitter.” Celestia laughed. “Cadance were in Cloudsdale overseeing preparations for the Young Fliers Contest. She went to some flight camps and found Gilda's and Rainbow Dash's files.”
Twilight lit up. “Their friendship!”
Celestia nods. “Yes but it former now...”
“Oh...” Twilight lowered her head. “Yeah that happened didn't it?” Celestia nods sadly as they closed in on the train station.
Flash Sentry saluted. “Princess Celestia, Captain Armor in Gale's cabin. It seem the effect of the sneezing powder made him sleepy.” He reported.
Celestia hummed. “You seem calm in reporting this.”
Flash turn to Gilda standing at the edge of the platform looking over at them before turning away heading up to the train door. “Gilda explained it to us before it happened.”
“Fair enough.” Celestia turn to Twilight and Spike. “This is where we part ways for now.”
Spike pull on Twilight's tail slightly. “Twilight the box!”
Twilight gasped. “I totally forgot! Princess can we see Gilda off?”
Celestia raise a eye brow. “You... May.” She watch both of them run up the platform to Gilda. “Hmm... What do you think they are up to Private?”
Flash shrugged. “Maybe giving her a parting gift?”
“Shall we see?”
“Your asking me Princess?”
“Yes.”
“Than I say yes we should.”
“Good choice Private.” Celestia smiled and they head up to the platform.
Gilda placed her talon on the door handle. “Not the way I thought I'd be getting out of this lame town...”
“I hope you can wait a few seconds more before leaving this lame town.” Gilda turn her head to see Twilight and Spike before her.
Gilda groans pressing her head against the door glass. “What do you want Purple? I seriously had enough of today and want to just get on this train to get out of this town...”
Twilight using her magic made the box appear floating it down to Spike to take by his claws. “It not what I want it what Spike wants.”
Gilda lifted her head letting go of the handle, she turn around looking down to the approaching dragon with the box rose up to her. “I like to give you this.”
Gilda took it with her talons staring at it. “What this about Spike?”
“Open it.”
She opens it. “Is this some sort of joke you dweeb?” Gilda took out a necklace with her gem attached to it in a golden metal rim.
Spike shook his head. “No it isn't, I am giving it back to you with some extra additions. Now you can wear it around your neck and wear it with pride!”
Gilda rose it up letting it to spin to the right and left. “You know I am not Gale, this doesn't mean I trust you or be buddies.”
“Of course but I thought I add something else you might not know.”
“Go on...” Gilda put it back in the box closing the lid.
Spike had a big smile as Twilight stood by him. “We went to the local gemmers and they did exactly to us as you told what happened to you!”
Gilda raise an eye brow. “O...Kay.”
Twilight spoke next. “So I pressed the question and we got a answer Gilda.”
“How about you spit it out already before I turn grey and die of boredom! Stop beating around the bush you dweebs!” Gilda growled flaring her wings out in frustration.
“Okay! Keep your beak on!” Spike said back crossing his arms. “It the legendary Sapphire Diamond!” Uncrossing his arms spreading them out shouting at her.
Gilda blinked a few times. “The wha-th-what?”
Twilight filled in the details. “Since there was Gemmers there been a legend past down from Gold Gem about a griffon held gem called the Sapphire Diamond. That heirloom of yours is the very thing they seek.”
“If that the case why tell me it totally worthless!? That doesn’t make sense!” Gilda threw her free talon up.
“That because they can't buy it from you! They go broke trying! They did what they could do to claim it for themselves! Ripping you off!” Spike explained.
Gilda look down at the box and back at them. “So there ponies that are as greedy as griffons can be huh? Well pull my tail and call me a pony.” Gilda chuckled.
“Greedy as griffons?” Twilight asked.
Gilda ignores the question. “Okay you two your alright in my books.”
“Does that mean-”
“No Purple, we not friends... Yet.” Twilight and Spike eyes lit up. “We will work on it, but for now you two earned my trust. You burn that I will burn you. Got it!”
“Got it!” They said together with smiles from their snouts.
Gilda shook her head. “Good dweebs! I am getting the heck out of here! See ya later!” She gave them a mock wave, opening the door and entering the train.
They waved back before leaving the platform with a high note talking to each other about how it went with Gilda in that short exchange.
Celestia and Flash watched this unfold. “That was somewhat unexpected...”
“After what happened, is this a high note princess?”
“I believe it is Private...” The train whistle blows. “We should board before the train leaves us behind.”
“Yes Princess.” He open the door for her.
They board the train and with doors closed the train pulls out for it overnight journey back to Canterlot.
Gilda glanced out the window at the back of the carriage with the heirloom clenched tightly in her right talon. “Someday Dash I might forgive you...”
Gilda had a tear roll down the side of her feathered face “Someday I hope...”
The sun setting as Gilda stared out the window of the calm and beautiful landscape, the colours of the sun's rays giving it an extra feel of special beauty. Gilda turn away from it walking down the corridor passing a guard, she glanced at him as she past without a look back.
Gilda stopped at a open down seeing it was a bedroom cabin, Shining Armor eased Gale down from his back onto the bed without the aid of his magic. The captain put the plush under Gale's foreleg and the teenager hugged it close to him mumbling slightly as he sleep.
“Thought he never let me go...” Shining Armor whispered rotating his foreleg joints and his neck slightly.
“He'll be back to normal by the time he wake up.” Gilda responded.
Shining finished by placing the bed sheets over him. “Sweet dreams kiddo.” He smiled softly and turn around to Gilda watching.
Without a bat of the eye lid to her standing by the door he spoke quietly. “Last time I did that was when my sister or even Spike had nightmares.” Shining Armor walked to the door making sure the lights were still on but dimmed and closed the door after exiting the cabin.
“Purple your sister huh?” Shining nods as he point a hoof away from the door, Gilda walked with him away from it feather down the train carriage.
Shining Armor glance to her. “And Spike is more or less our little brother.”
“That partly explains why he gave me my heirloom back, doesn't explain why he not a horder like a dragon is.” Gilda rubbed the underside of her beak. “Griffons back at home just as bad as dragons with hordes.”
Shining Armor gave her a puzzled look. “You don't seem to be one if you gave a heirloom to Spike to begin with.”
Gilda shrugged. “I am just trying to make enough bits to get out of town. I b-” Gilda paused. “Now looking at you and her I can see it. You are brother and sister, this the second time I babbled almost about my own life, what is it with you two?”
Shining shrugged. “I guess we got one of those faces that you can trust.”
“Or it just a family thing with you two and Spike.” Gilda chuckled. “You got a good family.”
“Are you being sentimental with me?” Shining Armor raise an eye brow.
Gilda stopped and stared at him. “You had to ruin it with a stupid pony feeling fouf fouf didn't ya?”
Shining Armor brow lowered as he tried to think of what she just said to him. “What? All I-”
“Yes I know what you said you dweeb.” Gilda put her talon on her forehead shaking it slightly. “Why you think I'm being sentimental is beyond me.” Gilda lowered her talon walking away.
Gilda waved her talon in the air not looking back. “Laters Blue Hooves.”
He watched her walk away. “Did I miss something?” No response from the guards part from a quick glance at each other. “Griffons are soooo confusing...” Shining Armor muttered to himself turning to head off to the officers quarters in the royal carriage.
Gilda walked a bit farther down stopping at a door open an jar, she took a peek to see it was Princess Celestia sitting at a desk with a quill in her magic writing away on a sheet of paper. “Yes Gilda?” Without looking up Celestia spoke out to the griffon peeking in.
Gilda moved her head back from the door surprised at first but with a roll of the eyes she put the talon in the crack of the door sliding it open. “Hey Princess what'cha up to?”
“The usual Princess stuff.” Celestia countered raising her head up to look at Gilda now. “Come in and close the door please. I been hoping you would come by.”
Gilda closed the door after entering. “That why you left it open by a crack didn't ya?”
Celestia smiled. “That is very much true.” She gestured to the cushion in front of the desk.
“What is it you want to speak to me about?” Gilda sat her flank down on the cushion with talons in front holding up her upper body.
Celestia put the quill down. “I was thinking about Gale, he has no knowledge of what it is to be a griffon part from the instincts he shown to have.”
Gilda brow hardened. “I agreed to teach him to speak and write, not teach him what it is to be a griffon. He can do that on his own.” Gilda strongly responded to the request.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to!”
“That doesn't answer the question... So I ask again. Why?”
Gilda growls. “This is stupid! I am out of-” The horn glows from Celestia and the doors she noticed are sealed by a golden transparent glow. “What the idea!?”
Celestia sat calmly as Gilda now on her paws with talons on the door trying to open it. “Answer my question.”
“NO!”
“Answer the question Gilda.”
Gilda growls turning around to Celestia. “Fine! The griffons are self-centred greedy no good for nothing asses! Only a few didn't turn into those idiots that care nothing but their horde and stupid bits! I am not going to teach Gale about our kind so he could become like them! Now you know let me out!”
Gilda was right in Celestia face standing on the desk and all the papers scattered on the train floor, her beak only inches from the muzzle with fury in her eyes. “Not quite yet Gilda.”
Gilda clench a fist. “I will give you five seconds to open that damn door or I will punch you in the face! Princess or not!”
Celestia just kept her smile not phased by the threat, calling on Gilda's bluff. “Very brave but you won't.” Gilda growls and unclenched her fist. “Your really anger but you are more curious now on why I am keeping that door sealed and I got four words.”
“That is!?”
“The truth about Gale.” Celestia voice echoed and Gilda with a flap of her wings jump off the table landing on the cushions. “Ah you remembered our arrangement, it is what we spoke of did we not?”
Gilda dropped cross legged on the cushions with forelegs crossed keeping that anger annoyed look written on her face. “You dweeb! Start with that next time, instead of I need a favour crap!”
“Duly noted.” Gilda saw a sly smirk as Celestia spoke.
“Duly noted my ass, you did that on purpose!” Gilda Points at her.
Celestia collected all the papers with her magic placing them in neat piles in files behind her. “That is very true Gilda and now after having my fun...” Celestia gave her a serious look. “It time to talk about my son and reveal to you the whole truth.”
Gilda noticed the scroll she signed was on the table. “What this?”
“I am giving you the option to tear it up after I am done talking to you.” Celestia look down at the scroll on the table.
“That serious hmm?”
“Indeed... This will take hours to explain. I hope you do not mind some hot chocolate to drink and a roast potato with butter on it to eat while I talk.” Celestia using her magic offering the food and drink to Gilda.
Gilda took them with her talons. “Not at all.” She put the plate on her lap and taking the cuttery to start eating with the hot chocolate resting on a saucer to her side. “Well, get on with it. Enough stalling.”
Celestia nods and start to tell the events about how Gale came into her life in the last week, how he may have arrived during the strange blue magical aura event through out Canterlot City. Hours passes by as she continue to tell Gilda what happened through out the week that past to their arrival at Ponyville.
After everything was laid out to Gilda, she stood staring out the window at the moonlit landscape. Celestia haven't attempted to speak to her since telling her everything about Gale, the griffon been in that same spot for over half a hour.
Celestia got up from the table standing beside Gilda looking out at the night-time scenery, neither looked or said a word for a few more minutes till Gilda broke the ice. “Knowing what I know now... I wish I didn't.” Gilda said to Celestia without shifting her gaze.
“You asked remember.” Celestia responded.
Gilda closed her eyes taking a deep breath. “I know... Now I have to be more of a griffon than I am.” Gilda opened her eyes looking at the transparent reflection through the glass of herself.
“I don't care what he was before, it is what he is now. That dorky cub need a griffon to teach to be a griffon.” Gilda put her right talon against the cold glass window.
“So you got what you want you dweeby highness.” Gilda remove her talon from the window walking over to the door.
Celestia undid the spell on it looking through the transparent reflection at Gilda whom looked back. “Goodnight Gilda and thank you...”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Don't count your chickens before they hatch you dork... And goodnight.” Gilda open the sliding door and left Celestia alone in her cabin.
Celestia picked up the contract and put it under her wing for safety. “It seems she chosen.”
Celestia tidied up the plates, cups and her paper work before leaving the room, walking down the corridor of the train carriage she opened the door to look upon Gale sleeping in the large bed. “Sweet dreams my sweet little Gale and sister may you guide him to peaceful dreams.” Celestia whispered closing the door.
Celestia walked down to her own private cabin on the train upon entering it she closed the door behind to get as little sleep she can get before she has to raise the sun.
Gilda in the room next door hears the hum of the magic from Celestia as she settles down, the griffon lying on the bed with one talon behind the back of her head and the other up above holding the chain of the gem attached to.
“Got played by a Princess.” Gilda stared at the gem. “Who would of thought?”
Gilda's tail twitches and she hanged the gem up beside the bed, turning to her side. “I'll get her back for that trick she pulled.” Gilda grinned as her eyes close. “Celestia you won the battle... but.. I'll... Win the war.”
The griffon soon was fast asleep with a devilish smirk on her beak dreaming of how she out play the Princess of the Sun, Celestia.
Gilda flying over the city of Canterlot took a good look at the city from high above, she left the train soon as it arrived at the station to find a place to stay. One thing that she never thought about before hearing how Shining Armor look forward to getting home to see if Cadance has returned from her oversight trip to Cloudsdale.
This quick off the head plan quickly was falling apart as she descended to the city cobble stone streets, landing gracefully with a few short strong flaps, Flash Sentry lands just behind her with a clop of the metal golden shoes to the cobble stones. Gale lands on his paws but with a few miss-flaps he flew a few feet backwards landing on his back laughing.
“If seems Gale like to join you Gilda, as long as Flash Sentry goes with him I don't see any harm.”
“Do I get a say in this?”
“Well you did agree to teach him not only to write and speak but you agreed to show about being a griffon, so spending time with you I say yes.”
“Fine!”
“Gilda one-”
Gilda recalling the short chat at the station how she flew off before Celestia could finish whatever she was going to say. Gilda sighed walking over to Gale putting a talon out, the teenager took it with his and she pulled him up onto his paws and talons. “Your a crazy cub, y'know?” Gale squawked happily.
Gilda turn to Flash. “Since your from here, where exactly did we land?”
Flash Sentry took a good look around. “Just down this road to the left is the Canterlot Public Library, two buildings down from that is Agency that deals with available housing in the city.” Flash point a hoof to the general direction.
Gilda leap on her paws clapping her talons together rubbing them. “Perfect!”
Flash Sentry was about to say something to her but she quickly ran down the street with Gale in tow, shaking his head the guard gave chase. “This is going to be one of these days!”
Gilda raced by the library with two unicorn statues on either side of the steps up to it with a big large diamond patten glass dome on the top. Gale slide to a stop staring at the large building with the large stone carving with a book on top of four large pillars.
“Come on Gale! We come back to the daff library after we gone to the Housing Agency!” Gilda called out to Gale, he nods in agreement running to her. Flash Sentry right behind them, he noticed ponies watching them run by.
Flash Sentry slid to a stop as Gilda walk up the steps to the building with a house carving above the door. “Gale it be best for us to wait here.” He put a wing on Gale to stop him from joining Gilda.
Gale point to it and tilt his head. “Gilda gone inside to see if she can rent or buy a place here in Canterlot.”
Gale frowned and point to the castle in the distance. “Yes your mum does have a place in mind that is free, but Gilda left before she could tell her.” Gale eyes shift with a frown showing he was thinking about what Flash said.
A short time past with Gale with a claw out and a butterfly sitting on it with the wings steadily opening and closing. He stared at the beautiful colourful pattens on it. The door opens and Gilda steps out looking very dejected walking up to them. “Well that sucks...”
“How so?”
Gilda rubbed the feathers on her head. “No homes available till further notice...” Gilda turn to the building. “How do you run a place with no homes to sell?”
The butterfly flew away and Gale watched till it disappeared out of sight. “You do know they don't just sell homes, they rent out homes they own. So they are open for those said renties.” Flash Sentry blankly stated to Gilda.
“Fine... But doesn't help me out.” Gilda walked away from the building towards the Library with Gale walking beside her eagerly bouncing in each step towards it.
Gale quickly bounced by Gilda to twist around and point to the castle to a random building afterwards. “Okay... What are you trying to say Gale?” He hummed and point to Flash then to the same things again.
Flash stood beside Gilda. “Gale most likely trying to tell you that Princess Celestia got a place in mind for you to stay at while in Canterlot.”
Gilda grabbed Flash by the chest plate pressing her forehead against his. “You could of told me this sooner you dweeb!”
“I heard how you griffon types like to do things yourself and refuse any form of help.” Flash responded in a nervous tone.
Gilda let go and Flash step back straightening out his armour. “Your right we are.” Gilda sighed turning to Gale. “Don't be like that okay?” Gale nods not completely sure what she meant. “Good, now let's see this library shall we?” Gale nods again this time eagerly.
“Note to self. Don't judge Gilda off other griffons.” Flash muttered and followed them up the steps to the library main doors.
One of the two guards put a hoof out to them. “Sorry the library is closed today young prince. Come back tomorrow and it will be open.”
Gale wings went slack and sitting on his rump staring to the ground in sadness. “Why is it closed?” Flash inquired.
The second guard responded. “The librarians are at a book fair in Baltimare.”
Gilda walked away from the library. “Well that's that Gale, no library for ya.” Gale followed dragging his claws and paws down the steps still having his head lowered.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Sulking about it not gonna make it open cub. Not everything will work out for ya, getting your way with everything is one way that lead you to greed.”
The warning from Gilda to Gale made him raise his head up showing there was tears fresh. “Serious?” Flash was surprised as Gale were.
“Hello adult griffon here! I am serious!” Gilda stood on her paws pointing to herself with her talons. “I got to do something about this!” Gilda land back on all fours. “We finding ourselves some griffons that live and work here!”
Gale wiped the tears away and turn to Flash Sentry with surprise in his eyes. “There are griffons here in the city Gale.” Flash tap his hoof on the tip of his muzzle.
“One of them in fact runs his own restaurant outside Restaurant Row. Gustave le Grand if I recall, it a desert themed restaurant but has a top floor slash kitchen for those that eat fish like us Pegasi need every so often for our wings.” Flash Sentry explained to Gilda and Gale.
Gilda pinched the top of her beak rubbing it. “Gustave... That Prench griffon.” She sighed. “Better than randomly asking about other griffons here. Lead the way almighty guard.” Gilda mockingly bows with a wing out in front of her to Flash.
Flash just ignored her mocking and open his wings up. “Follow my lead you two.” Gale nods and Gilda just gave him a deadpan look saying 'go already!'
They take off and a short flight after land on the outskirts of Restaurant Row, before them was Gustave le Grand Icy Delights restaurant. The sign had the griffon's upper body half showing with wings out, wearing the chiefs hat and holding two different type of éclairs treats.
One key difference it was circular all the way around with windows, two levels with a double door entrance at one side. Coloured cyan with rest border lines and chequered flag patterns between the red borders of the between section of the lower and upper floor windows. This included a mid-section roof under the red border chequered patten that out stretched over creating a shelter.
Through the windows they could see the red chairs sat on by ponies laughing and talking to each other while very pop music being played from a colourful jukebox lit up with a vinyl moving around.
Gale stared at it and for some sudden reason coming to his mind he could see something called a 60's themed restaurant, blinking a few times to try and understand where this memory even came from. “This is seriously Gustave's restaurant? It's crazy!”
Flash chuckled. “It sure is! Ponies come here after eating the blandest lunch they had from Restaurant Row! They love the swing of this place!” He trot up to the glass doors putting a hoof to the metal border. “Also the doors open both ways, he pushes the doors with the music coming through more clearly.
Gilda flinched from the loud music coming from it. “How can any of you ponies hear yourself think with that racket!” She shouted.
Gale grabbed her talon with both of his pulling her to go in.”Okay okay! I get the message you want to go in!” Gilda freed her talon from his walking inside, the music was more bearable past the second door. “Okay... Why is it louder outside than inside?”
“It how he attracts many of his customers, bright colours, yummy treats and very upbeat music! Three things a pony loves!” Flash stated.
Gilda chuckled now. “Otherwise his cornered your head for the most bits he can get out of ya. This place is like a crazy magnet and because it only here in Canterlot you ponies come from far and wide to come here.”
To Flash this is one of his favourite places to go after work second to Donut Joes. “Do you think Donut Joe and Gustave has a business relationship?”
“Knowing that Prench feather brain from the last time I saw him with that crazy moustache. I say anything possible.” Gilda replied, Gale had wondered over to the jukebox listening to the music coming from it and watching the vinyl spin around. “Hey cub! Get your tail over here!” Gale quickly turn to Gilda going over to her and Flash.
They walked up to a Pegasus that had brood body, four legs with a short mane cut wearing a black suit and tie with a white shirt under the suit. He also wearing shades over his eyes looking very static, the two griffons and guard walked up to him.
The red pony seem to look over each of them before unhooking the red rope keeping the upstairs sealed from the general public letting them go up the spiralling staircase. “Welcome back Flash Sentry and welcome to Gustave le Grand Icy Delights young prince, enjoy your stay.”
He put a wing out to Gilda. “You try anything and we will toss you out before you can blink.” He whispered to Gilda. “Clear?”
“Seriously? That Prench idiot still have it out for me?” She whispered back.
“You are a paying customer and he does not turn down customers.” He lower the wing and speaks clearly. “Enjoy your first visit griffon and hope it a memorable one.”
Gilda gave a sly smirk. “Sure thing dork.” Gilda went up the spiral stairs joining Gale and Flash.
Flash curiously look back down at the pony as he re-hook the red rope. “What was that about?”
“Griffons don't get on well with other griffons, enough said.” Gilda walked by him taking a good look around, there was about four Pegasi and one griffon sitting at some of the tables. Many were empty. “Quiet hour?”
“It's close to lunch and Monday so... Yeah it will be.” Flash stated. “The main business is down below, this is for those that need something more than icy treats. But don't expect it to be cheap though.”
Gilda chuckled. “No surprise there.” She noticed the open display kitchen with the smell of fish being cooked for other customers by two unicorns. “No Gustave?”
“If that bouncer was anything, I say he most likely be up.” Flash answered.
Gale sniffing the air and licking his beak followed by pointing to the kitchen behind the drink stations. “Has Gale eaten any fish?” Gilda now asked another question on top of her first.
Flash shrugged. “That something you need to ask Princess Celestia.” Flash open his wing up pulling out a bag of bits. “But she does have us covered for the day.”
Gilda stared at the bag and back at him. “She needs to stop spoiling Gale.” Gilda seriously looked at him taking the bag from Flash Sentry. “I'm taking care of this, you watch the master at work!”
“Yes ma'am!” He saluted.
“You dork.” They chuckled afterwards.
“Sale! S'I so sald so see sou!” The only other griffon spoke up once he raised his head, Gilda got a good look at him. colbolt blue, white tail, end wing tips, under belly, head feathers with mix red, yellow and green tips. Black talons and bulky big beak.
Gale on the other hand was so engrossed watching the unicorns cooking to even realise he was spoken to by the unknown griffon.
Gilda instantly knew this kind of griffon. “Oh great it a Macaw Griffon...” Gilda muttered. “Bad enough having a cousin that whistles when they talk with everything starting with a... S...” Gilda slowed her words at the end realising what he just said.
“Did you say Gale?”
“No he said Sale.” Flash believe he corrected Gilda not aware of what she just muttered first.
But Gilda counter corrected. “You idiot that how Macaw Griffons speak. I have a cousin that one, she exactly like this and carry a mean whistling musical tone as well. Just make sure not to listen or you'd find yourself a few bits short without a care to giving it away.”
“Really?”
The Macaw Griffon hesitated in speaking up as Gilda spoke to the royal guard.
“Really you dweeb. They have a musical whistle that sort of magical, they create sub-sonic sound waves. Think of it as suggestive thinking on a very low level. Just that little push to what you might be thinking of doing that isn't anywhere effective in your day to day life, just one of those minor things.” Gilda gave the details to Flash.
The colbolt blue griffon stared in surprise as if he never knew this about his kind of griffon.
Gilda growled. “Now I sound like a dorky egghead!” Gilda turn to change the subject. “Okay you! How do you know Gale!?”
“Sow so sou snow Sale?” He asked back as if this griffon already knew Gale and he knew him.
Gale now turn his attention to the two griffons now standing a few feet from each other. “I asked the question first you dweeb!” She turn to Gale. “Do you know who this griffon is?” Gale shook his head in a instant. “He sure think he knows you.” She point to the colbolt blue griffon.
Gale tilt his head in confusion trying to place how this griffon knew him since this is the second only griffon he met not including the giant sign on top of the restaurant.
“S'I sot surprised sooking sike shis.” He rubbed the back of his neck with an talon.
This left them very confused by his statement.
“What are you blabbing on about you crazy griffon!?” Gilda was thinking after her question throwing this loony griffon down the stairs.
“s'I Soctor Srace.”
“Doctor Trace?” Gilda repeated the name unaware of the reaction to come from Flash Sentry and Gale.
There will be three paths that this point forward the story can turn to, read each short summary and pick one option. Read carefully and choose wisely.
Update: voting closed.
Option One: Trace tries to duplicate the magic in Gale resulting in turning into a griffon and unable to get back to his apartment for the reversal potion.
Accidentally
Option Two: Trace discovers a way to track the magic to a ruined castle fort half buried in the mountain east side. He finds out more than he bargin for.
Ancient Evil – (Big hint first chapter)
Option Three: Trace discovers while tracking the unique magic a sectary organization been attempting to take the magic for themselves.
Secret Organization - (Idea comes from Black—Soul comment story)
Not to far from Canterlot General Hospital an large housing complex with apartments for doctors and nurses that work there but do not live in the city. Doctor Trace the colbolt unicorn currently lived in one of the larger apartments with an offsite lab for continues work on understanding Gale's magic.
Inside the offsite lab connected to his current home from home given by Celestia Trace worked through mixing different chemicals. Wearing a labcoat and a visor over his face the different chemicals mixed with precision alongside herbs in a bowl above a bunsen burner.
“Let's see... Zecora's letter said to mix these herbs and add a small amount of Poison Joke extract. Only a drop no more, no less... If you do, expect a result that no joke.” He said to himself with semi rhythm laughing afterwards.
“Zebras, fascinating unique race. I am glad that I am good friends with Zecora, she helped me with my reversal transfiguration mishaps in the past.” Trace mixes the final parts to the potion. “Now my failsafe potion is ready.” He pulled the bowl into six bottles putting them away safely.
Trace walked over to six containers with a black feather in each of them from Gale. “Now to see how my tests went...” Trace muttered. “Tracing spell partly failed, still taxing magic to detect that magic... Transfiguration spell failed... Tracking failed... Potion magical breakdown formula failed...” He brought up a clipboard looking at all the results showing nothing seem to work.
“Now down to the last test for the evening...” Trace stared at the feather. “Test six. I will be combining a low level casting of my tracing, tracking, transfiguration with direction magic contact as well using the magical breakdown potion.” Trace brought over a flask with the potion to the last container.
Trace looked at the feather now held in the tongs. “Like shapes, race course circuits the beginning and end are one the same. My attempts to use different forms of magical spells, direct magic and even potions all failed.”
“The feather in every way like Gale is too perfect. Transfiguration spell of a magnitude that I couldn't even begin to think of was used. My hopes in creating this low level link I can not only get a better image of what he may of looked like but also to track down the spell caster too.”
Trace looked past the test container at the pined up drawing of the bipedal life form from his scans. “I know Princess Celestia told me not to rush this or even try something stupid... But doing something stupid maybe the only way I will get answers. I own it to that young griffon to find the one that responsible for what they did to him.”
Trace place the feather in the liquid, casting all the spells one after the other, followed by telekinetic connecting and casting a scanning spell to the feather. “The feather isn't effected once again it s-” The feather starts to break down with a strange blue magical aura bleeding out into the potion.
“It working I can feel it! The link is completed! All I have to do now is focus on it and try to pin point the casting of that transfiguration spell by using my own to alter my own magic signature to closly match what I feeling.”
Trace casts the final spell his transfiguration “I never felt anything like this.” He slipped on a bit of potion on the floor, trying to catch his balance his hoof came into contact with one of the pedals of Poison Joke.
Trace stared at it as he still casting the test. “On pony feathers...” He could feel the test starting to go haywall, the magic and potion seem to start to build up in strength. “Something wong...” he grunts.
“Must stop the test at once!”
The unicorn try to disconnect his magic stop the spells but he can't. “I... Arg... Can't stop casting! Some-” He slips onto one foreleg knee struggling fight back. “Every attempt... Eve... The pain... Ah! It intense! I can't break the circuit! It beyond what I can even-AH!”
Trace suddenly found himself hooves off the ground with whitish blue magic swirling around him. “Transfiguration spell amplifying! The Poison Joke pedal I put my hoof AH ON must of tri AH! It AHHH!” He screams out in pain as the swirling clouds of magic got thicker.
Trace looking around his eyes darting left and right, the lab couldn't be seen any more. All he could see through the tears falling from his eyes as he continue to scream in unbelievable pain. The brightness of it was getting too intense too as he closed his eyes, the light was still felt and seen through the eyelids.
With one mighty hollow he suddenly snapped his eyes open with all the eminence pain suddenly gone. Sitting up gasping for air, quickly looking around he found no longer in his lab but on grass under a tree next to the stone hoof path to Canterlot.
Slowly looking to his left the entrance to the city was about a half a mile away at least, it was early morning too as the sun rose. “Sow sid-” He placed his ho- Trace felt digits four of them against his neck, the feeling also was off. It felt like feathers, short soft feathers in contact with scaly digits.
Trace gulped removing the digits and slowly bring it up into view he noticed not a muzzle that he always seen too but a looking over a curved black beak at a black talon attached to colbolt blue mix of short soft feathers and fur. Flexing the claws he watched and felt the movement of them. “Sot sgain... Shis ss sack shen S'I sas Srincess Selestia's student sgain...”
Trace felt the founds leave with a slight whistle to each word but each with a Sss sound to the beginning. “Sesting sesting sne swo shree.” He half growls feeling the rumble in his throat and the sound of it escaping his beak.
Trace slowly moved his head taking a good look over his body, a shredded labcoat hanging on thanks to his now impressive large blue wings with whitish silver tips to each. The tail was long with a whitish silver brush at the end. “Shat soison soke... S'I s Sdiot...”
The visor was shattered and unfit to wear, the muzzle to beak transfiguration most likely destroyed it. “St seen swhile since S'I sad shis sype sf siphap..”
Trace slowly pushed forwards pressing his talons on the grass pushing his hind quarters up feeling his three toed paws attached to his hindlegs against the grass too. “Strange seeling... Sest so set sack so sy sab snd severse shis sopefully...” He muttered slowly walking up to the hoof path.
“S'I should sf sistened so Secora sarning sn she sote snd sut she soison soke sedals sn s sar shen sot ssing st...” Trace lets out a mighty roar in frustration after speaking. He couldn't even understand what he was even saying, it felt like he was speaking incorrectly, wrong and annoying hearing so much whistling.
Trace walked into the city getting strange looks from many ponies as he continued his track home, one thing he realised they might been looking at was his ruined labcoat. He decided to remove it and fold it up, he carried it under one of the wings finding it surprisingly easy to hold it in place.
Upon arriving at the complex he took a good look up at his apartment to see nothing seem out of place. He came to the entrance to see the guards still doing their duty in keeping the complex safe and private for nurses, doctors and researchers. “Halt griffon, this is a private complex for out of city medical staff of Canterlot General only. What business do you have here?”
“S'I sere so so some.”
“Sere so so some? What?” The guard raised an eye. “What kind of griffon whistles and don't speak correctly.”
Trace sighed. “S'I sm. Sy same ss Srace S'I sm s soctor sor Santerlot Seneral! Soctor Srance. S-”
“Look griffon I have zero idea what your trying to say and we here to keep guard not listen to some crack up big beak griffon that can't even speak right.”
Trace growls slightly. “Shat ss sude snd snacceptable! Sou shouldn't speak so sthers sven shey sot sonies sike shat!” He raised his voice at the rude guard.
The guards instantly lower this spears down to him. “We will give you one warning griffon. You attempt to engage us and we will take you to the dungeons.”
Trace stepped back sighing heavily. “Sorry... S'I se soing...” He turns walking away from them. “Should sf saw shat soming... Shey sost sot sead she Sossier sn se.”
Walking into the Canterlot Gardens he stopped at the water fountain taking a good look at his reflection. The griffon looking back at him had mostly the same colour of mane and fur from silver white to the colbolt blue.
His eyes were the same colour but the black beak with the yellow on the lower part, the talons with the different shades of feather tips made it very difficult to see this was really him. Another factor he noticed no cutie mark either, Trace knew griffons can not earn them which should of not surprised him but it did as it felt like a part of him was gone in this form.
Trace put his ruined labcoat down in front of him sitting on the wall with talons press against the sides of his face the pony turned griffon started to whistle to himself. Closing his eyes with tears falling he didn't know what to do cause he knew that anyone wouldn't see him as Trace but a crazy griffon.
As the musical whistle continue he collected his thoughts of the last few hours been for him, how Gale may have felt. That when it hit him, he remembered the spell going haywall from the accidental touch to the eminence pain of the transfiguration.
Snapping his eyes open. “Shat st!” He spoke loudly jumping back on all fours on the peppel stone path. “S'I-” He took a good look around at all the ponies cheering now. “Shat soing sn?” He asked looking around in total confusion.
Fancy Pants stepped up to him. “I must say that was the best musical whistling I ever heard! How do you griffons so easily pull it off?”
Trace blinked a few times. “Sell... S'I sust sid st...”
“Hmm... Not quite sure what you said but to take a guess I say you said somewhere down the lines off...” He tap the blue hoof against his muzzle first before continuing to say. “Well, I just did it. Am I correct?”
Trace nods. “Well my boy, here a few bits for such a great performance and if your still in town come around my place just two blocks up to the castle and to the left three houses down.” Fancy Pants generally smiled. “I think I can get you into the musical business in Canterlot.”
Trace smiled. “Shank sou... Serm...”
“Ah yes! Name's Fancy Pants, pleasure to meet-” He gesture for Trace.
“Srace.”
“Grace? Well Grace, thank you for brightening not only my day but all the ponies here day. I bid you good day.” Fancy Pants put his hoof out to Trace and he place the talon over it shaking.
Trace watched the white pony with two tone blue mane and tail wearing a posh suit and monocle walk away, he soon found ponies congratulating him too and dropping bits off before leaving themselves.
“Shat sust sappened?” Trace now stared at the large pile of bits onto of his ruined labcoat. “S'I sonfused... So sonfused...”
First thing Trace did with the bits get a saddlebag to store them and the ruined labcoat, stepping out the shop he took a good look around as the day progressed. Through out it he did not much but ponder and think, he even attempted to write notes with the writing being very messy in the note book.
With years of experience being a doctor and once student to Celestia he used this to keep himself sane, think of every possible option to get the reversal potion from his apartment lab. Trace shifted his wings slightly lying on the cool grass looking out at the water flowing by to the waterfall not to far from him.
Trace stood up. “Slying, shat st!” He clicked the claws together.
Putting his saddlebag down standing in the open. “Skay S'I sot shis...” He leaned downwards with his forelegs looking up with wings opened up. With a big flap and push off he got about ten feet in the air from launch. “Ses! S'I... Shoa!” The wings flap out of sequence causing him to crash into the water with a mighty splash.
Surfacing and swimming over to the shore, he climbed out drenched from fur to feathers. “Samn st!” He shook his body getting rid of most of the water but the wings still felt heavy as he flapped them to shake off the water.
He tried again and ended in the water once more, swimming back he shook off the water again. Trace tried three more times and just luck had it he crashed into the water every single time.
“Shat slan ss sn she sooks...” Trace walked over to his saddlebag.
A giggle came from a young unicorn filly. “You okay mister?” He nods. “Okay!” She gallops away to her mother. “Mummy did you see that funny creature go splash?”
“Indeed, that a griffon and look like his not a very good flyer. Maybe his mum didn't teach him well.”
“Oh...”
“Come on sweet pea.” They leave.
Trace hummed. “Sum... Sf sourse! S'I sever slew. Sdiot!” He slapped his forehead. “Sest so sind s slace so stay sor she sight...”
Trace went to hotel to hotel finding no rooms available or it cost way more than he had on him. The colbolt griffon stepped out of the last hotel grumbling to himself as the sun starts to set. His stomach grumbled. “S'I seen saught sp sith shat S'I secame snd shat so so S'I sorgot sbout sating something.”
Trace took a good look around, that when he noticed Gustave le Grand's restaurant. “Suess S'I so shere.” He walked to it.
Going through the door to the next he walked inside seeing it was packed with ponies enjoying their treatful meals. “Griffon!” He turn to see a board looking Pegasus standing by a red rope in front of stairs. “First time in here?” Trace nods. “Come on through and up the stairs, this is for Pegasi and Griffons only.”
“Shanks...”
“No problem, just doing my job.” He remove the rope. “One thing griffon. No singing or musical whistling, specially your kind.”
“Shy?”
“Rules are rules, follow them and you won't get your flank kicked out.”
“Skay, S'I sake sure sot so.”
“That good to hear. Enjoy.”
Trace walked up to the stairs turning to him. “Sou snderstand se?”
The pony didn't look directly at him. “Yes, it part of the job to understand even the most whistling griffon.”
Trace nods walking up the stairs. “Saybe sfter sating something S'I sight set sis selp.” He whispered to himself.
Trace took a seat after buying himself a meal and coffee. The food he ordered being hayfries and fish fingers, he at using his talons, enjoying the meal the colbolt griffon look out to the castle in the distance left in deep thought.
Gustave le Grand in his office finished counting up the bits put them in the safe before closing the door, he looked around seeing that his staff cleaned up and had left. One pony was still there, the bouncer for the second floor. “Pound why are you ztill here? We zhut, go home.”
“Sorry boss, there a griffon upstairs still. The cooks said he asleep at the table upstairs. Wasn't sure what to do.”
Gustave rolled his eyes. “I'll zhow you what le boss will do.” He walked up the stairs. Soon he clap eyes on the musical snoring colbolt blue griffon. “Sacre bleu! Macaw griffon! Nope not getting any closure with that znoring. He can stay there.” Gustave quickly retreated.
“So boss?” Pound asked.
“Le boss will pay you double for tonight. Keep an eye on him. I'm going home.” With that Gustave left the restaurant locking up behind him.
Pound blinked a few times. “Paid... Double? I didn't even need to hustle... That is odd for the boss.” He look up the stairs. “Huh? Whom am I to complain?” He smiled taking a seat pulling out a book from under his wing.
“Pay's pay at the end of the day. My wife sure can understand why I am doing a double shift, specially with the extra bits coming in.”
Trace was left alone to happily sleep away till the next day when he would discover the most unlikely of griffons to show up...
Not to far from Canterlot General Hospital an large housing complex with apartments for doctors and nurses that work there but do not live in the city. Doctor Trace the colbolt unicorn currently lived in one of the larger apartments with an offsite lab for continues work on understanding Gale's magic.
Inside the offsite lab connected to his current home from home given by Celestia Trace worked through mixing different chemicals. Wearing a labcoat and a visor over his face the different chemicals mixed with precision alongside herbs in a bowl above a bunsen burner.
“Let's see... Zecora's letter said to mix these herbs and add a small amount of Poison Joke extract. Only a drop no more, no less... If you do, expect a result that no joke.” He said to himself with semi rhythm laughing afterwards.
“Zebras, fascinating unique race. I am glad that I am good friends with Zecora, she helped me with my reversal transfiguration mishaps in the past.” Trace mixes the final parts to the potion. “Now my failsafe potion is ready.” He pulled the bowl into six bottles putting them away safely.
Trace walked over to six containers with a black feather in each of them from Gale. “Now to see how my tests went...” Trace muttered. “Tracing spell partly failed, still taxing magic to detect that magic... Transfiguration spell failed... Tracking failed... Potion magical breakdown formula failed...” He brought up a clipboard looking at all the results showing nothing seem to work.
“Now down to the last test for the evening...” Trace stared at the feather. “Test six. I will be combining a low level casting of my tracing, tracking, transfiguration with direction magic contact as well using the magical breakdown potion.” Trace brought over a flask with the potion to the last container.
Trace looked at the feather now held in the tongs. “Like shapes, race course circuits the beginning and end are one the same. My attempts to use different forms of magical spells, direct magic and even potions all failed.”
“The feather in every way like Gale is too perfect. Transfiguration spell of a magnitude that I couldn't even begin to think of was used. My hopes in creating this low level link I can not only get a better image of what he may of looked like but also to track down the spell caster too.”
Trace looked past the test container at the pined up drawing of the bipedal life form from his scans. “I know Princess Celestia told me not to rush this or even try something stupid... But doing something stupid maybe the only way I will get answers. I own it to that young griffon to find the one that responsible for what they did to him.”
Trace place the feather in the liquid, casting all the spells one after the other, followed by telekinetic connecting and casting a scanning spell to the feather. “The feather isn't effected once again it s-” The feather starts to break down with a strange blue magical aura bleeding out into the potion.
“It working I can feel it! The link is completed! All I have to do now is focus on it and try to pin point the casting of that transfiguration spell by using my own to alter my own magic signature to closly match what I feeling.”
Trace casts the final spell his transfiguration “I never felt anything like this.” He slipped on a bit of potion on the floor, trying to catch his balance his hoof came into contact with one of the pedals of Poison Joke.
Trace stared at it as he still casting the test. “On pony feathers...” He could feel the test starting to go haywall, the magic and potion seem to start to build up in strength. “Something wong...” he grunts.
“Must stop the test at once!”
The unicorn try to disconnect his magic stop the spells but he can't. “I... Arg... Can't stop casting! Some-” He slips onto one foreleg knee struggling fight back. “Every attempt... Eve... The pain... Ah! It intense! I can't break the circuit! It beyond what I can even-AH!”
Trace suddenly found himself hooves off the ground with whitish blue magic swirling around him. “Transfiguration spell amplifying! The Poison Joke pedal I put my hoof AH ON must of tri AH! It AHHH!” He screams out in pain as the swirling clouds of magic got thicker.
Trace looking around his eyes darting left and right, the lab couldn't be seen any more. All he could see through the tears falling from his eyes as he continue to scream in unbelievable pain. The brightness of it was getting too intense too as he closed his eyes, the light was still felt and seen through the eyelids.
With one mighty hollow he suddenly snapped his eyes open with all the eminence pain suddenly gone. Sitting up gasping for air, quickly looking around he found no longer in his lab but on grass under a tree next to the stone hoof path to Canterlot.
Slowly looking to his left the entrance to the city was about a half a mile away at least, it was early morning too as the sun rose. {How did-} He placed his ho- Trace felt digits four of them against his neck, the feeling also was off. It felt like feathers, short soft feathers in contact with scaly digits.
Trace gulped removing the digits and slowly bring it up into view he noticed not a muzzle that he always seen too but a looking over a curved black beak at a black talon attached to colbolt blue mix of short soft feathers and fur. Flexing the claws he watched and felt the movement of them. {Not again... This is back when I was Princess Celestia's student again}
Trace felt the founds leave with a slight whistle to each word but each with a Sss sound to the beginning.{Testing testing one two three} He half growls feeling the rumble in his throat and the sound of it escaping his beak.
Trace slowly moved his head taking a good look over his body, a shredded labcoat hanging on thanks to his now impressive large blue wings with whitish silver tips to each. The tail was long with a whitish silver brush at the end. {That poison joke... I'm a idiot}
The visor was shattered and unfit to wear, the muzzle to beak transfiguration most likely destroyed it. { It been awhile since I had this type of mishap }
Trace slowly pushed forwards pressing his talons on the grass pushing his hind quarters up feeling his three toed paws attached to his hindlegs against the grass too. {Strange feeling... Best to get back to my lab and reverse this hopefully...} He muttered slowly walking up to the hoof path.
{I should of listened to Zerora warning on the note and put the poison joke pedals in a jar when not using it...} Trace lets out a mighty roar in frustration after speaking. He couldn't even understand what he was even saying, it felt like he was speaking incorrectly, wrong and annoying hearing so much whistling.
Trace walked into the city getting strange looks from many ponies as he continued his track home, one thing he realised they might been looking at was his ruined labcoat. He decided to remove it and fold it up, he carried it under one of the wings finding it surprisingly easy to hold it in place.
Upon arriving at the complex he took a good look up at his apartment to see nothing seem out of place. He came to the entrance to see the guards still doing their duty in keeping the complex safe and private for nurses, doctors and researchers. “Halt griffon, this is a private complex for out of city medical staff of Canterlot General only. What business do you have here?”
{ I here to go home }
“Sere so so some? What?” The guard raised an eye. “What kind of griffon whistles and don't speak correctly.”
Trace sighed. {I am. My name is Trace I am doctor for Canterlot General! Doctor Trance I-}
“Look griffon I have zero idea what your trying to say and we here to keep guard not listen to some crack up big beak griffon that can't even speak right.”
Trace growls slightly. {That is rude and unacceptable! You shouldn't speak to others even they not ponies like that!} He raised his voice at the rude guard.
The guards instantly lower this spears down to him. “We will give you one warning griffon. You attempt to engage us and we will take you to the dungeons.”
Trace stepped back sighing heavily. { Sorry... I'll be going} He turns walking away from them. { Should of saw that coming... They most not read the dossier on me }
Walking into the Canterlot Gardens he stopped at the water fountain taking a good look at his reflection. The griffon looking back at him had mostly the same colour of mane and fur from silver white to the colbolt blue.
His eyes were the same colour but the black beak with the yellow on the lower part, the talons with the different shades of feather tips made it very difficult to see this was really him. Another factor he noticed no cutie mark either, Trace knew griffons can not earn them which should of not surprised him but it did as it felt like a part of him was gone in this form.
Trace put his ruined labcoat down in front of him sitting on the wall with talons press against the sides of his face the pony turned griffon started to whistle to himself. Closing his eyes with tears falling he didn't know what to do cause he knew that anyone wouldn't see him as Trace but a crazy griffon.
As the musical whistle continue he collected his thoughts of the last few hours been for him, how Gale may have felt. That when it hit him, he remembered the spell going haywall from the accidental touch to the eminence pain of the transfiguration.
Snapping his eyes open. {That it!} He spoke loudly jumping back on all fours on the peppel stone path. “S'I-” He took a good look around at all the ponies cheering now. {What going on?} He asked looking around in total confusion.
Fancy Pants stepped up to him. “I must say that was the best musical whistling I ever heard! How do you griffons so easily pull it off?”
Trace blinked a few times. { Well... I just did it}
“Hmm... Not quite sure what you said but to take a guess I say you said somewhere down the lines off...” He tap the blue hoof against his muzzle first before continuing to say. “Well, I just did it. Am I correct?”
Trace nods. “Well my boy, here a few bits for such a great performance and if your still in town come around my place just two blocks up to the castle and to the left three houses down.” Fancy Pants generally smiled. “I think I can get you into the musical business in Canterlot.”
Trace smiled. {Thank you... Erm...}
“Ah yes! Name's Fancy Pants, pleasure to meet-” He gesture for Trace.
{Trace.}
“Grace? Well Grace, thank you for brightening not only my day but all the ponies here day. I bid you good day.” Fancy Pants put his hoof out to Trace and he place the talon over it shaking.
Trace watched the white pony with two tone blue mane and tail wearing a posh suit and monocle walk away, he soon found ponies congratulating him too and dropping bits off before leaving themselves.
{What just happened?} Trace now stared at the large pile of bits onto of his ruined labcoat. {I'm confused... So confused)
First thing Trace did with the bits get a saddlebag to store them and the ruined labcoat, stepping out the shop he took a good look around as the day progressed. Through out it he did not much but ponder and think, he even attempted to write notes with the writing being very messy in the note book.
With years of experience being a doctor and once student to Celestia he used this to keep himself sane, think of every possible option to get the reversal potion from his apartment lab. Trace shifted his wings slightly lying on the cool grass looking out at the water flowing by to the waterfall not to far from him.
Trace stood up. {Flying, that it!} He clicked the claws together.
Putting his saddlebag down standing in the open. { Okay I got this } He leaned downwards with his forelegs looking up with wings opened up. With a big flap and push off he got about ten feet in the air from launch. {Yes! I... Whoa!} The wings flap out of sequence causing him to crash into the water with a mighty splash.
Surfacing and swimming over to the shore, he climbed out drenched from fur to feathers. {Damn it!} He shook his body getting rid of most of the water but the wings still felt heavy as he flapped them to shake off the water.
He tried again and ended in the water once more, swimming back he shook off the water again. Trace tried three more times and just luck had it he crashed into the water every single time.
{That plan is on the books} Trace walked over to his saddlebag.
A giggle came from a young unicorn filly. “You okay mister?” He nods. “Okay!” She gallops away to her mother. “Mummy did you see that funny creature go splash?”
“Indeed, that a griffon and look like his not a very good flyer. Maybe his mum didn't teach him well.”
“Oh...”
“Come on sweet pea.” They leave.
Trace hummed. {Mum... Of course! I never flew. Idiot!} He slapped his forehead. { Best to find a place to stay for the night}
Trace went to hotel to hotel finding no rooms available or it cost way more than he had on him. The colbolt griffon stepped out of the last hotel grumbling to himself as the sun starts to set. His stomach grumbled. { I been caught up with what I became and what to do I forgot about eating something}
Trace took a good look around, that when he noticed Gustave le Grand's restaurant. { Guess I go here} He walked to it.
Going through the door to the next he walked inside seeing it was packed with ponies enjoying their treatful meals. “Griffon!” He turn to see a board looking Pegasus standing by a red rope in front of stairs. “First time in here?” Trace nods. “Come on through and up the stairs, this is for Pegasi and Griffons only.”
{Thanks...}
“No problem, just doing my job.” He remove the rope. “One thing griffon. No singing or musical whistling, specially your kind.”
{Why?}
“Rules are rules, follow them and you won't get your flank kicked out.”
{ Okay, I make sure not to}
“That good to hear. Enjoy.”
Trace walked up to the stairs turning to him. {You understand me?}
The pony didn't look directly at him. “Yes, it part of the job to understand even the most whistling griffon.”
Trace nods walking up the stairs.{ Maybe after eating something I might get his help} He whispered to himself.
Trace took a seat after buying himself a meal and coffee. The food he ordered being hayfries and fish fingers, he at using his talons, enjoying the meal the colbolt griffon look out to the castle in the distance left in deep thought.
Gustave le Grand in his office finished counting up the bits put them in the safe before closing the door, he looked around seeing that his staff cleaned up and had left. One pony was still there, the bouncer for the second floor. “Pound why are you ztill here? We zhut, go home.”
“Sorry boss, there a griffon upstairs still. The cooks said he asleep at the table upstairs. Wasn't sure what to do.”
Gustave rolled his eyes. “I'll zhow you what le boss will do.” He walked up the stairs. Soon he clap eyes on the musical snoring colbolt blue griffon. “Sacre bleu! Macaw griffon! Nope not getting any closure with that znoring. He can stay there.” Gustave quickly retreated.
“So boss?” Pound asked.
“Le boss will pay you double for tonight. Keep an eye on him. I'm going home.” With that Gustave left the restaurant locking up behind him.
Pound blinked a few times. “Paid... Double? I didn't even need to hustle... That is odd for the boss.” He look up the stairs. “Huh? Whom am I to complain?” He smiled taking a seat pulling out a book from under his wing.
“Pay's pay at the end of the day. My wife sure can understand why I am doing a double shift, specially with the extra bits coming in.”
Trace was left alone to happily sleep away till the next day when he would discover the most unlikely of griffons to show up...
As Flash stood with a slack open muzzle, Gale curiously walked around Trace with his eyes trailing up and down at the once unicorn. Gale was very puzzled by how a unicorn could be a griffon now, at first he couldn't see how this colbolt blue griffon was the doctor that treated him.
The eyes were the same gentle yet serious ones he came to remember, Gale knew from that moment those eyes couldn't change even the rest of Trace's body was now a griffon. Poking the side of the upper part of the hind leg with a claw Gale cooed in question about the missing cutie mark.
Trace shivered slightly from the touch followed by wings twitching. “Soooh strange seeling...” He glance around to Gale. “Siffons son't save sutie sarks.” Gale tilt his head trying to understand what exactly Trace said.
Gilda slap her forehead. “He said griffons dont have cutie marks!” Gilda translated. “And the featherbrain doctor is right, we not like ponies in that way of magic works.” Gilda now turn her attention to Trace. “That comes to you dweeb, how did this happen?” She stood on her paws with both talon hands out towards Trace's form.
Trace rubbed a claw against his feathered face. {Hehe... I was experimenting on the transfiguration element left on Gale's feathers I had. I discovered a way to reactive that magic to track it but...} He lowers his head and mutters out the last words. {I put my hoof on some Poison Joke...}
Gilda translated what he said and followed on with her own question. “What is this Poison Joke?”
Flash Sentry eyes narrowed as the pupils shift to the left and right thinking back that name till he recalled with a gasp. “I remember!
“Spit out already! Don't leave us in suspense you dweeb!”
“That the flower that plays particle magical jokes on those that touch it!”
“Sxactly!”
“How the heck did it turn you into a griffon specifically?”
“Yeah like Sentry said, spill!” Gilda crossed her forelegs still standing on her paws.
Gale tugged on her tail. “Don't pull my tail!” She growled at the teenager, he point to his open beak. “I know your hunger, we eat in a moment!”
Trace tap the end of his beak looking over to the kitchen. “Shy sot se sit sown snd S'I sxplain shy se sat.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Fiiine! But your paying you dork!”
“Shy?”
“Cause your annoying as heck! That why!” Gilda poke his beak. “Either that or you don't get our help turning you back to a unicorn!” Gilda got down on all fours walking by him flicking her tail into his face.
Trace rubbed his face watching her walk over to the table. “Someone sxplain sho she ss?”
Flash Sentry sighed. “Gale's teacher to speak and write.” He walked by to join Gilda.
“Serious?” Trace turn to Gale, he nods. “Skay...”
“Gilda!” He grinned and joined them leaving Trace staring wide eyed at the youngster.
Trace's blinks a few times with a dumbfounded expression. “Sow ss shat sossible!?”
“Sit down share your tale and I'll share mine you whistling featherbrain!” Gilda point to the seat empty next to Flash Sentry, Trace slowly nods sitting down at the table with them and a mare handing out menus to each of them.
The mare bows her head slightly. “I be your server today and hope you enjoy your time at the Gustave le Grand Icy Treats. Young prince and welcomed guests. I will be back to ask for your drinks in a moment.” The light blue unicorn wearing a red shirt, hat with yellow mane and tail said to them before leaving to tend to another table.
“Sou suckly shat S'I sot she sits.” Trace place his talon on the bag of bits.
“Like I said... Never a poor Macaw Griffon.” Gilda muttered and sat back crossing her forelegs. “Your first to tell what happened since I have to translate for you.”
“Shat seem sair.” He nods and agrees to speak first.
As they order drinks and their meals Trace explains what happened to him to the day he experienced before they ran into him at the restaurant. Gilda annoyed but translated word for word, Flash Sentry and Gale noticing her gritting her teeth at times holding back much of her anger towards Trace.
The waiter comes with their plates of food and put them down before each of them being battered cod with hay fries. “Four Monday Lunch Specials. Enjoy.” She warmly smiled and walked off with the empty tray.
Flash Sentry held a folk in one wing and a knife in the other, he about to cut and dig into his meal but how Gilda is acting bugged him. “Gilda why have you been so anger and almost shouting at Doctor Trace?”
Gilda chewing on some battered fish swallowed. “We griffons don't get along with each other and one thing that all griffons can agree on is own hate to Macaw Griffons.” Gilda turn to Trace. “When I look at you I see my annoying cousin and how I had to spend months each year with her family.”
“The Junior Speedsters Flight Camp correct?”
“Yeah...” Gilda stuck the folk into another piece holding it up before her eyes. “That why I can understand those annoying griffons.” Gilda ate the battered fish still annoyed.
Gale frowned.
“So... Griffons normally mean and anger to each other?” Flash asked.
Gilda looked over to him. “Pretty much 364 out of 365 days of the year.”
Trace haven't said a word stared with surprise by this information, he knew they could be greedy at times but didn't realise they were pretty much mean and anger with each other for most of the year.
Gale listened to this but seem to be staring off into space looking at the first piece of battered cod he cut up, now dripping with ketchup on a folk something about it felt familiar. “Even family?”
Gilda chuckled. “Specially family.”
Gale sighed and put the battered cod into his beak pulling the folk out to chew but soon as he did the world seem to just fade away. The young griffon found himself in a room with a small table, a box with moving pictures and sound to a pair of sofas. Looking around he noticed units and pictures were on or against the walls.
All of it looked fuzzy and cloudy nothing seem to be coherently clear, even the outside that look like a small garden with a long tree in the middle of it. Gale look down at his talons seeing he was holding a plate with a battered cod with chunky chips on it.
“Son sit down before you drop that will you?”
Gale rose his head to the sofa of something bipedal wearing clothing but very hard to make out and yet he just walked over on his paws only swishing his tail about a bit before placing the plate down on the low level table.
Sitting down on the ground cross legged he noticed a big black dog sitting there panting. “Leela leave him to eat, come over here.” The fuzzy black dog whimpers before doing as she is told.
Gale reached for the knife and folk cutting into the chip seeing it wasn't mixed with hay and potato just potato, than put the folk on the cod to cut a piece off as well. Dipping them in he put into his beak enjoying the taste of it.
In the corner of Gale's eye just unnoticeable was a blue glow forming into Princess Luna who looked around in surprise.
All the sudden on the wooden flooring the sounds of clicked and clacked, turning his head the fuzzy form shift to Celestia smiling warmly to him as he smiled back. “Tea with two sugars right?”
“Yes mum! That how I always have it for dinner!”
The world around seem to fold back into the restaurant at the table he was sitting at chewing on the same food before swallowing, he got a silent look from three set of eyes. Gale looked around unsure why they were staring.
“Did we just hear him say mum?” Flash asked making sure he wasn't hearing things.
Gilda nods with a open beak. “Sid sou seach sim snother sord?” Trace asked Gilda reaching over pushing her beak up with a talon.
Gilda growled at him for it. “Do that again I break your beak got it!” He nods with a raise of the talons in surrender.
“Did you teach him that word?” Flash asked.
Gilda rubbed the underside of her beak. “I was trying to get him to say that first before my name with a few others.” Gilda still surprised but unsure of herself.
Trace rubbed his talon under his own beak. “S'I shink-” Gilda put her talon over his beak shutting him up.
Gale mimicked her growl but quietly looking annoyed.
“How about we eat, go back to your place and turn you back! I am not going to continuously translate what your saying!” Gilda spoke with verminous anger to Trace. “Got it!” Trace nods with a hard swallow gulp from the fury of anger in the golden eyes.
“Good!” Gilda let's go of his beak picking up the knife and folk to eat her lunch.
Gale was puzzled by Gilda's anger to Trace but it was getting to him, but his thoughts turn to Celestia and smiled warmly. “Mum...” He said again with happiness, he dived into the meal feeling proud he said another word.
Trace eating in silence looked over at Gale. 'He had another one of his past memory experiences like last time, but it seem he had a more pleasant one.' Trace thought recalling what he saw when Gale stared off into space before squawking and saying that one new word.
'I hope...' Trace last thought was before he continue to eat.
Gale finished off his meal licking his beak sitting back sighing with happiness, the waiter came to collect the plates and glasses. “I gather the prince is happy with his meal and service today?”
Gilda chuckled seeing the content cub. “With a look like that I say yes.” Gilda glance over to the waiter. “How come I haven't see Gustave?”
The waiter glance over to Trace. “He accepts anyone that follow the restaurant rules and pay for their meals but...”
“Macaw Griffon thing is it?” Flash asked to get a nod from her. “Wow, how can almost every griffon have such a grudge against one kind of sub-race of griffon.”
Gale content smile faded and growled loudly look at the waiter crossing his forelegs. “It j-” Gilda glance over to Gale. “Well it seem gale don't mind Trace at all. Not that I care, I still don-” Gale points to Trace and now staring at Gilda.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that and pointing at him?” Gilda asked.
Flash gave it a thought. “He wants you to apologise to Trace. I think...” Gale nods and look to the waiter. “You want Gustave le Grand to come?” He nods again.
The waiter bows. “Okay I'll get my boss!” She quickly leaves.
Gilda growls. “I am not going to say the words! I am sorry!” Gale grinned and Gilda saw what he did. “I just did didn't I?” Gilda slowly staying at Trace who also smiled.
“Are you kidding me!? I wasn't b-gah! Damn it you cub! Even without a word you got me to say it unintentional!” Gale laughed and so did the others.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Well played cub!” Gilda put her talon out to him and he clapped it with his.
“Le Prince wish to zee-” He turn to Trace. “Can we do this not here...” Trace shook his head crossing his forelegs. “Prince Gale I have nothing against customers paying their bills and enjoying their meals. I will not though be near-” Gale growled slightly mimicking Gilda's growl once more.
Pegasi, many of them guards off duty or on lunch break now turn their attention to the scene before them. “Mac-” Gale had a more annoyed look showing clearly. “We gr-” Gale beak raises slowly eyes narrow showing bearing teeth as he growled a bit lower.
Gilda stared at this scene playing out before her. “Gustave. I hate to say this and have a serious dislike to you. But I advise treating the Macaw Griffon as a griffon...” She hints to the many eyes watching.
She plays it into Gale's talons.
Gustave took a glance around from his field of sight looking at Trace. “I am... I am sorry for brushing you and any Macaw Griffons off as if your a outcast and not even a griffon...”
“S'I sccept sour spology snd shank sou.” Trace put his talon out to Gustave.
He stared at it for a second and looking over to the less anger Gale than back to the talon out stretched. Gustave placed his onto Trace's and they shook a few times before letting go. Gale smile returned with a brighten look in his eyes chirping happily.
One of the ponies spoke to another. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah! If Gustave le Grand can do that! I am sure to recommend this place to my cousin for theses meals.” The other one said.
The waiter looked around. “Boss...”
Gilda crossed her forelegs with a sly smirk. “Well Gustave it seem your ratings just gone up a few marks for that apology an shake of the talons. Who would of thought?” She chuckled.
Gustave le Grand didn't respond.
Trace pulled out the bag of bits and pulled out their meals cost and a bit more. “Shank sou snd sood say so sou Sustave se Srand.” Trace smiled getting up from the table with the others following.
Flash turn to Gustave. “I'll pass the word of your good will Gustave to the fellow Pegasus guards.” Gustave didn't respond as they all now went down the stairs and left the restaurant.
Finally he blinked a few times looking to his talon. “One act over looking le Macaw Griffon and my costumers are overly happy?” Gustave le Grand turn to the waiter. “I'll be in my office... Le Gustave need time to process what happened...” He slowly walked away.
The waiter using her magic cleaned up the plates, cuttrey and cups, she also picking up the bits. “Well that did happen and I sure won't forget that.” She looked out the window watching the group head away from the restaurant.
“Who would of thought a young griffon could do so much without a word spoken?”
On the way to the housing complex Gale trailed behind the adults lost in deep thought over the strange sudden dream he had, it felt as if he been in that room and the strange fuzzy bipedal being turning into Celestia was his real mum.
Yet this wasn't his main focus it was the black dog with the dark brown fur around the muzzle, Gale was able to see this dog perfectly as well knew she was a dog. Suddenly pieces of memories appeared before him, each were as a younger griffon but standing on his paws as if he only walked on them and not on talons too.
“She amazing mum! Leela! That we name her please!”
“Sure son.”
The puppy version of the dog yelping and licking his face. “Stop that tickles! Haha!”
Next piece was older Gale throwing a hoop shape disc high with Leela chasing it and him laughing.
But the next shift showed sitting on the mountain top tears falling, Gale wearing clothes. That what wasn't his focus it was on a folded photo of the dog he staring down at it and tears landing on it. Gale refold it putting it into the brown vest on his plush.
Gale stopped in his tracks blinking a few times seeing that the adults were just ahead, he quickly pulling the plush out of his bag. Reaching to the vest he fiddled his claws between it and the plush to find the folded paper, pulling it out between two of the claws staring at it with widen eyes.
Slowly taking it with his other talon and opening it to see the tear marked photo of the black Alsatian Leela. He knew her type of dog in a sudden of staring at the picture, she staring right into his own eyes with her dark brown eyes and large long pink tongue hanging out of her muzzle.
Gale tried to even comprehend how the flash dreams he thought they were only was very much real, it is the only answer came to mind staring at the polaroid photo of Leela. He tried to say the name but squawked, he tried again and again and again.
He growled staring at the photo. “Cub! Gale what the heck are you doing in the middle of the street squawking like that!?” Gilda had came back realising he wasn't with them, she stood before him.
Gale turn the photo around showing it and pointing at it with his claw squawking angrily, Gilda took it from him staring at the photo of the dog. “Where the heck did you get this from?” Gale point to his plush vest. “It was tucked in there?” He nods still growling.
“Seriously why are you so anger?” He point to his beak. “Are you trying to say the name of this dog?” He nods with furious anger.
Gilda looked at it and back at Gale. “That means this dog is... Yours?” He squawks in response and with each one getting louder.
Gale suddenly starts slapping both sides of his face many times squawking each time, Gilda instantly reacted by grabbing him pulling the young griffon into a embrace. “Chill Gale! Seriously chill!”
The teenager thrusting about squawking over and over again with Gilda fighting to keep him held in her embrace, is talons dug in slightly into her chest feathers. She grunted in pain but held him firmly in her grasp.
“GALE!” He suddenly stopped as Gilda screamed at him. “Chill! You need to chill! Going berserk isn't going to solve anything!” Gale listen to her words as if they sliced through the rage he had, he slowly looking up. “Chill...”
Gale buried his head into her chest feathers. “Gilda...” He whispered with tears soaking into her feathers.
Gilda sighed heavily letting him sob into her. “I am not good with this stuff... So just cry into my feathers okay?” He sniffed and softly cooed. “Geez... Not even a day...” Gilda muttered with a slight smile glad that she broke him out of.
Flash Sentry flew over to them landing. “What happened?”
“The cub is furiously frustrated. He tries to say other words but they not coming out as he really wants. So he lost his temper finally and I managed to break him out of it.” Gilda explained to Flash Sentry. “One of them to do with this photo, it seems to be his pet before everything-”
Flash quickly spoke up. “Whatever it is please do not continue.”
“Why?” Gilda raised an eye.
“I am a private ranked guard Gilda. I do not have the rank or clearance to know this stuff. Unless directly told by Princess Celestia, Luna or Captain Shining Armor, I can not know anything you discovered.” Flash explained to Gilda.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “That a fat lot of help. What if something happened to me? How would I get the information to them?”
Flash thought about it. “You brought up a very valid point. I'll have to ask the captain about that.”
“Fine... Whatever... Still saying it again. Fat lot of help...” She push Gale off her chest slightly. “Better?” He nods sniffing slightly. “Good, now put this back in your plush vest.” Gale takes it from her and fold the photo up putting it back in the vest of the plush.
Flash stood waiting for Gale to put the plush back in his bag. “I can lead the way to the housing complex.”
Gilda hated to say it and felt vulnerable. “Please...”
Flash was about to say something but Gilda's instant glare made him gulp.
“Don't ruin it.” Gilda sneered.
Flash nods. “Got it. This way!” Flash walks and the two griffons follow.
“It must have been that memory thing Trace spoke about in the restaurant.” Gilda whispered to herself. “Wish he could tell me...” Gilda came up with a idea as her eyes lit up seeing a supply shop.
Gilda stops in her tracks quickly turn to Flash. “Hey Sentry give me that bag of bits!”
He came to a stop turning around. “What for?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Just give me that damn bag!”
Gale tilt his head wondering what Gilda is up to. “Okay... Here you go.” Flash throws it to her giving Gilda the benefit of the doubt.
Gilda catches it. “I'll be a few minutes, keep a eye on the cub.” Gilda walks into the supply shop.
Flash turn to Gale. “So... You okay Gale?” Gale nods a little. “Gilda helped ya huh?” He nods.
“Fair enough.” Flash look to the shop. “Do you at least have any ideas what Gilda up to?” He shrugs. “Guess your confused as I am.”
Gilda came out with a few bags in one talon. “Here the rest of the bits.” She toss the bag of bits to Flash.
He caught it with a wing, than fold the bag between his body and wing. “Thanks, what did you get exactly?”
Gilda look to her bags. “Stuff to help Gale.” Gilda replied. “Sentry lead the way once more if you can.”
“I can.” Flash smirked and walks. “Follow me.” He waved a foreleg.
About ten minutes later they arrive at the complex entrance with Trace being there already and waiting for them to show up. “Shere sid sou sll so?”
Flash points to Gilda and Gale with a wing. “Something they cannot share with me.”
“Sot sharing sith se shen?” Gilda and Gale look to each other for a second.
Gilda answers. “Yep not sharing.” Gale squawks in agreement.
Trace looked carefully between the too of him. Interesting... She even got supplies. I gather she going to teach him to improve his writing skills. Which summarise Gale's memory experience in the restaurant Gilda knows more about it than letting on. Trace thought.
“Sair snough.” Trace let it drop for now.
They approach the guards, the left raise a hoof. “This is for hospital staff only, visitors are only permitted either by advance notice or by said hospital staff.”
Flash Sentry stepped up. “Private Flash Sentry escorting Doctor Trace with Prince Gale and recently hired tutor Gilda of Griffonstone.” He spoke firmly to the fellow guards.
They instantly stood to attention realising Gale was standing by Flash Sentry. “Wow... Seriously wow.” Gilda stared in disbelief how they reacted in Gale's presence. “Sentry his just a teenager, you seriously can't expect these hard headed guards to act like this?”
“You got a point, but since he is at all purpose the son of Princess Celestia the title prince comes with the package.” Flash explained. “So as guards this can easily reflect on us back to Princess Celestia.”
Gilda scratched the side of her neck with a claw. “Yeah but he has no idea of using that title you dweeb.” Gilda points out to him.
Flash and the two gaurds now looked at each other, they turn to Gilda. “You have a valid fair point. I'll address this with Princess Celestia or Princess Luna next possible chance. Thank you Gilda.”
Gilda shrugged. “Just using my head since your not.” Gilda smirked.
The guards seem offended by that comment but Flash raise a wing to them. “She might be harsh but it true.”
“Fine...” They said together with a sigh.
The second guard look towards the colbolt blue griffon. “That Doctor Trace? Seriously going to believe a crazy griffon?”
Gilda grins. “Unless you have somegriff like me that can understand him fully.”
“How?”
“Griffon enough said dweeb.” Gilda walks by them into the complex, they watch only as each of them pass.
Flash salutes. “Carry on.”
“Right...” The first replied with a salute watching them all go up to the stair well heading up to the higher level of the housing complex.
A sound of wheels hitting the cobble surface catches their attention to turn at it. “State-” The guards instantly freeze up seeing who it was that landed. “Princess Luna!” They saluted.
Luna stood before them with her bat pony guards unhooking themselves from the chariot now standing beside her. “Thou request information.”
“Of course Princess, what do you wish to know?”
“Did Doctor Trace with our nephew come through here some time ago?”
The two guards looked at each other for a quick second. “They just went through and up to Floor six apartment 609 your highness. It the home of Doctor Trace.”
“Good.”
“One question...”
“Yes?”
“Why does he look like a griffon?”
Luna rolled her eyes unamused. “Read the dossier guards-stallion. He once were our sister's student, Trace has advance magical knowledge in transfiguration.”
The cogs ticked in their heads and finally they realised. “Oh...”
“Is there something thy must know?”
“Nothing your highness, everything been sorted.”
“Good, come Night Howler and Lunar Light.” One male and one female bat ponies saluted, they followed Luna through the checkpoint.
The two guards sighed heavily. “I thought our tails were cooked...”
“You me both...” The other said. “Let's read on all the medical staff after our shifts finished.
“Agreed...” The first nods and they went back to standing guard.
Trace and the others arrived at his apartment door. “Some sweet some srom some.” He reached up to the side of the door to find the hidden key missing. “Shat seird, she sey should se sere.”
The door suddenly opens and all four eyes are met with another standing at the entrance, sapphire blue eyes off a ginger anthropomorphic cat with her arms crossed wearing a tank top and head band with diamonds on it. Silver white hair pushed back and tied into a hair-band at the end.
“Hello my sweet husband good to see you home and that a good new look you got there.”
She leans down to him and kiss the blue griffon on the forehead before walking inside. “Don't just stand there come on in.”
“Husband!?” Gilda and Flash said with surprise but Gale casually walked in not sure why they looked so surprised or even understand it, he was curious about the bipedal cat he just met.
Trace scratched the side of his neck with a claw. “Shat she ss, song story short S'I-”
“Trace honey come here.” He walked in with the others behind gulping slightly.
“Ses sy-” She stamps on his claw with her paw foot causing him to scream out in pain.
She instantly open up a vile and throws the liquid in his mouth, Gale jumped back in surprise, Flash stood ready for a fight and Gilda just rolled her eyes. Instead Trace glows brightly and in a burst of stardust light the griffon was replaced by the silver mane colbolt blue unicorn.
Gale blinked a few times trying to understand how he was now a unicorn, the teenager knew he is one but never seen the changes from pony to griffon. Seeing this was giving him confused thoughts at what just presented itself before him.
Trace sat on his hunches rubbing his right forehoof with the other. “What the blazes was that for!?”
The cat closed the door walking by the dumbfounded group sitting down on the sofa with one leg over the other. “Simple my sweet love, saving everyone from your screeching whistling.” She chuckled lightly.
“No offence to the griffons but you have no subtle control over that whistling of yours. I know Macaws that are far more easier to listen to.” The Abyssinian bluntly stated.
“Harsh but true... So true.” Trace only could say to what his wife just said.
Gilda dropped the act she was putting on with a big cheeky smirk of her own. “How you been you crazy Gingernut!”
“What has it been? A year and a half Kitty?” The cat counted causing Gilda's smirk dropped with a half growl of annoyance her nickname was reviled.
“Kitty?” Trace asked and got a threatening growl from Gilda. “Okay I won't ask that any further!” He step back a bit. “But how do you know Amber Flare?”
Gilda put her bags down. “Since the cat out of the bag might as well tell them.”
Amber turn to Trace. “Why don't you make some drinks Trace since you know my hobby job already.”
Trace nuzzled her. “Gladly Amber, it good to have my magic back!” He hummed lighting up his horn to show the magic flowing from it as he walked to the open plan kitchen.
Flash looked at her curiously. “Have I seen you somewhere before? Now to think of it you seem familiar some how.”
Amber reached to her leg strapped pouch, opening it to pull out a wallet. Opening it up to show her picture on it with a badge. “Sweet Celestia! Your a SCUAS!”
Gale tilt his head in confusion. “It stands for Special Crime Unit Against Scammers.” Gilda stated the full title.
“I use to be a griff that knew how to get information from other giffons for required bits with them keeping their big beaks shut. I worked with Amber till about a year and half ago and give the information the griffons told me to Amber to sort out those scammers.” Gilda explained.
Amber took a cup from Trace as he sat back down and everyone else did too, Gale gulped his drink down in no time at all. “It was only time and again thing but it worked. Till it came to the Flim Flam Brothers, some griffon sold out the name Kitty to them and they not only packed up shop but gave back all the bits they scammed from ponies.”
“Luckily by name only, none figured out it was me taking the bits and paying griffons for information for Amber.”
“That was all me on that part. I couldn't let Gilda get into that kind of trouble.” Amber responded.
Gilda huffed. “The brothers basically turn tail and ran off to another part of Equestria, they not been seen on the east coast. Right?”
“Indeed. Still... I wonder what those brothers are up to now.” Amber drunk her drink putting the cup down. “It seem our little business arrangement ended that day didn't it?”
“Well you the one that ended it for my own safety. I pretty much hate owning you for that.”
“And you still do.” Amber chuckled lightly.
“Tell me about it Gingernut.” Gilda said.
Trace tap the end of his muzzle glad to feel hoof to muzzle once again. “So you had an interesting business arrangement between you two.”
Amber rubbed her hand paw over his mane. “That right Trace.” He used his magic to zap her in response causing her to yelp.
“Ruffly my mane you get zapped.”
“Yep and glad to see you got your magic back sweet pea.” Amber laughed and Trace joined her.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Your staying here in Canterlot too? I gather.” She crossed her forelegs.
Amber put her arm around Trace. “Of course, I love my cobalt blue unicorn too much to not be apart.” She kissed him on the muzzle.
“Phtttp!” Gale blow a raspberry at them.
Amber let go of Trace jumping off the sofa landing in front of Gale kneeing down to him. “Don't like kissing do you?” Gale stuck out his tongue showing disgust to the kissing.
“It okay for your mum to kiss you?” He thought for a second but nods. “Kissing you on the forehead correct?” He nods again.
“Your such a critic.” She rubbed her hand paw over his feathered head getting a laugh from him as he pushed her hand paw away. “Oh your not getting away from me.” Amber laughed as he tried to run.
She scooped him up and putting her arm around his body, his forelegs over them struggling to get free as she rubbed her knuckle gentling against his feathered head.
Gale laughing as he continue to kick his hind legs and try to pull himself free without digging his claws into her furry arm. Flash took a photo of the scene before them. He, Trace and Gilda laughing too.
The door suddenly opens, the laughter comes to a dead stop all eyes on the door and Luna stood looking right at Amber with her horn glowing blue. Gale waving happily best he could at Luna unphased by the look Luna had, but not seen by Amber.
The Abyssinian only hope the Princess of the Night is in a talkative mood...
Luna narrowed her eyes walking in with the guards, Amber look to each of them. “Right plan B.” She put her hand paw into the leg strap pouch, pulling out her wallet to show her SCUAS badge and ID.
Night Howler and Lunar Light eyes fell upon it, they instantly stood attention with a hoof up in salute. “Ma'am!”
Luna looked to her right and left, the magic fades as confusion sets in. “What thy doing?”
Amber put down Gale and he ran up to Luna giving her a hug, she returns in hesitating slightly. “Princess, that Abyssinian is an SCUAS officer. She is one of twelve in whole of Equestria.”
“And that is?” Luna asked while she hugged her nephew.
Gilda answered. “Princess Luna that stands for; Special Crime Unit Against Scammers.”
“We do not follow...”
“Simple put it I have a rank that rivals captain of the guard, without being part of the royal guard.” Amber explained.
Luna blinked. “Is this true?”
“Yes princess.” The two guards said together.
Luna sighed. “Something our sister failed to mention.” Luna look down to Gale. “We gather thy happiness means all is well?” Gale nods happily and point to Gilda.
“Gilda!”
Luna stared for a second. “We heard thy spoke a word but hearing it is something that is delightful to hear.”
Amber crossed her arms. “I gather you are here mainly for Doctor Trace about Gale?”
“Yes we are and now looking at thou, we must say thy look-”
“Don't go there Princess. I knew of your past and you seem to figure out my past timeline. Leave it at that.” Amber gave Luna glare.
Luna glared back. “We only-”
“I know, you know. Leave it.” Amber warned.
Trace stepped up beside Amber. “My wife Amber I've told about you via letter Princess Luna. My guess you know something from your long time away about Amber. It be best to drop that matter at hoof unless you like to see what an really angered Abyssinian can do even to an Alicorn.”
Luna's horn lights up. “Threat us and we will act!”
“Not a threat a promise.” Amber flex one hand paw showing claws drawing out from them. “My past, your past. We both have pasts we do not want the other to have overshadow each other so... Leave it.”
Luna released her magic. “We see.” Luna move away from Gale. “Guards and Royal Specialist Abyssinian keep an eye on Gale.” Luna look to Gilda and Trace. “We, Gilda and Trace has something to speak of in private.”
“Huh? Just like that?” Amber retracted her claws.
“Just like that.” Luna said without another word to her.
“Go in the lab, it has an magical proofing system that can easily be adapted to shield out sound.” Amber point to the thick open door. “Just don't mess around with my husband's stuff in there unless you want a repeat of what he went through.”
Gale tilt his head. “Gilda?”
“It fine cub, I am sure Amber got something to keep you busy with while we chat.” Gale now turn to the two bat ponies curiously walking around them.
Night Howler slitted eyes followed Gale as he seem to look up and down at their bodies. “Your highness?” He said with some nervousness.
Luna, Trace and Gilda walk into the lab.
Amber hummed. “If I am to gather this is Gale's first time seeing a pair of Thestrals-” The door closes and casting the spell Luna cuts all audioable sounds from outside the lab she, Trace and Gilda stood in.
Gilda looked around. “Wow you are a total geek!”
Trace sat down. “This apartment is one of six in the complex that has a built in lab attached to it, Princess Celestia set me up with this so I could continue to work on ways to help Gale as well find those that did that horrendous transfiguration spell on him.”
Gilda stood by a free part of the wall, standing on her paws with forelegs crossed. “Good on you, cause if I find them first I will claw them to pieces.” She flexed her talons. “Princess Celestia told me everything about Gale...” She look down taking a deep breath.
“From the look you had I thought she has.” Trace replied. “But recent developments about a very powerful caster might not been the case in my early assessment.”
Luna raise an eye. “Please tell.”
Trace using his magic pulled out his lab coat from the bag placing it down on a empty part of the lab table. “This was torn to pieces through my transfiguration from pony to griffon, also the magic surge teleported me to the outskirts of the city.”
“Thy reactivated the spell!?”
Gilda glared over at Luna.
Trace explained about the spells and potion he used to link up them with the feather, the poison joke acting as the final push to trigger it. “-that is when I became a griffon through a quite memorable transfiguration in the most painful way possible.”
“One potion your back to normal, if it that simple why not give it to the cub?” Gilda asked.
Trace turn to her. “It not so simple my griffon friend.”
“Not your friend.” Gilda instantly responded.
Trace sighed. “Fine... Gilda. The potion is made out of a mixture of chemicals, herbs and a bit of Poison Joke. I won't go into the detail of all of it but safe to say it can cancel out any mishap spells or potions.”
Gilda stood on her paws leaning against the wall with her forelegs crossed, her tail twitching left and right. “Yet your little haywire spell reactivated that crazy spell that was cast on Gale with that Poison Joke stuff.”
Trace rubbed a hoof under his snout. “Hmm... Valid point Gilda. I will have to keep a eye on myself of the next week to see if there is any lingering side effects.”
Luna spoke up. “This is interesting and all but the findings thou found about the transfiguration spell.”
“That is true.” Trace using his magic to pick up a white board pen, he starts writing on the plain white board. “The magic increased in power because of a build up circuit.”
Gilda looked at the diagram. “If I am understanding that right, it endlessly loops till the spell is cast. That would mean a massive build up!”
Luna stared at it with her eyes following each one of the arrows. “Gilda is correct and also if thy replace them with artefacts specificity made for transfiguration spells, the spell would go well beyond our own level of magic.”
Gilda slowly turn her gaze to Luna. “That could be anyone with level of understanding of that kind of spell and artefacts. Your search for this creep just went up.”
“Indeed, this makes the challenge of finding this creep as thou call it far more trickier than one thought it would be.”
Trace adds a point to the theory. “Princess Luna this is one of the newest likely theories since it came with a particle accident on my part, yet the other still can stand ground.”
Gilda frowned at the two. “Two possible things about what happened to Gale, whoopy Doopy Do!” Gilda drop down on all fours. “If that all I'm out of here.” Gilda walk to the door.
Luna spoke out. “There is one more, it what Gale remembered.”
Gilda turn to Princess Luna. “A black dog right? I know about it, he got a picture of it inside the vest of that plush toy of his.”
“Photo?” Both of them looked very surprised.
“Yes photo! Gale got very upset not able to tell me it's name!” Turn around to them. “I had to calm him down as he got into a furious rage.”
Luna recalled the name in the memory flash back that played out as a dream. “We know of said name it's-” Gilda was upon her so quickly the motion caused many of the vials to rattle and papers to fly around landing all over the place.
Gilda had placed both talons over Luna's snout glaring into her own eyes only a few feet away. “I! DO! NOT! WANT! TO! KNOW!”
Luna used her magic to grab Gilda, pulling her talons free from the snout lifting the griffon trying to break free from the magical grasp. “Thy dare to assault us!?”
“Please! If I wanted to assault you I could of clawed your neck out right that moment!” Gilda countered. “I was shutting you up from telling me that dog's name!”
“Thy cou-”
“Speak normal for Grover's sack! I am not here to listen to some stage performance from a Princess!” Gilda interrupted Luna.
Luna sneered. “This is the royal we that spoken to the subjects!”
Gilda shouted back. “Oh in a million years ago! You fossil!”
“Fossil!? Thy-”
“SPEAK NORMAL!” Gilda roared causing Luna to flinch and let go of Gilda.
Trace saw how Gilda broke Luna's hold on her by roaring. “Interesting...” He whispered watching the exchange continue.
Gilda lands on her paws with talons out ready for a fight seeing that Luna now looked very ticked off. “You dare speak to me in such a manner!? I will show you the power from the Princess of the Night!”
Gilda gave a sly smirk lowing her forelegs seeing she got Luna to speak without the Royal We. “And there we go, that wasn't so hard was it? Dweeb.” Gilda land on her talons standing on fours now not even ready to defend herself.
Luna anger vanished as she stood straight with a confused look. “What?”
“Your speaking normal you dummy and plus... Your still recovering from your long vacation.” Gilda said with confidence. “Just like a cunning griffon that I am, I baited you in.”
Luna took time to process what Gilda just did, suddenly it clicked. “You played u-me... I never been played in such a way but other than my sister...” Luna stared at Gilda. “Cunning? Maybe. Stupid? Maybe also. Played me in speaking not with the royal we. Surprisingly caught me off guard. Well played.”
Gilda frowned at the words Luna spoke of about her. “Riiiggghht.... I'll try not to take that as a insult.”
“Take that as evening the score, you did grab my snout and shouted at me. So take my insults as you call it as pay back.”
“I guess that fair... I think...” Gilda scratched the side of her feathered neck rather confused.
Trace watched this from the side lines. “Impressive and impulsive. Got to say I never thought I see anything like this play out in my lab. But interesting to say the least.”
They both glared at him causing him to gulp. “M-m-mov-moving on!” Trace got his composer back.
Trace used his magic to pick up to empty cups filled them up with water from the sink and give them to Gilda and Luna. “Now with this spat between mares-”
“Mares?”
“Do you like me to call you a chi-”
“Nope!” Gilda shook her head. “Even that the current term, female or mare be better than that.” Gilda quickly said.
Trace cleared his throat. “As I was saying... The spat between mares is done, shall we move to the subject about how Gale had a photo of a dog on his plush all this time and how he knew it's name?” Luna and Gilda looked annoyed but let this one slide.
Luna thought about it. “She, the dog a she and I believe something might of happened to her. When sensing his feelings, he felt sad.”
Gilda agreed. “I saw the tear stain on the photo, it dried in but it there. He didn't show it exactly when I embraced him to calm him down from his anger outburst.”
“Furious anger and sadness over a loving pet...” Trace walked back and forwards, Gilda drunk her water and Luna did too as they watch him paste. “Gale aware of lose of a love one... The best way to move on from it is either keep his mind off it, help him to move on with this new sad memory he now has or get him a new dog that look very similar to the one he lost.”
Luna thought about Celestia's pet. “What about a phoenix?”
“Can you get a black phoenix?” Gilda raise an eye. “Also aren't we rushing this?”
“Possibly we are Gilda but also we are dealing with a very complex griffon that the mind is a mix of youth to teenager years.” Trace brought up the point about Gale. “Didn't it take you less than a day to learn two words?”
“Two words? I thought he only knew to speak of your name?” Luna questioned.
Gilda smiled. “He learned to say mum.”
Luna eyes widen mouth half open trying to ask. “Yep it towards Princess Celestia even he said it at me.” Luna recalled the fuzzy bipedal being shift into Celestia. “Now you got one up on your sister.”
“That I have, thank you Gilda you may go.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “About time!” Gilda walk to the door. “Make sure not to talk like an idiot too Princess.” Gilda opening it and left the lab closing the door behind.
Luna grumbled under her breath before turning her focus to Trace.
“Doctor Trace I couldn't let Gilda know what else I discovered.”
“Why not tell me when she was in the room?” He gave a questionable look.
“Because I need this to keep to few others as possibly can and you reactivating that spell means you are closer to finding where it came from than anyone else.” Luna said in a serious tone of voice.
Trace sighed. “Fine, but if this get way out of hoof I will report this to your sister, the accident I caused might not be so lucky on my part.”
“One thing for sure that Gilda brought up about the potion and the Poison Joke, it tend to bite you in the back side without you knowing about it.” Trace warned Luna. “It will take time to run tests on myself and track this magic.”
“Time isn't something we have Doctor Trace.”
Doctor Trace shook his head. “With this type of magic. I think time is something we have plenty of.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“It still faintly in the air all over the city and the mountain and I think... “ Doctor Trace shook his head.
“No I now know that this magic on the opposite side of the spectrum has always been around this mountain...”
Luna eyes widen. “That impossible! We would of knew there was another form of magic around the mountain!”
“I know Princess Luna... I can not explain how it all around us and not interfering with our magic like Gale, his accessories and the plush...” Trace rubbed the sides of his head.
“But right now I can feel it in the air, ever since I was turned into a griffon I been feeling it all around us.” Trace moved his front hooves around the room.
Luna looked to the door. “Can Gale?”
“I believe so...” Trace mouthed the words again and again.
Gilda slept blissfully on the bed with one hind leg hanging out of the bed sheets to the side of the bed, her head resting sidewards on a pillow with her talons around another hugging it close to herself. The blissful sleep soon can to a end when the feeling of being watched came to her, groaning with one eye opening.
“Okay who's in the house and looking over me?” Gilda groggily spoke out with a big yawn sitting up with the sheets falling off her body, wings opening and closing as she flex the muscles slightly.
“Gilda!” Came the happily chippy sound of Gale.
Gilda turn to the end of the bed. “Gale wha-” She begins with a irritable voice but soon cut herself off by what she saw. He hovering at the end of the bed with a food tray.
On it was a streaming pile of pancakes with whip-cream on it with a cherry on top, beside it was two buttered toast and a hot cup of tea with a jug of milk, syrup and bowl of sugar. Including cuttery and a spoon. “Okay I must be dreaming...”
Gilda rubbed her eyes and open them again to see Gale still hover before her with a big warm smile still present. “You seriously came all the way to give me breakfast?”
“Indeed he did.” Sergeant Blue Star spoke walking into view. “I see you turned the bed around, Twilight Sparkle had it with her head closer to the windows.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “What Purple had in this place is not my concern, if this is going to be home from home than I will do whatever I like okay?”
He shrugged. “Doesn't bother me ma'am. Just saying how I remember seeing this place when coming here to bring her to Princess Celestia at times.”
Blue Star look up at the ceiling. “There a study desk upstairs for you to eat at.”
Gilda lifted her forelegs up stretching them. “Since you two did bring me breakfast I won't give you guys the kick for breaking in.”
Gale tilted his head and look to the entrance. “I do not know your aware, but you've kinda left the door wide open.” Blue Star stated.
Gilda groans. “Alright you win pony. Let's go upstairs and I'll chow down.” He salutes and wave Gale to follow.
Upstairs Gale sat by the massive hourglass reading a book he picked up about the Elements of Harmony and the Mare in the Moon, ever so often looking out the window to Canterlot Castle. Gilda sat at the study table cutting into the pancakes, she took a bite out of it and eating with amazing look on her face she swallowed.
A explosive of flavour she tasted from the pancakes. “Sweet Grover these are amazing!”
“Princess Celestia made them.” Blue Star informed Gilda.
“She did?” He nods. “Another surprise on the Celestia list.” Gilda look to the next piece and put it into her beak happily eating it.
“Mum!” Gale said happily.
Gilda looked over to him and her mind decided to replay the night before.
Gilda, Gale, Luna and Flash Sentry walk into the throne room, Celestia, Cadance and Shining Armor waiting for them at the bottom of the throne steps. “I gather things went while in the city?”
“Pretty much, got to have a good time surprisingly, met a cat that works for ya and married to a unicorn that turned himself in a griffon that we helped got him home and fixed up. So it pretty much fine.” Gilda shrugged without a care.
“Hello Gilda, I am Cadance it finally nice to meet you.” Cadance walked up to her.
Gilda gave her a raised eye. “So your the crazy Alicorn that got that file of cute little ol' me?”
“Indeed, I am happy that you are just as I thought be right for the job to help my cousin Gale out.”
“No biggy, Candy.” Gilda smirked. “Also got him to say another word now.”
“Candy? And you did?” Cadance seem confused by the nickname given by Gilda but questioned it and the second word.
Gilda turn to Gale. “Go to Sunshine Gale and surprise her.”
Celestia raise an eye as she watched Gale step up to her and look up. “Mum!” He squawked happily.
Celestia eyes widen with tears falling. “Y-Yo-”
“Mum!” He squawked out again with a big smile.
Shining Armor and Cadance stared in disbelief but Celestia grabbed Gale with her wings and wrap her forelegs around him nuzzling the teenager with tears falling still. “Oh my Gale! You called me mum! I am so happy!”
Gilda blinked a few times and shook her head before going back to eating her pancakes and drinking her tea. “Stupid brain making me see that sappy stuff again.” She muttered in her thoughts.
After finishing her meal Gilda walked over to the two bags pulling out a A4 size pad of lined paper with quills, pencils, rubbers and ink wells. Gale lower the book down he was reading and watched Gilda with an curious gaze at all the stuff she was pulling out.
Blue Star using his magic picked up the breakfast tray. “I'll take this to the maids. Private Cherry Delight is just outside. I be back shortly.” Blue Star walks off down the steps and out of the house.
Gilda rolled her eyes as she put the gear down on the study desk. “Ponies and their really weird cheesy names.”
Gale put the book down on the stand he found it walking over to the study desk. “Gilda?”
“Asking about what all this stuff for right?” Gale nods. “I'm going to teach you to write.”
Gale eyes showed a spark of delight. “Hehe thought that spark your attention. Now for today I am going to show you the lower case and cap letters, each one you will watch me write and you will repeat each of them keeping inside the lines.” Gilda open the note book up pointing to it with her talon.
“Got it?” He nods.
“Good.” Gilda open up a ink well dipping the quill tip in it. “See how I hold the quill?” He watched intently. “Now watch how I write with it.” He continues to obverse as Gilda writes down each letter in the alphabet. “A... B... C...”
Suddenly something clicked with Gale as Gilda continue to write each letter down in both cases, he KNEW these letters, the Ponies writing with a form of wavy lines that he even understood. Gale quickly reach into his side bag to pull out the plush and look at the tag.
But what he saw at the tag wasn't those letters he seen clearly before but now a strange set of symbols, somehow he knew exactly what those symbols said but he knew they won't like that before. Closing his eyes thinking hard he pictured the tag before seeing the symbols again, opening his eyes the young griffon was very confused.
“Hey!” He snapped out of it turning to Gilda. “How about you pay attention to the Griffish lettering!” Gale rubbed the back of his cooing in confusion. Gilda rolled her eyes. “You want me to write this gibberish on the page too?”
Gale tilt his head pointing to it and point away. “What exactly are you trying to tell me cub?”He groans, pointing to her and showed one finger afterwards. “Are you asking me about this tag I saw in Ponyville?”
He nods. “Gale it doesn't change into words you like it to become, it doesn't work like that.” Gilda explained and that summed up a surprise to Gale, the letters to her was always these symbols. “Here let me have your Plush and write the tag symbols down okay?”
Gale nods giving it to her, Gilda wrote it down between them lines. “This will be here on this page so you can look at it anytime you like and try to write this stuff okay?” He nods again. “Happy?” She finished and he happily nod even he was still confused how they wasn't the Griffish lettering.
“Now can we continue?” Gale got his plush back and he hummed happily with an third nod in a row. “Good now watch and you do afterwards with a pencil.”
Gale intently watched once more still in passive thought about how words both were understandable, right and wrong. The big confusing question was how can all three be correct?
Gilda put the quill down. “You watched how I held the quill and wrote it down between the lines?” Gale nods. “Go and pick up the pencil and show me, cub.”
Gale took hold the pencil holding it between two claws and the thumb pressing on it the other side. “That good now below my letters write exactly as I showed ya.”
Gale's talon shook as the tip of the pencil tip to the paper, feeling very anxious. Gilda saw this placing her own talon over his, he look to her's pressing gentle over his. “Don't need to freak out Gale, you won't get this right off the mark.” Gilda let go of his talon.
“Now give it a try.” Gale gulped in response to Gilda's words but taking a deep breath and blowing out he press the pencil tip down on the paper to attempt the letter A.
Gilda watched him attempt it. “Messy and shaky but a good first time.” As Gilda watched another thought of night before came to mind.
“Seriously Blue Hooves, if I at this moment not even bothered where I be staying at. I would just not even bother with this place.” Gilda looked back at the spiral staircase she and Shining Armor just tracked up.
Shining looked down the stairs himself holding up the key with his magic. “At least you can fly up and down them. I got to walk back down.”
“How many more flights of stairs we got to climb?”
“About another two full turns.”
Gilda growled. “Oh for pony feathers sack! We going by air!”
Shining Armor quickly turn in alarm. “No I-Ah!”
Gilda grabbed him by the waist locking her talons together with a few strong flaps Shining Armor was lifted up in the sky. After a few seconds of flight time Gilda place him down by the door, she proudly landing beside him. “Now we here.”
“Y-yes gah...” Shining Armor's white fur around his face showed a sickly tint of green as he put a hoof to his snout trying not to throw up.
Gilda quickly step to the side as he open the door with the key rushing inside for the toilet. “Captain of the guard and he can't handle a few seconds of flight? What a light weight...” Gilda shook her head walking inside to get a good look around.
“Geeky but a place a place to crash at, right Blue Hooves?”
Shining Armor step out of the door with the toilet flushing. “Urg... I really hate flying.” He whizzed.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say dweeb.” Gilda yawned. “So this Purple's home?”
“Yep it is.”
“I can really see how.” Gilda chuckled. “Well if you don't mind. I like to have a shower or even a bath than crash out.”
Shining Armor nods. “Fair enough, I'll leave the key here by the bed stand. Also leave the door open so the guard can drop off your stuff.”
Gilda waved dismissively. “Sure thing Blue Hooves and night.”
“Goodnight.” Shining saluted, he turn and leaves the house still feeling quizzy.
Gilda looked at the bed. “First thing I am going to do is move that bed around...”
A squawk snapped her out of her thoughts of last night. “Just zoned out, cub. Don't need to worry.” Gilda stated. “Now let see what you done.” Gilda looked at the attempts. “Keep it up Gale.”
Gale went back to attempting to write and keep between the lines like Gilda did, but it kept going over with it being very shaky and messy. For the next few hours that past Gale tried to match Gilda's writing but always coming up being a shaky large lettering mess.
Gale put the pencil down rubbing his eyes, followed up twisting the wrist around a few times flexing his right talon. “Gets to ya, doesn't it cub?” Gale look down at his right talon feeling the strain in the muscles under the scales.
“Let's take a break.” Gilda walked up to the large window looking out to the castle. “Quite the view Purple had here.”
Gale looked over to Gilda and the view, he hummed slightly. Gale thought back to the name of the dog and turning a page he wrote large, messy and shaky the name.
Gilda noticed Gale coming over with the note book., she took it from him. “Guess you really wanted me to know that dog's name didn't ya.” Gale nods.
“Lee-la... Leela... Is that what you wrote?” Gale squawks in reply with a big smile on his beak.
Gilda stared at the letters on the paper, they suddenly shimmered with a blue white light. “What the heck was that?” She rubbed her free talon over it feeling nothing out the norm. “Must of been the li-” Gilda rose her head.
She shrieked with eyes shirking to pinpricks quickly flapping her wings to push back till Gilda had her back to the glass, before her own eyes was the dog but transparent with a bluish white light around the edges and phasing through it.
Gilda shakily points at it. “Gale look to your right!” Gale turn to his right to see nothing, he look back at her with a confused tilt of his head. “You can't see that ghost dog!?”
Gale rubbed his head in confusion.
Gilda eyes still pinpricks with her feathered face paled in colour watched the black dog bark happily wagging her tail before getting up on all fours walking to the study table. She lean down sniffing under it before turning back to Gilda barking a few more times.
Gilda had hold of the book still and threw it at the ghost dog, it faded out of existence before the book hit where it was. Landing on the ground. Gale picked it up still unsure why Gilda was acting so strangely.
Gilda slid to sitting on her flank breathing heavily with a talon on her chest. “Wh-what the blazes was that!?”
Gale looking around the place very confused by Gilda's freak out. “You seriously didn't see your dog Leela as a ghost!?” He tilted his head unsure what this ghost was or the word. “You don't know what a ghost is do you?” Gale chipped with a scratch to the side of his face.
Gilda still very freaked out what she saw got up on all fours. “You saw nothing?” He nods. “I can't believe that I was the only one to see that!” Gilda raised her voice. “That thing was too real to be just my imagination!”
Blue Star walked up the stairs. “I'm back! How things?”
Gilda squawked in alarm, Blue Star raise an eye. “Oh hi Blue Star I just saw a ghost dog! Oh that would put me in a crazy slammer faster than I can say dweeb and dork twenty times!” Gilda's thoughts raced.
Gilda had to act fast to recover.
“Things good! Just dandy!” Gilda quickly said realising that speaking about what she only witnessed would make her look like a mad griffon. “I just erm...” Gilda looked around quickly.
Blue Star suspiciously looked at the half panicking griffon.
She recalled the dog looking under the study table. “I lost something under the desk that all!” Gilda went to the study table leaning down to look under it to find a book. “Oh you got to be bucking me...” Gilda hissed under her breath reaching out to it and grabbing the book.
Gale blinked a few times. “Gilda?” He whispered with a puzzled look.
Opening it she saw a library stamp card on the inside of the hard back copy of the book. “It look like Twilight Sparkle had borrowed this from the library.” Blue Star looked over Gilda's shoulder.
Blue Star decided to let drop what he saw, to him Gilda might be embarrassed to be seen teaching Gale to write in front of others.
Gale ears perked up at the sound of the library, he bouncing up and down before flying around close to the high ceiling. Gilda watched him flying around with excitement. “I'll deal with whatever that was later...” Gilda muttered.
“Ma'am you said something?” Blue Star turn his head from watching Gale to looking at Gilda.
Gilda closed the book up. “We going to the library.”
Gale squawked happily and dived down to give Gilda a hug showing his thanks.
Gilda look down growling at the teenager. “I... Don't... Do... Hugs!”
Gale looked up shaking his head and kept hugging her. “Urg... Your a pain you know that?” Gale nods letting go of Gilda hovering by her.
Gilda rolled her eyes placing the book in the empty bag followed by the pencils, quills, ink wells and the note book. Gilda paused for a second opening it to the messy written name, she closed it up and put it in the bag.
Blue Star walked down the stairs and Gale flew down them, Gilda took the key off the table placing it under her wing.
She stared at the spot last saw the transparent Leela. “Why did I see her and he didn't?” Gilda shivered. “I seriously need to talk to Princess Celestia about this...”
“Gilda?”
Gilda decided to deal with it later. “I'm coming you impatient dweeb!”
Princess Celestia standing on the balcony using her magic to lower the sun while her sister on another tower balcony used her magic to raise the moon. Celestia had just finished reading up on the report filed by Sergeant Blue Star about the days activity and progress of Gale with Gilda's teaching.
Celestia turn to exit the balcony when she suddenly had a feeling of something directly behind her. “Hello Gilda.” Celestia didn't turn staring into the reflection of the glass now seeing Gilda. “I heard you've done good with Gale today."
"Blue Star's report said that Gale had an great time in the library, reading comics and books, learning to write from you. I am happy with what I am seeing." Celestia said with a slight smile but it soon vanished. "She here for another reason than to hear my praise." Still not turning to face Gilda.
“Dweeb we need to talk!” Gilda lands on the balcony.
Celestia turn around. “Gilda is there something bothering you?”
Gilda growled lowly flaring her wings. “Yes very and we need a serious chat you dweeb!”
Celestia's horn glowed. “Very well, we shall take this somewhere private.”
The balcony vanished before Gilda's eyes to find herself in a large study with a set of cushions beside a fireplace, Celestia lit the fireplace with her magic lying down on one of the cushions. “Cozy...” Gilda muttered.
“Well this is my private study afterall and we far enough from Gale's room to not disturb him or for a young curious mind to listen in on our conversation.” Celestia said keeping so ever calm to Gilda.
Gilda walked up to her standing on top of the other cushion glaring at her. “Fine we alone and we can talk!”
“That is correct, now what got you very upset all the sudden?” Celestia's horn flashed for a second but Gilda too anger to even notice Celestia just cast a spell.
Gilda growled. “I've been keeping this pent up all day long! Every since that damn dog of Gale's appeared as a ghost before my damn eyes!” Gilda point to her eyes with her claws.
Celestia raise an eye. “Dog of Gale's? A ghost? I haven't heard or even read a report on any such thing.”
Gilda pulled her head back a little with surprise. “Seriously? Luna didn't tell ya?”
“No, she failed to mention this to me. This is the first I heard of this.” Celestia ruffled her wings a bit with her shell cracked as she stared in total confusion. “Please continue...”
Gilda rubbed her forehead. “Urg... This isn't exactly what I had in mind.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Tearing you a new one and screaming in your face how annoyed I am.”
“Hmm... I see. Very well scream away.” Celestia cast a silence spell through out her study. “Now no one can hear us.”
Gilda became very irritated. “ROAR!” She roared out.
“Gale wrote his first word and it was Leela!
“His dog from the past!”
“He has a photo in the vest of that plush of his!”
“And to top it all off when I held that book and looked at the writing it shimmered for a second!”
“Then wham that dog was there before me as a see through freaky thing!”
“She had this weird bluish white aura around her too!”
“She barked and showed me where that damn book was!”
“Tell me how that even possible!?”
“How the heck does a ghost of his dog appear out of no where like that!?”
“Then soon I threw the book at it poof it was gone! Not seen yet!”
Gilda breathing in and out after shouting at Celestia flaying her forelegs around, opening her talons pointing about and taking out the book showing the written poorly made words. Celestia listened to everything she had said letting her vent out and a few of the things stood out for the princess.
“Feeling better?” Celestia calmly asked.
“I little but a bit tired...” Gilda muttered.
Celestia's speaks about what Gilda just said. “The ghost dog appeared when Gale wrote her name in the book and you held it with a blue light on the paper?” Celestia took the book with her magic looking at the word an Gale's attempt at Griffish.
“Yes! That what I said you dweeb!”
“And vanished soon as you let go off the book?”
Gilda flapped her wings a few times screaming out at Celestia. “YES! THAT WHAT I SAID YOU STUPID PONY!”
Celestia now showed a sense of anger. “Stupid pony? Have you forgot what I did in Ponyville or the fact under contract you work for me.”
“No and I am not taking it back!” Gilda sat on her flank crossing the forelegs turning her head away looking out at the fireplace, the embers flickering.
“Very bold... Not many would directly talk to me like that, it been centuries since King Guto's time since I had anyone act on impulse. Interesting yet it could be a dangerous mix, something to keep a eye on.”
“But Gilda has brought up a very important matter that this can easily be overlooked.”
Celestia took a deep breath and breathed out slowly. “Gilda I also had a similar experience.”
Gilda's eyes shift to Celestia slowly turning her head to the princess. “What?”
“Gale drew me a drawing.” Celestia closed her eyes and the picture appeared before her. “This is the drawing.”
Gilda took it from the magic grasp. “He drew this?”
“Yes.”
“And you saw a ghost dog?”
Celestia shook her head. “No, the room vanished and I stood in a storm of bluish white aura, couldn't see what was beyond it. Soon as I let go of the drawing and since then nothing happens.”
Gilda ran her talon over the drawing. “I gather Gale didn't see anything?” Celestia shook her head. “Wow this talk really got weird all the sudden...” Gilda yawns slightly.
“Indeed.” Celestia turn to the flames. “He loves to draw...”
Gilda frowns feeling a bit sleepy. “I don't get it, how is a drawing that made you see weird bluish white aura cloud and a ghost dog connected?”
Celestia kept looking at the flames. “Four.”
“What?”
“Four things connect the drawing and writing together.” She put them side by side in front of Gilda.
“One; he drew and wrote this with intense feeling.”
“Two; they both shimmered with whitish blue aura.”
“Three; we both saw something very odd and disturbing.”
“And finally four; both the aura cloud and the ghost dog as you call it vanished from us throwing or dropping said items, Gale never saw any of it.”
Gilda took the drawing again holding it against the other page of the book as she looked at both of them. “Okay you've got a solid point on those connections...”Gilda looked over to Celestia still never letting her eyes shift from staring in the fireplace flames.
“How the heck is Gale doing this? I know the whole too perfect griffon thing but somehow using magic? That going one step too far.” Gilda yawned again with a free talon over her beak.
“Is it?” Celestia now made eye contact turning her head to Gilda. “You also know there a form of magic in him that interferes with my own and many others magic. Also all life has magic including you.”
Gilda had to think about what Celestia just said. “Okay I get that but how does that explain what we both saw?”
“It doesn't...” Celestia sighed. “One last thing I just thought of, he sees me as a mother and he sees you as... Well I am not sure, it not a friend that for sure, teacher... Maybe... Curious...” Celestia tapping her hoof on the muzzle in thought.
“What?”
“Sorry I have to think about this. But you look really tired”
“Huh? Yeah I do feel dog tied... This just been one heck of a stressful day...” Gilda yawned loudly with tears forming, she wiped the tears away.
Celestia gave her the book back. “Do you like me to teleport you back to your home?”
Gilda laid back on the cushion. “Sure... Whatever Celestia. I am just too tired to complain...”
“It looks it.”
Gilda yawned stretching her hind legs and wings. “Well night Princess pain in the flank Celestia.”
“Goodnight Gilda, this chat been eventful.”
“Yeah it sure has... But this isn't over...”
“I know. Let's talk in a more clear headed manner shall we?” Gilda nods silently and Celestia teleports her.
Gilda yawned loudly now standing before the large window looking out to Canterlot Castle.
“Ma'am is everything okay?” A guard walked up the steps hearing Gilda screaming out in a mighty roar, the words unable to make sense through the ringing through her ears.
Gilda turn around and roars at the guard. “Get out of my house and shut the door... I am too tired to deal with any more crap.”
“Y-yes ma'am!” The guard saluted and left the way she came closing the front door behind her.
Gilda groggy picked up the book from the floor walking to the study desk. “That princess is sooooo annoying...” .
“Yet... I can't pull myself away from this, even with all the crazy I been through in the last two days...”
Gilda stopped at the study desk putting her talon over the name. “Why? Why am I putting up with all this?”
No answer came and Gilda closed the book up putting it on the study desk to find a drawing of her, taking it Gilda knew Gale had drawn this and most likely left it here for her. “Why does he look up at me like that? What have I done to get that dorky dweeby griffon to look up at me?”
Gilda walked down the steps to the bed, putting the drawing down on the bed stand. “Am I seriously missing something here? All I did so far is starting to teach him to speak, write and...” Gilda yawned again putting her talon over her beak.
Opening and closing her beak lapping them. “Look out for him the cub...” Gilda's voice softened taking a deep breath.
“Did I just answer my own questions?” Gilda rubbed her feathered head yawning loudly. “I am too beat to think about this... Time...To...” Yawning again before collapsing on her bed sound asleep.
“The sleep spell should about knocked her out about now... Poor Gilda is highly stressed, a good night sleep should help that mood of hers.” Celestia put out the fire in the fireplace teleporting herself back into her room, removing her regal gear.
She placing the picture back in a frame right side of the window.
“Gilda is a trying individual that some of the time can be very tempered but it keep things interesting all the same.”
Celestia using her magic to rotate a painting to show a picture of Gale in the middle with string attached leading to other pictures and written notes. Celestia writes down the word Ghost Dog Leela on a card pinning it next to the bluish white aura clue.
“I do not believe that was a ghost, it seem more like a magical projection of some kind via the drawing and written word.” Celestia muttered. “The only clue was emotional moment... The first drawing for me was emotionally personally to him as a gift to his new mum; me.”
Celestia wrote on another card pinning it away. “Doctor Trace reawakening the spell via a combination of spells, potion and a chaotic plant that loves to play jokes is something I wasn't expecting.”
“Turning himself into a griffon and his wife Amber making him drink the reversal potion. I doubt it was that simple to change him back. So I will be watching this for sure.”
Celestia moved her eyes back to the photo of Gale. “I really want to find your parents..." Celestia put her hoof on it. “Yet part of me do not want to... I never felt this pull before.”
Celestia remove her hoof looking to the orange string to the big question mark of parents. “He remembered having a pet, a dog and I am happy that he has.” She put a card beside it pinning to the back of the portrait.
“Yet I am very conflicted... Gale sees me as his mother and I see him as my son I never had...” Celestia sighed heavily. “I will be that part as long as I can, have these moments that I never thought I would ever have”
“But when the time comes when we find his family. I will return Gale to them... Unless they are the ones behind this...” Celestia shook her head.
“No I will not go down that road, I am making enemies out of nothing to keep him. I can not and will not do that!” Celestia turn the portrait over.
Turning away Celestia took a deep breath and breathed it out with a hoof to her chest. “Do what best for Equestria and Gale, Celestia.” She walked by the table side to go to bed.
Celestia noticed the files on the table side. “Ah the files Shining Armor sent to me of the purposed guards for Gale.” Celestia lift them up opening each of them, skimming through each and till one stuck out to her.
Luna walked through a beautiful green lush forest upon entering the dream of her nephew Gale, the clearing was even more stunning with crystal clear water pouring from a waterfall into a large lake, with green grass around it edges. What surprised Luna even more was the large blue mix of different crystals that reflected the sun light from small fissures in the ceiling creating a slight hue but amazing ecosystem.
Luna eyes drift left to right looking around at the large cavern that supported this green life, she never thought such a place would be possible and even surprised that Gale dreamt up such a place. “Nephew!” Luna called out as she walked by the shore of the lake.
Flying around the large crystals and coming to landing before her Gale had answered her call. “Hi aunty!” Gale happiness grew. “We dream sharing again! Aren't we?”
Luna nods with a smile of her own. “Indeed Gale we are. I've been working on a way to do so without direct connection but surprisingly it went well this time around.” Luna took a good look around. “This land is incredible.”
Gale flapping his wings flew over the water putting a claw through it as he flew over it. “Yeah it is! I thought harder and harder about what I saw on that flat box screen thing with the moving pictures and I saw this place!” He said with excitement.
“So I recalled what I been reading in the book mum made better from the super old one about the power of imagination in dreams!” Gale lands by Luna. “So I used that to create my own dream place! One when I sleep I can always go to and never randomly change!”
Luna was startled by what he said. “Celestia remade my book for you?”
“Yep!” Gale grinned. “I even now know what minutes, hours and time is! Mum taught me each breakfast we had together! It took all week but I got there!” He said with pride. “I even learned the word cool means doing something that amazing when saying something like erm...”
He tapped his beak a few times and clicked his claws. “Oh right, I remember!” Gale continue to speak with excitement. “Isn't that cool? This place is cool! I am cool aren't I?” He span around and puff out his chest with a cheeky smirk.
Luna laughed. “Indeed nephew you are!” She poke his chest causing him to breathe out. “I gather you created yourself a house in this place?”
Gale hovered clapping his talons together. “I sure have aunty Luna! It right over by the waterfall!” He grabbed her foreleg and flapping his wings to pull her.
She rolled her eyes and allow Gale to guide her to the waterfall, before Luna's eyes were a large tree and building around it was a cream colour house with crystals in front of the doors and the roof made of many red tiles. White frame windows with a beige colour wooden fence around what she believe to be the garden within it.
“A house built around a tree trunk?”
“Yeah! I remember the Ponyville Library was a tree so I thought why not have a house built around a tree! It made sense doesn't it?” Gale flew up to the house landing by the clouded glass windowed door.
Luna shook her head slightly. “This is a child's very active imagination at work here, what make sense to him doesn't to adults.” She whispered.
“In the sense of dreams it does, but in reality it may not since trees grew bigger as they get older.” Luna stated. “But that doesn't happen in dreams unless you want it to.”
Gale shook his head. “Nope I am good!”
Luna walked up to it and suddenly stopped having a sense of something else is watching them. “Gale I sense something is here with us in your dream.”
Gale gasped. “Oh I completely forgot!”
“Nephew this is serious there something here in your dream that isn't your dream!”
“I know! I made him today!”
Luna froze. “Made... Him?”
Gale nods. “Yeah it right here in the book.” The book appears in a poof of white smoke landing on his talons, opening it he point to the page with the drawing part of the wavy writing. “This says here that you can create things magical in dreams upon realising that the laws of magic work completely different in here! No need for horns, wards, artefacts!”
“I couldn't understand why I was sad and happy at the same time about Leela and I recalled that you can create things so I tried to recreate Leela.”
Luna quickly looking around. “Can I have a look at that book?”
Gale hands it over to her, Luna open it up looking through the pages. “It only a book that says you have power of your dreams and lucid dreaming is the key to it with a clear open mind.”
Luna flipping through the pages still glanced over at him for a second before she came to a page of interest. “Gale you seem to be pretty aware of the power of dreams.”
“I guess I am aunty Luna, is that okay?”
Luna turn the book around pointing to the page with her hoof. “When you said made him, did you create this him with that spell.”
Gale nods. “Yep that the one!” Gale took the book from her. “I was reading that part when I fell asleep, I really like reading this book!”
Luna took another look around. “With that spell I created the Tantabus a few weeks ago... Gale created something with that very spell, the question is what?”
The presence in the dream felt extremely close, she instantly looked up at the top of the waterfall.
Luna saw a blackish grey, blue and cream colour being with paws blackish grey into blue attached to a cream colour torso with a black band of fur turning into baggy furry blue legs to hind blackish grey legs and blue tail. This look close to a diamond dog with spikes on the tops of the hand paws and out the chest, the face was shaped like a jackal with blackish grey dreadlocks, two on either side with a blackish grey mask fur over the blue.
“Blue! Come on down! This is aunty Luna I told you about!” Gale waved him to come down.
The creature called Blue nods with a soft grunt jumping down from one ledge to another with ease till he landed on the ground. He drop to one knee with hand paw on the ground and head lowered. “Mistress Luna the guardian of dreams, welcome to Master Gale's dream.”
It speaks telepathically through the mind... Luna thought and got a quick glance from Blue as he opened a eye, that caught her by surprise. You heard my thoughts... No response as he closed his eye but she knew he heard her direct thoughts.
“Guardian of dreams?” Gale rubbed his head. “I don't recall saying anything like that.”
Blue open one eye looking over to Gale. “Master Gale you've spoken of the ability to enter other dreams to share. That makes her a guardian of dreams as I am Dream Defender of your dream.” Blue explained.
Gale thought about it tapping his beak. “He is correct about both, while he defend your dreams from any Dream Walkers that have similar abilities as my own. I help fend off nightmares or Dream Walkers that attempt to attack those in their dreams.”
“Why would these Dream Walkers do something like that?”
Blue stands up with arms crossed. “Life is a balance between those that do good and those that do bad including the grey.”
“Grey?”
“Nephew those that you can neither called good or bad.”
Gale recalled the comic he read in the library. “Like a anti-hero?”
“Correct Master Gale.”
Luna step up to Blue. “Now Blue, what are you?”
“I do not know, all I know that I am an fictional being from a moving pictures screen box created by a moment of drifting concentration from Master Gale.” What Blue said telepathically made sense to Luna, Gale is a griffon with his mentality drifting from child to teenager and it clearly showed.
The princess of the night blue eyes locked onto the red eyes of Blue. “You resemble a diamond dog hybrid of a jackal.”
“Jackal Diamond Dog... Hmm...” He tapping the foot paw with eyes closed thinking about the name of what he is. “I am unsure what this Diamond Dog is but it seem acceptable.”
“That is understandable, you are an creation of Gale's so your knowledge will be limited not by fault of you or my nephew. This is a grey area when it come to a creation of an Dream Defender.” Luna said walking to the lake shore looking down at the crystal clear water.
“It seems so.” Blue opened his eyes.
“Aunty?”
“Yes, Nephew?” She saw his reflection above her.
“Is that book yours?” That was the question she was waiting for.
Luna closed her eyes. “Yes...”
“How long ago did you make it?” Gale asked.
“Too long ago.” Luna opened her eyes.
Gale was about to ask about it but Blue put a paw on his back. “Sometimes pressing the same question in a different concept doesn't go well, best to leave it Master Gale.”
Gale turn to Blue. “Maybe ask when it right to ask?”
“Yes that would be best.” Blue turn to the house. “Why don't we leave Mistress Luna here and explore the forest?” Blue suggested.
Gale looked over to the forest. “You think we find something cool there?”
“Dreams have endlessly possible out comes Master Gale.”
Gale clapped his talons together and than grab Blue by the paw. “Come on let's go!” He pulls Blue with him.
Luna turn slightly to Blue, he nods silently before running at his own paste with Gale into the forest leaving her alone. “Thank you...” She whispered and open the book up.
“Long ago I created this book in hope to finding a student to learn the skill of Dream Walker, to pass on my knowledge...”
Luna looked up at the massive crystals. “This wasn't suppose to happen like this, Gale's mind is still healing and his attention span is easily shifting...”
“All I can do is teach him to maintain it within his own dream and not bleed into others.” Luna sighed heavily. “My duties just got more complicated...”
The crystal's light starts to dim as night starts to set with a orange yellow glow through the caverns. “This can't wait till my sister wakes... We need to have this talk now.”
Luna's horn glowed for a moment. “Luna what going on? I was eating cake and now I am in some wondrous place.” Luna turn to a confused solar princess walking towards her.
“Sister... We need to talk.” She toss the book to land by the front hooves of Celestia.
Celestia look down at the book and back to Luna. “Oh...” Celestia realised at the very moment where she was. “I... Well...”
Luna raise an eye.
Celestia tries to dodge. “He created this place because of the book? It amazing!”
“Sister...”
“Yes Lulu?” Celestia gulps now knowing she was on Luna's playing field.
“Here I am the big sister and you will listen to me. Tia, come inside.”
Luna walk to the house, Celestia noticed Gale in the distance playing with Blue. “Luna what type of creatur-”
Celestia walked through the open door to suddenly find herself in a stellar space on a marble flooring circle, she turn to find the door once walked through now gone and only she with Luna stood in the middle of stellar space.
“Where are we?” Celestia took a look around seeing a orb appear and soon there was so many around her moving in a circular motion, many more high and feather out till she lost complete count of them all. “Luna what are these orbs?”
Luna had her back to Celestia finally turning around. “Sister each and everyone of these orbs are every single living sentient being asleep in Equestria, dreaming of something right this moment.”
The marble platform of white and black squares started to lift. “These are all that have the potential of becoming Dream Walkers.” Many of the orbs Celestia watched vanished leaving close to a dozen of them all coming closer to see.
Celestia noticed each of them seem to be a young pony to a buffalo even including one with Gale and each reminded her the days as teacher to a very young Twilight Sparkle. “Gale and these youngsters each had the gift to be taught in what I do Celestia.”
“I don't see why you are upset Luna, if Gale is one of these potential Dream Walkers. Isn't it a good thing?” Celestia turn to Luna.
Luna groans. “Sister as you find your student I have to go through a process! Each of them could be what I am looking for but also they could not, the process takes time.” Luna walks around Celestia as each orb starts to fade away.
“One of those is to do with the mental welfare of the individuals, if you clearly recall over 1000 years ago I became deceitful, jealous and allow myself to be consumed by the darkness.” Luna continue to walk around her sister.
Luna looked up at the full moon shining brightly above them shifting with the unicorn appearing across the surface. “I knew deep inside what might happen to me, so I created the book to help you sister in finding somepony or being that could take over in my steed.”
Celestia stared at the moon as the Mare in the Moon vanished once more. “As I am recovering I have been watchful of them all, yet you didn't seem to think twice about Gale having a old book that was falling apart at the seems.”
Celestia turn to Luna now glaring at her. “You choose to just renew it and give the new copy of it to Gale!”
Luna walked towards her and Celestia backing up till she felt her rump hit the wall of moon light around their marble platform. “Didn't you stop to think about the state of the book and maybe take a look through it first before blinding doing that!?”
“I-”
“Tia I am not done!” Celestia had no where to go or do with her magic being next to useless in the realm of dreams. “Neidoras box has been opened sister, there is no way I can close this up!” Luna point a hoof to a window appearing to show a high up view of the cavern landscape.
Gale and Blue with their paws in bubbling warm water from a hot spring talking to each other followed by laughter. “He remembered everything in the book he read so far! This Jackal Diamond Dog, this fictional being! It a dream created entity, an living life force created by a spell via the power of imagination in a dream!”
“What you are seeing Celestia is a fundamental mistake on your part! I have to now put aside my plans to finding out of those that could be a Dream Walker and work on Gale!” Luna's horn flares with a beam of magic shooting up to the moon shattering it to pieces but the cracks spread through the stellar background.
Celestia quickly jumps back from one forming under her hoof backing up to Luna. “Gale's mind is still in the process of healing! He doesn't know that magic in the dream realm could have direct effects on the psyche of others!”
The whole place shatters around them. “I-I didn't know, Luna you got to believe me I have no idea this could happen!” Celestia looked around now in the black void for Luna.
“Luna! Where are you!?” Celestia afraid to move as she tried to see Luna.
Luna steps out of the blackness in front of Celestia without a word said.
Celestia put a hoof to her chest still trying to calm herself. “I get it Luna... My actions could have had serious consequences.”
Luna raise an eye. “Could have?” Luna point a hoof to a round window and Celestia peer through it to see Gale with Blue, they sitting down with their paws dipped in a hot spring in the cavern. “Gale created a sentient Dream Defender, that creature may look like a strange blue, cream and back Jackal Diamond Dog.”
“It a fictional character from the flat box with moving pictures became real because Gale was carelessly given access to a power magical book.” Luna staring through the glass.
Celestia put a hoof to it clear surface. “Gale looks so happy...”
Luna quickly glares at Celestia. “Did you even pay attention to anything!?”
“Yes... Luna I did.” Celestia slowly look to Luna. “I should of knew better when seeing that book so damaged and yet I didn't.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “I gather that you are wondering how you've managed to make this mistake.”
Celestia nods.
“It being a parent...” Luna flatly responded. “You are treading on egg shells with your hooves afraid of losing that happy bundle of joy you been seeing from Gale all this time.”
“Why haven't you stepped in? Your his aunt.”
Luna narrows her eyes on Celestia. “DO... NOT... MOVE... THE... BLAME... ON... ME!” Luna's now towering over Celestia.
The solar princess quickly shrinks and falls back on her rump looking up at the furious Luna. “I have been recovering to regain some of my magic for the last month! You told me to rest and made sure no one bothered me!”
Celestia nods rapidly knowing Luna was right, she had done that for Luna. “I will teach Gale to control his new found Dream Magic, you will make sure he doesn't get his talons on any other type of magic book that really old or advanced.”
“Got it!?”
Celestia slowly standing up still looking up at the mega sized Luna bearing down on her. “Y-Yes Lulu.”
“Good!” Luna returned to normal before Celestia. “Now sister I have one more thing for you.”
“T-that is?” Celestia gulped.
“Your punishment!” Luna grins evilly and Celestia's ears peer back as her pupils shrink to pin pricks, Luna approach with wisps of magic moved around her as she step closer to Celestia.
Celestia wakes up screaming out in horror with her Royal Canterlot Voice that it echoes through out the castle startling every single pony within it walls.
Luna stood at the balcony of her own room with a satisfied smile that Celestia learned her lesson.
Gale opened his eyes sitting up yawning unaware of Celestia's horrified scream thanks to Luna, he got out of bed humming to himself happily about the wonderful dream he had, the griffon went to the bathroom to have a morning shower.
Standing outside on the balcony Gale watched a set of twenty guards walking up to the castle through the main entrance into the castle grounds. They all were carrying supplies on their backs to two of them pulling a big wagon covered up, he glance back down at the drawing he was doing and continued to do so as they marched through.
A knock came from the door. “Gale, it me Cadance, can I come in?” Gale give a squawk and it opens. “Morning Gale!” Cadance walks in towards him.
“Today marks two weeks since Aunty Celestia found you. How do you feel?” Gale smiled and showed her the picture. “Is that for your mum?” He nods.
Cadance walked out to the balcony standing beside him looking out to the sun rise. “I guess you wanted to do something for her after what happened a few days ago huh?” Gale nods once again looking down at the drawing and then towards the rising sun squinting his eyes.
“I do not know what happened between Aunty Celestia and Luna, but I gather it to do with what you been reading.” Cadance glanced over to the book on his bed stand.
Gale took a piece of paper and wrote on it, still poorly written and large but a bit more readable. “The book of dream magic? Never heard of it.” Gale shrugs and point to both drawings. “You silly griffon.” Cadance ruffled his feathered head with a hoof getting him to push it away as she teased him.
“You have a good heart cousin.” He chirped happily in reply.
Gilda flew into view landing on the balcony. “Morning dweebs!”
Cadance sighed. “Do you ever use Gale's door?”
“In the morning? Nope, it the more direct way to meeting the cub.” Gilda chuckled. “Still can't believe I didn't hear the Princess scream out in horror two days ago.” Gilda walked inside.
Cadance was at Shining Armor's home at the time so neither her or Shining knew till they were told about it themselves. “We didn't either, still I gather Aunt Luna had her reasons.”
Gilda shuddered. “She keep away from my dreams I be fine.”
“Best to ask her then.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Fine whatever... Shall we head to the dining room? Breakfast awaits!” Gilda changes the subject.
Cadance rolled her eyes. “The profile makes her seem like a angel. How do you put up with her?” Gale tilt his head.
Gilda chuckled putting her talon on the door handle. “He knows how I act, the cub not stupid Candy.” She opens it and walk out the bedroom, the guards looked at Gilda walk out but after two days so far of this they gotten use to it.
“After breakfast, off to practice on your writing?” Gale nods putting on his bandanna, hind leg pads, picking up his bag with supplies and one plush with head sticking out the side of it. “Ready and eager?” Gale chirps happily and walk out with Cadance.
Things for Gale fell into a pattern for the last few days, breakfast, writing practice, lunch, learning a bit more about griffons, dinner and reading books in the castle library with noticeable restrictions in place from accessing certain books and spells.
The two days felt as if time just flew by without much of a thought to it, Gale read about if you get into a routine things seem to just whiz by without remember much of it. With how things felt for him it seem to be true, yet some how he could remember every little detail that caught his attention, so maybe it wasn't all true or it just made him that bit more special.
One thing that was different were each dream, he got to just play around with Blue and have fun for how ever length of time each dream adventure last. Gale estimated it felt minutes to hours at times, the dream time lengths were very random.
“Gale stop staring into space and move those legs!” Gilda yelled out, Gale blinked as he realised he'd been standing still staring off into space. “Dweeb sometimes your head really too far into the clouds!” Gale opened his wings and flew right past not only her but Cadance too racing down the hall.
Gilda grins. “Oh! You want a race huh? Your on!” Gilda took off after him.
Cadance watched the two griffons zoom off down the hallway. “Guess I made the right call on Gilda.” She happily walked on after them taking her time till she ran into Shining Armor looking a bit dazed. “Had a fly by action of the griffons Shiny?”
Shining Armor readjusting his helmet. “Yep I sure did.” He finally got the helmet on right. “I told them yesterday not to zoom around the halls like that...”
“Gilda has a rebellious nature and Gale is just being a cub wanting to have a bit of fun.” Cadance giggled. “I do believe you were the same with Twily when she was Aunt Celestia's student all those years ago.”
Shining Armor turn red slightly in the cheeks rubbing his right foreleg over his left. “Hehe... Okay your right...”
“I know I am and do not worry I'll talk to them about it.” Cadance walk on to the dining room for breakfast.
Shining Armor watched her leave and walk on towards the barracks. “Well best to see to the trainee recruits that returned from their two week hike from Manehatten to Canterlot.” Shining Armor trots off in the opposite direction.
Shining Armor approached the barrack quarters where the new recruits stayed before being shipped out to Manehatten for their march back to Canterlot, Blue Star stood by the door to their barracks saluted. “Captain!”
“At ease Sergeant Blue Star.” Blue Star eased up a bit. “Are all twenty of them inside starting to feel relaxed after a long march?”
Blue Star glanced over at the door. “Yep, been hearing them chat and glad it's over.” He chuckled lightly. “If we learn from anything by our own experience-”
“-It far from over.” Shining Armor finished and laughed with Blue Star. “I believe it time to drop the ball on them.”
Blue Star nods. “Have fun Captain.” He saluted again and open the door for Shining Armor.
The captain smirked walking inside seeing all the recruits either removing their armour, lying on their backs on the bunk bed or talking among each other. One of them noticed Shining Armor glancing over to the door. “Captain in barracks!” They all quickly moved to stand before their beds in attention.
Shining Armour slowly walks by each of them. “You all have done a great job through out all your training, each of you have shown that you have what it is to be a guard here in the castle and through out Equestria.”
Shining turns around and walking back past them again. “But this isn't over yet, you all have one final assignment.” They all slightly groan. “Yes I know you all are tired but this final task shows even after marching through the country you are able and ready.”
Shining Armor turn around standing back at the start looking at each of them. “You will be assigned to one of the senior guards in Canterlot and do a full shift with them.” Shining Armor looked to his left and right. “Before I assign you all, Recruit Sunbeam step forwards!”
A orange cream Pegasus mare with blonde mane and tail with a three sunbeams coming off a sun cutiemark step forwards with a hoof up in a salute. “Captain!”
Shining Aromr step to the side. “You are to go with Sergeant Blue Star to the Royal Private Dining room to get your assignment directly from Princess Celestia.”
Many of the other ponies mutter to each other.
“Sir?”
“Sunbeam did I stutter?”
“No, I-”
“Don't question and march recruit!”
Sunbeam salute once again. “Y-yes sir.” She quickly leaves with Shining Armor closing the door behind her.
Sergeant Blue Star point a hoof out to follow him. “Come with me.” She still in armour minus the helmet followed close behind him to the private dining room without a word between them.
They arrived at the private dining room with Blue Star saluting to the guards, they opened the doors to let Sunbeam in. “Good luck recruit!”
Sunbeam gulped a bit. “Th-thank you sir...” She walk by the guards into the room followed by the doors being shut behind her.
Sitting at the long table in the middle of the room she saw Princess Celestia enjoying her breakfast, but Luna and Cadance were both there with one griffon Sunbeam seem to recognise from Junior Speedsters but the other was a mystery, he look young happy, a bit of a messy eater that made her chuckle inside her mind at the state of his beak and feathered area around it.
Celestia put down her fork noticing Sunbeam. “Morning Recruit Sunbeam, please come sit down at the table and join us for some breakfast.”
Sunbeam look to the spare seat and back over to Celestia. “Erm... I was told you be giving my assignment personally Princess?”
“Indeed that is correct, I will be doing it while you sit down and eat with us.” Celestia gestured to the seat.
Sunbeam look to it again and back to Celestia. “Is this a t-”
“Oh shut up and sit down already you dweeb! It free food from the princess!” Gilda spoke up glaring at Sunbeam. “I will give you two choices, either sit down and eat the food Princess Celestia made or I will take it right now and chow down on it!”
Sunbeam's stomach growled slightly, she step forwards and took off her hoof shoes before sitting down at the table. Sunbeam with her wings took the knife and folk to each the pancakes. “These are really good princess!”
Celestia beamed with delight. “I do hope so, I made them myself!”
Luna yawned a bit. “Sister please get on with it, I've eaten and wish to get some sleep.” Luna grumbled.
Celestia half looked to Luna. “Fine..” Celestia turn to Sunbeam. “Your assignment will be the personal guard to my son.”
Sunbeam swallowed. “Son? I don't recall hearing anything about you being pregnant Princess Celestia.”
Gilda instantly throw two closed fist talons into the air. “YES SHE SAID IT! HA-WHA!” Gilda screamed out leaning back so much that she and the chair fell backwards.
Luna and Cadance burst out in laughter followed by Gilda afterwards lying on back on the ground, Celestia had a very static look upon her face that was unreadable, but inside she was very red. Gale just sat there chewing slowly with a confused glance at his aunt, cousin and teacher in fits of laughter.
Sunbeam blinked a few times. “I am lost...”
Celestia coughed slightly into her right hoof. “Private... The son in question is my adoptive son sitting just beside me.” She gestured with a wing to Gale.
The Pegasus quickly looked to Gale. “Adoptive? When did this happen?”
“While you began your march from Manehatten your home town to Canterlot.” Celestia said keeping a calm neutral look as the others still laugh. “Gale I like you to meet Sunbeam she be the guard keeping you safe during the day.”
Gale raise his talon waving to her with a happy squawk, Gilda slowly calmed down and stood up putting the chair back up on it legs. “Oh boy... That was awesome!”
“Care to share this with me?” Celestia asked.
Gilda chuckled. “Sure thing, it was a bet made by me and Candy. I told Luna about our little bet before you showed up.” Gilda explained. “Simply put it Blue hooves proposed to Candy and I get to say it cause I won the bet!”
“I watched Blue Hooves on his back knees with both front hooves out holding out the box looking like some pony praying.” Gilda grinned. “Candy said yes and span him around in the air, never saw a unicorn turn so green so quickly!”
Gilda shrugged after a short laugh. “It didn't seem to bother them, they happy hugged and kissed with all that mushy stuff.” Gale stuck out his tongue in response to the kissing. “Yeah I am with ya on that one Gale.”
“Thank you aunty! I wanted to tell you in a better way but a bet a bet. I lost it fair and square.” Cadance gave Gilda an amused look.
Celestia had to admit hearing it from the colourful names Gilda gives them was unique. “I have to say in all my years never heard quite the revile of a proposal in this manner.”
“Was that bet to do with me asking that question?” Sunbeam asked.
Gilda grinned. “Oh it was and you did us proud! Not only we got a awesome funny moment that will last forever, but I got to be the one that broke the news!”
Celestia shook her head slightly. “What am I going to do with you three?”
“What the matter? We bested you?” Gilda countered.
“Indeed you did, well played. I didn't see this coming at all.” Celestia accepted defeat to her sister, niece and Gilda.
Sunbeam slowly went on eating her pancakes bewildered by this causal interaction between princesses and Gilda no less. “I'll tell you all about how it went down with Shining later Aunty.” Cadance said.
“I be happy to hear about it.” Celestia now turn her attention to Sunbeam. “Now Private Sunbeam...
“Private?”
“Yes your no longer a recruit but now a fully fledge guard.”
Sunbeam salutes. “Thank you Princess I will do you proud!”
Celestia turn to Gale as she responds. “I know you will Private Sunbeam, I read up about you being in the same club as Gilda and that you understand Griffish. I thought it be good to have a guard that not only keep my son safe but also help Gilda out to better understand Griffish writing.”
Gilda sat back down at the table. “Sure I'm good with that, it be good to have a guard that doesn't get stiff neck and go into 'Yes Sir, Prince!' mode around Gale.”
Sunbeam looked a bit confused. “That standard for us guards, we serve the crown.”
“Yeah yeah I know.” Gilda gave a dismissive wave. “But as I said to Blue Hooves and Flash, his a cub.” Gilda stated.
“So... I don't take orders from him?” Sunbeam asked for conformation.
“No, you take orders from me, Luna or Cadance. Gilda is teaching Gale to write, speak and to be a Griffon to a certain degree.” Celestia still so ever calm explained to Sunbeam.
Sunbeam turn to Gale as he eats the last of his breakfast. “Princess I thank you for this great opportunity and this position! I will not fail you!” She said to Celestia with determination.
Celestia turn to Gale and Gilda. “Why don't you take Gale to start his lessons in writing and studying Griffish, I will tell Private Sunbeam everything need to to know to do her job as guard to him.”
Gilda drunk the last of her tea. “Sure whatever you say.” Gilda got off her chair. “Come on featherbrain, time to get those talons writing!”
Gale put all his plates and cups together in a neat pile, before he joined Gilda the teenager gave Sunbeam a quick hug. Gale soon followed Gilda out of the dining room. “As for I, I am getting some sleep.” Luna yawned. “Good night sister.”
“Sleep well Luna.” Luna leaves the dining room.
Cadance pour herself another cup of tea. “I'll stick around, I like to hear what my cousin been up too since I've been away.”
“Very well...” Celestia turn to Sunbeam. “Listen carefully cause I am only going to tell you this once Sunbeam.”
Sunbeam salutes. “Yes princess, ready when you are.”
On one of the roofs of the castle Gale sat with his forelegs crossed, he had a face of thunder as he looked out to the horizon at the mountain that continues to smoke from a full grown dragon slept within, not to far was Gilda lying down with a hind leg crossed over on the roof with talons behind her head chilling and Sunbeam standing beside her.
“How long do you think he will stay like that?” Sunbeam asked without taking her eyes off Gale.
Gilda turn her head slightly. “Who knows, Gale an teenager with a mind of a child, this is a temper tantrum.” Gilda now turn to Gale. “Celestia made her move to stop the cub from doing something stupid.”
Sunbeam didn't respond since she recalled what lead up to Gale turning into a very grumpy annoyed griffon.
After having some lunch Gale walking down the hallway to meet up with Gilda over heard a conversation between Celestia and Shining Armor, he curiously peered around the corner to see them talking.
“-Twilight and the others did help your sister princess, but this is a full grown dragon we talking about! One that can breathe fire enough to melt even gold.” Shining Armor with serious concern about the task Celestia had given to his sister and friends.
Celestia looked out the window at the smoke coming from the mountain. “It not a rampaging dragon Captain, I believe your sister and her friends can get him to move.”
“How do you know it a him?” Shining asked. “Also a sleeping dragon being rudely woken up might be a rampage cause.”
Celestia turn to him noticing Gale not so successfully hiding around the corner. “I understand your concerns but I believe they can do it, don't you think Twilight is a capable mare?”
Shining Armor rubbed the back of his neck. “Right Princess Celestia, I understand, but as a over protective brother I still don't like it.” Shining Armor looked out the window at the smoke. “Could I at least have guards on hoof encase it goes south?”
Gale looked in the direction Shining Armor looked at seeing the smoke, he got very curious about seeing a full grown dragon not paying much attention to how much danger one could be. His imagination could picture what a full grown dragon could be, he had to see it.
The young griffon turn around to find Celestia towering over him. “Mum!” He squawked in surprise.
Celestia raised her hoof. “Your bag.”
gale tensed up looking to his bag and back to her. “Mum?” He tilted his head.
“Bag now...” Gale gulped and slowly took it off, he placed it over her hoof. “I will give this back to you at supper time Gale.”
“Muuuum....” He whins.
Celestia kept it close to her, plush and all in the bag now held out of reach from Gale. “No mum me minster, I saw that look. You were about to try and sneak off to see the dragon for yourself, I might only been your mum for little more than two week but I can what you were up to.”
Gale lower his head and rose it to say. “M-”
“Not another word, go to Gilda for your griffon lessons.” She point her wing down the hallway.
Gale looked anger and annoyed at Celestia, he wasn't going to go anywhere far without his plush and his mum knew it. Sunbeam followed the teenager as he dragged his paws and talons on the carpet down the hallway.
“Why are you not teaching him anything about being a griffon?” Sunbeam asked.
Gilda chuckled. “I am, this lesson is; you can't get everything your way and just suck it up.” Gilda bouncing her hind leg, just chilling. “If Gale want to continue to sulk so be it, he'll learn one way or the other.”
Sunbeam didn't say another word, she left this in Gilda's talons.
Time ticked by and all the sudden Amber lands before them on the roof startling all of them. “What the name of Grover!?” Gilda quickly was on her talons and paws staring at her. “How did you get up here?”
Amber points behind herself with a thumb jab over the shoulder. “From the tower behind you silly.”
The two griffons and guard turn to the taller tower. “Okay, next question; why were you in that tower?”
“Watching six ponies climb the mountain to the dragon's cave.” Amber answered walking up to Gale kneeing down to him, he still trying to get over the shock of her sudden arrival.
Sunbeam still looking up at the tower noticing Cadance standing in view laughing behind a hoof. “What?” Gilda stared at Amber.
“Also Princess Cadance told me it be funny to see you all jump in fright.”
Gilda growls. “What?” She took a good look at the tower opening to see Cadance laughing at their expense. “Candy...”
Amber still kneeing before Gale shook her head a little. “Now what am I gonna do with you hmm?”
Gale grunts with a turn of the head. “Still sulking I see.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Seriously cub...”
Amber reach under his wing with her hand paw using the fingers to tickle the feathers, Gale snorts and try his hardest to not to smile but exploding into laughter in seconds. “Now that what I want to see.” Amber move her paw hand away. “Now are you going to give another frowny face?”
Gale still smiling ruffling his wings shook his head. “Nicely done Amber.”
“Gilda you could of done it yourself.” Amber turn to her.
Gilda shrugged. “Not my thing and you handled it.”
Amber rolled her eyes. “You never change Gilda.” She take a few steps and pushing down on her legs to leap over to the tower landing at the open window, waving for them to follow she slips inside.
Gilda chuckled. “What a show off, so typical for Gingernut.” Gilda open her wings up taking off to the tower followed by Gale and Sunbeam.
Upon entering the tower through the window they found a upper level to the tower room with a rotatable platform and on it a telescope, it peering in the direction of a large circular window that went two thirds way around the tower wall part from small parts of pillar between it.
Gilda recalled not seeing a window from the outside like this. “What kind of trick is this? How can a wall on the outside be a window in the inside?” Gale curiously flew up to a pillars right side placing a talon out to touch glass.
Cadance standing by the telescope watched Gale flying to one part to another pressing his talons against the glass gentle. “Princess Celestia had this tower specially made for observing the lands facing away from the mountain, this telescope been magical enhanced to see to the horizon.”
“Are you telling me-” Gilda begins to say.
Gale turn around to it as Cadance walked around it. “I and Amber been observing Twilight and her friends climbing the mountain from this, yes we have.”
Gilda slap her talon over her forehead. “Seriously!? You had something like this here and Celestia didn't even think of saying anything about it!?” Gilda put her talons out to the telescope.
Amber crossed her arms. “It able to see anything that doesn't obstruct it view...”
“Ah I-” Gilda pauses and blinks. “Why the blazes are you sharing this with us now, you dweeb!”
“Because from what I know of, this tower been unponyed for a very long time, it was built way way long ago by Princess Celestia. How long? You have to ask her.” Amber answered.
Gilda groans shaking her head. “That not it at all!” Gilda standing on her paws flaring her wings out before Amber. “This thing is for your capitals defence, you pretty much told me your first look out is!”
“And?”
“Gingernut...”
Cadance speaks up. “I can see where your going on this Gilda and I thank you for your concern.” Cadance turn to the telescope. “The fact is as Amber points out, there been no pony posting here since I lived in the castle, I spend time here relaxing and looking out to the lands.”
“And Celestia?”
“Auntie Celestia knows what I did with the Observation Tower, yet again you didn't pay attention to what was being said.” Cadance said calmly to her. “Also I know Amber here from Manehatten, that being said... This place is my sanctuary.”
Gilda raise an eye brow. “So you basically turned this into your own sanctuary?” Gilda repeated about the place and not caring much about how Amber knew Cadance.
Gale was curious listening to them talk his prior sourness fading by a second.
“Pretty much.” Cadance hints to the book shelves, desk and candles. “I even cleaned up this place in my own time.”
Gilda rolled here eyes. “Fine whatever...” Gilda walked up to the telescope. “This thing pointing at the mountain?”
Amber placed her hand paw on the side of it. “Yep, just take a look Gilda.”
Gilda put her right eye to the eye piece taking hold of the knobs on the side of the eye piece to adjust it, to her surprise she saw Rainbow Dash and hers walking alongside the cliff edge of the mountain. “Wow that some range...” Gilda step to the side. “Take a look Gale.”
Gale flew over from the glass landing by her to take a look through the eye piece, quickly being startled he looked at the mountain without peering into the eye piece, he looked back into it again a few more times trying to understand how he saw so close with it.
“Now you can see what going on over at the mountain without being there, cool right?” Amber put her hand paws on her hips with a smirk.
Gale nods and continue to watch Twilight and the others, he noticed Rainbow Dash hit a bush flying by it causing leaves to fall, one land on Fluttershy and she screams out but Applejack put her hoof over her muzzle.
Gale gasped seeing that a rock-slide was in progress, he squawk in alarm raising his head from it pointing to the eye piece rapidly, Cadance quickly look into it. “Oh no Twilight! She and her friends are running from an avalanche rocks and loose dirt!”
Gilda pushes her out the way not caring about Cadance being a Princess. “Come on dweebs move your hooves!”
Amber helped Cadance up. “Are you okay Princess?”
“Yes I am.” She dusted herself off. “I just hope Twilight is...”
Gilda sighed in relief a moment later. “Geez... Talk about close, they all okay and climbing over the rock-slide to get to the cave.” Gilda spoke out raising her head. “What caused that in the first place?”
Gale thinking quickly and raise a talon as a idea come to mind, he put a wing over his face peering behind it slightly. “Shy?” Cadance guested and he nods in reply.
“You can't be serious, Fluttershy caused that?” Gale nods to Gilda. “Yeah right...” Gilda crossed her forelegs and seconds later a faint echo of Fluttershy's voice shouting out 'avalanche'. “No way...” Gilda whispered.
Sunbeam took a look into the eye piece. “Fluttershy got some lunges on her when she want to use it.” The calm words made them all stare at her as she rose her head looking around. “It true.”
Gale rubbed the back of his neck glancing to Gilda. “Don't look at me dweeb, we all heard her echo from all the way here.”
“That something I most likely think we never figure out.” Cadance took her turn to look into it. “Look like they arrived at the cave safely, wonder how they going to deal with the dragon.”
Gale point to it and Cadance step back to let him look into it, he watched as Twilight came up with a plan, unable to hear what she saying he could only guess. One thing that got him surprised was Fluttershy refusing to go into the cave, they all pushed in a chain to get her to move but she didn't budge a muscle.
Twilight goes in and comes out, next Rarity does and followed by a strange outfit by Pinkie Pie going into the cave. Gale curiously tilt his head looking very confused at what they exactly where doing inside the cave where the dragon slept in.
“Cub, care to share?” Gale turn and nod letting Gilda look into it.
Gilda watched Rainbow Dash speaking with her hooves moving around. “Not good, Dash is upset over something between her friends and just zoomed right into the cave with Purple shouting out something to her.”
“And?”
“And... Rainbow Dash just been blasted out of the cave knocking four of her friends ov...er...”Gilda gulped loudly. “Oh boy that is one big dragon...”
Gale gasps and push his head against Gilda's to share the eye piece as they both try to see what going on, Amber watched with Sunbeam and Cadance. “Who got a camera?”
Cadance raise one in her magical grasp. “I do.” She snaps a few photos of them getting a laugh from Amber.
Gale was seeing a super sized red dragon with gold chest plates and ear inner fins, both griffons watched as black smoke poured from his massive muzzle over five ponies slamming them into a rock face.
They watched intently as Fluttershy suddenly grew anger and flew up onto the top of the snout of the dragon glaring into his eyes that were bigger than a pony. Suddenly he lowers his head with a whimper, smiles started to form of their beaks as they try not to laugh with snorts coming from both griffons.
“They finding something amusing.” Amber raise an eye brow.
Fluttershy had her forelegs on her flanks with a dominating look upon the much bigger dragon, he suddenly bursts into tears.
That was it for the griffons they exploded into laughter falling over on their backs holding their guts. “Now I am curious what got you two laughing?”
They paused with Gilda raising a talon and open beak before exploding into fits of laughter again followed by Gale.
Amber and Cadance looked at each other with confusion as the two griffons continue to hallow with laughter followed by tears falling from their eyes.
“At least his not grumpy anymore.” Sunbeam commented.
From a balcony Celestia looked up hearing the laughter from the tallest tower, smiling the princess walked back inside to her room awaiting the report to come from Twilight Sparkle as the smoke was being cleared up by the weather teams.
“Now Gale get to see what going on in the world without sneaking out of Canterlot without anypony knowing.” Celestia look to his bag of drawing items to plush toy, by the open door Shining Armor stood.
Shining Armor stood to attention. “Did it work?”
“Yes; yes it did Captain Armor, thank you for suggesting this.”
“Thank you for taking my suggestion.”
Celestia nods. “You may go captain.” Shining Armor salutes and leaves closing the door behind him, Celestia turn to the open doors to the balcony. “So much more to learn about being a parent...” She whispered as a scroll appeared before her from Twilight Sparkle.
With a smile the princess open it to read the latest friendship report from her formal student on how they handled the dragon.
“Gale... Seriously you need to get off me or I am going to miss my train!” Gilda try pulling Gale off her, he refusing to let go from his iron talon grip locked around each other behind her neck.
“Son, Gilda be back by Monday morning.” Celestia tried to give him reinsurance.
Gilda saw him refusing to budge still, Celestia's horn lit up but the griffon shook her head. “I got this Princess.” Celestia cancels out the magic from her horn. “Gale let go and I will give you something that make sure I will return okay?”
Gale slowly let go and stepping back on his paws before dropping down on his talons. “Gilda?”
Gilda took off her pendent and presented it him. “This is my most prized procession, it a Diamond Sapphire.” Gale slowly took it and open it up to look at the gem. “Like you trust me with your plush I trust you with this.”
Gale smiled warmly and took her talon, she about to say something but he placed it on the talon closing it up with a warm happy nod. “It seem the bond of trust has came full circle, not only he trust you but you trust him.” Celestia smiled. “I doubt he will death grip you now.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Thanks Trollestia.” Gilda salutes and flies off before Celestia could even say a word.
Gale turn to his mum. “Mum... Tr-Tro-” Celestia eye twitches. “Trollestia?” He tilted his head and Celestia groans loudly slapping her hoof on the forehead.
“Great... New third word...” Celestia muttered opening her wing up pushing Gale to go back into the castle. “Come son. I have a few things to explain about that.” Gale nods as they walk back into the castle.
Gilda lands at the train station opening the door and entering the train carriage quickly as the whistle blew. “Talk about cutting it to the whistle...” Gilda look to the pendent still in her right talon. “Now I have no choice but to come back for sure...”
A guard on the train came up to Gilda. “Lady Gilda on behalf of Princess Celestia the royal carriage is open for you.”
Gilda looked over to him. “Lady... Gilda?” She repeated.
“Yes ma'am, your the personal tutor of Prince Gale are you not?”
“Yeah? What does that have to do with the title?” Gilda raise an eye.
The guard shrugged. “It just what Princesses Celestia and Luna informed the guard that stationed at the royal carriage to call you by.”
Gilda groans as she put the pendent back on. “When I thought I get one up on her she strikes again. That annoying dweeb...” Gilda muttered walking by him to the carriage. “Might as well take advantage of it.”
The guard watch her walk up to the door pushing it open and walk through the door entering the next carriage. “I don't understand...” He blinked a few times not talking to anyone but himself.
Gilda found a seat by the window in one of the cabins, sitting down at it she stared out the fast disappearing city in the distance. “That crazy cub is really growing me...” Gilda put a talon on the side of face resting the elbow on the side. “I stuck up for him when Dash did that joke... I seriously can't stop thinking about that day...”
Time past as she for the first time in a while left to really think on her own about the whole time Gilda not only spent with Gale, the job she got and Rainbow Dash. The image of Rainbow Dash getting knocked out of the cave by the big red dragon sent chills down her spine to her tail, even they are not friends she wouldn't want something like that to happen the the Pegasus that stood up for her.
“That dweeb got me acting all sappy...” Gilda turn to the bag she had toss to the side when walking into the cabin, opening it up she pulled out the photo with her and Gale fighting to look through the telescope. With a snort and small smile Gilda stared at the still image. “What we both witnessed and laughed about will never go away, this is one memory that dorky cub got me remembering for a long time to come.”
Gilda once again look out the window as the train slowed to a stop at Ponyville before making it track to Griffonstone. That is when she noticed Fluttershy and the shy pony also noticed her through the window, Gilda grinned and put her talons to her forehead with a mock salute to her.
Fluttershy looked confused as Spike came running up to her. “Oh you will get why I did that Shy.” Gilda chuckled sitting back on the seat with talons behind her head with the picture resting on her lap, relaxing and quite content Gilda was heading back home before the chaos of home can bring.
Fluttershy watched the train pull away very bewildered by Gilda being not only in it but saluting her? She was very puzzled by this action. “Fluttershy I got a letter sent from Princess Celestia for you.” Spike came up to her handing her the scroll.
“Oh? How do you know it for me?” Fluttershy asked and saw the symbol on the seal with a butterfly on it. “Oh, it got a butterfly on it like my cutie mark.”
“Yeah, Twilight was surprised but she got me to find you and delivery it personally.” Spike beamed with pride at his successful task at claw.
Fluttershy removed the seal and opened it up. “I better read it right away if it from the Princess.”
Spike nods. “Maybe it for what you did about that big red dragon!”
Fluttershy looked suddenly nervous. “I-I did what I had to for my friends.”
“Yeah I know, so what it say?” Spike was curious about the letter.
Fluttershy start to read it. “Hey Shy...” She begins and blinks. “I don't usuallywrite this kind of stuff but-”
“That doesn't sound like Princess Celestia... That sound like-”
“Gilda... It was written by Gilda...” Fluttershy showed him the writing. “See it all in Griffish.”
Spike looked at the lettering. “Your right! I studied this stuff with Twilight, I didn't expect her to write this to you.”
“I am surprised too...” Fluttershy looked around nervously. “Can we go back to my home please and read the rest there?”
“Sure!” Both Spike and Fluttershy went to her cottage.
Sitting down on the cough and sofa Fluttershy reopen the scroll, she reads it to Spike.
Hey Shy
I don't usually write this kind of stuff but after what me and Gale saw what you did to that big dragon I had to, what you did wasn't only amazing but I just couldn't stop laughing with Gale at how you put down that dragon!
When we first met and the way you acted I thought your just some pansy pony that scared of everything, but after what I saw you earned my respect for not only dealing with that brute but also saving your dweeby friends as well! After being a teacher in my own personal way to Gale I got to admit that the cub grew on me and made me think about how I might of poorly handled things with Dash.
Also keeping this between you and me, thanks for saving her and that comes from being a pal not a friend, still miffed at that dweeb for breaking that promise all those years back. Just not enough to have her get really badly hurt which you prevented.
Well enough of the sabby stuff, Candy took a photo of us laughing our heads off, so I left a copy of that photo from that telescope we saw you did that awesome thing to the brute. Still not sure what you did but it was still amazing either way!
Be cool you dweeb!
Your pal GildaI
Fluttershy looked to the photo attached to the scroll seeing they laughing. “Awww...”
Spike rubbed the back of his neck. “So... Between us only?”
Fluttershy raise her eyes from the scroll to Spike. “If you don't mind Spike, it seem she wanted to say this to me and me alone.”
Spike did a cross action across his chest. “You have my word Fluttershy, I won't say a word to anypony.”
“Thank you.” Fluttershy replied. “Would you like to stay for some tea since your around, if that okay with you?”
Spike thought about it and nods. “I would love to Fluttershy! Just make sure that crazy bunny Angel stays away from me okay?”
“Indeed, I think a good family get together is something we all need.” Gale's mum voice responded.
“I am sure he will enjoy it Princess Celestia.” Shining Armor's voice spoke up next.
“I do not know exactly what this-”
“SHHHH!” Came the others shhing at Luna.
“I was onl-”
“Sister, this is a surprise family outing, Gale has no idea where we going, please don't ruin it.”
Luna sighed. “Fine Celestia, I will keep quiet...”
Gale listened to them as he wasn't able to see with a blindfold over his eyes, unlike the game he played back at Pinkie Pie's party this time his eyes were covered for a surprise. He was curious what that surprise was as he continue to listen to the others talk and the movement of the coach they sat in.
Cadance speaks next. “Is Blueblood going to be there?”
“Yes Cadance, I asked for him to come by soon as I heard he returned from the his diplomatic meeting with the Mayor of Trottingham.” Celestia replied.
“Are you sure the prince be up to this? It isn't exactly the place I even seen him go to.”
“Captain, we never done something together as a family, I only met him a few times since my return but our dear nephew will join in this family activity.” Luna responded.
Gale turn his head towards Luna's voice tilting his head with ears twitching slightly. “Bloodblue is a prince and our nephew, that makes him your cousin like Cadance.” Celestia told him, he turned and smiled with a nod.
Gale was even more eager to go to wherever they were going to, he wondered what this Blueblood be like, would he be like Cadance? He was very curious reaching up to the blindfold to remove it but Cadance speaks up. “You really want to ruin your surprise Gale?” He hesitated to remove it. “Please wait cousin.”
Gale lower his talons placing them on the lap with a nod in reply to not remove the blindfold from over his eyes, he decided to drift to his imagination while the ride continue.
Gale opened his eyes to sitting by the river side in the carven looking out at the crystal blue lake towards to waterfall. “Master Gale, I sense your day dreaming?”
Gale turn to Blue. “Yeah, mum, auntie Luna, Cousin Cadance and Shining got a blindfold over my eyes blindfolding me. They taking me somewhere for a family outing, we meeting there too another cousin I didn't know about till now. He was at a place called Trottingham.”
“Trottingham, I recall you speaking to me about it being a mix of griffon and ponies on a island called Griffish Isles.” Blue step up beside Gale sitting down and dipping his paws into the crystal clear water kicking lightly through it. “I await your return to hear about Blueblood.”
Gale stared down at his paws in the water. “I will Blue.” He rose his head up looking over to the blue, cream and black jackal diamond dog. “It always fun to come here when I choose too.”
“That it may Master Gale, this reality is your own imagination as I am.” He placing the paw hand on Gale's shoulder. “Master Gale you arrived.”
Gale blinked through the bandanna. “Mum?”
“We here Gale, you can pull off the blindfold.” Celestia excitingly said.
Gale pull off the blindfold, his eyes adjust to the sun high above and as they refocus he saw that they all stood just outside a building with a big sign showing three pins being struck down by a black ball with fake explosion cut out behind them.
Something about the sign felt familiar, a sense he been in a place such as this before, he just couldn't place his talon on the tip of his beak on it. “Something the matter Gale?”
Gale shrugged to Shining's question.
“Don't know?” Gale nods to Shining Armor.
Celestia nod to the guards as they took position. “From my guess my little Gale having another sense of familiarity.” Celestia drape a wing over Gale. “Am I right son?”
Gale hummed a little and nods.
Flash Sentry lands before them with a salute. “Prince Blueblood just arrived at the station and on the way here, he be arriving in five minutes.”
“Thank you Private.” Cadance said and he took off into the sky again. “It seem we got time to step up the lane aunty.”
“Indeed we do, shall we go in?” Celestia lift her wing pointing it to the doors.
Luna stared. “Lane? Sister this bowling what is it purpose?”
“Oh you will see~” Celestia sang walking up to the doors opening them with her magic.
Luna walked quickly after her. “Sister explain!”
“Nope~”
Shining Armor rubbed his bear furry chest with his blue hoof. “I don't feel right without my armour Cadance, I know this is a outing but I am still captain and I should be prepared-”
“Shining~”
“Yes Cadance?”
Cadance smirked using her blue aura magic to zap him at the rump causing him to yelp bouncing towards to door. “Like to say something else about it Captain?”
“Nope I am good!” He rubbed his rump.
Gale tilt his head scratching the top of it with a talon trying to understand why his cousin just zapped Shining Armor with her magic, he just shrugged and followed them inside the building to find they approaching a desk, just beyond it was ponies sitting down at some seats while others was rolling big different colour balls down lanes into the pins.
The sound of rolling and pins getting hit echoed through out the building through the loud lively music that was playing around them. Gale walked up to the desk standing beside Celestia as she spoke to the desk receptionist. “May I have a lane for five ponies and a griffon please?”
The light blue unicorn stallion with green mane and tail wearing a red stripped shirt and red hat responds. “Of course princess, may I say this is a surprise to see all of you here at Canterlot Bowls.”
“It a family outing, thought we need some family get together including family to be.” She hints to Shining Armor.
“Very well, may I have your names for the lane.”
“Of course you may. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Gale and Blueblood.” Celestia gives the names out to the stallion.
Using his magic write them down on a sheet of paper. “Is that one or two games?”
“One for now, if we wish for a second I will let you know.” Celestia calmly replied.
He nods. “Of course Princess.” He gives her the sheet. “Only lane we have is Lane five beside the Wonderbolts, enjoy your time here at Canterlot Bowls.” He bowed his head slightly.
Celestia bow her head too. “Thank you I am glad we all will.” Celestia turn around to the group. “It look like we not the only high profile here today.”
Gale heard Wonderbolts and peer past the desk to see them without their flight suits on at Lane Six seating area, they were wearing jackets with symbols on them. He quickly took off to Lane Six, Shining glanced at the others they nod and he rushed after the teenager, the manes followed at their own paste to Lane Five.
Gale flying over a bunch of ponies land on the slippery surface almost face planting but after a few skating movements with his talons and paws, the teenager had his beak tip only a few inches from Spitfire who had hold of a bowling ball ready to roll it. “Hello cub, good to see you again.” She said very calmly to him. “Do you mind stepping back so I can bowl?”
Gale nods and took a few steps back from her, Shining Armor slowed to a short trot. “That was too close...” He whispered to himself.
Spitfire rolled the ball down the lane hitting eight out of ten pins. “Right, while I wait for my ball to return, what do I own this unexpected surprise?”
“We on a family outing.” Shining stepped up beside the teenager. “Princess Celestia thought we should have one and so here we are.”
Spitfire raise a eye. “I don't recall you being part of the royal family.”
Cadance spoke up as the others arrived. “He proposed to me.”
“Ah! That explains it.” Spitfire chuckled. “Good for you Captain.” She playfully hit Shining's shoulder. “Princess.” She turn to salute with a wing across the forehead.
Princess Celestia waved her hoof dismissively. “At ease Spitfire, we all ponies at this moment, so just call me Celestia for now shall we?”
“Of course P-Celestia.” Spitfire almost slipped. “First time for the cub bowling?”
“I believe it is and isn't.” Spitfire gazed at Gale with confusion. “It a memory recovery thing, a sense of feeling as it were.”
Spitfire turn to the sound of the ball clicking against another. “Well I hope he and all of your do.” Spitfire walk away to get her ball.
Luna watched Spitfire pick it up with a hoof walk to the lane and with a thrust of the foreleg it rolls fast down it to strike the last two pins for a spare, she give a pump and the other five members of the team that joined her today cheered for their captain. “Interesting... So the point of this game is to roll said ball down the lane and strike out these pins?”
Celestia turn to her. “Pretty much Luna, but it not always that simple, you can get a split that ends up using a skill that professional bowlers use to knock what seem impossible to us novices.”
Gale walked up to their lane looking down it at the pins, he recalling that he'd play something like this but couldn't recall a memory of when or where it was. “Come on cousin, let get a ball each from the wrack so we can start playing.” Cadance spoke to Gale, he nods and follows her to the rack to take a look at he bowling balls.
Blueblood arrives at the lane finding his aunts talking to each other and Shining Armor as they put their bowling balls down into the slots ready to be used. “Aunty Celestia and Luna!”
“Ah Bloodblue good to see you made it.” Celestia turn around to greet him. “How was your diplomatic meeting with the mayor?”
“It went well as expected for a griffon of his stature aunty, in fact he arrived in Canterlot with me.” Blueblood turn to look behind towards a black griffon with yellow beak and talons with light grey feathers on his head and wings, blue eyes and wearing a red jacket with gold buttons on it with gold colour seems on the collar to the foreleg cuffs.
The griffon stood before her and bowed. “Princess.”
“Mayor Greystrom.” Celestia bow her head slightly in respect to him. “I do apologise if you are here for official reasons but as for this time I will not be doing any such thing till at least Monday.” Celestia apologised to the griffon.
Greystorm raise his head. “Not at all Princess, having a newly adopted son you must balance out work and live.”
Blueblood turn to Celestia. “I got wind of it from a few guards just before the papers relieved it to the public. I am surprised Aunty that you took in a griffon from the streets.”
Celestia's right eye twitched soon as he said that and Greystrom with his excellent vision spoke up quickly to save a blow out. “Prince Bloodblue I advise not speaking ill of Prince Gale.”
“It true is-”
“Your highness with all due respect look at your aunt.” Greystorm bluntly spoke.
Blueblood did and saw the twitching eye. “Aunty I-”
“Blueblood he is my son, I do not care what background he may or may not had, I took him in under my wing and will act in the best interest of Gale.” Celestia warily stated. “Greystorm, I warn you too, my son is not a typical griffon he has no care for wealth only happiness.”
Greystorm could see Gale lifting a yellow ball up to Cadance squawking happily to her and she ruffling his feathered head as he laughed she did too. “It is as I heard Princess, he is not tainted as many of us are and I hope he never is. I will retire to the castle and take in the sights of the city.”
Blueblood walked over to another rack to get a ball of his own knowing the details in the reason of being at the bowling alley thanks to the guards.
Celestia gave him a suspicious look as Greystorm leaves. “Something about Greystorm just don't seem to be right..." Celestia whispers to Luna.
"Nor did Blueblood, it seemed odd..." Luna whispered back.”
“In all my years of knowing the mayor what just happened has never happened. He impatient, rash and all on top of that think of his bits he can save but keeping the ponies and griffons happy enough to not have him removed from office.”
“Play to their wishes but saving enough to keep his pockets full?” Luna whispered back getting a nod from Celestia. “I can see why you are very suspicious as I am now of him, his words seem rehearsed for a play as were our nephew's.”
Celestia glanced over to Gale as Shining Armor had him and Cadance to inform of Blueblood's arrival. “With Greystorm in the castle this weekend, I fear for what he may try and attempt with my son...”
“As do I sister, but for now let's not worry about him and play this bowling shall we?”
“Of course Lulu.”
Gale come up to Celestia showing his ball to her. “Ah a ball for claws and paws, nice choice son.” Gale nods happily. “Go on Gale you go first and give it your best shot!”
“Mum!” He squawks happily and take it to their lane.
Standing up on his paws, placing the two finger and thumb claws into the holes he place the other talon under raising the ball to level with one eye before pulling back his right foreleg and letting the ball skim across the lane right for the pins to score a-
The ball rolled towards the pins as it seem to about to hit, but ends up shifting to the right as it rolled and ends up rolling into the gutter of the lane once again. Gale growls and squawks angularly as his second go failed to show a result on the score card as Cadance wrote down a zero on Gale's line.
Gale walked back to the seat jumping up on it crossing his forelegs grumbling under his breath. “Kiddo it a good try, you never played before.” Shining Armor pat him on the back slightly. “Look at Blueblood he only got three pins out of two turns.”
Gale turn and glared at him with a snappy squawk. “I have to agree with the griffon, your not helping us to make us feel better.” Blueblood also glared at Shining Armor.
“I have to agree with the both of them, bad choice of words.” Luna said walking by to take her turn. “I have only score four in my first turn and yet you do not speak of my poor play.”
Shining Armor looked around seeing they all gave him a disapproving look part from Cadance just smiling and a slight shake of her head. “Shiny, you do this on a weekly bases with your fellow guard, karma will bite you in the rump.”
Celestia watched but didn't say anything to add to it. “You do know the cub going to explode with he keeps guttering.” Spitfire stated as she watched the results from her teams on lane.
“I know Spitfire, not everything works out as you want it too.” Celestia watched Luna manage to score out of her two throws three more to her score sheet. “I am just hoping to have a nice day out and it seem to be going down hill...”
Spitfire chuckled. “You worry too much Celestia, nothing is perfect.”
Soarin spoke up. “Yeah, look at me, I am really bad at bowling but being with my team-mates is what matters, use that.”
Celestia turn to Soarin. “I will, thank you Soarin.”
“No problem Princess.” He gave a mock salute getting a laugh from Celestia.
Celestia walks up to them. “I believe we should stop thinking about who will win and what really matters.” They all turn to her. “Family, we all family or to be, let see that and enjoy our time.” Celestia pick up the bowl to take her turn. “So one wins and one loses, it doesn't matter at the end.” Celestia rolls it with her hoof.
The ball gutters. “What do you say to a gutter?”
“It can go to Tartarus.” Celestia turn to Shining Armor as she bluntly repiled.
Gale burst into laughter soon the others did too. “That we all haha can haha agree.” Luna said between fits of laughter.
Blueblood put a hoof to his chest as his laughter calms. “I agree, the gutter is our nemesis.”
“How about we all score at least one pin and aim to not get guttered?” Cadance suggested.
“Agreed!” They all replied with a squawk from Gale.
Celestia goes in for her second throw, as the game goes on with their turns Gale stares off into space drifting into his Dream Cavern.
“Ah Master Gale, I have been observing the game and set this up.” Blue showed the bowling lane with the pins at the end of it. “Unlike the real thing the pins reform after two throws, since reality has no limit in a dream.”
Gale step up to it. “I don't want to gutter...”
“I know, so after watching through the window on the tree to your left I believe this will help.” Blue gives Gale the ball. “Master Gale the bowl weighs what you felt, do you feel it slightly weighted on one side?”
Gale bouncing it up and down slightly on his talons. “Yeah I can. Why?”
“I believe they were made like that.” Blue walk to the window and tap the left side a few times with the image reversing in time to stop. “Now watch Spitfire.”
Gale recall seeing this in the corner of his eyes. “She rolls it with a twist, I saw 6 to spares with a strike from her.”
“Indeed and your catching onto the game fast.”
Gale stared at him.
“I remember seeing and hearing things... Some I don't understand but this I did, it very simple maths to keep score, spares put ten on top of the score you make on the next turn while strikes increase in score by a times factor of the pins you hit the next turn. You hit ten turns of strikes you can score the maximum score of 300.”
Blue listened to him to speak about it's scoring system. “Correct, now watch.” Blue took the ball from Gale and putting his paw digits into the hole the blue anthropomorphic dog aims.
He pulls back and thrust forwards rolling it down the lane towards the left, it sways into the right hitting the pins knocking down six of them. With a wave of the paw the pins reset and the ball appears back onto his paws. “Now you try.”
Gale nods taking it and does what Blue did and the ball almost goes into the gutter but it hits a single pin, blinking a few times he hit it. “I did it...”
“Yes you did and also this was happening in the Dream Cavern and while you awake.” Blue smirked.
Gale went to turn and face him to find not only out of his day dream but looking at Soarin who looked back at him with a smile. “Good going Princes Gale! You scored a pin, now score more!”
Gale blinking to try and process what just happened, did Blue just play him into this and that thought made him smile warmly. Blue helped him to get a score and Gale was going to get another pin or so in the next one taking the ball. “Congrats cousin! Now go for another!” Gale nods to Cadance and ready to take his second throw.
Blueblood watched this happen. “Impressive roll, curving it like that. I may have to attempt this myself.”
“It seem to work.” Luna rubbed her snout thoughtfully, she did notice dream magic flowing from Gale even the others did not, this was something Luna had to press on later. “Nephew Blueblood are you enjoying this or you bearing it?”
Blueblood stared. “Bearing it Aunt Luna, this is a commoners game...”
Luna smirked noticing a pair of ponies playing at another lane. “Are you certain of that?”
Blueblood snorted. “Yes I am certain.”
“You may want to look behind you, I do believe that is Lord Fancy Pants and his wife.” Celestia spoke noticing what Luna noticed.
Blueblood turn his head with his mouth hanging open as he stared at them playing. “B-b-”
“I believe you need to rephrase the commoners approach dear nephew.” Luna calmly said to Blueblood, he choose not to reply as he went to take his turn.
“Way ago Gale! You got five more!” Shining Armor bump his hoof against the closed talon, seeing a much happier griffon humming in reply.
Celestia noticed Luna when Gale got the pins knocked down. “Luna what is it?”
Luna didn't turn to her sister. “We will speak of it later sister, best not spoken of in public.”
“Very well.” Celestia turn her attention to Gale. “Son I am very impressed, how did you figure it out how to hit the pins?” Gale picked up his ball pointing to one side of it to the other. “One side different to the other?” Gale nods.
Cadance spoke up. “Aunty one side is weighted, each ball on the wrack differ in weight.” She using her magic to hold up to bowling balls with it before Celestia and Luna. “That is why most pros or regulars bring their own.”
Celestia took one with her magic. “I can see what you mean, this one look the same colour as others here but not within?”
“Correct Auntie.”
Gale nods in agreement. “It seem that what Gale was trying to say.” Luna stated.
“Indeed, shall we continue?” Celestia asked.
Gale squawked happily as they went back to playing the game, each of them taking turns and none guttering the ball after paying attention to the bowling balls they were using. Soon it came to the final turns of the five ponies and griffon,
Celestia step forward to take her final turn. “Come on Princess!” One pony cheered and many others cheering her on. “Go Princess, go!”
She took a good look around as ponies stopped their game to watch her final set of rolls of their game. “Thank you my little ponies.” Celestia rolls it down the lane knocking down seven pins with massive cheers.
Celestia took the ball as it return to strike for another two pins. “Awwwww...” Many wished for a spare but it didn't happen.
Luna stepped up to take her turn. “W-” Gale squawks and Luna sighs. “Yes Gale, I know you do not like the royal we but these are-” He squawks again crossing his forelegs getting a roll of her eyes and Celestia giggling. “Fine I'll skip the royal we!” Luna step up with ball held up by hoof.
“You can do it Luna!” Celestia cheered her sister on, many ponies seem to hesitant at first but start to cheer after Celestia spoke up. “Go Luna go!” The ponies chanted it to stomping their hooves.
Luna aimed and rolled the ball down striking all but one pin. “Gah! That was almost a strike! Curse you pin!” Luna glared at the remaining pin. “This next throw will see your end!” Luna got her ball back and rolled it as hard as she could smashing the pin to pieces.
“Whoa nice throw!” Spitfire called out.
“Yeah you smashed that pin to pieces! That some Earth Pony magic you got there!” Said a Earth Pony.
Luna smiled. “I scored a spare and-” Luna turn to see the ball floating in Celestia's magic. “Sister I done my two throws I do not get another.”
“That where your wrong Luna, last throw if you get a spare or strike you get a third throw.” Celestia place it on her hoof. “Go and score a strike.”
Luna nods. “I will sister.” Luna turn and rolls it fast, not to hard to smash the pins to pieces but enough to strike them all down with a massive clash of ball to pins. “YES! I SCORED A STRIKE!” Luna screamed out in joy with her Royal Canterlot Voice causing many to cover their ears.
Cadance step up to take her turn clapping hooves with Luna. “Great job Aunty!” The ponies recovered stomping their hooves in joy to the princess of the night. “Now let me show you how often I play this game with Shiny.” Cadance grinned.
They watched Cadance not only get one strike but three in a row with jaws hanging open at the display she pulled before them. “Won't you over doing it a bit Cady?”
She kissed Shining Armor on the side of the snout. “Not at all, now don't hold back Shiny.”
Shining Armor pick up his ball. “Oh I won't Cadance.” Shining Armor gets two strikes and nine pins down from all three throws.
Luna whispers to Celestia. “Those two been holding back through out the game...”
“I believe you are correct.” Celestia whispered back. “They do play this game far more than I do and you did score higher than me over all.”
Luna blinked. “I did?”
“Yes you did Luna, you've beaten your big sister.” Celestia smiled.
Luna raised an eye. “Where you holding back?”
“Not at all, last time I played was two years ago.” Celestia honestly replied.
Gale's time to shine as he step up to the lane with his bowling ball. “Nephew do your best!”
“Son as Luna said, do your best and score high!”
Gale nods turning to the lane looking right down it, he choose to just roll it as hard as he could and hope to hit as he closed his eyes letting go off it. The ball sped down the lane hitting the pins hard, still keeping his eyes closed there was dead silence in the room part from the background music, slowly opening them he saw no pins standing.
Gale eyes widen with a smile from his beak following till he started bouncing around on his paws only pumping his close fist talons in the air, flapping his wings with excitement crying out with joy. “Strike Mum! STRIKE MUM! STRIKE!” He span around on one paw.
Ponies whistling, stomping and cheering out to Gale. “Prince Gale! Prince Gale!” They chanted.
Celestia took the ball from the slot as it was returned. “Son that was amazing, now you got two more turns.” Celestia kissed him on the top of his head ruffling his feathers slightly. “Have fun, that what truly matters.”
Gale nods. “Mum!” The griffon took the ball quickly turn to the lane and does another hard roll hitting nine out of ten pins. Clicking his talons with a grunt as the last pin stayed up, on his final throw it went down scoring a spare. “Mum! Strike?”
“No spare.” Celestia giggled. “It a half strike and well done!” He nods happily and hugs her, she returns it with a foreleg and wing getting a collective of 'awwws' from the ponies.
Blueblood step forward. “Good luck nephew!” Celestia cheered on her nephew.
He smirked. “Auntie thank you and this one for the ponies of Canterlot!” He rolls it down the lane hitting seven pins leaving a split with one pin to the left and two on the right.
“Ooooo a spilt.” Shining Armor responds. “That going to be a tough one.”
Blueblood rolled the second ball hitting the two pins but clipping the other causing it to wobbly around, Gale open his wings and flapped them a little towards it, Spitfire noticed but no one else did as the pin falls. “Yes a spare!” Blueblood cheered.
Spitfire step up beside Gale as he closed his wings up. “You know that cheating.” She whispered to him.
Gale got spooked and half squawked in surprise turning to Spitfire tilting his head in confusion, Spitfire saw his expression as if he didn't know he did something wrong.
She put a hoof on his side. “Tomorrow I'll drop by and explain okay?” Gale hummed with a nod. “Cool and word of advise, not all griffons are like that griffon that teaching you.”
“Gilda?”
“Yes Gilda, just be careful around that black one okay?” Gale nods from Spitfire's warning. “Well our time is up, so be cool Gale.” She put her hoof up to him and he bump it with a fist.
Spitfire and her team leaves the bowling alley, Blueblood step away from the lane with cheers all around as he scored a final strike of seven pins. They parted ways back to their own lanes soon after as all six gathered at the seating area to get the results.
Cadance look to the tally of pins knocked down. “That was a fun game, don't you think?”
“I do Cadance. So what the score?” Shining asked.
She took a look at it. “Right... Ready to hear how well we all did?” They all nod.
Cadance starts to read out the results.
“I am in first place with a score of 119 points, Shining Armor at 93 points, Gale at 82, Luna at 78, Blueblood at 77 and Celestia at 75 points..”
Gale takes the paper to get a look at see it was true, his mum came dead last. “Mum?” He look up at her with surprise.
Celestia giggled. “Oh well, you can't win them all.” Celestia dismissed the score. “I had fun with my family, so that what mattered most.” Celestia looked around them. “How about Donut Joe's my treat for losing?”
Gale instantly nods rapidly in agreement. “I say dear Nephew Gale is in agreement.” Luna laughed.
Blueblood start to walk away. “I will not be attending, I am retiring back at the castle Aunty Celestia and Luna.”
“Very well Blueblood. I will see you at the castle.” Celestia nods and he return it before leaving them.
Shining Armor tap his snout. “I just remembered something...”
“What is it captain?” Luna asked.
“Didn't Gale's room use to be the room for the griffon mayor of Trottingham when he stays at the castle for a few-” Before he could finish Gale already zoomed right out of the bowling alley making a beeline for the castle.
“Why did Gale just rush off like that?” Cadance said with shock.
Celestia gasped. “His plush in the room! We going back to the castle!” Celestia quickly using her magic to teleport herself, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor straight to the castle before anyone could say a word.
Sunbeam walked down the hallway of the Royal Suite floor doing her checks with salutes to guards, she made sure that no pony part from the maids were to enter through the doors to Gale's bedroom, doing a check she open it to look inside seeing the plush on the bed cushion and walked back outside closing the door behind.
“Private are all things good?” Sergeant Bluestar step up to Sunbeam as she closed the doors.
Sunbeam saluted to him. “All's well Sergeant.”
He salutes back. “Keep up the good-” The sound of the balcony window doors opening came from Gale's room. “Work?”
Sunbeam and Bluestar turn to the door. “Sir was that the balcony doors opening?”
“It was...” Bluestar walk up to the door and open it.
Sunbeam followed to find a blackish grey griffon in the bedroom by the bed holding the plush. “Guards!” She screamed out and in a instant two more guards came into the room and another two flew into the room from the balcony quickly aiming their spare tips at the griffon.
He look around seeing they are him surrounded. “Mayor Greystorm of Trottingham explain why you are in Prince Gale's bedroom!” Sergeant Bluestar demanded.
Greystorm turn to Bluestar. “Well... This is the very bedroom I use while on business with the Princess or Princesses now, Prince Blueblood did not tell me that my room is now occupied.”
Sunbeam step forwards. “Sir I advise you put the plush down and leave imminently.”
“You look new to the guard, pony. I think the prince can go sleep somewhere else while I am here, this is the only room I like in all the suites.” He said staring at her with a cold hush tone.
“Wh-”
Bluestar raise a hoof cutting her off and spoke for the guard. “I am sorry how you feel but this room is now till Princess Celestia says otherwise is Prince Gale's room, you will do as Private Sunbeam asked before you really get in hot water.”
Greystorm rolled his eyes. “I will speak to Prince Blueblood and this will happen and why should I be in hot water for holding a toy that look exactly like the young prince? It not hurting anyone.”
“Seriously Mayor Greystorm put the plush down be-” Gale zooms into the room from the open doors of the balcony hovering and looking around to he locked eyes on Greystorm who looked back at him. “Oh buck...” Bluestar whispered.
Gale instantly squawks loudly and charge right for Greystorm, he quickly flap his wings dodging the dive and landing before the doors still holding the plush. “What the heck!? What are you doing cub!?”
Gale landed on the bed and quickly turning to fly onto the ground before the guards, he glares at each of them, in reaction they backed away slightly so did Bluestar and Sunbeam. “Sir...”
“Don't, that look means 'stay out of this, I am dealing with it' glare, I seen this from Princess Celestia a few times in the many years I've been guard at the throne room.” Bluestar warned.
Gale got up on his paws with wings open both talons closed into a fist growling at Greystorm. “Cub your younger, smaller and inexperienced, you will not stand a chance.”
Gale stares at the plush and back at him. “PLUSH DROP!” He roared out two new words with rage.
“Fine here!” Greystorm throws it at Gale landing just behind him.
Gale slowly turn seeing it where it landed and turn back to him. “Sir his right talon...” Sunbeam hints to Gale.
Bluestar saw it too. “What in Celestia's name!? Is that magical aura forming around his talon!?”
Greystorm eyes trail to the closed talon seeing the bluish white magical aura, his eyes went back to Gale's, the cub with a burst of speed flew right at him with right foreleg pulled back. Greystorm could or should of moved out the way but every muscle of his body was frozen in a state of fear, he was in fear as Gale charged right at him.
Blueblood walked into the Royal Suite Hallway to be met with Celestia and the others teleporting before him. “Blueblood where Greystorm!?” She quickly asked him.
“I don't know, I just got back to the castle Aunty.” Blueblood answered.
Suddenly there is a loud boom followed by as they all turn to the direction a blackish grey griffon flying backwards from Gale's room, he crashed through the doors of the room opposite side landing on his back sliding to a stop with bluish white wisps of magic coming from Greystorm's chest fading away to leave a scorched fur and feathers.
Blueblood quickly came to his aid. “Greystorm!”
Greystorm slowly pushed himself up grunting in pain. “Blueblood... His pure...”
Blueblood using his magic to support Greystorm. “Pure?”
“Yes... Pure Griffon... He can... Use... Magic...” Greystorm staring back into Gale's room with a smile on his beak.
“What?” Blueblood turn to look directly into Gale's room.
Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor peered into Gale's room seeing him sitting on his flank holding the plush tight to himself nuzzling it and protecting it. The guards left standing in shock at what they witnessed, the word of Greystorm and the guards reaction left many more new questions about the consequence of what just happened.
Gale was completely oblivious of his actions just caused, all he cared about the griffon wasn't going anywhere near his plush.
Gale sat on the edge of his bed holding the plush close to himself looking down at the floor sadly, Celestia stood before him looking quite upset towards her son's actions and the Sunbeam standing to the side with Bluestar. “Gale...”
Gale rose his head. “Mum?”
“I know your upset with Greystorm not only handling your plush and throwing it over you.” Celestia gave a light sigh. “Punching him for it was a unacceptable action.”
Gale lower his head sadly hugging the plush closer to his chest with tears falling.
Celestia stood her ground seeing him cry. “Luckily he not going to press any charges for your assault on him, so you are going to be grounded to your room for the rest of this evening through out the weekend.”
“Princess we should of stopped him...” Bluestar spoke up. “We are at much fault as he is.”
Celestia turn to Bluestar. “From what I heard you all seem to be frozen as if you became overwhelmingly fearful all the sudden, isn't that what you said?”
Bluestar nods. “Correct Princess and the shock of seeing magic coming from his talon wasn't something none of us was expecting.”
“Even so, Gale most-” The doors open and Celestia turns around. “I said not to be-”
Greystorm walk in with Doctor Trace giving chase. “Mayor get back into the guest room at once!”
The griffon bandaged around the chest flare wing out. “Not till I say what I have to say to Princess Celestia right now!”
“This can wait Greystorm, I will have words to speak to you after dealing with my son, actions I wouldn't have taken if you didn't act with just a careless way.” Celestia said firmly to the mayor of Trottingham.
Greystorm stood his ground as the guards moved in to take him back to the guest room. “Your son acted like it because he is a Pure Griffon Celestia!” The guards grabbing him to pull the griffon away. “I did it to see if it was true!”
Celestia rose a hoof and Gale raised his head hearing this from Greystorm. “Guards wait.” They eased and Greystorm broke free from them. “Your telling me that the way you acted with my son in this very room was to see my son is this 'Pure Griffon' by putting him through that!?” Celestia temper was showing as the voice raised close to the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“Yes.”
Celestia took a deep breath in and out. “Sunbeam, Bluestar make sure Gale get some dinner and keep him in his room, even this was all stirred by Greystorm.” Celestia eyes still locked on the black griffon.
They saluted. “Yes Princess.”
“Greystorm and Trace with me...” Celestia walk by them and said loudly. “NOW!”
Gale watch them leave quickly behind his mum, she was really anger. “Mum...”
“It's okay Prince Gale.” Sunbeam said to him. “Do you like some hayfires and breaded fish?” He nods silently.
Bluestar nods to her and she leaves. “I am curious about what Greystorm knows too Gale...” They looked at each other.
Celestia walk into the library, followed by Trace and Greystorm, she using her magic to close the doors. “Now Greystorm, with what limited patients I have with you, tell me about this 'Pure Griffon' that you spoke of.” Celestia irritatingly spoke to the griffon.
Greystorm took a seat at one of the study tables. “When you have a very unorthodox father like I have you tend to do things that not exactly griffon like.” He rose a talon twisting around visible expressing it as he spoke. “My mother walked out on us because of it and growing up by being dragged to one ruins to another was a norm for me.”
Celestia's irritation grew. “Get to the point...”
“I am Princess, my father showed me the stuff that griffons as a whole do not care about anymore, the live blood history of what we were once upon a time.” Greystorm putting a talon over his bandaged chest grunting slightly from the sting of the fresh burn still present under it. “One of these places were lost a year ago to two pony rivals fighting over a stupid trinket, not protecting the very real thing that was the treasure of the lost city, it history.”
Trace eyes shift in thought. “I do recall about a year ago of unusually high tides at Manehatten.” Trace tap the tip of his muzzle with a hoof. “Are you saying a whole city ruins on a island sunk below the waves last year?”
Greystorm look down. “Yes... I was there when it happened...” Greystorm raised his head looking over to Celestia. “It was the Lost City of Griferlatias, the capital of the oldest griffon kingdom that pre-dates Equestria by a few thousand years.”
“I did get reports of a island sinking by a navel vessel near by, yet that doesn't get to the point of Pure Greystorm.” Celestia confirmed she knew about the island. “What does a ancient city ruins have to do with my son?”
“The writings lost to the collapse and to the waves spoke of a griffon that could wield a strange form magic.” Greystorm cleared his throat and speaks.
“Through the burning embers of a dying sun as the Gates of Elysium closes.
The city bathed in the light of blue.
Came the pure of griffon kind bring fourth a magic that forged the Idol into gold from the dying sun.
Once were not a griffon now the beacon of Griferlatias, may good fortune come to us all.
Praise the lord and king of our beloved kingdom.
Hail Grifiax Boreas.
The Pure One”
Celestia listen to what was said and thoughtfully gave it, she took notice of a few key points from these Gates of Elysium to not a griffon. “How do you know about Gale not being a griffon before hoof?”
“I am curious about that too Princess, I never told any pony of my findings.” Trace stated.
Greystorm turn to him. “Your partly pure Doctor Trace.”
He instantly slamming both front hooves on the table before the griffon. “How do you know about that!?”
“Because I always been three steps ahead when it came to information dealing.” Greystorm replied calmly to the unicorn. “It one of the reasons Princess Celestia doesn't like dealing with meetings when I am involved.”
Celestia exhales. “You are a troubling mayor to deal with, always have ways of getting things you want as well getting a fair amount of bits to line your bags.” Celestia used her magic to not only pick Greystorm up but pin him to the hourglass. “Now Greystorm with what you have told us and know, you clearly have a insider in these walls and the hospital.”
Greystorm didn't fight, he just relaxed. “That is true I do, the power of information out ways the power of magic and bits, history is also a key factor.” Greystorm looked up at the stop of the hourglass. “Like the sands of time itself Princess Celestia, each grain has a story if you look closely enough.”
Celestia looked up as the sands continuously drip into the bottom at a endless loop and lower her eyes to stare into Greystorm's. “I am going to ask this very simple question, how you answer determines on what happen to you.
“Understood, ask.”
Celestia didn't like his calm response. “What are your intentions for my son?”
“With the pain I gained to the core of my being... Nothing. I have no intentions for your son, I have proven that he is the only other one to Grifiax Boreas to exist and at the cost of Prince Gale never trusting me ever.”
Celestia let him go with her magic letting him land on his paws still leaning on the hourglass. “How did you get all this information?”
Greystorm smirked. “I had a bug.”
“Very funny, how?” Trace still anger with Greystorm.
“I am being dead serious, it was a bug that helped me out, in fact she right behind you Princess Celestia.” Celestia quickly turn around to a stallion guard that had some how entered the library without her knowledge.
Celestia step back as the stallion grinned and burst into green magical flames, it died down to reveal a black bug pony with yellow solid eyes, fins, tails and insect wings. “Changeling...” Celestia whispered.
“Yes that is what I am.” She spoke calmly to Celestia.
“Princess what's a changeling?” Trace asked looking at the one before him.
Celestia turn to him. “Think of beings that naturally have magic that allow them to transfigure themselves into any form they choose to copy of anything to crafting their own forms of said race.” Celestia turn back to the changeling.
“Amazing...” Trace turn to the changeling amazed by what he just learned.
“You work for him? For love?” Celestia asked the changeling.
“Nah, I get enough of that from my husband, I do this to help him because I share in his desire to learn.” She smirked.
Celestia and Trace looking to Greystorm and the changeling. “Husband!?”
Greystorm walked up to the changeling turning around to face the two ponies. “Surprised how a griffon loves a love sucking bug?”
“Yes indeed.” Celestia curiously stated
“Love sucking bug?” Trace raise a eye.
Celestia glance to him. “I will explain later, the question is... What have you two discovered that we missed and why are you willing to tell us this?”
“I see you caught on.” Greystorm smiled.
The changeling right side of the muzzle raised with a wicked grin showing a single fang. “My lovely feathered husband may I revile the tablet from the lost city?”
Greystorm nods. “You may my love bug wife.”
Celestia cringed slightly and Trace curiously looked at the pair. “This was the last thing we managed to save before the city went under.” The changeling using her magic made it appear for them setting it down on the table. “Magical Pocket Dimension spells are so very useful.” She chuckled.
Celestia and Trace took a look at it. “This was the moment they worked with Ponies to defeat the greatest threat and created the beginning the three pony nations, the moment their kingdom fell to save the world from the father of all monsters, the moment Grifiax Boreas vanished, the moment griffons lost their pride and became consumed by greed and the dark age of griffons begun till King Grover.”
Celestia could easily see the creature without a bell that was being defeated by the griffons of Griferlatitas and the rebellion ponies,she muttered out a single name. “Grogar...”
Standing at the landing platform for sky chariots Celestia awaits for one to arrive from Ponyville carrying Spike, she had two things to deal with at this moment of time as the sun had rose to start the Sunday day, the chariot being pulled by two pegasi guards land on the platform.
Spike hopes out of it and give a wave to the guards. “Thank you guys! That was a really smooth ride!”
They nod and unhook themselves from it, they salute to Celestia and with a nod from her they left. “Hello Spike, thank you for coming at short notice.” Celestia walked up to Spike as he walked towards her.
He glance behind himself before replying. “No problem Princess, also good timing on your part.”
“Oh?” Celestia noticed the cloud build up in the direction of Ponyville. “Big storm tonight?” Celestia gestures for him to follow her into the castle.
Spike walks with Celestia off the platform into the castle hallways. “I heard they missed several raining days and making up for it with one big controlled storm.” Spike answered.
Celestia glanced upwards for a second and turn to give Spike her attention. “Gale been watching Ponyville from his balcony since this morning, I gather his curious about the build up of clouds over the town while there little to none here.”
“Never seen weather controlled by the Pegasi Weather Teams huh?”
Celestia thoughtfully nods. “I believe so, but that isn't why I asked you here this weekend Spike.”
Spike showed a sign of confusion. “You made it sound that I really need to come to Canterlot, what the matter?”
Celestia sighed slightly. “I had to ground my son this weekend to his room against my painful feelings of doing this said action.”
“Why?” Spike was surprised by hearing Celestia grounding her son. “What did he do?”
“He punched me out of his room into the guest room.” Spike instantly turn to be greeted by Greystorm. “Hello young dragon, I am Greystorm, Mayor of Trottingham.” He put his talon out to Spike.
Spike hesitatingly placed his claw against it and they shook. “What did you do to causing him to attack you?” Spike asked with a anger frown looking at the bandages across his chest.
Greystorm remove his talon placing it on the bandaged chest. “I provoked a teenager with a mind that can either sway from a five year old to a fifteen year old.” Greystorm turn to Celestia. “As I said you are being a bit hush, in fact if I didn't give you what I gave you last night I would most likely be in boiling water by now, even kicked out of being mayor to a city.”
Celestia glares at him. “I am still anger with you Greystorm, your actions were selfish in the desire for your own gains in the seeking of historic knowledge...”
Spike stared at them with a few blinks. “Erm... Did I miss something here?”
Celestia turn to Spike. “What I am going to tell you haven't gotten out, please reframe from telling Twilight this okay?”
Greystorm still having his talon on his chest. “I caused a large sum of rage to flare from within Prince Gale, I threw his plush over him on purpose after holding it without permission.”
Spike suddenly lost his shock and rolled his eyes. “Even Twilight knows not to press him like that, from what I heard about him, Gale's mind is like a shattered gem! There be pieces missing forever, his actions might be wrong but to him were just.” Spike crossed his arms.
Greystorm now rubbed the back of his head. “Okay you got me child, your wise beyond your years and got to say I am on the spot on this one.” Greystorm turn to Celestia. “I be with the others waiting for your arrival.” He bows to her and walks off.
Celestia snorts with a flare of magic from her horn. “Stupid feather brain selfish good for nothing bucking griffon...” Celestia muttered under her breath.
Spike did a double take. “Princess di-”
“I said nothing.” Stern words left her muzzle.
Spike gulped and said quickly. “Of course you said nothing Princess.”
“Good, come Spike.” Celestia walks on and Spike follows. “I know your into comics so I had some guards buy some random ones to be brought up to Gale's room, you will be given a small bed in the room to keep Gale company while I, Luna, Cadance Shining Armor, Doctor Trace and our guests deal with a very pressing issue at hoof.”
Spike twiddling his claws between each other. “So I was asked to come up here to look after Gale?”
“No... Spike, I need someone that is young that would be there to support him as a brother in an manner of speaking.” Celestia glance back at him as they walked up the stairs. “I thought about it and believed he has trust with you, that with him being grounded he need to learn some actions are not acceptable.”
Spike rubbed the to green fins on his head with a claw. “So... I am being a little big brother to Gale teaching of the differences between right and wrong?”
“Correct, unless you do not think your up for the task.”
Spike shook his head. “No I can do it Princess! Twilight and her family raised me, I been in trouble for many things in the past and know how it is to be grounded, during that time both Shining and Twilight were there for me to explain the wrongs and rights.”
Celestia smiled. “I am happy to hear that.” Celestia stopped at the top of the stairs with Spike beside her. “Now I have a urget meeting to attend to, Private Sunbeam is standing by his door, please show him what lessons you learned and be there for him like Twilight and her brother where, he doesn't need a buddy mum, he needs someone young and wise.” Celestia turn walking down the stairs.
Spike turn around watching her heading back down, with a salute he called out. “You can count on me Princess Celestia! I won't let you down!” Only answer he got from her was a slight turn and sincere smile as she continued her track down the stairs.
Spike turn around walking into the hallway of the Royal Suites. “Spike I presume?” Sunbeam standing at the door spoke out upon seeing him.
The young dragon walked up to her nervously twiddling his claws again. “Y-yeah I am, I am here to... Erm... We-well-”
“To help teach the young prince some morals of what a right action and what a wrong action while spending time with him till Monday morning correct?” He silently but nervously nod. “I wish you the best of luck sir, he been staring out the window to Ponyville since he had his breakfast.” She open the doors up letting Spike in.
Spike walks into the bedroom and soon as the doors closed he got to see what painted walls to ceiling. “Whoa, this is officially the most amazing bedroom ever!” He saw the bathroom attached to it. “Your own on suite bathroom too? Rarity would be definitely jealous of you having a room like this Gale, I'm sure am.”
Gale didn't even notice or even pay attention to what Spike said to even acknowledging his presence in the bedroom, the griffon hugging his plush tightly stared out to the build up of clouds over Ponyville transfixed on it rapidly creation before his eyes.
Spike noticed the three boxes stacked against the wall, walking over to them he moved them off each other to open the lids, he found so many comics in there that he never be able to buy this many. “Sweet Cele-” He instantly stopped and quickly corrected himself. “I never be able to this many comics!”
Gale glanced over for a second but snorted before looking back to the storm able to start.
Spike tapped this snout. “Erm... Hey Gale, heard you got into trouble... I want to say I know what it like.” Gale head rolled slightly showing without being seen a eye roll. “Gale you think you had it bad punching a griffon? How about biting Twilight on the foreleg for not getting more gems cause I wanted more than I was offered.”
Gale ears shift and twitch, he slowly got up on his three limbs holding the plush with the fourth, he tilted his head.
“Yeah I... growled and bit her, I got grounded to her room for the weekend.” He lowered his head with claws behind his back shifting the right claw tips of the foot in circles on the surface.
Gale frowned with a squawk.
“You acted on defending your plush and what you thought was right was wrong, right?” Gale put the plush down before Spike and sat down on his flank.
Gale hummed as Spike picked up the plushy and held it up looking into it static looking forward eyes. “Your plush is all you have from what life you had, but to others without knowing it they would see you a teenager throwing a patty spoiled fit because your a prince.”
As Spike's words sunk in and he thought about it how Spike presented it, with a gasp Gale stared at his own talons shaking his head rapidly with panic setting in, the strange aura was forming around his talons. Gale gasped looking at them and at Spike panicking even more, he wasn't sure what to do and how it was happening.
Spike quickly place the plushy down, he put both claws on Gale's talons, feeling the magical energy as it tickled his scales. “Gale calm down! Look at me in the eyes focus on me and take a deep breath!” The magic flares from his talons with Spike grunting slightly from a discomfort feeling forming.
Gale nods nervously and does as Spike said, slowly breathing in deeply and breathed out the aura started to fade from the talons, he repeats it over and over again till the magic fades completely. Gale was relieved that it faded away, the magical fused punch awoken something in him that he didn't completely understand and it felt very scary to Gale to process.
Spike sighed in relief. “Fthew!” He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “That was scary and awesome Gale! I never thought a griffon could do magic even the Princess said you did!” Gale nervously stared at his talons, one still held by Spike's claw. “Did you recall it from when you hit Mayor Greystorm?”
Gale nods.
“Hmmm...” He let go off the talon and tap his snout. “Try picturing it again.”
Gale did so and the whitish blue aura forms once more.
“Now focus on it going away.” Gale did so and the magical aura faded, blinking Gale repeated it over and over again seeing he could make it come and go until he started feeling a bit light headed and almost fall over with Spike grabbing the right foreleg, pulling the griffon up into a sitting position.
Gale rubbed his head feeling drained. “You were using up to much magic all at once doing it, Twilight said that unicorns that have no control over their magic could easily use it all up at once, that what I think you did with your magic.”
Gale stared down at his talons and back at Spike with a tilt of the head.
Outside the balcony a guard with yellow eyes took note of it, she smiled. “Just like the Gyrite glyphs showed, once a pure one felt the magic awaken they can gain access to it.” She whispered. “Best get to the meeting and tell my husband and the others.” She opened her wings and flew off.
“Best not to try anymore of that for today, you might make yourself sick.” Spike suggested and Gale nods in understanding the caution presented to him. “How about we read some comics?” He point over to the boxes. “I never had that when I was grounded.”
Gale look over to the boxes and back to Spike with curious caution.
“Your worried that it might be a test your mum put on you right?” Gale nods and Spike rubbed his underside of the snout. “How about I read it and you watch over my shoulder, that way your not exactly reading it with your own talons.” Spike grinned.
Gale raised his talon up flat to Spike, in turn Spike clapped his claw against it with a smile coming from the griffon liking Spike's idea.
Sunbeam peered through a small opening of the door. “They going to be hours in reading those comics, being grounded will fly by faster than Gale think it will, crafty move Princess Celestia.” She whispered closing the door up.
Spike lifted up one from the box reading it title. “The Misadventures of Pistol the Griffon, issue one...” He showed it to Gale. “I never seen a comic like this one before, want to check it out first?”
Gale picked up his plush walking up to a set of big cushions sitting down on one, he wave Spike to come over to sit on the other. “I take that as a yes.” Spike chuckled walking over to Gale and sitting down on the other one. “Alright, let see how this begins.” Spike opens it up.
Gale looking over the shoulder to read the comic with the young purple dragon.
The doors of the throne room opened to allow Princess Celestia in, by the steps up to the throne were Shining Armor, Greystorm, Princess Luna, Cadance, Doctor Trace and Princes Blueblood. She glad that all of them had gathered for this meeting about the findings about Pure Griffons and new evidence of the defeat of Grogar during the Pony Rebellion against the Father of Monsters.
“Thank you for everypony and grif for showing up at sudden and short notice.” Celestia looking at each of them and lit up her horn to cause the room, windows, doors, walls and ceiling to shimmer for a second.
Shining Armor took notice of the spell that Celestia just cast through out the throne room. “Illusion spell?”
Celestia use her magic to cause the floor to slide down and across to revile a stair case. “We taking this meeting to a more private settings, please follow.” Celestia walk down the stairs.
“I never knew this even exist...” Candance whispered to Shining Armor.
He stared at it. “Nor did I...”
“Best not to keep Princess Celestia waiting.” Greystorm walked down the steps after her, the rest nod and follow him down, the floor slid back into place behind them sealing up the stair case.
On either side of the stairs stood ponies in slots wearing black armour with crossbows attached to their sides, each were dark grey fur with silver white mane and tails, they all were unicorns. “Auntie the looks they giving is creepy...” Blueblood shivered.
Luna looked at each as they were following the group with their eyes. “Indeed dear nephew, these are unlike the Lunar or the Solar Guards.”
Shining Armor glance to his left and right about to say something but Greystorm spoke with excitement. “The Shadow Elite! I can't believe it! I get to see the most elite guard!”
“Shadow Elite? Shining, you know about these?”
Shining Armor glance to Cadance. “No I didn't they don't look like any ponies I ever seen...”
“I agree, they almost not pony, what exactly are they?” Trace curiously asked.
Greystorm turn to them to answer the very question. “They golems! They living magical shells!”
Shining Armor looking at each of the guards. “Are you telling me they are pony shaped magical clay creatures!?”
“Indeed, what Greystorm says is true, I created them to guard this room at all times, they would of attacked you if I wasn't here.” Celestia stated to the group.
Luna looked at these golems. “Sister...”
“On the verge of war with Griffina lead me to making them, the Shadow Elite Guard are my shall guards that only work in this part of the castle only, anywhere else they will turn to clay.” Celestia explained to Luna.
Celestia step up to the large metal doors using her magic to shift gems all over it into different positions. “Magical gem locking system!” Greystorm gave a surprise squawk. “I only see ruins of theses!”
Celestia smiled from that comment and unlocked the door to revile a large chamber with a huge table in the middle with a massive crystal hanging over it shimming light directly on it. Displayed on the table was a three dimensional map of Equestria and the neighbouring lands. “Welcome to the Equestrian War Room.”
“War room?” Luna repeated taking a good look around, she noticed dust and webs were almost everywhere, torches magically lit up on the walls around the room. Tables on a upper level with the walls stacked with shelves of files all the way around, stairs bending around to the right and left of the main entrance large mental doors. “How long has it been since anypony been in here?”
“Nearly 200...” She noticed hoof marks in the dusty stone floor. “...Years.” She took a good look around. “The guards never enter nor have the access to do so...”
Shining Armor noticed the hoof prints. “From the dust forming over those prints it seem somepony were here a week or so ago.”
“That would be me.” They all turn to a pegasi solar guard leaning against the wall with forelegs crossed. “Took me a day to figure out how to get in by bypassing the magic locked door and those sweet little clay ponies.”
Shining Armor stormed up to her. “Your in direct violation of the guard code!”
She chuckled. “That if I am one of your guards sweetie.” A green flame engulf her to die down and replaced by her true Changeling form causing him to jump back with horn glowing. “Cap, put your horn down, if I really wanted to be a threat I would of taken you and the rest of the guard down by now, your system is really sloppy.”
Shining was ready to blast her “What!? It top notch! I-”
“I been gathering information about Gale for my husband for the last two weeks including the first two weeks before that about the good old magical aurora event.” She counted Shining Armor.
He growls and Celestia steps in. “Octicovix please stop teasing the captain.” Shining Armor cancel out his spell turning to Celsetia.
She shrugged dropping down on all fours fluttering the insect wings. “Fine, whatever you say Princess.” Octicovix walk by Shining Armor stepping up beside Greystorm.
Shining Armor turn around. “Princess she not only pretend to be a guard but she-”
“I know Captain, we will work on solving this breech as soon as possible with her aid, for now we here for another reason.” Celestia walk up to the table using her magic to magic all the dust and webs vanish in a instant.
The changeling shrugs. "Fine by me Princess, I be happy to help patch up your holes." Shining glares at her once more.
“Now please take a seat at the map everyone.” She gestured to the cushions she placed down around the large table.
They all took a cushion each sitting down on them. “Sister, Greystorm spoke of war, were Equestria on the verge of war with the griffons?”
“Indeed, King Guto was preparing forces to attack Equestria but the attack or the war never came.” Celestia replied. “So the war room after a year or so was sealed up and left.” She looked around at the shelves of files all around them.
“All those files was after action reports from each division to generals of the Royal Armed Forces of Equestria, which history sadly forgotten about after the disbanding of the forces since we had no need for such a thing anymore.”
Luna looked at the Equestrian map. “That is not why we here is it?”
“No.” Celestia's horn lights up and the crystal change the map to a massive image of a tablet. “This is why we are here, I used the crystal to see what I saw of the tablet that Greystorm and Octicovix presented to me last night.”
Blueblood noticed the symbols instantly. “This is Gyrite glyphs, ponies about just over 1000 years ago in the most southern parts of Equestria, the pyramids there used this very language themselves to tell their history but in a more colourful manner.” Blueblood informed them.
Greystorm confirms it. “I been there my self and the reason behind not much colour is age as well exposure to the elements.”
Luna looked at it with interest, something about the tablet even it is only a mental protected display of it from her sister. “Before the three pony tribes there was a dark force greater than Discord, Sombra and Nightmare Moon, this was when Griffons and Ponies worked together to take down Grogar.” Octicovix tells them what the Gyrite glyphs are saying.
Blueblood started at the tablet image. “Grogar? I never heard of anything by that name.”
“He been long forgotten by ponies, this is one of the rare pieces that still intact, it almost wasn't.” Greystorm turn to Blueblood. “The land the tablet came from is under the waves of the sea, sunk over a year ago with the rest of the ruins.”
“Those that come when the city finally sinks will bring fourth the tablet to the room of...” Luna suddenly speaks out and finishes it with shock showing. “War.”
Celestia and the others now drew their attention to Luna. “What did you just say Luna?”
Luna stared at the three dimensional table image. “The Gyrite glyphs have a secondary layer in it, those words I just spoken just to catch my attention.” Luna closed her eyes using her magic to fire a beam at the large crystal above.
“What are you doing!?” Celestia shouted.
“It was as if I was suppose to do it...” Luna replied.
“That doesn't make any sense Luna, what kind of reason is that?”
Cadance saw the image break up and pieces of it joined together. “Aunty!”
Celestia turn around to face Cadance but stop at the newly formed pieces. “How can a mental image from my own memory shift in such a fashion?”
Greystorm got off the cushion looking at the new reformed Gyrite glyphs. “It what it says you should be asking Princess...”
“What does it say?” Shining asked.
“Hello eight that sit around the table, please stand by...” Greystorm spoke out loud.
Octicovix yellow solid eyes stared at the new pieces that formed. “That can't be speaking to us could it?”
Blueblood shook his head. “It can't it just a piece of rock magical displayed by a massive artefact crystal th-”
Suddenly the crystal glows brightly and blasts right down at the table, they covered their eyes from the blindly light, as it dims what stood on top of the table in a transparent griffon shimmering in bluish white light, true colour hidden by the aura flowing off it.
The griffon wings flare open causing a burst of magical wind to blow through the chamber blowing out all the torches leaving only the crystal and the griffon glow to give off a eerie feeling.
“Hello wondrous eight searching the truth of the Pure, what is to be spoken has been spoken, it is time to listen and only listen.”
They all looked at each other and back at the male transparent griffon before them.
“I am Grifiax Boreas and this message was created for you to find.”
With a dramatic entrance the transparent bluish glowing griffon Grifiax Boreas moved his right talon across his chest to press it against the left side of it. “With little time I have left, this message be direct and straight to the point.”
Shining Armor whispers to himself. “This must be after the defeat of Grogar...”
Grifiax continue to speak. “Pure is what we call the magic within me or was, I used up so much of it that I burned out my own magic core to shatter the transfiguration circle that Grogar created, it was either that or allow him to not only transfigure the young soul into a griffon and steal the magic of the Pure.”
They listened to him with glance between each other and retaliation of the truth about Gale seeping in.
“Grogar's fortress was destroyed during our all out assault, his all or nothing spell interrupted by me with my pure magic through the very idols I made, all but one was destroyed, I haven't recovered since than and continue to find it hard to do anything as the days pass.”
He grunts in pain and continue to speak out. “No don't, I have to do this, it was foreseen at the moment I destroyed his spell.” Grifiax to all eight could see something was wrong with him but he pressed on. “I-I do not have much magic left, doing this has drained what little I had left.. ”
“Once a pony barely remember after what Grogar did to me to get to the young soul magic, I now a griffon proud of what my new life gave to this world from now to future... What happens to me after this, I do not know.”
Grifiax eyes somehow were locked right on Celestia's. “As I stand here looking into nothing, I feel that I am looking into the eyes of the sun itself, the beauty of that light is pure and become the guild to the young soul. His magic is not of this universe, it came as a result of those that are beyond saving, saved us as the Gates of Elysium opened and consumed their world and their sun...”
They all heard his words echo all staring at the griffon as he continue to hold his side showing more discomfort. “My idol forged by flames of dying sun, in a fact the Young Soul was once Bipedal with a soft statue. He needs your Guidances Eyes of Sun, His magic interferes with ours cause it because it came from the Mountain that Fell all those years ago.”
He started to fade from them as he almost fall over, they see a few griffons in robes quickly rush to Grifiax Boreas' helping him to stand. “Somehow the young soul is with you, how or why is not important, what is important is how you Eyes of the Sun guide him.”
“He came with the Mountain that Fell... I have a feeling what he became and I am to blame, acting on what Grogar aimed to create a new bell with transfiguration through my idol and it copies. I couldn't let him get that magic for himself so I used almost every inch of my magic to overload the spell...”
He sighed heavily.
“Grogar's fortress was destroyed in the results and only I was found in the rumble as his monsters fled, Griffons over the many seasons after are gone consumed with greed... My idol lost my magic all but spent, my future I do not know from this moment...”
He look to his left and right. “My sons... I am ready.” As he was being helped to walk away fading almost completely. “Gale... Yes... The name echoed through time... Eyes of the Sun will do what is right... Guide his magic and his life, be there as I wasn't for him...”
Turning one last time almost gone he turn his head over towards Celestia. “Do not use the reverse potion, it is... Fatal to the young soul... Gale... Be good to all of you and use what I gave... Farewell wondrous eight...”
The crystal glowed brightly with the map being restored before them displayed over the table. “Th-that not what I was expecting...” Greystorm staring up at the crystal.
“My son is from a whole different time...” Celestia whispered.
“How do we will process this?” Shining Armor asked aloud. “How do we even tell Gale this?”
Celestia gestured to sit. “That is what we going to talk about.” They all sat down and started to talk about how to present this to Gale or even they shouldn't.
Time past with every second turning to minutes, minutes turning to hours, it went around and around with no clear answer coming to mind till Celestia decided enough was enough to break the divide created by the meeting.
Celestia stood up. “This is getting us no where fast and I am his mother, so I deciding to tell him with or without agreement in here.”
“Aunty this is far too important, what we learned from a short message from that griffon from the past really effects out history was partly wrong.” Blueblood stated. “I know truth becomes legends and myths to stories told to the young but-”
“No...” Luna spoke out. “Gale, nephew... He needs to know.” Luna walked up to Celestia. “His a pure innocent soul, in time he will remember parts of his original life and will need guidance more then ever sister. Go to him”
Celestia turn to Luna hugging her. “Yes he does and I will be the one.” She release Luna from the hug turning to the changeling. “Octicovix since you can get in here without activating the Golems, you get them all out of here.”
Octicovix yellow solid eyes look into Celestia's seeing what she about to do. “Of course Princess, do what you need to do, I'll get every pony and my husband out safely, that I can promise you.”
Celestia smiled faintly. “Thank you.” With a flash of light she was gone before their eyes.
Blueblood look around. “Am I the only sane one here!? Gale is from not only another time but not even a griffon! He a-”
“A soul lost and far from anything normal.” Cadance finished. “Blueblood if you were in Gale's postion would you want to find out by sneaking around for the truth or being told directly?”
Blueblood eyes darted around. “I-I-I... I can't give you an answer...”
Greystorm put a wing over his back with a foreleg around the back of the neck. “Come on Blue let's go to a bar and drink this up, I sure need one.”
“For once I do not care if it common... Let's go Grey.”
Octicovix couldn't be seen with her eyes but she was rolling the pupils within. “Boys...”
“Boys indeed.” Luna commented. “Octicovix if you may?”
“Sure, come on.”
Trace didn't move. “Doctor Trace?” Luna noticed he had said nothing but stare up at the crystal. “Are you well?”
Doctor Trace slowly turn to Luna. “No... Because the magic in me it about... To...” Suddenly Doctor Trace was engulfed in bluish white light and dies down to show him as a griffon once more. “Surge...”
Greystorm stared. “Did he...”
Octicovix reponds. “Yes...”
“So our theory was true?”
“Yes...”
“Please tell me you got it on you...”
“Oh I do.” Octicovix grinned walking slowly towards the blue Macaw Griffon with a object appearing beside her, the magic concealing it. “Sorry but I can not stand whistling griffons, this is the best for all of us.”
Trace gulped stepping back as the changeling continue to causally walk towards him. “Aunty should we stop them?” Blueblood asked.
<Princess help!>
“No.” Luna flatly stated to Trace's horror, he squawking loudly in panic.
Shining Armor cringed from the squawking whistle. “I am in agreement.”
Blueblood heard a crack turning up to the large crystal. “So am I.”
Cadance agrees. “You have my vote.”
“Sorry but this is for the best of the most fragile.” Octicovix grins as she was only inches away from him.
All that Trace could say was. “Suck!”
Gale and Spike sat on the balcony reading comics with a pile of plates of snacks and empty cups building up in the corner, as the sun sets Gale watched the lightning flashes from the large storm not to far away between reading comics.
Gale picked up a chocolate chip cookie from the plate beside him biting into it as he read the page his on. “And again the day saved thanks to the Power Ponies!” Spike happily spoke out loudly holding up the comic above his head. “How yours?”
Gale put the last of the cookie in his beak chewing on it, he gives a happy thumbs up to Spike with a few soft squawks before he returned to reading his comic. The flashes of lightning caught his attention once again looking over to the storm, another flash but from behind caught his an Spike's attention.
They turn around to see Princess Celestia had teleported before them. “Hi Princess!” Spike waved. “How the meeting go?”
Celestia walked over to the balcony seeing the pile of plates and cups with stacks of comics. “It had a very strange twist of events we were not ready for.” Celestia said looking around. “It seems you two been stacking.”
“Yeah.” Spike laughed rubbing the back of his head. “I plan to pick up the plates and glasses after I've been through this comic here.” He showed it Celestia.
Gale squawks happily putting a closed talon to his chest. “Your going to help?” He nods. “That a good deed my little griffon.” Celestia warmly said to Gale before the smile fades. “But first I came to tell you my son... Gale... Something that I only discovered and may change how you see me as your mother...” She swallowed. “But you need to know.”
Gale tilted his head. “Mum?”
Spike put the comic down. “Do you like me to go?”
Celestia shook her head. “Please stay Spike.” She open her wing out to the bed. “Can you both please sit on the bed and I will revile what had been discovered.”
They looked at each other before putting down the comics and walking up to the bed climbing onto it, they sat down on it. “We ready whenever you are Princess Celestia.”
“I am not sure if I'll be.” Celestia whispered to herself, talking a calm deep breath she brought over a cushion with her magic sitting down on it. “This will be flat out the truth of our discovery to what I know about you Gale, no sugarcoating... Understood?”
Gale nods.
Celestia closed her eyes taking another deep breath feeling her heart start to race, opening the eyes the Alicorn starts to tell Spike and Gale everything she discovered. “A griffon called Grifiax Boreas left a message for me and seven others to receive, he is very much like you Gale.”
Gale picked up his plush holding it close listening to Celestia.
“You both had a transfiguration spell forcefully cast upon you both, he also had the ability to use magic like you can. His was a Pure Griffon like you...”
Celestia went on to tell them everything through out the night, not leaving out anything as she declared, only hope she had deep in her mind was...
Would Gale still love her as his mother or would he hate her?
The jackal diamond dog walking by the river side humming to himself with paw hands behind his head, eyes closed enjoying another day in Dream Cavern. The guardian's hind paw stepped into something wet and thick, opening his eyes and looking down he found his right paw was on a puddle of purple paint.
Blue step out of it, noticing a trail of more paint leading from the house to the cavern wall near the waterfall, alongside the puddles were three paw and talon tracks of paint. “Curious, these tracks look like Master Gale's, not only purple but green too...” He noticed the colour of each track was partly mixed with green paint.
Blue followed the tracks to almost laugh but quickly put both paw hands over his muzzle muffling his snorting laughs at the sight of Gale, the young griffon was covered with purple and green paint with a brush in the right talon painting away at a door. “And done~” He sung putting the brush down in the can stepping back to look at his master piece.
“Master Gale, sorry bu-hehe I hahaha... Your look very funny covered in paint...” He laughed between his words trying to hold back much of it he came.
Gale looked over himself. “I sure do.” Gale grinned. “I am just happy to finish off the door!”
“I see, but why did you put a painting of Spike on it with reverse colours around him?” Blue curiously asked walking up to it still smiling at the state of Gale was in.
Gale raised his talon up with it glowing. “I'll show ya!” He aim the talon at the door with it glowing for a second.
Blue cross his arms. “Master Gale, Mistress Luna clearly stated not to use dream magic.”
Gale turn to Blue. “I know...” He look back at the door. “But what mum told me I... I wanted to talk to him about it, since he was there with me and I didn't say anything at all afterwards...”
Blue uncrossed his arms. “She did say sleep on it too, which would valid this use of the dream magic.”
Gale smiled. “Yep that right! This door opens to Spike's dream directly! He can come here while asleep too now!” Gale walked up to the door putting his talon on the handle pulling it down. “At least it won't just be me and Aunt Luna now to hang out with you Blue.”
“I do not require hanging out Master Gale, I am your Dream Guardian after all.” Blue responded.
Gale pulled open the door calling out into it. “Spike! Come to my voice! It me Gale! We asleep and dreaming!”
Spike walked up to it wearing armour, holding a spear and very huge as well buff. “Gale? Why are you covered in paint and standing at a door way in the middle of a monsters nest?”
Gale staring at him with a open beak not sure what to say or process of the dream form of Spike, Blue step up looking up slightly at the buffed Dragon Knight. “Impressive, I gather your dreaming of saving someone you care about?”
Spike blushed putting the spear down into the ground rubbing the back of his head. “Hehe yeah I am...” He than look at Blue more closely walking through the door into the Dream Carven. “What kind of creature are you and where the heck am I?” He took a good look around the environment.
“I am a Jackal Diamond Dog a Dream Guardian created by Master Gale and your in the Dream Cavern where I live.” Blue closing the door turning to Gale. “Master Gale used dream magic to create this door to create a bridge from your dream to here, so you have now unlimited access to the Dream Cavern till said otherwise while dreaming.”
Gale flapping his wings level himself to eye level with Spike. “You look really strong, brave and full of honour the way you look Spike!”
Spike was more surprised by Gale. “Your speaking...” He points at Gale.
Gale did a few flips laughing before he spoke in reply to Spike's shock. “Of course Spike, this is all a dream!” He spins around with forelegs out. “Speaking is different here than there!”
Spike rubbed his chin. “You got a point Gale.” He glowed and turn back to his regular form. “Wow that was neat! I just wanted to look normal and it worked!” Spike did a spin on the spot. “But why are you covered in paint?”
Gale shrugs. “Why not?”
“Fair enough.” Spike walks to the waterfall to see the house not to far from it and noticed the large glowing crystal hanging from the ceiling of the cavern. “Impressive place Gale.”
“Thank you Spike!” Gale stepped up beside him. “It not the only reason I created the door and brought you here...” He sat down on his flank.
Spike sat down as well, Blue cross legging on the other side of Gale. “It about what Princess Celestia told us wasn't it?” Gale nods. “Guess you took what she said about sleeping on it seriously, huh?”
“I thought she really meant it.” Gale answered with a unsure tone of voice as he twiddled his talons against each other.
Spike put his claw hand on Gale's side. “I think she did and hinted it, why would Princess Celestia have me stay to hear what exactly you heard?”
“Another valid reasoning.” Blue concluded.
Gale took a look up at the large glowing crystal from the refracted light of the sun. “It is but doesn't make what I learned any easier...”
“It doesn't Master Gale, Mistress Celestia's approach was neither correct or wrong, it what you would call a grey area and it up to you how to perceive it.” Blue telegraphically responded in a calm collected manner.
Gale and Blue stared into each other eyes for a moment before the young griffon turn away looking down at his talons closing and opening them. “The memory that I know what it is now of that room... I felt sad in my confusion of seeing it and now I know why.” Tears rolled down his feathers around his beak to drip down on the ground.
Spike rubbing his back. “A griffon that wasn't a griffon used magic like I have to do a impossible choice, he defeated Grogar who was forcing the transfiguration spell on me, it what turned me into who I am now and why I find it so difficult to know things or even remember my past.”
“A magic spell surging, overloaded with more magic that should of went into it...” Blue closed his eyes sighing heavily. “That most likely what brought you, Master Gale through time and space. It bent the very fabric of reality.”
“Bending the fabric of reality?” Spike asked rubbing his head.
Gale raised his talon a scroll appeared, opening it up he lay it out flat in front of them. “This is point A and this is point B.” Gale point to each end of the laid out scroll, now he bends each point together. “Now A and B are so close that instead of taking the long way around you just cross over to B in a single step.”
Spike's slitted green eyes widen with shock. “The magic was so huge!” He raised both arms out. “That it created a doorway between our time and the past in a moment that brought you through as you turned into a griffon?”
Blue nods. “Exactly, Master Gale arrived from being transfigured to a extreme level that resulted in his body from every atom being broken apart and reassembled.”
Spike gasped with both claws over his snout. “If you ask me what time was a week ago I wouldn't even have a clue... I am remembering things that I didn't know and now know...” Gale sighed looking at the blank scroll pointing a claw tip to it and cutting into the paper as he moved the talon towards him. “Mum might not be my real mum but she the closest mum I got now and I am happy for it.”
Spike lower his claws. “I am glad you see that Gale, I thought you might have been so mad with her you didn't want anything to do with the Princess.”
Gale tilted his head turning to Spike. “Why would I be mad at mum? I just felt overwhelmed, not sure what to say to mum, sleeping on it and talking to you about it is helping.”
Spike rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, guess I thought wrong.” Spike got up on his feet. “Still... Are you okay with the whole out of place time thing?”
Gale shook his head. “I'm not.” He got up on all fours. “But I can't do anything about it Spike, what done is done and the past that I just have to learn to accept, I have no idea what the future may bring but I know I got you as a awesome brother to help me!” Gale grabbed Spike hugging him.
Spike looked over to Blue hearing what Gale said to him. “Master Gale see you as such, it best to accept it Master Spike.”
“Just Spike, I just being as helpful as I can be.” He hugged back and Gale let go afterwards.
Blue got up on his hind paws. “Very well, Spike.”
“So... What do we do now?” Spike looked around.
Gale shrugged. “Relax in the hot spring? I enjoy sitting in it thinking about stuff.”
“You have a hot spring in this cavern?”
“Yeah, it my Dream Cavern afterall.” Gale flies up to the large crystal. “There a house by the waterfall, a forest and fields filled up with pretty flowers! Also I have a story cave I just created!”
Blue raise a eye. “A story cave?”
Gale flies over to the waterfall with a few claps of the talons together the waterfall parted to show a hallway with griffon statues holding electric powered lamps. “Okay that is awesome!”
“I know it is Spike, at the end of the hallway is the cave, it magical shows whatever story or how I perceive things like what mum said about whatever in the past.” Gale lands at the entrance pulling a leaver to have a bridge raise out of the water connecting to the embankment.
Blue rubbed his paw under his muzzle. “I am curious about this myself, Master Gale.”
“I knew you would be Blue! Come on!” He waved a talon for them to follow, both Spike and Blue walked across the bridge, following him into a cave lit up by a large pit fire in the middle.
Spike looked around. “All I see is rocks with our shadows reflecting on them fire the pit fire.”
Gale grinned. “That the awesome part! Look at the shadows!”
Spike did and the shadows of all three of them changed into a form of shadow play of a story playing out before them. “Okay, that is cool!”
“Curious... It seem that this shadow story shows a pony stealing what look like a bell from a goat.”
“Oh I heard about that story from Twilight!” Spike point to it. “That the story about Misty the Great managing to steal Grogar's bell that lead to the ponies able to rebel against him!”
Gale nods. “With what mum said it didn't exactly happen like that, I think that with the bell lost and losing most of his magic made him turn a pony into Grifiax Boreas.”
“Which lead to him creating the Idol from the dying sun embers and Grogar stealing the Idol to make copies of it.”
“That in turn allow him to amplify the transfiguration spell on Master Gale.”
Gale fly up to the wall putting a talon on it. “All out assault happened with ponies and griffons, Misty with Grifiax must of confronted him as the final stages of the spell started to happen.”
Spike watched as the bipedal shadow start to change into a griffon. “Using your plush to turn you into a life like teenage version of it, but to stop him from getting your magic to create a new bell Grifiax used almost all of his magic to overload it.”
“The spell not only broke you down and put you back into what you are now Master Gale, it also was powerful enough to destroy Grogar's fortress on the Mountain that Fell from the Sky to your arrival at Canterlot Gardens.”
Gale turn to Blue. “What happened to the mountain?”
Blue put his paw against the shadow of the mountain on the cave wall. “The city of Canterlot sits on the very same mountain, you were brought forwards in time not leaving the location, the fortress of Grogar was exactly where the garden is today.”
Gale gasped at this sudden news in a blink he sat up waking from his slumber and as the same time Spike did from his basket bed. “Whoa!” Spike quickly turn towards Gale's bed. “Gale did Blue-”
He nods with a surprised squawk as the painted walls and ceiling shift from night to morning sunrise.
The fresh semi-hot water rushing from the shower head through the fur and feathers of Gale felt very refreshing, Gale's thoughts about what Blue said made some sense to him but also another strange thought came to mind when he saw through his memories of what seem science fictions ignoring that completely.
Gale hummed to himself as he washed off the foam from the shower gel off his fur. “Thinking about the comics we read about time travel never in the same place?” Spike said loudly to Gale as he brushed his teeth.
Somehow Gale could understand him with a mouth full of toothpaste in Spike's mouth as he brushed away with his own toothbrush, Gale place a talon on the tile wall with head down and water washing over it. “Yes...” He replied.
“Got another word down did ya?”
“Yes.”
Spike wave his toothbrush left to right. “That good to know, surprised you let me brush my teeth while your having a shower though.” Spike went on brushing his teeth.
Gale didn't reply, he wasn't sure why Spike was surprised, they both never wear any form of clothing part from his bandanna and leg bands. “Plush...” He uttered the only word with hesitation.
Spike washed out his mouth spitting out the paste. “The plush was given to you by your real mum wasn't it?”
“Yes, plush...”
“It was also used by that Grogar to give you your griffon form just to get that magic in you...” Spike washed out the toothbrush and put it on the toothbrush holder. “Grfiax did what he had to do with no time to think, look at the heroes in comic books, some of their actions was reactive and had really crazy consequences that no one could see coming.”
Gale turn the taps shutting off the water. “Yes...”
Spike could hear the tone of voice showed Gale understood but didn't like it, the dragon picked up the talon and raised it up to the glass door steamed up by the hot water. The door opened slightly and Gale took it, with a soft squawk as a thank you Gale dried himself off.
Spike leaned against the wall with arms crossed by the door. “We share it with Princess Celestia anyway, learning that this very mountain maybe that very one that fell from the sky so long ago is crazy but maybe true.”
Gale finished drying himself off putting the towel on the wrack to dry off, he took the brush starting to brush out his fur back into shape. “Plush, Gilda?”
Spike closed his eyes. “Hmm... You got a point.” He opened them glancing over to Gale. “Gilda might flip on this and did you notice how quick your catching on?”
Gale nods. “Yes, yes...”
“Just over two weeks ago you were still acting on survival instincts, do you erm... Remember that?”
Gale eyes drift in thought. “Yes... Plush, mum... Drop...” Gale muttered out the little words he could say. Spike silently glance at him seeing that the answer from those random words spoke out more than just words, Gale remembered the pure instinctive drive, he remembered almost everything he saw, listen and did.
After Gale finished brushing himself, the griffon looked at the full body size mirror happy with the way he looked. “Gale... Not sure this relates but I was born of magic too.” Gale blinked with surprise. “Twilight hatched me when I was a egg through magic, without it who knows where I be right now, she a big sister to me and like Princess Celestia is a mother to you, she may not cast the magic that forever changed your life but she cares about you either way.”
Gale walk up to the door opening it. “Mum!?”
Spike noticed the surprise peeking around the open door to see Celestia putting down a few chairs around a horseshoe shaped table that now sat in the middle of Gale's room. “Princess? Wh-what going on?”
“Good morning young ones! I am just preparing the table quickly for everyp-” Celestia pauses. “Hmm... Everyone should be the correct term.” Celestia giggled. “They be here shortly and good morning again to you two, take your seats and the others be coming in any moment~” Celestia sung.
“I got pancakes to finish!” She clapped her front hooves together happily before teleporting away.
Gale blinked a few times and turn to Spike as the dragon did too. “Breakfast in your room? I didn't see that coming did you?” Gale shook his head. “Let's get the middle seats!” Spike rushed over to the table.
Gale flew over to his bed picking up the plush and quickly joined Spike at the table seeing that even glasses, plates and cuttery been set up, even three jugs between three seats at a table of water, apple juice and orange juice, even had pots of tea and coffee.
“How did Princess Celestia do all this while I was brushing my teeth and you having a shower?” Gale shrugs as he took a good look around. “One of those things we never figure out huh?” Spike chuckled and Gale laughed too.
Gale noticed the tea, Spike watched him take the sugar putting it in a tea cup, two spoons followed by milk and pouring of tea into it, Gale stirred the tea. Picking up the cup he sipped a bit with a happy sigh tasting the refreshing bliss of a good hot cup of tea.
The doors open with the guests walking in, Luna, Shining Armor, Cadance, Trace, Amber, Greystorm, Octicovix and Blueblood. “Morning nephew, I see you are enjoying your tea.” Gale nods happily but wearily look at Greystorm. “Mayor Greystorm I advise you sit at the furthest point on the table.”
Greystorm walk over to the end of the right side of the horseshoe shaped table. “With honour princess, it is my own actions that caused this lack of trust to me towards the young prince afterall.”
Gale couldn't help but put the cup down, getting off the seat and walking up to Octicovix, he keeping the plush close to him look at her with curiosity. “Hello young prince, I am Octicovix a changeling and wife to Greystorm.” She bow to him.
Gale suddenly had a flash image of a very smooth face and hair being sitting behind a desk, he looking over reports on a pad. “Odo?” Gale blurted out tilting his head.
“Odo? What or who a Odo?” Octicovix was very confused what came out of his beak.
Shining Armor gave it some thought. “Gale.” He turn to the captain. “Is this Odo a changeling?”
“Yes!” Gale said and raised his plush to Octicovix. “Plush!”
Octicovix slowly took it with her hoof. “Erm... Thanks?”
“Odo! Yes?” He getting excited.
“Honey, I think he wants to see you change.” Greystorm said as he took his seat.
Octicovix gave back the plush. “You want me to shapeshift?” He nods squawking with a sparkle in his eyes. “Okay! One change coming up!” She changed into a exact look alike to Gale.
Gale gasped with excitement, putting his plush down and point to his copies beak. “I think he wants you to speak.” Cadance giggled.
Octicovix smirked. “Hello Prince Gale, it a pleasure to meet you.” She bowed to him.
Gale seeing the words and his voice leave the beak made him so happy, he flew up and around a few times before doing a forward spin landing sqawking happily by giving his changeling look alike a big hug spinning her around.
Octicovix after being let go turn back to her true form. “Oh wow...” She burped. “Sorry, he overwhelmingly fed me with positive emotions, so much that it is as endless as your love is Princess Cadance.”
Cadance raise a eye. “Thanks... I think.”
Blueblood rubbed a hoof under his muzzle. “Gale seem to be very happy to meet you, do you know of a changeling called Odo?”
“No I do not, could it be one from that far back? Could our kind been around that long?” Octicovix asked.
“Who knows, what we know and what happened it all in the air of what we thought we knew.” Blueblood replied.
Celestia teleports in with enough plates stacked with pancakes for everyone in Gale's room. “Morning everyone! Take a seat and have some pancakes made by me truly! Enjoy!”
Luna raise a eye. “Celestia are you okay?”
“Of course Luna!” Celestia grinned.
Luna still stared at her. “Yes...” She wearily said sitting down at the table, she noticed the semi tired look. “Sister did-”
“I did and I am beaming with energy!” Celestia interrupted and giggled.
Luna whispers to herself. “Who are you fooling sister, you didn't sleep at all, I am the Princess of the Night and I am half awake.”
Amber sat down beside Spike, she looking down at him as he looked up at her. “Hello there little dragon, I'm Amber an-”
“Your a Abyssinian from the Kingdom of Abyssinia aren't you?” Spike blurted out.
“That I am and you are?”
“Oh!” He laughed nervously rubbing the back of his head. “I'm Spike, I live with Twilight at Ponyville, she like a sister to me.” He put his claw out to her paw hand.
Amber took it with a soft shake. “I live in Manehatten and married to Trace who is a griffon again.” She hints to the blue griffon sitting beside her silently. “You going to say something?”
Trace moved the collar slightly around his neck. “Hello Spike, it good to see you after all these years.”
Gale squawked in surprise hearing no whistling. “It impressive isn't it?” Octicovix giggled. “That gem has some Changeling Magic in it, while wearing it he speaks without whistling with a slurring S to each word spoken.”
Trace adjusting it again. “It is ma'am, the magical artefact came in handy but it just feels weird against my fur and feathers.”
Octicovix shrugs. “It a old Changeling Artefact, one of a few things I took with me before I left the hive.”
“Hive?”
“I'll tell you later.” Octicovix put her hoof out to him, he took it with the talon and they shook.
Amber shook her head. “Right, shall we di-” She saw Gale already eating his pancakes with glee. “Well it seems a certain teenager already beaten us to it.” She laughed.
Celestia sat down beside Gale. “You really like them?” He nods licking his beak. “Oh I am glad, you're not anger at me are you?” Gale shook his head turning to Spike for his help to answer.
Spike licked his snout off whip cream. “We talked last night while we slept, Gale not anger at you.”
“You talked while you slept?” Celestia curiously asked.
Luna sitting beside her glare at Gale. “Nephew I told you not to use your dream magic!”
Spike came to Gale's defence. “Princess Celestia said to sleep on it and Gale took it word for word.”
Luna groans. “Luna I did say it, I am at fault here as I did not take into account Gale would take what I said seriously.” Celestia defends Gale. “He is in enough trouble with punching Greystorm.”
Luna gives in. “Fine... We will talk about this later Sister.” Luna cut a chunk of pancakes and ate some.
Gale looked concerned. “It fine, my fault not yours.” She warmly smiled. “Go on eat up! Don't hold back on my account!” He nods and goes back into eating his pancakes, Celestia yawned slightly getting a roll of the eyes from Luna.
“He built a door to my own dream, I can go directly to the Dream Cavern when I am sleeping, how cool is that?” Spike told them with excitement. “I never dream shared, it was weird but cool.”
Greystorm looked over at Gale. “How exactly did a grfflite learn to use dream magic?”
Luna glares at Celestia, the sun princess laughed nervously. “Aunt Celestia gave him a renewed copy of Aunt Luna's Dream Magic book.” Cadance informed the mayor.
“Seriously?” Celestia nods chewing on her food not wanting to speak as her checks turn a shade of pink. “I am not sure to be anger or amazed, I know of this book because of Octicovix, but knowing Gale learned from is a surprise...”
Octicovix rubbed the under her muzzle. “Even I missed that one and I am good at gathering information.” She admitted.
“No one perfect my dear, we can be three steps ahead that we so far ahead some details is easily missed.” Greystorm said putting his talon on her hoof, both smiling at each other and about to kiss to get a cough from Celestia eyeing at Gale.
They saw he was curiously watching. “Add that as a miss too my feathered husband.”
“Indeed.” He picked up a cup of coffee drinking it.
Blueblood look down at his cup of tea. “How did I get myself into this mess?” He whispered.
Shining Armor chuckled. “Prince Blueblood that would be a chain of unforeseen events that none of us saw coming.” He raised his glass of apple juice. “To unforeseen events, we never would have this breakfast.”
Spike laughed. “I'll toast to that!” Spike raised his glass.
Gale did so with his cup of tea, everyone else did too.
“To this unforeseen breakfast!” Celestia spoke out.
“Unforeseen breakfast!” They cheered.
Celestia got a look from her sister knowing she was about to be grilled once again by the Lunar Princess.
Spike spoke up. “Oh we might of found out that Grogar's fortress was at the location of the Canterlot Gardens!”
Suddenly it was dead silent and all eyes were upon Gale and Spike.
Breakfast had past, the table removed with the cushions, Gale with Spike were back to sitting by the balcony doors reading comic books. Gale flipped through another page as he ate his lunch, Spike munching on some gems close by, the griffon was curious on how the purple dragon ate crystallised objects with ease.
Gale heard a chirp from the balcony, he saw a yellow bird on it looking back at him, he put the comic book down and raise a claw up to his surprise the bird flew over and land on it. “Wow that some friendly bird.” Spike said watching the bird chip and chirp happily.
Gale looked deeper into it eyes noticing a look that didn't fit a bird, Gale poked it gentle with his other claw, getting a giggle from it. “Odo?” He tilted his head.
Spike first surprised by the laugh and followed by shock. “Octicovix is that you?” The bird hopped around and bows with a wing across it chest followed by a raised head with a cheeky grin.
Octicovix flapping her wings fly over to Spike landing on his head looking down as he looked up. “Yep it me, I decided to pop over to see what you youngsters were up to.”
“Huh hmm...” Spike crossed his arms.
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously.” He didn't look convinced. “Okay!” She opened the wings up with a minor outburst. “My husband working with a group of ponies to start researching the garden to find any clue of that fortress.”
Spike picked her up off his head placing the changeling bird on the ground before him. “Why are you here then? Aren't you two a team?”
“Yes that is true.” She changed back to her true form. “Gale liked the fact I am a changeling, not many ponies know of my kind and being a creature that need to feed off love from another isn't applying.”
Gale tilted his head curiously. “Feeding off love, how does that work?” Spike asked with curiosity.
Octicovix rubbed one foreleg with the other. “Direct is using my magic to force it out of you when you are in love, the other is passive positive emotions like I am sensing from Gale that I absorb in the air with no notice of it.”
Spike felt a bit of a chill. “That kind of creepy, I can see why you hide in plain sight.”
Octicovix sighed. “Indeed, my husband gives me so much love and I always try to give it back, Greystorm just as much loves me has a love for the griffish history and so do I.” She giggled thinking about Greystorm. “He such a strong willed griffon.”
Octicovix wrapped her forelegs close to her chest shifting back and forwards, Gale looked at Spike for answers. “Why are you looking at me for answers!? I am just as young as you are!” Spike said quickly in defence giving Gale more confusion.
Octicovix coughed. “Sorry about that, so... What are you two up to today?”
Spike had his chance to change the subject. “We reading comics, I Power Ponies and Gale reading The Misadventures of Pistol the Griffon.”
“Pistol? What a strange name for a griffon.” Octicovix using her magic to pick up the comic books, finding issue one she flipped through the pages after a few seconds at looking at each. “Floating island full of wondrous technology, super smart griffons that love to tinker.” She look over to Gale. “They name their young off their own inventions, what a strange way of naming griffons.”
“Same with ponies seeing that almost all griffons have names starting with G.” Spike said picking up his comic book starting to read it again.
Octicovix giggled. “So true.” She went through another comic book. “Hmm...” She took a good look at Pistol in each comic. “Very smart and want to get away from making new type of weapons, a very open minded griffon that want to create things for the betterment of all griffons.” Gale nods.
Spike flip over a page of his comic book. “He also in it building something to help him live forever too.”
Octicovix looked through the third comic book. “Ascension machine?”
“A what?”
“It rumoured that if a pony does a really big great deed and proves themselves they ascend to become a Alicorn, I know Princess Cadance was once a Pegasus.” Octicovix explained to Spike and stated about Cadance. “That how she became the Princess of Love, Pistol seem to be making something along that in a artificial means.” She point a hoof to the comic page.
Spike lift his eyes up from the page he was reading to look at Octicovix. “That just science fiction isn't it?”
Octicovix tap the tip of her muzzle. “That is true young one.” She looked over at Gale. “How would you like to see Pistol life like?” Gale gasped with excitement of that idea. “I knew you like that idea.”
Spike watched as well, they saw Octicovix burst into green flash and emerging from it was a life size version of Pistol before their eyes, even the eye colour was spot on. With a grin from (his) beak Octicovix now shapeshifted (Pistol) flapping the wings doing a spin before landing on the hind paws.
“Okay that is cool!” Spike got up on his feet.
(He) flexed the forepaws. “Interesting, not only he doesn't have talons but the paws almost work the same way with the inner short toe acting like a thumb.” Octicovix noticed that was staring. “What?”
“Your voice changed too!” Spike stated. “I mean it sound awesome, but it seem so joist and semi high pitched including male like Pistol is.”
(Pistol) chuckled. “Oh of course Spike! I am just going by what I read and getting in character as it were.”
“Oh like a play!” Spike points at (him). “That so awesome!” Gale was gleefully flying around (Pistol) and even touching the feathers and fur to even more excitement from the teenager. “Guess Gale giving you a fifteen out of ten Pistol.” He chuckled.
“That is great to know! I am glad this shapeshifting came out so well, I never did a fictional character before.” (He) used the forepaws to move over parts of the body to the tail feeling the fur and feathers. “It takes a lot of energy you see to pull something like this off, but because of the massive positive energy coming out of Gale it gave me the boost I needed to pull it off!”
Spike laughed. “It explains why your so bouncy and hyper.”
“Oh it does, doesn't it?” (Pistol) flew after Gale, he in turn shifted to dodge (Pistol whom hit the wall and fell down on (his) back, eyes spinning. “Ooooo that a dozey... Hehehe...”
Gale lands beside (Him) with a talon out to help the changeling griffon up. “Odo?”
(Pistol) took the talon and pulled back up onto all fours. “I am okay, just a bit dazed. It will were off, so...” Gale gasped and pulled (him) over to the desk. “Whoa what the hurry Gale?” The teenager let go of (him) and open it to show the blue print papers.
“Aren't those the sketches you made on the island Flaputa?” Gale nods and Spike took a look at one himself but notice (Pistol) was staring off into space at the first one. “Erm... (Pistol)?”
No response.
“Octicovix you okay?” He waved the claw in front of (his) face getting no reply. “What up with Octicovix?”
Gale tapping the claw tips of each talon together nervously looking at Spike. “Blue flashes...” He spoke out.
Spike raise a eye. “Blue flashes? You mean this happened before?” Gale nods raising two claws. “Twice? So this is a third time and you do not know what causes it?”
Gale nods again. “Does it happen when you draw some stuff?”
Gale nods once more. “Maybe that magic in you enters some of those things you draw.” Spike suggested.
Suddenly (Pistol) blinked a few times and shook (his) head. “Whoa, that was something I wasn't expecting... What kind of magic was that?” (He) look over to Gale. “I saw you with this female bipedal being using cardboard boxes to make things, I never even thought about what you could create with some cardboard boxes, glue and paints.”
Gale tilt his head in confusion. “I don't think he remembers.” Spike stated.
(Pistol) grins. “Then my scaly friend, we need to change that at once! Ask the guard to get glue, art and craft paints and all the cardboard boxes they can get that isn't being used.”
Spike gave (him) a odd look. “What are you planning?”
“Oh you will see~” (Pistol) sang. “And we all will enjoy making it! That a promise!” (He) put a closed paw fist to (his) chest puffing it out with pride.
Spike turn to Gale. “Shall we go along with this?” Gale nods. “Alright.” Spike shrugs. “I'll go ask the guards.” Spike walk over to the doors.
Gale raised a eye glancing at (Pistol), first he found it cool but the way the changeling was acting felt so eerily as he would imagination Pistol be like. “Why are you looking at me like that?” (He) gave a confused question to the teen. “Am I too in character?” Gale nods. “Is that a good or bad thing because I never acted like a fictional character in a comic book before, it very new to me.”
Gale thought about it and gave a flat out talon waving it left and right.
“Your not sure if that good or bad?”
Gale nods.
“And you like seeing me as Pistol and acting like him but you feel that what you imagined is very close?”
Gale gave a shocked look with eyes shrinking.
“Hmm...” (He) tapped the beak a few times. “It strange for me too Gale, I just pictured it from reading and this was the result, if you like I can ch-”
Gale put a claw tip to (his) beak and shook his head, moving it away Gale walked over to the desk opening it up to pull out a camera waving it in front of (Pistol).
The finchling griffon grinned and notice Spike returning to them from the door. “Hey Spike, care to take a photo of us?”
“Sure and afterwards one of me and Gale?” Spike asked taking the camera from Gale.
“I believe that be okay.” (Pistol) replied, (he) put a foreleg around Gale and the teenager did the same both giving big teethy beak smiles with the other forelegs out.
Spike took the photo, he gives it to (Pistol) and a photo taken of both teens, Gale took the two polaroid photos shaking them waiting for the pictures to appear. “Sunbeam past the list I wrote to another guard, we should get the stuff soon.”
“That's great Spike!” (Pistol) said with delight. “While we wait I am going to read some more comics about Pistol, I saw a few things in there about him failing many times with new inventions.” (He) walked over to the pile of comic books sitting down on the flank picking up one to read through.
“Yet with all those failures he always kept a high cheerful spirit.” Spike chuckled. “Right Gale?” Gale nods showing the photos. “Oh wow they are awesome! Let's show them to (Pistol).” He again laughed and Gale did too before joining the pony size griffon.
Sunbeam walked into the room a while later with all the supplies they asked for with a group of other guards that helped, they started putting the flatten down cardboard boxes in a pile, paint cans in another, a few cans of glue and stationary gear. “That all the stuff on the list Spike.”
Spike took a good look at the gear as the other guards left. “That awesome Sunbeam, thanks a lot!”
She saluted. “No problem, just happy to help.” Sunbeam noticed the Finch Griffon. “Another griffon?”
“Oh (him)? That Greystorm's wife Octicovix that bug pony shapeshifter.” Spike explained.
Sunbeam stared for a moment. “Weird, I never saw her come up or got a report about her coming through the balcony.”
Spike chuckled. “That because she was a Finch bird.”
Sunbeam blinked before looking at him seriously. “Your saying her kind can shapeshift into small birds too!?”
Spike shrugs. “I guess so, since I saw it you know.”
She groans. “I am going to have to speak to the captain about this...” Sunbeam turn to leave the room. “Nothing strange going on is there?”
“Part from Octicovix being a fictional pony size griffon called Pistol from a comic book?” Sunbeam raise a eye. “Other than that no.” Sunbeam groans from what Spike said.
As Sunbeam leaves the room, she ends up muttering to herself to definitely have a word with Captain Shining Armor about the lack of security against shapeshifting ability beings.
“That was to be expected, taking into account that I did breach a number of protocols that in place, specially for a prince like yourself Gale. The fact Private Sunbeam spoke about bring this to the captain about the exact breaches that can happen show she is right to be your personal guard, Gale.”
Gale looking at the different colour paints they brought turn around to (Pistol) with a happy nod, he looking very excited at making the Flaputa cardboard model with both of them. “Look like Gale agreed with you Octicovix and I am sure Shining will take it into account for sure.”
(Pistol) clapped (his) forepaws together rubbing them against each other. “That is good to know, shall we begin making Flaputa?” They both nod. “Let's start making the base and work our way up, we will use strips of cardboard criss-cross them to create supports to hold up the main island we will make.” (Pistol) shows them some sketches (he) created.
Spike took the blue paper taking a good look at it. “Eight supports equally parted with four central ones around the base of the island underside, this would work.”
Gale nods in agreement picking up some of the cardboard boxes, picking out which ones would work for supports, the island underside base, the top side base to the buildings and trees.
“Look like Gale already sorting out which will work best, let's follow his lead shall we?” (Pistol) suggests giving Gale a helping paw and claw, letting the young griffon lead them on sorting the flatten cardboard boxes out.
Spike give a thumbs up. “Sure!”
Gale shows them which boxes will work best for each part of the island and they got to work, the start of creating Flaputa cardboard model between them.
Princess Celestia walking towards Gale's room carrying two trays of dinner for him and Spike, walking alongside her the blackish grey griffon Greystorm with a irritated look upon his face after spending wasted hours talking to the noble ponies, out of the twelve only two agreed to have a dig spot in the Canterlot Gardens.
“Two ponies only voted for out of all those good for nothing snubs! I thought the way I am was bad, but they took the page off the griffons and turned into a pony type of self centred good for nothing-”
Celestia raise her wing cutting him off by placing it over his beak. “I believe you make your point clear Greystorm, this is noble politics at it finest.” Celestia closed her wing up. “I had over 1000 years of dealing with them.”
Greystorm rolled his eyes. “More like they do not like the idea that griffish ruins point to the ruins being here in the city it self.”
Celestia looked out of a window they past to the city as they continue their walk to the Royal Suites. “Yes I believe you are correct, many ponies would believe that history as they know it to the facts we do know now.”
“History written by the winners or the superior race of the lands.” Greystorm said flatly to Celestia. “Before you try to counter that, just think what we discovered and how your history is currently forged.” Greystorm brought up a valid point to Celestia without looking at her as they walked.
The princess thought about what he just said and he was right, their legends about the three pony tribes before the Heart of Friendship brought them all together to form early Equestria, this new information showed the old griffon kingdom gave up everything to defeat Grogar. “You are correct Greystorm, what our history is and what is truly discovered now questions it.”
“I gather it will take time to sway a two thirds of the council to agree?”
“It will, how long would it take or how you get their vote will depend on your approach Greystorm, I am interested in finding out if under the gardens is the ruins of Grogar's fortress but it open to the public and funded by the Noble Council, I could go above their heads but they would-”
“See it as a abusing use of power?”
“Yes...”
“Yet you used the crown not only to adopt a young confused and scared teenage griffon, have Gilda teach him to write, speak and how to be a griffon and last but least display your power upon those that might be a threat to him.”
Celestia stopped in her tracks as Greystorm walked on, she stared at him as he walked. “Your right... I have, he a life not a ruins that maybe under a garden that I didn't have any say on. I gave them the power to do things without me always directing them, give them a choice to do the right thing.”
Greystorm turn his head round. “This is why I never play chess with you, your too good at this.” Greystorm face forwards walking up the stairs.
Celestia frowned. “And as you...” She muttered quickly catching up and walking alongside the griffon up the flight of stairs.
“Underestimating the facts Princess?”
“Not at all, it was you and your wife that uncovered where my son from afterall, I never would have been close.” Celestia smiled. “So don't sell yourself short, sometimes being older you easily miss things that the young see.”
They entered the hallways of the Royal Suites. “You have a valid point, yet you have a Pure Griffon that seemly brought us together to find it out.”
“Very true.” Celestia turn to Gale's door hearing laughter from not only Spike and Gale but a third voice. “Private Sunbeam who in side with my son and Spike?”
Sunbeam saluted first and responds with a report to the Princess. “Octicovix the changeling Princess, she currently in a form of a finch griffon that is a fictional character called Pistol, from a comic book series Prince Gale and Spike been reading since yesterday, they also creating something with cardboard boxes, paint, glue and other stationary gear.”
Celestia turn to Greystorm. “Are you curious at what they been up to?”
Greystorm rubbed a talon under his beak. “I am Princess.”
Celestia knock the door with her hoof. “Son, can we come in? I got you and Spike some dinner here.”
A happy squawk came from Gale and Spike calls out. “Sure come on in! Just don't mind the mess!”
Celestia open the doors walking in with Greystorm to find a rather big island base been made with it smelling of fresh paint, scattered around on top of sheets of paper were cardboard cut outs of trees, hill, buildings and upper levels of the island city of Flaputa.
In front of it were two avenge pony size griffons and a dragon covered in patches of paint themselves holding paint brushes. “Hello Grey, what do you think of the new look I can change into?” (Pistol) flare the wings and shows off the griffon pony. “Also fully grown!”
Greystorm chuckled. “You look cute and guessing from the voice a male?”
“Yep, I used the comics to create the pony, the roughly sounding voice by imagination and articulate the personality!” (He) said waving the paint brush around with a spin around showing off the form. “This kind of griffon is a Finch Griffon! Small but have a really creative and imagintive mind.” Tapping (his) head with the other forepaw.
Greystorm tap the tip of his beak. “Hmm... I recall a old book has something on Finch Griffons... Just can't quite remember it...”
“Might be your last very friction visit to Griffonstone Grey.”
The greyish black griffon shifted with a fluff of his wings. “Now I remember... Thanks Octicovix.”
(Pistol) press two fingers to the forehead and push away giving a salute. “No trouble at all.”
Celestia giggled. “It seem you are having a lot of fun being in that very chippy happy griffon form.”
“That I am Princess! Thank you for allowing me to spend time with these two wonderful youngster, they don't care what I am and love my shapeshifting abilities!”
“I am happy to hear that... Pistol.” She slyly smiled looking upon each of them. “Now I would suggest you all get washed up, yet you are not really a male even I easily forgot that looking at you at the moment, so I am going to cheat.” Placing the plates down Celestia used her magic on Spike and (Pistol) removing all the paint off them.
Gale looked over himself and glared at Celestia. “Your magic interferes, remember cub.” Greystorm states with a single claw up.
Gale crossed his forelegs still annoyed. “Hmm...” (Pistol) tap the end of the beak.
Celestia raise a hoof. “I do not know how Changeling magic will work on him, rather not test that out and see a random result.”
“It was just a thought.” (He) shrugs. “Sorry Gale, your mum has spoken.” Gale sighed and walk over to the bathroom to have a shower.
Celestia calls out. “Do not worry the food will not get cold, I'll make sure of it!” Gale give a thumbs up and close the door behind him. “He be gone for about ten minutes, now do you two like to tell me what this creative piece of work is?”
Spike smiled proudly. “Sure thing Princess! This is a floating island in the comic book series about Pistol, it called The Isle of Flaputa.”
“Flaputa?” Greystorm raise a eye. “Seriously?”
“Ponyville, Griffonstone, Manehatten, Yaki-” Greystorm put his talons over (Pistol)'s beak.
“Okay Octicovix I get the point...” Greystorm let go of the beak.
Celestia put her wing over (Pistol). “Please continue little griffon.”
(Pistol) looked up at her. “Thank you Princess.” (He) coughed into the paw and spoke. “Flaputa what we making is a big island and smaller ones floating high in the sky, it filled mostly of Finch Griffons that have a natural knack for inventing things and tinker, they pretty much had the power of imagination like no other.”
(Pistol) flew over to a pile of comics and picked issue one up. “This introduce Pistol and the griffons of Flaputa, it shows that even with his amazing mind, the poor griffon couldn't get any of his inventions right.” (He) gives the comic to Celestia.
She took it with her magic and flipped through the pages scanning through them. “I can see why Gale already taken a liking to this, I wouldn't be surprised if Twilight would like reading these.” Celestia sit takes a seat on a cushion. “Tell us about your day with Gale making this model.”
“Sure!” Spike grinned.
Gale came out of the bathroom feeling much better, he also brushed out his fur to not be puffy. “Had a nice shower son?” Gale nods to his mum. “That good, I was hearing how much of a enjoyable day you had making this model still in progress.” Celestia turn to the trays. “Now you and Spike can enjoy your meal.” She gives Gale his tray and remove the dome from it.
Gale looked at the food and took in the smell of it, licking his beak he look to the garlic bread, then to Octicovix still as Pistol. “Plush.” Gale pick up the plate of bread reaching out to (him).
(Pistol) took it. “This is your dinner, I can eas-” Gale squawked with a shake of the head. “Your not going to take no for a answer are you?” Gale nods. “Thank you...” (He) picked up one with the forepaw and took a pick out of it. “Hmm this is good.”
“Tsshey ssure are!” Spike said with a mouthful of bread before swallowing. “Here go Gale have one of mine.”
Gale took it and took a bite. “Hmmmm...”
Celestia had a warmth of happiness seeing that they all were enjoying her own cooking, it brought joy to her once more, showing her cooking was well loved. “I did most of it but I had some help from the staff that work in the kitchen.”
Greystorm walked up to the model to get a snarl from Gale, instantly stopping he looked over at Gale. “Trust to recover is going to take time...” He muttered stepping back seeing the easing from Gale. “Sometime in the future I will regain your trust cub, till that day just calmly show me instant of acting aggressively.”
Gale staring at him slowly tilted his head. “Gale, my husband does things that is very stupid for the right reasons, his gust moves faster than his brain or heart.” (Pistol) stated and continue to eat the bread enjoying the explosion of flavour including the love Celestia passively put into it.
“(His) right.” Spike agreed. “The way your acting to him could show to others something else to what you really are.”
Gale listen to each to each of them, going through what they said in memory the young griffon close his eyes and focus on the Dream Cavern. “Blue how do I deal with the distrust to him?”
“Master Gale...” Blue stood on a tree looking up at the large crystal. “Be wary but don't growl and act on wanting to fight him to defend every little thing you make, give him a sign of non-aggression that you do not wish for him to be near stuff you own or make.”
“Thank you Blue.”
“Happy to serve you Master Gale, see you soon.”
“Same!” Gale open his eyes turning to Greystorm. “Down plush...”
Greystorm slightly smiled. “Received and understood.”
Celestia nod to her son. “I am happy to see you choosing other than growling at Greystorm, down plush is a nice way to say do not go near your stuff.” Gale nod back to his mum with a smile too. “One step in the right direction at lease, one small step and-”
Gale instantly saw another image from the flat screen. “That one step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Seeing a grey grainy image of a bulky being stepping off a ladder onto a ground.
The flash ends and Gale blinked a few times trying to even understand what he just saw. “Gale are you okay?” Celestia asked with concern, Gale rubbed the back of his head with a confused expression. “You remembered something didn't you?” Gale nods.
“More of his past coming to light?” Greystorm asked.
“Indeed, in seem that somethings we say or do just seem to randomly trigger them to resurface.”
(Pistol) finished off the last garlic bread. “The memoires are most likely there but need a small chaotic push of randomness to connect those scrambled within his mind, it similar to those that invent stuff, it never starts with a 'oh I know what to do' moment but a chain of chaotic mistakes, it applies to the trains or the recent development of the computer.”
Suddenly Gale saw himself playing a game it words he spoke out. “Command and Conquer Red Alert...”
“What did you just say?” Celestia slowly turn to him.
“Command and Conquer Red Alert.” He repeated.
“Why would you-”
Spike speaks up. “It sound like a title to a game the way he saying it.”
“Really? A game th-” Gale squawks happily nodding to Spike. “It a game?” Another nod to Celestia. “Does this have to do with computer?” Gale nods seeing this memory clear in his mind for the moment. “How does a game work on a computer? It just massive towers that used for specific tasks.”
Greystorm rubbed the underside of his beak. “Could it be that during Grifiax's era they had computers that did more than what they do at the moment?”
Celestia stared at him blankly. “It could be a possibility. Look at the science fiction comics.” Spike put his plate down going over to the pile picking up one to show Pistol walking down the street with panels on the roof. “This they called solar panels, they took it sun light and heat turning into energy.”
(Pistol) even chipped in. “Spike is correct, what I read so far confirms it too, they had fishes that created electrical energy that helped power up massive cogs and machines too, they even created forms of weapons that would fire metal slugs faster than the very motion of sound travels! They even had a cable car that took you to mulptily levels of the city and in one instant a computer that was flatter than a table width being used by a Finch Griffon!”
Celestia's eyes darting left and right trying to even keep up with what they were saying, it was getting really messy for her, in all the years her ponies never even came close to stuff like this and in fictional comics it showed the Finch Griffons to be superior in technology.
Spike quickly shows another page. “Don't forget this one shows how the island can float in the sky! It has crystals that supposedly been forged by unicorns that enhanced with magic to create anti-gravity like the spell Twilight learned a few days ago!”
“A place both with magic and technology, no wonder this is a place of fiction it a land of wonders!” Greystorm said taking the comic to look at it himself. “I never consider that the griffons back before Grogar's defeat could have something like this, but if you give it enough time any evidence of it would just turn to dust cause it made of stuff we use today like plastic, paper, metal and such.”
(Pistol) was in glee with Greystorm over this. “That stuff would just become part of the soil! Lost throughout time and space! What if Grifiax Boreas knew this and did what he did to make sure that his message wasn't lost by time itself!”
Celestia got up turn to leave the bedroom. “Princess is something wrong?”
“No...” She didn't look over to Spike or any of them. “I... Need time to process this...”
“It all a theory Princess, it could mean anything.” Greystorm said.
“I understand but... I just need time.” Celestia glance over to Gale with a smile. “Goodnight Gale and I will get a pony to take the dirty trays away.” Gale nods silently getting feeling something really bothering Celestia he mum.
Sunbeam salutes as Celestia walks out. “Princess.”
“Sunbeam keep the doors open and keep a eye on them, I do not want a repeat of Mayor Greystorm's arrival.”
“Of course, good night princess.” Sunbeam accepted the order.
“Goodnight my little pony.” Celestia walk away into her room closing the door she slowly turn to the window seeing the moon shining through it.
For a countless set of hours Celestia stared out into the sky slowly taking in everything she heard them say, the fact she recalled something the griffons discovered almost 300 years ago frozen in time by ice, Celestia never discovered what they found even their close ties to Griffina back in the day before King Guto.
“The king before Guto... Graivers I believe commissioned unicorns to make gravity magic crystals... What if... That couldn't be could it? What did he discover in the ice deep in the northern frozen mountains of Griffina that sparked the beginning of secrecy from the griffons?”
Celestia turn away from the window removing her regal gear placing them on the table and hoofshoes on the ground.
“Guess even a princess that ruled for a thousand years on her own can mess up without even realising it.”
Past midnight throughout the city of Canterlot, the only sound mainly is the wind blowing through the streets, street lights shimmer with the full moon high above giving light to a calm quiet night, Greystorm and Octicovix walking down a street together carrying a bag each across their sides.
Greystorm eyes shifting left to the right as they walked across the cobble stone road, his talon tips and hooves from Octicovix echoed through the street. “Octicovix you sure they have them?”
Octicovix glance to her husband. “I am not completely sure Grey, he is a wary pony within the capital of the Equestria.” They stopped at a cross road of the street. “He will be with those hench ponies of his, I'll be watching and waiting.” Octicovix kiss him on the cheek before shifting into a black raven and fly up onto the roof.
“Thank you Octicovix.” He adjusted his blazer looking down to Octicovix saddle bags. “Best get a move on.” He picked up her bags placing them on his back.
Greystorm turn to his right walking down the street passing a few guards till he came to the dark dull path between the buildings, he walked down the back path till the griffon stood under a light high above swaying slightly from the wind. “Ah Mayor Greystorm I see you arrived exactly on time as we agreed.”
A dirty brown Earth Pony with black and grey mane and tail wearing a cream vest, red and white polkadot scarf with a cutie mark of a gold skull on it step into the light. Either side and behind him were three other stallions one grey with ginger mane, the other with a Stetson and red scarf, the final one light grey wearing sunglasses with a black and purple collar, both stallions with black manes and tails.
“Doctor Caballeron, I see your with the usually crowd of ponies.” Greystorm eyed each of them with caution. “You have the two golden discs?”
Caballeron rubbed the back of his neck. “Erm... No...”
Greystorm flare his wings. “Care to explain why we having this meeting then?” He showed the predator side of the griffon, eyes narrowed talon claws marking the cobble stones.
Instantly the Earth Pony stood on his hind legs waving the front ones quickly. “Please! Let me explain Mayor Greystorm, I have a perfectly good reason!” Rash and fast his words blurted out.
The griffon eased his stance as the other ponies quickly retreat a few steps from their boss as the predator now circled his prey. “Then speak Caballeron.”
Caballeron turning around to follow the griffons movement around him. “We found where it is but we couldn't get near it, for two whole days we waited, these pony and griffon guards in this strange looking armour never slept, never rested. They kept the whole creator and the ruins well guarded.”
Greystorm stopped circling Caballeron with a thoughtful look as his eyes drift away. “Golems?”
“Golems? What is this Golems you speak of?”
“I recently discovered there is guards that never need to sleep, eat or drink. They are magically created guards by Princess Celestia herself, they are not really alive.” Greystorm explained. “Griffon Golems is a new one on me.”
Caballeron rubbed the underside of his snout. “How can I complete my contract with you if they do not leave their post?”
“That is a interesting question Doctor.” Greystorm glanced up. “Octicovix.”
The raven flies in and lands on top of his head. “Hello Caballeron.” She said calmly to him with her yellow solid eyes glowing and piecing into the very soul of the Earth Pony.
He shuddered as the piecing looking continued to stare directly at him. “H-Hello...” He step back a little.
Octicovix flare her wings a bit before shifting back into a resting position. “Now the ruins you did examine directed you to this creator correct?”
“Yes, the griffish ruins did.” He answered. “We did have to pretend to try and take artefacts to redirect Daring Do, she some how caught wind of our plans to explore the ruins.”
Octicovix narrow her eyes. “You or her didn't trash them did you?”
“N-no... I made sure to make it look like she would win, so the damage was almost not noticeable as agreed upon.”
“He good.” Octicovix look down at Greystorm.
Greystorm rubbed the underside of his beak. “As it is Octicovix, it doesn't solve the problem that this unnamed creator and ruins is heavily guarded by Golems that are both pony and griffon.”
She crossed her wings tapping the talon on his head. “True Grey, it strange to even know it took weeks of exploring many ruins to even find it.” She look over to Caballeron. “How many did it take?”
The pony rubbed the underside of his snout looking up at the swaying light. “About seven ruins.” He looked back at them. “Each ruin had a small amount of detail that put together adds up to the location of the creator.”
“It just like you said Mr Mayor!” The ginger mane pony spoke up. “The real treasure was the ruins themselves and their tales!”
“That it is.” Greystorm smirked. “Now do you have any photos of these clues?”
The doctor smirked back. “Of course I do.”
“Good here is your payment on exploring the ruins.” Greystorm pull out two bags of Bits throwing them over to Caballeron.
Catching them he and his henchponies looked through them seeing it was all there. “Now Doctor Caballeron part of our terms and the contract agreed upon, we will pay the rest once we all found the discs that reside within the unnamed ruins.”
“Oh of course, I always fulfil my part of the contract.”
“And you have so far.” Greystorm said calmly to him. “Meet us in the train to Trottingham tomorrow morning, we will talk over how to gain entrance to the ruins and the creator.”
Doctor Caballeron smiled. “We will be there.”
“Octicovix give them the tickets please.”
The raven wings glow and the tickets appear before the four ponies. “They will allow you all access to the Private Carriage of the train, do not be late.”
“We won't, I bid you all a good night.” Caballeron pick up the bags of bits, with his henchponies all disappeared into the darkness of the night leaving a envelope on the ground for Greystorm to take.
Greystorm walk over to it, picking it up he opened the envelope to pull out many photos of each ruins to a map circling the eastern side of the Macintosh Mountains range. “It interesting that seven ruins that are only connected by these markings on the walls, they have nothing in common with each other are kingdoms that rose and fell at different points in history.” Octicovix stated looking at each of them from on top of Greystorm's head.
He put them back away. “I am curious about that myself, we will figure out why part of the mountain range seem to be hiding a creator and ruins from the rest of the world.” Greystorm turn walking back onto the streets heading back to the castle. “You going to stay up there?” He looked up at the raven.
Octicovix showed a smirk on the beak. “Yep.” Greystorm shook his head laughing softly followed by squawks of laughter from his wife. “We do have a lot of work to do Grey.”
“That we do Octicovix and what secrets these golden discs hold.” Greystorm turn his head towards the full moon. “With everything that unfolded this weekend has truly gave me a goal for my fellow griffons.”
“Keep that up and every single being will see you as a big ol' softy.” She giggled.
Greystorm chuckled back. “Well maybe that what they need to see.” With a few flaps of his wings the griffon took off back to the castle causing the raven to fall off, she flaps to regain control.
Octicovix hovering just where he took off blinked a few times. “You can't be serious! Greystorm! You need to keep your image up at Trottingham! Damn it Grey answer me! Don't ignore me!” She flew after him.
Steam pours out from the sides of the stream train soon after it came to a stop at Canterlot Station, ponies and some griffons step out from the carriages while others including a purple dragon walk onto the train in turn.
Gilda step off the train from her journey, her eyes locked upon the castle in the distance. “GILDA!” Gale's happily screaming squawk came from her left.
“Here we go...” Gilda braced herself and right on cue she got a tackle hug from the teenage griffon. “Hey cub, guess you missed me?” She look down as he looked up, Gilda chuckled rubbing his feathered head. “How about letting go?”
Gale release his hug flying back a few feet landing on the platform, Sunbeam step up beside him. “Good morning Gilda, hope your trip from Griffonstone was a pleasant one.”
“Can't complain.” Gilda shrugged. “I do how ever want to know how you knew I was going to arrive from that train.” She hints to the departing train. “You dweebs spying on me?”
Sunbeam shook her head. “Not at all, just dumb luck. Prince Gale were seeing Spike off back to Ponyville, he just boarded that very train you got off.”
Gilda starts to walk and they follow her off the platform heading up the cobble stone path to the castle. “The purple dragon was over this weekend?”
“Indeed.”
“What else did I miss?” Gilda asked.
Sunbeam looking around to keep Gale safe responses. “That is for Princess Celestia to tell you Gilda.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Of course she want to tell me herself, that dweeb better not leave anything out.”
“I believe you are getting the full transparency.”
“Good.” Gilda saw the nervousness from Gale. “From that look cub, you did something this weekend didn't ya?” Gale nods silently shifting his gaze away, she hummed to herself wondering what it could be. “Guess I'll find out when we get to the castle.” Gilda open her wing taking off to the castle.
Gale realises she not going to waste time walking and takes off after her into the sky, Sunbeam flies after them. “Wonder how she react to the Prince punching Mayor Greystorm?” She whispered to herself.
They entered the castle heading right for the throne room, as they came up to the doors the guards at them look to each other first before putting their spears across. “Sorry Prince Gale, Princess Celestia is in a meeting with Chancellor Neighsay.” They put their spears back up in position.
“Isn't that the head of the EEA?”
Gilda raise a brow looking at Sunbeam. “What the heck is this EEA?”
“Equestria Education Association.” Sunbeam answered. “I wonder if it something to do with what Princess Celestia and the others discovered over the weekend.”
Gilda turn to the doors. “That what Princess Celestia want to fill me in with?”
“That is what I believe, I do not have all the details myself.” Sunbeam reply to Gilda.
The left guard responses. "Princess Celestia and the Chancellor been talking to each for the last hour or so."
In turn the right says. "It been somewhat heated."
“Best for us to-” Sunbeam doesn't get to finish what she saying when the doors open up.
Coming out of the throne room a whitish grey unicorn with blackish grey groomed mane and tail wearing a purple coat with a gold trimming around the neck, also the stallion had a red ribbon with a gold seal attached to it.
Chancellor Neighsay stopped turning his gaze upon the two griffons, his turquoise eyes moving from one to the other steadily. “So your the young griffon that Princess Celestia took in.” His gaze fell upon Gale only. “I do not see why she took you in, but it not my position to question why she did.”
Gale tilt his head blinking a few times.
Neighsay turn to Gilda. “Hmm... I do not like the fact a griffon with no history teaching any young without EEA approval, unfortunately since this is a private one on one teaching contract signed by you and the Princess, the EEA has no reason to stop you since all your progress that been reviled as been nothing put positive.”
Gilda snorts. “Whatever dweeb, I will do what I agreed on to the best of my ability, the cub needs a griffon more than a pony teaching him.”
“Indeed the signs that been shown do present that to be true, I will be returning every week to check on the progress since new evidence of history has presented it self in a way the EEA can not ignore it.” Neighsay said coldly to Gilda. “Do not make us regret granting you temporary teacher status for one on one lessons to Prince Gale.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb, I do not know anything about your EEA and rather do not care, Gale doing just fine without you sticking your stupid muzzle in it.”
He growls slightly. “I am the head of the EEA I can-”
“What revoke the status because I wouldn't grovel to you?” Gilda countered glaring at him.
He glared right back. “We be keeping a eye on you.” Neighsay turn around walking away down the hall.
Gilda huffed. “What a stuck up dweeb.”
Celestia's laughter caught their attention, all of them turning to the threshold to the throne room. “I am glad that you stuck up for yourself, it good to know I did pick right with you Gilda.”
“Of course you did Princess, no one else did what I did.” She puffed her chest up with pride.
“Indeed and sound like you are proud, not greedy, distrustful and mean.” Celestia turn walking back to her throne.
Gilda followed with Gale and Sunbeam. “You can blame Gale for that one.”
Celestia sat down on the throne chair. “Why blame him for giving you something back?”
“Whatever dweeb.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Just get to the point of telling me what happened this weekend and I can get to work with teaching Gale already.”
“Straight to the point.” Celestia nod to the guards and the close the doors up. “Very well, let's begin with bowling...”
Gale sat at a desk in the Canterlot Castle Library repeat writing what Gilda wrote, trying to get it as close to between the lines like hers. Gilda stood by the window looking out at it with forelegs crossed, everything that happened that weekend was giving the griffon a mix of conflicting feelings over the discovery about Gale.
Gilda open her beak to say something but she couldn't think of what to words to even speak out, closing the beak up her eyes slowly turn to Gale as he worked on his writing to continue improving it. “Gilda...” She glanced over to Sunbeam. “When I took the assignment of being Prince Gale's guard I never expected it to be-”
“Dweeb...” Gilda interrupts the guard. “I do not know what to think about what I learned but one thing that stayed the same, Gale still a cub, maybe not one before but he is now and forever.” Gilda turn to Gale as he continue to do his work she gave him to do with a tongue hanging out of the side the beak. “I am going to do what I agreed to, what about you?”
Sunbeam also looked over at him. “Your right, Princess Celestia specially assigned me this.”
Gilda look back out the window. “We just mixed up in things that too crazy to be believed by any other creature out there, you tell them this and they just think your some loony.” Gilda chuckled lightly with a slight shake of the head. “Just another day on the crazy train.” She pat the guard on the back before walking over to Gale. “Thanks for snapping me out of it dweeb.”
“Your welcomed...” Sunbeam frowned slightly sounding a bit unsure.
Gilda step up to the desk by the large hour glass. “How is it going Gale?”
Gale shows Gilda. “Gilda... G-g-...”
“Good?” He nods, she takes a look at the progress he made. “Your getting better cub, still work needed to be down but if your wrist start hurting just stop and take a break.” Gilda give it back to him. “How does it feel knowing... Erm... Your here because of another griffon?”
Gale shrugs and goes back to working his writing.
Gilda rubbed the back of her neck. “Cub...”
Gale look at his talon and back at Gilda, it glows and he put his talon over her's.
Suddenly the library vanishes and she finds herself in a forest within a cavern. “Where in Grover's name am I!?”
“Your in the Dream Cavern, I didn't know it would work but it did!” Gale said as he lands before her. “Hi Gilda!”
Gilda blinked a few times. “Am I asleep?”
“Erm... Kind of, it more like day dreaming, we awake but dreaming.” Gale explained. “I am sharing my day dreaming hyper active imagination with you!”
Gilda stared at him. “Dweeb... Knowing you can do magic and you using it is two different things, this is really freaky...”
Gale lower his gaze. “Sorry Gilda, I can end it now if you like me too...” He shifted the talon around the dirt.
Gilda groans. “Cub, we talking and I guess that acceptable for now.” Gilda took a look around. “So tell me why you did this and show me around.”
“Sure!” Gale raise his head with a smile on his beak. “Come on.” He waved her to follow, Gilda did. “I wanted to answer your question Gilda... I know what I was told but I know it can't change what is now, all I can do is move forwards and try to remember my past.”
Gilda looked around seeing the large crystal that gave light to the crystal blue waterfall to lake flowing river, he happily show her around for a few minutes heading through a thick part of the forest. “This is some dream place you got Gale.”
“Master Gale does have a hyper active imagination.” Blue jump down from a tree branch standing before them.
“What in the heck are you?”
“Dream guardian, my name is Blue. I am a jackal diamond dog hybrid a fictional creature from Master Gale imagination Mistress Gilda.” Blue explained telepathically to Gilda putting his paw hand out to her.
Gilda look at the paw and place her talon on it with a shake. “Blue right?” He nods. “So... You know what Gale knows?”
“Correct Mistress Gilda, I can tell you that he want to remember his past for to not forget the past and not have it control the life he has now.” Blue informed her. “Sadly this only brief but has to come to a end, any longer it will have dire effects on Master Gale, he still has to control the amount of magic he uses without bring harm to himself.”
Gilda gave him a look. “Alright..” Gilda turn to Gale. “Get us out of here Cub, if what your guardian freaky jackal says is true, no way your going to crash out because of this.” Gilda hints to everything around her.
Gale nods. “Okay, see you tonight Blue?”
“As always, I will be at the hot springs.” Blue turn and jumps into the trees and out of sight.
Gilda chuckled. “Got to admit, that one awesome creature you imaginatively made.”
“Thank you Gilda and can you help me to talk more outside the dream?” Gale was happy to hear what Gilda said and asked her.
“Sure thing cub, now get us out of here already!” Gale nods.
In a blink of a eye Gilda found herself back looking at Gale in the Library. “That was some neat trick Gale.”
Gale grinned.
“What trick?” Sunbeam asked. “All I saw was him touch you for a second with his talon glowing and that was it.”
Gilda turn to her. “Wait you saying it just happened? But we were there for minutes at least!” Gilda point over to Gale.
“I came over cause of the magic Prince Gale were using.” She turn to Gale. “Princess Celestia did tell you not to use that magic, not after what happened to Mayor Greystorm.” Gale laughed nervously.
Gilda chuckled. “That the best part I will not forget.” As the subject moves away from the dream to what Gale did to Greystorm, Gale was happy for the subject change but not so happy about it having to be him hitting Greystorm.
Sunbeam stared at Gilda. “He punched the mayor of Trottingham.”
Gilda shrugged. “Don't care, that feather brain always got something up his feathers, don't like him at all and something tells me every time I see him to just not trust him one second. Last time I saw that dweeb he fined me for my Griffon Scones, so Gale punching him across from room to another is the best news I'll take.”
Gale was puzzled and look at Sunbeam. “I can not answer that for you Prince Gale.” Sunbeam choice to return to her post not wanting to press on the topic seeing how Gale looked at her and Gilda.
Gilda point to the book. “Get back to writing Gale, after lunch we get some speaking and flying time in before you get back to practice your writing.”
Gale nods and go back to the writing.
Gilda watched him for a few moments before turning to walk back to the window and gaze back out to the outside. “Remember the past, don't let it control you and move on to the future...” Gilda whispered. “That one heck of a saying...” Gilda looked at the particle reflection of Sunbeam.
“When the time is right, I think me and Dash be friends again.”
Gilda glanced over to Gale.
“Thanks for sharing that dream cub.” She whispers. “Your kind heart is a real pain in the flank.” She chuckled softly as Gale continue to work on his writing.
For Gilda she was back from boring old Griffonstone to interesting Canterlot on the Crazy Train, life had gave Gilda a really interesting twist.
Celestia with Doctor Trace once more a pony walked down the path of the Canterlot Gardens past the many pony statues towards the hedge maze, sun shining with a clear sky and the birds chirping away. Ponies minding the flower gardens, Manehatten school ponies with their teacher visiting the gardens taking notes about each statue on their school trip.
“The results from the potion I created that suppose to remove the transfiguration didn't exactly work as it suppose to.” Trace said to Celestia as they walk by the school ponies, they all gasping and pointing hooves at Celestia seeing her in real life.
Celestia turn to them using her magic to unleash a burst of colourful explosions, the fillies and colts cheer in delight, she winks and turn to Trace. “Your potion failed?”
“Not exactly, it never was tested on magic like the type a pure griffon has, the end result was chaotic because of the very magic we recently learned of Princess, no way to know this would be the very result I am in.” Trace calmly explained to Celestia.
They turn at the statue of Victory continue their stroll. “You seem rather calm over this Doctor Trace.” Celestia raise a eye brow with suspension.
Trace turn his eyes to her. “That is because I have a amazing wife, Amber helped me while I was having a episode of complete freakout over this.” He looked ahead. “By the beginning of the weekend if we are right, I be back to a griffon wearing that blasted collar again, so I am not looking forward to it.” Trace grew slightly annoyed.
“Couldn't the herbal bath help?”
“No, that is far beyond that, unless we figure out how pure griffon magic differ to magic of any kind it be fruitless.” Doctor Trace chuckled slightly afterwards. “Chaos to order and order to chaos, I sure fit into that good old saying don't I Princess?”
Celestia look directly ahead seeing a certain statue come into view, timing of such words seem to be just perfect for the very saying. “Indeed Doctor Trace, it will be something you will have to balance in your life now till we find a way to truly fix it.”
Trace nods. “I completely agree princess.” He notices Gale. “It seem we not the only ones taking advantage of the beautiful weather.”
Celestia now notices her son sitting against the pedestal of Discord's statue with one hind leg over the other, Gale reading a book with Gilda sitting on a bench looking through Gale's text book. “Gale?”
The griffon looked up giving a happy smile and wave to Celestia. “Mum!”
Gilda put Gale's text book down. “Hey dweebs!”
Celestia smiled slightly and nod to Gale. “Hello son.” She turn to Gilda next. “Enjoying the weather?”
Gilda shrugged. “Can't complain, it sunny, warm and peaceful.” Gilda chuckled. “Before you ask why we here Princess, Gale found a book on a race called the draconequs and I happen to recall there one here called Discord, so I brought him here to see it.”
“I gather that book is about them?” Trace point to the book Gale is reading.
“Yeah it is.” Gilda answered. “He like to read, it gives me time to look over his griffish and point out how to improve it.” Gilda sighed rubbing her head. “If Dash heard me now I be such a lame dork and a egghead.”
Celestia gave a small smile at that response. “You still care about how Rainbow Dash see you? Even after it been a few weeks since your friendship ended?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I have image to keep dweeb.” Gilda took off into the sky. “I am the coolest griffon of all time and don't forget it!” She does a few spins and flips in the sky followed by crossing her forelegs.
“Indeed you are and it seem the fillies as well the colts agree on it.” Celestia look over to her right seeing them cheer.
Gilda bows. “Your all awesome.” She smirked. “Want to see more tricks?” They cheer even more. “Alright time to show you my stuff!”
As Gilda shows off to the young ponies Celestia walk up to Discord's statue looking up at it. “Even after a thousand years, I still wonder why you found it fun to cause so many ponies such pain and misery.”
Trace frowned upon hearing Celestia speak to the statue. “Princess, why are you speaking to the statue as if it is a living thing?”
Gale raise his head looking directly up at them and the statue curiously listening. “It a stone prison of Discord the draconequs, self proclaimed god of chaos and disharmony.”
“You turned a draconequs into stone?”
“Indeed Doctor Trace, me and my sister did when we wielded the Elements of Harmony over a thousand years ago, Discord been imprisoned within since.” Celestia turn to Trace. “It was the last result in defeating him.”
Trace turn to face the statue once more. “Chaos... He has magic based on chaos?”
Celestia turn to the statue too. “Yes, he could just snap a paw or talon and in a flash magically do something that would seem impossible.”
Gale put the book down opening his wings up, he flapped them a few times to get eye level with Discord's statue. “As creating something?”
“Correct.”
Suddenly as Celestia said it Gale recall seeing a hand raised and clicking, with a flash a band of musicians appear playing something up beat on the box. The being that did it was celebrating with his powers being restored, Gale blinked a few times as the new memory ends, Gale look to his talon and the statue.
Celestia speaks up. “Do not even think about it young griff!” Gale flinches, he slowly turn around looking down at Celestia, she giving him a stern hard look. “You suddenly remembered something and you were about to do something with that magic of yours, won't you?” Gale laughed nervousily rubbing the back of his head.
Trace chuckled. “Not so subtle youngster, you just got your talon caught in the cookie jar.” Gale turns around descending to them. “I am curious at what you were thinking of Gale.”
Gale hummed and with a glow from his talon touch Trace, suddenly the doctor was looking at the Dream Cavern staring at Blue who stared back at him. “Master Gale, please stop using your Day Dream Connection spell...”
Suddenly Trace was back staring at Gale blinking a few times. “Day Dream Connection spell?”
Celestia glance at Trace and back to Gale. “Doctor Trace what just happened?”
“I was in some forest in a cavern, before me were this strange blue, black and cream odd looking diamond dog with spikes on it chest and forepaws, he had these really sharp looking red eyes.” Trace told Celestia.
“You were unconsciously shifted to the Dream Cavern and who you saw is most likely his Dream Guardian Blue the Jackal Diamond Dog.” Celestia explained to Trace and narrowed her gaze on Gale. “Gale you are not to use this Day Dream Connection spell on Discord's statue, do I make myself clear?” Gale nods. “Good, now pick up your books and pack them, I do not want you near this statue.”
Gale lower his head. “Yes... Mum...” He picked up the book walking over to the bench to get his text book and other gear.
Gilda comes back and lands before them. “Those ponies sure loved the show I put on for them!” She chuckled and saw Gale looking sad. “What just happened?”
“My son was about to use a spell that he seemly created on the statue, I put a stop to it.” Celestia told Gilda.
Gilda shifted her gaze in thought. “That day dream magic thing that allow you to connect to his Dream Cavern, right?”
“Correct.”
“Okay, next question, what wrong with him using it on a dumb statue?”
“Because it a stone prison that held Discord for a thousand years”
Gilda quickly turn to the statue. “That thing is a living draconequs trapped in stone!?” Gilda squawked with surprise.
Celestia sighed heavily. “Come back to the castle and I will tell you all over some lunch, it will be about Discord and how the Elements of Harmony turned him into stone.” Celestia turn walking back to the castle.
Gale quickly followed her, Gilda turn to Trace. “Is this going to be the norm around here?”
“The fact I shift between griffon and pony? For me yes.” Trace walk on to the castle.
“I thought you cured yourself!” Gilda called out walking after him.
Sunbeam following behind them. “The pure magic preventing the potion from working the way it suppose to.”
Gilda look over her side. “That griffon magic really does a number on your pony magic doesn't it?”
“It does, how or why? I haven't got a clue.”
“That because griffon magic awesome!” Gilda said proudly. “And the cub got the stuff.”
Sunbeam glance back at the statue. “Discord imprisoned in stone... Do you think Gale's magic might disturb it?”
“Don't jinx it you dweeb!”
“Bu-”
Gilda groans. “Shut up pony and let's just get back to the castle already, knowing that statue a living thing is creepy as heck.” Gilda walks away from the statue.
“Yes... Ma'am...” Sunbeam nods and mutters turning around to follow Gilda back to the castle.
A single feather of Gale's land on the cloven hoof of the statue...
Time to Vote and choose which path you choose by Monday 9am GMT 8th of June. How will Gale's feather effect Discord's statue? That be your choice in this 300 thumb up milestore!
What will be the result of Gale's feather have on Discord's statue?
Nothing happens
Gale get's a surprise ghostly visit from Discord
Gale get a visit from Discord in Dream Cavern
Discord is freed
Update: Votes are closed and the link removed - Chapter 38.5 is the resulting winner.
Suddenly and without warning Discord found that he could move freely once more, in a instant he twists the long body around stretch his arms and crack the bones in his back down to the tail. The red iris of the yellow eyes adjusting to the brightness of the light, he rubbed the beard with the paw a few times humming to himself.
“Now I am free it time to cause some untimely chaos!” Discord chuckled raising his paw up with a snap of the finger and thumb together nothing happened. “Huh?” He snapped again and again. “What gives!? I am not that rusty!” He growled snapping again. “Oh come on! I want to cause chaos for pett sack!”
Discord suddenly noticed he wasn't in the gardens of Canterlot anymore, he was in a forest with a cave ceiling above lined with crystals all forming into a massive one hanging just ahead over a large body of crystal blue water. “This isn't Canterlot, where the heck am I?”
“Your Discord.” A young voice said behind the lord of chaos.
With a fanged grin Discord turn around. “Oh I am! Behold my chaos!” He snapped his finger and thumb, yet again nothing.
Discord grumbles and his eyes met Gale's who stood before him tilting his head. “I thought you could do things like Q can.”
“What do you think I am trying to do!? Play snap the musical tune!” Discord yelled at Gale trying to use his chaotic magic with zero effect.
Gale raise a eye. “Mum said you used it to cause misery to ponies for the fun of it.”
“Causing chaos to the ponies is a good laugh!” Discord said proudly.
“But it not for them if it make them sad, Q kinda learned that when his powers were striped from him.” Gale said.
Discord snorted. “Well I am not him and I do what I want.” He stuck out his tongue at Gale arms crossed turning away.
“Not here you can't! This is my Dream Cavern, I made this place with my imagination!” Gale flew up to his eye level glaring at him.
Discord turn quickly. “Did you just say Dream Cavern, as this is a dream?”
Gale shouts out a mighty “Yes!” Discord suddenly felt the world just stopped.
He realised why his chaos magic wasn't working, a suddenly a growl comes from above bring more bad news to the draconequs , Discord look up at the tree branch to have his red eyes meet Blue's red eyes. “You try anything to Master Gale or the Dream Cavern, you have me to deal with.”
All Discord could do is slump forwards grumbling out two words.
Blue lands on the ground on his paw feet moving into a stance ready for action against Discord, Gale put a talon on his shoulder and this eased the jackal diamond dog, he glance to the teenage griffon. “Master Gale?”
“Discord can't use his magic, you can you see why?.” Gale asked Blue.
The jackal diamond dog had a very puzzled expression, Discord even was confused by the very request. “Master Gale, I can but why?”
“What are you up to?”
“A random act of kindness, I know what mum told me about what you did but here you are without your chaos, I am curious about it.” Gale said hovering before Discord. “I don't care why your mean to others before, it what you do when your freed that matters.”
Discord rolled his eyes. “Fine do whatever you like, it get my magic back I am happy to assist.” He turn to Blue raising his arms up. “Do whatever you need to do Lucario.”
Blue raise a eye. “My name is Blue not Lucario.”
“I am talking about w-” Discord groans in annoyance getting a deep glare from Blue with a snarl. “Fine... Blue do it already!”
“Master?” Blue questioned to be sure this is the action he is to take.
Gale nod to Blue. “Go ahead Blue.”
Blue closing his eyes with the four dreads raising up, they vibrating. “I can not sense any form of magical aura around Discord, only his life force on a subconscious state form.” Blue open his eyes and the dreads lowered.
Gale tap the end of his beak. “You were sealed as a statue by the elements, maybe they stopped your chaos magic from coming through.” Gale hummed. “Or maybe it could be the dream realm has different rules like Aunty Luna told me.”
Discord snorts crossing his arms. “Doesn't help me, I am stuck here without my magic!”
“Your a statue, does that mean you been awake as one all that time?” Gale asked.
“None of your business child.” Discord walks away.
Blue turn to follow the draconequs, he steps on a feather under his right paw foot, bending down and picking it up. “Hmm... It seem I might have found the cause.”
“My feather? What does a feather have to do with Discord being here?”
“The random chaotic act of a loss feather falling from your wing onto a certain statue may resulted with pure magic allowing the seal to slightly weaken, which allow Discord to be subconsciously here in the Dream Cavern.” Blue held up the feather explaining to Gale.
Gale took it from him. “Hmm... That is a random chance.” Gale turn towards Discord who now stood at the shore looking out at the waterfall. “Do you think mum be mad that he asleep and here in Dream Cavern?”
Blue lean against the tree trunk with his arms crossed keeping a eye on the draconequs. “I do not know Master Gale, your mother is Princess Celestia after all and her past maybe a long time ago with Discord, but her mind maybe still troubled by his chaotic nature.”
“But that not his fault, there is always chaos and order, you can't have one without the other, sometimes one can go crazier than the other but it just part of world.” Gale said to Blue. “Imagination is the very thing of it too, dreams, ideas and random thoughts are better much it too, it how I created this place and you with dream magic.” Gale points out to Blue.
The jackal diamond dog took that into thought as he shift his eyes upon Gale. “Mistress Celestia is the order and Discord is the chaos, ponies been happy with the order she given them, Master Gale. She may never fully believe any good come from him.” Blue eyes shift back to Discord.
Gale rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't know Blue, it was over 1000 years ago, maybe just maybe we can change that.” Gale walk towards Discord.
“It is what you wish Master Gale, I will go with whatever you suggest, I only can relay my views on the subject.” Blue replied watching Gale get closer to Discord.
“Child, this is boring, no chance to cause chaos. I do not want your kindness.”
Gale stood to the right of him. “Well you either got being here in this boring place free to move around or go back as a statue with the same sights of the gardens.” Gale said. “My feather if it is gave you some freedom, even it a dream, would you rather give that up?” Gale turn walking to his house by the waterfall.
Discord turn his head watching Gale walk away. “Is he a child?”
“That is true but there are signs of being mature, only moments at random times.” Blue responded. “But Master Gale is correct you have only two choices, take your time to pick, Master Gale isn't one for rushing.” Blue said from the tree he still leant against.
Discord raise his talon and paw up to his field of vision. “One talon I go back to being motionless statue staring at the same space for hundreds of years, on the other paw I get to sleep, dream and move around in some randomly created landscape by a form of imagination that a form of chaos...” Discord rubbed them together with a sly smile.
“Very difficult isn't it?” Blue teased.
Discord smile dropped as he turn around to Blue glaring at the jackal diamond dog. “You really know how to kill the mood.”
“Only you can kill that Discord, I only guard the Dream Cavern.” Blue push off the trunk jumping up onto a branch before bouncing off onto another disappearing from view.
Discord looked up at the large crystal reflecting the sun through out the cavern as well the warmth of it. “Very creative.” Discord taking a good look around. “I have nothing on that griffon Gale, Celly really kept me in the dark this time.” He walked towards the house. “Time to twist and play the little guy.” Discord chuckled lightly.
“Care to repeat that?”
The draconequs quickly looking around seeing no sign of Blue, he felt a chill run through his body. “Sneaky...”
“Did you forget...”
“Guardian of Dream Cavern blah blah blah.” Discord rolled his eyes turning around on the spot to try at least see where Blue was. “Your very chaotic you know that?”
“Order and chaos are one side of the scales, each need the other, I simply used it to my advantage.”
Discord chuckled. “I like you, Gale made you well.”
“Praising me to drop my guard, not going to happen Discord, I be watching so don't try anything funny.”
Discord muttered under his breath. “Crafty mutt...”
Gale open the door. “Made your choice?”
“Not yet, I just arrived afterall.” Discord decided to play nice with Gale.
“True, maybe if you behave here I can show ya my Imaginative Randomizer Gate tonight.” Gale smiled.
“Imaginative Randomizer Gate?”
“I have a hyper imagination and when I sleep I come here, so to have dreams like others I created something to give me random dreams with the dream magic, Aunty Luna helped me to make it.” Gale closed the door. “I thought maybe just wondering around here would make it too boring for you.”
Discord stared. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing, well time to get up! A new day awaits! More writing, speech and other lessons!” Gale saluted and vanished before Discord's eyes.
The draconequs looked around. “That a neat trick.”
“No trick, just Master Gale waking up.” Discord turn around to see Blue stood before him. “Come I will show you were you be sleeping.” Blue waved a paw for him to follow.
“I am already asleep Mutt.”
“That is true but since your body encased in stone, your subconscious be active all the time here by my best guess, you will need to rest the mind, as do I.” Blue turn and walks away from the house, Discord follows.
“How does that even work!? I'm dreaming!”
“Elementary Discord, the dream realm has it own form of chaos, it doesn't need to be explained on how it works, it just does.” Blue glance over his right at Discord trailing behind. “Your a being of chaos are you not? This should be a norm for you.”
Discord snorted with a small laugh. “As I said once before I say again, you crafty mutt.” He glance back to the waterfall, without a word Discord decided to play the game and wait for the time that a tiny crack to grow and when that does he will escape to cause chaos once more.
Celestia sitting at the table ate her breakfast, things pretty much been a routine for the last three days, breakfast with her son and Gilda, sometimes Luna joined, worked with meetings to openings and public appearances, dinner followed by family time with Gale, each breakfast he had a different book.
Gale still haven't told his mum or aunty Luna in the last three days about Discord's dream self on lived in Dream Cavern, the teen's thoughts drift away onto the book he read, it was about the Grand Galloping Gala's history and how it's yearly event two weeks before the first days of autumn came.
Munching on some pancakes Gale turn the page, he took a look at the details to the drawing of ponies lining up to be greeted by Princess Celestia. Curiously Gale thought about the days, weeks and months, it only recently he finally got a head over understanding it, calculating it in his head the Gala was only about a month away give it take a day or so.
Celestia look over to Gale seeing the cover title. “Reading about the Grand Galloping Gala?”
“Yes mum.” Gale responds with a simple response continuing to read the book and eat his breakfast.
Celestia hummed with a thoughtful look about a idea that came to mind. “Gale, did you know that when we first met it was sort of about the Gala.”
Gale lower the book slightly raising his head chowing on his pancakes with his attention on Celestia. “Mum, how?”
“I got a letter from Twilight while you was sleeping behind those waste bins.” Celestia made a pair of tickets appear floating them over to Gale. “I didn't send enough to Twilight, all her friends wanted to go so I sent more to her and that startled you.”
Gale eyes shift to the left as he thought back to that very moment, he recalled waking up with fear and gasped looked back at Celestia. “Remembered! Mum!”
Celestia laughed. “It seem you did, not my finest moment of meeting you for the first time, at the moment you were almost all by pure instincts, memories very raw and fresh.” Gale recalling those raw first few weeks, shivering slightly on how he acted. “Think of it this way, because of the Gala tickets you became my son and I became your mother.”
Gale put the book down and the folk, he reached to the tickets picking them up, curiously looking at the golden reflection of himself between the lines of the printed written text. “G-G-G...” He tried to say it groaning as the words wouldn't leave his beak.
“It okay son, you are getting there day by day, think of it this way, by the time the Gala comes up you be able to talk well enough to talk to others.” Gale frowned with confusion, getting a giggle from Celestia. “Oh Gale, they yours.” Gale pupils shrunk with a surprised squawk. “Oh and the other you can pick who ever to go with you.”
Gale looked down at them and back at Celestia a few times. “Mum! Why?”
“Because I think it be a good reason for my son to go to the very thing that made up family.” Celestia warmly said to Gale. “Also no returns, they yours, so weather you want to go or not it up to you.”
Gale was about to get up and fly over to Celestia to give her a big happy hug but the doors slammed open in the usually fashion of Gilda walking in. “Morning dweebs!”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “That is three times this week Gilda, do you really need to really throw open the doors in that manner?”
Gilda shrugged. “Unless I am not allowed to.”
“Well if it a thing than I know your here.” Celestia responded. “Still, just be a bit more careful, any harder I fear those doors will come right off those hinges.”
Gilda looked back as the guards close the doors. “Fine I will do it a bit less htmp okay?”
“I believe that a acceptable compromise.” Celestia said using her magic to bring over Gilda's stack of pancakes and cup of tea. “Today I will be on my way to Ponyville for a formal visit, Twilight most likely got the whole town preparing for my arrival.” Celestia giggled.
Gilda chuckled taking her seat. “Your such a troll Princess, that one of the things I like about you, you really know how to tease them.” Gilda picked up the folk pointing it a few times in Celestia's direction before stabbing it into the pancakes, with the knife in the other talon cutting a piece off.
“Oh I do not even know what you mean Gilda.”
“Sure whatever you say Princess.” Gilda chuckled.
Gale look to the ticket and over to Gilda, he knew who exactly to give the spare ticket too, so he waited till they were done with breakfast to give it to Gilda. “I gather your plans are as usual?” Celestia spoke as she raise the cup of tea to her muzzle.
Gilda shook her head. “Not exactly, morning yes but afternoon no, learned that some hot shot Pegasus called Spit whatever is coming by to give Gale some flying pointers.” Gilda raise her tea up to the beak drinking a little of it.
“Ah yes, I do recall something about that, Captain Spitfire of the Wondrbolts took time out of her own time to come by this afternoon.” Celestia confirmed Spitfire was coming to Canterlot to give some flying lessons to Gale.
Gilda stared. “Captain of the Wonderbolts, the very team wearing blue and yellow flight suits?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what did Gale do to impress her?”
Celestia drunk a bit of her tea putting the cup down. “It a interesting story, eat and I will tell you.”
Ponies picking up plates, cups and cuttery, cleaning up the tables. “Ha, I wonder how Dash would react to that, I know she a big fan of those show ponies.”
“Well in two weeks time the Young Flyers Competition in Cloudsdale is happening and Rainbow Dash is one of those competing.” Celestia said.
Gilda tapping her right talon claws against the table top. “Let me guess, first place winners get to hang out with the show ponies?”
“Correct.”
“Urg... Let me guess Gale going?”
“Yes.”
Gilda got a pleading look from Gale, she raise her right talon over to her face pulling it down. “Cub cute face does not work.”
Gale than pouts.
“That doesn't work either.”
Gale grumbles crossing his forelegs now annoyed.
“Gale your not going to win.” Gilda rolled her eyes.
Celestia speaks up. “He want to go and giving you that ticket shows that Gale rather have you be the one looking after him, you are the first griffon he met.”
Gilda slowly look back at Gale seeing he sat there nature. “Your not going to stop pleading till I say yes, aren't you?” Gale nods and she groans. “Fiiiinne you win, I was wrong... I'll go to the lame YFC...”
“Hmm... Interesting way to put it, but thank you.” Celestia wink to Gale who cheered in delight flying around the room, he comes in and give Gilda a big hug.
Gilda rolls her eyes. “Your welcomed cub, now get off before I change my mind!”
Gale quickly let go, he wave the ticket to her. “Gilda!”
Gilda took the ticket from his talon. “What is this ticket for?”
“Read it.” Celestia incised
“One admission to the Grand Galloping Gala, VIP access...” Gilda raise a eye. “That sounds very lame and boring.”
“Oh you do not know how true it is.” Celestia admitted with a giggle.
Gilda quickly glanced at her. “Why in the name of Grover would you give that to Gale to give to me!?”
Celestia slyly smiled turning her gaze away. “Oh that was his choice not mine, just hoped he would.”
Gilda grinned with a snap of the claws. “Oh I see your game, you want me and Gale to spice things up don't you? Throw a bit of chaos in the mix?”
Gale looked surprised by what Gilda said, he thought his mum was of order. “Don't you look surprised son.” Celestia put a wing around him pulling the teen close. “I wanted to give you them for the reasons I spoke to you before hoof, but since you gave your spare to Gilda and hoped you did I think you two together can make things a little bit more lively.”
Gale thought about it, he recalled order need chaos and chaos need order, so maybe she needed to add a bit of chaos to keep order. He nods to Celestia in somewhat understanding what she said, he was curious if Twilight and her friends be there too, would Spike? “Spike?”
“Oh he going.”
“YAY!” Gale broke from the wing hug dancing around happily to hear that Spike going.
Gilda slowly frowned at the ticket. “Is it filled with rich stuck up snoobs? Also overly dressed suits and dresses?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Why did I get myself caught up in these things!?” Gilda groans throwing her forelegs up in the air. “You cub!” She points at him. “What the heck you do to get me into this stuff!?”
Gale shrugs.
“Maybe you feel like a sister to him.” Celestia got up and Gilda stares off into space. “I got things to prepare for my visit in a few hours to Ponyville, enjoy your day my little griffons.” Celestia vanishes before Gilda could snap out of her trace.
Gale waved his talon in front of Gilda's face, Sunbeam walked up to them. “Princess Celestia sure like to drop those bombshells don't she?” Gale nods as he snap his claws in front of Gilda.
Gilda blinked a few times and shook her head. “I really hate when she put me in that spot.” Gilda grumbled.
Sunbeam smiled. “You do make it easy for her to do it.”
“I don't, you dweeb!”
“You know if your going to the Gala you will need something fancy like a d-”
Gilda grabbed her muzzle shutting her up and pulling her close to Gilda's face. “Get this dweeb, I will go but not in a dress, you think I will wear one of those sappy things you got nothing coming!” She let go of the muzzle.
Sunbeam rubbed it. “Geez... It just a dress, no reason not to be-”
“I do not do girly stuff, you can go stuff it dweeb!” Gilda turn to Gale. “Let's get your lessons going before we cross that line I throw this pony into the fountain.”
“You wouldn't would you? I am Prince Gale's guard.” Sunbeam gulped a little seeing the fiery fury in Gilda's gaze now dawned over her. “You would...” She backed up a bit. “Okay shutting up and not bring it up.”
“Good.” Gilda snorts. “Now...” She put the ticket under her wing for safety. “Get your book and bag Gale, let's get your lessons going before Spits come.”
“Okay, Gilda.” He pick up his book, bag and ticket, Gale follows Gilda, Sunbeam close behind.
Celestia peer through a crack of the door with two guards by her. “If I try that she most likely do it to me.” Celestia smiled slightly.
“We would end up throwing her in the dungeon for such actions.” Blue Star stated.
Celestia glance over to him. “No, because I would be to blame to pushing it that far, such action would be over zealous, also Gale wouldn't like his hororay sister being put in such a place for something so minor.”
“Princess...”
“Leave it be.” Celestia warned him.
Blue Star sighed. “I will Princess.”
Celestia glance over to him. “You like to bring up a question or two about Gilda? It seem you have some to give.”
“I do Princess...” He look to the open crack of the door. “Do you really believe she like a sister to Gale? You seen the way she acts?” Blue Star raised the questions.
Celestia closed the door. “Blue Star, Gilda has a soft side, she just doesn't show it often, she not a girly type and it most likely a either a griffon side or she just a tom grif version of a tom pony.”
Blue Star rubbed the side of his helmet. “I think I can see where your coming with this Princess.”
“Good, no need to ask about it any more.” Celestia got a nod from Blue Star..
A guard comes up to them. “Princess just got word from Fillydelphia, there seem to be a infestation pandemic.”
“It seems my visit to Ponyville will be put on hold, we will stop by quickly to let Twilight know.” The guard nods and leaves to inform the Pegasi Guard that be pulling her chariot. “Blue Star, inform Captain Armor that Princess Cadance be over seeing things in Canterlot till my return, also for my sister Luna to tuck in Gale if I do not get home in time.”
Blue Star salutes. “Yes princess.”
“Now to deal with this infestation...” Celestia walks off with the guard in tow, Blue walks off the other way to the captain's office, than to Luna's bedroom to relay the message from Celestia.
Private Sunbeam lead the two griffons to the outskirts of Canterlot City towards a large arena, it from what Gale read up about the arena was used for rodeo events mainly, ponies from all over once a year gathered to compete against other ponies that were the best of the best, Gale wondered why his lessons with Spitfire was being held at such a place.
Gilda noticed three ponies wearing blue shirts with matching colour hats moving clouds around. “They are the crew that work for the Wonderbolts, you usually see them around at the Wonderbolt Academy.” Sunbeam told them as they neared the arena.
“That a lot of work just for giving Gale some pointers in flying.” Gilda was weary and suspicious of the activity.
Gale was in the middle getting the note book out from his bag when Spitfire comes down from a cloud above landing before them, dust with dirt burst out from the impact causing them to cough and wave their wings to fan it away from them.
“Good to see you are early, gives us more time to get those lessons in.” Spitfire turn to Gilda. “Gilda is it?” Spitfire dust off some of the dust and dirt from her flight suit pulling the goggles up.
“Yeah and your the showpony captain?” Gilda snaked.
“That I am.” Spitfire smirks accepting the come back.
Gilda didn't have anything to fire back. “Your okay for a pony dweeb.” Gilda smirked back.
Spitfire chuckled. “Goes double to you for a griffon.” She turn to Gale. “As for why this is all set up the way it is.” She move her hoof around showing the set up. “One dealing with the flying low to a dusty or sandy ground and two your mum warned to either have safety points set up or no lessons.”
“I doubt you would of done this without it anyway.” Gilda replies.
Spitfire nods. “Your right I wouldn't.” Spitfire now turn to Sunbeam. “I've got it from here soldier.”
Sunbeam shook her head. “I'll be staying, I am his personal guard so you have to deal with me being around.”
“Fair enough.” Spitfire wave them to follow. “Before we start the lessons I got masks and goggles to give out, also some things to say about what exactly happening, never a good idea going blind from flight lessons such as these.”
Gilda fluffed her wings. “I've had to fly through some dusty places myself, they not something to laugh about.”
Spitfire quickly glanced over to Gilda. “Indeed, since Gale here is unofficially a prince at the moment, soon as it official he may end up when his older going to places full of sand and dust.”
Gale tilted his head. “Prince Gale, usually when a pony or in your case a griffon that isn't born into it, they have a coronation or a official function that crowns you that title.” Gale tried to understand what Sunbeam meant, to his mind she calling him prince as in title already, so was he a prince or not a prince?
Spitfire turn around to Sunbeam. “Your confusing the cub, private.” Spitfire now turn to the confused teenage. “Sorry for not being clearer on what I was saying, Princess Celestia has to do this event that will have those that live in Equestria come and see you get crowned as prince, you are called by the title of Prince because you been officially adopted by Princess Celestia as her son.”
“In other words your prince by adoption by your mum but not on a official scale, so you can't do all the boring stuff Princess Celestia does at these meetings and stuff.” Gilda bluntly said to Gale. “Basically till they put that thing on your head you are as normal as we are, part from having a guard that protects you from the worst of the worst.” Gilda hints to Sunbeam.
Gale just blinked a few times. “Prince, not prince... Weird...”
Gilda chuckled. “Yep it is.” Gilda walk up to Spitfire. “Lessons?”
“Sure, this way.” Spitfire walk over to a big white board with red, blue and green board markers on the bottom of the board. “I be showing you some basic steps before we get flying, sit down anywhere and listen.”
“Sure whatever.” Gilda sat down. “Just d-”
Spitfire blows a whistle loudly. “I said listen! Doesn't mean you can speak!”
Gale rubbing the insides of his ears as they rang slightly. “You do that again pony and I put that up your plot!” Gilda growled.
Spitfire blow it again. “Quiet!”
Gilda got up lowering her front with talons digging into the dirt. “Now I am going to-” Gale quickly grabbed her foreleg with both talons, she turn her head with him shaking it. “Sh-” He squawks shaking his head again. “FINE! But if she does it one more time I will do it!” Gilda quickly glares at Spitfire. “Lose the whistle Spits!”
Gale turn to Spitfire with a pleading look. “This-” Gale shook his head. “Okay... Losing the whistle.” Spitfire took it off her neck and threw it to one of the pegasi in uniform. “Keep a eye on my whistle.”
“Aye ma'am.” He salutes putting it around his neck for safety.
Spitfire turn her attention back to them. “Now recruits it time to listen to what I got to say and see what I show you in this white board.” She tap it with her wing, taking the red board marker with one wing taking the lid off with the other.
Sunbeam lean over to Gale. “Nicely handled sir.” She whispered, Gale nods with a smile.
Spitfire starts to draw the details down as she speaks. “First when we do our first lap the dust from the arena will be kicked up by us flying low, the second time around we be flying into it with visibility dropping by as much as 30 to 40 percent, third lap is when the challenge comes in, the clouds be moved in the way, not only you need to use the right speed but able to turn at a moments notice.” Spitfire displayed it on the board as lines and stick ponies.
Gale listen and watched intently. “I heard from mail ponies going to Southern Equestria that they have to deal with shifting sands, always have to fly low before of Rocs in the area.” Sunbeam recalled.
“Correct Private, those beast of a birds are nothing to laugh at, they are not only massive but fast too, perfect way to escape them is through the dust and sand you kick up with your wings.” Spitfire confirmed. “It one of the basic training programs for the Pegasi guard here in Canterlot.”
Gale turn to Sunbeam with wonder. “Yes I went through it, not pleasant.”
Spitfire walk over to a case, she opened it up to reveal a pair of griffon beak shape masks and two sets of goggles. “These I had specially made for you two.” Spitfire toss a set at Gilda.
She caught the mask and goggles, looking at both. “I am not doing this!”
“Why not? You been in this kind of stuff like both of us have been, it only fair you get dirty too.” Spitfire said flatly to Gilda as she give Gale his set. “Or you rather not get your pretty feathers and feline coat messy?”
Gilda glares at her. “Oh you are asking for it! No dweeb calls me chicken!” She put the mask on and goggles. “Let me show how a pro handle this!”
Spitfire whispers to Gale. “Watch and learn as Gilda flies.” She speaks up afterwards. “Do as many laps as you can, let see how long you can go before you crash.”
Gilda walk over to the arena. “I'll show you how many I can do show pony!”
“Then show us.” Spitfire nod to the ponies as they put their masks and goggles on too, they getting ready to move the clouds into position. “Ready!” Gilda open her wings up. “Set!” She shift the front of her body downwards digging the talons into the loose dirt. “Go!” Gilda with a burst of speed kick up dirt and dust, she flies around the first lap.
Gale watched as Gilda enter the dust, he could just see her as the dust thickens with the second passing, the pegasi push the clouds into the dust cloud as the third lap begins. “I say six laps.” Sunbeam said.
Spitfire watching as Gilda appear and disappear in the bigger thicker cloud of orange brown dust. “I say the next one, you Prince Gale?” Gale showed all eight of his claws. “Eight huh?” She turn and watch with them as more clouds pushed into it creating a more difficulty course by each lap. “Well that got me beat.”
Each lap they could see was becoming near impossible till they lost count and Gilda burst through it landing before them, she shook off a fair amount of dust from the fur and wings, pulling the goggles up and mask down. “Eight and a half laps dweebs! Now what you think?”
Gale trying not to laugh seeing only her eyes and around the beak area was dust free, it gave her a funny appearance for the teenager. “Nicely down, good to see a griffon know how to fly threw a thick wall of dust and dirt.” Spitfire pats her on the back with a hoof knocking dust off.
Gilda didn't mind the pat. “What can I say? I'm awesome dweebs!” Gilda said with pride.
“That you are, now get under that cloud over there and my team get you all cleaned up.” Spitfire point a wing over to the two pegasi on top a set of dark clouds, Gilda take off the goggles and mask tossing them to the side as she walk to the clouds. “Now Gale before you dive in, how about taking off your bandanna and the leg bands first.”
Gale nods removing them and putting into his back, he put the bag to the side. The pegasi flew around the dust cloud pulling it in, the dust cloud turn into a ball of dust and with a push it falls apart back on the ground, two more using brushes brushed it out to the ground was flat again.
Spitfire saw the way Gale just stared at the way the dust in the air was dealt with, she chuckled picking up a mask for herself, Spitfire put it on. “It flyer magic, don't question it cub.”
“It a skill you learn as you train in the guard or in elite flyer groups like the Wonderbolts, they even able to create black clouds with lightning trails.” Sunbeam explained. “Wonderbolts learn a trick with their magic to pull that stunt off, it a neat harmless trick”
Gale put the goggles on and the mask, he listened to them and now ready to go. “I'll be by your side cub, don't do anything to crazy, keep it slow enough to kick up the dust, do not go all crazy even with the safety team around things can easily go wrong.” Spitfire gave him a dead serious look through the goggles.
Gale nods, Spitfire takes off and he follows, Gilda watch as they start to fly around with dust and dirt slowly being kicked up by their wing flaps with increasing speed. “She going to be surprised by how fast the cub learns.”
Sunbeam glanced at Gilda to see she was puffy, trying not to laugh at the sight of Gilda. “That lo-”
“Speak or laugh how I look right now, you do not want to know what I'll do.” Gilda growled.
“Noted...” Sunbeam turn back to watching Gale with Spitfire flying through thicker clouds of dust with clouds being pushed into it, he dodging them and avoiding cashing into the ground or the clouds.
Spitfire glance back quickly. “Gale, follow me best you can, I am going to speed up.” Gale nods quickly as Spitfire started to speed up, he follows her movements as the thickness of the dust cloud increased, soon he couldn't see where she went through the thick pockets he flew through.
The dust brushing against his fur and feathers was getting to him too, it felt like tiny pins hitting him, he lost focus for a moment to squawk in alarm as he slam right into a cloud, with a bounce off it he land on the ground in the middle of the dust cloud shaking off the impact.
Gale took off seeing Spitfire, she was waiting for him. “Don't worry about messing up, it all about learning, now it going to get crazy and your senses will be blinded.” Gale gave a nod understanding her.
Spitfire flies and Gale followed, he almost impacted another cloud as Spitfire increased her speed, for unknown amount of time that past he kept trying to keep up with her, many times crashing into the clouds.
Gale land on the ground after losing her in the whirling dust, on the ground he took a look around for her.
As he tried to get his bearings Spitfire lands to the left of him. “Now here the next lesson, what do you while stuck in a dust storm? It miles high and across, when you entered you knew where you were going, but now after crashing the direction you were going are not so clear.” Spitfire gives him a scenario to play out.
Gale looking around not able to make which direction was which. “Confused...”
“Yep it is.” Spitfire put a wing over his back. “To get out of this mess all you need to do is find Gilda outside it, that will point you the way home, most but not all have a good sense of direction, either way let see how good yours are.” Spitfire moved her wing off him and flew out of view through the dust.
Gale closed his eyes with his ears twitching, moving his head ever so slightly as the wind picks up a little, caused by the Wonderbolt team as they gust it up a bit from the outside by Spitfire's instructions. “Focus... Not... Confused... Focus...” Gale mutters to himself through the mask.
WHOOOSH!
Gale opened his eyes after a few seconds past to see he stood before two ponies and a griffon covered heavily in dust, slowly he looked around noticing the whole rodeo arena was too, trees near by orange brown particles on their branches to leaves.
He had zero idea what just happened, what caused it, was it him and if so how did he do that?
The arena stands, uniformed Wonderbolt officers, whiteboard, walls all covered by a blast wave pattern of orange brown dust. “What just happened?” Spitfire blinked.
“I think Gale had a pure magic surge...” Sunbeam also blinked.
“A teen at his age having a surge?”
“Well he a teen in body but in mind, not so much...”
Spitfire rolled her eyes. “Could of let me in on that little detail about this pure magic thing.”
Sunbeam slowly looked over to Spitfire. “I didn't think this could happen.”
Gilda chuckled. “Pretty epic if you ask me.”
“We not!” They said in union.
Gilda noticed Luna on approach. “Like to play that, well time to play my talon.” Gilda whispered to herself with another small laugh, getting odd looks from the two Pegasus ponies.
Princess Luna soon lands with two of her personal bat pony guards, looking around at the dust covered landscape. “What in the name of all creation happened here?”
Gilda pat both Spitfire and Sunbeam on their backs. “Good luck explaining this one girls, I am going to take a shower and taking Gale with me.” Gilda flies up and waves Gale to follow, he took the hint and quickly took off after her.
“Did she...” Sunbeam begins
“Yes...” Spitfire muttered a finish to her question before she could finish it.
Luna seeing her nephew and Gilda had flew the coop, she nod to one of her guards to follow and they did, left behind two ponies in position to explain. “Well? Any of you two like to start?”
Chapter 42 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord
Chapter 42 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord
“-magic surge and whoom! You created chaos by blowing away all that dust! Haha! I am not even that and you are causing delightful chaos!” Discord laughed kicking his hoof and claw feet in the air as he laid on his back holding the slender area of his gut, tears falling from his eyes.
Inside a dome like room through the waterfall they came from was symbols all over the insides, all lead to a large swirling whitish blue mass of cloud, aura, ripples of lightning dancing in a counter clockwise motion. Gale fitting up wires to a console with processing chips that look very sci-fi, he rolled his eyes trying to ignore Discord boosting about what he did by pure accident to his own account.
“Oh don't give me that eye roll! Gilda bailed you out, she saved you from Luna's wrath and you know it!” Discord chuckled lightly as he got up on top his claw and hoof feet dusting himself off. “Any hoo, what exactly does this place have to do with random dream adventures you spoke of?” He looked around the inner dome room. “Don't get me wrong this spells total chaos, it just chaos I am not familiar with.”
Gale slip the last isoliner chip into the slot, he closed up the console panel picking up the bag putting it on over his head, through one arm and wing resting on his side. “It called imaginative chaos, well... I call it that.” Gale wave his talon around in a circle motion. “This place I created is completely randomlize a dream, to well allow me have random dreams like any other can, some reason I can't so I have to make it myself with dream magic.” Gale explained.
Discord look down at the console. “That look like something from that universe a few thousand doors down, how ever you knew exactly what it look like?”
Gale shrugs. “I don't know, just remember pieces and some of it stronger than others, I just used it to be what I want it to do and that to activate the rift above us on this very circle platform to blast down on us and-”
Discord put a paw finger on his beak. “Shhush I get it, it do magic dream random stuff, don't need to go all techbalby on me.” Discord moved his paw finger away. “Let me guess it safe adventures too?”
Gale look to the touch display console and back to Discord. “Yep it sure does! That what the isoliner chips are for!” He pridefully responded. “Come on Discord let's give it a test run!” He get on the platform with the talons out over the touch panel.
Discord shrugs. “When in Rome.” Discord stood on it.
Blue stood by the entrance into the dome room leaning on the wall. “I'll be waiting here for your return Master Gale.”
“Too scared mutt?”
“I simply can not leave the Dream Cavern, doing so will be against what I am created for, I am server of my master, even with a will of my own I do not desire more than I have, I am happy and content. No amount of annoyance from you will change that.” Blue calmly replied.
Discord growled as Blue got under his fur, scales and skin. “Activate the randomiser... Please!”
Gale didn't seem to completely understand the small battle of words between Discord and Blue, he shrugs and press on different keys on the console, random symbols light up all over the dome inner wall, each has a line of blue light moving to the swirling light, they meet and the swirling mass starts to rapidly spin.
Discord looked up and Gale waved to Blue. “See you soon Blue!”
“Indeed, have fun.” Blue saluted.
The swirling mass rapidly sped up and blast right down over them, bathing both in a torrent of blue white energy.
As the light around them fades Gale find that they stood on a rocky path against a mountain side, he looked up seeing trees scattered on the outcrops, walking to the edge he peered down to see mist covering the ground far below. “That is a view!” Gale looked ahead seeing the many mountain ranges as far the eye could see.
“I have to say it is impressive.” Discord stood beside Gale, he glance down. “What with the strange get up and why are you standing on your paws only?”
Gale looked over himself, he was standing on his hind legs without any difficult, it felt nature, Gale saw he was wearing a light green long sleeve shirt with a brown belt tied up around it, he was also wearing light brown trousers with brown sandals on his paws. “Wow this is a cool get up! It feels so comfortable to the fur and feathers!” Gale walked around doing a few twirls. “Discord you wearing one too!”
Discord looked over himself seeing he was wearing a white shirt with a black belt holding it to his slender body, wearing blackish grey trousers wearing one shoe over the dragon food, Discord reach up to his head pulling off a brown cone hat. “Hmm... This reminds me of eastern lands.” Discord put it back on his head.
Gale saw a small village just down the path by the cliff side. “Discord let's check the village out!” He points to it. “Does other lands wear different outfits?”
“Of course.” Discord snap his talon, a portal appears showing the village just a short walk away. “At least my magic works.” Discord grinned.
Gale step through it, he look to the side of it up the mountain seeing the portal. “We in a random dream environment, so maybe you can use it but at a limited amount.”
Discord step through and snap his lion paw making it close. “You really know how to dull my joy...” He gave a deadpan look at Gale.
Gale shrugs. “I said maybe, but you can put my theory to the test.” Gale walked down the path to the village hearing music being played.
Discord followed close behind. “I'll be restrictive, who knows what this random dream will throw at us.” Discord put his talon and paw behind the back of his slander neck.
They got closer and soon the music became louder, being played by a few anthropomorphic pigs, rabbits and geese, they were playing instruments that Gale thought look like guitars but look oddly shaped, bells being hit too. “Those animals look odd Discord.”
“Standing on two, using their wings, hooves and paws as hands... I say it delightfully chaotic.” Discord chuckled.
They walked by some of the buildings, big wooden pillars with stone bases, slate roofs, some with stone walls, a rabbit wearing glasses and grey shirt and shorts holding the odd looking guitar pull on a few strings catching their attention. “Hello travellers, welcome to our village, Artisan Village, where we make all sorts of musically instruments for the town at the Valley of Peace and other parts of China.”
Discord rubbed the beard with his talon. “Hmm... China... China China... Where have I heard of that before...”
“It familiar to me but I am not sure why Discord.” Gale replied and turn to the rabbit. “Mr Rabbit what is that you are playing?”
The rabbit look to it and back at Gale. “It a guitar.”
“Ooo... Can I hear you play it again please?”
“Since you asked so nicely, young one.” He ting a few strips. “I'll gladly play a tone for you and your friend.”
Gale sat down cross legged eager to listen as the rabbit start to play the guitar, Discord took a look around. “Bunny, what do you see when looking at us?” Discord turn to the musician bunny.
“Two strangers that are passing by.”
“What am I?” Discord asked.
“A tall skinny goat that really need to eat something, your young friend a feline I never seen before.” He replied. “What do you think I should see?”
Discord raise a eye brow sitting down beside Gale. “What you suppose to see, play your music.” He waved the paw.
The bunny nods and start to play. “Discord, I see you as you, do you see me as me?” Gale whispered to him.
Discord whispers back. “I do, question is why he see us as something else?”
“Random dream, chaotically allow us to fit in whatever your little head wanted to create.” Discord chuckled. “Rather have some action though.”
Gale's ear twitch, he slowly look up into the cloud to the mountain opposite to the village. “Discord I can hear something.”
“The music from the bunny.” Discord rolled his eyes.
Gale got up walking towards the edge looking up still. “No I hear something up there.” Gale points up.
Discord snap his paw making a binoculars appear. “It most likely nothing.” Discord look through it to see gorillas and wolves. “Oh poop...”
A spear with rope of it lands before them digging into the ground, Gale squawks in alarm. “Discord what going on!?”
Discord step back. “Trouble, big trouble.” Discord turn to one of the bunnies. “Sound the alarm! We under attack!”
“Can't you snap your paw?” Gale asked.
“That be too easy, we in a dream so we must play part of it.” Discord runs and Gale follows getting to cover with many others as the first wolves land.
Gale watched more spears land all over the place with more wolves land. “Get all the metal you can find!” The one eye wolf shouts out order to the others.
“Metal? Why do they want to steal metal?”
“Not sure...” Discord replied as they watched the wolves gather the metal all around.
One came up to them. “Show me what in the bag!” He demanded pointing to Gale's bag.
Gale put both talons over it pressing it against his chest. “It mine! Your not having it!”
“Give me it you brat!” He grabs it.
Discord put his talon on the wolf arm. “Wrong move.” He said darkly raising his lion paw up and snap it.
The alpha look around. “That's everything, let's get out of-” Suddenly one of the wolves running on all fours came to him wearing a dress. “Why are you wearing that stupid thing!?”
“Th-the goat did it!” He shakily points, Discord walk into view from the building with Gale beside him. “The cub got something metal in the bag.”
“You will suffer for what you did to one of my pack.” He got ready to fight when a-
“Wooooohoooo!” They all turn to the mountain seeing six figures racing down it, they leap off towards the village.
They all land with the panda facing the other way in a battle stance, he quickly turn around. “A panda!? Impossible!”
Gale looked up to Discord. “Create a portal, they can't get the sphere.” He pleads to Discord.
“We in a dream, nothing can hurt us.”
Gale looked around as the six creatures fight the wolves. “That is true but the sphere is the only way to end it and send us back!” Gale stated.
Discord stared down at him. “You created a sphere that ends the dream?”
“Yep.”
“If it get damaged-”
“Oh nothing can damage it, it got a 195 combinations on it.” Gale said taking it out of his bag.
“Why did you create a sphere to end the dream!?” Discord shouted at Gale.
Gale shrugged. “Thought it a was a cool idea.” A wolf flies past them landing face first into a bong, it rings out from the impact.
Discord rubbed his forehead. “You know what.. Forget it.” Discord groans. “One portal coming up!” He snaps the paw but nothing happens. “Oh come on!” He snap again. “No dice, we going to have to get out of here the old fashion way.”
Gale nods. “Alright Di-” He saw the wolf in the dress charge right for Discord. “Watch out!”
Discord turn to get a kick in the body sending him flying into the wall, he slid down from it rubbing his head. “You are going to pay for this goat!”
“Grandma, you can't hurt me.” Discord got up dusting himself off. “Go on hit me.”
The wolf snarls. “As you wish!” He pushes Discord.
Discord doubled over. “Ooo that hurt...” Discord slowly raise his head. “That... hurt...”
The wolf grab him by the neck. “It sure did.” He kicks Discord sending him flying again.
Discord rolled around on the ground groaning in pain. “Gale get that thing working! I can get hurt!”
Gale nods and as he was about to start, a wolf paw placed on the sphere. “I'll be taking that.” The alpha takes it.
Gale snarls. “That mine you big meanie!” He grab the sphere and get shook around by the wolf.
“Leave that cub alone wolf!” The tiger kicks him, the alpha goes flying but still holding the sphere.
Gale went for the wolf. “Give me back my puzzle sphere!”
The tiger put her paw out stopping Gale. “Cub, I'll do what I can to get it back for you, do not try something stupid.”
Gale push her paw away. “I am getting it back!” He flared open his wings taking off to the sky.
She looked up seeing now the griffon. “Po! That cub, his not a cub!”
“Whoa no way! He some sort of cat-bird hybrid! How wicked is that Tigress!?”
“Not the time Po! He want that puzzle sphere the wolf has! We can't let either of them have it!”
Discord got up. “Gale get the sphere back, I'll keep the kitten busy.”
Tigress turn around to Discord. “Not a chance go-” Her eyes look up and down. “What kind of freak are you!?”
“Discord, lord of chaos and disharmony.” Discord raise his paw up snapping it, a blinding flash he held a laser pen. “And follow the red dot little kitten.”
Tigress stared at him. “Follow the red dot?” She noticed it on the ground. “What are you trying to do?”
Discord stared. “You suppose to be chasing it, your a cat!”
“Oh the reflective light dot? I got over it.” She said flatly to Discord.
Discord threw the laser pen behind himself exploding on impact. “Well, time for plan B!” She got ready for whatever he was going to pull next. “Look Po behind you!”
She quickly look and saw nothing, looking back Discord was gone. “Damn it!”
Gale flew right for the wolf, he quickly jump out of the way, the griffon turn around aiming for the wolf to only have the sphere kicked out of his paw by Po the Panda, followed up by a kick down knocking the wolf into the ground hard, Po lands on the roof looking up at Gale. “How are you half cat and bird!?”
“I am a griffon and I don't care how exciting you are! Get out of my way I want my puzzle sphere back!” Gale tried to fly for it to get blocked by Po with a paw hand out.
“Sorry griffon, no dice!”
Gale growls. “I don't have time for this!” Gale spins around rapidly creating a whirling column of air.
Po blinded from it for a second, when he got his senses back the wolves were on a retreat. “Crane!”
“I'm on it!” He flew up cutting the rope to the net filled with metal and one pig, Po jumps off the cliff after it with four of the five helping to pull him back up with the metal.
The village residence gather cheering for Po and the five. “Look what we got here.” Po picked up the sphere.
“That the gold sphere those creatures were after.” Tigress said looking at it for herself.
The wolf gets up, Po turn around. “I got this.” Suddenly he freezes seeing the symbol on the armour.
“Po!” Tigress rush to his aid.
After getting hit, Po drop the gold metal sphere, the wolf stop it rolling to the cliff edge with his paw foot, reaching down the wolf take the sphere, he gets on the bag net of metal as it pulled away from the ledge. “See you tubby!”
Gale came out of the clouds zooming right for the wolf. “Give me that sphere back!”
He rose the hammer. “Oh I got something to give to you freak!”
Discord watched from his hiding spot through the binoculars. “This isn't how a dream should work, what did the cub do?” Discord whispered to himself noticing Crane looking directly at him. “I'll be back for you Gale.” Crane flew right at him, not much left in his magic reserves Discord had only one option in mind, with a snap of the lion paw he vanishes in a flash of light.
Crane stops in mid flight very startled at what just happened. “H-he gone!” Crane heard a loud anger squawk, turning around to see Gale charging into the cloud right for the wolf holding to the net full of metal objects.
Gale right talon glows with whitish blue light, before he could punch the wolf, the mallet hits him square in the chest, with a painful sharp squawk Gale sent flying backwards. “Score two for the wolf! Hahaha!” The alpha disappeared into the cloud
The blow left Gale shocked and out of control, he spiralling towards the village, the ground rapidly coming towards him...
In a flash Discord appears on a rocky ledge collapsing instantly on his knees with talon and paws on the ground in front, he breathed in and out trying to catch his breath, the teleporting escape had drained his chaos magic to the point of exhaustion.
Slowly getting up his eyes met a scene of floating buildings, rocky islands and trees with background endlessly glowing with a golden light. “Did I make the wrong teleport turn at the path back there?”
Discord picked up a stone and let's go, it floats away from him. “Reminds me of home, just brighter.” Discord rubbed his beard with the talon. “Not going to help me though, my magic is spent...” He crossed the arms with a frown.
“How curious.” Discord heard a voice directly behind him, he turn to see nothing there, he looked to his left to the right. “I had a feeling someone was coming to the Spirit Realm unexpectedly, welcome.” Discord slowly looked up to have his eyes meet the eyes of a old tortoise floating above him holding a gold staff with ying yang on it, the old tortoise had a long golden cape too.
Discord eyes shift away from the tortoise taking in the sights of the realm once more. “Spirit Realm hmm?”
“Indeed, I am Oogway and you are?”
“Discord, lord of chaos.” He snap his lion paw getting only a small spark but no display of his power. “I really hate not having my chaos!” Discord crossed his arms giving a very grumpy look with a “Humpth!” He snorted.
Oogway chuckled lightly. “I can see that, come with me and we will talk.”
Discord rolled his red pupils around. “Stupid random teleportation...” He grumbled.
“Random, not random, you were meant to come here.”
“Please! I didn't aim to come here! If anything I just wanted to get some distance from that beak brain.” Discord replied.
Oogway just kept his smile poking Discord with one of his claw fingers. “Maybe you believe that, maybe you do not, who is to know, but what is now? We are talking Discord, come with me.”
Discord sighs. “Fine!” He flies after Oogway. “Not that I can do anything else in this stupid place!”
“You have travelled with one other from beyond the realms, dreaming but physically here, it a interesting experience is it not?”
Discord blinked. “Ho-”
“How do I know?” Oogway interrupted Discord. “I saw it, our world, the living realm, the spirit realm all part of a child's memories and now playing out part of events?” Discord jaw just dropped as Oogway laughs. “What is, what isn't? What dream, what isn't a dream? It all the same thing is it not?”
Discord put his jaw back in place. “You are chaotically confusing! I can't even understand it!”
Oogway land on a boat, Discord lands on it too, with a push with the staff it sails across the void past upside down buildings. “I know, isn't it frustrating?”
“Yes!” Discord growled. “It doesn't help that Gale put our way to end the dream in a stupid puzzle sphere!”
Oogway turn around sitting down. “Interesting mind he has, one that scrambled but not so scrambled at the same time? It all part of the adventure.” He picked up a flower giving it to Discord. “You may never be his friend but a uncle... Yes I can see that.”
“Uncle? Please! I am no uncle!”
“Not yet.” Oogway laughed.
Discord rolled his eyes again. “You got a point to this part from being a annoying old fart!” Discord waved the flower around held in his talon.
Oogway tap Discord on the end of the muzzle with his staff. “I do and we both know your older than I, in fact I am a spring tortoise to you.”
“Get to the point!” Discord narrow his eyes.
“Very well, you have a choice to make at this very moment, one that affect the child.” Oogway stands up moving his staff around with symbols forming. “What is, what to be, what will happen when you are freed has been set in stone, you know it deep inside, you can not avoid it, but what if you can?”
Discord anger fades with confusion appearing. “You got my interest...”
Oogray push both claw hands out to Discord, a wave of warmth washed over him. “This will aid you in leaving the Spirit Realm, but here is the real kicker Discord.” He wave the staff around showing to images. “Two paths lay out in front of you, one you can return and free yourself with the energy I just gave you or...”
He turn to the other. “You can go to the mountain above the Jade Palace and be there for Gale when he awakes, show that chaos doesn't need to shown as truly evil to those that believe you are.” Oogway faced Discord once again. “I given you a interesting choice have I not?”
Discord looked at the two images. “Your a dream, that impossible!”
“What impossible, what is possible? It all the same thing.” Oogway calmly said to him not phased by the action he just preformed.
Discord raise his talon and paw up looking at each of them. “One I can return and cause untold chaos right now, throw them in a spin... But It could mean I speed up events...” Discord raise his eyes to Oogway. “Yet Gale got hurt trying to get the sphere, what if he can never wake up?”
“Perhaps that what might happen, I can not say.”
Discord groans. “I made my choice!”
“Wait!”
“What is it!?”
“Give this to my friend Shifu.”
“And who is that?”
“You will know him when you see him.” Oogway gave the scroll to Discord.
“Fine! Whatever! I am out of here!” With his talon raised up, a snap the lord of chaos was gone.
Oogway looked over his shoulder. “As I thought he would, we may never get to talk again Discord, maybe we will. Who knows.” He sat down closing his eyes taking a deep slow breath. “Good luck in your journey.”
Discord appears on top of the mountain over looking the Jade Palace, first thing he sees is Gale unconscious being carried from the palace by Crane with Tigress beside him, Po and the others talking to Master Shifu with the other kung fu fighters Mantis, Viper and Monkey. “How can I let that stupid tortoise get to me!?”
He rose up the sealed scroll. “He wasn't kidding about knowing him when you see him.” Discord looking to the sleeping quarters for the students of the Jade Palace kung fu fighters, on the snow covered ground by his cloven hoof was the flower Oogway gave him.
“Well played Tortoise.” Discord chuckled picking it up with his paw.
Chapter 43 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Two
Chapter 43 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Two
Gale let out a loud gasp instantly his eyes snap open and sits up with a cloth falling off his forehead onto the top of his beak in his field of vision, Gale pull the cloth off his beak to see a grey screened wall held by thin wooden reddish brown stacks, he taking a few quick breathes with the heart racing, last moment recalled was falling after getting hit hard in the chest by the wolves mallet.
Gale look down quickly to see he had bandages around his midsection to upper chest, touching it with his talon he flinched slightly from the bruising, he was confused by the feeling, this was suppose to be a dream adventure, this line of confused feelings and questions was push to the side of a sound to his left, slowly turning his eyes with his head to see Tigress and Crane standing before him with a bowl of water on the ground between them.
Crane speaks up with wings waving out in front with one talon up, balancing on the other. “Don't freak out and think we going to do something to you, we brought you back to the Jade Palace and tended to your wounds, if we are bad why would we do these things?”
Gale eyes shift to the left to the right, lost in thought over the words Tigress place her paw hand on Crane's right wing shoulder. “Quick thinking Crane, this will help get answers to our questions a lot easier.”
“He just a child, we can't push too hard Tigress, we need to be gentle.”
“Agreed.” Tigress calmly replied turning her attention to Gale. “Child, I wish to clarify that you call your kind griffons correct?”
Gale turn his attention to Tigress. “Y-yes...”
Crane noticed the teeth in his beak. “Teeth in beak? Am I seeing things?”
“No your not Crane, it most likely to do with the half cat, bird heritage.” Tigress statically responded.
Crane rubbed the wing under his beak. “Can't argue with that, but still weird to see.” Crane flinch seeing Gale staring. “No offence kid.”
Gale tilt his head. “Why do you not have forelegs and just wings?” Gale open his wings up and close them against his sides.
Crane looked at his wings and back to Gale. “This is normal for a crane and my name is Crane too and thi-” Gale burst into laughter but cover his beak trying to stiffly it. “What so funny?”
“Your name is Crane and you are a crane!” Gale burst into laughter before grunting in pain stopping him from continue to laugh.
Tigress almost laughed but quickly kept a straight face. “Now I come to think of it, Monkey and the others have names based on our races.”
“Your name is Tigress ho-” Crane saw it. “Ooooooh... Wow our parents really won't creative with our names were they?”
“No they were not.” Tigress coughed into her paw. “We getting off topic here, we need answers on why we never heard of a griffon till the attack on the village and what that freak of nature was with you.”
Gale crossed his forelegs. “You going to speak about Discord like that I won't answer anything!” He turn his head with a snort.
“Discord? That fr-” Gale instantly glares and turn away again. “Fine... Your strange looking friend, what is he?”
Gale ignores her.
“Why-”
Crane instantly turn around blocking Tigress. “Let me handle it.”
“Fine!” She crossed her arms turning around facing the screen doors.
Crane sighs and remove his hat placing it down beside him, he lower his head down to Gale. “Discord, could you tell me what kind of animal he is? I did save you from falling and saw that strange bluish white energy coming off your talon.”
Gale look to his right talon clenching it and opening it a few times. “Discord is a draconequs, he made up of ten different animal parts, pony, lion, griffon, goat, reptile, dragon-”
“Did you just say dragon?” Tigress turn her head interrupting Gale.
Gale didn't answer.
“If this get you talking...” She rubs her forehead and sighs. “I am sorry for calling Discord a freak of nature...” Tigress apologised, Crane's beak dropped staring at him.
Gale saw the shock look. “Why does he look scared?”
“Scared!? I am shocked!” He recoiled. “I mean erm... Well...”
Tigress rolled her eyes stepping by him to knee down to Gale. “He just surprised to see that I apologised to you.”
“Oh.”
Crane laughed nervously putting his hat back on. “Well... How about we... Erm... Ger back to Discord with the dragon part?”
“Just some parts of him.”
“And the puffing?”
“Oh that his chaos magic, he teleported somewhere, hope he okay.” Gale eyes drifted away looking concerned for Discord.
Tigress pull Crane away. “We need to talk for a second.” She closed the door screens.
Gale rubbed his midsection. “Okay...” Gale look to the screen wall, getting up he press the talon on it, the claws digged into it. “It almost like paper...” He look to the ink well and brush. “Oooo idea!”
“That would explain the weird outfit that wolf was wearing.” Crane whispered to Tigress.
She nods with her arms crossed. “My thoughts exactly.” She glance over to Crane's dorm. “The griffon cub was very open with us, why?”
Crane shrugs. “Maybe because you apologised and we tended to his wounds?”
“Could be...” She got a strange look from Crane. “What?”
“Sorry, thought you was going to say something about me not telling the others this.” Crane gave a cheeky smile.
Tigress put her paw hands on her sides. “Because Crane I don't need to.”
“Of-” Crane came up with a idea. “What if we get him something to eat? He might be more willing to talk to us.”
“Not everyone like Po Crane, you-”
Gale speaks up. “My stomach making gruggling sounds and I do feel a bit sick to it, can I have something to eat?”
Tigress quickly turn to the door. “Did you just only pay attention to what Crane said about having something to eat?”
“Yep, that when my stomach gruggling and I responded!”
“Anything else?”
“Anything else what?” Gale said from the other side. “Oh I found some paints and a brush in here!”
Crane gasped. “What!?” He quickly open to door to find Gale had painted on the right screen wall of Dream Cavern, Crane first wanted to have a go at Gale but seeing the black lined drawing melted it away. “That is really impressive Griffon-”
“Gale, you like it?” Gale still holding the brush just away from his art work.
Crane walked back in looking at it with more detail. “Like it? It amazing! How did you do it so fast?”
“Fast? I just did it.” Gale wasn't sure of what Crane was saying about the speed he did it at.
Tigress eyes showed surprise, her mouth slightly open. “Let's not focus on how quickly he did it, but on what is this place, I never seen anything like it.”
Gale put the brush down. “This is Dream Cavern! It where I came from to come on a adventure to this land! I and Discord came from here, my Dream Guardian, Blue guards the place.” Gale point to Blue. “That him, he a jackal diamond dog.”
“Jackal... Diamond... Dog...” Tigress slowly said looking closely at it.
Gale nods. “Yep!”
Tigress moved away from it. “Why did you show us where you came from?”
“Why not?”
“You were attacked by the wolves and got hit by one for stealing that puzzle sphere of yours.” Tigress turn to him
Gale pick up a piece of paper giving it to Crane. “That what it look like, it has 195 combinations to unlock it, the sphere is how we get back home to Dream Cavern, we only came to have a dream adventure!”
Crane look at the drawing and so did Tigress. “You were only here to have a adventure in a new land?” They didn't take notice on the word 'dream' part.
“Yep!”
“Why did you two look like a lion cub and a long underweight goat?” Tigress asked.
Gale shrugged. “Not sure, guess the sphere crated a field of magic that made us fit in without anyone noticing how different we are, I just made it before we came here, so... I have no idea what else it could do other than getting us home.” Gale theorise and not completely sure if it had other functions on it.
“We need to inform Master Shifu about this.” Tigress said with concern.
“What about eating something?”
Tigress turn to Gale. “It can wait, this is fair too important.”
“I told you stuff!” Gale growls. “Even did a drawing of my puzzle sphere and where we need to get back to!”
“I am really grateful for that.”
“You helped me, I helped you and I am a hunger cub! It only fair I have something to eat now, isn't it?” Gale crossed his forelegs giving them a sticky look, his tail whipping around behind him showing the annoyance he had.
Crane raised his wing. “We can stop by the kitchen on the way Tigress.”
Tigress rolled her eyes taking the drawing from Crane and rolling it up. “Fine, we get you something to eat and than we go to Master Shifu, okay?”
“Thank you!” Gale hugged her tightly.
Tigress tried to get him off her with no joy. “Crane, a little help!”
“I think you got this.” He turn to walk away to only get a hug too, he squawked in surprise.
Tigress chuckled dusting herself off. “Look like you asked for it Crane, come on let's take him to the kitchen, the sooner the better.” She quickly pick up Gale's top and bag walking down the corridor between the dorms.
“O-kay...” He waddled after her with Gale not letting go.
“Your feathers so soft and fluffy, like my pillow back at home.”
“Gale, can you let go?”
“I'm bruised and this helping ease the pain.” He purred.
Crane sighed. “Alright you can keep hugging me, only till we get to the kitchen okay? And not too tight.”
“Deal!”
“Played by a cub.” Tigress chuckled.
“Not a word to the others!” Crane glared.
“Double to you about my apology.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
Shifu in the Jade Palace library looked through scroll after scroll, Monkey, Viper and Mantis helping him to search on anything about griffons. “Nothing... I found nothing about griffons...” Shifu groans. “Any luck?”
“No...” Monkey popped his head out from a pile of scrolls.
Po peered inside “Master Shifu, got anything on that awesome griffon?”
“No Po I haven't, in fact there nothing in here about the griffon.” Shifu picked up the staff. “It only two possibilities, one they well hidden or some how a bird and cat got together and had a strange hybrid child which is the griffon.”
Discord peering inside look at the sealed scroll Oogway gave him. “Hmm...” Discord using his tail to toss it over to one of the higher level piles.
Mantis at the same time hit the shelf, he pulling out a scroll. “That second one sound odd, weird and strange, two different species getting together?”
Shifu turn to Mantis. “It is possible Mantis, just rare, not sure about any relationship having a child that half of each.”
Viper slither over to them. “Master, I think the first is more plausible.”
Shifu rubbed one of his long moustache. “I have to agree.”
Po tried to move through the sea of scrolls but lose his balance to hit the shelf, sealed scrolls hit his head one at a time. “Ow ow ow ow!” Rubbing his head another come down and land right into his other paw. “Master Shifu, this one has Oogway's seal on it!”
Shifu quickly takes it from Po and looked at the sealed scroll. “I never seen this before, I been in here many times...”
“Maybe it was way high up and just out of view?” Po suggested with a shrug.
Shifu looked right up at the shelf. “It seem so.” He pulled the seal off and open the scroll up.
Po and the other gathered. “What does it say?”
“Give me a second.” Shifu raise his paw hand up to Po. “It definitely in his hand writing.” Shifu stands to read it out loud to them.
“For many years I have some of the most curious visions, many I couldn't quite understand as they are were not so clear that I decided to just pass them on as just a curious sense of imagination, one however caught my attention of two creatures that I have never seen through the many years I lived.
One of two halves, feline and avian with a heart so pure yet so confused to the life he has, the name griffon come to mind, not sure what it is or why it came to me. The other is of chaos, slight of hand and tricky, made of many races that shouldn't even be possible yet he is, these unusually duo will come at a time of dire trouble that will fall upon China.”
Po point to the drawing Oogway did. “Look it the griffon and that odd creature.”
“I can see Po...” Shifu rolled his eyes. “Let see...”
“After my time has past my old friend their adventure will share the same path as the Dragon Warrior's...”
“Ooooo he saw the future!” Po clapping his paw hands. “I didn't know Oogway could do that!”
“Nor did I...” Shifu stared in shock. “The puzzle can not be open by the one that dorn this symbol.”
Po stared at it, he spaced out and shook his head a moment afterwards. “That the same on on the armour of the wolf pack leader had!”
“What?” Shifu turn to Po. “Your sure?”
“Yeah! I saw it and saw something that I suddenly remembered from a long time ago and wham I got hit by the wolf.” Po explained. “Wow why did I just explain that?”
Shifu turn to the scroll. “Because Oogway said you would, he even says that a great threat is about to come in 5... 4...” Shifu raised his head and quickly turn to the door. “Prepare yourself!” They all stood ready for a fight.
A knock at the door. “Knock?” Monkey turn to Shifu.
“Who is it?” Shifu called out.
“I have a important message for you Master Shifu!” Came the reply. “Can I come in?”
Shifu shifted his stance. “Come in.” The others relax seeing a goose come in with a scroll. “Thank you.” He took it from the goose, he nod and leaves.
Discord leaning against the scroll shelf watching them with amusement, seeing they haven't noticed him standing in plain sight just to the right of them, also the fact he just placed the scroll in the room, Oogway must of knew he would and that annoyed him slightly.
“That really chilling how Master Oogway did that, Master Shifu.” Mantis shivered
“Indeed Mantis...” He shivered slightly. “Let's focus on what this threat is.” He open it up to have a read. “Oogway wasn't kidding... This is a threat...”
“What did it say?” Viper asked.
“First we find Crane and Tigress, than I will explain.”
“Yes Master Shifu.” They bowed to him.
Discord whistled catching their attention all turning to him. “Hello Shifu, Oogway say's hi.” He grinned.
“Trickster, you think I believe you?” Shifu stood ready to fight.
Discord rolled his eyes. “Big old tortoise, get under your skin when he talk with possible, impossible, what the differences stuff? Oh and he gave me this stupid flower from the Spirit Realm.” Discord toss the flower over to Shifu. “If that not proof enough, then your dumber than you look.”
“You do not speak to Master Shifu like that freak!” Monkey stood ready to fight.
Shifu caught the flower and gave a good look at it. “Stand down, he telling the truth.”
“What!?” They stared at him stunned.
“You heard me, stand down.” They did so.
“Just like that huh?” Discord raise a eye brow.
Shifu put the flower stem through his belt. “Just like that.”
Discord mutters. “Stupid dream logic.”
Shifu gave him a curious look. “Did you say something?”
“I said I take the dumber part back.” Discord lied as he push off the shelf walking over to them. “Now take me to Gale or I will show you what the lord of chaos can do when he annoyed.” Discord raise his lion paw up pressing finger and thumb together.
“No need to threaten us, the griffon you called Gale is being taken care of by Tigress and Crane, come.” Shifu turn walking away with support from the staff, Discord lower his paw.
Discord snorts. “Your just as bad as Oogway.”
“Good.” Shifu continue to walk away.
Po walking around Discord. “Wow you are made up of so many different animal parts!”
“And your a fat panda, Po Po.” He poke the belly getting it to ripple. “Also my name is Discord Lord of Chaos.” He walk off out the room.
“Cool! Discord sound so chaotic!” Po said with excitement seeing that Shifu showed that he wasn't a threat to the Jade Palace in very simple calm unemotional words. “Was you about to snap your fingers and do something chaotic? What can you do? Does create this? Turn others into other things?” Po followed bombarding Discord with questions.
Discord groans. “If I wasn't limited with what magic I had left I would have zip his mouth right up.” Discord muttered under his breath.
Mantis turn to Viper. “Why did Shifu let him go like that?”
“I don't know, but we better follow.” Viper replied, they all followed.
Monkey said as he closed the doors. “He give me the creeps.”
Shifu leads, Po, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Discord towards the dorms from the Jade Palace, as they approach the sleeping areas of the dorm the sound of a young voice talking followed by Crane could be heard from the kitchen, Shifu ears twitching from their voices to the voice of Tigress and that confirmed that they all were in there.
The group approached the kitchen, hissing and the sound of the store fire burning, Po's noise twitching as he sniffed the air. “Hmm... Something really smells yummy and I never smelt anything like it before.”
Shifu sniffed the air too. “It is a curious aroma, I gather the griffon behind this.”
Discord claps his talon and paw. “Congratulations you figured out what was going on in all our minds, you are very smart and wise.” Discord sarcastically said.
“Your sarcasm is not welcomed, Discord.”
“Whatever you say red panda.” Discord shot back.
Po blinked as his brain seem to shift a few gears. “What?”
“Didn't you know, his kind is called the red panda, they not related to bears as you are, but his kind is part of the Ailuridae species family tree though.” Discord hummed the small details out walking to the kitchen.
Po point to Shifu but the master speaks. “Yes what he said is very much true and leave it at that, we got more pressing matters Po.”
“Bu-”
“We will talk about it later, you have my word, now drop it.”
“Cool!” Po went to hug him to hug air, Shifu standing a few feet away with a sly smirk.
Discord chuckled. “Chaotically impressive.”
Shifu glared at him. “You caused it.”
“Yep I did and loved every moment of it.” Discord ruffled the fur on Shifu head walking by them.
Viper and Monkey was uneased by the action, Shifu raise a paw hand. “He trying to push you to do something, do not give him a excuse to use his chaotic powers.”
Discord gave a fake pout. “Your no fun.”
“Yes I can see how very disappointed you are...” Shifu didn't fall for Discord's act.
Po had went ahead peering into the kitchen. “Guys come here, you got to see this.” He whispered and waved them to come over.
They all quickly and quietly went over to the door looking through it on either side, Monkey hanging from above, what they saw was Tigress at the stow flipping a few pans of pancakes, Crane mixing a mix ready to go into the pan next, sitting on the table holding another bowl was Gale mixing something creamy.
Shifu wave them to stay hidden. “Let me handle this.” They nod including Discord.
“That it, those first pancakes just need a moment more and they be ready, just in time too cause my whipcream is ready!” He grab the cone shaped paper pouring the creamy mix into it. “You going to love this, mum showed me how to do this.”
“It was either I or Crane to cook these, your too young to handle something that could burn you.” Tigress calmly said.
Crane put the bowl down by the stow. “The ingredients used to make the mix was interesting though, I never thought of putting any of this stuff together to create something that look and smell amazing, you really rivalling Po on your skills of the kitchen.”
Gale tied up the top of the paper to seal the cream inside. “I just followed what mum showed me a few times during breakfast.”
Tigress glance over to him quickly as she about down with cooking the pancakes. “Why are you here without her than?”
“Oh that easy, I am with Uncle Discord.” Gale stated.
Discord grumbles under his breath. “Blast you Oogway...”
“The freakish creature, your uncle?” Tigress gave him a questionable glance.
“Honorary uncle.” Gale clarified.
“Hmm, that does seem to make sense.” Shifu spoke up.
“Indeed it-” Crane turn his head. “Master Shi-” He about to bowl but Gale squawked instantly pointing to the spoon in his talon. “Oh thanks!” He quickly put it back in the bowl and bowed.
Tigress looked over. “I would Master Shifu but I rather not burn these.”
“It fine Tigress.” He slowly walked in. “Never seen you cook something like this Tigress, but I heard why you are and very wise.”
“Thank you.” She bow her head slightly and pull the pans away from the fire, with a toss she place the pans down and take the plate, the two pancakes land one after the other perfectly on it.
Gale pieced the the end of the paper sealed bag pouring the whipcream over the top of the pancakes while Tigress held it in front of him. “You want to try them first?” Gale offered putting the paper bag to the side.
Shifu take a seat at the table. “Why not.” Tigress put the plate down and step back.
Gale pulled own from his bag a knife and folk wrapped up in a napkin. “Here.” He jump down and walk over to Shifu giving them to the kung fu master.
He unwrapped it seeing the two silver wears. “You were carrying these?”
“Yeah, I saw those stick things and can't really use them, glad I brought them along with me.” Gale said showing he had many more. “I have enough for everyone!”
“There nine including Master Shifu's.” Tigress stated.
Gale look to the door. “Oh that because there five others at the door over there.”
Tigress look to the door. “Po...”
He step out into view with the others and Discord. “Wow how did you do that?”
Gale grinned. “I saw all of you peering around the corner.”
“Impressive griffon, these pancakes with this cream is really nothing I ever had before, how did you do it?”
Gale took the paper bag looking at the content inside. “We got enough mix for everyone and should be enough whipcream too.”
“Your avoiding the question.”
Gale nods. “Yep I am and like everyone to try them!” Gale turn to Crane and Tigress. “Can you help me?” They look over to Shifu, he nods knowing the youngster not going to answer his question.
“We on it.” Crane smiled.
Tigress nods. “We are.”
“Ooooo can I-” Shifu slap Po's paw away. “Ow...”
“Do not be rude Panda, you will get yours.” Shifu continue to eat getting a group of laughter from the others.
Short time later everyone sitting around or at the table eating their fill of pancakes, Po sat back rubbing his stomach. “That was something, I never had pancakes with that whipcream ever!”
“I don't think any of us have.” Tigress calmly wiped away the cream from her muzzle with the napkin.
Gale picking up each plate stacking them by four and carrying them over to the bowl of water to be washed, Mantis quickly doing that. “You really don't need to help kid.”
“Mum said to me once that when you are in someone elses home, you maybe the guest but be respectable of their home.” Gale said helping to wash them.
“Wise indeed.” Shifu said to Gale. “Now that we all have eaten... I got some bad news to give, action will be needed from the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five...”
As he tells them of what happened at Gongmen City Gale seem to know exactly what was going to be said, he continue to clean up, time to seem to fly by, because next thing he knew a paw was on his shoulder and the cleaning was all done. “Cub, your coming with us to Gongmen City, your puzzle is most likely there too.”
Gale saw in the water Oogway looking back at him, he stared with shock at what he was seeing, the old tortoise spoke. “You and you alone can hear and see me right now, call this a cosmic call if it were, you are young and full of purity, go and help them with Discord, your own actions may change one act that will have a profound impact. Good luck.” He fades away.
“Cub, are you okay?”
Gale turn to Tigress. “I am, but why are we going? We don't know this kung fu stuff you do.”
“Something feels inside.” She put her hand on her own chest. “That you and the freak need to go, also Master Oogway said so in a scroll to Master Shifu, even he not with us, he got a way with wisdom that no one dispute.”
Gale glanced to the water. “Big old tortoise with wise old soft eyes, big soft smile that make you feel welcomed?”
“Yes, how-”
“I saw him the water.” Gale put his shirt on and took his bag walking out the kitchen.
Tigress stared at the door. “What in the water? That isn't possible...” Tigress looked at the water
“Tigress we moving out!” Po called from outside.
Tigress look back at the water one more time seeing nothing, she splashing it with a paw and leaves, just as the ripples clear Oogway smiled softly. “Maybe the one act over countless others will change things to come, all we can do is wait and see.” The ripples wash away the image as Shifu walk in.
“Strange... I am sure I've just heard Oogway...” Shifu shook his head. “That panda just getting to me... Best to go back up to the lake and meditate...” He muttered walking back out.
Chapter 44 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Three
Chapter 44 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Three
At the dead of night a boat drift down the river towards Gongmen City pushed by the gentle wind via the sail, Discord stood on the roof of the boat with his arms crossed looking out to the river, above him Gale slept on top of the beam against the sail support mast, with a hind leg hanging from the city arms crossed breathing softly in and out.
Discord heard a gasp from below, coming out pushing the sheet up Po came out on deck grumbling to himself, he turn and hits the mast causing it to shudder slightly, Discord quickly look up seeing Gale shift slightly with the tail now drop over waving around. “Inner-Ghm-” Discord watched Po try to do something as water drips on his head.
After a few more attempts Po's cheeks puff up and just as he was to scream out Discord snap his paw causing a muzzle to appear over Po's snout, he instantly crossed eye looking at the muzzle, pulling it off Po held it up staring at it. “Panda you disturb Gale, I will do more than put that muzzle on you.” Discord quietly warned.
Po look up on the roof at Discord, he hints above at the top of the mast on the sail beam. “Oh... Sorry.” Po sheepishly smiled. “All I am doing is erm... Training.”
“Do it somewhere else and not the mast you idiot.” Discord snorts.
“Idiot I-”
“Po.” Po and Discord turn, the lord of chaos blinked a few times to see Tigress standing right beside him. “I have to agree.” She leap off doing a few spins landing behind Po at the front of the boat. “I'm ready.”
“Okay, so serious.”
Discord watched as Po punch her open palm, he felt the shockwave impact seeing Po screech in pain holding his hand paw with the other on his knees. “I think I rather have the m-” Discord coughs showing the muzzle in his talon, the red eyes in the yellows glowing slightly. “Erm... Tigress Paw is good...”
“I do Apologise, I use to punch the iron wood trees by the palace, now I feel nothing.” Tigress look down at the paw as she spoke rubbing the other over it.
“That severely cool.”
Discord look to the muzzle at them. “Yeah... No.” He toss it overboard, he walk over to the other side of the boat looking out to the rippling water from the wake of the boat. “Two days of almost non-stop travelling to Gongmen City, I don't even remember much part from the panda making a ass of himself.” Discord chuckled lightly. “Concept of dreams have areas of travel just fly by or compress it.” Discord whispered to himself.
He heard Tigress and Po talking soon movement of others waking up. “Discord are you okay?” Gale lands on his paws just behind Discord.
Discord didn't look at Gale. “Did any of them wake you?”
“No, didn't even notice I fell asleep, just closed my eyes and open them again to see the sun raising with a big city being lit up in the distance.” Gale replied.
Discord spun around seeing it just in front of the sun as it slowly rose. “Well that was sudden.” Discord look down to Gale. “It seem we have arrived.”
Gale turn walking up to the edge of the roof looking at the city. “The sun rise is beautiful...”
“-We here, Gongmen City.” Tigress said looking out to the city in the distance with the others.
Mantis jump up on Gale's head. “Tigress what do we do to keep these two out of any fighting? They don't know kung fu.”
“True...” Tigress said..
Gale looked up at the clouds. “Oooo I know!”
Mantis notice the wings flare open. “Wait I'm still on your hhheeeeeadddd!” With a burst of speed he takes off zooming high up into the sky causing the boat to rock back and forwards.
Po held onto the mast till it stabilized. “Whoa! That was insanely cool!”
“He sure could move.” Crane said narrowing his eyes watching Gale fly up to the clouds, what he saw next was Gale gathering up the clouds with his talons, the beak drop with shock.
Viper slithered over to Crane. “What is it?”
“You need to see for yourself, he coming back down!” Crane said pointing his wing.
They all watched Gale come down holding onto a big puffy cloud, he sat on it cross legged before them. “Will this do for cover for me and Discord?”
Discord joined him. “Comfy cloud, nicely done Gale.”
Tigress mouth hung open her eyes not once blinking as she stared at the cloud, Po walked up to it and put his hand paw through it. “How are you two sitting on clouds!?”
“All griffons can and Discord is part griffon so he can too.” Gale said to Po. “It normal.”
“That not normal...” Tigress finally said putting her hand paw through it too. “My hand pass through it, how is it solid for you?”
Gale shrugged. “It just is.”
Crane try to put a talon on it to pass through too. “That something no one expect to see coming Tigress, a lone cloud floating directly over to the palace, it a perfect hiding place.”
“Fine... We go with that, I don't understand how it possible but I am just going with it.” Tigress rubbed her fingers over the bridge of the muzzle.
Po punch the air. “Sweet! Let's destroy that weapon, stop Shen and get Gale's puzzle sphere back!”
“Yeah!” They cheered part from Tigress with her arms crossed with a slight nod.
Discord blinked. “Wow that didn't take much to convince them.” He whispered to Gale.
“Dream adventure.” Gale whispered back.
Discord chuckled. “That it is, no matter what happened so far, it been one heck of a adventure has it not?” Gale nods as the boat nears the city, Mantis push some of the head feathers apart jumping off Gale.
Mantis recalled about Dream Cavern spoken of and shrugged the dream adventure comment as a pun rejoining his team.
(Linebreak)
From high above the city the cloud drifts above Po and the Furious Five, Gale and Discord watched as they in a Chinese dragon costume attack wolves. “Discord does that look like the costume is-”
“Yes and never speak of it again.” Discord quickly responded. “Now the question you should ask where did they go?”
Gale quickly looked back down to see the wolves had stabbed the dragon costume, under it was barrels and creates. “They-how-what!?” Gale looked around rapidly trying to find them through the streets below.
Discord also trying to spot them. “That a very neat trick, I wonder where they've gone to.” Discord look over to the tower in the distance. “The palace... Gale I suggest we go to the palace.”
Gale still couldn't find Po or the others. “That is where they needed to go to stop that Shen guy right?”
“That is what we were told to go to and being a villain it something they most likely at.” Discord snap his talon making the binoculars reappear, he look through them seeing Shen. “Eye spy with my red eyes, I see a peacock named Shen.” Discord give it to Gale
Gale looked through it. “How can you see something that far? The tower look so tiny!” Discord rolled his eyes taking them and turning it around. “Oh, thank you Discord.” Gale said looking through it to see Shen at the open door. “That white feathers, those robes, you never think he a bad guy from all the way out here.”
“Not all is plain as black and white, there is grey Gale.”
Gale lower the binoculars. “How do we know to join Po and the others at the palace?” Gale slow the cloud down with a few short flaps holding onto the cloud. “I can see so many wolves on the wall of the palace.” Gale point over the edge of the cloud below.
Discord peer over. “That a lot of wolves.”
“How can they take on all those wolves?”
“Not sure... My magic is limited and-” He and Gale turn their heads to a sound of chaos, they watched Po with the Furious Five give chase after the one eye wolf. “What you know, they are causing delightful chaos.”
They watched as the wolf on a cart being pulled by an antelope with Po wheeling his own one after them, the antelope does a sharp left turn and Po over shots it, Viper helps him to get back on track gaining on the wolf.
The wolf throws the driver towards Po, he dodge the antelope riding up the wall and landing, the wolf try throwing other stuff in the way to stop Po from gaining on him. The Furious Five moves in around Po saving all in the way of Po, he continue to give chase.
“Why did the wolf throw those little bunnies at Po!?” Gale squawked with shock.
Discord eyes pulse. “That a step too far.” He rose the talon up to snap it but Crane comes in saving all the bunnies. “Hmm, maybe they don't need my magic, I didn't expect him to save them all like that.”
Gale points. “Discord Po and the wolf are fighting in the cart!”
They watched as the wolf first got hit by signs to the reverse with Po getting hit by them, they head under a arch bouncing down the stairs, Po put his fist out and the wolf keep getting hit by him from each bounce. “Good to see the panda being creative.”
The cart go up a ramp and the two fly off it holding each other, Gale and Discord look up as they fly over them, the wolf one eye stares at them with shock with Po waving to them before the sail past and down to the gate entrance of the palace. “Discord did that just happen?”
“It did and wouldn't believe it if I was told.” Discord and Gale watch the wolf hit the ground creating a creator with Po on top, he step off and fall backwards into the arms of Tigress talking to the wolf.
Afterwards a large army of wolves surround them, Po get hit in the gut and then they all surrender, but that when the wolf look directly up at the cloud pointing right at it. “Wolves aim your arrows at the cloud! The freak and the birdcat is up there on it!”
They mutter at each other. “They can stand on clouds! Don't question how just do as I told!” They all turn and aim their bows at the cloud. “Surrender!”
Gale turn to Discord. “We might be able to escape but they won't.” Discord said to Gale.
“Also this is like in the comic book with the Pony Ponies, they surrender and boom! They move in on the boss because they are waaaay too confident!” Gale quickly responded moving around the cloud.
Discord shrugs. “Who am I to disagree with a child mind logic to do with comics?”
“Okay.” Gale nod stepping up to the edge of the clouds with his talons up. “We surrender and coming down!” Gale drop off the cloud opening his wings up gliding down, Discord followed, both landing by Po and the Furious Five.
“Good, now cuff them all!” The gorillas put cuffs on each of them as ordered.
The wolf Gale dubbed as Alpha put his paw hand up stopping at Gale. “You child, what was that bluish white glow that came from your talon, I felt that even I stopped you from hitting me with it.”
Gale look to his right talon. “Oh my pure magic?” He raised it for the glow to appear and burst outwards with a pulse of energy spreading out, the wolves instantly step back a few steps and it fades, Gale fall to one knee with the talon on the ground.
“What was that?” Tigress stared in shock. “I even felt that, it felt so-”
“Pure...” Po whispered. “Gale are you okay?”
Gale slowly got up straggling a bit. “I-I'm just tired... Can't control it...”
Alpha grabbed by the shirt lifting him up to eye level. “Your really something kid, that pure magic really gave me chills, luckily for us your still new to it from the look of it and we have nothing to worry about it.” Alpha put him down. “Don't worry about cuffs on this one, he no threat.”
Gale turn to Discord as his talon and paw were covered up. “They smart but not completely.” Discord whispered to Gale as Po is dragged forward and they start walking up to the palace tower.
“How? You can't snap.” Gale whispered back, Discord wave his tail around and Gale noticed the end shift around slightly. “Ooooh.” Discord winks with a chuckle getting pushed by the wolf.
“Okay I'm moving.”
Po almost fall to find the ground carved up and ahead was a hammer stuck into the ground with Alpha tapping the pole laughing. Gale gulped at the sight recalling the words Shifu said even he wasn't exactly paying attention. “Is that where Master Rhino-”
“Yes.” Discord said as they walked by it. “Yes it is... That what happens when rhino meets cannon ball... Not all dreams and comics have good guys survive...”
“That dark...”
“That motivation to beat the bad guy.”
They look to Po and the Furious Five, they looked very serious at their commitment to bring down Lord Shen. “What part do we play?” Gale asked Discord.
“That I do not know and you know what?”
“What?”
Discord look at the entrance of the tower as the doors start to open. “It scares me...”
Lord Shen moves towards the wall slowly stepping sidewards before twisting his bladed spear around and launching it outwards into thin air. “Greeting Panda, last we meet...” He shift from the battle stance to a natural one. “No no no no no...”
He toss the spear up, does a splits on the ground rolling to the right doing a spin on one talon in a circle before catching the spear with his winged hand, he followed by pressing the blade tip on the ground and flipping over it landing on his talons followed by trashing the spear through the air.
“We meet at last.” He grins. “Yes, that's it.” He turns and speaks out. “Greetings panda, we meet at la-gah.” Shen freaks out slightly as the spear tip stop inches from the goat Soothsayer.
“Your afraid for a reason.” Soothsayer said calmly to him.
Shen lower the spear. “I am not afraid., his coming to me in chains, anyone should be afraid is-”
“You.” Soothsayer calmly finished. “Yet...” She walk outside looking down, Shen curiously and with caution follow her seeing what she looked at. “Those two are a new factor in events to come.”
Shen pull out from his robe sleeve the golden orb. “The child's puzzle sphere, the bird-cat with the blue white glowing fist Alpha spoke of.” Shen turn to Soothsayer. “What do you see in his future?”
Soothsayer walked inside to a bowl putting pieces of cloth and leaves into it. “Place the sphere on top.” Shen does so. “Now let's see what we get.” She throw the blue crystals over it, a burst of bluish white smoke raised up. “Curious, I see a tree with endless divides, his path is unclear because we nothing but a... Dream.”
“We nothing but a dream? What does that even mean you old goat!” Shen point his spear at her.
“He sees us as a dream, the path laid before him has too many routes to even conclude, his past how ever is one of pain, one that no child should see.”
“Go on.”
Soothsayer wave her hoofed hands around as the tree shifts into a open gate over a massive landscape. “A gate opened and a storm wiped out everything in it path, till the moment a single act on the land closed the gate and brought the child through with a mountain that fell.”
“Gate? Storm? Closed and mountain that fell?”
“It as it shows, the seed that allow the child to live has been growing, the tree of Elysium as it grows creates many paths he can travel and as a tree he could jump from branch from branch, pure to a fault there could be wrong or right.”
Shen noticed it shift. “What going on now?”
Soothsayer took a good look moving her hoof hands around once again. “The other is of chaos that is grey as it can get, neither good or bad just there for chaos, his path is set as yours.”
“Oh?”
“Freed from stone but by power of six elements of loyalty, generosity, laughter, kindness, honesty and magic will fall upon him once more, as the path is set in stone as yours is, yet a new factor now in play could change that very moment at the last moment.” Soothsayer showed the statue and spinning ying-yang symbol cracks, soon a glow come from them and shatter to show a griffon with talons in the air with wings out.
Shen stared at it as the cloud fades. “What are you saying?”
Soothsayer pick up the undamaged puzzle sphere looking at it many rings and circles on it. “If you stay your course you will be still defeated by a warrior of black and white, but-” She raise one hoof finger up. “There a chance your fate that sealed may shift by a very small factor because of the child.”
Shen took the puzzle sphere from her putting it back in his robe. “Please! I heard enough of this absurd rubbish.”
Soothsayer sighs turning away as he walk up to the cannon to wait for their arrival from below. “I knew he wouldn't listen, yet I had to try and sway him... Maybe the child of the Tree of Elysium can get through to him while I can not.” She glance to the stairs.
“Only one can hope to reshape the stone path that lay ahead...”
Chapter 45 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Four
Chapter 45 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Four
Shen and Soothsayer listen to loud heavy steps got louder from the stairs, the peacock leans in close to the cannon awaiting to see the so called panda that supposedly defeat him, what they got arriving first was Gale running up into view and turning around punching the air in celebration of being first.
“Yay I got up first!”
“What?” Shen eyes shift around looking to the Soothsayer who just laughed softly.
Gale turn around seeing Shen. “You must be that Shen guy that did bad things, hi!” He waved at the peacock.
Shen slowly waved back. “Yes... Hi...”
Soothsayer laughed again. “He knows what you done yet he so cheerful, how would you ever think of harming something so pure?” She turn to Shen.
“Your making this hard on me.”
“Am I?”
“Yes...”
“Good.” She calmly turn to face the stairs as Po came into view being carried by a gorilla.
Po is thrown over the gorilla head on to his back. “Thanks for carrying me...” Po whizzed. “Those last few flights got to me...” Tigress help him up into a sitting position as Shen and Soothsayer move a little closer, they stare as Po spoke on. “I threw up a little bit on the third floor, somebody might need to clean that up.”
Tigress get annoyed with Alpha poking her with the spear and kick it out of his paw hands. “Yeah you might want to it rather disgusting.” Discord shuddered at recalling that sight. “I am going to have nightmares of that for weeks...”
“Greetings panda we meet at-”
“Hey, how you doing?” Po responds to Shen interrupting him.
Shen shift his eyes slightly and quietly reply. “Hey...”
Soothsayer walk up to him and poke him in the gut with the stick. “You grown up bigger than I thought.” She hook the stick on the cage pulling him down to her.
“Hey what you doing? Stop poking around...” Po said as she examine him.
She pull own his jaw looking inside. “Strong and healthy.”
“I do not know who you are, but please stand aside sir.”
Gale tilt his head. “Sir?”
Discord lower his head and press his paw with talon over his face pulling downwards groaning. “Idiot...”
Viper corrects Po with a whisper. “That's a lady.”
Po quickly turn to Soothsayer. “Oh sorry, the beard threw me off-”
Gale spoke up. “Goats of both female and male have beards.” Shen start to get irritated, but Soothsayer rubs her bread smiling and listening to Gale. “It even found on some forms of lizards too, they have this crest under their chins and they called the bearded-”
“Enough of this nonsense!” Shen yelled out at them and calms down a little. “Bring the prisons to me.”
Po and the others move towards Shen. “Sorry ma'am, get ready guys, keep your eyes peeled for the-” He turn and see the model. “Weapon!”
Po runs for it to only slide to a surprised stop as Gale was there holding it now in his talons looking over it. “A model of the weapon, I like these, the weapon your after Po is just to my left.” Gale point a thumb back.
Po look over to the direction of it as the others stared at the size of it too. “Oooo...” Po stood before it.
He get push down on his knees, the others brought up before Shen and the weapon on their knees too part from Gale standing to the side holding the model still. “Hahahaha, you actually believe this the warrior that destined to defeat me?”
Soothsayer walk up beside Gale. “I do not, I know he is.” She calmly reply with a smile. “Also what of the child?”
Alpha quickly speaks. “He not a threat Lord Shen, the energy in him he can't control.”
Shen chuckled. “Hold him than.” Alpha step up placing both paws on Gale's arms restraining him. “Now where were I? Oh yes.” Shen step down towards Po. “Oh look at him, a life time to plot his revenge and comes to me on his knees.”
Gale turn to Soothsayer. “How can he have plot revenge for years when the only reason we here is my puzzle sphere and the death of Master Rhino as well the metal stuff being stolen?”
“Is that so?” Gale nods. “So... If Shen didn't take Master Rhino's life or even took over the city the panda wouldn't even been here?” Gale nod again. “So it is as I saw, Shen's actions are causing this to happen as I foreseen...”
Alpha whispers to them. “Your saying that Lord Shen's actions will lead to his downfall as foretold by you 30 years ago?”
“Correct and it seem the panda not even aware of it.” Soothsayer looked up at Alpha. “Interesting development isn't it?” Alpha only could nod.
Shen notice their quiet chat. “Care to share on what you three are talking about?” All their heads turn to their direction.
Soothsayer step up to him. “He doesn't know what you did 30 years ago Shen, your actions are the reason he is here now, but you will atone for what you done though.”
Shen chuckled. “What so funny?” Po asked with a confused look on his face.
“You don't know anything, you clearly do not know.”
Po raise his head slightly with annoyance “Okay! Enough of this riddles, will you guys spill the beans?” Po looking to Soothsayer and back to Shen. “First the weapon tiny and surprise it big, than that lady over here think a guy and yet-Whoa!” Shen pull out a feather shape blade pointing it very close to Po.
“The only reason your still alive, cause I find your stupidly mildly amusing.” Shen stared at Po as he spoke.
Po stared back. “Thank you, I find your evilness extremely annoying.”
“Who do you thi-” Shen noticed the feather blade he did held missing, looking around he saw Gale had it in his talons looking over it. “How did you take it without me noticing?”
Gale didn't pay attention. “Feather engraved, silver not steel and sharp at the tip and edges, how do you hold it with your wing feathers like that?” Gale turn to Shen.
Shen was taken back by this. “I erm... I just can, now give it back you-” Soothsayer, Alpha and a few others gave him a look. “Erm... Strange bird-cat give me my blade back, please?”
“I'm a griffon and here you go.” He gave it back.
“What are you doing!?” Tigress said with shock.
Discord groans. “He evil and you gave him back his blade...”
Gale look over to Shen. “He asked nicely and it was his to begin with, why would I keep something that not mine?”
Shen chuckled putting it back in his sleeve. “The griffon is pure to fault, even Soothsayer saw that coming, didn't you?”
“Yes I did, he may show you a bit of light.”
“Not really, take aim.” He steps back and out of the way of the cannon, Alpha moved to it and aim it down at them with the gorillas opening the blinds behind them.
Gale eyes dart left and right at the cannon and them as Alpha ready to light the fuse. “Fi-”
“No!” Gale stood directly in front of them with forelegs out with wings open wide. “It would kill them! That is wrong!”
“Oh course it is griffon! Get out of the way or I will have you shot too.”
Gale stood firm recalling what Shining Armor cast a few times. “No and I will make sure you can't!” He talons glow and a bluish white shield form around them.
Shen stared at the shield that appeared. “What the blazes is that!?”
“Good question...” Tigress whispered looking around. “Discord what did Gale just do?”
“He created a shield... Not knowing how much magic he pouring into it, I can't tell it will hold a cannon shot at this range.” Discord whispered back.
Shen pull out his blade and hit it to only get it thrown out of his wing, it lands by Alpha piecing the wood. “That some trick you pulled griffon.” He rubbed his wing. “Fire now!”
Alpha look to the fuse and the stick that lit. “Lord Shen...”
“I said fire!”
Alpha look to it and back to Gale, the teen noticed Mantis on the cannon who nods to him, Gale winks to Alpha and the shield collapses. “Yes Lord Shen...” He lights it as Gale land on one knee breathing a bit to catch his breath.
The cannon doesn't fire. “Well, light the thing!”
“I-I did.” Alpha tries again but it goes out, again and again looking at the lit stick trying to figure it out seeing Gale trying not to laugh, he glance his only eye to see Mantis. “I see, you have my thanks.” He whispers to the little bug.
He reach up to light it again to get it knocked out of his paw and held by Mantis crying out. “Fear the bug!”
Shen quickly stare at him and back to the cage to see it was a toy model of Mantis inside it, Po laughs. “Haha!” Viper unlocks the lock cuffs from Tigress and she frees the others in a shift kick and punch at each of them.
They stood together ready for action. “Get the weapon!” They kick all the guards out the way. “Tigress!” Po said and she jump down him to the weapon, Po goes after Shen as he try to flee, the cannon flips with the end of the barrel facing downwards, Mantis leap up above and kick it down through the floor all the way to the ground level.
As Po lands on the stunned looking Shen, the cannon hits the ground level smashing to pieces, the sphere falls out of his robe and Gale fly over grabbing it. “Discord I got the sphere!”
“Good now get us home!”
“Okay!” Gale start shifting the rings and circle parts around quickly, unlocking each sequence as Po freezes at the sight of the tail feather markings recalling past events.
Tigress turn around to see him staring at Shen. “Yo-you were there...”
Shen smiled evilly. “Yes... Yes I was.” He quickly turns and runs grabbing Gale, the teenager caught by surprise as he dragged with Shen out the window, Shen open his tail feathers up and using them as a glider towards the large building a fair bit away.
Discord grabbed Po picking him up. “You let them get away and capture Gale you idiot!”
“At least we destroyed the weapon.” Monkey stated, Discord drop Po.
“Are you all a bunch of idiots!? If he has that here you think he wouldn't have more by now!?” Discord shouted at all of them, they standing at the balcony turn to him and back at the building afar.
Shen lands and the wolves grab Gale, taking the sphere off him and holding him to the wall. “Fire!”
Gale stared at the palace with shock. “No! You can't!”
“I have and watch.” Shen didn't look at him as the cannons fire at the palace.
Mantis speaks as they all stare at the cannonballs coming in. “No, he got way more.” Discord slap his paw over his face, stepping up behind them raising the paw up.
Discord snap his paw as they about to hit all turning into flowers covering everyone. “Whoa what happened to the sparking balls?” Po push the flowers off himself.
“Chaos magic, the next rounds won't be so lucky, best for us to go.” Discord turn around walking back inside.
“But what of Gale?”
“We have to come up with a plan, if you don't notice another wave is coming.”
“Than do more of that chaos magic!”
Discord turn to him. “I can't! I use any more and there be no more for me to use period! He got more cannonballs than I have with chaos magic! So stop your yapping and let's get-” The next volley hits.
Gale watched as cannonball after cannonball hits causing the tower to collapse with archers firing fire arrows to keep them trapped, he suddenly saw them appear on the lower level to start climbing up the side of the falling tower. “Where are they going!?” Shen said with shock.
Gale saw Discord being carried by Tigress over her shoulder unconscious as they race to the top of the tower, they leap off it onto a house roof and slide over to another before disappearing from view, they escaped. “Yes!” Gale cheered.
“You idiots!” Shen hits the gorilla in the face before racing down the stairs. “Call in the wolves, all of them! I want them ready to move, the year of the peacock begins now!” He smiled.
Gale held by Alpha spoke up. “Isn't it mid way in the year?” He look up at Alpha. “I think you were going to say something like that right?”
“Right...” Alpha rubbed the back of his head before a blade was raised by Shen. “This is the beginning of the year of the peacock... Happy new year sir.”
Shen leans in. “Tell the wolves to get the cannons loaded on the ships, now...” Alpha eye shift a bit. “NOW! NOW NOW!” Alpha quickly let go of Gale rushing up the ladder. “As for you...” Shen gaze fell upon Gale. “You sparked my interest...”
Gale gave a nervous laugh shirking back upon the dark gaze that settled upon him by Shen.
Soothsayer walk up the steps with the gorilla guard behind her, as they arrived on the platform Shen's spear slide to a stop just in front of them, Soothsayer and the gorilla stared at it before looking up to see Shen holding one wing with the other glaring at Alpha, he stood with mallet in hand in front of Gale.
“How dare you strike me! I am your lord, your master!” Shen spoke in a threatening tone with tail feathers flared up and wide.
Alpha stood in his defence stance ready for Shen to attack. “I strike you Lord Shen because you were about to harm a child! Yes he has unknowing and scary powers within, but it doesn't mean you can use that staff to torture him!”
Shen brings out three blades from his right wing, Gale shifts himself back against the wall. “He has abilities that I want! He going to give me them one way or the other!”
“Stop acting like a fool Shen, not only you destroyed your ancestor home, you wish to bring harm to force a child that do not know how to control the magic within him let alone explain how.” Soothsayer put her stick on his wing being it down.
Shen turn to the gorilla he toss the staff over, taking it he heated up the tip of the blade, Alpha growls with a arm out to Gale taking a more aggressive stance. “A trivial sacrifice, when whole of china is my award.” He poke the map causing it to burn, he place the staff down with wings spread out.
Soothsayer speaks walking up a little behind him. “Will you be satisfied with the subjugation of the whole world finally make you feel better?” She looked at him angrily. “Will harming a young child to the point of killing him weather or not you get his pure magic?”
Shen causally walk by her. “It a start, I will convert the basement into a dungeon too.”
Alpha's eye widen as he heard those words, he lower the mallet a little, Gale staring with fear by his right leg holding up to the armour side. “I won't let that happen.”
“Won't?” Shen turn to Alpha. “Didn't you and I with a pack of wolves took care of those pandas 30 years ago?”
Alpha lower his head slightly his eye shifting away. “Yes and I can't change what I did back than but I can change what I do now.” He rose his head reading to fight.
“The cup you choose has no bottom, it is time to stop this madness.” She walked him to his left.
Shen smirked glancing at her for a second. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“So your parents can rest in peace.”
Shen grew anger. “My parents hated me.”
Gale listened to them. “What he said isn't true... I found out how they past away, Soothsayer going to tell him.” Alpha whispered to Gale, he nod in reply to listen.
“You don't understand.” He speaks quickly in pain. “They rubbed me and I... I will make it right.”
Soothsayer showed sadness. “They loved you so much that sending you away killed them...”
Shen coldly turn to her. “The dead excised in the past, I must tend to the future.” He looked directly at the gorilla. “Let the Soothsayer free, the griffon stays.”
Gale looked at his talon and the mallet, a idea came to mind and he place the talon on the mallet itself. “Wh-” Alpha look down to see the talon glow with the bluish white energy moving over it. “What did you do?”
“Use it, we escape...”
Alpha made his mind up at that very moment, he could of used this energy on the Panda and his friends for Shen but Gale gave this to him in good faith, Alpha raised it up. “As you wish Lord Griffon.”
“Wh-” Shen turn to Alpha to see the bluish white glowing mallet end with electrical energy coming off it. “What did he do to your weapon!?”
Soothsayer calmly moved beside Gale. “As I saw.” She whispered rubbing her beard.
Alpha grinned. “Let's see shall we?” He smash it down right in front of Shen and the gorilla, a massive explosion of energy erupts from the impact.
Shen get blown away with his tail feathers and wings spread out to slow himself down, sliding to a stop on the wooden walkway on the other side of the building, metal claws on the talons digging deep, the gorilla wasn't so lucky he smashed through the wooden wall sailing across crashing through a roof of a building.
Shen looked back at the direction of the platform he was on to see no sign of Alpha, Gale or Soothsayer. “Where did they go!?” He looked rapidly. “You four find them now!” The stunned wolves snapped out of their shock and quickly rushed out.
Shen looked at his wing arms seeing the electrical energy dancing off it, he felt a bit paralysed from the impact. “What incredible power that griffon has, he transferred his magic into that mallet, I must have it...”
The wolves quickly jumping on roof top to roof top, one of them found the remains of the mallet being the stick, he shows it to them and they followed the trail to the harbour area, landing on the stone path ground they looked around for Alpha and the others.
A lone antelope driver stood by his cart fixing it. “You!”
He turn jumping back at the sight of them. “P-please don't harm me or damage my cart!”
“We won't if you tell us where they went!”
He quickly point in a direction. “A wolf, sheep and strange bird-cat ran that way!”
They nod and rush off disappearing into the streets, on a boat tethered to the pier Gale pulled the tarp back. “Th-thank you...”
“I would of shopped in that wolf over there but I couldn't do it to you or Soothsayer...” He step up to Gale, Alpha just looked away. “I am not sure why you gave me this silver bar though.” He pulled it out of his pocket.
Gale laughed. “You rip it off and eat the chocolate inside silly.”
“Rip it off?” He did so to see the brown item within, taking a sniff of it he chewed a little of it. “Wow this is really something! This chocolate is really tasty!”
“It is but don't eat too much or you might get sick.” Gale smiled.
“Oh I'll take my time! Take care!” He put it away in the pocket, grabbing hold of the handles of the cart he ran off.
Soothsayer point to the rope. “Remove the rope Alpha, we have a village to return too.”
“Village? Why can't we go find Discord and the others?” Gale hooped back on the boat.
Soothsayer put her hoof hand on his shoulder. “This is the path we need to take, trust me.”
Gale nods. “Okay.” He turn to Alpha. “Can you please do it and take us to the village?”
Alpha walked by them removing the rope and putting it into the boat. “Very well Lord Griffon, I do not look forward to this...”
“Why?”
“Because it where it all began with Shen...”
“Can you tell me?” Gale asked.
Alpha open the sails up and took hold of the rudder. “Very well Lord Griffon, it will not be pleasant...”
Gale smiled sitting down before him. “It Gale, Griffon is what I am.”
“Lord Gale.” He bow his head slightly. “What happened all those years ago started when Shen discovered other means of use with the fireworks his parents created...”
Soothsayer walked inside peering through the cloth she smiled.
“The stone path has crumbled and a new one is forged, destiny has been changed...”
Chapter 46 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Five
Chapter 46 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Five
Discord eyes snap open, he sits up quickly looking around to have Crane put his wing over his shoulder. “Your safe.” Discord looked at him noticing the injured other wing, the vision clear up a bit to see he was in some sort of jail, in one of the cells were a Ox and a crocodile staring back at him.
Discord push the uninjured wing off his shoulder, standing up he noticed Tigress kneeing to Po. “The idiot panda hiding something about Shen, it the second time he froze with that symbol.” Discord bluntly said to the other members of the Furious Five.
“What does a symbol have to do with him freezing up?” Monkey asked looking up at Discord.
“Deep scared memories is most likely the answer to that.” Discord answered. “But you have to let him reveal it though when his ready, he most likely will comprise the rescue of Gale.”
They watch as Tigress tells Po to stay and the masters will keep out of danger. “You took a blow from those weapons and yet you seem fine, how is that?” Viper asked slithering around his body.
Discord watching her movements around his body. “Chaos, nothing more, nothing less.”
“Wow, you either a good liar or you really are telling the truth.” Mantis said.
“Oh course.” Discord turn walking up the steps. “Tell me when the panda and tiger done with their little dance so we can get right to the point of saving Gale.”
“Your worried.” Crane said looking up the steps.
Discord glance back at him. “No beak brain, I am terrified, if Shen get Gale to some how share his magic with him, kiss everything goodbye.”
They all looked at each other as Discord went to the door standing by it peering out to the street through a tiny opening. “Tigress No!” He quickly turn the sound of Viper's voice to see Tigress was hugging Po, Crane beak drop open.
“Well, now that a nice bit of chaos.” Discord raise his talon with energy coming off it slightly. “That just what I needed.” Discord chuckled.
Tigress walked towards Discord passing the others. “Maybe you can't watch me by killed?” Crane said nervously.
“Stop being a wimp.” She coldly responded.
Discord heard a few thuds from outside, quickly looking into the street he saw four wolves. “If what that antelope said is true, they must of come this way.” One said as they walked towards the door.
“We'll ask the Ox and Croc if they seen them.” Another said.
Discord quickly moved away from the door. “We got to hide now, wolves incoming.”
Tigress and the others stopped. “We just knock them out.”
“No you will not, they here to talk to those in that cell, I rather find out what they are going to ask rather you knock their brains out.” Discord walked up to her towering over Tigress. “And I will use all of the chaos I have left to make sure of it, so make your choice, either hide or I force it upon us all.” He raised the paw.
“Make your choice.”
Tigress sighs. “Fine, we go with hide.” She turn to Po. “I got a idea how to hide Po.” She look over to Master Ox, who saw that look from her.
The doors open fully moments later, the four wolves walked down the steps to the circle central part of the jail, they head right for the masters. “You Ox.”
“Yes?” He calmly said making eye contact to the wolf.
The others looking around keeping their guard up, even one looking around at the ceiling. “We were directed in this direction, there a rouge wolf, goat and griffon fled from Lord Shen, have you seen them?”
“I know of the Soothsayer if you speaking of her, but haven't seen her since Master Rhino was killed by your weapon.” He said with bitterness in his voice. “Not sure what a griffon is though.”
“It a bird-lion hybrid, a child.”
Ox blinked. “Closest thing to a hybrid I saw was some weird mixed up creature made up of at least ten races by my count.”
The wolves were on their guard more than ever now. “That freak was here?”
“Was? Yes, now no.” He answered.
The wolves relaxed a little. “I don't think they seen them.”
First wolf sighed. “We have to keep moving, if we don't find them Lord Shen make sure we won't see the next day.” He turn to leave. “Come we better get a move on.”
“Yes sir!” They said together quickly leaving the jail with the first wolf closing the door to the street behind them.
Coming out of the other cells and out of hiding the Furious Five emerged, Discord step out from behind a pillar, Po emerged from behind Master Ox. “It look like a rescue mission no longer required.” Crane said.
Tigress nod. “Indeed, we can move on with taking out the weapon factory, making sure none of those weapons get out of Goneman City.”
Discord closed his eyes focusing and his eyes snapped open. “I know where Gale is, thanks to Oogway and keeping a bit of that energy I can teleport myself directly to him.”
“Take Po with you.” Tigress said to him.
“Not happening.” Both Po and Discord said together.
“I am not taking no as a answer, your doing it Discord.”
Discord pokes her in the chest. “I have enough to teleport directly there for myself, if I take something like him.” Discord point to Po. “Who know what his weight would do to throw my magic off!”
“Hey!”
“It not a insult it a matter of fax!”Discord snapped back at Po. “Do you know how chaos magic work?” He turn back to Tigress. “Are you now a expert in it now?”
Tigress grows and didn't answer. “How about one of us that light or small go with Discord see if Gale okay and come back?” Crane suggested.
Discord look directly at him. “Skinny tall legs, big wings, long neck and beak, feather weight...” Discord walked around him giving a good look, Crane nervously follow his movements, the others had a feeling what was about to happen. “Yes you can come with me.” Discord put his griffon arm around him.
Crane eyes widen. “No I didn't mean m-” With a snap of the lion paw both of them were gone.
“Wow, they just gone!” Monkey waving his hand over the spot they stood.
Tigress cross her arms. “What do we do now Tigress?” Viper asked
“We wait...”
(Line break)
Gale using charcoal on a piece of paper, drawing on it close to the lit flame dancing around before him, Alpha leaning on a beam support watching over him with his eye, Po laid on a make shift bed while Soothsayer was preparing the medication for Po when he wakes.
“You are tense Alpha.” Soothsayer calmly said with her back to him.
Alpha turn his eye to her direct. “Can you blame me for not?”
Soothsayer holding the bowl filled with the medication. “No I can not, yet you stepping back here wasn't something I saw, not till recently.”
Alpha turn back to the wasted village. “I can agree with you on that, I did what I done because of Lord Gale...”
Gale looked up. “I didn't do anything special, I was just being me... Well the me I am now and not what I can't remember... I think...” Gale went back to drawing. “It confusing...”
“Just don't let what you were before become what you are now.”
“Huh?” Gale paused in his drawing now looking to Soothsayer. “What do you mean by that?”
“Do you want to return to who you once were?” She asked putting a hoof hand under his beak lifting his head slightly.
Gale gave a thoughtful look, taking a moment to answer. “I would like to know my past, but also it is the past and the amount of time that past I can never reclaim, just remember...”
Soothsayer smiled removing her hoof head. “Indeed, four thousand of them is too vast of time that past is it not?”
Gale beak drops open staring at her, Alpha glance back with confusion. “You lost me goat.”
“H-”
“How?” Gale nods. “Soothsayer not just my name is what I can do, plus your mind remember.” She tap the top of his head.
Gale realised what she meant. “Oooo...” Gale went back to drawing.
“Are you two going to fill me in?” Alpha looking between the two of them, he heard slight movement Po's direction, Soothsayer raise her hoof hand to her muzzle, giving him the signal to do nothing.
Po reopen his eyes to turn his head and be face to face with Soothsayer getting a shock as he quickly sit up to cringe in pain, laying back down slightly rubbing the side of his head while Soothsayer held out the bowl of medicine for Po to take.
One look at it and her he spoke. “Yeah... Like you can make me drink th-ahhh.” With a poke of a needle on his forehead, Po open his mouth up, eyes inverted cross eyed and she toss the liquid into his mouth, pulling the pin out of his forehead Po closed his mouth whooshing it around his mouth before swallowing.
He groans in disgust at the taste of it as Soothsayer walk back to the fire sitting down in front of it. “If I wanted you dead, I would of left you in that river.”
“Why save me?” He pull out a needle from the side of his head.
“So you can fulfil your destiny.”
Po continue to pull the needles out. “What are you talking about?” He looks around. “Were am I?” He saw a ruined village. “What is this place?”
She looked over at him with sadness, Gale and Alpha not moving listened and watched. “I'm surprised you remember so little Po...” She look back to fire. “You were so little when it happened.” Soothsayer glance to Alpha, he shifted uneasily from the look.
Po started to hear screaming in his head and breathes heavily before pulling the tear shape bottle off his head, falling forwards on his hand paws and knees crawling outside. “Prehaps you do remember.”
“Now what? It just a stupid nightmare.”
Alpha finally spoke. “It was no nightmare panda... I was here... I helped Shen do all this...” Alpha push off the pillar looking around sadly, Po looked at him with confusion and anger seeing who it was. “In all my years I never thought I would step back here let alone strike at Shen...”
Po looked at the water, he started to remember his past recalling the moments before Shen and the wolves attacked, he step down the steps and Gale got up walking up beside Alpha as Soothsayer spoke. “This was a thriving village, young Shen was in line to rule Goneman City, but he wanted more...”
Soothsayer roll the pot around in a circle motion. “I foretold that one would stand in his way, a panda...” She glance over to him and ahead staring off into space. “I never would have foretold what came next...” She roll out a stick from the pot into the fire.
Po instantly recalls the attack of Shen squawking out with spear pointing out, wolves attacking, Shen turns seeing the child Po. “Get them all!” The two wolves charge right at him bouncing towards young Po.
His father runs in front and hit the two wolves with a mallet of his own knocking the wolves back as well taking one of their eyes out. “Take our son and run away, go!” His father put a paw hand out to his wife as she pick up young Po running away, he drop the plush panda on the ground bouncing to the burning out to be buried.
Po walk up to the very ruined house pushing some wood away to show the plush panda picking it up, Alpha place his paw over the closed eye, the eye Po's father took out. Po had a flash of his mouth putting him down and turning away, holding his head breathing heavily. “Stop fighting, let it flow...”
Alpha slowly look to Soothsayer. “Soothsayer...” She nods to him.
Alpha walk towards Po as he put the plush down, Gale felt the hoof hand on his shoulder. “Watch...” He nods.
Po look up at the rain than to Alpha, the wolf look back to the panda, no words said between them but a clarity of understanding suddenly flowed through both of them, compelled Alpha follows Po's movement shifting right paw foot back moving the right hand paw past their own faces with eyes closed.
The left hand paw over across with both apart from each other holding nothing but air they shift to the left with both paw hands moving in sync, lifting their right paw hands up a droplet rolls down the palm fingers to the palms of their paw hands.
Po start to remember the final moments of his mother carrying in as a child, Alpha recalling the moment he ran with Shen after them. They shift around in motion moving the droplet to the other paw hand twisting them around, from one arm to the other.
Gale watched with surprise as the droplet seem to just roll around with the strange motion of movement coming from Alpha and Po.
Po open his eyes for a moment recalling his very last moments with his mother as she saves his life by hiding him in the box of radishes, she run up the mound and wave the wolves with Shen to follow as she flees.
Their final act letting the droplet roll of the paw hand onto a plant leaf.
Po breathing heavily, Alpha fallen backwards on his rump breathing also heavily tears falling from his only eye. “Nothing I do can be foregiven... I am sorry for what I did that day and how much more blinded I am really are...”
Gale walk up to him putting his talon hand on his shoulder. “Alpha your not blind cause you protected me.”
Alpha turn to Gale. “I did, didn't I?” Gale nods with a smile. “How can you even smile at me when I did all this bad stuff?”
“Because you have a heart silly.” Gale pat his chest were the heart is a few times.
Po closed his eyes with sadness turning it away. “Your story may have not a happy beginning, but that doesn't make you who you are, it is the rest of your story who you choose to be.”
Po start recalling all his time with his dad to becoming the dragon warrior, making friends with Master Shifu, the furious five and defeating those that would bring harm to the Valley of Peace. “So... Who are you panada?”
Po gets up. “I am Po and I am going to need a hat...”
In a blinding flash from the climenting words from Po appeared Discord and Crane.
“Eeeee...” Crane looked around getting the glare of the flash out of his sights, first thing he saw standing before him was- “Po how did you get here and why are you all bandaged up like that?”
The reaction Crane got wasn't something he or some of them was expecting, with a exciting gasp and pointing Po speaks. “I get what you meant Crane! When you returned to the prison coming to the village!”
Crane bend his neck backwards slight with a raised confused eye and expression. “You were at the prison just a second ago...”
Po pull out a piece of paper from his pants opening it up showing Crane the drawing. “You gave me this and told me to open it next time we met!”
Gale looked at his drawing and at the one Po held, it had three finger claws marked in charcoal like the one with the drawing he held having the same marks. “You realised haven't you Gale?” Soothsayer takes it from his talons, Gale nods silently. “Let me handle it.” Gale nod again.
Soothsayer walk up to Crane. “I didn't give you anything Po, not that picture!”
“Not yet.” Soothsayer speaks and he turn to her gasping with a jump back as she was right next to him. “This.” She show the drawing and folds it up. “Is the one and the same that Po has, when you return you will give him this.”
She place it in Crane's wing. “I don't understand...”
Discord rolled his eyes about to say something but Soothsayer hit him in the leg with her stick causing Discord to yelp in pain. “Not your time to speak Lord of Chaos, be patient.” Discord humpths with arms crossed.
Alpha took the picture from Po seeing it slightly water damaged. “That means your from the past events that came... I heard tales of this but didn't know it was true...”
“With chaos anything is possible.” Soothsayer calmly said turning to Crane. “When you return, for us it the past but for you in the present, this moment is the future yet to come.”
Crane groans. “This is giving me a headache...”
“It mostly does, when Discord returns you Crane, do not speak of seeing Po, tell him to show you when you meet again, which be this very moment, if you do not who knows what could happen.” Soothsayer smiled warmly. “Even you know now Po doesn't listen to Tigress to stay, you have to let it happen.”
Crane look over to Po. “You didn't stay in the prison? But how can that happen already yet it haven't?”
Po shrugs. “I don't know, but it awesome! So you know that what happens to me and what most likely happened to you guys I be there to get you out of it.” Po smiled warmly giving Crane a hug. “See you soon Crane.”
Crane looked around. “Sure... But where am I exactly?”
“That we can not share, just say we in a abandon village.” Soothsayer said to Crane. “Just say these exact words... Gale is okay with the Soothsayer and the rouge wolf in some abandon village, I am not sure where it is but Soothsayer told me to give this to you Po, also to show me it when we meet again. In that exact quote.” Soothsayer said to him.
“Bu-” Discord snap his lion paw and Crane vanishes.
Po look at the spot Crane once stood at. “How do we know it worked?”
“Because we are still here and exactly how it happened before, now and future.” Soothsayer said turning to Discord looking to his head. “I believe Po need a hat.”
Discord look up and back down to the Soothsayer. “Get your own!”
“It is yours that he need.” She calmly said back, they look into each other eyes staring for a few moments before Discord gives in.
With a groan Discord took off the hat. “Fine... Here Po, you wanted a hat have mine.” He toss it over to Po.
Po caught it putting it on his head. “Alright! Now it on!”
Alpha eye shift left and right. “You do what you need to do Panda, Lord of Chaos you help him, Gale I am going to need your help with something.”
“Who are you to-”
Soothsayer speaks over Discord. “Talk to me like that? That one that knows Shen's plan, go and help Po, Alpha and Gale will do what they need to do.”
Alpha give to picture back to Po. “See you at the city Panda, make sure to save your friends and stop those boats from getting into the harbour.”
“You got it Alpha.” He closed his fist out to Alpha, he bumps it with his own fist.
Gale turn to Discord. “Guess we going our own ways again.”
Discord shrugs. “It all part of the plot of a dream adventure, nothing goes as one thinks it might do, unless they they complete control of said dream.” Discord poke Gale on the end of his beak with a smirk.
“See you soon I guess and Discord.”
“Yes Gale?”
“Be careful okay?”
“You too...” Discord muttered, he watched Gale and Alpha leave.
Soothsayer stood by him. “Dream adventures are a interesting twist of chaos is it not?”
“Yes it-” He turn to Soothsayer seeing that look. “You know?”
“From the beginning.” She walk over to the fire leaving Discord having his jaw drop.
Po slap Discord on the back. “Ready to say Tigress and the others?” Discord put his jaw back in place.
“Sure, whatever you say...” Discord raise his paw. “Time for the final chapter to turn.” With a snap of the paw they vanish.
Soothsayer put the fire out. “Now let's see if Shen's fate can be changed... Yet I feel it most likely not going to happen... Oh Shen...” She sighs walking away from the fire towards Goneman City.
Alpha and Gale having re-enter the city arrive at the ruins of the palace, standing before the large stone mallet they stared at it, a eerie feel came in the air where this was the last moments of Master Rhino, Alpha turn and knelt down to Gale gazing into eyes with his only eye.
Silently looking at each other they soon heard the sound of howls, turning to that very direction they could see the large mast with the sail of the peacock on it. Shen was making his move as dawn started to come, the time for action was now and Alpha was going to need Gale's help to help Po.
Alpha place his paw on Gale's shoulder. “Use your gift Lord Gale and let's end this nightmare before Shen can unleash it.”
Gale turn to Alpha and back to the sails, he finally turn to the stone mallet of Master Rhino.
Chapter 47 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Six
Chapter 47 – The Dream Adventure of Gale and Discord Part Six
Discord leaning against a wall of a building standing on a lower roof watch the boats destroy the bridges to make way, Alpha and Gale land on the roof seeing that the ships were already on the move towards the harbour. “Discord where is Po?” Gale asked looking around for the panda.
“Oh he just ahead of the ships over at that roof top.” Discord nod his head in the direction, they saw him standing there with Discord's cone hat on. “Oh keep theses on.” He pull out three sets of head phones. “Trust me you will need them.”
Gale took one, Alpha did too. “What exactly are this thing?” Alpha studied it placing the stone mallet down with a thud breaking a few tiles causing them to crash down on the street blow.
Gale put his on over the ears. “You put them on like this, they either have sound play through them or block sound.”
Alpha raise a eye brow. “Why would I want to block out sound?”
Discord put his on. “Oh believe me you will see soon enough.” Alpha put his on and just in time.
Po stood firm and speaks out, soon as he did the voice boomed out through out Goneman City causing everyone to cover their ears. “SHEN!”
Alpha heard it through the head piece but just enough not to be deafening as it is to everyone else. “What did you do!?” Alpha turn to Discord who was in fits of laughter.
“Hahaha I hahaha modified my hat to amplify his voice hahahaha!” Discord holding his tube body around the gut area continuing to laugh.
Gale snorted in amusement too seeing how Shen reacted on the main ship at the back of the fleet, Alpha smirked seeing the pain Po was causing him and the other wolves. “Lord of Chaos, I can see why you have that title.” He chuckled lightly resting his arm against the pole of the stone mallet.
“A PANDA STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DESTINY!”
“WILL YOU STOP TALKING YOUR GOING TO MAKE US ALL DEAF!” Shen shouted at the top of his lungs back at Po but doesn't reach the panda.
He keep shouting out that the words couldn't be quiet heard as everyone cringe in pain.
“DISC Of destruction.” Po pull back and throws it, the hat sails past the chain right for Shen,
Shen sees it coming at the last second, not able to react it suddenly explodes into confetti and streamers all over Shen with glitter. Po cover his mouth trying not to laugh at what happened to Shen, he squawks angrily seeing others around him trying not to laugh at him too. “That does it! Take aim!”
Po see the cannons raise up to him. “Uh oh...”
“Ready... Aim...” Po leap off the roof bouncing off a few others causing them to try and re aim.
Discord turn to Alpha. “I had my fun, your turn wolf boy.” Discord pat him on the back.
Alpha lift the stone mallet up. “This won't explode like that last one will it?”
Gale shook his head. “No I don't think it should, but I can't promise it won't...”
“It good enough for me Lord Gale.” He jump over to the next roof to the next as Po leap on the boat and jump onto the next causing the two cannons to now turn on each other on the front boats.
Lighting the fuse on one boat the other wolves by Po cry out. “Don't shoot, don't shoot!” Over and over again with some leaping into the water.
“Friendly fire! Don't shoot!” The wolf on Shen's ship cry out, they put out the fuse in time.
Shen point to Po. “Attack!” The wolves on the other ships and from behind start to attack him all at once.
Alpha lands right next to Po hitting a few of them away with the stone mallet. “Whoa how are you holding that thing up!? That must weigh a lot!”
“Oh it does.” Alpha blocks a blade from hitting Po and hit the wolf away catching the blade tossing it to Po. “Gale's gift made it light for me.” He smirked.
Po grabbed the blade. “Ooo that is so neat!” Po roll over some of the wolves. “Catch of Freedom!” Po toss the blade to his friends before getting jumped all over by the pack.
“Monkey!” Tigress spoke, he grab with his tail and spin around breaking the chains freeing all of them.
They land around Po using their kicks, tail whip, punches and wing attacks to knock all the wolves away part from Alpha, Crane quickly stop Tigress from hitting Alpha. “His the rouge wolf at the village Tigress.”
“Fine...” Tigress move into a battle stance. “Impressive dragon warrior, what the plan?”
“Step one save the Furious Five...”
“What the next plan?”
Alpha speaks up for Po. “Stop Shen before his ships reach the harbour.”
Po nods. “Just like Alpha said!” They start pushing through with kung fu, kicking, punching, dodging and knocking through the wolves raising from one boat to the other.
Ox comes in from behind knocking away more wolves, Po turn around gasping with surprise. “Master Ox!” Croc burst out of the water spilt kicking two wolves before landing with a splits. “And Croc!”
“Vengeance is served.” Master Croc said as the fight behind Po continue.
“What are y-”
Ox hints behind them. “Your friend there is very persuasive.” Po look over to see many wolves getting knocked around to see Shifu jump up hitting a few of them in the air before tossing the stick down in front and landing on it.
“Master Shifu!”
Gale watching the action from the roof near the harbour bridge. “Oh wow they really showing them!” Discord snap his talon as one wolf came at him turning the wolf into a puppy, the pup look over at himself and runs away.
“They are, it seem the red panda gave them something to do.”
Gale flew up over the bridge looking down as they knock one boat up to pin itself on the arch, the others pulled together by Po and Crane doing his wing burst wind attack. The results causes those boats to block the way through, the wolves quickly rush up to only get all the kung fu fighters emerging and knocking all the wolves back racing to Shen in a stars of light.
“Why aren't we firing!?” Shen cries out in panic.
“They taking our of gunners sir!”
“Fire! Fire the damn thing!”
“But sir we will kill our own!”
“I said fire at them! FIRE FIRE!”
The wolf turn to him and toss the stick down. “No I won't! Now I know why Alpha tu-” He didn't get to finish when Shen threw three blades at him killing the wolf.
Alpha saw this, a chill ran through his body that moment he knew that would have been him, he turn to Gale just above the arch and back to Shen. “He going to fire...” Shen leap up onto the cannon causing it to lower right at Po and the other kung fu fighters, Alpha knew the fire power alone wouldn't be enough but all those ships buckled and broken did, this could easily chain react.
“Discord, Gale in the line of fire!” Alpha shouted out to the Lord of Chaos.
Discord look down at Alpha pointing to the stone arch, he was in turmoil. “Ah poop! I can't believe I am going to do this!” Discord flew right over to Gale twisting his body around Gale shielding him just as the cannon fires, it causes a massive chain of explosions with a powerful concussive force sending them flying into the harbour waters.
Gale dazed from the sudden events slowly regain his senses feeling the cool water washing around him, he found himself on a blank of wood from a ship remains. Discord lying out cold on another near by him, Alpha surfaced swimming over to both of them. “When did he fire on his army like that?” Gale asked rubbing the side of his head.
Alpha turn to the ships entering the harbour lining up. “Because he only cares for a bottomless pit of power... He need to be stopped...” Alpha push Gale and Discord away swimming towards a much larger piece where the stone mallet laid on top of.
Gale reach out to Alpha. “Don't go!” Alpha didn't reply but smile to Gale as he continue to swim.
Discord groans slowly raising his head. “Wh-what did I miss?”
“Alpha and Po are heading right to that massive pieces of ship remains! They be big open targets Discord!” Gale tried to flap his wings finding the water on them made hard for him to do so.
Discord put his paw on Gale's foreleg. “I got a feeling they are going to be fine.”
“B-”
“Trust the Lord of Chaos, I can sense it.” Gale look to Discord and back to them as they stood up, Gale slowly nod but feeling uneasy doing nothing but watch.
Both Po and Alpha stood closing their eyes, Shen laughed lightly. “As you wish, let's finish this.” All the cannons lined up for the shot at Po and Alpha, the others watched unable to act. Po shift his right foot back moving his arms slightly in rhythm, Shifu saw it with widen eyes as he knew what Po was doing.
Alpha kick up the stone mallet holding it with one hand paw moving in the same motion as Po a few seconds later. “Oooo my chaos senses are tingling!” Discord shivered with excitement.
Po put his hand paws apart from each other opening his eyes, Shen smiling calls out the attack order. “Fire!” The cannonball race across in a sparkling light of red right at Po.
Po closed his eyes sensing the ball coming as a droplet. “Inner peace...” He thought, opening his eyes shifting the hand paw forwards, to everyone surprise he not only caught it but toss it to his left into the water, Shen and Shifu stared in surprise as it splashed down.
Alpha one eye open smirked till Po showed he had his paw hand on fire running around, staring at the panda shaking it about. “Hot hot hot hot.” He shoving his paw hand in his own mouth putting out the flame.
Shen looked at him angrily. “Again!”
Alpha this time caught the cannonball with his mallet twisting around and it widely flies up, both Po and Alpha looked around for where it hit to hear the splash behind them near one of the boats, the wolves step back nervously seeing how close it was from hitting their ship.
Po punch the air with both fists. “Yeah!” Another comes in and he dodges it as Alpha did a flip over one too.
“Kill them!” Shen growled in anger. “Somebody kill them!”
Gale blinked a few times as his mind couldn't even process what was happening before his own eyes as both of them was returning the cannonballs back at the fleet. “H-how is that possible!?”
“Dreams are chaotic so the rules of it doesn't apply, it is your dream adventure afterall, I am only here as a guest.” Discord chuckled as Po flip around two cannonballs to catch one, he spins around a few times throwing it back to hit a ship causing it front to explode and sink it.
Shen watched in disbelief as his fleet was being destroyed by a wolf that turned on him and a panda. “What!? NO!” Tigress grinned seeing at Po and Alpha were winning, Po point to one of his eyes and point to Shen with a sly smirk shifting into position as Alpha did too. “Keep firing! Keep firing!” Gorilla look at him and back to the fuse to light it, the nearby wolf ship fires too.
Alpha catch the wolf ship one sending him back behind Po, as this happens Po catches the one fired from Shen's ship, claws digging into the metal before he start to be lifted in the air coming down to spin around from the force of the cannonball, Alpha spinning around behind him like a spin top.
Shen sees the black and white symbol with the light behind, the very thing Soothsayer showed would happen and that moment was his defeat, wide eyed Shen knew what was about to come as Po spins around a few times speaking out. “Scodoosh!” The ball flies.
“For peace!” Alpha let his fly right behind Po's returning cannonball, they right next each other flying right for Shen's ship.
Shen braced himself as the two cannonballs hit the cannon direct causing a massive explosion that engulfed the ship, Shen regains his senses lying on the deck coughing as he sits up to look up at the remains of the cannon held in place by rope, it wrecked beyond repair. Looking around he saw his whole fleet was in ruins, all destroyed. “Ho-how did-how did you do it?”
Po stood with Alpha before Shen, Alpha saw the puzzle sphere picking it up off the deck, Po was about to speak when Gale lands in front of them closing his wings up. “Shen...”
“Going to gloat are you?”
Gale shook his head. “No...” He looked around. “This is what Soothsayer said would happen if you continued down this bottomless pit of craving power, you had so much and lost it all for more and more... Don't you see that there is only two paths left for you now?”
Shen twist around about to draw his blade but saw a spark of light from Gale's eyes. “So this is the moment she spoke of... The path changed so slightly...”
“You done so many bad things because of the darkness that grew in you, there a chance that you could find that light Shen...”
Discord appears behind them, Po and Alpha turn to him, he didn't say a word just looking at Shen. “I see...”
Alpha sighed seeing the blades appearing from the sleeve. “Lord Gale, you said you piece let's go... Leave this for Po to deal with.” Gale sighed without a word turning around walking up to Alpha raising his talon out to him, he took it with the paw hand. “Discord take us to the pier...”
Discord looked down at them and over at Shen. “There is no black and white, only grey.” He said and with a snap of the lion paw they vanished leaving only Po with Shen.
“Now what will you do Shen?”
Shen looked around breathing in and out steadily drawing four more blades tossing one that land in front of Po. “I took everything away from you and yet you found peace... I first do not know how but now I do... Take the blade, give it to the griffon and tell him...”
“Thank you for trying to reach into my darken heart, the spark of light is faint but it can't change what I am or who I am...”
Po picked up realising what Shen was about to do. “Sh-”
“Go panda, get out of here now!” He toss the blades in six directions cutting the rope by a single thread each, the sudden cut cause the cannon remains to shift downwards slightly.
Po nods. “For what it worth, you changed your fate...” Po turn and runs.
Shen put his wing arms into the sleeves as each rope snaps and the cannon remains start to fall. “So this is what it feels to be at peace at one self?” He closed his eyes as he let the hands of destiny take the cause he choose.
Po leaps off the ship just as the cannon hits the deck with a chain of explosions set him flying into the water, the others watch hoping he is alright to get their answer when he surface. The residents of the city cheer in delight as Tigress put her paw hand out, he takes it and helped out of the water.
“That was pretty hard core.” She smiled and he gave her a hug causing Tigress to freeze up, Crane beak drops and the others stare in shock, Po realises and let go of Tigress. Monkey quickly jump hug him as so does the others.
Shifu step up to him. “It seems you have found inner peace and at such a young age.”
Gale, Discord and Alpha watch from afar and the fireworks go off. “Well that was anticlimactic... How did you sway Shen like that?” Discord asked as they watched the fireworks.
Gale sitting on the wall holding the puzzle sphere watching the colourful blasts. “I just spoke to him, but I was hoping he would take the other option.”
Alpha leaning on the wall glaze at the mallet beside him for a second before looking back at the ying-yang firework blast appear. “Sometimes destiny can not be changed no matter how hard you try to change it Lord Gale.”
“I changed yours.” Gale turn to Alpha. “Didn't I?”
“Yes you did and I am glad you did.” Alpha nod.
Soothsayer step up to them. “I am glad I caught you before you've left.” They turn to her. “Alpha your story continues because of Gale, I believe you should go with him.”
“What?”
“I believe you should go with Gale back to Dream Cavern, unless you want to spend the rest of your days in jail here in Goneman City.” Soothsayer stated.
Gale blinked. “Why? He helped save Goneman City?”
Soothsayer tap Alpha's black nose causing him to lick it. “Because he did a lot of bad things for the last 30 years, also one secert he holds can not be told to the panda, not yet anyway.”
Discord raise a eye. “And that be?”
Alpha put his paw hand over the closed eye. “I speared his father.”
Discord raised eye turn to startled look. “Well I wasn't expecting that...”
Soothsayer look over to her right. “Gale go before Po and the others come, I will explain to them.”
Gale jump off the wall. “Alpha will you come with us?”
Alpha look to the Soothsayer and back to Gale. “She helped change my destiny, I own her that much and I am loyal to you Lord Gale.” He knelt down to Gale with his head down. “I will go with you, sir.”
“Can you tell the others we see them again some day?”
“I will.” Soothsayer step back as Gale turn the rings around to the circle discs, the puzzle sphere at 195 makes a unlock sound, in a burst of bluish white cloud with lightning surrounding them they were gone as soon as it disburst before her eyes.
Po appeared up the steps gasping for air. “Soothsayer I... I hoping you seen Gale.”
“I did but you just missed him, they gone back home.” Soothsayer turn to Po. “Hold on to that and give it to him whenever he returns.” She hints to the feather blade held in his right hand paw.
“Aw come on!” Po groans.
In the Dream Randomiser Chamber Blue leaning against the wall still noticed the bluish white blast of energy come down. “Their adventure already over? It only been 30 minutes...” Blue push off the wall walking to the platform to see Gale, Discord and- “Master Gale who is that?”
Gale step off the platform. “This is Alpha, his a wolf from the dream adventure we had! It was a fun four days!”
“Did you say four days?”
“Yep!” Gale drop down on all fours shaking himself a bit. “Alpha I like you to meet Blue, is a jackal diamond dog and the guardian of Dream Cavern.”
Alpha step off the platform with his eye looking around before settling on Blue. “Your a strange looking dog.”
“As you are.” Blue respondd.
“Can you show him around?” Gale pull a chip out of the console placing it in a metal case. “And put this in the memory storage so we can go back to that dream adventure at another time?”
Blue took the case from him. “As you wish Master Gale, hope you enjoy your day.”
Gale nods. “I will! I got to tell mum all about this awesome dream adventure! Bye!” With that Gale vanish in a burst of particles before them.
Alpha finally realized something. “He was naked...You all are... He was standing on all fours...”
“Indeed, there is a fair few things to explain since Master Gale woken up.” Blue put the metal case into a slot on the wall.
Discord yawned walking by them. “For me I am getting some zzzzs, this dream form of myself need it rest, stone or not I need it.” Discord walk off down the corridor.
“Why are you all naked and I don't see any-”
Blue cuts him off. “Don't think hard on it and accept magic as the answer to your question, it much simpler.” Blue waves him to follow. “Come Alpha.”
Alpha follows him down the corridor. “Maybe Soothsayer was wrong, I should of died by the wing of Shen...”
“There must have been a reason for you to come, Gale wouldn't let a creation of his imagination from a dream adventure come back otherwise.” Blue calmly replied.
“Sound like your talking in my head...”
“In a way I am and...” They step out through the waterfall entrance. “Welcome to Dream Cavern your new home.”
Alpha jaw drops at the beauty of the cavern that he was in, the crystal lighting to the forest, fields, flowers, rivers and the few buildings that are in his view alone. “Okay...I take all that back and I'll accept magic as the answer to it all..”
Balcony window doors open with Gale standing outside watching the sun rise, in the distance he noticed Ponyville was under heavy construction, he looked up to the tower and flew up to it, walking inside to use the telescope to see it up close, when Gale did he was surprised by the amount of damage homes.
Gale turn it down to the tower house Gilda staying at to see her coming out of the door, she flying towards the castle. “Gilda, wake?” He whispered to himself moving away from the telescope, Gale jump onto the window ledge looking down to see Gilda had entered the castle.
Gale flew back down to his room's balcony, landing on it he closed the window doors walk to the bed getting his plush, he walk up to the bedroom doors opening them to have the two guards salute to him in response. “Morning Prince Gale, going to the dining room for breakfast?”
“Yes, please.” Gale nods, the guard turn heading down the stairs with the teen following as the other guard close the doors.
They arrive at the doors, the unicorn guard lets him in to be met with Sunbeam. “Morning Prince Gale, Gilda is in the kitchen at the moment making breakfast.”
Gale walk inside, the doors close. “Gilda is... Erm... Breakfast?” Gale tilt his head with curiousity.
“I am curious at what she cooking up too, why not take a seat and have some tea.” Sunbeam put her hoof out to the table, Cadance already sitting down at it. “Princess Cadance arrived a short time before you did.”
Gale nods walking up to the table putting his plush down on it. “M-mo-mor... Hi Cady.”
Cadance using her magic to pour in the hot tea, milk and sugar into the cup mixing it. “Morning Gale and a good attempt, you are picking up on words fast, keep it up cousin.”
Gale sat down. “Okay!” Gale took the cup blowing at it a few times before taking a sip of it. “Erm... say... sleep...”
“You want to tell me about your dream?” Cadance clarified.
“Yes!” Gale responds happily.
Cadance using her magic to bring over a few sheets of paper and quill to him. “While we wait for breakfast show or write it down for me.” Gale nods a few times rapidly with excitement taking the quill and sheets of paper from her magic, she felt the disconnect instantly he took them. “So that how Aunty Celestia feels when Gale touch her magic with his talons...” She whispers as Gale started to scribble on the paper.
Each page Gale complete he gave back to Cadance, she read to look at doodles drawings of his dream adventure with Discord which surprised her seeing the chaotic being in this dream, the other thing caught her attention was the characters in the dream adventure, they were anthropomorphic animals of all sizes to birds and insects.
“This is incredible, I never had such a vivid dream like this, the characters feel as if they are very much real as we are to this very villain called Shen, must say for a peacock that look so beautiful could be so evil... Guess you can't judge one by just looks alone hmm?”
“Yes... He... Mean things...”
Cadance noticed one of them showing Discord quickly covering Gale to shield him from a massive chain of explosions from three step by step scenes. “Discord protected you after Alpha told him to act quickly?” Gale nods.
“Discord?” They turn to see Luna walk into the room. “What is this of Discord?”
Cadance showed the pages to Luna. “Gale had a dream adventure with Discord in this world of Kung Fu, during the climax of the dream it seem Gale was in danger and Discord acted with word from this wolf called Alpha to protect Gale, which he did.”
Luna look through the pages quickly. “I had a feeling Gale would have a dream of Discord.” Luna look over to Gale. “What you created of Discord is nothing but false, he never would do such a thing as this.”
Gale blinked. “Q sleep, he.... Cavern.”
Luna stared. “Q? Cavern?” Then it hit her. “I... See...” Luna gave the papers back to Gale. “That would make a good story to share with your mum when she comes home later on today.” Gale squawks happily taking them and hug her.
Luna returned it. “Breakfast is served you dweebs!” They all turn around to the kitchen door into the dining room, Gilda had kick the door open with her hind paw walking in on her paws holding a wide tray full of scones on it. “Better be in the mood for Griffon Scones cause that all you getting from me this breakfast!” She placed it down on the table causing the long table to vibrate.
“You cooked?” Luna raise a eye brow.
Gilda growls slightly. “Yes I did! Got a problem with a griffon cooking this lame breakfast!?”
“Not at all.” Luna said calmly back to her. “I am just surprised to see that you've made breakfast.”
Gilda took a few placing on a plate as ponies walk in with butter on plates placing them down at their seats before leaving. “Celestia's damn small print in the contract is the main reason, she trolled me! Me! That crafty pony, she good reeeaaal good and it awesome to see a pony like her to do it even I am annoyed.” She spoke with annoyance towards amusement smile.
“Indeed...” Luna took a few herself taking a sniff of one. “These smell good.”
“Yum!” Gale already had took one and put the whole thing in his beak munching happily on it.
Gilda bit into her own and gave a wide eye surprise. “Wow those cooks wasn't joshing me! Baking powder really did these wonders!” Gilda happily munched on her own.
Cadance cut one open to spread some butter in it. “You never used baking powder before?”
“Nope.” Gilda said with a partly mouth full of scone.
Cadance took a bite out of hers. “Hmm, these are the best scones I ever had, I take my crown off to you Gilda, these are really something, you might even rival Aunty Celestia's pancakes.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Whatever Cady, I am just doing this WHEN Princess Celestia isn't around when I am, all in the contract I signed.” Gilda replied.
Luna ate her third. “You sound very prideful.”
“You bet I am!” Gilda puffed her chest. “I bet... I... Am...” She slowly said the words looking over to Gale as he continue to eat the scones with joy, his wings fluffing out slightly showing that very joy. “That cub... ” She muttered under her breath, Gale glance at her. “Big sister...” She grumbled feeling that connection was growing every moment they spent together.
That chain of thought broke when the doors open with a guard stepping in. “Rarity Belle of Ponyville have arrived.” He step to the side and Rarity walks into the dining room.
“Morning Princesses, Prince, Gilda.” She bow her head slightly. “I've arrived as requested by Princess Celestia yesterday for making outfits for the Grand Galloping Gala for Gilda and Gale.”
They all looked at each other with scones in their mouths, they ll swallowed at the same time and Luna waved her a wing for Rarity to come up to the table. “This is the first I've heard of this Miss Belle, Celestia could of sent a message to us-me last night...”
“Trollestia.” Gilda coughed into her talon.
Luna glared at Gilda and Cadance giggled. “What was that darling?” Rarity didn't quite hear what Gilda said but the reaction from the princesses got her curious.
“Celestia kept everyone in the dark, not cool at all.” Gilda said with a blow up at her head feathers, Rarity raise a eye brow slightly knowing Gilda just internally avoid repeating what she just said.
“Indeed...” Luna still giving Gilda a narrow gaze. “I would be interested in what you create for Gale and Gilda but I have to get some much needed sleep.”
“After checking in at the Dream Cavern...”
Luna picked up a few more scones drinking her tea, putting the cup down. “Thank you for breakfast Gilda, I bid you all a good day.” Luna yawns and leaves the dining room.
Rarity watch Luna leave. “Princess Luna looks different to when I first saw her...”
Cadance clarified the reason. “As her magic returns so does Aunt Luna's true self before she became Nightmare Moon from what Aunt Celestia told me.”
“Rare, eat?” Gale present a plate of scones to Rarity.
Rarity looked upon them. “I believe I could have something to eat before we get started.” She using her magic to take a scone and eat it. “My word these are amazing.”
Gilda ate another without a word with the other talon pressing against the side of her face not impressed they were enjoying her scones. “Gilda made them.” Cadance looked over at the unimpressed griffon. “I believe she doesn't like high positive praises.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I don't mind them, just don't get why all of you freaking out over scones I made, they never sell well in Griffonstone.” She sounded a bit out of place talking about it.
Cadance turn to Gilda. “You did say you never made them with baking powder before, maybe that the reason.” Cadance responded.
Gilda's eyes shift slightly as she push off the talon against her face with a realisation. “Yes...” Gilda thought of how a way to prove it wasn't the baking powder why her scones didn't sell well in Griffonstone. “Okay Cady if my scones sell well back home this weekend you name your poison.”
“Making a bet with me?” Cadance slyly smirked.
“Yes!” Gilda got up from her seat walking over to Cadance with her talon closed up.
Cadance tap her hoof against the closed fist. “If you win you also get to name your poison.” Cadance finished drinking her tea. “I got some daily court sessions to attend for Aunt Celestia today, I enjoy seeing what you create for Gale and Gilda.”
Rarity bow her head. “Of course Princess.” Cadance gets up and leaves the dining room.
Sunbeam walked up to them with a salute. “I just got word that you have permission to use the Canterlot Castle Suitor Suite ma'am, it will have everything you will need in there.” Sunbeam present the scroll to Rarity. “I can show you all the way once you've finished breakfast.”
A door opens into the suite, Sunbeam walk in with Rarity, Gale and Gilda, the room had mannequins of ponies, zebras, minotaurs and griffons to Gale's and Gilda's surprise to see this, the room was large and round with a main circle stage in the middle with a sewing machine by a wall with rolls of fabrics, needles, pins and other accessories.
Rarity quickly moving around taking a look at each area. “I couldn't possibly work in here! This is for the royal suitors! It got everything I need and more but-” She gasped. “Is that a walk in store room!?”
Sunbeam whistled. “I heard of this place from the captain but never seen it, got to say it impressive.” She took a good look around, looking out of a window she could see the gardens in the distance. “Nice view too.” Sunbeam turn to Rarity. “Princess Celestia left this for me to open on your arrival, she stated that you have full complete access to the suite and work to your heart's content to make their suits for the gala.”
“Suits?” Rarity peer out from the store room. “I believe a suit for Gale but Gilda I think I got a d-”
Gilda instantly spoke up growling slightly. “You try to make or put me in a dress and that thing is torn to pieces!”
Rarity instantly put her front hooves up in defence. “Okay darling no dress, you just had to say not snap.”
Gilda groans rubbing her forehead with the claws. “Look dweeb I just hate those things, I am not the girly type, I might look like it with my feather markings around my eyes but that just natural not some girly rubbish over my face, it all natural awesomeness!”
“And quite so.” Rarity smiled using her magic to put on a pair of red coloured frame glasses. “Now shall we get to work? I am soooo inspired!”
Gale shrugs as Gilda glance at him. “Sure knock yourself out.” Gilda replied.
Gale's ears perked and twisted as heard music started to play as Rarity started to take measurements from both of them, writing it down on a pad to drawing sketches. “Music?” Gale tilted his head.“Music no see.” Gale's head turning to left and right trying to figure out where the music was coming from.
Gilda slap her forehead. “We in for a magical spontaneous song...”
Gale looking around as Rarity starts to sing as she started work on white fabric.
Thread by thread, stitching it together[/i Gilda's suit, cutting out the pattern snip by snip Making sure the fabric folds nicely It's the perfect colour and so hip Always gotta keep in mind my pacing Making sure the clothes' correctly facing I'm stitching Gilda's suit
Gale watched as Rarity sung and making the shirt and suit till everything seem to spin, he squawked in alarm holding onto a roll of fabric and Rarity taking it off him with her magic, Gilda just staring at the scene happening before them.
Yard by yard, fussing on the details Jewel neckline, don't you know a stitch in times saves nine? Make him perfect to inspire Even though he doesn't know formal attire Gotta mind those intimate details. Even though he's more curious of the world It's Gale's new suit
Rarity takes another and another of the rolls, she put together the suit and shirt adding a bandanna to the griffon mannequin, she walk forwards with the plain ones moving around her as she continue to sing, they start dancing around her spinning as they circled, Gale was getting overwhelmed and confused by everything that was happening so suddenly.
Dressmaking's easy, for Gale something black Gilda something breezy Blend colour and form. (She turn to Gale) Do you think it looks cheesy? Gale give a short squawk and shrugs with confusion mounting by the second as she drew out some more detailed designs and asked the question as a sung.
Something brash, perhaps quite fetching Hook and eye, couldn't you just simply die? Making sure it fits forelock and crest Don't forget some magic in the suit Even though I rides high on the flank Gilda won't look like a tank I'm stitching Gilda's suit
Gilda watched Rarity put together a blue feathered band on the mannequin griffon head as the suit had two tail ends resting over the flank of it, she wasn't sure how exactly to think, feel or say what Rarity sung.
Piece by piece, snip by snip Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip Thread by thread, primed and pressed Yard by yard, never stressed And that's the art of the suits!
Rarity finished making them, ironed them out with a iron and spin around on her hind legs looking up with forelegs aim upwards with scissors, threads, rolls, tape-measure, needles, glue, pins and mannequins spinning around her from the use of the magic.
The music ends and they are put back in place, Gale was scanning the room looking inside draws to unrolling some fabric trying to pin point the music as it fades away, Gilda's right eye twitching as Rarity land back down on her front hooves. “You ponies and your random magical spontaneous songs...”
Rarity took off her glasses. “Do you not like the suits?”
“Your asking that after your little sing song?” Gilda growled. “Look at Gale!” She point over to the teenager looking around behind a mirror now. “He never seen or heard of Equestria's crazy magical randomness singing, heck I still can't get my head around it too!”
“It just part of the magic darling.” Rarity said calmly to Gilda, the adult griffon just slap her forehead shaking the head side to side with a groan. “Prince Gale please come here, I like you to try your new suit on.” Rarity came up with a idea to distract him away from what just happened with the song.
Gale peered over one of the mannequins. “Music?”
“No music darling.” Gale rubbed his head in confusion. “This is your suit.” Gale curiosity about the new outfit now caught his attention drawing him away from his search for the hidden music.
Gale jumped over the mannequin and walked up to the suit, he looked at it curiously, placing the plush down on the table he somehow knew how to put on the shirt and suit on even it took some creative effort to get the wings through the wing holes, putting the bandanna on he took a look at himself in the mirror.
“Awesome! Yay!” He liked how he look with it on. “Gilda! Awesome?”
Gilda nods. “Yes you are and got to admit this doesn't look half bad on me too.” Gilda had put hers on. “Not sure with the blue band on my head though, I think we can skip that.” She took it off throwing it onto the table side. “Other than that, it look formal and roomy at the same time, not bad at all.”
“I am glad you two like them.” Rarity said with giddiness.
Gale's attention turned from what he was wearing to pin pointing the music he remembered being played, seeing pins and string he came up with a idea. “Music... Find...” He took them. “Use to find.”
Gilda noticed that look. “Rares...”
“Oooo I got so many ideas how to make mine and my friends dresses for the gala!”
“Rares.” Gilda said slightly louder as she watch Gale start to pin string to walls and to the floor near Rarity.
Rarity still didn't notice. “When my shop is repaired I can get started right away on designing mine! Ooooo the ideas!” She said with glee.
“RARITY!” Gilda screamed out.
“What is it dar-” Rarity turn to Gilda. “-ling...” She saw Gale looking hunger for answers. “Oh my this isn't going to end well...”
Gilda narrow gaze fell upon Rarity. “You and you ponies magical spontaneous singing...” Rarity laughs nervously as Gale continue to pin string all over the place...
Sometime later Cadance came up to the door, Sunbeam smiling and saluted. “What made you so happy Sunbeam?”
“You have to see for yourself Princess, I couldn't stop it and well... Let say Gale experienced his first musical magical song.” Sunbeam giggled.
Cadance raise a eye and open the door to be greeted by a mass of string webbed around, tangled in it in the air before her eyes were Gilda and Rarity. “Oh my...” She saw Gale flying around looking and thinking hard trying to solve the location of the music came from.
“Please help us Princess!” Rarity plended.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I am soooo glad Griffonstone banned this type of singing...” She hung upside down with forelegs crossed.
Cadance raise her head looking up to Gale coming up with a quick idea that would work since it did with Twilight when she got into this kind of state. “Cousin, how about you come with me for some ice cream and I explain?”
Gale look down over to the door. “Yes? Find?”
“Indeed, come on let's get some ice cream and I will explain how our magical musical singing works.” Cadance repeated calmly to Gale.
“Yay!” Gale flew down to her picking up his plush from the table side.
Cadance turn to Sunbeam. “Help them down please and do not worry about Gale, he be with me all the time.” Sunbeam nods and they leave.
Rarity blinked a few times. “Is that all we had to do to stop this madness!?”
“Yeah it sucks... Dweeb... Suck it up and be glad he showing off your design to Canterlot, I am sure some snobby pony will notice...” Gilda rolled her eyes.
“Really!?”
“Yes... Rares... Really...”
“Maybe this madness isn't so bad...”
“Yay...” Gilda gave a sarcastic reply. “Just next time avoid singing in front of Gale! Please of all love of Grover never sing again in front of him!”
Rarity nods. “Duly noted...”
Sunbeam walk inside almost laughing. “Now, how do I get you two out of this mess?”
Note: How do you readers think Cadance be able to explain this one to Gale?
Walking away from the castle gates down the streets to the Canterlot Parks, Gale adjusted the plush in his bag as he walked with Cadance, he noticed the guards walking in distance to many standing guard keeping a watchful eye of the surrounding area, Gale noticed the cart with the ponish words 'Ice Cream' on it with a picture of one.
“Th-th-tha... It?”
Cadance hummed. “Indeed that is it Gale.” Gale ran ahead of her to it as the young fillies and colts finished being served, their parents paid and they walked away.
The orange unicorn with dark orange mane and tail wearing a white hat with matching apron, his light blue eyes fell upon Gale as he came to a stop before him looking very excited. “Well well well isn't this a surprise, the young prince stand eager to have a ice cream?”
“Yes.” Gale turn to Cadance as she approach. “Cady!”
Cadance giggled. “Yes I know we getting some ice cream.” She turn her attention to the unicorn. “Sir I would like a ice cream each for myself and Gale please, which flavours do you have today?”
The orange unicorn using his magic bring up the black board. “I have these flavours today Princess Cadance.”
Cadance put her wing behind Gale's back. “Have a look Gale and pick which flavour you would like.”
Gale step up towards it placing the claw under his beak with the index over the side of it, with a thoughtful look he read in his mind all the flavours vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, raspberry, banana, mint and he stopped at one of the lines. He remove his talon from the beak poking the line with his claw. “Lemon Ice!”
“That says lemon flavour ice cream n-”
“Lemon Ice! Lemon Ice!” He poke it over and over again.
Cadance shook her head. “Cubs be cubs, can I have the 'Lemon Ice' Please?”
The unicorn raise a questionable look but Cadance gave him the hint to go with it with a saddle nod. “One Lemon erm... Ice coming right up.” He brought up the cone and scoop, he put two scoops of yellow colour ice cream on it and Gale takes it out of his magic grasp.
Cadance give him the two bits for it, she saw how thrilled Gale looked as he studies it at first, he was hesitating to try it. “Go on it going to melt all over your talon.”
Gale stuck his tongue out and licked it, he gasped with joy wings flapping a few times as he took off the ground squawking happily as he gave it a more joyful lick followed by a soft gleeful squawk, he lands on his paws and free talon continue to lick it with joy as memories of having it in the past at a pier sticking out of a beach side theme park was in view behind him.
The memory he recalled suddenly was important to him but the ice cream of joy had was also. “Lemon Ice! Yay! Yummy!”
“I was going to pull that...” The unicorn was surprised by the reaction.
“Why?” Cadance curiously asked.
The unicorn cleaning the scoop with a cloth. “I never sold any of that flavour in the last month since I thought about creating it, no point keeping something that doesn't sell.” He turn to Gale. “But the prince, seeing that joy is the reason I do this.” He gave a warm smile. “So I will keep selling it.”
Cadance look to the board. “I'll have one too.” He nods and make one for her, she give him the bits for the ice cream, Cadance gave a lick and surprised at the taste. “Wow, no wonder he likes this, it really good, tangy, tasty and got a sweet kick to it.”
He bows to them. “I am pleased to see you two love my lemon fl-”
“Lemon Ice!” Gale instantly bloated out.
“I believe it shall be called from this day fourth as Lemon Ice.” Cadance giggled.
The ice cream pony rubbed out the word and replaced it with the new one. “Shall it will, enjoy your day.” He bow again and they leave walking to the park. “Lemon Ice... Lemon Ice... Lemon Ice... Wow so simple and roll off the tongue, why didn't I think of that?” He got a tug from a filly. “Yes little one?”
“Can I try this lemon ice pretty please?” She asked.
He smiled. “Sure little filly, that be two bits please.”
Gale walked into the park jumping up on the bench sitting on it with his back resting against it with his hind legs out in front, wings pressed and tail swishing around behind the gap, Cadance sat down beside him with hind legs tuck under her with forelegs over the edge as she held her ice cream with the magic. “Ready to learn about how the magic of spontaneous singing happen with music?”
Gale licking his ice cream nods as he curiously watch some of the five to seven year old fillies and colts playing a game of kicking the ball to each other, others playing on swings to a roundabout or even a tire swing. “Music... Learn, how?”
Cadance lick some of her ice cream. “Yes.”
“Okay!” Gale eager to listen on how music happens when the spontaneous singing happens.
Cadance thought for a moment about the string Gale had pinned around the room. “There been many questions and many theories through out history on the subject, one good example to this magical music effect seem to surround the one that starts singing as you showed in the Suitor Suite...” She paused. “Why did Aunt Celestia name that room Suitor Suite and not Tailor Suite?”
Gale raise a eye in mid pause licking the ice cream.
“Sorry getting off topic.” She giggled. “Your string showed a good example of that theory of thermometric magical energy that in the air all around us in Equestria and beyond it borders.” Cadance using her magic to form aura magical pockets around them reshaping by her command. “This also could have effect on others around to get into song and even know what to say without even knowing the words that just randomly created, did you feel that pull when Rarity was singing?”
Gale shift his eyes upwards thinking about it and recall that moment she sung a question directly to him, he did feel a compulsion to respond and did. “Yes... Rares... Question sung me...”
“That would be the effect of the song coming over you to be part of it, even for a second or two.” Cadance said. “It also conveniently used for that reason in plays and movies, if you go to a musical the whole play is nothing but song even there is ponies playing the music on purpose.”
Gale listened intently.
“Other than that the magical energy created by the song about to happy cause the music to magically play out of thin air, even some cases ponies with instruments get involved too, also dancing in beat to it too before going to their own business once more as if never interfered with the day to day life.”
Gale tilt his head. “Ponies love music, dance and song?”
“For the most part yes and we all can carry a tune when it happens, other than outside it... Not so much, also if I recall those that can't speak well seem to magically just can when they break into song.” She rubbed a hoof under her muzzle. “That something no pony ever figured out but just became part of life when it happen.”
Gale look to the ice cream, around the park and back to Cadance. “Plot story?”
“Indeed musicals does that, it sort of help ponies do things that they are creating to do it with pure inspiring effect of their talents too, festivals tend to do it too, I recall it happening during a Summer Sun Celebration a few years back, they sang and danced as I watched it happen, they loved every moment of it.” Cadance replied and Gale thought back to the pleasant memories of the pier with his eyes closed, he could recall the music playing from the load speakers on the pier.
Gale's eyes snap open, he could hear the music from his memories all around him getting louder, a sudden strange feeling was coming over him, in panic he looked around quickly trying to figure out how to stop it from happening, he didn't want to just burst into singing, Gale recalling of his mum's words about his magic and not to use it without learning to control it first.
The drip of a cold yellowish creamy liquid on his talon drew Gale's attention to the Lemon Ice, he remembered what happened if someone eats ice cream too fast, this was the only action Gale could think of, without a second thought the beak went down over a chuck of the ice cream and with a hard swallow the sharp pain came to the side of his head.
Squawking in pain holding the side of his head with the free talon eyes shrunk to pin picks he was suffering from a very sharp brain freeze, the result he hoped for did come as the music fades and the strange feeling in him also sharply withdrew. “Gale why did you just eat a chuck of that ice cream?”
Gale turn to Cadance with terry eyes. “Magic... Music... Singing... Stop...”
“You did it to stop yourself from going into spontaneous singing?” Cadance was startled. “Why?”
“Mum... no want... misuse magic...” Gale was rubbing his head trying to get rid of the headache he caused himself.
Trace back as a pony suddenly spoke up as he and Amber the anthropomorphic cat came up to them holding their own ice creams, one in magic the other in paw hand. “A rash but understandable move when your mother said that, I did explain to her Gale would take it at face value and seriously.”
“So it true that Gale does take things at face value?” Cadance point to Gale with her wing. “What wrong with him going into song though?”
“Princess Cadance think about his pure magic, who knows what kind of effect a magical musical from him could have on any of us.” Amber said turning to Trace. “Do you thing sweat pea.”
Cadance thought about it and saw what Amber meant. “You have a valid point...”
Trace nods with his glowing horn tap Gale's head, the pain suddenly faded. “Pain... Not so much...” Gale felt better.
Cadance took into account the pure magic that was still in Trace and how he switch between pony and griffon. “Your magic works on Gale now doesn't it?”
“Indeed, your duties make it quick for you to forget doesn't it Princess?” Trace lick part of his ice cream, Cadance face hoof remembering that Trace's unusual situation allowed him to use magic on Gale now.
“I am also the prince's GP, so I am able to use healing magic on the youngster outside of the hospital.” Trace now turn his attention back to Gale. “Your action was sharp and sudden, I know you were scared of your magic's effect on us all through song, it will happen again and you won't have a ice cream to stop yourself.”
Gale gulped nervously at the idea he couldn't stop it. “Do not worry about that cub, now tell me how come your wearing such a smart suit?” Amber asked looking up and down at the teen.
Before the young griffon could say anything a new voice speaks up. “That is the most spectator suit I have ever seen! Even on a griffon no less it look superb!” They all turn to source of the voice being a grey earth pony with a paper fan cuite mark, wearing purple shades with a white and grey swirly mane and tail.
He also had a vest collar on with a red scarf cloth between it in the front, hoof cuffs on the forelegs just above each hoof, Cadance knew how he was instantly. “Hoity Toity how is your day?”
“Dull and boring till I saw this young prince wearing such a fine superb suit! I had to come right over and ask who made this delightful suit.” He examining the suit taking a good look at it up close.
Gale turn to Cadance with confusion. “This is Hoity Toity, he one of the top fashion designers here in Canterlot, the suit Rarity made you caught his attention and all he will do is examine it with absolute care.”
“Okay...” Gale just went back to licking his ice cream just letting this weird pony look over at his suit.
Hoity Toity step back a few steps. “Rarity hmm? I heard of her, she has a boutique in Ponyville correct?”
Amber answers. “That what I know of, she been interested in making me a dress, never done one on a cat like me before.” She chuckled. “I still got to respond, why not when you go there give me a hollow and we head there together hon? Amber the name and Trace here is my husband.”
He lower the shades slight looking at the orange anthropomorphic cat. “Hmm... A interesting challenge, if she make suits like this I beg to wonder how her dresses will come out, you have a deal ma'am.” Hoity Toity turn to see Fancy Pants waving his hoof. “I have to go, my friend is waiting I do not want to keep him waiting, ta ta for now.” Hoity Toity leaves.
“That just happened.” Amber chuckled.
“Indeed...” Trace responded glancing to the crystal on a strap on the foreleg. “Tomorrow I be back as a griffon.”
Gale tilt his head. “Pony? Griffon? Pony? You no get confused?”
“Oh I do Prince Gale, it my fault as I said before.” He look to the crystal on the foreleg. “Well we got things to do, glad we were around to help and to get that interesting exchange, don't be a stranger okay Prince Gale?” Gale nod waving his free talon.
Amber knelt down. “Don't worry about singing, sooner or later it will happen, when it does make sure it a cheery and beautiful song okay?”
“Okay, Ambey!”
“Take care Gale.” She rubbed the free paw hand over his feathered head getting a laugh from Gale and the Abyssinian leaves with Trace.
Cadance giggled. “That was eventful, just don't do that again okay?”
Gale nods. “Brain freeze hurt... No do again...”
“A good idea Gale, just don't go to extremes to stop the magic in you, it could be more harmful in that way than good, one way or the other we will help you to get that under control, that I promise.” Cadance warmly said to Gale.
“Okay Cady!”
Cadance gave Gale a curious look as he lick the ice cream just enjoying the weather and wanting to just chill out, he felt that magical moment she was certain of. “I wonder what kind of song he was going to sing? Maybe he will later on, I would love to be there when it happens.” Cadance whispered to herself and lick her Lemon Ice.
As they enjoyed their ice creams not to far the orange unicorn now farcically selling lemon flavoured ice creams.
A door on the cavern wall inside the forest of the Dream Cavern opens, Luna step through it using her magic to close it behind her and took in the beauty of the cavern every time she has been in it, she closed her eyes using the magic to discover there was now three forms in the cavern, two being dream magic based but the third was no doubt to her own thoughts were Discord.
Luna noticed it was semi dark in the cavern which meant it was simulating night time at the moment. “That must be Discord.” Her turquoise eyes shift around to pin point the three forms, Luna sensed they were all in one area of the cavern.
As Luna walk towards it down the forest path she were unaware of a pair of red eyes above her watching carefully, Blue knelt down on the branch with his right paw hand resting on the branch in front of the feet paws, the four locks on his head vibrating using the power in him to fake his energy at his and the others homes.
Luna walking by the lake up to the river saw the crystal on the ceiling shimmering in a night colour light of the moon. “Impressive, a night and day cycle.” Blue hoping from tree branch to branch following her in silence.
Luna found a what seem to be a natural formation slope leading up to a cliff side, walking up to it she saw a large open cave tunnel and within it was a set of smaller entrances, Luna looked up seeing smaller crystals lit up. “Hmm...” She saw that each entrance lead up smooth carved out stair wells leading to a wooden door on each.
Blue watched her stop at one seeing it twist around with the door after the twisted stair well hanging upside down with a warped colour scheme door, Luna walked up the stairs finding that gravity twisted with the steps till Luna was upside down at the door. “This must be Discord's...” She used her magic to pull the handle down and open it.
When it opened she only saw a stony cave wall behind it. “What kind of-” Next thing she saw was a dazzling of stars and the scenery shifted to a large open area, Luna was standing on some sort of circle white platform. “-Tricky?” She looked around.
Luna slowly and carefully walked towards the edge of the circle platform, she could see other platforms with equally sized plates directly above the platforms beaming with light with a glowing ring around the edges, when Luna reach the edge she bumped into a invisible wall that became viable from the impact for a few seconds.
Luna shook her head from the impact, she place the hoof on the shield that lit up again. “This is one of the Dream Walker magical defences against other Dream Walkers... fake signatures, doors leading to displacements in cells trapped till other Dream Walker returns or Dream Guardian...” Luna said to herself out loud realising that she just fell for the very defences she'd created in her spell book.
“Indeed Mistress Luna, this is your very own magical defences that Master Gale put into effect.” Blue came into view from a dark part of the cavern, he calmly walking up to the shield, placing his hand paw on it the shield disappears. “I have been following you since your arrival in Dream Cavern, Discord's door works but only for me, Master Gale and Discord, for others this is the result.”
Luna step off the platform and the shield went back up. “I promise you Blue, I only came to talk to him, ask why he aided my nephew during their adventure.”
Blue wave Luna to follow, she walk up to his right and walk away from the cells. “From what I gathered from Master Gale's point of view, Discord seem conflicted.” Blue states as they walk down the narrowing path past the stair wells to the doors. “Yet he still can be aggravating at times, but I am to him as well.”
They step back out into the view of Dream Cavern. “How have you managed to aggravate the Lord of Chaos?”
“I simply agreed with him and respond with truths, his attempts had been less than successful.” Blue turn to Luna. “If you wish to speak to Discord still, he at Master Gale's house at the waterfall with Alpha, they are awaiting my return to continue our game of cards called Poker.”
Luna try to get a read off his red eyes, lack of body or facial movement. “Your playing defensive tactic as a Dream Guardian does, Discord most likely asleep in his room and the door to the place is inaccessible to me.”
One of Blue's eye lids lower slight while the other raised. “Mistress?”
“I will come back when my nephew sleeps, it be the best time to do so without another mishap to the defence wards that are in place.” Luna fires a beam causing a door to appear and open. “I am impressed that my nephew was able to set these defences to protect the realm, you are a well created Dream Guardian Blue.”
“That is true but I am being serious, you can join us Mistress Luna.”
Luna smiled. “No thank you, Blue. I will heard back to my own realm and get my much needed rest for tonight's duties, when Discord awake inform him I will coming by to talk, only talk.”
Blue stared without a motion of his body. “I will pass the message Mistress Luna, have a pleasant rest and please do not drop by unannounced again or I will personally have to act.”
“That you already did.” Luna walked through the door, it closed behind her and vanished.
Blue looked at the empty space. “That was rather confusing, short and confusing...” He leaped off the cliff side bouncing onto a branch to another, he lands before Gale's house around the large tree by the waterfall, he walk up to it putting the paw hand on the handle to open it.
Walking inside Blue look to his reflection of the full size mirror by the entrance, the right bent ear gave him a few seconds of wonder about how Gale gave him it when he was created. “No Luna?” Discord spoke up from the round table with Alpha to the right of him sitting there holding a glass mug of apple juice half empty.
Licking his chops Alpha chuckled. “I believe you own me five of those green chips Discord.”
Discord rolled his miss shaped eyes. “Yeah yeah you win one eye.” He place the green ones on Alpha's pile. “Now Mutt how about we get back to our game?”
Blue walked up and took a seat. “I told her the truth and she just didn't believe me.”
Discord gave him the deck. “Her loss, we could have had a nice chit chat while playing a game of poker with some dreamed up apple juice with these pawn cocktail crisps! Got to say Gale got some imagination for this stuff!” Discord put a few crisps into his mouth and chewed on them.
Alpha drunk a bit more of his drink. “I am getting the hang of this poker, even my whole life just a figment I do not care, Lord Gale gave me paradise!” He hiccuped slightly. “Hehe...”
Blue shuffled the cards dealing them out to each of them and himself. “I believe you are drunk Alpha, how exactly are you drunk from apple juice?”
Alpha chuckled again looking at this cup. “I think I am and who knows... Still sharp enough to play.”
Blue picked up a cup of water placing it on Alpha's side of the table. “Drink that and eat some of the pawn cocktail, it will ease your hangover in the morning.”
“Will do boss.” Alpha chuckled once more. “Now let's play!”
Discord picked up his cards. “I raise ten.” They toss their chips on the first chip placed.
Blue looked at his cards. “I will match and raise 20...” Blue turn to Discord. “Mistress Luna will be returning, there is a chance she will bring Mistress Celestia too.”
“I know and I am looking forward to it, now let's worry about that later and play shall we?”
Alpha throw down a few chips onto the pile. “I am *hic* with Dissy! I raise you two 50!”
“Dissy!?”
Blue smirked. “Well Dissy? Your going to call his bet?”
Discord groans and the two canines clap hand paws. “Why am I surrounded by smart mouthed mutts and put up with it?”
“Because we are imaginary friends.” Alpha laughed.
“And your having a good time.” Blue also laughed, Blue kept his guard up even he wasn't showing it, two days since Discord been in Dream Cavern and Alpha arriving just a short time ago, he was going to do what a Dream Guardian like himself do best.
Blue knew Alpha wasn't thinking clearly and using what said to add on the fun part was what he needed to keep the Lord of Chaos out of trouble till Master Gale goes to sleep, the return of Mistress Luna and possibly Mistress Celestia will be something that all eventuality outcomes were possible.
“Indeed you two are and yes I am.” Discord raise his glass up and they did too clanging them together, Discord drunk a little and throw the chips down. “Now I call.”
Celestia pasting back and forwards in front of the door leading into Dream Cavern, Luna watched her elder sister in the stellar realm of doors to creatures dreams in Equestria, since Celestia found out from Gale in his rough writing and drawings about the dream adventure with the REAL DEAL Discord, she been going over so many thoughts in her mind about the fact his dream form is in her son's dream realm Dream Cavern.
“Celestia I do not like the fact this is happening but it is, this time we are all on a equal playing field and Gale your son is the one with the power.”
Celestia stop pasting and turn around to Luna. “It's unnerving that he's been there for three nights now and has been on an adventure with Gale. Discord's act of protection, even if it was called out to him by Alpha, has stopped me from acting in an unrational manner.” Celestia turn around to the door. “Why haven't we gone in yet?”
“Because you are going to act in a unrational manner, even you said you won't.” Luna replied.
Celestia sighs. “Luna...”
“Don't Luna me Sister, your the reason for this mess in the first place.” Luna sharply said back to Celestia glaring at the older sister.
“What!?” Celestia turn around. “How can you say this is my fault!?”
Luna rolled her eyes. “One word... BOOK!”
Celestia's ears peel back and her gaze shifted away from Luna's eyes. “Oh... Yes... One act that caused a domino effect...”
“I do not know what domino means or what it is, but the act that caused this very moment to happen is to do with the book falling into the talons of my nephew, he created countermeasures against invading Dream Walkers, I fell for them and got myself captured till Blue freed me.” Luna explained her mishap.
“You got trapped by spells you made?” Celestia blinked.
Luna sighed. “Yes, I am or were the only Dream Walker, you caused that to change Sister.”
“And Discord by a random moment of one loose feather now residing in Dream Cavern on a subconscious level...” Celestia sat down on her rump seeing she caused the chain of events by one act. “Is there a chance that Discord could get him to use that magic?”
“No.”
“Just no?”
"Yes Celestia, no.”
“How can you be calm about it? You know what Discord can do, we both do!”
Luna gazed at the door. “Gale seem to be aware of the type of tricky one of chaos would use without their powers.” Luna told Celestia. “He calls Discord by the name of 'Q', which mean there must be a being from the past or fictional that has similar abilities, attitude and method of twisting words.”
Celestia slowly look to the door. “Fictional... Just like Blue was a fictional being from the tiny movie theatre box.”
“Movie theatre?”
“It a place that doesn't have ponies acting but did act on pre-recorded reels with image and sound, it been around for about twenty or so years now.” Celestia explained to Luna. “The one you spoke of from Gale's memories is just a tiny version of that.”
Luna walk up to the door. “I am curious about them, maybe one day I will get to see one of these movies.” She using her magic to grip the handle. “Ready?”
Celestia stood up taking a few deep breaths. “As ready I can be Luna...”
Luna opens the door and they walk through into Dream Cavern to be met instantly by Alpha the anthropomorphic wolf, his one reddish brown eye shifting slightly to Luna and to Celestia while holding a rather large stone mallet, he was wearing greyish black armour with one shoulder pad with spikes on it and rope around his waist and one arm, the other pad had a griffon symbol on it.
“Lady Celestia and Luna, welcome to Dream Cavern, I will be your escort to the Dream Randomiser Chamber, Lord Gale is current there working on some of the strange machines, he wishes to show you two something about his adventure to the lands I come from.” Alpha bow his head slightly with his free hand paw as a closed fist press against his chest.
“I gather Discord is with my son?” Celestia sounded tease as she asked the wolf.
The head rose his one eye locked on Celestia's own. “Yes, Lead Guardian Blue is keeping his eyes on the Lord of Chaos, even he showed honour I am aware of his tricky nature.” Alpha turn starting to walk down the forest path. “Follow.”
Celestia and Luna follows Alpha down the forest path. “Interesting wolf.” Luna whispered to Celestia.
“Indeed, still concerning that Discord currently with my son...” Celestia whispered back.
Luna felt uneasy about Discord too. “I agree but we are here as guests, even we have a serious distrust and wearness to Discord, it best try not to let our encounter with Discord get heated, Discord from what I am aware of from my senses, he is without chaos magic as you are with limited magic.”
Celestia tried using her magic to only get her levitation spell to work. “While you have yours in a limited form in the Dream Cavern, I and Discord have none of our main magic?”
“Correct, still you have your wits and he has his, so even he teases us, we need to keep calm and keep positive for Nephew Gale's sake.”
Celestia nods. “For Gale I will try my hardest, Luna.”
Alpha mutters under his breath. “I like this paradise, but this magical nakedness is still unsettling... Males is one thing but females...” He shivered slightly rolling his shoulders with the shudder.
“Something wrong Alpha?” Celestia asked.
“Wh-what? No nothing wrong your nakedne-highness! Yes Highness!”
Celestia raise a eye. “Am I missing something here?”
“NO! Just follow!” He quickly responded.
Celestia whispers to Luna. “Was he speaking of our lack of clothing compared to him?”
“I am uncertain sister...” Luna also confused as Alpha's face fur turn a shade of red and lower his head grumbling a few words placing his free paw hand over his face as they left the forest, the two princesses with Alpha taking the lead head down the path to Gale's home, next to it the waterfall had been open up with a bridge leading from the shore line into a tunnel behind the falls.
They walked down the dirt path past the house to the stone bridge, they crossed it to enter the tunnel to the chamber and a set of golden yellow eyes watch from a pulled back curtains from Gale's house.
The princesses stopped in their tracks when they saw Discord, he was standing at the end of it next to a large closed metal door holding something in his lion paw while picking out the content with the griffon talon and throwing the content into his mouth munching on them.
Blue stood half way down the corridor leaning on the wall with his eyes closed, without opening them he responded to their presence. “Hello Mistresses Celestia and Luna, Master Gale currently working on something really important, please be patient and wait.” Blue open his eyes turning his head slightly to them.
“Hello Discord...” Celestia kept a static look as she spoke to Discord.
“Nice to see you too Celestia, up for a rematch of pin the tail on the pony before I was rudely turned into stone?” Discord slyly said looking over at her with a grin. “Or some snacks? You can taste the rainbows!” He raise the red packet in view shaking it with a rattling sound from within.
Luna rolled her eyes. “I see you haven't changed at all Discord.”
Discord shook the packet. “Oh you thought I was talking about the Elements turning me to stone? Nope I am talking about these.”
“Last time you were eating snacks and spitting them all over us.” Luna said coldly to him. “I recalled that before we used the Elements of Harmony on you.”
“That was my personal snacks, this is Gale's.” Discord responded. “You really going to upset your nephew thinking I am playing those same old tricks right now?” He than shows the piece of paper and pony tail pin by his cloven hoof. “See I even got the game right here, I asked Gale and he delivered.”
Celestia narrowed her gaze. “You used Gale to-”
Blue speaks up on their minds. “Enough!” They all turn their attention to Blue. “Discord told Master Gale what he did to you Mistress Celestia, he recalled Skittles had the saying 'Taste the Rainbow' a form of shelled chewy candy that was a mix of colours and flavours, it he recalled was one of his favourites.” Blue said picking up the bag by his leg opening it up to pull out a pair of packets throwing them over to Celestia and Luna.
“Also Pin the Tail on the Pony is the first game he played at the party for Mistress Gilda, the very one with the sneezing powder was placed on the tail, not something you can forget.” Blue now faced Discord looking to the paper and the pin tail. “Master Gale does not want any conflict between any of you.” Blue now turn to Celestia and Luna. “If you got nothing good to say to each other, say NOTHING at all. Understood?”
“Understood...” Celestia nods.
“Very well...” Luna also agreed.
Discord chuckled. “See I didn't use Gale for anything, in fact how about I get your brains ticking.” Discord turn around to them looking past Blue who stood between them. “I had a chance to escape my stony prison or be there for Gale when he woke from injuries he got from the beginning of our dream adventure, Oogway played my heart strings well and I choose your son rather escape.”
“Right... As if we believe you.” Luna glared at him.
Celestia raise her hoof. “Discord you are not going to fool me, you have caused so much pain over 1000 years ago, I see your time in stone hasn't changed anything.”
“Still as a stone, I am just subconsciously free here and I am not getting that taken away from me.” Discord glared at them.
“Your still evil...” Celestia and Luna said together staring down at Discord.
“Did any of you even listen to my warning stop-” Blue suddenly turn to the metal door. “Master Gale finished...”
Discord glance over to the door as it made a rumble sound and start to lower into the ground. “Oh Celestia, Luna how wrong you both are, the fact I am still in Dream Cavern at my third day should make you wonder why.” Discord turn around walking into the chamber followed by Blue, Alpha, Celestia and Luna.
Gale stood before them in front of a console. “Hi mum, aunty Luna! Welcome to the Dream Randomiser Chamber! It is offline at the moment till I finish the modifications to the system, our first test run kinda had a few issues that lead to the dream adventure being a real problem at points, we were put into almost real danger.” Gale overly explained and continue to speak.
He walk twist around with forelegs out wide. “The symbols are fed at random through into the console and the rift sends us on our way to a random dream adventure, the first was the Kung Fu Adventure and recently made some changes that allow us to watch the adventure from either point of view that go.” Gale turn to the console pressing his talons on it touch screen buttons.
Celestia couldn't process how well spoken he was and lost when he explained about the chamber, she and the others watch as twelve panels on the wall in front shift inwards to the point they could twist around to show the backs and push back in to create a massive wide black screen. “Gale your speaking so well and I don't even understand what your talking about...”
Gale turn to his mum. “We are asleep, so speaking is like breathing here, it is just something that can be done.” Gale turn back to the console. “Blue can you get the case please.”
“Yes Master Gale.” Blue walk over to a wall pressing on it to slide open, he pull out the case and bring it over to Gale.
Luna stood by Celestia. “We need to stay natural sister.”
Celestia nods. “For my son I will try.”
Discord became nervous. “You said any point of view? Like mine?”
“Yep!” Gale took the case from Blue. “I never knew what happened when we were apart, so it be cool to see wouldn't it?”
“Yes... Cool...”
Luna raise a eye. “You look nervous Discord, what is it that you do not want us to see?”
Discord quickly look to Luna and away. “Nothing, nothing to be seen...”
“Right...” Luna wasn't convinced.
Celestia step up to Gale's left side. “Is this what you were working on a moment ago?”
“Yeah, I thought playback systems to rewatch our own adventures.” Gale said. “I wanted to see what happened with Discord.”
Celestia turn to Discord. “I am curious myself.” She turn to the screen. “Please show us Gale.”
Gale turn around to Discord before he did it. “You are okay with this?”
Discord shrugs. “Not that I have a choice.”
“I am asking.” Gale said. “I won't do it if you say no.”
“Gale what-”
“Mum, he saved my life in it, he didn't have to but he did.” Gale interrupted Celestia. “Don't you think it fair?”
Celestia nods turning to Luna “Follow my lead...” Celestia winks.
Luna wink back. “Will do Celestia.”
“Yes your right.” Celestia using her magic to take some of the skittles from Discord's bag and eating it. “It really tasty.”
Discord look down at the bag and back to Celestia. “Did you just-”
“You asked me if I like some and I accept to have some.” She said to Discord
Luna took a few from the bag too and ate them. “They are good.”
“They acting too nice all the sudden...” Discord whispered to himself knewing they were up to something. “What are you two up to?”
“We taking that step to move on from our past, what of you Discord?” Celestia asked, they decided to play nice with Discord for Gale and hopefully play him into showing something about his part of the dream adventure.
Gale squawked happily with a few rapid claps seeing his mum and aunt were trying.
Alpha leans toward Blue whispering to him. “Something off, this type of shift I seen through out the many years being with and working for Shen, he saw us as family but the power grab made him turn on us and use us as his tools.”
Blue focused his telepathic words directly to Alpha. “I can see it too, their aura shifted slightly in tone, they better mean it or this could do damage to the relationship between son, aunt and mother.”
“A reverse in history instead of the parents being disappointed it be the child... I hope it doesn't repeat...” Alpha grumbled.
Blue raise a eye turning his eyes slightly to Alpha. “I recall it, that was when you truly turned on Shen to defend Master Gale and called him Lord.” Alpha nod slightly. “If they are being dishonest and it is true I will have to inform Master Gale of this...”
“Than I hope it isn't...” Alpha humpthed clenching tight the mallet pole.
Discord muttered under his breath. “Celestia played me, that crafty Alicorn...” Discord looked around seeing all eyes were on him, he hung his head down with a sigh. “Fine show my meet up with Oogway in the Spirit Realm, that as far I am going with this.” Discord grab a clawful of skittles throwing them into his mouth eating them with a grumpy look on his face.
“Are you sure, you loo-”
“Before I change my mind, yes just do it already.”
“Okay Discord.” Gale turn back to the console pressing his talons on it to show Discord's meeting with Oogway in the Spirit Realm, the screen lights up. “Ooooo look at the place it got floating rocks and a big old tortoise floating with a big long cape?” Gale tilt his head.
Gale press on the touch display pausing the playback after Discord appeared over the Jade Palace, the exchange between Discord and Oogway left a few surprises as well more questions to be asked, Celestia and Luna showed interest in what Discord had meant about being freed from stone was too soon.
“Wow you really gave up being freed from stone for me, you were concerned that the dream adventure I couldn't wake up if you left me to be freed.” Gale turn around to Discord with happiness in his voice and face. “You showed that chaos isn't evil, it like you said to Shen, about it not being black or white it about being grey!”
Discord gave a smug pose. “That two things I did good.”
Luna gave him a narrow eyed look stepping up to the lord of chaos. “That maybe true but what you said to Oogway is what got me interested.”
“I have to agree with Luna, I quote; One I can return and cause untold chaos right now, throw them in a spin... But it could mean I speed up events...” Celestia stood by Luna. “What exactly did you mean by that?”
Discord rolled his eyes in a dismissive manner twisting his talon around. “Put it together Celestia, Luna.” Discord poke Celestia's muzzle. “Gale's feather landing on my petrified form allowing my subconsciousness to exist here, you do the maths.”
Luna glares. “Your not fooling anypony Discord, when your free you will cause chaos and disharmony once more.”
Discord crossed his arms. “So what if I might do that when I am freed, there a chance I won't! I am the lord of chaos for a reason!”
Gale step back a few steps seeing they all arguing with each other to the point most of the words became jumbled. “Gilda you were right, it happening just as you predicted.” Gale whispers.
“Yeah I am seeing and hearing it from this end too, they acting like foals.” Gilda's responded, her voice only heard by Gale. “They all are concerned for your well being, using this to their advantage too and won't let the other get the upper claw, talon, hoof or whatever over the other, it just like a family of griffons do... Just like my family did when I was young.”
Gale heard a what Gilda said. “Your parents?”
“Yeah... I'll tell ya someday cub, just not now okay?”
Gale nods slightly. “Okay Gilda...” He looked at each of them still arguing. “So we go with Plan G-Team?”
“Yep, I be right there, get the ball rolling cub!”
“Got it.” Gale replied.
Blue curious listen to Gale, he didn't see anyone with him, the jackal diamond dog closed his eyes with the dreadlocks raised up vibrating, they drop back down with his eyes snap open. “Master Gale how-”
Gale put his talon his Blue's arm. “It was all part of the plan, let us handle this okay?” Blue wondered what the plan was but he knew that his master must have a reason not sharing this with him.
“I trust your judgement Master Gale.” Blue bow his head slightly.
Gale walked up to the adults still arguing with each other, he stood up on the his paws, place two claws from both talons into the corners of the beak, he let out a high pitch whistle getting them to stop cringing in reaction from it, their attention now drawn on the teenager, Blue and Alpha cover their ears. “Stop this pointless arguing, it getting you all no where.”
Celestia speaks trying to shift it to Discord. “Son, this is just like Discord to drive us into this, he using a nice guy act on you.”
Before Discord could answer Gale sighs heavily. “His and your stories matched.” Gale rubbed his forehead slightly before he asks a question towards Celestia. “Mum is this time the first time you, aunty Luna and Discord had a equal footing, none of you had all powerful magic to wield to resolve the matter or had those in the line of trouble to be defended?”
Celestia slowly took in everything Gale just said to her and the others, Blue and Alpha watched from by the entrance to the chamber as the griffon statue electrical lights turn off darkening the corridor. “Yes... It is...”
“So this is the first time any of you had a real talk? Even we are all asleep.” Gale asked the next question.
Luna eyes shift around rubbing one foreleg over the other. “Yes...”
Gale walked around them. “How does that make you all feel about trying to use words, motive of past actions and have me in the middle of all this playing defence for me?” Gale using what Gilda explained to him to use.
Discord eyes dart around. “Well that a tough one... Best answer I can say is...” Discord eyes settle on Gale as he shrugs. “Conflicted?”
Gale stopped walking around turning to face them once more. “Do any of you even remember what you were just shouting at each other about? Honestly?”
Celestia thought about it for a second. “I got nothing...”
“Same here sister, I wasn't sure what I was saying to Discord.” Luna also failed to remember.
Discord rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow... I am impressed, you really got us all cub.”
Gale shook his head. “Not just me.” Gale sit down, move his talons over the ears, he pulls off them griffon ears shaped headphones with matching feather colour headband and mini-microphone attached. “I had help from my big sister.”
Gale turn to the corridor and all of them did too, the griffon statues lights turn on to revile Gilda wearing a black headset on her head with a mini-microphone attached to it. “Hey you idiotic dorks, got your old flanks handed to you by a cub?”
“Old?” Celestia and Luna said together insulted by a single word, Blue and Alpha couldn't help but snicker at their response.
Gilda rolled her eyes as she took the headset off her head tossing them over to Blue, he caught them. “Oh save me from the shocked insulted look, you three dweebs put the oldest griffon or pony to shame.” She turn to Discord. “Even you Freaky.”
Discord raised a eye. “Freaky?”
“Yeah dweeb, your a mismatch of body parts, so if you don't like what I called you, tough!” Gilda stopped walking and stood beside Gale with a wing over his back, Discord didn't say anything as he crossed his arms but gave a slight smirk showing some like to Gilda's personality. “The way you all been acting just been very lame, specially in front of Gale trying to act on his best interest.”
Gilda golden yellow eyes moved from one to the other. “Gale had help with what he told you but all it was a push for him, you Freaky.” She now locked her eyes on Discord. “I saw the drawings and writing about the adventure you two been on, you spent four days when only moments past by here right?”
Discord frown slightly. “Yes that true, where are you going on with this?”
“Oh you will see dweeb.” Gilda remove her wing from Gale walking up and around Discord. “Through out that time didn't you show that even with chaos magic you used it for a good reason for the most part?”
Discord thought about it. “In a way yes I did.”
“You teleported right to him soon you knew he escaped from Shen, even taking that bird called Crane along with you to prove that Gale was safe to the others.”
“Yes...”
Gilda flap her wings to fly eye level with Discord crossing her forelegs tapping a claw against the other leg cross under the talon. “I quote from your own mouth from Gale's memories of it; There is no black and white, only grey' to Shen that peacock.”
Gale thought about his encounter with Shen while captured and went to the console going through the adventure to find what he was looking for. “I see where your going with this, your not going to gu-”
Alpha lower his head slightly his eye shifting away. “Yes and I can't change what I did back than but I can change what I do now.” He rose his head reading to fight.
“The cup you choose has no bottom, it is time to stop this madness.” She walked to his left from behind.
Shen smirked glancing at her for a second. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“So your parents can rest in peace.”
Alpha leans over to Blue. “That is strange for me to see myself do what I done already on that screen thing...”
“It is... Not something anyone would expect to see...” Blue responded
As it plays on behind Gale turn around to Discord, all eyes fixed on the screen than to Gale as he spoke over the sound. “Discord when you were defeated by mum and aunty Luna, did you choose that cup with no bottom?”
Discord tried to avoid making eye contact with Gale but his endless stare got to the Lord of Chaos. “Urg... Fine! I did! But now...” Discord rubbed the back of his neck. “I do not know anymore...” Discord turn his gaze away. “After what happened during those four days and being here... I am so chaotically conflicted and that no pun... I'm really am...”
Gilda still hovering with her forelegs crossed spoke up. “Sound like being all evil isn't what it crack up to be does it? And you know what?”
“What Gilda?” Celestia asked.
“It just like my parents, ponies, griffons and any creature for their hunt for all the wealth in the world, nothing enough for them, they need to get more, think of how many of them go for the bottomless cup?” Gilda said with annoyance. “I been getting Bits, more than I even had and I felt I needed it to do so much more in life and now I got so much, it feels empty, my fulfilment comes from teaching Gale, being there for you cub.” She look to Gale.
She drop down on all fours walking up to him and gave him a hug giving Gale a surprise squawk getting a hug from her.
“My scones I cooked when you liked them, when you all liked them filled me with pride, it lame for me to say but thanks you dweebs.” She move her beak close to Gale's right ear and whispers the last part. “Little brother don't stop being you, also that between us.”
“Okay...” He whispers back.
She let go from the hug turning around to Discord. “So Lord of Chaos, let me lay it out for you... What would you pick? Stay here till your freed or if you could get your freedom early would you by grey and not black or white?”
Discord stared at her. “Your dead serious...”
“Oh I am you lame dork, now what would you pick?”
Discord whispers something to Luna and she whispers back to him with surprise, they all wonder what just was said. “Okay... First I got to say is well played G-Team, you got me good and them, I got to admit I didn't see this coming from a mile away and it a good form of chaos, well played.” Discord bow to the two griffons.
Celestia gave a cautionary look at Gilda. “Usually I would say your out of line but... This is a unique situation and we are asleep and in Gale's Dream Cavern, so we on equal settings at the moment, we been called out and I have to say it surprised me.” Celestia said lower her head to Gale. “I am glad that you and Gilda called us out on it, sometimes adults and even a mother need to be called out by the young, thank you son.”
Gale gave her a hug. “Your welcomed mum.” He turn to Discord twiddling his paw fingers and claws of the talon together. “Discord?”
Gilda smirked. “It look like Freaky made his mind up, but what about you Celestia, Luna? Would you give him his freedom if he choose it?”
Luna and Celestia look to each other, they nod. “It is interesting that a griffon would ask a question such as this, yet the views have been presented, what seen and heard has gave me wonder on Discord's new actions.” Luna said looking over at Discord.
“I have to agree with Luna, we were blinded by our own fears and Gale seen past that, you shown that you care Discord, even I am uneasy by the fact he called you honorary uncle.” Celestia adds.
“So I have to accept what we've seen and to honour whatever your choice is.” Luna replied.
“You have my word too” Celestia agreed
“Really?” Discord stared at them. “No joke?”
Both sisters glance at each other before answering together. “No Joke.”
Gilda shrugged. “They sound legit.”
Discord was surprised. “What the catch?”
“Only if you choose to cause harm and go back down that path 1000 years ago, we will act.” Celestia warned.
Discord turn to face Celestia and Luna rubbing his goatee. “That seem fair.”
Gale step up to Gilda talking quietly to her. “Gilda is that what erm... coming up a co-com-com...”
“Compromising agreement?” Gale nod to Gilda as she respond finishing his sentence. “Yeah it kinda is, sounds like they have came up with a middle ground for real.” She shook her head slightly. “About time that these dweebs found it.” Gilda gave a smug smile.
Gale smiled. “I am glad they did, our G-Team plan worked didn't it?”
“Yep.” Gilda raise a closed up fist talon to Gale, he did the same and they bumped.
Discord gave a serious look upon all in the chamber. “I have finally made my mind up and my choice is-”
Time to vote and you have till Sunday 9am GMT to vote for the 51.5 chapter! There is three answers to the question: What will Discord Choose?
Discord's answer rang out and it took a few seconds for many of them to realise what that option intale, Gale quickly flew up to Discord stopping only inches from beak to muzzle. “Discord that wasn't one of the options! That would mean you-”
Discord put a lion paw digit on the tip of Gale's beak. “There always a option three, you gave me two very good choices that would give me freedom one way or the other.” Discord smiled. “Why would I go back to my stony self in the gardens?” Discord move his paw away and walk away slight closing his eyes with a shrug.
“I have to confess that I am very confused by your choice Discord...” Celestia step forwards. “It doesn't make sense at all...”
Discord turn around opening his eyes smuggly looking at her directly. “Make sense? What fun is there of making sense Celestia?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Your so lame, I have no idea what going on in that idiotic head of yours but I rather not know.” Gilda turn walking towards the tunnel. “I am waking up from this.” Gilda burst to stardust as she wakes up.
Discord chuckled. “I definitely like your choice of teacher for Gale, Celly.”
Gale still hovered at the same spot watching Discord with confusion. “I don-I-why?”
“Gale sometimes there is no answer to that why, this is one of them and I am the lord of chaos, being set free here or back in the real world is cheating, one thing I learned from you and our adventure...”
Gale gulped a little. “Wh-what is that?” He came a big closer to Discord.
The draconequus gave him a hug bending his neck down to Gale. “How one can change with a small spark of light, thank you honorary nephew.” Gale's eyes went wide looking up at Discord with surprise.” See you soon, that a promise.” With a snap of the lion paw he burst to stardust waking up.
Gale left hovering next to the spot Discord stood staring up blinking a few times, slowly he drops down on all fours walking up to the console pulling out the chip putting it in the metal case closing the lid. “Son...” Celestia whispers watching him press a few more keys on the console causing the screens to pull in flip around and return to the stone wall symbols.
Gale took the case placing it in the vault, closing the stone wall up covering the case, placing the talon on the stone slowly turning to Luna and Celestia. “I'm going to Discord's statue...” He vanish in the stardust.
“His confused by this action, Master Gale needs you two, go to him.”
Luna sighs. “Yes your right Blue, it is best we go too...” Luna close her eyes and disappear too.
Celestia turn to Blue and Alpha. “Take care of him while he sleeps for the next few days, he will need you two more than ever as well.” Blue nods in reply and Celestia close her eyes vanishing too.
As the stardust fades Alpha turn to Blue. “A spark of light...”
“Sometimes all it takes is a spark, still I am at a lose for why Discord choose this option three, it left Master Gale unable to understand this action, even I can not figure this out.” Blue turn walking out of the chamber.
Alpha lick his muzzle a bit. “Maybe we shouldn't try to understand it...” Alpha followed Blue out of the chamber.
Soon as Celestia and Luna woke up they both flew out of their balcony window doors heading right for Discord's statue, they land in the Canterlot Gardens as the last few moments of night continued with dawn coming up, before them sitting on the path staring at the statue were both Gilda and Gale.
Shining Armor stood not too far from them, Celestia and Luna lands just behind him. “Good morning captain, how is my son and Gilda?”
“Morning Princess Celestia.” Shining Armor turn around to Celestia and Luna with a salute. “Morning Princess Luna.” She in acknowledgement and he lower the hoof to the ground. “They just been sitting there for about a hour, Gilda told me basically to 'buzz off' and leave them be, I did my rounds and just came through to find them both haven't moved at all.” The captain reported.
Celestia bow her head slightly. “Thank you Captain Armor, you may continue your rounds, we can handle it from here.”
Shining saluted. “Very well Princess, I was just concerned at both of them being up so early.”
“I really appreciate the concern you brought up Captain, I know exactly why they are up, it the same reason me and my sister are here too.” Celestia partly explained, Shining Armor didn't press any questions and made his way out of the gardens, he knew this was a personal family matter from his own experiences.
As the princesses approach the two griffons Celestia had to ask Luna. “Luna how did they wake up a hour before us?”
Luna didn't turn to Celestia as they continue to walk. “Events within a dream happen at different rates of time, that include waking up seconds or minutes apart, sometimes even they woke up before you in the realm like the Dream Cavern they could end up waking up after you here.” Luna explained best she could to Celestia. “That is the best I can explain it sister, the laws of sleeping and waking our rather confusing even for those that can visit dreams like myself.”
“Thank you for trying to anyway Luna, it is confusing but it sort of answers my question too.” Celestia was glad that Luna attempted to explain it and got somewhat of a confusing understanding of the process.
Luna smiled slightly. “You are welcomed sister.”
Their hoof steps were noticed by both griffons they turn their heads slightly to catch sight of the princesses in the corner of their eyes. “About time you showed up dweebs.”
“Good morning to you too.” Celestia replied stopping by Gale and sitting down with a wing over him.
“Same to you.” Gilda said back.
Celestia look down to Gale “Morning Son...”
Gale slowly look up. “Morning... Mum...” Gale lower his eyes back to the statue, Celestia noticed a feather held to the ground by one of his talons. “Confused... Sitting... Hour confused...”
Luna sat by Gilda. “Conflicted Gilda?”
“You could say that...” Gilda said taking her eyes off them and back onto the statue. “We just been sitting here going in circles about what to do, at the end we agreed to do nothing.”
“Is that so?” Luna asked.
Gale nods a little. “Yes... Nothing do... but confused...”
Celestia tried to think of a way to explain why Discord did it but nothing came to mind, she had no idea what to say about his actions. “I am too Gale...”
“Why Q do?”
“I do not know and I think we never know, unless you want to go against his choice and use your feather to bring him back to the Dream Cavern.” Celestia said to the young griffon. “There isn't a real answer that can be given here...”
Gale lift his talon holding the feather up to his eyes. “Maybe Q say w-erm... w-wh-w-”
“When he is finally free?” Gale nods slightly. “Maybe he will, maybe he won't, that is something you need to expect from him.” Celestia spoke softly to Gale.
Gilda sighed. “Nothing straight forward with Freaky is it?”
“No.” Luna said flatly. “This isn't a typical move by Discord, one I never expected.”
“So... when do you think he'll be free?” Gilda asked and Gale was curious too.
Celestia hummed slightly thinking about it rubbing a hoof under her snout. “With us no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony and my son's feather weakening the spell from them, I say sometime after winter he might be freed at the latest. “
Gilda raise a eye now getting up and turning to face Celestia. “You seem pretty sure of it.”
“I am, the spell already failing, it only a matter of time and a year at most is I expect it to finally fail, when it does I won't have Twilight and her friends come to get the elements to seal him back in stone.” Celestia got up on all fours. “What I experienced at Dream Cavern has gave me hope for Discord, one I never would of thought possible.”
“As strange as it sound, I am in agreement with you sister, I will give him a chance.” Luna got up too. “It time to lower the moon.”
Celestia nods. “And to raise the sun.”
Gilda look to her left and to the right. “Wait you two really going to raise the sun and lower the moon right now!?”
“Yes.” They said together with their horns glowing.
Before Gilda and Gale they watch the moon lower from the sky and the sun rose on either side of Discord's statue from their point of view, the new morning light basking the land for a new day. “Okay that was pretty sweet to see!" Gilda now turn around to face both of them. "You two dweebs know how to impress and scare the heck out of me, nice going and see you lot at breakfast.” Gilda flapping her wings to take off into the sky. “See you there cub!”
Gale nods and look back to the feather he felt a gust of wind blow through, he let go of the feather accepting that Discord will be back soon and watch it get taken away by the wind high into the sky. “See at breakfast mum!” Gale took off after Gilda.
"What does Gale mean by that? Aren't I the one to cook?" Celsetia asked Luna.
Luna avoid the question and point a hoof to the feather as it fade from view. “Sister should-”
“No.”
“Celestia I do not think that wise.”
“I know, but none of us can grab it without it effecting our magic, we just have to let it go, even for the good or the bad sister, I think somehow this might be a good thing.” Celestia open her wings and took off back to the castle. "Since you avoided my question I am going to find out for myself!"
Luna slowly turn to the statue of Discord. “A good thing? Maybe... I think Celestia in for a surprise.” She walk up to the statue putting her hoof at the pedestal. “When you wake up and freed Discord I only hope the chance I give you isn't wasted, till we meet again Lord of Chaos.” Luna remove the hoof from it and took off to the castle.
Gale sat in his room painting the cut out pieces to place on the large model floating island, with Gilda gone home, Luna asleep, Shining Armor doing his duty as captain of the guard and his mum Celestia with Cadance working as princesses of the land, Sunbeam or the other guard didn't even count since their job is to do with protecting the castle, the citizens of the city and the royal family, this left Gale with no one to interact with.
Gale finished painting to model fountain placing it down on the table to dry out, he pick up a card box model of a cable car and string, he flies above the island model using his talons to tie them in at the island ground level to the near top of the city with the cable car resting through the string in mid air.
Flying back a bit he nod in approval that it was in the right place, he flew around picking up already dried out pieces, looking over to the noticeboard stand, he took a good look at where to place them, one by one they were placed. “Good good!” He lands on all fours with a glee seeing that the hard work was paying off piece by piece.
Gale went over to the comic books of Pistol's Misadventures, jumping onto the beanbag cushion he took one getting comfortable on it shifting around on it, he open up the comic to read and look at the pictures, after about a few hours past a knock of the door came and his ears twitched to that direction of the doors. “Yes?” He called out to the door.
A guard open the door. “Doctor Trace is here for your check up Prince Gale, shall I let him in?” Gale nods, the guard step back and the blue macaw griffon wearing a doctor's coat fit for a griffon carrying a doctor's bag with one talon walking on the other three limbs entered.
“Hello Prince Gale, how have you been?” Trace asked, Gale wonder for a second to recall the Changeling crystal that Trace wears when he a griffon.
Gale responded with a groan with a fake yawn.
Trace smirked placing down the bag opening it up as Gale put the comic down and came over. “I am going to say your bored, am I close?” Gale nods sitting down before him. “From today every other Friday I be doing a general check up on you and your mother requested it.” Gale tilt his head a little.
“Check... Erm... Normal?”
“Yes, pretty much the case and all I'll be doing is... Checking your wings, talons, paws, beak, ears, temperature, magic and heart rate, which is basic stuff for a griffon part from the magic, that usually a unicorn thing but since you have magic it part of your case.” As Doctor Trace said that he set out on the table a stethoscope, touch, plastic flat stick, chart with quill and ink well, tape measure, thermometer and a few disposable gloves.
Gale wasn't exactly sure what all these stuff going to be used for this check up, but he trusts Doctor Trace. “Okay, do stuff check.”
Doctor Trace put the gloves on standing on his paws only, he walked on them using his wings as counter balance with his tail as the blue griffon gentle grab Gale's wing. “Now open up your left wing.” Gale did so and Trace pulled it out fully, he rubbed the gloved talons over the main limb to the wings checking the feathers. “I see you been preening, Gilda taught you?”
“Yes.” Gale nods. “She say normal.”
“Indeed specially for those that have feathered wings like you, me and the Pegasi.” Trace confirmed. “They very strong and healthy too.” He take the tape measurer pulling it across the top of Gale's wing taking account the wingspan. “Good wingspan Gale.” He let go of the wing. “You can close your wing back up and open your right one.” Gale did so.
Doctor Trace repeats the same test on the right wing. “You can close the other wing up I am done with checking your wings.” Gale close it up resting against his side. “Now...” He walk over in front of Gale taking the stick in one talon and the touch in the other. “Now say ahhh.”
“Ahhhh.” Gale open his beak up.
Trace put the plastic stick on the tongue pushing it down and shining the touch inside taking a look around the beak, from gum to teeth, part of the throat to the inner part of the beak. “Strong healthy beak you got there.” He remove the stick.
Gale close and open his beak a few times shifting the muscles around lapping his tongue. “Strange... Weird...”
“It is but you did a good job cub.” Trace moved next to the ears, grabbing one of them he shine the light down the inner parts. “Your really are in tip top shape, best I seen for a griffon.” He checks the other ear before he turn the touch off putting it down. “Now for the talons, please raise your left first and once I am down follow with the right okay?”
Gale nods lifting up his left talon up to Trace as he step up around in front of Gale once more.
Trace remove the gloves and put them in a plastic bag, he put on another pair and feel the talon from the palm to the claws up to the tips, Gale shift slightly feeling it was a bit ticklish to the touch from the gloves. “Strong, firm and sharp, next.” Gale raise his right and same result from the touching. “Reaction normal, that good.” He let go.
Gale rubbed his talons against each other feeling not the same reaction to touch from Trace.
“Now for your paws, you going to need to lay down, this may cause you to react either uncomfortable, laugh, nothing happen or you flinch and snort with laughter.” Gale nervously shift with a shake of his head. “Prince Gale I have to do this, your claws and pads are another major part of a griffon, when you land on a tree branch you feel stable right?” Gale nods slightly. “That because of your claws both on talons and paws.”
Trace shows shifting his right hind leg in view, Gale watch the claws come out between the toe tip and back into the fur. “Ooooh.” Gale slap his forehead feeling silly that he forgot that his paws had retractable claws.
Trace chuckled. “We all forget the simplest of things cub.” Gale laughed too.
Gale lay down on his side slightly with both paws to the right, Trace grab one and Gale tries not to laugh but fails, as he does and try to kick away, Trace wrestled with the strong kicks managing to hold the hind leg in place to press on the pad causing the claws to come out, after checking he let go with the claws retracting.
The teen stop laughing and shaking his hind legs a bit to get the strange ticklish feeling away from the pads, he sat back up wiping away some tears with a smile breathing heavily a bit, it felt weird from the touch and laughable all in one.
“Nice reflex, reaction as expected with the sensitivity to paw pads from touch and claws look good, the pads also good and healthy.” Trace writes down the results on the clipboard chart, he pick up the thermometer. “Now I am going to put this partly in your beak, don't clench your teeth okay?”
Gale nods and Trace put it in.
Trace put on the stethoscope, placing the tips into his ears. “Now I am going to put this round part on your chest, this will let me hear your heart beat and while we wait for temperature to stablize on the read out, breathe normally okay?”
“Okay.”
Trace place the round part on his chest hearing the steady heart beats coming from within Gale. “Nice strong heart beat.” He remove the stethoscope from his ears placing it down, taking the thermometer to see what it says. “39.9 C, that a nice temperature for a griffon, the avenge is about 39.5c to 41.5c, you are as from all tests so far perfect in every way as I ran tests on you when we first met.” Trace checked the results he wrote down.
Gale sat up. “Good?”
“It is good youngster, now for the last test on your magic.” Trace pull the gloves off putting them in the bag. “Now I want you to hold this clear crystal and let your magic flow around it okay?” Trace pulled out a case and open it to show a clear crystal in it, he give it to Gale.
Gale close his talon around it and focus the magic to burst around it.
Trace tap a claw a few times. “Stop.” Gale did so and gave it to Trace, the blue griffon took a good look at it. “Hmm... Impressive, you see it turn white with these bluish white wavy lines in it?” Gale took a good look seeing the pattern. “The reason the crystal turn white with these bluish white lines means your magic is around for a unicorn level is high, it most likely to do with what happened with the whole thing in the past.”
Gale rubbed one foreleg with the other talon feeling a bit uncomfortable about that moment, he only knew about it because he was told, the memories were still very scrambled. “Magic... try force out me...”
Trace sighed. “Yes... Grogar tried and failed thanks to Grifiax Boreas.” Trace put the crystal back into the case closing it. “I believe that everything, I got other rounds to make back at the hospital, it a good thing everypony use to my form switching now.” He chuckled lightly packing away the stuff.
“Same... Next week?” Gale tilt his head.
Trace pick up the bag walking towards the doors. “No it be about every two weeks Prince Gale, so not next Friday but the following one.” Gale nods in understandment watching the blue griffon head to the door, open it and exit out of Gale's bedroom with the door closing behind.
Gale walk up to his bed jumping onto it, he pick up the plush leaning backwards to lay down holding out his plush above in front of the ceiling view. “Hello Gale plush, it been five weeks coming six hasn't it?” Gale spoke in thought to his plush, making it do a nod motion.
“Thinking back to the first two weeks, it seem that it all happened in a day, not much to remember part from fear, caution, eat, sleep, protect you at all costs and erm... Business stuff.” Gale turn his head slightly looking over at the window next to his bed stand. “Mum teleporting those tickets triggered something in my mind, I suddenly could think, feel and remember.”
Gale roll to his side placing the plush on the bed holding it with his right talon making it do a nod and cover it face with the talon.
The teen laughed a little. “Yeah I was so scared of magic when I didn't know what it was, I was terrified of mum and Captain Shiny, all I thought of escape and did that through the whole in the roof, I reacted with running around the castle scared out of my mind.”
The plush he moved the talon over in a embarrassing stance.
“Hey it not my fault I didn't know anything!” Gale turn on his back pushing up to sit up and held up the plush up. “Also that when I had a real memory from my past, how mum told me that it was Grogar, something dark and evil that wanted the pure magic that part of me.” Gale put one talon on his chest, he put the plush talon over it.
Gale smiled at his plush. “I know Plush Gale, we travelled through time because Griffax Boreas was a test subject to Grogar with my magic, learning from that he figured out how to use a transfiguration spell... The very one that ripped me apart to take every inch of magic from me.” Gale jump off the bed pushing open the window, standing on his paws with one talon on the window seal holding the plush with the other talon looking out to the land.
“If it wasn't for Griffax surging the artefacts to a explosive end to Grogar's reign I wouldn't even be alive or maybe alive in a different way, I am a pure griffon now and that can't restore me to whom I once were, I might not be the me I was once but I am the me that is now.” Gale turn to his plush resting it on the window side rubbing his talon over the plushy feathers.
Gale pick his plush up from it pushing off to flap his wings hovering around the island model. “I can bearly recall that I was once something that didn't have wings or even magic, how could I be with magic on the mountain that fell from the sky? What happened to cause me to be there? How a mountain fell from a sky? They are many questions I might get answers for in time.”
Gale raise the plush up holding it again with both talons out in front. “When Greystorm came...”Gale made the plush lower to giver the eyes a sort of eye look up glare. “Yeah I don't like him much either but we need to try to forgive him slowly, being anger consume you and look what it did to Shen even in a dream adventure, his own greed and anger consumed him... Do you want me to be like that?”
Gale place his talon on the chest making the plush shake it head.
“My thoughts exactly, I will learn to control this magic that Greystorm awoke in me, I won't let it control me.” Gale open the free talon out in front letting a magical form appear over it, closing the talon up it fades. “Without control I could harm others, you don't want that Plush Gale, right?” Gale made it nod in agreement to what Gale thought to himself.
Gale land on the bed sitting cross leg putting the plush between his hindlegs looking down at it. “You, my bandanna with the leg bands and that photo you hold is the last true remains of my past, we will figure this out together with mum and my family.” Gale lean down taking the picture out looking at the dog on it. “Together.” He fold it back up putting it back in the vest of the plush.
The teenager reach over to the bed stand pulling the draw open and taking out a book, on the cover it had in griffish 'Gale's Memories Scrapbook'. Gale place the plush beside him putting the book down on his lap, opening it up he looked at the photos inside. “Oh oh this one was taken when I gave Gilda a big hug, she like a sister to me, she maybe a bit grouchy on the outside but inside Gilda has good heart, really good heart.” Gale move his talon over it looking over to the plush beside him.
Gale hummed thinking about Gilda. “Gilda from a city called Griffonstone, she go home there every weekend and recently helped me out to show a light within Discord, also telling mum, aunty Luna an Discord out too, maybe her meany side just a act to be tough? Do you think?” Gale made the plush raise the forelegs up in a motion of 'I do not know' expression.
Gale decided to move on to the next photo coming up to the anthropomorphic cat.
“That one is Amber, she Doctor Trace's wife a erm... A-abyssinia I think they are called, some sort of big cat that stand on hind paws and their forepaws are like my talons, yet they don't walk on-” He laughed. “You want to know about Amber right Plush Gale?” He made it nod. “Okay! She really know her words and how to use it to work on her favour, also work for mum as an anti-scammer officer and Gilda even worked with her!”
Gale rubbed the underside of his beak. “Oh.” He move the talon away poking the next photo. “That the changeling Octicovix, she appearing as Pistol the fictional character in my favourite comics that mum got me.” Gale smiled warmly at the sight of the photo of her with him and Spike. “That was last weekend, Spike came over and we started working on the island of Flaputa, Spike is a dragon maybe older or young than me... Not sure on that one.”
Gale stared at the photo and looked over to the island model. “Either way he stayed and slept over here, that his bed over there!” Gale point over to the basket bed. “Some reason Spike like to sleep in a basket bed, if it like that I can't complain, just wonder why he like that over a bed.” Gale rubbed his feathered head. “He like a big little brother to me though.”
Gale flip over the next page seeing Cadance and Shining Armor photos. “Plush Gale, they took me to the library here at home the castle, the books I read there I learned so much and also they the reason I got my name, I picked it but without them I guess mum could of picked it.” He look down at the plush. “What do you think mum would of called me?” No response. “Hehe yeah, I get it.”
The photo he look at next was of Blue Star. “That Blue Star, one of the first guards I saw, that one there is Flash Sentry, they both did something amazing too! Blue Star took my ripped clothing and turn them into these awesome bandanna and leg bands!” Gale pull on the bandanna slightly and raise his hind leg showing off the leg band to the plush. “Flash Sentry before Sunbeam came was my first guard, he kept with me and kept a eye out for me, I wonder what he and Blue Star are up to at the mo.” Gale tap the tip of his beak thinking about the two guards.
Gale turn the page over looking at Trace both pony and griffon. “Hehe, that Doctor Trace, he always been looking out for my health, he was just here checking me over, Trace got into a mishap with the transfiguration spell he discovered that Grogar used on me, it now turn him from pony to griffon and back again, something about the pure magic part of him now mixing around with his own magic.” Gale scratched the side of his face slightly.
Gale turn to the photo of Luna. “Aunty Luna I got to know with a dream link, since than I wanted to know more about dream abilities, mum gave me a renewed book from Aunty Luna, I learned so much from that book and how my imagination powers the magic of Dream Walking...” Gale crossed his forelegs humming with a thoughtful looking.
“It isn't pure magic, does that mean I got two forms of magic and why Aunty Luna look like she drop the moon on mum after discovering that I could do what she could do?” Gale closed his eyes thinking deeply. “Aunty Luna taught me how to not misuse it and that when I come of age I get to go to others dreams and help them, she did say I could go with her after my birthday to see how she works in others dreams.”
Gale turn to the calender. “I wonder when my birthday is? Is it soon or has it past?” He gave the plush a confused shrug motion. “Yeah I am confused too, oh well one step at a time right?” He made it nod. “Cool we in a agreement.” Gale laughed a little.
The latest photo made him pause, it was the one he took of Discord's statue. “Di-Discord... I am wary of him at first from the past he admitted, mum and Aunty Luna said about too.” Gale ran his talon over the photo gentle. “Than we had that four day dream adventure in Kung Fu Adventure, gained a new protector for Dream Cavern Alpha, he and Blue get along pretty well and Discord I think was too, but when he was given the option he choose to return to stone, why? I keep asking myself... Why?” Gale sighed closing the book up putting it on top of the stand.
“I guess I find out someday cause mum say he be free in the year, that why I keep this scrapbook, to keep those memories going.” A sudden thought came to mind. “Oh I never got a photo of the griffon that owns the café, the upstairs part for Griffons and Peagsi to eat at! That really have amazing battered fish, maybe when we go there again, I can get a photo of him and the café for my memories scrapbook!” Gale clapped his talons together liking that idea he thought of.
Gale put the plush back down between his hind legs making it do a nod in agreement to that idea.
Gale pat the plushy on the head a few times. “Thanks for listening to me Plush Gale.”
A knock came from the door, Gale turn to it. “Yes?”
The door open and Celestia step in as the doors open. “Son, like to go out for some dinner? I fancy some fish today.” Gale's eyes lit up knowing what she was hinting at.
“Yes!” He jump off the bed closing the window locking it up and flying over to her, he lands, picking up his bag and holding up the plush. “Plush me and me ready!” Gale excited to go and made sure with a pat of the bag to have his camera ready.
Celestia giggled. “It sure looks like.” She put her wing over him turning around.
Gale look down to his plush. “Let's fill more of the Memories Scrapbook shall we?” He made it nod.
“Shall we?” Gale nods to Celestia and they leave for dinner.
Gustave Le Grand exit the train from Las Pegasus as night slowly fell upon the City of Canterlot, his recently raise in sales allowed him to go ahead in planning to expand the business and one location key to the Prench Griffon's expansion plans, he walked off the platform carrying the important cargo of documents in his saddle bags making his way back to the restaurant.
The familiar sound of music blaring came, the neon lit sign with the strips of lights along the rim of the roof and down the walls, one thing that caught him by surprise was two queues of ponies, a few griffons, cows and minotaurs all waiting to go in to the Icy Delights ground floor, griffons and pegasi waiting to go in on the Fliers Delight first floor. “Sacre bleu! I've never zee it this busy part from opening day!”
He quickly found royal guards standing at the entrance with his employee Pound. “Pound why are le royal guards helping you deal with this crowd, why are you not at le first floor ztairs?”
Pound let customers out and let in a group into the ground floor area. “Captain Shining Armor is at the stairs boss, Princess Celestia with her son is sitting at a table at Fliers Delight floor.” Pound responded to Gustave speaking very close to him.
Gustave took a moment to take in what he just heard. “Le Princess is here with her son the griffon cub!?” Pound nods and let out a bunch of pegasi, he let in the next group for the first floor. “Sacre bleu...” He muttered under his breath. “Keep up the good work, Le Gustave going in.” He raise a claw up and walk right in.
The guard watch him go in. “Is your boss that dramatic all the time?”
“Pretty much.” He gave a shrug.
Gustave Le Grand saw how busy it was soon he past through the two set of doors, all the seats from the bar table to every table was filled with creatures having a great time chatting, enjoying desserts and music blaring away and his whole staff on the ground level really busy.
He walked through into his office placing the bags down and quickly made his way up the staff stairs to the first floor, upon arriving he peered through the window to see Princess Celestia and Gale, they were sitting at the very table Gale sat at before. “Le co-ruler of Equestria zitting at one le Gustave's table...”
The griffon quickly look at his reflection adjusting his talons through the moustache, taking out from under his wing the chief hat popping it out placing it on his head. “Here le Gustave go...” With a deep breath the owner push the door open walking in to a fully seated first floor.
As he walk up to the table he could see Celestia was writing on a piece of paper with a quill and talking to Gale. “-forward to trying out the meals here son, I seen your take aways that Gilda had ordered to the palace in the trash cans.”
“Hmm mmm, yummy mum!” Gale pick up his glass of strawberry milkshake putting the strew end in his beak drinking the thick shake through it.
Celestia brought up her tea drinking a little of it. “I'll soon find out when our meals arrive.” She put the cup down going back to writing on the paper. “I just hope my sudden unannounced arrival doesn't effect the business, this was a on the fly idea after all.”
“Mum worry no need, happy be here!” Gale said happily. “Family thingy!”
“Family outing Gale.” Celestia giggled. “And yes I can see that.” Gale look out the window slurping his shake. “Unannounced trips like this be rare...” She sighed a little.
Gustave step up. “Le Gustave can help with that Princess.”
Celestia turn to him. “Ah hello Gustave le Grand, I've heard you were out of town.”
“Indeed, le Grand were at Las Pegasus working on getting a expansion of le business else where.” He replied. “As zaid before you are welcomed to come to this restaurant at any day Princess, le doors are always opened to you.”
Princess bow her head slightly. “That is good to know and my son be happy to hear that, I will make sure next time to have a aide to come by and arrange a trip for next time.”
He bows back slightly. “It was a zurprise Princess to zee you here of all restaurants, not that le Gustave is zaying anything, it just a honour to have you here to enjoy the meals and desserts we have to offer.”
“Thank you.” Celestia smiled, Gustave step back and turn around walking off to the kitchen. “Don't start overracting and treat me as one of your customers Gustave! We are on a mother and son outing for dinner afterall!” She called out to him.
“Understood.” He called back.
Gale rolled his eyes. “Yes I know Gale, he most likely will start to panic, just hope he don't go OTT.” Gale tilt his head. “Over the top.”
“Oh!”
“It something I heard from a few ponies and had to ask myself a few months ago, so your just in my place this time around.” She giggled and Gale laughed. “Now about next week, I wrote up this rough timetable for what happening for you.”
Celestia push it over to him with her magic, he took the paper taking a good look at it, Monday to Wednesday morning it was speech and writing lessons from Gilda as always, Monday and Wednesday afternoon also were those times too, Tuesday afternoon was flying lessons with Spitfire, Thursday have was filled with touring Cloudsdale in the morning and in the afternoon watching the Young Fliers Contest.
Before, between and after each were the breakfast, lunch and dinner, Gale could see there was time allotted for him to have free time as he liked having that free time with his big sister Gilda. “Clo-clo...” He tried to say the word.
“Cloudsdale, it the home of most pegasi, it a moving city in the sky that makes most of Equestria's weather, the weather factory you will get to see in action.” Celestia corrected the word for Gale and explained to him a little about the cloud city. “You have read about the weather and how it works right?”
Gale nods. “Yes mum.”
Celestia rolled her eyes playfully. “You know about Cloudsdale weather factory didn't you?” Gale trying not to smile while shrugging. “Your a terrible at pretending not to son.”
Gale gave the smile. “Hmm mmm, no lie like, stomach twist.” He rubbed his stomach area with the talon.
Before Celestia could say something about it the waiter came over placing two plates down, a tray also put down with bottles of ketchup and BBQ sauces, salt and pepper shakers on it with napkins. “Two battered fish and fried chips, hope you enjoy your meals Princess and Prince.” The mare bow and take the serving tray with her.
Gale pick up the salt shaking it over the chips and battered fish followed by dumping a splodge of ketchup on the side, he take the knife and folk cutting into part of the fish followed by a few chips, dipping them in the ketchup and putting it in his beak happily chewing away.
Celestia using her magic does the same and take her bite. “Hmm...” She swallows. “It been a while since I had some cooked fish.” Gale tilt his head in confusion recalling that Pegasi since Alicorns are partly are they need fish protein on their diet unlike other ponies, they had a close cousin relationship to the griffons because of the fish protein diet. “I usually take protein tablets at home son.”
Gale nods in understanding to what she said. “Happy eating?”
“It is and I am enjoying it.” She ruffled his feathered head with a wing, getting him to laugh. “Now let's eat before it get cold shall we?”
“Yes mum!” Gale agreed and they went back to eating their meals.
Gustave with the kitchen staff watched for a few short moments sighing in relief that the royal family were enjoying their meal, the talking and laughter in between made them see a side they never saw before from their co-ruler Princess Celestia, a side of a happy mother with her son.
Gustave clap his talons together. “Alright ztaff that enough gotting, we got plenty more mouths to feed, it going to be a very busy night.”
“Yes boss.” Some said and others nod going back to their stations.
“Keep up the good work.” He went to the fryer placing cut up and washed potatoes into the basket placing them into hot boiling cooking oil. “A very very busy night...” He whispered.
The last of the customers left the restaurant, Pound closing and locking the doors, the rest of the staff busy cleaning up the dining area and kitchen on the ground level, Gustave filtering the from the vats to remove the pieces of food that got stuck at the bottom in the upstairs kitchen, closing the bucket up and removing the heat residence rubber gloves to suddenly hear laughter, peering over the counter to see Celestia, Gale and Shining Armor at the table still.
Gustave got up walking out of the kitchen to see they were the only remaining customers in the store. “Gale that isn't how you play chess you cheeky cub!” Shining chuckled, Gustave walked up to the table seeing a chess board was set up with Gale moving a piece in the incorrect place. “Now your doing it on purpose.”
Celestia giggled. “Indeed he is.” Gale gets a hoof pushing around on the seat and Celestia using her wing to tickle his right paw, Gale burst into a fit of laughter kicking around trying to stop his mum but failing due to her being stronger overall. “Now you going to play right or do I need to tickle you some more?” She grinned.
Gale breathing in and out holding his chest slowly sat back up tucking his hindlegs under him to keep her wings away from his paw pads. “Okay mum.” Gale gave a cheeky grin.
Celestia put the pieces back in place. “Ready to try for real?” He nods. “You-”
Gustave speaks up. “Zorry to interrupt Princess Celestia but le restaurant is closed, le ztaff and le Gustave can not leave till it all cleaned up.” Gustave le Grand bow his head slightly removing his hat showing respect as well requesting for her to leave.
Princess Celestia bow her head slightly back to him. “It alright Gustave, we were unaware about the time that past by.”
“Oh, time fly fun?”
“Indeed son, indeed.” Celestia hugs Gale with a wing for a second before letting go. “Shining Armor can you take Gale to the toilets before we go?”
Shining saluted. “Of course, come Gale.”
“Okay!” Gale hooped off the seat following Shining Armor to the public toilets.
Celestia using her magic to pick up the board and pieces, they vanish in a flash of magic. “I really like to thank you Gustsave for this lovely evening, we really had a good night out.” Celestia got up from her seat using her magic to clean the surface of the table up for him.
Gustave whistled seeing how she removed any kind of mess left on the table surface to get cleaned up by a magical aura. “Impressive Princess.”
“It the least I can do for delaying you and your staff.” Celestia said to Gustave as she pick up Gale's bag with his plush in it with a foreleg, hooking it under her wing as she closed it against the bag. “This will be one of those moments my son will keep in his memories both in heart and in his book.”
Gustave le Grand hummed. “Le Gustave le Grand is happy to zee my customers are happy, le recent events that unfolded really has helped the business to expand in ways le Gustave never thought possible.” He place a talon on the chest with eyes closed before opening them again. “Prince Gale is and will always be our honorary guest to Le Gustave le Grand Icy Delights!” He raise a talon up pointing a claw up towards the ceiling showing gusto as he speaks with praise in his voice.
Celestia turn to see Gale coming out of the toilets with Shining Armor in tow. “I believe Gale be happy to hear that Gustave, also I believe before we go Gale would like to ask you something first.” Celestia about to give the bag to him. “You did wash your talons young cub didn't you?”
Gale rolled his eyes. “Yes... Mum...” Gale took the bag from her.
Shining Armor chuckled. “I know how you feel kiddo, I been there many times before with my mum.”
Gale pulled out the camera from the bag, he point to it, to himself and Gustave. “You wish for a photo of us?” He nods.”Le Gustave le Grand accepts!” He open the wings up with a puff of the chest.
Gale gave Shining Armor the camera, once he let go of it from resting on Shining's hoof the stallion used his magic to pick it up looking through the eye piece aiming the camera in their direction. “Princess I think you should be in it too.”
“Do you want me in it too son?” Gale nods, Celestia walk up behind them kneeing down on all four knees. “Is this good?” Celestia asked the captain, Shining nods. “Also take three, one for Gale, for me and for Gustave.” Gustave quickly turn his head to her. “I believe Gale would like you to have a memory of this too.”
Gale happily nod. “Magnifique...” He whispers and turn around to face the camera.
Captain Armor took a good look through the lens. “Prefect princess, now smile.” They smiled and he took the photo, three of them as requested, each polariod photo sliding out the front, Shining gives one to Gustave as it slowly appears on the polariod.
Gale took the camera and the remaining photos, giving one to Celestia before placing the other in the bag, Gale then aim the camera at Shining. “Look like you've getting another photo taken captain.”
“Fair enough.” He removed the helmet putting it under his foreleg standing to attention in front of Gale.
Gale laughed. “Funny! Like!” He took the photo. “Yay!” He took a few more shots of the dining area before putting it and the photos away. “Ready!”
Celestia ruffled his feathered head with her wing. “That we are, when we get home your going to have a bath than bed young cub.”
“Muuum!”
“You don't want to go to bed all sweaty and smelly do you?” Gale sniff his feathers and scrunch up his beak rapidly shaking his head. “Good.” She giggled and turn to Gustave. “I bid you and your staff a good night and thank you for the lovely meal as well the enjoyable night.” Celestia with Gale and Shining Armor walk down the stairs, Pound surprised to see they were still in store quickly unlock the doors to let them out, bidding them a good night too before they set off back to the castle in the distance.
Pound relock the doors turning around to see Gustave walking down the steps semi staring at the photo as it fully develops. “Boss, I had no idea they were st-”
Gustave speaks over him. “It fine, le Gustave zays this been a grand night, best we ever have.” Gustave reach the end of the steps. “You all will be getting a pay raise after the next pay, keep up the good work.” He walks to the office past the staff looking surprised by what he said.
Pound kept his static look. “Raise?” He raised a eye brow, glancing through the darken shades to the entrance. “That cub is something...” He whispered and turn to the still shocked staff. “Stop gotting and get back to cleaning up team, you two go up stairs and finish up what the boss haven't done.”
“Right away Pound!” The mare said and she with the stallion work colleague went up stairs to the kitchen of Fliers Delight, the other ponies went back to work with their cleaning.
Gustave enter his office flopping into his seat pulling the chief hat off tossing it onto the desk, he look at the photo again. “Dream of expansion is coming true and it because of one action the cub got me to act one... Magnifique prince Gale... Magnifique...” Gustave take a pin and pins the photo up on the notice board next to the newspaper clipping of a week ago, when he hosted the first Macaw Griffon party and it made news in a small column of the Canterlot Daily.
Things was looking up for the Prench Griffon and his growing business.
(Linebreak)
Chapter 53.5: Let Those Scones Sell – The day is Saturday at Griffonstone and Gilda trying to sell those Griffon Scones with no success on Friday afternoon.
Leaning against the wall of a very dilapidated building that seen better days was a light blue griffon with cream under neck to body, dark wings and tail tip with yellow feather tips calmly chowed down on a Griffon Scone, the blissful flavours danced around his taste-buds and this only lasted to the moment a landing thud came to his right.
Opening his eye lids, turning the blue eyes towards the sound was a dark grey wings and tail to grey body, light grey and white on the neck up to the face with tied up feathers behind her head as well a cheery look while carrying a bag full of letters stepped up to him. “Morning Gallus! Enjoying Gilda's scones I see! Aren't they the BEST!” Her own light blue eyes lit with joy.
He blow the feathers that drooped down in his field of vision slightly. “Yes... Best, now get lost Gabby!” Gallus like every griffon in Griffonstone does not want to be involved with the hyper happy griffon Gabby.
Gabby didn't. “I just had something AWESOME happen! Like to know what it is? Do ya!?”
“If I say yes, will you bug somegriffonelse?” Gallus gave a narrow annoyed glare at Gabby.
Gabby took that and agreed. “Sure!” She nods. “I got this letter from a Pegasus in armour! He came all the way from a place called Canterlot to have me! ME! To deliever this letter right away to Gilda!” Gabby showed the letter pointing to the seal over the back of the envelope. “See it even got one of those REALLY important seals on it!”
Gallus rolled his eyes in an unimpressed manner. “Woopy Doo, Gilda get a letter from a important puny pony.” Gallus did airquotes with his talons. “Now your done, buzz off!”
Gabby sighs putting the letter away and start to walk away when she noticed a used banana peel attached to the corner of the box. “Wait a second.” She pulls it off the box holding it up. “You got these from the trash, didn't you?”
“So what I did?” Gallus shrugs. “It good food, not letting it go to waste.”
Gabby turn to see Gilda's scone cart with fresh scones on it, she toss the banana peel in the trash can. “I don't get it, why would she throw them away or not able to sell any? They been the best scones she ever made, it doesn't make sense...” Gabby sat down trying to figure it out as Gilda fails to sell any to a griffon.
Gallus chuckled. “Maybe because somegriff that first bought them said they taste like rotten apples?”
The way Gallus said it got her to stare at him. “You said that didn't you?”
“What if I did? Not that you can prove it, so leave me to eat and get l-ACK!” Suddenly Gallus was lifted up by the sheer might of Gabby and had locked him in a tight grip hug, he couldn't move his forelegs, talons unable to reach her or her forelegs, he kicking the hindlegs uselessly with tail flailing around. “Let me go you crazy griffon!”
“Not to you admit to Gilda that you lied to her! You said you LIKED them! You lied to her when you bought one with a few bits! That wrong and I won't stop hugging you till you yield and apologise!” Gabby said in a stern serious voice.
Gallus struggling to break free looking around rapidly for any griffon around. “Stop hugging me! All the griffs will get the wrong impression seeing you doing this to me!”
“Let them! It be your own fault for lying to my cousin! I don't care she mean to me, she family and family is family!” Gabby refused to budge.
The young teen's heart racing a mile a minute as he started to panic, the results of his claustrophobia and the embarrassing scene he is in was causing him to start breathing heavily with sweat running down his feathered face. “Fine! You win! I yield! I yield! I'll tell her the truth that I lied!”
“Do you promise?”
“Yes I promise I swear! I will tell the truth!”
Gabby let's go and Gallus fly a bit back from her holding a talon over his chest catching his breath. “Now that wasn't so hard was it?” Gabby grins waving him to follow as she takes off to the scone cart.
Gallus finally caught his breath. “For a adult that small she really strong and scary when she has to be, that dumb hyper griffon really freaks me out.” Gallus flew after her knowing he wouldn't escape Gabby's wrath if he tries to flee.
They land at the scone cart to find it unoccupied.
Gallus looked around. “Oh well she not here, I'll come back la-” Gallus turn to fly off to only get a scare as Gilda lands right in front of him. “Ah! Gi-Gilda, hehe... Hi?” He nerviously step back as she step forwards, he noticed something around her next part from the locket. “I-is that a cam-”
“Camera? Sure is dweeb.” Gilda grins and pulling out from under her wing a developed photo showing Gabby hugging Gallus. “Got to say that a rather cute photo.”
Gallus gulped. “You-how-” Suddenly it clicked turning to Gabby showing a massive grin on her beak showing her teeth with full happiness. “Y-you knew Gilda knew!?”
“Yep! I told her last night what I saw, so she told me to play along and boom!”
“But-yo-I-”
Gilda chuckled. “I think we broke him.” Gilda give the photo to Gabby. “Nice job cous, even you are a very annoying one Gabrielle.”
Gabby giggled. “I know RIGHT!” Gilda flinched. “Hehe sorry! I got carried away!” She held up the photo. “That a keeper!” She put the photo away in the bag. “Don't worry Gallus the photo just going to sit on the wall with the rest of my photos I keep at home! No giff will see it other than me of course!” She said with excitement.
Gallus rubbed the back of his next confused by what was going on, everything happened so fast that he was very lost. “Riiigght...” He slowly turn to Gilda. “Sorry for lying, how can I make it up so I don't get a death hug from that crazy griffon?” He points to Gabby.
Gilda push a tray of cooked scones into his talons, one for Gabby too. “You two going to take these around, get the griffons to try them out for free as tasters, than if they like they tell them to come here for a opening sale of five scones for the price of eight bits instead of two bits a scone, saving them two bits for five instead of paying ten, got it?”
Gallus blinked. “That it?”
“That it you dweeb, I don't care you dumbster dive through everygriff trash can, I don't like being lied too cub.” Gilda turn to put on baking gloves on taking a tray of scones to put in the oven.
Gallus blinked. “What the catch?”
Gilda groans. “There is NO catch you idiot!” She turn to Gabby. “Fine if you want a stupid catch, here a catch you feather brain! If you don't do this I get Gabby to share the photo with EVERY Griffon in Griffonstone!”
Gabby was about to say something but Gilda hints to her to shut up and she did. “Okay that good enough for me!” Gallus quickly darts off.
“Gilda I wouldn't do that!” Gabby finally was able to say something.
Gilda sighs. “Sometimes you have to be mean to be kind, trust me I had experience recently with that.” Gilda turn away.
Gabby gasped. “Oh I almost forgot, a armoured pony drop by after the daily mail arrived from the usual train, it for you!” Gabby give Gilda the letter and flies off with the tray of scones.
Gilda look at the letter resting on her baker gloved covered talons. “Why would Celestia get one of her guards to deliver this to me?” Gilda muttered taking off the gloves and breaking the seal to see inside, she pulls out a set of photos.
Each photo was of the night out with son and mother at Gustave's restaurant, she flip through each photo seeing how happy Gale was till she stop dead in her tracks seeing one being of her first encounter with Gale, the very death hug Gale gave to her. “Wow you really know how to hit the heart strings Celestia...” Gilda muttered pulling out a letter, as she did a piece of paper fell to the ground getting blown away by the wind and reading the letter.
Dear Gilda
Sealed within the envelope are a few photos of last night and a few with you and Gale, I am really happy that he sees you as a big sister even though you are really rough around the edges, even keeping your image up you know how to be kind and gentle with my son.
You have done a lot in the last few weeks that really showed you are the best choice for being Gale's teacher, see you on Monday and hope you have a wonderful weekend.
From your friend, ruler of Equestria and trollestia
Princess Celestia
Gilda snorted slightly with a burst of laughter seeing that last part. “Geez you really are a troll.” She smiled putting the letter and photos back inside putting it on the under shelf of the cart for safety.
Suddenly a group of griffons came over. “Hey I tried one of those scones that those annoying griffons told you made, I want to see for my self and give me one right now.”
“Two bits and you get one.” Gilda growled.
“Here!” He shoves the two bits in her talon and Gilda gave the scone, he ate it and the eyes lit up. “Okay you won me over, give me five for eight bits!” He presented the bits, she took them and gave the bag of scones to him, the griffon quickly leaves.
Soon more griffons came hearing about the scones from others that bought the scones, she soon was selling them as fast they were being made, Gilda even got help from Gabby, what surprised her that Gallus now was giving them out taking the bits and adding them to the chest without trying to steal any.
The day went on and on till it came to a end as the sun started to set behind the large dead tree filled with griffon homes on the branches, the old castle in ruins, Gilda with the help from Gabby packed everything up. “So we good?” Gallus finally spoke up.
Gilda chuckled. “We good cub and here your cut.” She toss a bag of bits to him.
He caught it and look down at it with surprise seeing the gold coins. “Wh-what?”
“10 percent of today's sale Dumpster Diver.” She toss one to Gabby. “Gabrielle your cut too.”
Gabby held it looking down and back to Gilda. “GILDA THANK YO-!” She was stopped with a talon up from Gilda.
“No hugs, I get enough of that from that crazy cub back in Canterlot.” Gilda said with a annoyed warning voice.
Gabby nods. “Okay that fa-” She blinked. “Crazy cub in Canterlot? Is that where you been over the weekday?” She clicked to the armoured pony and the letter. “Oooooo the prince! Your that teac-”
Gilda stuffed a scone in Gabby's mouth causing her to start chewing on it. “I should of knew you know about him while the rest of the city is far behind on that news.”
Gallus raise a eye. “Prince? Am I missing something here?”
Gilda turn to him. “Cub, I will lay it out plain and simple to you, the ruler of Equestria has adopted a griffon around the same age as you, the only difference he had no memories, no way to speak and limited skills, I was the one that got him to say his first word and in agreement I signed up to be his teacher in writing and speaking.” She could see Gallus and what he might be thinking of. “Call me a egghead and you will see how far you can fly when I kick you right up the rump.” Gilda growled.
Gallus knew not to cross her now and he did get a bag of bits for the trouble. “Yeah... No, I am good.” He blew up the feathers on his head. “We cool, see ya!” Gallus did a mock salute taking off to the sky to the dilapidated building before anything worse to come out of it.
Gabby reach out. “Wa-” Gilda took her foreleg and shook her head. “But Gilda...” Gilda let's go of the foreleg.
“Cous, I know, but it up to him, D-Gallus.” She corrected herself. “He has to come around at his own time, even I am acting like a total dork at times now, this is Griffonstone and things don't work like Equestria works, Grandpa Gruff also his guardian and you know what Griffon laws are.”
Gabby sighs. “Yeah I know...” She turn to Gilda. “Guess I was lucky to have you as a cousin, hmm?”
“Of course you did dork, I will do some research on the side to see if there any loop hole to get around Grandpa Gruff, just give me time okay? Egghead stuff isn't my thing.” Gabby nods with a smile forming as her more brighter personality surfaces once again. “Keep your head high and no matter how many times the griffons slam their doors in your face, don't stop being you.” Gilda grab the bar lifting it up to pull the scone cart away. “Nights, Gabrielle.”
Gabby waved to Gilda. “Goodnight Gilda!” She turn to fly off back to her own home. “Oooo maybe I can go to Canterlot too and see him for my self!” Gabby's attention turn to meeting Gale. “I do have a letter I think that need to be delivered to Gustave le Grand from his aunt!” She clapped at the idea with excitement. “Tomorrow! I'll go tomorrow! Special Sunday delivery!” Gabby speeds off.
Gilda pulling the cart watch the hyper young adult fly home. “Not so subtle cous, I knew soon as she clued in fully that would be her next move, now it my turn to troll you Celestia, with a hyper friendly kind.” She chuckled lightly. “Gale you better be prepared, Gabrielle is on her way.”
Gallus lands in the dilapidated building pushing a wood board back, walking in he closed it back up, using a match to light up a candle, the inside the one room intacted, the rest was destroyed by roof or wall collapse, the room was a small room with a makeshift bed, crate by it with a small chest on top of it, the walls and windows in the room with planks over them where there was openings to the outside.
Gallus open the chest up tossing the bag of bits inside, it land by a strew filled sowed up plush that look like him and a card with 'Happy Birthday son' on it. He stares at it for a second and close up the chest with a sigh. “Whelp Gallus, another day and another night.” He flop onto the bed of strew covered by a tore sheet, resting his talons behind his head looking up at the only intact window, at the stars.
Something caught his attention, it was a piece of paper caught in the slight opening of the window, he got up and flew up to it, pulling the paper out and opening it out of curiosity. Gallus found it was a drawing of Gilda, a griffon he never seen before and four ponies, three look like they were royalty and the other wearing armour, the three had wing and horns, while the armoured one had a horn.
Gallus flap his wings slowly as he lands on back on the bed, closing them up he stared at the drawing. “That must be the griffon prince...” He poke the paper at Gale, a bluish white shimmer caught his attention as he poked it.
Gallus gasped suddenly finding himself standing in a foot of water, lifting and dropping his talons feeling the cool water push away and against them including his paws, he saw how crystal clear it was and the bluish white glow that lit up the water. The eyes lift from the water to find that Gallus was a rather large cavern where the water was a underground lake, in the middle of it that had his blue eyes lock on.
“That some weird glowing tree...” He whispered staring at the massive bluish white robes of light flowing through the trunk up to the branches to end at each leaf on it.
Gallus suddenly felt and saw a bluish white similar glowing talon touch his back from the corner of his eyes. “Interesting...” The calm soft female voice spoke giving Gallus a chill down his spin. “All possibilities of time, I never once saw this, you the young that yet to be the bearer, Gallus of Griffonstone should of never been here.”
Gallus was frozen in place as he felt the large talon move slightly on his back near his wing joints. “Wh-who are you and what is this place? What are you going to do to me?”
“Who I am is not yet to be known, this place is not yet to be known or should have, what I am going to do? Take a feather and give you a feather in exchange, study and learn of the unknown event that just happened.”
“What? Your not making any-sense, you know exactly who I am! How!?” Gallus growing frustrated.
“Our encounter maybe short but it been interesting.” She said softly grabbing his wing opening it gentle. “We may meet again, till and if we do, good bye Gallus bearer to come and of Griffonstone.” Gallus felt a strange sensation go through his wing right through his whole body.
Gallus quickly turn around. “Bea-” Suddenly he was staring at the wall of the dilapidated building he lived in. “I must be going crazy!” He open his wings up to see a faint glow, suddenly turning to see one of his primary flight feathers was now shimmering in a bluish white glow.
“A feather for a feather...” Gallus mutters staring at the glowing single feather grabbing his wing with the talon feeling the feather. “I am now a freak, just great, I wish that stupid feather look like my own!” The feather suddenly changed matching his own. “Wait what!?” He feels it again and the strange feeling was still there.
The rush of confusion to understand what happened and what going on got to him, he wobbles and faints landing on his side passing out, the candle flickers and goes out with the faint smell of burned smoky wick filling the air as Gallus now most likely will not be waking up till morning, the drawing missing from his talon.
That drawing was now held by the bluish white semi glowing talon with the dark blue feather resting on the side of the paper, before her the huge glowing tree in the middle of the underground lake new branches started to grow with new leaves emerging from them.
In the Royal Dining room Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Gale and Blueblood sat at the table having a mid-morning breakfast, Gale enjoying his pancakes with a messy covered whipcream beak, Celestia reading through some reports and forms that Blueblood returned with she had to sign, as she did Celestia ate pancakes and drank some tea, Cadance talking to Luna about ideas of her wedding to come in the beginning of summer with Shining Armor.
The plan of the day for them was to have a some what simple quiet day till that plan was already about to be uprooted. “It seems your trip to Manehatten been quite the successful one Blueblood, these deals will not only help the companies there but the ponies that work at these places.” Celestia look through the pages.
“It took some convincing but I must say that I even outdid myself on this one aunty.” Blueblood said with pride putting a hoof to his chest.
Celestia using a quill she made to appear from her magical pocket dimension to sign the paper. “Safe to say that all of this can be approved, it will be a benefit for all beings in Equestria.” Blueblood smugly accepted the praise from Celestia for his hard work.
A knock came from the west hallway doors. “Come in.” Luna called out.
The doors open for a guard to walk in and salute. “Princess and princes, I do apologise for disturbing your breakfast but a griffon at the gates calming to be Griffoness Gilda cousin.”
Cadance sighed. “Again...” She got from her chain. “I will go Aunty.”
Celestia raise a hoof. “Wait, usually a guard from the gates don't come up, they are dealt with by Captain Armor and reported after the fact.”
“Indeed...” Blueblood said dryly getting a agreed nod from Luna.
Celestia raise a hoof to the guard. “Lieutenant please continue.”
He lower the hoof standing to attention as he spoke. “The griffon whispered a word to me that would confirm her to be the cousin of the Griffoness.”
“And that word is?”
“Erm... Princess should I tell you in erm... private?” He started to get a bit nervious.
Celestia shook her head. “I am sure it be fine, please tell me.”
The guard coughed into his gold hoofshoe first and responses. “This is a exact quote from the griffon... 'Gilda gave me this to open when I got to Canterlot from my delivery of the letter to Gustave and to say this to one of you quietly to pass on to her, Trollestia.' End quote...”
Celestia kept a very natural calm look but deep down she was cursing a mile a second upon hearing that, Luna burst into laughter falling backwards off her chair rolling around, Blueblood stared in shock, Cadance giggling under her hooves and Gale pointing to Celestia. “Mum, Gilda say, remember Gilda say!”
“Thank you...” Celestia nod to the guard. “You may go, but please do not repeat what you were told to anyone else if you may?”
The guard sweating crazily shakingly salutes. “Y-yes princess... N-no-not a word.” He quickly using the magic to open the doors and leave in the best orderly manner he could muster.
Luna still on the ground holding her gut with the forelegs trying to catch her breath. “Are you quite done sister?” Celestia raise a eye.
“Ooo yes... Hehe... The best breakfast ever has been doubled!” She raise a hoof up before finally getting back up on all fours using the magic to pick up her chair. “You really know how to pick them don't you sister?”
Celestia showed a slight smile. “Indeed I do Luna, I am going to greet this cousin of Gilda's she must be trusting to give such a word to pass on.” With that Celestia was gone in a flash.
Gale tilt his head. “Mum, anger?”
“No cousin, embarrassed maybe, a bit pride wounded but that about it.” Cadance said to Gale.
Blueblood look over each of them. “It seem I am out of the loop on this, care to explain 'that' word and why a griffon allowed to call aunty Celestia such things?”
Luna smirked. “The things that I and my sister got up to back in the day would bring nightmares to you Blueblood.”
Blueblood didn't like the sound of it. “I believe I do not wish to know aunt Luna, I have some... Paper work to complete, good-day.” He got up from the table and left the room.
Gale turn to Luna with curiosity. “Before Nightmare thingy?”
“Before Nightmare thingy.” Luna calmly replied. “I'll get around to telling you someday about it, that a promise nephew.” Gale squawks happily and go back to eating. “For now it a bit sensitive...” She whispered to herself going back to eating while they await for Celestia's return.
Celestia appears not to far from the gates, taking the short walk to them the sound of hoof steps came from behind, turning her head to see Shining Armor trotting up to her. “Captain.”
“Princess, you do not need to worry I'll deal with this seventh griffon this weekend...” Shining stated as he continue to march over to the gate.
Celestia open a wing across blocking him. “I believe this one is different.”
Shining looked up at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Gilda's little word about me was received.” Celestia said closing her wing up. “Come but keep quiet.” Shining nods and follow her to the gate.
They started to hear a overly bouncy happy female voice speaking towards most likely a guard. “-here these would work perfectly for your wedding anniversary!”
The guard voice came afterwards with surprise. “Th-These are-”
“Yep that are! Funny story about them! I helped the owner of the theatre after doing some mail runs and he was sooooo greatful for my help he gave me them.” The cheery voice souls a little. “But I am not into the whole musical play things and wasn't sure what to do with them.” Her voice suddenly turned back to high forms of happiness. “Now I know what to do with them and give them to you!”
“I-I don't know how to thank you thank... We love musicals and always wanted to go there...” The guard sounds very happy as Celestia reach the gates to see the mix tone grey griffon, she looked very pleased with the way the guard reacted, he giving her a hug and she returning it.
Celestia kept just out of sight from them with Shining Armor listening in.
Gabby giggled. “I am just happy that your happy! Now all I got to do is wait for Princess Celestia to turn up or that guard to return.”
“What did you say to him by the way?” The guard put the two tickets away.
“Oh Gilda wrote it here.” She pulled out the letter from the bag pointing to the part with the other talon while hovering on the spot flapping her wings. “It something Gilda calls her when-”
Celestia makes her move to come to the gate, Shining Armor quickly moving up to her side as they walk through to greet the young adult griffon. “Hello young griffon, I gather you are the cousin of Gilda?” Celestia spoke looking down upon the grey griffon.
The griffon looked up. “Your Princess Celestia! I saw only pictures and statues of you! WOW your really tall as others said you are!” She giggled slapping the side of her head in a mockey way. “Silly me! I am Gabrielle but I like being called Gabby, yet Gilda always call me by my name.” She put her talon out. “It a pleasure to meet you!”
Celestia warmly smiled placing her hoof upon the talon and shook a few times. “It a pleasure to meet you Gabby.”
Shining Armor step forwards as Celestia move her hoof away. “I do lik-”
Gabby grabbed his hoof as he raised it towards her with both talons shaking it. “WOW! Your Captain Blue Hooves! The one that getting married to Princess Candy! Congratulates!” Gabby interrupted him with overwhelming excitement.
She let go the hoof but it kept shaking till Shining put it down on the ground. “Okay I am convinced...”
“Convinced?” Gabby tilt her head. “Oooooh!” She clocked on what he was saying. “Gilda wrote what you look like right here, pony in armour without hoofshoes that have blue colour hooves, also getting married cause Gilda saw you pro-”
Shining Armor put a hoof on her beak. “Yes that is correct, you don't need to go into any more detail okay?” She nods and he remove the hoof from her beak. “My name is actually Shining Armor and I proposed to Cadance.”
Gabby giggled. “Gilda and her nicknames, she like you if you gave you one!” Gabby happily said to Shining holding up the paper. “Gilda wrote on the envelope telling me not to open it till I did my delivery to Gustave le Grand, a letter from his aunty in Griffonstone, she got word on how his restaurant doing amazingly well!”
Celestia hint to the letter. “May I?”
“Here you go!” Gabby let Celestia take the letter.
Celestia took a good look at it. “It definitely Gilda's talon writing and she summarised the last few weeks on here too, quite the short talon she got working here.” Celestia gave the letter back. “I wouldn't be surprised that Gilda kept back more about her past and family.”
Gabby nods. “She not exactly the one for speaking about that kinda stuff.” Gabby fold the letter up putting it back in her bag picking up the box off the ground. “I usually don't do deliveries on a Sunday but I wanted to really meet Gale so I had the letter and just thought what the heck and come!” She said rapidly and in one breath.
Shining Armor raise a eye. “Fair enough... But you or he never met yet, why would you be driven to meet him?”
“That easy silly! The letter said that Gale see Gilda as his big sister! She the first REAL griffon he met and WOW talk about how effecting her to even call him her little brother!” Gabby explained dancing on the spot with rapidly tip tapping of talons and paws on the spot. “I am sooo excitement to meet a new cousin cause he and Gi-”
Shining used his magic to close her beak again. “I get it and understand, I have to say your one of the most hyper friendist griffons I ever met.” He remove the magic from her beak. “Please try and rein in some of that excitement, you might scare him.”
Celestia hummed slightly thinking about that, she could see that playing out. “I have to agree with the captain.”
Gabby salutes. “Got it!” She grinned. “Sooooo... Can I meet him?”
Celestia nods opening her wing to let Gabby through, Gabby squealed in delight flying past the gate while holding the box under one foreleg. “Quite the griffon don't you say Captain?”
“Quite the griffon indeed, I bet you twenty bits she haven't planned anything up to meeting him.” Shining Armor said without looking at Celestia walking into the castle.
Celestia gave a smile. “I will accept your bet Captain.” She glanced over to the guard. “Have fun at your first anniversary marriage Sargent Shieldwing.” Celestia follows Shining Armor, the guard looked stunned without a word said, Celestia somehow knew and he wouldn't be able to figure out how.
Gabby standing inside the entrance of the castle looking around. “Oh wow look at this place! It so huge! I bet I would easily get lost in this place!”
“I believe you would.” Celestia said from behind her. “Come with us.” Celestia walk by Gabby with Shining Armor.
“Okay!” Gabby happily followed them up a flight of stairs.
Shining Armor glance to Gabby as they walked. “What do you know of the kiddo?”
Gabby walking on three of her four legs while holding the got with the fourth looked up thinking about the letter. “Some of it was confusing, I read it a few times to be sure but I still confused.”
Celestia watch the guard salute as they pass each that on portal or stand at their stations. “About my son on how things are not as they seem?”
“Yep!”
“I advise not speaking of it here, what wrote on that letter isn't widely known.” Gabby took Celestia's word with the heed of warning. “I am curious about how you are different to the others.”
Gabby shrugged. “I never liked being mean and greedy, I like to help and doing deliveries is one way of doing so, even if the griffons at Griffonstone don't show it and slam doors in my face.” Gabby recalling how rude every griffon is. “But once a year on the Blue Moon Festival they not so mean, I get to spend time with Gilda enjoying the only day she would call me Gabby.”
“I recalled Gilda mentioning that.” Shining Armor recalled what Gilda had said before. “Never knew the name, but now I do.”
They turn heading towards a set of two large doors. “I do have a question for you Gabby.”
“Shoot!”
As Celestia nod to the guards and they open the doors to the dining room Celestia asks the question. “In your excitement of coming to Canterlot to meet my son Gale, did you think of what you would do after meeting him? What kind of activities you might do with Gale?”
Gale peer over his chair with a mouth full of pancakes chewing on it with his eyes set upon Gabby's, he getting to see another griffon that suppose to be Gilda's cousin, her blue eyes looking back upon his own golden brown, he swallowed and waved a talon. “Hi!” He squawked happily.
“Hi!” Gabby waved back happily and now stared into space as if all her boundless of endless energy just stopped upon realising the one thing she didn't think about. “No...”
Celestia summoned a bag of bits giving it to Shining Armor. “You win this round captain, now how about we suggest some ideas shall we?”
Shining took the bag of bits. “I believe we can brain storm a few.”
Celestia put a wing over Gabby. “We all living beings Gabby, we all sometimes rush head on into things that once we reach the go... The goal is different to what we thought it be.” Celestia move her wing and walk inside. “Come and join us.”
Gabby took in what Celestia said and realised being face to face with the young prince...
Gabby walks inside the dining room as Celestia and Shining Armor walk up to the table, the guards using their magic to close the doors up, Gabby noticed Luna and Cadance. “I like to present to you all Gilda's cousin Gabrielle, we got enough proof to confirm it from a letter Gilda gave to her.” Celestia announced Gabby to the her sister and niece.
“Hi! I like being called Gabby though and it nice to meet you two! Princess Candy and Lunspearan!”
Celestia instantly snorted upon hearing that word, Luna raise a eye in a unamused look, Cadance covering her muzzle trying not to laugh, Gale tilt his head. “Lunspearan?”
“Yeah! Gilda wrote in the letter that you are into the whole Griffspearan thing! Where the WE and THOU stuff they perform at theatres! I been a few to those and the way they word things is funny.” She giggled after a rapid reply to Luna.
Luna grumbles a little. “Curse that griffon...” She get a set of laughter from others, Gale suddenly caught on and joyed in. “Haha very funny.” Luna deadpanned. “My name is Luna, that little name is Gilda's doing...”
Gabby giggled walking up to the table. “Yeah that about right and your Cadance right?” Cadance nods. “I got told by erm... Shining Armor your real name, just thought I say what Gilda suggested, she said it get a good response from it and it look like it did!”
Luna turn to Celestia. “That it did, only fair in games of trolling don't we think Celestia?”
Celestia coughed into her foreleg. “Yes Luna, I agree, what comes around go around.” Celestia using her magic to pull a chair out for Gabby. “Come sit with us and have some breakfast, I gather your flight here was long and speedy?”
Gabby walk up to the table putting the box down on it and sitting on the seat. “It sure was, I got to see a lot of cool views on the way!” Gabby replied and turn to Gale looking at her curiously.
Gale got up from his seat walking up to her holding his plush. “Mail griffon?” Gale then flap his wings taking off and fly around the table doing a lap to land in front of Gabby with his plushy out to her.
Gabby giggled taking the plushy with her talons as Celestia watched and place pancakes with a cup of apple juice in front of the grey griffon. “Yep that I am and fly all over to deliver mail from letters to boxes, depending on the size of course.” Gabby noticed the label symbols. “Huh? Symbols for the letter...” She whispered and repeated it over. “Oh I forgot!” She gave back the plushy to Gale ruffling her talon through the bag.
Gale holding his plush tilt his head in confusion. “G-G...You okay?”
Gabby continue shuffling her talon through the page. “Come on where is it?” She pulls it out. “Found it!” Gabby presents it to Gale. “This is for you, the letter was left at Gustave le Grand's restaurant yesterday by a pony size griffon with forepaws instead of talons.”
“That sound like a griffon we know of.” Luna said looking at the letter as it was given to Gale by Gabby. “Did Gustave leave a description of this griffon having a energetic personality?” Gabby had cut up the pancakes and took a bite out of.
Gale shifting the envelope around trying to figure out how to get the letter inside.
Gabby nods as she was chewing on the pancakes, enjoying the delightful bite. “That does sound like a little friend.” Shining Armor confirmed what Luna was aiming for with her question and the answer Gabby gave. “Greystorm's wife must of saw you at Griffonstone and had found out you be coming here this morning.”
“These pancakes are amazing!” Gabby said with glee.
Celestia nods with approval. “I made them myself.”
Gabby tap her tip of the beak now thinking about what Shining said. “You said wife, erm... He not a she...”
“Have you heard of a race called Changelings?” Celestia asked.
Gabby rubbed the underside of her beak drinking a bit of the apple juice. “Nope, never, I know of griffons, ponies, cows, minotaurs, donkeys... But never heard of a changeling, what can they do?”
Cadance spoke up. “They are bug like ponies and have the magic to shift their forms and consume love as a energy source, the one that with Greystorm is his wife and she shares love which is surprising but true as well absorb it, she most likely the griffon that gave the letter.”
“Ooo I wouldn't mind meeting her, she sounds AWESOME in changing appearances like that!”
Shining Armor chuckled. “We found another that like the magic of transfiguration.”
Luna was lost in thought about why Gabby delivered it and not he in pony. “I am curious about one thing, why leave the letter for Gabby to deliver it from Gustave le Grand's restaurant?”
“That is a curious question indeed...” Celestia responded
“I open it!” Gale cheer in delight showing he managed to finally open the envelope up. “Found paper!” He pull it out.
“That you did.” Celestia giggled. “It your letter go ahead a read it.”
Gale nods and his eyes scan the paper.
Hey Gale
Under the table nearest to you hopefully stuck on the underside is a box, in it is something really special and remember listening in on a discussion between towards you and your once pet Leela. Becareful freeing it from the harden green goo, the item inside will revile what I meant, take good care of it okay?
I made sure this letter get into the talons of Gilda's cousin Gabrielle, she is the right messenger to bring this to you, also for your little hang out go to the Canterlot Arcades since I believe she didn't think that far ahead, they are a hyper of a fun day place to go to and before you know it time already flown by.
We going to be out of town from Trottingham for a week or so due to some findings we discovered within the place we discovered.
Take care of yourself cub, see you soon and keep your studies up!
From Octicovix
Gale shown a deepen frown reading over the beginning part again, he put the letter down on the floor leaving it by his plush as he crawls under the table to find this box encased in goo. “Gale what are you doing under there?” Celestia called out to him. “Come on out from under there please!”
Gale didn't listen and looked around to see that box held on the underside of the table. “Box found!” He grabbed it and as he pulled it free the goo cracked to pieces, he crawled out from under the table raising his prize up in the air getting up on his paws. “Octicovix box me!”
Gabby gave a really confused look at the box in Gale's talons, she quickly got the letter and read through it. “I am soooo confused! The letter was given to Gustave to give to me to give it to Gale, but the letter hints to a box under the table? Why didn't she just have it with the letter at Gustave's place?” She scratching her feathered head.
Gale sat down at his seat feeling a strange warmth coming from the box edges against his talons, opening the lid he found a blackish grey egg between glowing warm crystals. “Egg?”
“Did you say egg?” Celestia asked and Gale nods tilting it slightly to show her. “T-that a black phoenix egg...” Celestia stared with surprise.
“Black phoenix egg? I never seen a phoenix before! Is that what one look like as a egg?” Gabby curiously asked.
Luna got up walking around to Gale to get a good look in the book. “It is definitely a phoenix egg, I can see why Octicovix had it placed here and left just the letter at the restaurant.”
Gale tilt his head looking up at Luna as she towered over his seat looking down at him and the content in the box. “Aunty Luna, why?”
“There are unsavoury characters that would do very bad things to get a hold of a egg like this...” Luna stares at the egg. “How did Octicovix find this?”
“A question we will have to ask when she returns.” Celestia said picking up the letter with her magic. “Octicovix gave the egg to Gale, question is why?” She questioned and reads the letter.
Luna ruffled her wings nervously. “I believe that might have been mine and Gilda's own doing... We were talking about a pet for Gale after learning about the dog Leela...” Luna turn to Celestia. “Octicovix most likely was there as a guard.”
Gabby looking left and right. “I am very confused...”
Gale gentle move his talon over the egg feeling it surface. “What do?”
Shining Armor speaks up. “We make sure to keep it warm, wait till it hatches or when Octicovix returns we figure out if we can get this egg back to it nest.”
“Either way this is a young innocences that need protection.” Cadance got up from her seat.
Celestia raise a hoof. “Son may I take the box?” Gale nods putting it on the table. “I will take this to my own pet phoenix Philomena, she will the best option keeping the egg safe.” Gale stared with surprise, Celestia smiled. “Come on Gale let's go see Philomena.”
“Mum, yes!” He got up and quickly left with Celestia through a set of doors.
Gabby looked around the room. “Wow that happened!”
“It sure did.” Shining replied. “Well we just have to wait till they get back, no point letting good food go to waste, right?”
“I am going to turn i-” Luna's stomach growls slightly. “Traitor!” The others laugh.
Cadance took the letter as they all sat back down and ate the pancakes on the plates, she noticed the part about the arcades. “Hmm... Gabby?”
“Yeesh?” Gabby said with a beak full of pancakes, she swallowed laughing with a rub the back of the head. “Sorry!”
“It fine, no harm done.” Cadance replied and press the question. “How are you at video games?”
Gabby tap the tip of her beak. “Fairly good, play them when I've done delivering mail to Las Pegasus, why?”
Celestia opened a set of doors to outside the castle secure from the public, walking outside of the castle with Gale just behind her carrying the box with both talons flapping his wings, he noticed she was leading him to a large glass circular building with a glass dome on top, he noticed within it was plants and trees he haven't seen around the city or Ponyville.
“This part of the castle grounds is the private gardens, they only opened during the Grand Galloping Gala and other official events, where we are going is to the greenhouse, it is where Philomena stays at her own choosing.” Celestia explained to Gale as he noticed a few ponies working on trimming plants, planting flowers, watering some and a few guards doing their rounds.
Gale noticed a few animals watching with caution, specially at him. “Animals?” He asked about the many different animals.
“Ah yes, they are from different parts of the world, they are very timid to those th-” Celestia turn around to continue speaking to Gale to pause seeing they all gathered around him curiously looking and sniffing at him. A few bird land on his head chirping and looking down at him.
Gale looked to his mum with pleading gaze. “M-mum...”
Celestia turn around. “Well this is something, they never gathered around any pony, griffon or any creature before, not this quickly, it seem they like you.”
“Muuuum...” Gale whines.
Celestia laughed and gestures to them. “Give my son some room please your making him nervous.”
They did as she asked giving Gale space, he hovering on the spot look around at them including the birds hovering away from him. “Nice animals?” He asked looking around they nodding to him with surprise they responded. “Erm... hi!” He smiled. “Wave would but holding egg, sorry.” They nod again and go off their own ways back into the depth of the gardens. “Why animals erm... That?”
“They like you, most they just keep hiding from or running away, they usually very skittish among new faces.” Celestia stated. “Come on Gale let's go meet the young lady Philomena.” Gale nods and follow her once again. “Now, she close to about 100 years old, got a bit of a mischievous streak going at the moment, Philomena can understand exactly what we say.” Celestia glance over her shoulder to the slowly flying teen.
Gale nods. “Okay mum.”
Celestia let Gale know about the race of Phoenixes. “Being a phoenix she go through a phase where all her feathers fall out and burst to flames, from the ashes she springs up like a daisy, it a life circle of an phoenix that have them very long lived, you will never see a old phoenix.”
“Why?”
Celestia using her magic opens the glass doors that lead to another set in front of them. “It something they do, a bit over dramatic if you ask me.” Gale walk through with Celestia, she close the doors behind them and open the second lot.
Gale got a rush of warm air right in his face. “Cool...” Gale was amazed by the warmth he felt as they walked in. “Wow wow wow!” Gale saw the different plants closer than before, he could also see large colourful flowers he never seen before.
“Indeed wow.” Celestia smiled walking down the stone path. “Come Gale, let's find Philomena shall we?”
Gale nods and follows, as they walk he saw the makeshift waterfall and wooden bridge over it, he wondered who it had a strange nice warmth about the place, they turn around a rock formation heading to a gazebo that had six red orange flame pillars with the same colour theme on the roof.
Celestia hummed looking at it. “I do wonder if I might be spoiling her a little, that gazebo colour scheme was her idea afterall.” Celestia walk up to the nest at the middle of it, she couldn't see the phoenix. “Now I wonder where the young lady is.”
Gale put the box down by the nest looking around at the torches that were lit with the large nest of golden shaped sticks weaved in and out, Gale rubbed a talon over it. “Gold?”
“Indeed, it a special type that doesn't melt to intense heat and comfortable to sleep on too for Philomena.” Celestia said walking out to take a look around for her. “She quite a clash of colours to the green, she surprisingly good at hiding.” Celestia calls out. “Philomena! Come on out! I like you to finally meet my son Gale!”
No sight or response from the phoenix as Celestia looked around for any sight of her, Gale saw a feather in the nest, climbing into it he picked up the feather with his talon. “Pretty...” He wave it around, Gale suddenly felt something landed on his back and slowly turn his head to have his golden brown eyes meeting solid yellow eyes staring back, the tall imposing slider phoenix had perched herself on his back. “Pretty.” He looked up and down at the red, orange and yellow colours of the phoenix. “Mum, found!”
Celestia turn and walk up to the nest seeing where Philomena was. “You cheeky young lady.” Philomena squawks happily flapping her wings lifting off from Gale and landing by him. “Quite the sight isn't she?”
Gale wave his talon through the flicking flamelites from the wings as the phoenix flap them a little. “Warm, ticklish.” He said with a big smile. “You pretty!” She squawks with approval at that statement.
“We wish we were here on a little friendly visit Philomena but Gale got something that need your help.” Celestia stated, the phoenix turn to Celestia squawking and waving her wings a bit. “Gale show her please.”
Gale hop out of the nest and pick up the box opening it to show her. “Egg.” Philomena took a good look at it and the heat crystals around it, she looked very surprised.
Celestia saw the shock from the phoenix. “It a black phoenix egg isn't it?” Philomena nods to confirm it. “You and I know how rare and delicate they are, a changeling wife to Mayor Greystorm the griffon of Trottingham somehow came across it and thought it be best in Gale's care.” Celestia explained to her pet.
Philomena wave her wing for Gale to bring the box into the nest, he did so and she point to the part of it to place the egg down in, Gale put the box down and carefully lift the egg out placing it down between the golden sticks, she walk over and put a talon in the box lifting the heat crystals, placing each one down around the egg.
Gale watched as she wave a wing over the crystals and they glowed with new warmth. “Oooo...” Gale felt the warmth through his talon as he held it close to it. “Ouch!” Gale turn to see Philomena pluck a feather from his wing, one of the loose ones and put it down by the egg. “Why my feather?”
“If I recall the egg reacts to a phoenix fire and a unique form of magic, one that isn't from Equestria.” Celestia said and Philomena wave her wing with flames coming off it landing on the feather to catch it alight.
As it burns the flame suddenly turns bluish white, the heat burst made Gale jump back flapping his wings as he took the air with shock from the heat he felt, Philomena nods in approval as the flames die down, the crystals now glowing a bluish colour. “Pretty...”
“Octicovix should be back here at weeks end, she might know where the nest and it parents are, if it start to hatch before hoof, please find me and Gale immediately Philomena.” The phoenix gave a wing salute in understanding the princess's request.
Gale noticed something was missing. “Plush!” He quickly flies off, the phoenix coos sadly but Gale returns to hug her. “Pretty bird! Happy! See next time!” He flies off again.
She chirps happily with a few flap of her wings. “I did want to surprise him with you Friday, but I guess some plans just don't work how we planned them, right Philomena?” The phoenix laughed in response. “Oh you!” Celestia laughed too. “Thank you for taking care of the egg at such short notice.” Philomena turn to the egg and back to Celestia with a glimmer of shine from her solid yellow eyes.
“I will make sure to get you a really nice treat later on, promise.” Philomena wave her wings pushing Celestia. “Okay I am going young lady!” The princess teleports to catch up with Gale knowing where he be going.
The red, orange and yellow phoenix turn to the egg staring deeply at it with a soft coo before settling down in the nest next to it, she nuzzling the crystals to keep the egg warm, it wouldn't be the first phoenix egg she took care of and her thoughts go towards the young griffon.
Celestia did right by raising him, even it meant the phoenix saw a little less of her adopted mother, but she knew that Gale would be coming by to see her and the egg, that filled her with happiness getting a young renewed soul to interact with her.
Shining Armor, Cadance, Gabby and Gale with a small group of guards in the distance walk by streets full of restaurants to a large building, just like Gustave's restaurant this one really stuck out with a cartoonish explosion over the entrance, two triangle looking ships with wings shooting towards it with two streaks behind it.
Gale noticed it was lacking windows on the sides but only the front from what he could tell, ponies from young to teenage with adult ponies walking inside, the building was a dark shade of blue with the explosion and triangle ships brighter colours really standing out with the large letters in griffish for effect.
'CANTERLOT ARCADES'
Something about the building sign gave him a sense of familiarity, Gale as they got closer could hear the sound of chatter mixed with music and noises of all different kinds, his ears flicker to each sound and upon stepping inside the size of the place showed itself, there was a mix of interaction games to game machines and vs table games.
Gale knew one of them in a instant upon seeing it, somehow the table with the two ponies playing he knew the name of it... “Air hockey?” Gale blurted out.
Shining Armor and Cadance looked at each other with surprise while Gabby grab Gale's talon with her's. “Let's go play it! There a table free right over there!”
“Yay!” Gale nods, he gave Shining Armor his plush and rush off with Gabby to play it.
Shining Armor holding it with his foreleg staring. “Please tell me I wasn't hearing things just now...”
“No I heard it too, that is the name of the game and also if he knew of it that would mean...” Cadance slowly pauses but sees a flyer land on the ground, she pick it up reading the first thing she saw. “Air Hockey, new to Canterlot Arcades, play with a friend.” Cadance laughed a little. “Wow I feel silly, I thought it was something from his past 4000 years ago.”
“Yeah it easy to over-react to that.” He looked around. “Best not to speak about it here, who knows what unsavoury ears could be listening, specially the reporters.” Shining Armor advised Cadance to drop the subject at the moment.
Cadance looking around as they walked in. “Your right Shiny.” She watching them playing with talons on the paddles hitting the disc shape puck back and forwards trying to score through the slots just under them at the end of each side. “I am glad I gave the bag of bits to Gabby ahead of arriving.” Cadance watched them play. “Look like they gotten right into it already.”
Shining Armor look to the upper level café that over looked the arcade floor. “Let's go up there, we can keep a eye on them up there.” The guards had too their stations in areas of the arcade floor out the way but in sight of each other, those in view of Gale and Cadance.
“Good idea love.” She walk up to the stairs heading up with Shining following.
They found a table and took a seat to be greeted by a pony. “Welcome to the Explosive Café, I am Dicey Shine and be your server, here are your menus and I will be back in a moment to take your orders for drinks.” The light blue unicorn with pink wild and wavy mane and tail wearing a dark blue top with the arcade logo on the centre neck piece.
“Thank you.” Shining Armor went to use his magic to take them but his horn flickered.
Cadance giggled and took them herself, the unicorn leaves. “Shiny you are holding Gale's plush still.”
Shining Armor glance down and groans. “Curse that plush and it interfering effect on magic.” Shining put the plush down next to him, he attempt to use the magic again and it works, he look over the balcony they sat on to see Gale and Gabby still at it. “I would have been surprised that Gilda had a cousin like this but I fall into that cartography with Twilight.”
“She failed to tell her friends in Ponyville?” Cadance asked the question she already knew the answer of.
“Yep.” They laughed.
Gale and Gabby were tied at four each, the disc sliding across back and forwards, the griffon instincts were benefiting both of them to the point most of the time it just luck or a slight miss of the paddle hitting the disc to cause it to deflect into their own goals.
Gabby hits it right down the middle and Gale hit back bouncing on the right to the left, she react to knock it against the sides back and forwards till Gale got a good hit on it sliding fast, Gabby knock it with her paddle to bounce behind it, reacting to try and stop it the disc is knocked in.
The score change with the numbers flashing showing the game was over. “Wow that AWESOME! Nice shot Gale! You beat me good!” She giggled. “I never had this MUCH fun in a long time! What else shall we go and play next?” Gabby looking around, Gale point to her and wave his talon around the arcade. “Oooo you want me to pick?” He nods. “Okay! Let's see...” She rubbed the talon under her beak thinking about what to pick next to play.
Gabby saw a few ponies playing on four different colourful drums matching the matching circles raising up. “Oooo I know! We play them!” Gabby grab his foreleg pulling the teenager over it as they ponies took the tickets from the machines and walk off. “We drum matching the colours that on the screens here and the better the score the more tickets we win for prizes over there!” Gabby point to the kiosk that had a sets of glass cases filled with different items, behind it and the pony at the prize kiosk were more costly ones.
Gale took a seat putting in a few bits into the slot, Gabby does the same. “Fun time?”
“Fun time! Let's drum away!”
Da-bam-bam-bah-da, Da-bam-bam-bah-da
Bah-bah-da, bah-bah-da
Da-bam-bam-bah-da, Da-bam-bam-bah-da
Gale and Gabby drumming away at the red, blue, green and yellow drums following the colour circles that move down the display on the white screens, hitting them at the black line they cross.
Gale tapping his right paw to the beats of each drum soon through the arcade sounds and different forms of music, a musical beat to each of the drum banging and paw tapping bled through.
Gale starts to sing to the beats
“Talons fall upon the drums The drums booming away Tapping that paw upon beat Singing to the beat of fun!”
Pony sitting at a Space Invaders game shooting in rhythm to the beat of the music and drums.
“Pew pew goes the defenders Taking out those invaders Scoring that highest score In the Canterlot Arcades”
As the colours at hit by Gale and Gabby's talons he sing out each one joined by Gabby both smiling as they glance at each other as they bang away.
"Red blue blue yellow green yellow yellow blue Red red Green Blue Blue red yellow green”
A mare and stallion sings out next while through basketballs up into the hoop.
“The balls with a dunk Chinching goes the goal Out come the tickets Win for those prizes”
Gale and Gabby continue to drumming with tickets coming out singing again with ponies cheering for them.
“Talons fall upon the drums The drums booming away Tapping that paw upon beat Singing to the beat of fun!
Banging the drums with talons The tickets pour upon the ground The prizes to win upon these tickets The gift to gift to family”
Ponies join in with a few flashing cards up into the air to each one that is sung out.
“Green blue red yellow Red red green yellow Yellow yellow blue green Green yellow blue blue”
Shining Armor and Cadance take notice from the balcony watching as magical muscial plays out, she nod to Shining to go down, he walk down the steps to the drumming game machines.
Gale and Gabby sing alone again moving their top parts of the bodies to the left and right each each beat happily singing away, lights flickering around.
“Talons fall upon the drums The drums booming away Tapping that paw upon beat Singing to the beat of fun!”
Four ponies, two on each machine dance steps sing away dancing to each arrow going up.
“Fun fall upon the arcade Dance to that step display to you Stomp those hooves away Fun at the Canterlot Arcades!
Left right down down right right left up down left down up left left up up down up right down!”
All the ponies around Gale and Gabby as they drum away join in with them.
“Talons fall upon the drums The drums booming away Tapping that paw upon beat Fun at the Canterlot Arcades!”
The final climax of the song arrives.
“Fun... At... The... Canterlot... Arcades!”
They raise their hooves up with a mighty cheer as the jackpot alarms go off at the end of the song.
Gale and Gabby grab each other cheering as they get covered in tickets from their machines, ponies stomping and cheering too, they burst out of the pile of the tickets looking at each other before bursting into laughter with the ponies around.
As Shining Armor arrives the ponies already parted and gone back to playing their games, it was as if the magical musical number never really effected whatever they were doing. “That was one heck of a performance kiddo, you really got amazing singing voice.”
Gale blinked. “Sin-” He paused. “Magic music!?” He fell backwards into the pile of tickets fighting through it, he popped his head out of the tickets. “C-tal-agh!” He threw the forelegs up in frustration with tickets flying up and landing on his head grumbling under his breath.
Gabby giggled pulling herself free from her pile. “Maybe magic just gave you what you look forward to having! That moment after Gilda teaches you to speak just like everyone of us! That would be a AWESOME moment wouldn't it?” Gabby put her talon out to him.
Gale nods. “Yes!” He take it and she pull him out of the pile of tickets. “No magic music anymore please?”
“Gotcha kiddo, no more magic music.” Shining chuckled using his magic to stack the ticket pile up neatly. “Luckily for you I got a sister that like things to be in order, so I picked up on a few things off her.” He hummed looking at the stack. “You two really got the haul, three hours at the drumming and you got all this? Impressive.”
Gale puff his chest with pride and Gabby giggled. “That we did, it was AWESOME fun! So much time flew by!”
Suddenly it clicked. “Wh-what!?” Gale squawked with shock. “Bu-but magic music h-ho-confused! Confused! So Confused!” Gale tried to wrap his head around it.
“Yeah...” Shining Armor rubbed the back of his head. “Maybe the Cadance failed to mention that sometimes magic singing moments might cause time to blur by for those that singing it, including those involved.”
Gale sat on his flank with his beak hanging open with shock and confusion. “Understand magic music, must know!” Shining Armor knew this sudden look from what he was told by Cadance.
Gabby giggled rubbing his back. “Gale didn't we sing about getting gifts of family at one point?”
Gale gasped. “Yes gifts!” Gale instantly got up on all fours. “Gifts!” He point to the kiosk.
Shining Armor using his magic to pick up the stack. “Sure kiddo, let's cash in the tickets and claim your gifts.”
“Yay!” He flew over to it to start looking for gifts.
Shining lean over to Gabby as he walk over to it with her. “Nice save.”
Gabby salutes. “No problem Captain Armor!” He chuckled in response.
The pony at the kiosk whistled at the number of tickets Shining was holding in his magic, the red unicorn stallion wearing the blue uniform. “You two griffons really scored a lot of tickets.” He used his magic to take them from Shining's magic placing them in a large container on a large scales, the needle went up past the 9,000 mark close to the max mark of 10,000. “9,200 tickets, that a good haul, so what do you wish to use them on?”
“Muuuum! Can I have some bits! I only need another 150 tickets to get the Joyboy!” A colt complained.
The mare speaks up. “No Button, that enough bits, use what you've won to pick something or anything to use them up.”
“Muuum! I don't want anything else but the Joyboy!”
Gale hummed and tap Gabby on the side. “What is it Gale?” He point to the brown colt with the propeller hat and to the tickets. “Ooooo I get it!” He nods. “Hey mister unicorn, can you give 200 of our tickets to that colt and his mum please?”
The unicorn stared. “Erm... What?”
“They like to give up 200 of their tickets to the colt, is that okay?” Shining now asked.
He looked very confused. “Yes... Sure...” The confused unicorn remove 200 tickets and gave them to Button. “Here the two griffons over there want you to have these...”
“REALLY!?” Button turn to them.
“Yep!” Gale squawked happily.
Gabby smiled. “Happiness is the best reward!”
“WOW thank you!” He ran up to them giving both a hug and rush back to his mum. “Mum mum look! We got enough!”
“It sure looks like it.” She nod to the unicorn to use them and exchange gave a box with a hoof held console in it. “Thank you Prince Gale and young griffon, you really made my son's day.” She turn watching Button prance off shouting out over and over again 'I got a joyboy!'. “Well we better be off, it a school day for him tomorrow.” She trots off after her son.
Shining Armor chuckled. “You two made a real good impression and made that young colt very happy.” Gale and Gabby clapped talons. “Now for the rest of your tickets, there anything here you can get.”
Gabby saw a plush that she knew that make Gale's day. “Mister unicorn I take that one.”
The unicorn remove ticket amount and gave the plush over. “There you go, one Princess Celestia plush.”
Gabby turn to Gale. “Here is your gift from me to you!” She giggled presenting it to Gale.
Gale took it. “Mum plush!” He hugs Gabby and she return it. “Gift Gabby!” He look around and point to the Spitfire plush. “That!”
“Okay one Spitfire plush.” He smiled giving it to Gale, in turn Gale gave it to Gabby.
Gabby hugs him back. “Thank you Gale, this will be perfect on my shelve at home!”
The unicorn turn to Shining Armor. “I never seen griffons like this... They are... Odd.”
“Not odd, just unique.” Shining smiled. “Now you two, use up the rest of those ticket so we get sit down and eat.”
Gale nods. “Gifts for all family!”
“Gifts for family.” Gabby giggled, Shining Armor watched as they went on a spending spree with the tickets.
Short time later Cadance saw Gale and Gabby happily walk up the stairs over to the table, behind bags of prizes from the ticket exchange being floated up the stairs by Shining Armor. “Wow you two really been busy.”
They sat down and Shining Armor put the bags down by the wall. “They sure have and none of them part from the Princess Celestia and Spitfire plush is theirs.”
“What?”
“They shared the tickets between each other to get gifts for those they know.” Shining Armor said and shows what Gale got him. “I am sure Spike told him about this.” It was a first edition issue one comic of his favourite comic book series.
Cadance looked at it. “Well you are quite the comic book nerd when it comes to that series.” She giggled.
Gale presents her gift. “Gift cousin Cady!”
Cadance took the bag with a wing and put it down in front of her to open it. “Wow that is a very pretty picture frame.” It was a love heart shaped blue and pink picture frame. “Thank you cousin Gale.” She hugged him and he hugged her back. “Now who hunger?”
“Magic music time skip thing hunger!” Gale said.
“Had one of those singing experiences huh?” Gale nods. “Well than, let's see what you want and we eat.” Gale gave another nod to Cadance.
They given menus. “This been the most FUN I had in ages! I never would of thought time really flies when you having fun!” Gabby excitingly said to them. “We got to play so many more games after eating!”
“And you will.” Shining chuckled.
After a little time of looking over the menus they ordered their meals from Dicey Shine with four strawberry shakes, the meals all being carrot dogs with hay fries. “I hope you all enjoy your meals and enjoying your time here at the arcades.”
“We are Dicey Shine, thank you.” She bow and walks off taking the serving tray with her.
Gale put ketchup on the plate side and on the carrot dog, he pick up the bun and took a crunching bite out of it. “Enjoying it?” Cadance asked seeing the ketchup all over his beak, he licked most of it off before nodding and eating some sauce dipped hayfries.
“WOW these carrot dogs are soooo tasty! I never had anything like these!” Gabby took a big bite out of the carrot dog. “And these shakes too!” She happily drunk some of the shake through the strew.
Shining Armor chuckled. “Definitively not a dull day.”
“Not at all.” Cadance warmly replied as they continue to happily have their meals.
As the last moments of light from the sun disappear below the horizon laughter came from within Donut Joe's, at a table within it Gale, Gabby, Cadance and Shining Armor laughing as they have a wind down from the enjoyable day at the Canter Arcades, other ponies in the donut shop glance and whisper to each other with some photos taken of the royal group.
“Vroom and pew pew!” Gabby pretending to have a talon over a control stick pressing the other talon in thin air the buttons. “Space invaders go boom! Than I go boom when one hit my triangle! How can a triangle that fires dots defend against weird squidey that poops!?”
Shining Armor spayed out of his mouth the hot chocolate all over Cadance's face and she exploded into more laughter, Gale also laughing. “Hahaha oh hahaha that hahaha oh hahaha I hahaha can't breathe!” She had tears falling as the laughter continued.
Gale had his face and beak buried into his foreleg with the other talon closed into a fist punching the table top, he crying in laughter through a muffled sound against the fur and feathers on his foreleg.
Donut Joe watched cleaning a mug with his magic, he smiled seeing they all laughing. “It seems my son and the others had a good day.” Celestia's voice came from the counter, he turn to see her standing there.
“Princess Celestia, good to see ya!” He chuckled. “Being sneaky once again?”
“Indeed.” Celestia responded.
Donut Joe look over to the table once again. “They were at the Canterlot Arcades all day and from the haul over there and the laughter, they had a good day.” He presents to Celestia a cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow on top with whipcream and a plate of donuts. “On the house to my most loyal customer!” He chuckled.
Celestia took them with her magic. “Oh hush you.” She leans in slightly whispering to him. “Send the usual on Wednesday Donut Joe.” He nods with a sly smirk before going back to cleaning and Celestia walk up to her son's table.
Gabby was the first to see Celestia waving at her. “Hi Princess!”
Gale raise his head wiping his eyes and face from tears still got a happy smile on his beak. “Mum! Hi!”
“Hello Son, everyone.” Celestia greets them with a smile/ “May I sit with you?” Celestia requested.
Shining Armor nods as Cadance cleans her face up. “By all means Princess.” He put a hoof out to a cushion for her to sit on.
Celestia sits down on it placing the plate down taking a sip of the hot chocolate before placing it down as well on the table. “From all the laughter I was hearing outside and just now, I gather you all had a good day at the Canterlot Arcades?”
“We sure HAVE! It was so awesome with all those machines, games, music and all that fun stuff to do! I never got to be with another griffon having fun!” Gabby said with over-abundance of joy in her voice and expression.
Gale responds with the talons showing what he tried to say. “Fun arcades, Gabby me magic music drumming!”
Celestia listen to them. “Yeah! He and I did the pony magic singing that I heard about! I never experienced it EVER or thought about it! After we won so many tickets and had lunch we all got down on the arcade floors playing all sort of games! Shining Armor is so AMAZING at Space Invaders! We all tried to beat his high score but no luck on any of us.” Gabby adds.
“Oooo Prizes forgot prizes! Gifts family!” Gale was about to go to the pile of prizes he won with the tickets but to get a hoof from Cadance. “Cady?”
“There time for that Gale, eat your donuts and drink your hot chocolate first.” Cadance hints to them. “Or do you want to drink cold chocolate instead?”
Gale stuck his tongue out. “No no no, cold bad, hot good!” Gale went to grab a donut dipping it in and taking a bite out of.
Cadance giggled. “As you see aunty, it been one crazy yet a very good day out.”
Celestia drunk a bit of her hot chocolate. “Indeed I can see that, did he really have a magical singing moment?”
“He did and Gabby saved the day from him turning the arcade into another spider web of string.” Shining Armor chuckled and took a bite out of the donut.
Cadance burst into laughter thinking back to it and Celestia laughed too, Gale had a bit of a embarrassed laugh rubbing the back of his neck recalling what he did to Rarity and Gilda. “Web of string?” Gabby asked and grabbed a donut putting the whole thing in her beak chewing on it.
“Oh indeed, it took me taking him out for ice cream to stop.” Cadance giggled and Gale's black feathers under his eyes changing colour to a soft shade of pink as he put the wings over his head, this got another set of laughter and a rub of the back by Gabby.
Gabby whispers to him. “We all have embarrassing moments that we all done, also how is it if you want to find magic music?”
Gale close his wings back up against his sides. “Magic music appears.”
“That why it magic music.” Celestia giggled. “It just happens, it doesn't make sense or you can pinpoint where it is, if you can that mean you found the sweet spot, not many can say they done that.” Celestia said with a proud voice. “You got really good sense of hearing.” She rubbed his feathered head with her hoof. “So don't be embarrassed, somethings you can do that we can't while we can do things that you can't, it all part of learning in life, sometimes the cup will never be full, even now I am well over 1000 years old I still learn new wondrous things and those new things came when I took you under my wing as your mother.”
Gale nods. “Understand, path taken cup never full! Old lady goat say that about bad power hunger villains like Shen, is learning same?”
“Not at all, it different, learning is part of life, a wondrous experience to know new things that we never knew, think about all the magic that Starswirl discovered and created, he never stopped till the moment he vanished and one of those that he never completed a spell, someday somepony special could do the unthinkable, completing and creating a new spell.”
“Cool!”
“Indeed cool Gale.” Celestia warmly responded. “Now let's finish our snacks so you can give me your gift son.”
Gale nods happily going into eating his donuts fast as he could. “Kiddo breathe!” Shining Armor shook his head. “He reminds me how I acted as I was eager to do things when I wanted to do something and couldn't.”
“We all seem older when looking at the young that reflect on us in someway or the other Shining Armor, it just life.” Celestia said to him.
“True so true.” Shining Armor took his mug of hot chocolate. “To life.” He drunk a bit.
“To life.” They all said and went to eating their snacks and drinking their hot chocolates.
A short time after they all step out of the shop walking through the park, Shining and Cadance carrying the bags of prized gifts for Gale, they stopped near the fountain. “Mum gift!” He point to one of them Shining was holding up with his magic.
“Here you go kiddo.” Shining Armor lowers it down to him, when Gale takes it the magic aura around the object is cancelled out causing the captain of the guard to shiver from the effect. “Urg! Can't ever get use to that feeling of my magic getting cut off like that.” He saw Gale looked down with the other talon scratching at the stone under it. “Kiddo do not dare blame yourself for something that part of you, it just something that will take time for me to get use to.”
Gale raise his head. “Sorry...”
Shining Armor raise his hoof to Celestia, she nods letting him handle it. “Gale this been part of you far beyond I was even around, you been through more than anyone should do, your still catching up with what Grogar did and even I can not get use to the strange feeling of my magic getting cut off.” He hint Cadance to take the bags from his magic, she does and he walk up to him giving the young griffon a hug. “I won't stop caring about your safety and be there for you as a cousin to be.”
Gale slightly smiled. “Yeah like that, thank you.” He look to what he was holding. “Wish hug but holding gift.”
“Of course.” Shining let go stepping back. “Go ahead and give your gift to your mum.”
Gale nods turning to Celestia, Cadance leans over to Shining as he takes the other items back. “Nice job Shiny, you really handled that well, I am proud of you.” She kissed him on the side of the snout, Shining Armor feeling proud himself.
Celestia also showed her approval on how he handled it as Gale presents the gift. “Mum gift!” Gale placed it on her hoof stepping back a little.
Using her magic Celestia open the bag up to pull out a Celestia look alike fake trophy with the words under it 'World's Celestial Mum', Celestia instantly put a hoof to her muzzle with tears welling up. “Oh Gale i-it beautiful!” She gave it to Gabby to hold giving Gale a hug with one foreleg rubbing her head against his. “Oh my son, thank you...”
“Mum happy! Gift good!” He returned the hug and nuzzled her side of the head too.
“Ahhhh that so cute! I never knew parents could be like that! I really wish my mum and dad were like that.” Gabby finding it adorable and saying it quietly to Shining Armor and Cadance.
Shining raise a eye. “Really?”
“Hmm mmm, but I'll write about it or tell you when we not in front of Gale, don't want to drag our parenting problems with a cub around.” Gabby whispered to them and speaks up afterwards. “Sorry to cut in on this moment but I got to go, really got to go.” She flapping her wings a few times. “I got a long flight back home and got to get back to get some zzzs before work tomorrow.”
Celestia and Gale let go of their hug, the cub gives Gabby a hug. “Come back?”
“Yeah I will.” She hugs back. “But it might take time to arrange something, so here is my address to write to me.” Gabby release from her hug and pulls out of her bag a piece of paper giving it to Celestia.
“I am sure Gale would like to write to his griffon cousin.” Celestia smiled. “Here is our address, write down Gale's name and the letters will be sent to his room.” Celestia summoned a piece of paper with a quill writing on it, she give it to Gale. “Don't be a stranger okay?”
Gabby salutes. “You got it Princess! See ya!” She flies up and takes off at high speeds.
“Bye bye Gabby!” Gale waves, the others wave too as she give them a quick wave back before disappearing from sight. “She good cousin!”
“That she is.” Cadance agreed. “Come on Gale let's get back to the castle so you can give your gifts to Blueblood and Aunty Luna.”
“Yay!” Gale runs to the castle direction turning around to them. “Come come!”
Celestia laughed. “We coming Gale, we coming.” They followed Gale back to the castle.
Sometime later in the night in Griffonstone Gallus gives a few pans to a griffon, the griffon gives a few gold bits to Gallus and slam the door shut in his face. “Yeah your welcomed... Stupid idiot...” He muttered walking away from the door, flapping his wings to fly back to his home.
“Today just been completely lame, all I got for my trouble is ten lousy bits.” He rattled the bag of bits, he reached the building landing at the entrance walking inside. “Home sweet h-What is this!?” Gallus first releaved to just go to bed to find his bed was covered with a new bed sheet, Wonderbolts bedding and new pillow plus wonderbolt pillow case.
Gallus walk up to the bedding and grab it with a talon to see a piece of paper on top of it, he let go of the sheet to take the letter. “Hey Gallus, got you this AWESOME Wonderbolt bedset! Also I left a surprise on each of them! Have a nice comfortable night! Your Favourite friendly griffon!” Gallus rolled his eyes. “Gabby I should of knew it was her, that griffon drives all griffons nuts...” He threw the paper to the ground.
Gallus grabbed the sheet again with the talon. “Well at least I got something to s-” He felt something engraved on it, Gallus look down to see golden thread sawed into it saying his name, quickly looking at the pillow case, the pillow inside and the under sheet to find all had it. “You crafty griffon.” Gallus stared at his name saw in.
“I give you that one Gabby.” He yawned throwing his bag to the side with the coin bag, he decided to just give in and settle down getting under the wonderbolt bed sheet. “Hmmm... Okay I definitely giving you this one crazy... This is sooo comfortable” Gallus lay his head down with talons behind his bed staring through the roof window at the stars and moon.
Gabby peering through the roof window with a big grin. “Oh yeah!” She whispered with a pump fist in the air and takes off heading back to her own home. “No returns on gifts.” She giggled.
Gallus rolled his eyes. “She never gives up....”
Gale in the shower letting the water flow over his head down the back of the neck over the wings towards his hind legs, rubbing his talons over the furry feathered body with white soapy bubbles foaming before the wave of water washed it away from the shower.
As the water wash over the thoughts drift to the moment he gave Blueblood his gift.
“Gift cousin!” Gale gives Blueblood the paper bag.
Blueblood look at it and back to Gale. “Wh-what?”
“He giving you something, have a look what it is.” Celestia smiled.
Blueblood did and using his magic pulls out a sealed Power Pony figure Zap, quickly hiding it back in the bag looking around to see if any guards saw. “H-how did-” Blueblood whispers to Gale with shock.
“Happy?”
“Very... But how did you know?” Blueblood asked.
Gale shrugs. “Just saw, thought you have.” Gale beamed.
Blueblood chuckled. “Well you made my evening quite the best way to finish it, see you in the morning...” Blueblood walks away and turn quickly. “Cousin.” He walks on.
“Yay!” Gale looked around. “Aunt Luna find!” He flies off.
Celestia laughed. “And his off again!” She chase after Gale.
Gale hummed as he now sat on the bathtub side on top of a towel brushing his fur with the brush. “Happy cousin Blueblood, happy he happy.” Gale continue to brush away.
Luna held her gift looking at the cap and hat. “My stars, this Starswirl repica even has the correct bells!” Luna continue to examine it. “How is this even for my size!?” She put it on and now giddy with excitement as her wings open and close finding it even had wing holes in it.
“Yay!” Gale clapped seeing his liked it.
“You made my evening so joyest!” She gives Gale a hug. “Oh thank you dear nephew! I will wear it all night!”
Celestia blinked. “All Night? Sister your-”
“Celestia the evening is my duty I shall wear this in honour of Nephew Gale, if those do not like it I do not care, now off to bed sister and you Nephew Gale, wish you two happy dreams.” She release the hug.
Gale watched Luna prance off humming happily to herself. “Aunt Luna happy! I happy!”
“Indeed... One night I will never forget.” Celestia responded.
Gale finished brushing his teeth and took a good look at them in his beak to make sure they are clean, happy with it he washed the tooth brush clean and put it in the toothbrush wrack. “Bedtime.” Gale yawned, walking up to the exit of the bathroom he flip the switch turning off the light.
With a few short flaps he flies over to the bed, landing on it with a few bounces. “Give gifts some tomorrow, others when can.” He said to himself looking at the remaining pile of gifts by the window door, those gifts were for Flash Sentry, Sunbeam, Gilda, Trace, Amber, Octicovix and Spike.
Gale noticed his memories scarp book on the table side with a note sticking out the side of it, he curiously open the book up to find photos after photos from the arcade to Donut Joe's, he looked at each of them over and over again trying to figure out how till he saw the letter, picking it up he read it in his mind.
“Hey Galey!
I hope you like all the photos that were taken! Princess Celestia dropped in to get Twilight's letter from Spike and I thought to myself, this needs a Pinkie Keen moment! So I did this for you Galey! You had a lot of fun today! Haha! Well don't forget when you know your birthday is you can let me know so I can throw you the best party ever!
Oh and that griffon! I really like her and I found a gift for you from her in the dining room, so I dropped it off in your room!
Look under your bed!
Best Party Pony Ever Pinkie Pie!”
Gale tilt his head, he remembered what she look like and very sure he never saw her at all, yet all these photos showed otherwise, he scratched his feathered head in confusion, Gale yawned loudly putting the letter back in the crease of the pages closing the scrap book up, he was too tired to even try and understand how she did it but happy she did, he had more memories to keep in the scrap book of his.
He put the book down on the table side and yawned, he rolled over to his front pulling himself over the bed edge to look upside down under his bed, right where the letter said at the box. Gale reached out to it and grab the box, he pulls himself back up onto his bed. “Gabby gift morning.”
Gale saw the tag on it, he took it off and read it in his mind. “Pistol surprise – Gabby.” Gale tilt his head and yawning once more he open the box to see inside it a Pistol the griffon plush. “Pistol!” Gale squawked happily picking it up knocking the box off the bed onto the floor, he sort it out in the morning.
The teenage hugged it tightly with happiness, now he had three plushes, lying down pulling the bed sheets up over him, he roll over his right side wrapping his forelegs around the Gale, Pistol and Celestia plush. “Pinky confusing, but happy... Got happy memory photos... Got awesome plushes... Happy Gabby... Fun day remember forever... ” Gale closed his eyes falling asleep with a smile across his beak.
The door opened a little with the opening of light cast over Gale, Celestia saw that he was out like a light and most likely won't be awake till the morning. “Burned himself right out with all the excitement he had, Gale my son sleep well.” She closes the door.
Sitting on a branch covered in thick leaves the grey black griffon Greystorm looking through binoculars at the remains of multiple buildings, the massive creator and several smaller ones all guarded by a mix of pegasi to griffon magical golems, in that mass of clay walking golems was a bird flying around which was his wife Octicovix.
“Also two days since she went in, the golems haven't reacted to any birds...” He said out loud lower the binoculars looking down to Dr Caballeron on the ground.
The doctor peering through the bushes. “Interesting that a changeling wouldn't attract attention to the golems yet ponies and griffons does, how come?”
Greystorm jump off the branch with a few short flaps to land by him. “That Dr Caballeron is something I do not understand my self, there are many questions when it comes to the unknown about magical clay golems.”
The pony rubbed the underside of his snout. “So we wait for your wife to return, yes?”
“Yes.” Greystorm put the binoculars away. “One of the other myterious that got my tail in a twist is the forests near the craters , they not on any maps either yet the big question is...” He hints to Caballeron to respond.
The pony did. “Where are the golems in said forests.”
Greystorm snapped his talons. “Exactly Doctor, you and your team came here last time for days watching them only meters away.” Greystorm turn to the view of the creator. “We are even un-”
“Boss I found something...” The grey earth pony with black mane and tail, sunglasses on with a black and purple collar came to a sliding stop before them breathing in and out.
“Out with it already! Withers!” Caballeron demanded.
Withers finally caught his breath. “It better to show you boss.” He turn running back into the forest.
Greystorm shrugs and runs after him, Caballeron groans for a second before he also gives chase, by the time he arrives at the scene Rouge and Biff were already there looking at the same thing, he saw Greystorm hovering in front of a Griffon Golem back press against the tree, a right foreleg missing and a big half way in hole in the chest.
“Is that a griffon golem?”
Greystorm expecting the half way in hole with his talon, seeing it was something big that smashed into the chest of the magical clay dead golem. “It was a golem, it nothing but rock and clay now, completely harmless.” Greystorm responded. “Good find Withers, this golem is missing it gem core.”
“What a gem core?” Withers asked.
“It the heart and power of a golem, each of them have it.” Greystorm explains as he studies the golem as well the tree. “From the damage to the bark on this massive tree the golem itself was thrust into it by something really strong and big.” Greystorm points his claw at the tree bark buckling effect. “Then as it seem to struggle from where it was pinned something smashed right into the golem chest and ripped out the core, rendering the golem inactive and left to harden into stone.”
Caballeron slowly looked around. “That would explain the said lack of golems here in the forest, could there be a creature here that feeds on these core gems?”
Rouge gulps. “Wh-what if it mistaken us for these golems?”
“Please...” Caballeron rolls his eyes. “We were here for three days straight the last time, nothing happened than and nothing will happen now, so stop your whining Rouge.”
Greystorm flies back a bit taking a good look. “I can see how we can easily miss seeing these in the forest, the way they look while not powered up can easily look part of the environment.” Greystorm take a good look around to see a toppled tree, flying up to it and examining the part that caused the trunk to break to the point of collapse. “See here Dr Caballeron.” The ponies gather to see what he was showing them.
Biff walking around the trunk remains. “How did we not see any of this the last time we were here?”
“We were aiming for the prize, getting into the ruins.” Rouge suggested looking over his right side towards the craters .
Caballeron hummed as he took a closer look at the trunk. “Maybe...” He noticed the semi fresh parts of it. “I think this tree was smashed down about a week or so ago.”
Greystorm took notice and quickly had a look himself seeing that the tree leaves on the end of the tree was slowly drying out. “Your right, look at the leaves, they just started to wilt.”
“Bo-boss I think we should go.” Biff gulped.
“We not going anywhere you idiot! We got a job to do or we not going to get paid! Also we been here for two days and nothing happened!” Caballeron snapped at his henceponies. “Now henchponies back to camp, we turning in for the night and we examining this golem and the tree tomorrow, got it!?”
“Yes boss.” They responded and head back to camp.
Greystorm land on the leafy dirt ground. “I advise caution, your team has reasons to being afraid, this is area of the world not like the jungles you been in.”
Caballeron snorted. “As you wish, this is your exhibition afterall, no?” He walks off without Greystorm answering.
The greyish black griffon turn to the Griffon Golem once again staring at the state of it. “The creator, ruins, the golems and the seven ruins, what is the connection here? What am I missing?” He turn walking back to camp to hear a crack of a twig, turning quickly to the sound. “Hmm...” Using his griffish eye sight to peer into the darkness of the forest, nothing could be seen. “Caution for sure.” He whispered turning and heading back to camp.
He easily found it following the light of the camp fire, the ponies gathered around it cooking a big pot of soup over the fire. “I suggest tomorrow we examine that golem.” Caballeron said as he stir the soup with a wooden spoon.
A bird lands before them instantly changing into the yellow eyed changeling causing them to yell in fear. “Wow, you all really freak out when you know I can shapeshift?”
“Landing and shifting forms before us so suddenly is a reason to freak out!” Caballeron shouted at her with fury. “You don't just DROP in and do that in a forest like this!”
Octicovix whites in the solid yellow eyes rolled around. “Whatever you say Cabby.”
“That's D-” She hisses at him. “Erm... Cabby fine by me!” He quickly retreats going back to cooking the soup, the henchponies shivering in fear.
Greystorm walk up to her giving the changeling a hug. “Octicovix play nice.”
She just gave a fanged sly smile. “This is me playing nice with them.” Octicovix gave him a nuzzle against his beak before breaking out of the hug and stepping back. “I got some interesting findings through out those craters and the ruins.”
“What did you find my love?”
“I found that the craters are not exactly craters , not impact or explosive wise.” Her horn lights up creating a overlay map above before him, the henchponies gather to look. “Cabby you can see from there and cook, rather not have burned soup.”
He grumbles a bit before answering. “Fine...”
The display she shows with her magic was of one massive creator and four smaller ones with a set of ruined buildings all around them but not to close to the creator edges. “The craters I found are to have remains of what seem to be 30 hooves in length pillars in the thousands.” The changeling zooms the display in to show the creator floor. “As you can see they seem to have dug out the land under what use to be land at each of the craters .”
“Landmass sitting on stilts? Why?” Wither asked.
Greystorm tap the tip of his beak. “I recall finding evidence that 300 years ago the kingdom of Griffina when ruled by King Graivers.” Greystorm took a good look at the pillars in the yellowish aura display. “The king commissioned unicorns to make a large quantity of gravity spell infused crystals from Equestria, the reason behind it was never discovered.”
Caballeron responds. “You are suggesting that the crystals were used to lift the land off the ground, no?” He tastes the soup. “Soup done.” He grab the pot by the handle with his mouth pulling it off the fire on to a tripod.
“That exactly what I am suggesting.” Greystorm responded.
Octicovix move the display location to a mountain ridge not to far from the biggest ruins. “I did find something really interesting though, right here in the forest edge, away from the buildings and close to the mountain ridge is a buried tunnel.” She point a hoof to it. “As you can see this is where I think all that dirt went too.”
Greystorm move his talon around it. “You can make out the artificial made tunnel right here, it seem to be made to last...” He turn to Octicovix. “Buried a tunnel with dug out soil and rock from under five landmasses, pillars showing signs of being ripped apart and possibly the land that once was where these craters are most likely floating around above us?”
“More pieces to a growing puzzle about this place...” She muttered.
Rouge sat down with his bowl of soup dipping bread into it. “If that the case, why keep this place well hidden and heavily guarded from almost everyone?” He took a bite out of the bread.
Greystorm took his bowl and plate from Caballeron sitting down against a log. “It does raise more questions and increase the reason to solve this.”
“Don't forget about the golem we found with it magic gem core ripped out of it chest.” Biff stated and eats some of his soup.
Octicovix using her magic to change the display to show golems she found. “Did the hole look like these?”
“Yep they did!” Wither replied. “I think we should go, if there something out here hunting golems, I don't want to be next on the chopping block.” He drunk a bit of water from a canteen.
Octicovix nods in agreement. “I think we should leave, take what we gain and come back with more resources, feather brain of a husband you have to agree with that logic and the fact you are the mayor of a town.”
Greystorm holding the spoon close to his beak glance at her. “I have to agree with that, these ruins been here for a long time, it not going to harm them not being here for a week or so.” He sips the soup from the spoon.
“That sound like a plan.” Caberallon agreed. “Tomorrow after examining the golem we leave, no?”
“Agreed.” They all accepted that plan.
Suddenly Greystorm's ear twitch from a slowly placed paw, talon or hoof on the forest floor just to his left. “We not alone.” He whispers to Octicovix.
“Of course not, there most l-” A multiple bursts of ball lightning comes out of the dark hitting every single creature within a few short seconds.
Greystorm rolls around feeling the burst of electrical energy dancing around his body, the others fell to the ground all knocked unconscious by the same blast with their bowls falling to the ground, the bread rolling across the ground, Greystorm place his talon over the vest part of his chest feeling a magical pulse pass through his body and pulling it back a bit to see the bluish white glow.
“The scorch mark from Prince Gale's punch, it must of left some magic residing through my body and protected me from that blast of magic on us... His raged fuelled punch was a surge of uncontrollable magic...” Greystorm thought to himself as he pushed up onto all fours looking around for the attacker, he saw Octicovix near the camp fire and he quickly pulled her away from it and put his wing over her and the other over Caberallon with his hench ponies. “Who are you and why did you attack us!?” He called out into the forest, trying to focus on into the night and find the attacker.
No word came no sound, he knew there was something there. “If you are doing this as defending the forest than I will take my wife and the ponies with my tail tuck between my legs.” He spoke out once again into the forest.
“Wife? The strange bug pony is your wife? How can a griffon love something like that? Unless her shapeshifting magic is why you have her as-”
“Are you trying to temp me into a rage response?” He was anger and responded by interrupting her but didn't bait into her as he believed she was attempting.
“Seriously dude?”
“Yes...” He still trying to locate the voice, it seem this female being was moving around swiftly around the camp site, making it difficult to discover where she was exactly.
“Well the next thing I ask, depends on the answer you give.”
“Ask away...” He wearily moving around on the spot.
“Are you here to claim the discs and what is your plan for them?”
Greystorm was surprised at first but than it hit him. “I want to know what on them, I want to know what was the cause of the raise and fall of each and every kingdom, empire and country of each griffon civilsation that once upon a time had them, the last time they were seen back during the fourteenth king of Griffina when he discovered them in a ruined remains in the frozen mountains.” Greystorm tells the hidden female attacker.
“The only way you knew that if you followed the stories of each ruins had to share, your wealth is the knowledge of the past.”
“Caberallon most likely would like to sell the discs but he wont, he getting paid too much from me as it is.” Greystorm said looking around still. “I do recall hearing that with the discs came something made of metal, something about a voyage...” This seem to catch the females attention.
“Would you risk them for such a thing?”
Greystorm answers. “If the safety of every one here is at risk for my thirst of histrionic knowledge, I will not allow that thirst to put their lives in harms way, I rather gather them and take our leave.”
“You are an interesting griffon dude, I can't say what would happen if I try to stun you again.”
Greystorm eased a bit. “Okay... What happens now?”
“I'll knock you out and take you all to my Nanner Maple to deal with this dude.”
“You just said-” He heard movement and realised what she was about to do, quickly turning around to the sound. “Your not going to kno-knock... Oh sweet Grover...” His head rose up to meet the eyes of the being to have the next thing happen before going black, a butt end of a object smashing into his head.
Gilda entered the greenhouse after her recap talk with Celestia after returning to Canterlot. “Feels like a jungle in here.” Her golden yellow eyes glancing around as she walked down the stone path, her thoughts drew towards Cadance in the throne room. “Candy beats me fair and square but why has my terms of defeat have to be THAT of all things!?” Gilda growls under her breath cursing for making that bet.
Gilda sighs rubbing a talon over the feathers on her head. “What done is done, no need to be a complete dweeb over it.” Gilda continue her track to finally find Gale sitting just on the outside of a golden gazebo, before him posing was the red and orange phoenix. “That must be Celestia's pet phoenix Philomena, she got good taste in pets.” Gilda chuckled lightly.
She stood just behind Gale watching over his shoulder seeing the drawing of Philomena come to life, the phoenix noticed her but didn't move to ruin the pose Gale was happily drawing away. “Done pretty bird!” He turn it around to show it to her, the phoenix squawks happily. “Yay!”
“Not bad at all cub.”
Gale drop the sketch book and pencil on the ground as he leaps with a turn around to face her. “GILDA!” He rocketed into her giving a happy hello hug to her. “Happy you here!”
Gilda chuckled rubbing his feathered head with her free talon. “Happy to see you too Gale, can I have my other foreleg back?”
Gale release his hug gabbing her talon with both of his pulling Gilda to the golden nest. “See egg!”
Gilda pulled over to the nest, Philomena flew up and land by the next in the nest. “That really a black phoenix egg?” Both Gale and Philomena nod in response, she lean over putting a talon over it. “That some egg...”
Philomena squawks placing a feather under the talon against the egg. “Okay, whatever.” Gilda shook her head holding up the feather. “I just going to roll with it.” She turn to the waterfall in view. “Hmm... How do you feel about having your morning lessons here?”
“Yes please!” Gale liked that idea.
Gilda turn to Philomena. “That cool with ya?” She nods. “Thanks Feathers.” Gilda walk out of the gazebo. “Come on Gale.” She walk to the waterfall, Gale following.
After a few minutes had past Philomena checked on the egg making sure it keep warm, she using her fire over the egg with a flap of the wings, afterwards with a short flap out of the nest she notice Gale left his art book, pencil and bag behind, with a shake of her head the phoenix using her talons to pick up the stuff putting them into the bag, picking up the bag to fly it over to Gale at the waterfall.
Gale arrived at the waterfall putting a talon out to the water splashing against it, the cool spray of water from the impact against his feathered face and beak. “Got to admit, this place pretty sweet even it feels a bit stuffy.” Gilda said putting her bag down taking a good look around from where they were, she noticed a few ponies tending to some of the flowers. “Cub get your book out so we begin.”
Gale reach for his bag to find it missing. “Ba-Squawk!” Gale instantly squawks in shock as the bag lands before his talons causing him to fly back into the waterfall falling into the pool of water, Gale surfaces wiping the water from his eyes to see Philomena covering her face with a wing as Gilda explodes into laughter.
“Hahaha, sorry hahaa that just hahaha just awesome.” Gilda laughing still came up to Gale putting her talon out to him. “Here let m-ack!” Gale grabs and pulls with both paws pressing on the pool rocky side, causing her to flip over into the water, she surfaces shaking her head seeing Gale laughing back at her. “I sooo should of saw that coming.” She chuckled swimming over to the edge climbing out this time Gale taking her talon to climb out himself. “Nice one cub.”
They fist bump each other and shake the water out of the feathers and fur, Philomena squawks as the water slash over her, she looked a bit unimpressed till using her heat to vaporise the water off the feathers with a slam smirk. “Cool!”
“That is a very neat trick Feathers.” Gilda chuckled lightly. “Alright now we had our little fun, ready?”
“Yes!” Gale went over to his bag pulling out the book with a ink well and the phoenix feather. “Thanks pretty bird for bag!” Philomena squawk with a smile on her beak and flies off back to the nest.
Gilda take out of stuff. “Right Gale, we continue to improve your writing and your speech, but I do have some books from Griffonstone for you to read too, a way to compare our history what of it to Equestria's own.” Gilda pull out the books. “They not well kept so don't worry if they are torn here and there.” Gilda look at them in her talons. “I am sooo coming a lame egghead here...” She turn to Gale. “Your fault.”
Gale shrugs. “Not forcing.”
“Nah your not, I just got a soft spot for you dweeb.” Gilda put the books down walking up to him taking the quill from him. “Now watch and repeat as usually okay?”
“Okay!”
Time goes by as Gale works on his writing repeating what Gilda wrote under each of her lines, she going through his homework she gave him to do with practicing his writing during the weekend. “Not bad at all.” She flip through the pages. “At the rate he is going I wouldn't be surprised he get the claw writing down to my level.” Gilda said glancing over her shoulder to see the phoenix was back looking over it at the writing. “What do you think you dorking phoenix?”
She frowns and squawks a few times. “Don't like the way I speak to you? Tough luck.” Gilda said to the phoenix to get a few flaps of the wings and a set of different tone squawks. “Your really one weird bird.” The phoenix bows and squawks showing a smirk before flying up a branch sitting on it. “Did you ju-” Gilda rubs her talon at the bridge her her beak. “You just trolled me didn't ya?”
The phoenix bows again with a wing across her chest, Philomena laughing afterwards. “She like mum!”
“Yeah the dweeb is.” Gilda chuckled. “Gale.” He stop writing in the book looking over to Gilda. “Philomena, Phi-lo-me-na.” She says the name normally than slowly afterwards, she repeats again to him.
Gale mouths it as first and attempts it. “Ph-Ph...”
“Watch the beak and slowly follow each word I say okay?” He nods. “Phi...”
“Ph-Ph-Phi...”
“Lo...”
“Lo...
“Me...”
“Me...”
“Na...”
“Na...” Gale repeats Gilda's words and slowly take a deep breath in. “Phi... lo... me... na... Philo-Philome...na... Philomena... Philomena! Yay! Philomena! Said it said it!” He happily punch the air. “You Philomena!”
She squawks happily in response.
“Yay! Gilda happy!”
“Yep good job cub.” She gives a thumbs up to him. “You really catching on quickly Gale, not only a month ago you was mute as anything, just squawks, coos and such like Feathers here.” She hints to Philomena.
The phoenix squawks angrily at her.
Gilda just rolled her eyes at the response from Philomena. “We all got beaks you dweeb.” She afterwards squawks at Philomena with a few tweets followed by it. “Going to be continue being anger with me?” She crossed her forelegs with her own narrowed equally annoyed look upon the phoenix.
“We half bird, we with beak!” Gale tap his beak with a talon, doing some squawks. “We roar too!” He roars followed by laughter. “We funny! We roar squawk!” He continued to laugh.
Gilda had a curve in her beak showing as she tried to not laugh but fails as she laughs. “Haha good haha one haha Cub hahah!” Philomena squawks in laughter too, after a moment past Gilda pat Gale on the back. “Your a good griffon Gale, way better then me by a mile.”
Gale smiled. “Happy you happy!”
“Hehe yep happy.” She ruffled his feathered head. “Another hour of praticing your writing we work on your speaking a bit more, cool?”
“Cool!” Gale gave her a hug and goes back to his writing.
Gilda sits down against a tree opening Gale's homework book up. “That cub...”
“Indeed Prince Gale is such a unique griffon.” A majestic female voice rings out in Gilda's mind, Gilda quickly look around and looked eyes on the slightly glowing yellow eyes of Philomena, she grinning and hinting to Gilda's talon.
The griffon look down at the feather held in her talon glowing slightly. “Your so like Celestia, you troll.” The feather stop glowing and the phoenix squawks with laughter before flying off back to her nest at the gazebo. “Bucking phoenix... Your awesome and got me good, I'll get you back.” Gilda whispered under her breath.
Gale continue to copy the writing under each line on the book completely unaware what just happened.
Rainbow Dash doing her last rounds knocking out clouds out of the sky as the sun almost set, she finishing off her duties with the weather of the day. “That should do it, now to go back and practice for the Young Flyers Contest.” Rainbow Dash speeds off over Ponyville to the lake just outside of town.
While zooming over she noticed something in the corner of her right eye, instantly coming to a stop Rainbow Dash saw a sky chariot land near the spare, sitting on it was a pink pony princess she haven't seen before. “Why would a princess travel all the way from Canterlot to a dumb Spa? I bet Twilight would know who she is!”
Rainbow Dash decided to fly to the Golden Oak Library to ask Twilight, as she flew away Gilda lands next to the chariot with Gale and Sunbeam. “This is gonna be sooooo lame... I do not do girly stuff!”
“Well we made a deal and this is my terms.” Cadance smugly responded. “Also Gale tagged along with Aunties blessing.”
“Of course he would come, he doesn't know how lame Spas like this is!” Gilda said raising both talons at the Spa building. “Can we just go in, get this over with please! Sooner this is done and the sooner we can get the heck out of Ponyville! I rather not have Dash see me go in a place like this!”
Gale tilt his head. “Spas fun?”
Cadance smiled. “Oh they are.”
“No they not, you will see what I mean.” Gilda instantly responded walking to the door pushing it open and walked inside.
Sunbeam stood by the door to the Ponyville Spa. “I bet at the end of it Gilda will like it.”
Cadance shook her head. “Not taking that bet on Private Sunbeam, I know she will like it.” Cadance walks inside.
Gale walk up to the door. “Spas?” He turn his head to Sunbeam wondering if she be joining them at the Spa.
“No Prince Gale, I have to stay here, have fun.” Sunbeam salutes to him.
“Okay!” Gale nods understanding she was on duty and walk inside closing the door behind him.
Sunbeam and the fellow guard are a few seconds later blinded by a sudden flash from a teleportation spell, soon as they could see again, standing before them Twilight stood with Spike holding onto her back with a dazed look. “Is Cadance really inside!?”
“Yes Princess Cadance is in there and I can not allow you inside, this is a private spa session.” Sunbeam put a hoof up to Twilight.
“I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's former student and Cadance was my foalsitter back in Canterlot when I was younger, can I with Spike go in and see her?”
Sunbeam glance to the other guards they nodding. “Very well you two may go inside.”
“Thank you!” She hugged Sunbeam and rushes inside.
Spike fell on the ground. “Ouch...” He rubbed his base of the tail. “Wait for me Twilight!” He runs inside and Sunbeam closes the door.
Sunbeam stood attention to see Rainbow Dash come flying towards them at incredible speeds to come to a dead stop hovering before her. “Did Twilight come this way?”
“Yes and no you can not go in.” Sunbeam stood firm with a wing out inside of the door.
Rainbow Dash nods her head. “That good enough for me, no way I am going in that lame place! This awesome pony got some training to do!” Rainbow Dash zooms off into the sky.
Sunbeam closed her wing up blinking a few times. “Ooookay...”
Gilda, Cadance walked in followed by Gale closing the door behind him, they stood inside a circular room with a booth window divide, a door covered by curtains and three couches alongside potted plants either side of each of them, Gilda took a good look around at the colour scheme of the room including the large mat in the middle of the room.
“What is up with all this different shades of pink? It as if you dweebs are screaming to say spas are just for the girlish types.” Gilda spoke her mind of disgust to the waiting slash appointment room. “Urg... Can we get this-ark!” She got knocked off her paws and talons by Twilight ploughing into her, she end up lying on her back with hind legs in the air and lion tail bent down with the brush part over her beak.
Gilda blows her tail out of the line of sight to see upside down Spike closing the door behind him, in front of her was a dazed purple unicorn. “Urg... What did I hit?” Twilight rubbed her head with a hoof.
Gilda rolled over getting up on all fours. “Me, Purple!”
Twilight got up gasping in surprise. “Gilda!? I thought Cadance was only here, I had-” Gilda put her talon against the muzzle.
“Purple you just cleared Candy.”
Twilight turn to Cadance pushing Gilda's talon away with her hoof. “Cadance!”
“Twilight it good to see you again, it a real surprise!” They hugged. “Shall we?” Twilight nods.
Before the griffons and spa ponies they witnessed something that many of them didn't expect or even wanted to see two grown mares do. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
“For the love of all things, never never do that again in front of me! That is the most lamest, embarrassing and stupidest thing I ever seen!” Gilda said with disbelief. “If I ever come up with something to do with Gale it going to be something awesome, amazing and nothing that dorky!”
Gale nods rapidly in agreement. “Yes yes, no like that.”
“Well it our greet and we keeping it Gilda.” Cadance turn to the adult griffon.
“Whatever Candy, just save it for when I am not looking or able to hear it next time, something that dweebish will be stuck in my head for hours!” Gilda responded.
Twilight raise a eye. “Candy?”
Cadance giggled. “It a nickname Gilda gave me, like the name Purple.” She turn to Twilight.
Twilight groans. “Urg... Yeah...”
Spike walked up to them. “Why are you and Gale here Gilda?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I lost a bet to Candy and this is my due, one stupid spa session.” She then walk up to Twilight till she was only a inch away from muzzle to beak. “You dare speak of this to Dash and I will bury you Purple.” She poke the end of Twilight's muzzle.
Twilight twitch her muzzle rubbing it with a hoof. “Okay, me and Spike won't speak of this to Rainbow or any of my friends, I doubt Rainbow Dash would believe us anyway.”
“Good!” Gilda turn to Cadance. “Let's get this stupid spa session done and dusted.”
Spike turn to Gale. “Are you here because your curious about spas?” Gale nods. “Your going to like it, I came with Twilight just last week!” Gale nods again.
Two earth ponies that look like twins but opposite coat and mane colours to each other, one blue coat with pink mane wearing a white head band and the other pink coat with blue mane. “Velcome to Ponyville Day Spa Princess Cadance, I am Aloe Vera and this is my sister Lotus Blossom, Ve got your appointment for and erm... It said plus one, but there three extras.” Aloe said look at the clip board.
“Oh my cousin Prince Gale wanted to tag along last minute, also I was Twilight's formal foalsitting, so would it be okay to add them to the session?” Cadance explained and asked to allow them through.
Lotus Blossom the blue coat, pink mane one speaks up. “I believe we can Princess, the luxurious full treatment correct?”
“Correct.” Cadance confirmed.
Gilda groans. “Let me guess... That means the works, steaming, claw massage to body massage, mud baths and whatever else is on a long list of lame girlish stuff.” Gilda did a few air quotes with her two claws on each talon.
“You don't have to do it if you don't-” Aloe gets cut off by Gilda.
“Nah a bet a bet, if I don't go along with this, it be a bad example of sportsmanship when you lose a stupid bet.”
Twilight put a hoof on her side. “We'll do this together.”
“Purple, I trust you and Spike to a certain degree, we not friends but liked, get your hoof off me.” Gilda said without facing to Twilight, she quickly remove the hoof. “Let's get this over with.”
Aloe put a hoof out to the curtain covered door. “Please follow me.” She walks through followed by Gilda, Gale and Spike.
Twilight put a hoof to Cadance. “It really good to see you again Cadance but...”
Cadance could see the tension. “It about how Gilda speaks to others right?” Twilight nods. “This is her way of venting, she annoyed and feeling trapped at the moment because of my terms of victory, I choose this because I think she really needs it to loosen up a bit.” Cadance turn to the curtain walking to it with Lotus taking the lead, Twilight following. “I think it good thing you two came too, even it a surprise.”
“How so?” Twilight asked
“Spike and Gale can enjoy the spa, shall stories and be what young are, while we and Gilda can catch up and share our own tales of the last month or so since Aunt Luna's return.” Cadance answered.
Twilight eyes shift back and forwards. “That a pretty good idea, Gilda relaxing and we talking could maybe stop her from calling me Purple.”
Twilight's hope in that was dashed by what Cadance said next. “That as likely as Gilda stop calling me Candy and calling your brother Blue Hooves.”
“What is it with her and these weird nicknames?”
“Maybe you could ask her.”
Twilight shook her head. “I don't think I would, one thing I learned from being around Pinkie Pie some ponies or in this case griffons have to be accepted of who they are, not what you can try to understand, not everything is clear cut as one could want.”
“Wise words indeed, one thing you have to ask though.”
“What's that?”
“Ask her for Aunt Celestia's nickname.” Twilight suddenly felt tense by Cadance's words.
The two ponies came to a set of screens with robes on them, standing near the door to the steam room were Gale, Gilda and Spike wearing white robes. “Urg... Why in the name of Grover I have to wear this lame thing?”
Aloe responds as Twilight and Cadance put theirs on behind the screens. “The Luxurious Treatment sessions vill have steaming in the steam room, followed by mud face mask with cucumbers placed over your eyes, vhile you relax ve be filing the horns and hooves of the ponies and griffons ve sand the scales of your forelegs and talons.”
Gilda blinked a few times. “Hold on, you ponies know how-” Gilda look at the robe that she had on. “Glinda...” She mutters. “You know what I don't want to even know.” Gilda instantly covers herself with a dismissive action.
“Of course ve do and as I vas saying, afterwards there a body massage followed by a mud bath, lastly a vash over followed by a hot tub bubble massage of hooves, talons and paws.” Aloe went through the last of the session list.
“I think that is perfect.”
Gale listen to everything that was said and now very much lost. “It be relaxing.” Spike put his arm around the back of the neck of Gale leading him to the steam room.
Twilight made a quill and scroll appear. “This is-” Gilda glares. “Erm... I can go without note taking.” She made them vanish. “Shall we?” Twilight open the door for Gilda and she walks in and Twilight sighs in relief. “She can be scary.”
“She a griffon, scary comes easy.” Cadance said walking into the steam room. “But she got a soft side, trust me you will see it.” Twilight had a sceptic look before following her into the steam room.
After entering the large round room, Gale and Spike sat to the right side of the room while Gilda, Twilight and Cadance sat on the other side, in the middle is a bunch of coal with steam coming out of it with a large pipe above it with what look like a large shower nuzzle to Gale, he watch some hot water splash down on the coal and steam vents out of it.
“How things been in Canterlot Gilda?” Twilight asked feeling the warmth of the steam wash over her.
Gilda thought for a moment of the last few weeks. “Not as boring I thought it be, specially the way things been going.”
Cadance joins in. “Indeed, the cute way you and Gale excitingly watched Twilight and her friends deal with that dragon.”
Twilight gasped. “Y-you saw that!? I didn't see you there!”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “It in Cadance's little sanctuary tower, there some telescope that got see through one sided walls that you can use that thing to see miles away.”
“It has a magical zoom, it was built a long time ago during heighten tensions between our kingdom and others.” Cadance filled in the missing pieces. “Also I can include what happened during the weekend with Gale while you won't there Gilda.”
“That good with me, question is...” She turn to Twilight. “Is this another Trollestia stunt not filling Purple in and letting us do it?”
Twilight screeched. “What did you call Princess Celestia!?” Cadance laughed at Twilight's reaction.
Gilda rolled her eyes with a wave of the talon dismissing Twilight's reaction. “Please Purple... That dweeb is the ultimate troll, next time she come down for a...” She does air quotes. “Official visit.” With a sarcastic tone. “Watch her and you will see it clear as day.”
As they continue to talk with Gilda and Cadance fill in with what Twilight missed, Gale looking around getting bored and wanting to do something. “Bored?” Gale nods. “Like to hear what happened since I return to Ponyville?” Spike asked.
Gale nods. “Like hear Spike.”
“Not long after Rarity returned from her trip at Canterlot and made a dress for herself than Hotty Totty showed up hearing about your suit, he was thrilled to see what Rarity could make and that when she decided to make more dresses for her friends and a suit for me-”
Mud placed on the faces of Twilight and Cadance with cucumbers over their eyes, Gale and Gilda both refused both but agreed to the scale sanding over their lower forelegs talons, Spike just had the cucumbers over his eyes lying back feeling relaxed.
“It amazing how much Gale improved over the last few weeks and other things.” Twilight said as her horn being filled by Aloe.
Cadance responds. “He has and there still a lot for him to learn, for us to learn.” Cadance thought back to the last month. “Gale really given something to Aunt Celestia and she has to him, a bound of mother and son I watched grown from the love they share between them.”
“You were always amazing at that type of stuff Cadance.”
“I still am Twilight.”
Lotus rubbing a strange brittle paper over Gale's lower foreleg against the avian scales, he found the feeling quite strange. “I know it odd cub, all it doing is smoothing your scales.” Gilda said watching as Lotus does it.
“Okay, weird but okay.”
Gilda turn to Twilight. “So... Purple, what the heck did happened with Dorky Pie over the weekend?”
Twilight couldn't see her but Twilight laughed nervously. “N-nothing happened.”
“Please, I saw the papers, random things falling from the sky and you following her cause they said she has some weird Pinkie Sense.” Gilda bluntly said to Twilight.
“Wh-what!?” Twilight gasps feeling embarrassed.
Gilda laughed. “I am pulling your hoof you dweeb.”
“How did you know than?” Twilight wanting to know how Gilda knew.
“How? Princess almighty Celestia told me when she was telling me what happened during the weekend with Gale.” Gilda explained with a smirk.
Twilight sighs. “Yeah I did, should of listened to my friends and just accepted that some things can not be explained.” Twilight felt her hooves now being filled. “Many of those things seem to resonate with Gale too.”
Gilda chuckled. “Can't argue with that Purple.” A spa pony stallion finished with her talons, she raised it up taking a good look at the shine coming from them. “You keep this up ponies, you might get a new customer.”
“Really?”
“A big might Spa Twins.” Gilda said to the twins Lotus and Aloe.
“Ve can accept that.” Aloe said with pride. “Shall ve move on to the massage?”
Gilda shrugs. “Sure why not, let see how good you really are dweebs.”
Gale look at his talons. “They look as when first wake home.”
“Huh?” Twilight didn't understand what he was trying to say.
Spike answers for him. “I think he is saying that when he first woke up in Canterlot is how the talon scales looked, right?” Gale nods.
“That does make sense in a very weird strange way...” Twilight replied. “Weird becoming so-”
Cadance finish the sentence. “Normal?” Twilight nods. “Way things been in the last month and most likely onwards, I say it will be.” Cadance laughed and Twilight joined her.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Whatever, let's move on to the next session before that mud mask become your face.” Gilda got up heading into the next room to get a massage, Gale and Spike got up following her inside with Aloe.
“Did she just avoid- ” Twilight asked Cadance.
Cadance remove one of the cucumbers over a eye looking over at her. “Yes she did.”
“Tttthhhiiiss iiissss tttthhheee bbeeeessstttt maaasssssaaaaagggeee III eeevvveeennn hhhaaaaddd.” Gilda saying as the large white muscular pony with gold hooves rapidly light hitting her back downwards through the robe.
“YEAH!”
“Yeah this is sooo relaxing...” Spike had the gentle touches of a spa pony mare rubbing and pulling her hooves over his back.
Gale felt his wings being massaged by Aloe. “Relaxed feeling... Nice...”
Cadance with Twilight sitting and waiting for their turn. “How is he doing that with such care?” Cadance watching the bulky pony with small wings massaging Gilda, she was enjoying the way he was doing it.
“If I recall that Bulk Biceps, he a weight lifter and really strong for a pegasus, even for small wings he can fly surprisingly, after what happened with Pinkie I am just about believe anything possible in Ponyville.” Twilight informed Cadance and accept how things seemingly impossible to be possible.
“Wise words, talking about impossible, From what I heard that you had a incident with poison joke tat does the impossible.”
Twilight gave a nervous laugh. “Hehe... Ho-how did you know?”
“A friend of yours Rarity told me what happened to her with it, Doctor Trace is experience a continuous effect from it.” Cadance reviled how she knew about Twilight.
“Trace Princess Celestia's former student before me? How did he get mixed up with that stuff?”
Cadance watching the two griffons and dragon getting their massages still. “He found a remains of the spell tried to unlock it and caused it to surge when he touched the flower, I can't really say much more about it here.” She hints to the spa ponies.
“Fair enough, but what did it do to him?”
“He switches between pony and griffon for the last few weeks now, Trace used the potion he and a zebra called Zecora created to reserves transfiguration spells but the results of Gale's uniqueness and the spell left unexpecting results.” Cadance laughed.
Twilight thought about it. “I got some time free this weekend, maybe I with Spike can come to Canterlot and talk you about it with some time to enjoy a few days like old times...” Twilight rethought her words quickly. “You know, not foalsitting and foal stuff, just erm...”
“Twilight relax I get it.” Cadance giggled placing a hoof on her side. “I look forward to it, just send a letter in advance okay?”
“Okay.” Twilight said.
Gilda came up to them with Gale and Spike. “That pony got a few high points on me, he really know how to work on a tough griffon's muscles like mine.” Gilda smirked. “Have fun with your massage girls.” Gilda pull them off their seats pushing them over to the massage tables.
Twilight regain her balance quickly turning her getting a get a move on wave from Gilda. “I think I understand Pinkie more than that griffon...”
“Oh she full of surprises without the surprises.” Cadance giggled. “Let's go before she start saying, hurry up you lame ponies or you dorks going to stand like a statue all day.” Cadance did a few impersonations of Gilda getting a laugh from Twilight.
Gilda sat back on the couch with forelegs behind her head watching them with young drake and griffon for about ten minutes or so with Spike filling in Gilda about what exactly happened to Twilight. “-She leaped off the ledge and bounced off a big mud bubble landing on the other side, she exploded into flames as the dozzy wasn't that, it was Pinkie's Pinkie Sense, accepting it when it wasn't something you might never understand but part of Pinkie.” Spike laughed at the end.
“Twi exploded?” Gale tilt his head.
“Yeah turned white with flaming mane, tail and eyes from a big magical surge of fusration.” Spike replied.
Gilda chuckled. “Wish I could of saw that, it be epic seeing that explosion.”
Gale nods. “Power up.” He grins and Gilda laughed at what he said.
“Gale that would sum that up.”
Spike rubbed his arm with the other claw. “Still Pinkie doing all that crazy stuff and predicting Princess Celestia dropping in was something.”
“That Dorky Pie... I have no idea how she does what she does, but I never want to know.”
Gale nods. “She photos put my scrap book, no understand.” Gale rubbed his feathered head.
“Yeah Pinkie is Pinkie... Let's just hope that she the only one.” Spike got a look from both griffons. “What?”
“You dweeb! Two universal rules! You never ever say something on the lines of hope that the only one or what can possibly go wrong! That is the ultimate no no!” Gilda said with annoyance.
Pinkie pop up behind the couch. “Yep Gilda is right!”
Gilda instantly squawks shooting up in the air hovering high above with a talon over her chest feeling her heart racing from the sudden appearance of Pinkie Pie, Gale launch himself backwards about ten feet with shock and Spike stares with a few blinks. “Erm... Hi Pinkie...”
“Hi Spike, Gilda, Gale, Twilight and pink princess I never met before!” She waved a hoof.
“Pinkie what are you doing here!?” Twilight was surprised to see her sitting up.
Pinkie Pie giggled. “I getting my Bulky Extreme massage of course silly!” Pinkie bounced over the couch. “I'll be at the booth Bulky!” Pinkie Pie salute to Gilda looking up at her. “Do not worry Gildy! Your secret is safe with me!”
“YEAH!” He roared out and leaves with Pinkie Pie.
Cadance getting her massage. “What a interesting pony.”
Twilight lays back down to get her massage. “Yes she is...”
Gilda slowly lands pointing to where Pinkie went. “I'm... Going to the mud bath... No way Dorky going to ruin this for me...” She turns to Aloe. “Please pony get us out of here before she shows up again!”
“Of course, this vay please.”
Gale turn to Spike as he land, his heart racing and all he want to do is not even question what happened.. “Mud play?”
“Mud fight!” Spike agreed, they ran in the direction of where Gilda left with Aloe.
Gilda's voice echoed seconds later. “Wha! Oh you want to play that game huh!? Only fair I get your two back!”
Cadance grins. “Told you.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yes you did... Candy”
“Ooo Gilda rubbing off you, Purple?” Cadance burst into laughter and so did Twilight.
Greystorm slowly open his eyes groaning in pain as soon the world of the awoken came to be, he raise the talon over the head feeling bandages over it with the touch of pain recalling the hard impact he received, the blackish grey griffon eyes came into focus seeing he were in some sort of grey box room on top a bed, a sink with a mirror on the wall in front of it, a table with an chair by the bed and a toilet on the other side of it.
He sat up noticing that the vest and shirt were gone, he felt a bit naked without them on since he always wore them since being mayor of Trottingham, Greystorm noticed in this strange simple box room the entrance was wide open. “Octicovix...” He pulled the sheets off rolling out of bed onto all fours, he quickly moved for the open entrance to come to a dead stop.
“This feels a bit too easy...” Greystorm look ahead to see a empty desk in front of him carved out of wood, the flooring was wooden too as well the walls and ceiling, he noticed it felt almost organic as if someone took care to carve out the room, he noticed a large door with a smaller one attached to it, reaching a talon out with caution.
The same female voice in the forest speaks out. “Don't worry dude, the cell containment field is down, Nanner Maple told me you and the others are cool enough without holding you against your will.” He walk out of the 'cell' turning to his left to meet the attacker on his wife and team.
Before him was a snowy white grey griffon, a rather big griffon lying down on the biggest pillows he ever seen too, the eyes had yellow instead of the whites around the pupils, the pupils having a black to sharp purple colour, this griffon had blackish grey spots from the mid chest level to the tip of the paw and tail, she had her forepaws on a glowing tablet pressing the thumbs on it. “Where is Octicovix?”
Without paying attention to him more focused on the glowing side of the tablet responds. “The one to your left next door, she comfortable resting and the effects of the stun will be wearing off very shortly.”
Greystorm walk up to the next door cell to see Octicovix as the griffon said, he walk inside putting a talon on her side. “Hey Octicovix, wake up.”
Octicovix slowly open her eyes groaning. “Urg... What hit me?” She slowly regaining her senses. “Grey?”
“It me, we in some sort of containment area in a unknown location, we were brought here after being knocked out.” Greystorm stated helping her to sit up. “I got a butt end of something after chatting with the mysterious attacker which is a over nine hooves paws griffon.”
Octicovix rubbing her head with a hoof. “Nine hooves paws tall griffon? Did this griffon knock your head so hard?”
“Wish it was so.” He leads her out of the cell hinting to the left.
“Holy of all!” Octicovix startled by the size of the griffon lying back against pillows non-reacting to her reaction. “Your a very big finch griffon...”
The griffon didn't look at them as she look at the glowing part of the tablet still. “Oooooh I am a oversized finch griffon, heard it all before and don't give two bits of a damn about it, dude.”
Octicovix walk up to her looking up. “It seem you don't, I am Octicovix and you are?”
“Sunflower.”
“One of your parents specialized in flowery?” Octicovix asked.
Sunflower slowly lower the tablet now her eyes shift directly upon the changeling. “Yes, how the blazes you know that?”
Octicovix wings buzzed and she hovers eye level with the griffon. “If we were all brought here, that mean our stuff was too, inside my bag is comic book that follows a griffon, in fact this griffon.” She transforms into Pistol the finch griffon.
Sunflower eyes widen. “Change back now!”
“Why? It a fic-”
“Pi-Pistol!?” They all turn to the large door Their eyes fell upon a pony size griffon, brown body with a cream underside, blackish grey spots and markings around the forelegs, whitish grey face with brown ears and black markings on the ears, face and neck, the red eyes over the red beak looking directly at his own blue eyes. “No I am changeling.” (He) said and transforms back. “See!”
“Y-you had his voice, how!?” The finch griffon demanded to know.
Octicovix shrugs. “I just used the comic books to estimate it, the voice just came when I turned into him, you know his fictional right?”
“No his not... He proposed to me two days before it happened...” She said walking up to Octicovix. “Please turn back into him...”
Octicovix blinked. “Erm...”
Greystorm was confused by this aciton. “By any chance your this Nanner Maple?”
“Just Maple, I am Sunflower's grandmother.” They didn't react in shock just looking at her. “You not questioning it?”
“After what we seen and what happened, nope I can believe it.” Greystorm causally replied. “Go ahead my love, change for her.”
Octicovix smirked. “Alright my feathered brain lov-”
“Please stop with the sweet talk and do it already, dude!” Sunflower snapped.
Octicovix shook her head. “Fine.” Burst of flames wash over and Pistol stood once more. “There we go one Pistol trans-Oooo...” (He) stumbled a bit.
“Octicovix are you okay?”
“I don't know, I got this strange pull feeling as if I am being pu-” Octicovix collaspes and Maple quickly caught (Him) from falling. “Ooo that was-” Suddenly the eyes open and met Maple's. “M-M-Maple!?”
“Pistol?” She got a mighty hug from the finch griffon. “Is that really you?” She asked the hugging finch griffon.
“Yes it is!” He pulled away looking at her with a big warm smile. “Ho-how are you alive!?”
“I have to ask you the same thing! You, everyone and the islands were destroyed over 200 years ago!” Maple responded with shock with a forepaw on the side of his feathered fur face.
Pistol was as confused with the same shock. “I thought the same thing! Well part of the islands being destroyed, the skies around are endless though.”
Greystorm wanted to ask about his wife but something about this got him thinking, he listened to them talk. “Dude, what the buck is going on here?” Sunflower lower her head down to beside him whispering into his ear.
“If I am to guess... They somehow mentally swapped places.”
“Why are you calm about this!? Your wife is somewhere else mentally!”
Greystorm rubbed the underside of his snout. “She is but not for long.”
Sunflower frowns. “And you can tell that? How?”
He point to the finch griffon forehead with sweat forming. “I think the form she in gave a link to the real Pistol, but the form can not be maintained.”
“Your creepy dude, you know that?”
He didn't respond walking up to them. “Pistol.”
Pistol turn to Greystorm. “Another griffon! I am talking to another griffon! Oh this is so amazing!”
“I wish it could be longer, but don't you notice how tired you feeling?”
“I do...” He whipped the forehead. “Why?”
“Your currently in a changeling body transformed into you, my wife in fact and where ever you are at this moment she is and when the form drops I believe she return and you return.” Greystorm explained.
Maple look thoughtfully. “I heard of this... A magical mental link through space, time and dimensions, it only possible if someone is in a area of space that phasing in and out of all of it, never sitting in one place at...” She stared at Pistol. “All... You been alive alone on a island floating between them all this time... Oh Pistol I had no idea, I really didn't...” Tears fall from Maple's eyes running down her feathered fur face.
Pistol listen to her. “But that doesn't make sense, I don't have a body! I am a ghost like th-” He paused. “Wait your there! Repeating the first five minutes every hour, 24 hours before I activated my machine!”
Maple's tears stream as she grow anger. “That no good for nothing Guto the Betrayer did that to you and the others! He sent two finch griffons I once called friends to sabtoage your invention! I am the proof it works! After I was caught in the tail end of the sub-sonic explosion that I thought ripped the whole island to dust and everyone on it I was saved by my grandfather Graverton, he knew as much about your invention than anyone else and had the means to bind my body back together before I too phased out of existence!”
Maple venting out of rage with the words spoken, she was furious. “Wh-why would he do that!?”
“Mad with power and corrupted by the lose of the stupid idol that why! He wanted to wipe us all out for the weapons stored there! He planned on using them on Princess Celestia and conquer Equestria!”
Pistol started to cry. “He turn my invention into a weapon of mass destruction... He wiped us all out...”
Greystorm shook his head. “Not exactly, if this machine has systems on it like that flat computer that Sunflower has, it might have did what it was made to do in a twisted way, saved your soul within it and projected your form, I seen this done last week through a crystal via temporal messaging from 4000 years ago.”
“Seriously dude?”
“Indeed, Griffax Boreas himself spoke to Princess Celestia through time and space.”
Pistol stared at Sunflower. “Y-your really big...”
“And your really cute, I can see why Nanner Maple still love you.” She chuckled with a thumbs up to him.
Pistol blushes. “Erm... Yeah...” He turn to Maple with shock. “Nanner!? She your granddaughter!?”
“Yep, I thought I lost you and moved on in life, but hopefully we find you and the island, stay tough and keep your hopes high my love.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Till next time.”
He felt the energy draining fast. “Y-yeah... I been alone for 200 years, what a little longer if I can get to see you again...” With that the body burst into flames and the changeling Octicovix was back.
Octicovix collapses into Greystorm's talons as he caught her. “Hey how are you?”
“Very drained, confused and saw myself... yo... you... an...” She closed her eyes falling into unconsciousness.
Greystorm kiss her on the forehead. “Sleep well my love, you need it and you can tell me what happened when you wake, till than we have more pieces to a growing puzzle.”
Maple wiped the tears from her eyes. “I do not know what that was, but I'll accept it as a blessing...”
Sunflower stared with a raised eyebrow. “That just freaky dinky, dude...”
Suddenly Greystorm, Maple, Pistol, Sunflower and Octicovix stood in water under a bluish white light staring at a large bluish white glowing tree, they was surprised to see each other, they find they couldn't speak and a voice behind them all spoke.
When the past and future collides The end of Flaputa will come At the day after Chaos To save lives come to the depths The depths under Canterlot And not before A chance to save all All that stand on Flaputa On the day the gates open
Greystorm blinked and he was back holding onto the sleeping changeling, he turn his head to Maple. “Di-”
“Yes...”
“Nanner... What are the odds that this was bound to happen?”
Outside Greystorm sat with his wife Octicovix surrounded by sunflowers, high above a honeycomb of reinforced superstructure and glass all the way around to ground level of a twenty foot wall, in the middle the largest tree ever seen, parts of it hollowed out into corridors, hallways and rooms, outside was a large lake with the fields filled with large tall sunflowers, a path around the tree to six paths leading to the mid circlar path to the outer wall path, at the end of two paths north and south were large metal doors leading out of the mega sized greenhouse.
Greystorm pulled the changeling a big closer to him resting his head against hers. “Quite the place we discovered isn't it my love.”
“It is my feather brained love.” She hummed. “After what happened four hours ago I really needed something peaceful to sit in to recover...”
“Take all the time you need, we in no imminent hurry.”
They got a big of a jump when Sunflower spoke up behind and above them. “Hey dudes!”
Greystorm turn his head upwards to the nine hooves tall griffon looking back down at him with a smirk. “For a very big griffon you sure can move as silent as the wind.”
She chuckled lying down near them in a spot avoid of sunflowers, her head even resting on the large forepaws was slightly bigger then them. “I can't exactly spread my wings, so I use that good ol' flight magic in me for making me walk as light as a feather.”
Octicovix yawned a little still using Greystorm for support resting her head against his shoulder. “Hmm... No paw prints would be left, very stealthy.”
“Too right it is!” She said. “How ya doing Shifter.”
“I am recovering, just needed some fresh air and got to say this place is nothing we ever seen.” Octicovix lightly circles in the solid eyes shift around.
Sunflower responds with pride. “It home and I love it.”
Dr Caballeron walk up to them from the tree trunk stair entrance into the tree. “Indeed it is a home to love, also with odds at two trillion to one... That is impossible odds, yet here we are... Yes?”
“From what I learnt from Weirdo here, yeah the odds didn't even matter.” Sunflower turn to him. “At least your not screaming like a pansy Doc.”
Dr Caballeron coughed eyes shifting away. “Hmm... Quite.” He felt unsettled by her making him recall that moment. “So Greystrom, what is our next move?”
Greystorm put his wing over Octicovix. “My wife still recovering, the magic drained from her was alarming, transdimensional temporal mind swapping isn't something any of us was prepared for Caballeron.”
“Yes you are correct.”
“At least you are one up on Daring Do, with I hiring you and your team this would of never happened.”
“Indeed.” Dr Caballeron chuckled. “Do not worry I will not speak of this place, nor will my team that I promise.” He put a hoof to his chest.
Sunflower shrugs. “Doesn't matter, finding this place would be looking for a needle in a forest, you all are here because I dragged your sorry tails here.” Sunflower lift her head up raising a forepaw up wiggling the three finger and thumb like paw limbs at him. “I could easily just put this down on you and flatten ya.”
Dr Caballeron pulled on his collar slightly. “N-nice big griffon...”
“Pansy.” She laughed.
“Play nice Sunflower.” Maple joins them with Dr Caballeron's team..
“Your no fun Nanner Maple.” She stuck out her tongue at her.
Withers gulped at the size of the tongue. “Th-that a big tongue...”
Sunflower put it back in her beak. “It comes being the biggest thing here Shades.” She turn to Maple. “Nanner are we really going to dig out the cargo tunnel?”
“Yes, but I am going to need some parts to finish off the Mole, which means I have to make a call to my contacts in Flaputa-on-Sea.” Maple answered.
“Mole? Falputa-on-Sea?” Biff questioned.
Maple answers. “It a drilling machine you drive and dig into the ground, one of the things I recall from touching that achieves is a rescue group had such a machine, I've almost finished constructing it.”
“Why would you build something like that?” Rouge asked.
Sunflower adds her own words. “That I been asking Nanner for the last few years, her answer-”
She and Maple said together. “It a hobby.” They laughed. “We be using it to get inside through the cargo tunnel.”
Greystorm and the others were surprised. “Your going to help us get into the underground section of that FGC ruins?”
Maple turn to him. “It seems that you were meant to be here Greystorm, I am putting trust and faith in you.” Maple suddenly turn to Sunflower. “Take care of Octicovix for Greystorm, please.”
Sunflower nods. “I will Nanner.”
“What?” Greystorm wasn't sure where Maple was going with needing him all the sudden.
“What of us?” Dr Caballeron asked.
“Your staying with my granddaughter and out of trouble, you will be allowed to go anywhere in here part from our bedrooms and my workshop, that place is filled with half baked experiments that could do some serious harm to you.” Maple tells him. “Also if you need access to our computers on anything on the FGC Sunflower will help you print out the necessary stuff you need.”
Dr Caballeron raise a hoof. “How exactly do you pull information from a machine with blinking lights and sound like your in a thunderstorm?”
“Oh your going to have a fit when you see what we finch griffons created and continue to improve upon.” Maple smiled. “Now come with me Greystorm, we need to do something about your talons and those scales.”
Greystorm frowned. “What wrong with them?”
“If my contacts got what I need, your coming with me into town and you need to look the part, non-finch griffons and not family is a big no no, the trust of other creatures including griffon cousins is a all time low since that day.” Maple said turning to walk up the stairs.
Greystorm look at Octicovix mouthing out the what she said about looking the part. “I wonder what forepaws would look on you my love.”
“Not helping.”
“No I'm not.” She kissed him on the beak and yawns. “Tell me what this finch griffon town like okay?”
“I will my love.”
“Good.” She yawned heavily. “I just feel so shattered, I think I'll go to sleep again.” She collapses again.
Sunflower catch her with a paw lifting the unconscious changeling. “She needs real rest, getting out of bed and coming here wasn't the best idea, dude.”
Greystorm sighs. “I know it isn't but she need the air, please make sure my wife get all the rest she needs.” He ran his talon over her black shell. “I love you my love, get all the rest you need.” He kiss her cheek.
Sunflower gets up walking over them and back into the tree. “I'll never get use to having a griffon that big walk directly over you...” Dr Caballeron muttered.
“If we green to go, I want you and the others to do the research needed, but make sure to keep my wife safe okay?”
“We got it.” Biff reinsured him.
“Thank you Biff.” Greystorm flies after Maple catching up with her.
Dr Caballeron looked around slowly. “Boss?” Rouge speaks up. “Are we going to-”
“No, no we not backstabbing him.”
“We not?” Withers was surprised so was the others. “Why?”
Dr Caballeron brought up a bit tossing it in the air, they all looked up at the coin. “Two trillion to one odds.” He turn walking inside the tree.
The three ponies watch the coin spin in the air, it comes down to land on it side, neither heads or tails...
“A little to the left, down a bit Clipper.” Spitfire directing Soarin to place large fluffy clouds outside Canterlot near the mountain steep drop edge, on the ground Fleetfoot and Fire Streak setting up the Dizzitron, a massive wheel attached to a control panel, as they made the final adjustments to the machine Gale, Gilda and Sunbeam flew into a landing before it.
Spitfire sees them flying down to them in her flightsuit as the rest were too. “What crazy flight training you've got cooking this time Spits?” Gilda noticing the large wheel and the Wonderbolt team working on final adjustments.
“Nice to see you too G-Force.” Spitfire raise her hoof up to Gilda, the griffon bump a fist against it. “This time nothing too crazy, something of a lesson with a lot of fun for cub.” Spitfire walk up to Gale. “I took some thought on how to give you some lessons and decided on a whole different approach for you young prince.”
Gale tilt his head curiously. “Fun game?”
Spitfire chuckled. “Yep fun game.”
Gilda turn her attention to the wheel. “Sooooo... Is this thing gonna be like the dust devil blow out that happened last week?”
The captain walked up to the wheel putting her hoof to the side of it. “Not this time, the Dizzitron all it does is spin you around and fling ya high into the end into a spin out stall, we use it to help those recovery from the stall spin to open their wings up to recover, turning on the bit to return safely as speedy as they can.”
Sunbeam walked up to it. “I heard of this thing, but I thought it was at the Wonderbolts HQ.”
“That the primary one, this and a few others at our venues.” Soarin told her. “This one is Royal Spinner, the Canterlot Dizzitron for us to use every so often.”
Spitfire went to the controls. “Soarin, let's show them how it works.”
He salutes. “Sure captain!” He flew up to it and slip behind the bar putting his forelegs over it. “Ready to go!”
“Soarin do not try to open your wings but angle your landing on the clouds okay?”
“Got it!” He put the goggles over his eyes.
They watched Spitfire pull the leaver up to the medium setting, pressing the button the wheel starts to spin around and around, pulling a big leaver to the side causing Soarin to be thrown from it into the sky through a spin, the stallion breaks out of the spin turning his back towards the cloud landing against it with a bounce.
“That's it?” Gilda frowned. “Talk about lame.”
Spitfire grins. “You like to show us Wonderbolts on the same settling?”
Gilda flew up to it. “Sure, why not, how hard can it be?” She slip behind the bar putting her forelegs over it.
Spitfire pulled out from a box beside it a pair of goggles. “You need these feather brain!”
Gilda grab them and put the goggles on. “Sure whatever, get on with it.”
“You asked for it!” Spitfire press the button causing it to spin around.
Gale calls out to Gilda. “Gilda do it! Gilda can!”
“Like the spirit you got for her, let's see what this griffon got!” She pull the leaver and Gilda sent flying, she fails to slow the spin and tries to use her wings to flail around to hit face first in the cloud, Gilda bounce backwards landing on her back with her eyes spinning. “Not bad, but not good either, you had zero control newbe.” Spitfire hovering over her with a hoof out.
Gilda got her senses back and stares at the hoof before taking it with a grumble under her breath. “Bucking showpony...”
“That part of the job, also we been trained to do this for ages.” Spitfire helped her up. “Right Gale, we be doing it at the lowest settings for you, do not worry about not getting it right, think of it as a game and enjoy it as if your on a ride at a park.” Spitfire look around her at the Wonderbolts. “We got the best here today to keep you safe.”
Gale had watched and listen, taking it all in. “Fun learning!” He pulled out his goggles putting them on, giving Sunbeam his bag with the plush in it. “Safe plush?”
Sunbeam took the bag. “I'll keep it safe Prince Gale.”
“Cool!” He walked up to Spitfire. “Ready!”
Spitfire watch Gale slide in and give a thumbs up to her. “Sometimes I envoy you lot with those talons of yours.” Spitfire pulling the leaver up to the lowest settings.
“Yeah right.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Spits you do a thumbs up with your wings.” She tugged on one of Spitfire's wings.
Spitfire pulled her wing back closing it tight. “We walk on all fours but you can do it with wings and talons, that two more than we got.”
“So true.” Gilda stand on her hind legs giving two thumbs up with her claws and two more with the wings getting a laugh from Spitfire, Gale laughing too seeing the funny side to it. “Now Spits let her rip!”
Spitfire press the button, Gale start to spin around and the reaction they got was a heathery joyful scream. “Three... Two... One!” She pull the leaver launching Gale into a spin, he doesn't open his wings spinning around still giving a joyful scream before landing on the large cloud, bouncing a few times on it laughing as he sits up and punch the air. “Ready to-”
Gale flew right back to the Dizzitron slipping in behind the bar. “Again!”
“Remember that while your having fun, correct yourself in the air to land back first! After that we go towards wing control to either slow or stop yourself from hitting the clouds okay?” Spitfire gave Gale a set of tasks he need to complete. “We will space it out between breaks, do it too many times and you could get sick.”
Gale nods in agreement. “Okay, understand!”
Spitfire press the button starting it up, after a few seconds pulling it to launch Gale again, they repeat the process another six times with Gale on the fifth and sixth try almost getting control of his body to aim back first into the safety cloud. “Well done Prince Gale, come on over and relax for a bit.”
Gale came up to a long table spread inside a tent with the Wonderbolt symbol at the entrance, he noticed a group of the ponies already sat down eating their meals, Spitfire walk in to sit on a cushion at the table. “Ooo, Gilda we eat?”
“Yep cub we eat, sit down.” She pat the cushion beside her, he sits down and given a bowl of salad with carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and apple slices. “Here the ketchup.” She put the bottle down next to it. “I know how much you like putting that stuff on your food.”
Gale nods taking it, opening the bottle he tip some of it over the food salad and afterwards taking the folk, some of the ponies watched Gale do this before eating it with glee. “Ketchup on a salad?” Fleetfoot questioned.
“You put mustard on yours Flatfoot.” Spitfire said flatly to her.
She laughs rubbing the back of her neck. “Point taken.” She returns to eating her meal.
Spitfire as she ate her meal went through some of the paper work, the up coming Young Fliers Contest was days away and be a interesting one since a pony had caught her attention, the paper work showed Rainbow Dash to have proven to being a very fast professional flier, a bit of a solo act but with the right push over time she believe this pony could be a promising Wonderbolt.
Spitfire look over at Gale enjoying his meal, talking to Soarin the best he could at the moment with laughter coming from both of them, the teenage griffon was learning fast from doing things in a practical application, these weekly lessons was refreshing for her and those of her team that attended.
After their meal Gale sat on one of the clouds looking out at Cloudsdale in the distance moving across the sky, he read about the city in the books but never seen it till now as it drifts. “Quite the city isn't it?” Spitfire lands beside him. “The Wonderbolt Academy where my team and I mostly train at is a bit of that way.” She point a hoof in the general direction. “The city though is my home and seeing it drift around the country seeing villages, towns and cities from high above is quite the sight as it drift over.”
“How books, doors, stuff not fall through clouds?”
“That is the power of Pegasi magic Gale, the clouds are specially made to hold up that kind of stuff on them, just not ponies or other beings that doesn't have this spell that allow them to walk on clouds for a few days.” Spitfire explained. “I don't get how a bookshelf can stay on the cloud without a spell but a being that not a Pegasus or a Griffon can't, never thought about trying to figure it out.” Spitfire pat him on the back with a wing gentle. “Come on let's move on to using your wings, it time to learn to recover from a spin out, okay?”
Gale nods. “Okay Spitty!”
Shining Armor walking up to them seeing Gale get launched at the large clouds, seeing Gale spin and attempt to recover before landing into the clouds made him feel a bit green. “Maybe checking up wasn't a good idea, just watching making me airsick...” He groans.
“Your such a wimp, Blue Hooves.” Gilda said from on top a tree branch leaning her back against the trunk. “Celestia asked ya to come on by?”
He walk up to the tree looking up at Gilda. “Pretty much, it seem things are going well for Gale.”
Gilda's tail flicking around over the edge of the branch. “Yep, he started on the lowest setting, I jumped right into the medium setting and being a total dork I got my rump handed to me by Spits.”
“Bruised your ego?”
“Yes.” Gilda muttered. “I am the lame dweeb in that case.”
Shining Armor turn to the Dizzitron. “That take a lot of guts to admit you made a mistake.”
Gilda shrugs. “Whatever Blue Hooves.”
Shining remove his helmet putting it under his right foreleg. “I am on duty, would rather call me by my name and rank.”
“Nope.”
“That too much to ask for.” He put the helmet on.
“Whatever you say Captain Armor.” Gilda teased.
Shining quickly look up at her. “Your something you know that?”
Gilda chuckled. “That I am.” She put her talons behind the back of the head watching Gale almost recovered flapping his wings, he slows enough to bounce and tumble over on it with laughter followed. “Just in two days be back in Cloudsdale after all those years.”
“You don't sound too cheerful Gilda.” Shining Armor watching Gale go at it again.
“It was where I became friends with Dash and our recent break up as friends still very recent.”
“Why didn't you say no to Gale?”
“Because I promised, ever since I agreed to teach the cub and he thinks of me of all griffons like a big sister, I just feel this weird feeling inside me.” Gilda closed her eyes thinking of the feeling within. “It just something lame...”
Shining Armor shook his head. “It not lame Gilda, that is something I feel with my little sister at times, even you are not blood related you created a connection with him.”
“How? You dweeb, I only known him for almost three weeks.”
“I can't tell how or why it happened but it did, sometimes you two will disagree and get into a fight and you will feel the worst afterwards, other times you will feel the urge to leap off a cliff to save him and help him grow to be a better griffon than you were when you was at his age.” Shining Armor looked up at Gilda.
Gilda look down with a snort. “Fine, you made a very sappy lame dorky dweeby point! You ever speak of this little chit-chat we had-”
“It never happened, hear you loud and clear Gilda.”
“Your just as bad as your sister you know?”
“That I am.”
They chuckled and continue to watch Gale get better at getting control of his spin outs from the Dizzitron as the sun starts to set in the horizon.
Greystorm walking behind Maple through a curved corridor, a large door to the left and to the right a long window showing the upper level view inside the tree of the sea of sunflowers, Maple press a paw on a wooden panel that pop out a bit and she pull down displaying a keyboard with a screen in front of it.
Greystorm turn from the window he was looking through to see them as Maple stood on her hind legs tapping away on it with her forepaws. “That look like a griffish typewriter but without the paper.”
“The concept is the same but what I type is displayed on this screen.” Maple calmly said as Greystorm stood beside and watched. “We be making contact with my contact in here.” Hinting to the large metal double door.
“So it some sort of computer but smaller?”
Maple smiled seeing he had some concept on it. “Exactly, this is for the soul purpose of the room we about to go in, we finch griffons were and still are the brains of the griffons, we could imagine things that you thought was impossible.” She turn to him tapping a paw finger on the tip of his beak. “So don't be surprised that you be far more confused and unable to comprehend what happens when we go in.”
The doors split apart and open up, Maple close the panel up putting a forepaw out for Greystorm to go in first, he steps inside to find the room to be black from floor to the curved walls meeting high above in a shape of a dome, yellow lines criss crossing into squares. “This seem generic.” He looked around as Maple step in and the doors close. “What the purpose of this room and where is your contact?”
Maple walk up beside him. “We should be connecting to him in a moment, the room will change and seem that we in another location but we not, everything will seem real but we won't be able to make contact with it and vis-versus with him to us.” Maple explained simply as she could to him. “Also your talons will appear as paws to yourself and him to make it seem you are a finch griffon, but they still talons and only be a illusion.”
Greystorm looked at her strangely. “Real, not real and illusion of talons as paws? I don't see anything magical here to do that stuff?”
“That because it magic and technology working together, also built into the floors, walls and ceiling.” Maple answered and as she finished speaking the whole room shift into a warehouse office.
Before them sitting at a desk was a orange with white underside and black striped foal size finch griffon. “Hello Maple, how is my favourite customer doing?” The deep booming voice came from him.
Maple rolled her eyes. “I am your only favourite customer Big-Rig.” Maple walked up to the desk.
“That you are, the others are lacking the interest you give me each time you call.” Big-Rig chuckled, he turn to the griffon seeming to staring at his paw in front of him closing and opening it with bewilderment. “And whom might this be?” He slip off the chair walking around the desk walking up to Greystorm. “This is the first time ever I seen another in your calls.”
“He and his wife got me the fund I needed.” She said.
Greystorm was about to say something. “It been sent in full?” Big-Rig instantly asked.
“Yes.” Maple confirmed.
Big-Rig quickly went to his desk against looking at a flat box to Greystorm's view. “Ah payment here and collected, I bid you a good day and thank you for your business as always Maple.” Everything fizzled for a second and back to normal. “To the systems it now think the call is ended, we free to talk.”
Maple mood turns serious. “Flaputa is trapped in a pocket dimension shifting between time and space, how we found out is because of Greystorm's wife Octicovix a Changeling that turned into Pistol.”
“Changeling? I heard about them, some found the town and tried to gain access to it 10 years ago, failed though with their short term memories of the town wiped and sent on their way.” Big-Rig chuckled. “Now Greystorm, answer me this...” He flew up to eye level of the grey griffon. “You were going for the golden discs weren't ya?”
Greystorm nods. “That is correct, only to solve the raise and fall of many griffon kingdoms that came into contact with them, figure out how to stop it from happening again and allow the griffon race to finally be stable.” Greystorm explained to Big-Rig.
Big-Rig gave a big burst of laughter followed by responding. “I can see why you past all the tests she put out! That is grand!”
“Not really, my team and Octicovix got stunned, I was the only one not completely effected by it and talked with Sunflower.” Greystorm said with a slight growl.
“Also might be the fact he was 76.7% immune to the stun shot.” Maple muttered.
“He is!? I personally made those for the Police! That are 100% effective to all beings!” Big-Rig startled by hearing this. “How the blazes did it hardly effect you!?”
Greystorm answer give them pause. “I can not say how or what caused it only that the mark I have on my chest I got last week is most likely the cause of it.”
“Hmm...” Big-Rig rubbed the underside of his beak. “Not allowed to say or not enough trust?”
“Correct on both, no offence Maple, but even we been given a warm recovery I can not forget about being shot at, hit in the head by something and being dragged to this beautiful domed greenhouse against our will.” Greystorm said looking over at her. “I can say so much but not that I feel is sensitive.”
Maple sighed rubbing the back her head. “Not the finest moment, but you gave me hope, so I take what I get from what you said so far.” She turn to Big-Rig. “I need to remaining parts to finish the Mole and finally go back down there.”
Rig-Rig return to his desk looking at the flat box by Greystorm's perspective. “Let's see your list...” He took a good look pressing a paw finger down with a sound of clicks. “They won't be easy to get hold of Maple, it will take about a month at best to get everything without raising flags, Parliament officials know you've been making that thing for some time, but because you cold cased it they haven't really gone after you over it.”
“It will give us time to prepare, also I gather part of the deal you want to come along?”
“You know me too well Maple.” He chuckled leaning back against the chair back.
Maple chuckled back. “I am your fav customer afterall.”
“So true, so true... Alright I'll be around for the usual monthly supply run for those golem cores.”
“See you than.” Maple give him mock salute.
Big-Rig salute back. “Take care old timer and Greystorm...” The grey griffon made eye contact with him. “Thank you.” The room vanishes after he press down on something on the desk.
Greystorm found he had talons again the slight glow from his chest, it itched too, he put the talon between the buttons of the shirt into it to scratch at the mark Gale left him. “That was very weird... Were we talking to him really in real time from another location?” He felt a strange warmth washed over him for a second as got the itch and pulled the talon out, placing it back on the ground.
Maple walk to the door pressing the button on the side to open the double doors up, he follows her out of the room. “Indeed, the room used for research, testing and instantaneous long range communication via holoprojection.”
“I have zero idea how any of that works or how the heck you even able to do that Maple.” Greystorm sighed.
Maple tap the tip of her beak a few times. “Think of it like a magic crystal that could project things but two of them able to link from great distances.”
Greystorm recalled something like that happening but through time and space. “Reminds me that creepy one I witnessed between Princess Celestia and Griffax Boreas through a span of 4000 year-”
Maple put her forepaw on his scaly foreleg, both now looking at each other. “4000 years!?”
“It more like a message in a bottle, but had him seeing her as Eyes of the Sun, it was a connection through a tablet me and my wife saved from the first griffon city Griferlatias going under the waves, to the crystal from said island travelling around through out time finding it way to Celestia.”
She listened to him explain with widen eyes. “Why are you telling me this though?”
“Because it a chain of events that lead us to be there at Canterlot at that very moment to those comics following Pistol with his misadventures.” He said to her. “Tell me this, do you think we being lead on a path that something or someone set out for all of us from 4000 years ago? Because I sure feel like it.”
Maple rubbed her head. “When you say it like that, it sure does...”
“More pieces to place on a every growing puzzle, one that going to take time and those comics... Who created them?” Greystorm asked.
“Only one that knew him as well as I did, his dad Revo-” Maple pauses slowly turning to Greystorm. “He was at the construction site of the coastal town at the time!” Maple gasped.
“So another survived?”
“Did... He wrote and drew a lot before his passing over 100 years ago, they were achieved at the Flaputa Memorial Vault at Flaputa-on-Sea.” Maple quickly turn and runs. “Come with me Greystorm!”
“To where?”
“To my workshop! We got paws to make for you!”
“Why!?” He ran after her.
“We going to town! That why! Your puzzle pieces just grew tenfold! Also you looking pretty good, hawk!”
“I what!?” He slid to a stop, seeing a massive large mirror attached to the wall conveniently for Greystorm to take a look at himself and what he saw looking back made him squawk extremely loudly.
“WHAT THE BUCK HAPPENED TO ME AND WHY DO I LOOK LIKE I AM IN MY EARLY TWENTIES!?”
Greystorm sat and watched Maple inside a very messy place, it was filled with half baked experiments to blown up ones, some look completed and he had zero idea what any of them even do, Maple had 200 years to ticker and not really complete anything, the one thing in the workshop caught his eye was a very large circular machine with a the biggest drill bit he ever seen.
“Is that thing the Mole?” He point to it as Maple worked on two items he guessing they be the paw fitments.
Maple glance over to it. “It is.” She turn back to working on adjusting the forelegs changing the subject at paw. “My son has a paw of these in talon form, he with his wife at Las Pegasus last letter I got from him.”
Greystorm rubbed his talon over the long large wild feathers on his head. “I feel so out of place in body and mind...” He muttered.
“That tends to happen when you have a magical surged injury having a side effect to our stun weapons.” She waved a spanner at him. “Your lucky that it only de-aged you by about twenty years and not continuous.”
“True.” He stared at a reflective metal surface of himself. “When I look at this face I see the young adult that argued a lot with his father wanting a life away from the digs, all I see is shame that this griffon brought...”
Maple rolled her eyes. “You think you'd have it bad? How about your ex-husband continue to age even you've found a way to slow it down to a crawl, he and I had a real bad falling out many years ago, the only good thing to come out of it he can keep his beak shut about our relationship.” Maple went back to working on the forelegs.
Greystom had a hard time thinking of any come back to that. “How do you think Octicovix will react to me looking like this?” He was concerned.
“I doubt she would care, I say she still love you.” Maple answered. “As for my granddaughter, she will bluntly say your hot.” He flushed a blush from that comment rubbing his talon over the feathers again.
Maple laughed at his expense. “From what I seen from her already, I can believe it...” He look down at his talons in front flexing them. “I can hear Princess Celestia now... She going to say, this is what you get for doing something so foal hardy and she would be right...” He flicking the tail back and forwards. “I did do a stupid and paid the price.”
“We all have are dark moments, even I had them.” Maple finished one and gave it Greystorm. “Slip it on over your talon and foreleg, press it together and it should match your fur colour exactly.”
Greystorm slip it on and gave it a push to click it on around his foreleg, looking at it he couldn't see the difference to his fur to the paw end of this fake finch griffon foreleg. “Wow... How did you do it so fast?”
Maple shrugs. “I specialize in remaking something I made before with ease, it just fits together." Maple finished working on the second one tossing it over to him. “Fit it on and go to Octicovix.”
Greystorm fits the other one on. “This feels so strange... Both on the inside and outside..” He flexing the paw.
“You get use to them.” She walk by him to stop leaning in near his ear. “That set and game cub, see you outside.”
He turn around watching her leave with a frown. “Cub... Now I feel so old in a young body...” He muttered, Greystorm press a forepaw on the ground and gasped pulling it back up. “How the blazes am I feeling the paw pads on this forepaw glove things!?”
“It called enhancements via magic and tech you whinny cub! Now stop acting your bodies age and act your age!” Maple called out.
Greystorm press both forepaws down on the ground, he slowly walking with flinching motions from the forepaws touching the surface. “I hate being young...” He grumbled. “And I hate being three steps behind!”
Six Pegasi guards pulling the chariot across the sky, with six more around it and sitting on it Gilda, Gale and Princess Celestia, the chariot on route to Cloudsdale with a eager teenager watching the city in the skies getting closer by the second, Gilda felt a little bit more apprehensive about returning to Cloudsdale, just looking at it reminds her of Rainbow Dash and their friendship.
Celestia glance over to Gilda, she had her talons over the edge of the seat side staring out to the endless sky. “Is something of the matter Gilda?” Celestia quietly asked as Gale's full attention was on the closing cloud city.
Gilda didn't bother to look behind as she continue to stare out at the sky and clouds going by. “It really lame of me to feel like this...” Gilda mutters with a soft sigh. “It also lame of me to think Rainbow Dash would come to Canterlot to apologise to me...” Gilda rest her bottom part of the beak against the tops of her talons.
Celestia took a moment to think of something to say. “Sometimes those that can't apologise right away are the best kind to wait for.”
“If it was only that simple.” Gilda had some tears falling. “When I promised to come here my hopes, how dorkish it sounds.” She sniffed a bit. “Was that Rainbow would be around before coming here, this is where we became best friends and lasted till that stupid bucking moment she broke her promise...” Gilda wiped the tears away.
Celestia put a hoof to her right side. “I had to live with my actions with what I did to my sister for 1000 years, I and Luna had much to apologise for.”
Gilda glance over at the hoof to seeing partly the flowing mane. “Point taken, still doesn't help this pit of a twist in my stomach I am getting thought.”
“That something you just have to deal with Gilda, even if we do encounter her and no apology comes right away, just be natural with her at least, can you do that?”
Gilda roll her eyes. “Of course Princess, I am not that cold hearted, I might act like a jerk at times but I feel weirdly better with myself since teaching Gale, so don't let that pride you have getting me to teach him go to your head.”
“Duely noted.” Celestia remove her hoof. “I believe there a chance we will run into her some way or the other.”
Gilda couldn't help but snorted with a laugh. “Sure thing dweeb.” She push off the side turning her body around to face ahead turning her head a bit to look at Celestia. “Bet she found a way to drag her friends up to the city and planning to tour the Weather Factory.”
Celestia smiled. “Wouldn't that be just the coincidence?”
Gilda smiled back. “With everything that happened so far, I wouldn't be surprised if that did happen.”
“Indeed.”
Gale turn to them pointing to the large floating facility coming into view with blackish grey clouds discharging lightning close by. “Weather making place?”
Celestia lean down to him. “Yes Gale, that the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, the place where all our weather is made and sent out through out Equestria, we are going to take a tour and show you how it is all made.” She nuzzled him a little. “Excited?”
“Yes mum! Very excited!” Gale was eager to have a look inside the Weather Factory..
The chariot finally lands on the cloud near the entrance to the reception area of the factory, the guards pulling it detatch themselves and stood to attention with the other guards, Celestia step out with Gale and Gilda. “With all these years being here in Cloudsdale I never once came to the factory.”
“First time for you and Gale.” Celestia said walking up to the glass double doors opening them with her magic, they follow her inside while the guards wait outside.
Soon as they walked inside Gale heard his talons tap against the floor, he look down to see a solid flooring that looked like marble flooring in Canterlot he seen, tapping it with a claw. “What are you doing cub?”
“Marble flooring, think it is, how sit cloud?” Gale tilt his head.
Gilda was about to answer that but couldn't think of one part from... “Magic is all I got for ya.”
Celestia turn to them. “It comes from the ground and yes, magic is infused in it to sit on clouds.”
“Infused magic stuff stay cloud?”
“I guess so.” Gilda shrugged. “Magically infused stuff is the best answer we will get.”
Celestia turn her attention to the pony behind the reception desk, Gale notice it was a wooden desk and took into account what was said, he had to accept that as magical infused answer. “Hello Princess Celestia, we been expecting you, the prince and Griffoness Gilda, please follow Storm Cloud to get your clean jackets and hats before entering the factory.”
“We will and thank you.” Celestia answered, she wave a wing for Gale and Gilda to follow her as they followed the red stallion wearing a white coat with a hat on to the dressing room.
As they put the coats on with the hats, Gale looked at himself wearing them with a laugh how silly he looked. “Silly me!”
“Dweeb it will look silly on us griffons.” Gilda chuckled. “Your mum, that coat match her fur.”
Gale turn to see it for himself. “Funny mum!”
Celestia giggled. “That it is, but we have to wear it.” She used her magic to tie up the mane and tail. “Now I am ready to go, let the tour begin shall we?” They nod. “Follow me, I been here many times and easily can explain it to you two.”
They follow Celestia out of the dressing room through a door to outside and to a door that slid up, they walked inside and Gale was surprised how cold it suddenly felt as the door slide close, he also saw ponies working on snow flakes. “This is where winter is made, each of their ponies are hoof making each snowflake with care, delicately and precision.” Celestia explains to them.
Gilda walk up a pony working on one with a large magnifying glass over it. “Geez... I never knew snow was this crazy to made, your saying that these dweebs spend hours a day in this freezing cold place hoof making each snow flake?”
“Indeed, it something that been done for quite some time with many times of success.” Celestia responded.
Gale curiously point to one. “Pick up okay?”
The blue stallion wearing a fluffy white coat nods. “Sure Prince Gale, just becareful okay?”
Gale pick one up carefully and turn it around one way than the other. “Pretty and cold, like.” He put it back down. “Thanks!” He cheerfully said to the stallion.
“Your welcomed and thank you for being careful.” He nod happily to Gale before going back to work.
Gale walk up to Celestia. “Like white stuff!”
Gilda chuckled. “I got to admit, what I seen so far even this is the beginning of the tour, it pretty coo.” Gilda hears the door slide open, she turn around with the others to see Rainbow Dash with her friends walk inside.
“This is where they make the snowflakes.” Rainbow Dash paying attention to her friends and they to the place unaware of Celestia or the griffons. “Each one is hoof made, as you can see it a delicate operation.”
Gilda noticed Rarity with butterfly wings and as she was about to fly up to have a closer look at one she spoke up. “That has to be the lamest funniest thing I ever seen stuck on a pony! Hahahaha!” Gilda burst into fits of laughter, Gale was also laughing.
“Well I never! Wh-” She turn to see them. “Oh my! Princess Celestia! Prince Gale!” She instantly bows as Gilda and Gale continue to laugh.
Celestia watch the griffons laugh. “Hello my little ponies.”
Twilight gasped. “Princess! It a surprise to see you here!” She bow to her with her friends.
Celestia raise her hoof. “Please stand, we are in a busy factory afterall.”
They stood up. “Howdy Princess, what bring ya to Cloudsdale?” Applejack asked.
“I, Gale and Gilda are here to oversee the contest for the young fliers, also I am part of the judges to declare the winners.” Celestia answered.
Fluttershy look over to Gale circling Rarity looking at the wings. “Gale look well.”
“He doing very well.” Celestia said with pride.
“You found out his birthday yet? Huh huh?” Pinkie asked, Celestia shook her head. “Awww... poop!”
Gilda step up to Rainbow Dash. “Hey Dash...”
“Hey Gilda...”
“How things?” Gilda asked.
“They okay I guess, you?”
“Crazy and not so lame or dull.” Gilda chuckled glancing over at Gale. “Got to say that if it wasn't for you breaking your promise it wouldn't gave me the push I needed to teach him.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “You teaching? As in Egghead teaching?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Whatever you like to think of it I am teaching him to speak and write.” Gilda answered.
“Why are you here?”
“We here to tour the factory and watch the contest later, this be Gale's first official event as prince and I promised to tag along.” Gilda explained. “That why I am here, otherwise I'm not.” She turn walking up to Celestia. “Let's move on.”
Celestia nods. “I gather you are giving the tour to your friends, Rainbow Dash?”
“Yeah I am.” Rainbow replied rubbing a foreleg over the other. “Just didn't expect to run into you, the cub or... Gilda of all griffons.”
“Things have ways of happening when you don't expect it, don't be nervous of the contest and relax, do your best in the arena okay?” Celestia said to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash smiled a little. “Thank you Princess.”
“Now shall we continue on the tour?”
“Sure thing, come on this way to where the rainbows are made!” Rainbow wave her hoof for them all to follow her.
Celestia glance to the griffons. “Shall we join them or wait?”
“Do whatever you like, I am going with what you suggested on being natural with her.” Gilda directly said back to Celestia.
Gale tilt his head. “Thinking weird wings, laugh.”
“Yeah it sure does cub.” Gilda smirked. “Take a photo.”
Gale shook his head. “No, funny but no one photo of that.”
“Couldn't say it any better myself Gale.” Gilda chuckled as Celestia leads them to the next area where the rainbows are made.
They walked into a large open area with liquid rainbows pouring into one platform into another, ponies using large spoons from what Gale could see stirring them leading into bigger ones. “Welcome to the part of the factory they make the rainbows that you see all over Equestria.” Celestia said to them.
Gilda took a good look around seeing Pinkie Pie put her hoof in the pool to than lick it. “Don't lick it you-” She does and the reaction showed Pinkie displaying different colours of the rainbow with different reactions. “Dweeb...” She groans.
“Spicy...” Pinkie Pie wheezed before running off by them, Gale stared at the pool of rainbows.
“How?”
“It has a very powerful spicy horrible taste to it, trust me I did the exact same thing when I was young a long time ago, which shows it still happens over 1100 years later.” Celestia giggled.
Gilda raise a eye. “How old are ya?”
Celestia half rolled her eyes with a hum. “Oh that for me to know and you for not.” Celestia playfully said to her.
Gale tap the end of his beak and blurts out a number. “1,132!” Celestia stared at him for a second and shook her head giving him a hug.
“Oh you cheeky little cub.” She laughed.
“Maybe close, maybe not! Just guess!” He grinned.
They turn their attentions to a few voices. “Oh hey look! It Rainbow Crash again!” The brown pegasus first spoke.
Gale felt that was a insult to her, a bulling tactic and he half growls a little as he recalls being picked on with insult of words, even being pushed by group of kicks with books taken from him. “Rainbow... Erm... CRASH!”
“Rarity why are you talking to THESE guys?” Rainbow looked up at Rarity hovering above her.
Rarity replies. “Oh they were only admiring my wings Rainbow Dash!” She did a few shifts of poses in the air.
Gilda put to claws in her beak giving a fake braff motion in response, Gale glaring at the three stallions still, he very upset with them. “You recalled being bullied haven't you?” Celestia whispered to her son noticing his anger. “Let me handle this okay?” Gale still angered by nod to allow his mother to deal with it.
“You should forget that sonic rainboom and get wings like these!” The brown one laughed with his friends as they fly off with Rainbow looking depressed by what they said.
They didn't get far when Celestia speak up to them. “Please reframe with the insults little ponies and for the record, reports of ten years ago does state she did it, if I was correct you and your friends were racing her at the time, you got literally blown away by her Rainboom.”
The three ponies look down at Celestia who smiled at them. “Erm... Well... Erm... We got to go back to work!” They quickly left in a hurry.
“It seems the truth still burns brightly.” Celestia turn to Gale with a wink, he happily smiled giving her a thumbs up.
Gilda coughs. “Trollestia strikes again.”
“What did Gilda Say?” Applejack didn't quite hear Gilda and before she could get a answer Fluttershy speaks up.
“Why don't we go see how clouds are made?”
Celestia watch them leave with Rainbow Dash looking deprived. “Those lame ponies always love to pick on others, they picked on me about nine years ago when I first went to Junior Speedters Flight camp...”
“Sometimes it hard to change those that stuck in their ways.” Celestia sighed. “You just have to give them the right push.”
Gilda look at her. “Right push in a kick up their rumps.”
Celestia thought about a way to counter that but couldn't. “For once I have to agree with you.” Celestia walks on. “Come let's go to the cloud maker part of the factory.”
Gilda brain slowly processed what Celestia just said. “Did she just agreed to-”
“Yes...” Gale nods slowly.
“Okay... Moving on.” They followed Celestia.
The next room they entered had machines on stilts with funnels on the top, ponies pushing down blow fans under them, cloud vapour raising up as ponies stirring them and others putting buckets of water into it. “Oooo fluffy clouds!” Gale flew up to one waving his talon through it laughing at the feel of steamy hot loose clouds going around it.
“-Perfection?” Gale turn to the source being Rarity's voice and got a reflective shine from the butterfly wings in his eyes, squawking in alarm he tumbles in the air towards one of the funnels.
Gilda quickly react to catching him and landing. “Are you alright Gale?”
Gale rubbing his eyes. “Spots in eyes, spots everywhere look!” He continue to rub them.
Celestia looked quite annoyed by Rarity's actions. “Rarity I admire how amazing you think your wings are, do not fly directly in front of the sun with those things! You just blinded Gale with them!” Many ponies were surprised by Celestia's outburst but soon dawn on them why.
“Oh my I didn't realize Princess! I am so so sorry.”
Gilda grumbles. “I highly doubt it with your head stuck so far up your a-” Celestia coughs hinting to Gale. “Whatever Celestia, what she did was highly irresponsible.”
A elderly mare speaks up to Rarity. “I can watch you fly all day long.”
“No pony like me can use wings like these, perhaps I should compete.”
She flies off with the ponies following. “What did I say, her head is so far up it!” Gilda growled.
“What am I going to do? I never gonna win the competition now...” Rainbow dishearteningly said.
Gilda give Gale to Celestia. “Cover him up and his ears Celestia.” She does so as Gilda walk up to Rainbow Dash, giving her a hard slap. “Get your head out of the gutter you dweeb! This isn't the Rainbow Dash that stuck up for me at day one of camp against those jerks! Buck up and show them who boss! I don't care we not friends at the moment and what I do care about is the loyal pony that stuck up for me and your shy flying friend there!” Gilda point to Fluttershy.
Rainbow and the others minus Rarity was shocked, more so than was Dash holding her side of the face. “G-”
Gilda interrupts. “Don't be a ass Dash... You need to stop being a bucking wimp and be the bucking pony I know you to be!” She poke Rainbow Dash in the chest a few times, she finally turns to Celestia. “Let's get out of here.” Celestia nods and uncover Gale with her wing, Rainbow Dash stared speechless with her friends.
“What happened?” Gale seeing the shocked jaw drop stares, he curiously looking around.
Gilda put a talon over his side. “Just a peep talk cub, time to chow down Cloudsdale style!” Gale squawks happily at that idea.
Gale hugs her. “Yay! Good food?”
“Good food Gale, now please let me go so we can go?” Gale let go of her and they leave.
Celestia look back at Twilight and her friends. “See you all at the arena and enjoy your time in Cloudsdale.” She turn and walk away.
Rainbow Dash finally speaks. “What the heck just happened!?”
Octicovix after doing a little exploring found a nice place outside the tree like complex of rooms and corridors, she stood outside on a balcony on top of a massive tree branch looking out to the sea of sunflowers below, out beyond it and the large glass dome of criss-crossing support beams of the superstructure was the forest, this lead to a massive mountain range in the distance.
All the sudden her senses felt emitions right on top of her, quickly with buzz of the wings Octicovix turn around to looking up at the massive griffon Sunflower. “How the name of all changelings do you do that!?”
Sunflower lower down to lay, her gaze still bearing down on Octicovix. “I am just that good.” She chuckled. “Also with Nanner and Greystorm going through the mountain pass to town I kinda thought I drop by to see how you are.”
“Note for future reference; biggest griffon ever is so light on her paws even a changeling that can sense emotions can be caught out.” Octicovix smiled back at Sunflower, they get a laugh out of it. “Now you done giving me a scare, I guess you've came up to talk to me about something?”
Sunflower nods slightly looking out to the mountains. “I did bring you this first of all for your headaches and help your cover your magic a little faster.” Sunflower move her paw over to Octicovix and move it away to show a small glass of orange liquid. “Second, I am curious about what you experienced while in Pistol's body at Flaputa.”
Octicovix took the glass with her magic and drunk it. “Urg, this is vile!” She stuck her tongue out. “Not sure how you got that up here with those paws, but I am not even going to try and figure that mystery out since you can sneak around like a ninja.” She chuckled lightly. “As for my experience in Pistol's body...” She hummed a little. “It was a very weird experience... Not one I ever was prepared for, way out of my field of expertise...” She turn around looking back out beyond the dome.
“He survived like Nanner Maple did, even though we believed he was gone till you proved otherwise.” Sunflower raise her forepaw reaching out to under her wing pulling out the tablet. “I heard stories of him and to see the very hyper self in griffon, it gave me a chills dude.” She aim it at Octicovix. “I am like going to record what you say from your experience!”
Octicovix turn around staring at the tablet. “How does a flat glowing tablet record? Is it some sort of stored spell?”
Sunflower gave a bit smile showing her rather large beakish teeth with that warm happy smile before speaking. “Dude this has both tech and magic in this, it has things that so small that would make your head explode trying to even explain the simplest of things with this, trust me when I say this...” She lean over to the left around the tablet. “What we call simple you call a magical miracle that completely impossible to believe.”
Octicovix blinked a few times even trying to process this. “I really hate being three steps behind, I am use to being ahead of the game, now I know how Princess Celestia feels when dealing with Greystorm in their meetings...” She rubbed her head. “If you didn't give me that yucky stuff to deal with my headaches, I would have a major one right now trying to wrap my head around what you mean exactly...”
“Well just go with it and speak to me and I'll handle the recording, got it dude?” She press her thumb down on the screen.
“Fair enough.”
“Good to go! Speak away!” Sunflower starts recording.
Octicovix nods and start to speak to Sunflower. “When it suddenly happened I found myself blinking one second in front of Maple to inside a room, not any room but the room of Pistol lives in from the comics I read and found that I was in Pistol's body...” She pauses thinking about it for a moment with a small shudder. “I felt weird, held together by some weird force, it was when I stumbled and the paw phased through the wall, I jump back in shock seeing what happened.”
“Whoa dude! What your saying sort of match up with what Pistol said about being a ghost!” Sunflower exclaimed.
“That doesn't make sense, I found a strange feeling that if I focused hard I could put the paw on walls and hold things.”
“Hmm... Strange...”
Octicovix rub a hoof over the other foreleg. “It when I decided to find his machine and I did, it was humming a little...” She turn slightly to the mountains in view through the dome. “I phased the head through it to see one of four pieces to a communication artefact to directly contact a changeling queen and it was glowing, showing signs of connecting to the other three pieces.”
“Communication artefact?”
“It four bug like shaped onyx crystals that open up and link together to create a direct visual communication with the queen... That queen being my mother.” She said without looking back at Sunflower.
“Whoa... Dude that deep, how did it get inside Pistol's machine?”
Octicovix turn to Sunflower. “Best guess since I wasn't born yet...” She paused for a second. “Mother and Guto was working together to try and overthrown ponykind, but I if remember a tale my mother told me once... He the griffon that double crossed her and used them to do something horrible that she personally dealt with him, by dealing with him as in draining all his emotions, leaving him a empty emotionless husk of his formal self.”
Sunflower gasped. “That explains why he answered every question without a hint of emotion! I seen the videos for myself! The dude was so creepy to the day he past, all he did was stare, eat, sleep and answer in this weird non-malignant tone!”
“It seem some of the pieces are part of our long past isn't it?” Octicovix said back getting a nod from Sunflower. “Before I returned I quickly found out access my magic some how to find the others on three of the islands floating, that when I saw a rift open up on one of them and saw-”
“Saw what!? Come on don't do that thing that movies do!”
“I saw myself, Greystorm, Gilda, Gale, Shining Armor, Sunbeam, Trace and Amber! I wanted to them but a weird sound caught my attention in the lower part of the floating city Flaputa, it when I saw a bluish white aurora storm so far away but it gave me chills...”
“Can you mimic the sound you heard?” Sunflower asked with curiosity. “I know you changelings can mimic u-” She saw her change into a exact side double of herself. “HOLY BLOODY TARTARUS!” Sunflower staring at equal height of herself. “Okay that seriously awesome!”
Octicovix turn back to normal rubbing her head a bit. “Took a bit out of me but worth it!”
“Totally dude! Your freaky awesome! Now can you do that sound?”
“Oh I can and this is what I heard!” Octicovix open her mouth to create them sound. “Vwo-”
At the mountain pass Greystorm felt a droplet land on his head, looking up at the tunnel roof of water dripping from stalactites above large lamps lighting up the cavern tunnel, walls lined with lights too with a rocky path they walk on. “This tunnel pretty huge, what exactly was it used for?”
Maple ahead walking around some smashed stalactites. “Till about 160 years ago it was used for building materials to be transferred to the town that was being built, before paw everyone once lived in the tree.”
“That explains the many doors I saw.” Greystorm flap his wings a few times jumping over a pile to land on his paws. “How do you get stuff to the dome now?”
“Airship, Aerial Swiftclaw is the great-grandson and fourth generation owner of the business, they are also the only ones that trade non-level technology to small pony towns that don't ask questions outside our territory.” Maple explained to Greystorm. “It worked this way for close to 120 years now.”
They were getting close to the end, light from the other side were in view. “So ponies knew of the Finch Griffons for quite some time, huh?”
Maple nods. “They do, it a highly valuable area of fish for us, so it a fair trade and partnership between the two towns.” Maple put a wing over her eyes and Greystorm did too as they exit into a forest path leading slightly up.
“Impressive, I do like a good cod every so often.” Greystorm chuckled as they climbed to have a high point view over looking the town in the distance, Greystorm's beak just dropped at the sight of it.
Maple walk up beside him pushing his beak closed with a paw. “Impressive isn't it?” He nods silently looking at the coastal town, it had the longest pier he ever seen to different size buildings and paved roads similar to Manehatten's roads. “Welcome to Flaputa-on-Sea, the only town of the Finch Griffons.” He also could make out on the far edges of the town farm land and a lake of water shimming with blue light followed by lightning discharges.
Greystorm also took notice of the large tall metal structures near it leading to the town edge with four large cables on one side and another four the other, the strange building fenced off they attached too near the lake. “This a town!? It's massive and what the heck is those things with cables leading away from that lightning lake to the town!?” He stood on his hindpaws with forepaws out to the view before him.
“That is a powerstation, that feeds electrical energy from the lake to the town a few miles away, also funny enough that the name of the lake and it filled with fish called Blue Lightning Coi, their bodies produce high levels of electrical energy which the town uses and in turn feed them the high nutritional pellets.”
Greystorm rub the underside of his beak. “They give the town electricity and in-exchange the griffons give them high nutritional needs to live long and healthy happy lives, correct?”
Maple open her wings up hinting for him to do the same. “It be quicker to fly into town from here, but keep close to me at all times, you can easily get lost on the streets and rather not save your rump from unnecessary reasons since you decided not to listen.”
They take off heading down towards the town over the hill filled with trees, the path below them leading right to town too between them. “Hear you loud and clear Maple, this is your town afterall.” Greystorm replied taking a good look at the town closing in. “So... Where exactly is this Flaputa Archives?”
“Luckily it near the edge of city closest to us, it that large tall white building with the many white pillars and dome marble roof.” Maple point to it, he could see the building giving a whistle in response of the sight of it.
“Now that building is a piece of art, it look like something made with heart and passion.” Greystorm saw a few flags blowing from it, one had a par of finch griffons holding up a island and the other had a red cross through it with blue triangles and white behind it, in the middle was a finch griffon on it hindlegs with forepaws out stretched and beak open in a roaring motion.
Maple lands and Greystorm land by her. “We walk from here.” Maple start to walk and Greystorm follows her into town, he starting to see many different colours to different kinds of finch griffons, they all had one thing in common, paws and no talons, most was about Maple's height with some being a little shorter or taller, he stood out for most of them but they didn't seem to bat a eye at his presence for a strange reason.
Greystorm whispers. “We still a bit away, why are we not flying the rest?”
“This is a no-fly zone because of the cables, they are live wires and one touch your pretty much fried.” She whispered back walking to the end of a path next to the road putting a wing out stopping Greystorm.
He was started when a non-pulled carriage goes by with a finch griffon sitting at the front of it holding a wheel, the back was a box on wheels. “What in the name of all things Grover was that!?”
Maple chuckled and see the road was clear for them to cross over. “That Greystorm is a lorry, they are self-driven in the cab as you saw that finch griffon, as for how it works it would most likely melt your brain trying to understand it.”
“I feel insulted being called dumb but...” He look around. “Even what I seen and you said so far, I only got a small understanding of it, I rather question it at another time when I am not so alien to this world...” He said quietly feeling so out of place in the town. “I am nervous, scared, confused and excited... It rather conflicting...”
Maple laughed. “Oh you'll be fine, we almost there.” She point to the building in the distance. “Also thanks for coming.”
Greystorm nods slightly seeing some griffons talking to each other, laughter and the young playing a ball game of some kind on the field, he even saw a uniformed one that remind him of police in Manehatten. “I am glad I did, it amazing...” He felt the ball hit his foreleg, picking the ball up with the forepaw the young female griffon stop in front of him looking up. “I believe this is yours.”
The light red finch griffon took it with her forepaws. “Wow you got cool clothes Mister.” He nods and hint to her friends. “Oh of course! Thank you mister!” She run on her hind legs over to her friends dropping it in front to kick it with a hindpaw over to them.
“Awww ain't that sweet?” Maple grinned.
“Indeed it is.” Greystorm smiled.
Maple wave for him to follow again. “Come on Grey.” He follows her to the front of the building, a long wide stair case with two large marble finich griffons sat on their hind quarters holding a marble shaped flap each with the other forepaw on the ground in front, behind was the pillars spaced out with a large arch and the big wooden doors inside it. “Welcome to Flaputa Isles Archives.”
Greystorm noticed the carvings of different finch griffons high above all the way to the left and right, bending around the corners of the wall. “This isn't only a archive is it?” She nods as they walk up the steps past a few finch griffons heading down. “It a memorial as well to all those lives lost that day too, correct?”
“Yes it is, each carving you see above just below the roof is almost every finch griffon that were on the island on that fateful day, it hard for me to come here.” She sighs deeply. “But I must for Revolver's sake.” Greystorm nods as he follow her to the top and up to the door, she pushes open a smaller one on the larger ones to enter, Greystorm enters right behind her.
Upon entering he could see behind a big round reception desk was towering rows of boxes, books and rolled up scrolls as far as the eyes could see, they bend around a big open area of seats and tables that went up and down a few levels.
Maple walk up to the desk picking up a card. “Gone to lunch, please enjoy your time at the archives, Scribble.” She put the card down. “It seems the old griff Scribble is on his lunch break at the moment.”
“So we wait?”
“Nope, we allowed in.” She walk by the round desk. “The one thing no finch griffon would do is steal from here, it would mean life sentence in jail.” Maple explained.
Greystorm followed her. “That a bit harsh isn't it?”
“Harsh is the best way of keeping what is here safe and sound.” Maple said flapping her wings to look at the shelves. “Let's see... R... R... Here we go Revolver!” She pull out a box. “This is where all his personal journals are kept, take this one it has all his drawings in it.”
Greystorm fly up and take the second box, they fly down to the desk placing them on it. “So theses are the only paper copies?”
Maple nods. “Indeed, they stored also on the computer but something about a touch of paper just feel more real.” Maple open the box pulling out a box noticing a light brown feather in it. “Someone been through this.”
“I found some sort note and this blank ID wallet.” Greystorm pull out of the other box.
Maple take the note and open it. “Hello Maple and Greystorm-” She pauses and Greystorm's ear's twitch upon his name spoken, he now looking over her shoulder to read it too. “You most likely found a feather and my papers with this note, I took a mental copy of everything in these contents and as you read this the comics I made are going far and wide, I was here six weeks ago and Scribble I had a photo taken for me from him, it be in the drawings box six pages in, you be seeing me for my first time when we meet, Doctor.”
Greystorm look inside to pull a photo out with the paw. “It a light brown griffon with really dark brown furry feather crazy hairstyle on top and wearing a green necktie.” He gave the photo to her.
“So his the one the created the Pistol Misadventures comics?”
“He admitting it.” Greystorm said rubbing the back of his neck. “So... How did he know we be here six weeks after he been through this? And how did he create comic books that been out for a year before he look through this box?”
Maple gave him a serious look. “That a very good question to give to Doctor Necktie when we find him, that griffon found a damn bloody loop hole and I am going to straggle him with that damn necktie!” Maple growled with anger behind her voice.
Greystorm rubbed his back of his neck. “I am so glad I never wear ties anymore...” He mumbled.
“Right...” Maple pull out some of Revolver's journals. “Let's see if Pistol's dad can clue us in on this mysterious griffon shall we?”
Greystorm took out the drawings. “So we looking for this Doctor Necktie?”
Flying with guard escort, Gilda leads Gale and Celestia through out Cloudsdale guiding them to a restaurant, Celestia looked around seeing ponies stop in day to day lives quickly bowing to her and Gale, she never been to this part of the cloud city and now flying right over row after row of houses with one of these houses catching her attention, she saw a short rainbow mane cut stallion using a cloud cutter trimming down the clouds in his lawn.
“I always wondered what everyday life of Cloudsdale were like, it interesting to see something that look like a grass cutter being used on clouds, guess they like grass to residents of Cloudsdale.” Celestia said with a very curious interested voice.
Gilda glance back for a second before keeping a eye where she was flying. “Your like over 1000 years and you NEVER been in areas like this?”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “Yes Gilda, there are some things I princess doesn't always get time to do when dealing with mayors, nobles and events on a daily bases.”
“It just took taking in Gale to give you some breathing room huh?” Gilda chuckled.
Gale look over to Celestia as she answers. “It one of the new perks that came up, but I took him in cause I cared for him deeply, I care for him as a son more and more as th-”
“Gotcha!” Gilda squawked.
Gale laughed. “Mum trollestiaed back!”
Celestia laughed too. “Oh I feel deep into that one, nice going Gilda and keep a eye out cause I will get you back.”
“Oh I know it!” Gilda smirked seeing what she was looking for. “Here we are! The Cloud 999 Restaurant!” They all saw what came to Gale's mind in a instant a classic American car restaurant, it long with a curved roof, with a door in the back, side and front, it had a big neon sign saying Cloud 999 on it with bars of unlit neon lights running along the roof rim. “The best restaurant of Cloudsdale! Gressy, tasty and cheap as heck! But a really awesome place buzzing with more energy than a stuck up rich snoop can ever have!”
Celestia comes to a landing near the building, the smells coming from it made her stomach grumble instantly and Gale licked his beak pointing to it. “Smell good, we in?”
“Well my stomach says yes, so our trip here would be a waste other wise.” Celestia walking up to it as the guards land and take station in different areas around the restaurant. “This rich snoop thank you for bring us here.”
Gilda give a thumbs up. “Nice come back.” The griffon walk up to the door putting her talon on the glass to push it open and walk inside, the music coming out of it very lively and upbeat.
A white Pegasus stallion wearing a red hat over his orange mane and wearing a red apron turn to see Gilda with a big warm smile. “Well look at what the kitty cat dragged it!”
“Hey Bucket, still cooking ya best?”
“Oh ya know it Kitty!” They bang hoof to talon fist. “Where ya been? It been years since I seen ya!”
Gilda shrugged. “Home, friendship breakup, working as a teacher during the week and selling scones on a weekend, just busy I guess you dork.”
The Pegasus laughs. “Ya a teacher? I don't believe it.”
Gilda hints to the door as Celestia and Gale enters. “Oh believe it Tipper.”
Tipper looked surprised for a second but turn to a big grin. “Well isn't this a surprise! Princess Celestia, the co-ruler of our fair nation in my little wagon of a restaurant of all places! I bet Kitty had a talon in that didn't she?”
Celestia walk up to him with a smile in return as she responds. “Kitty hmm? I have to keep that one in mind for now on.” Gilda rolled her eyes with a smirk seeing Celestia ready to fire on that. “As for being here it is, Gilda did and our stomachs agree to her bring us.”
“That Princess ya don't underestimate, the best way into love of food is in ya stomach! Come on in take a seat pick up the menu and good ol' Stormbringer will be there to get ya order! Just remember to pay ya bill, no freebe from me!” He salutes with a wing and walk off behind the counter. “Oi Peanut we got hunger customers about to order up keep those grills clean and ready for fresh amazingly quality food that we best known for ya hear!”
Gale tug on Celestia's wing. “Mum, he like Joe!”
Celestia lift Gale up with her wing as he hold onto it. “That he does little one.” She tap her hoof against his beak getting a laugh from him, she put him back down on all fours. “Table seat?”
“Yay!” Gale rush over to the fair side one quickly sitting down on the long red seat on one side of the table.
“Pretty dope right?”
“Indeed... Dweeb.”
Gilda right eye twitch a little. “No, just no dweeb, that disturbing and doesn't sound right coming from you Celestia.” Gilda walk up to the seat sitting down by Gale.
Celestia rubbed the hoof under her snout. “I guess that didn't pan out as I thought it would.”
“Never does.” Celestia turn to see Spitfire sitting on a stall with Soarin wearing their flight suits. “Hello Princess, funny seeing you here of all places.”
“Never cross my mind till you have a griffon that witty and good at her come backs with a heart of care to my son.” Celestia hints to Gilda.
Soarin eating his pie licked parts off his muzzle swallowing. “We here cause no one treat us like Wonderbolts, we just regular good ponies here, it refreshing!”
Celestia walk by them. “I believe that how Tipper from what Gilda calls him spoke to me, I find that very refreshing seeing some of my subjects treat me not as their princess but a pony that she is, I will leave you two to eat, but expect Gale to say hi if he notices you.” Celestia winks.
“We be waiting for that!” Spitfire gave a hoof salute going back to eating her meal with Soarin.
Celestia sits down at the table picking up the menu with her magic. “Simple section, quick to order now this is what I am talking about!” Celestia praised seeing she could order in no time.
“What can I say? I know my places.” Gilda chuckled. “Even though this was one of my fav places to go to with Dash, I did have second thoughts but can't let what happened to us effect the best times we had, I and Dash spent plenty times getting our meals here, we listen to awesome music and play that rigged claw game we always lost at.” She give a thumb point over to the machine by the toilet door near a side glass door out of the restaurant.
Gale show Celestia on the menu what he want to eat and drink. “This, this.”
“You want to try and win a plush from it don't you?” Celestia took notice of what he wanted and made a small bag of bits apper with magic, she give it to him. “Go have fun Gale, just leave your bag and plush with Gilda okay?”
“Okay!” Gale give his bag pulling out his self plush. “Lucky me plush!”
Gilda quickly took it from him getting a surprise squawk. “No, that plush interfers with magic, that machine runs on it so it wouldn't work.”
Gale thought about it and sighs. “Oh my magic make other magic not work well...”
“Yeah your does but not as much as this guy.” Gilda hold up the plush. “Don't worry I got it covered.” She pull out of her bag his Pistol plush. “Use him for good luck.”
“Oooooo Yay!” He grab it and rush off over to the machine.
Gilda put the plush beside her on the seat. “Nicely done.” Celestia praised for Gilda.
“What can I say? This lame griffon got brains.” She chuckled. “Now let's see if Tipper got it still.” She poke the menu. “There is it, good he still got the classic.”
Gale walk up to the machine seeing a coin slot with a red knob on a stick attached to it, through the glass was a pile of plushes and a metal claw above a open part leading into a push door. “Ooo, Pistol we win right?” He made it nod. “Okay, Spitfire plush!” He put the coin in, the machine stick works.
Gale attempts to move it over the Spitfire plush, pressing the red button by it the claw lowers and take it to have the plush fall from it grip. “No go, try again!” Gale goes for it again and again spending another set of bits to get nothing. “No fair, claw grab!”
Gale tries again and again for what seem forever till someone speaks up.
“I know that feeling all too well sweetie, you reach and grab something, than it ripped right out of your talons.” Gale turn and look up to see a reddish orange griffon wearing a blue jeans like jacket on, with the most crazy amount of feathers going all over the place on her head he ever seen, something about this and the green eyes reminded him of something, but couldn't quite get hold of that memory.
“Hi!” He waved to her. “You turn?”
The female griffon look over to the machine and back to him. “Hmm, aren't you a sweet thing, letting a grif like me to take a turn.” She look over the machine and pull out something from her pocket, Gale curiously watched as she press it against the machine before putting it away, not quite telling what it was. “Now let's see if I still got it.” She put the coin in and watch her move the claw over Spitfire plush, it goes down and pick it up.
The claw move over and drop it over the box, Gale sighs in disappointment but give a defeated shrug, “Win some, lose some, oh well.” Gale turn to head back to the table to feel a tug on his tail, with a small yelp he quickly turn his front around a bit to see the female griffon holding his tail.
“Sometimes you need to lose to win.” She let go of his tail and toss the plush over to him, he caught it seeing a bag of bits tied to it. “Go and give it another go sweetie.”
“Bits yours, no want.” He protest to accept the coins.
She put a claw against the tip of his beak. “Shhh, accept the gift little one and I see you got a Pistol plush, you really like the comics?” Gale nods as she still kept the claw press against the tip of his beak, he looking cross eye at it now. “Well promise me to give a friend a message?.” She remove the claw.
Gale rubbed the tip of beak, feeling confused. “Erm... Why promise?” He gave a curious look as he asked the question.
“A very good question and here is your answer. Sweetie.” She pull out of a pouch strapped from her belt a strange looking object with a blue book placing it in his talon, she leans in and whispers into his ear. “Also do not read this till you read your comics okay?”
He looked very confused. “Very confused... But promise guess...” He mumbles.
“Sweetie, I am sure you can see something that no one else can see.” She put both talons on either looking at him directly, he look into her eyes and back at the two objects.
Gale saw something for a second but he felt a strange sense of familiarity of them. “Feeling if do...”
“Yes.” She slyly responded.
“How know you somewhere, don't understand... Why?”
“Spoilers.” She rubbed his feathered head. “Now I'll got places to be, ruins to-” She about to leave but Gale grabbed her talon with his. “Young prince-”
Gale turn his head. “Mum! Look friendly griffon!”
Celestia peer around the corner. “Well isn't this a wonderful surprise, good to see you again RS, come join us for some lunch, my treat!” Celestia offered with a wing to the empty spot.
RS could see Gale's wasn't going to let go unless she agreed. “Who am I to denine a paid lunch from a friend?”
Gale let go happily walking up to the table sitting by Gilda as RS sits beside Celestia. “She gave me blue book, thing and plushy with bits to play more plushy machine!” Gale showed them the plush and items he was given.
Gilda staring at the feathered head. “Something you like to say sweetie?”
Gilda raise a eye brow. “Sweetie?” Gilda got a chilly stare from RS, she felt a mental shudder and responds. “That the most insane mess of feathers on a griffon's head I ever seen and dweeb...”
“Yes?”
“That pretty awesome, that commitment to have something that crazy.” Gilda chuckled. “How ya think I got these awesome feathers on my head to be out like this?” Gilda point to her head with a smirk.
Gale tilt his head. “Feather head, I have when wake.”
Celestia responds. “And they are very beautiful feathers you have Gale.” Gale gave a happy squawk. “Now... What trouble have you caused this time in your archaeological digs?”
RS pull up a menu. “Oh nothing too serious, been away from the field creating something lovely with my husband.” She slyly replies to the princess.
“Uh huh...” Celestia didn't look convinced. “Son, I like to meet the only other griffon that give me headaches, RS works for Equestrian Archaeological department and has a tendency to cause more trouble than they are worth at times, the results however is the reason she still has a official status and to annoy the nobles to no end which I also give her positive marks on.”
RS laughed. “What can I say? I am good at what I do.”
“Sound like a awesome dorky egghead that know how to tick off the snoops, you got my approval.” Gilda gave her a thumbs up.
RS turn to her. “And I accept it.” She put her talon out over the table to Gilda, she in turn shakes it. “Now, what am I to order?” She pick up the menu to take a look.
Gale curiously looking at Gilda. “Sweetie Gilda?” Gale blurted out tilting his head.
“You had to say that didn't ya? You dweeb!” Gilda now glaring at RS.
RS eyes peer over the menu and gives a wink to Gale getting a cheerful squawk from him back.
Celestia took a sip some of her tea. “This lunch got a bit more lively.”
“Oh definitively, Trollestia.” Gilda's glare vanished to giving a smile hearing RS say it out loud getting a chocking cough from Soarin, Spitfire patting his back, Celestia not showing any emotional reaction and Gale not finding it much humorist now.
“We have to hang out sometime.” Gilda laughed.
“Oh we have to and watch us turn heads.” RS laughed too.
Celestia shook her head. “Children... What are we going to do about them Gale?” He shrugs not sure how to even think of a answer to what his mum just said, Gale taking the glass before him drinking some of the soda within as the two female griffons continue to laugh.
Gale glance past Gilda to the window looking at the stadium in the distance, he grew curious about the Young Flyers Competition that was about to start in a short time, this was going to be the first official event for a unofficial prince and he left in wonder on what this meant to him.
Walking down one of the many corridors within the tree, Maple and Greystorm's recent return as the night sets in, the dome high beams lit up upon the fields of sunflowers, their trip back was uneventful after discovering what they found in the achieves at Flaputa-on-Sea. “This is where you be sleeping for the night, I will lead you, your wife and the ponies back to the train station that connects to any part of Equestria.”
“Just like that? No hiding where this is from us?” Greystorm glance over at her as they walked with a curious expression on his face.
“I had my doubts but after what we and Octicovix learned, we can not ignore that there a reason for you being here, why it was your team that playing a big part of a puzzle or a game of chess, something is coming, something big and it all building up on itself.” Maple stop at a door, Greystorm stopping beside her looking at it and back to her. “I will make sure to get a letter out to you when the Mole is completed, if not I send my granddaughter to drop in at Trottingham.”
Greystorm imagined a massive griffon landing at townhall. “Yeah... A letter be better.”
Maple laughed slapping him on the backside causing him to yelp. “Oh I know cub, I know.” She turn walking away. “That apartment is all yours, after over 140 years it finally occupied again!” She toss from a paw over her head a set of key. “Also supplies was sent up by Sunflower, so it stocked for a meal or two, same with the Doc C's team rooms.”
Greystorm caught the keys with his paw looking at it. “Ju-” He look up to see she was gone. “Just like that huh?” He said to no one putting the key into the key hole turning it and pulling the handle down, he push the door open to get a blast of something really delicious being cooked within. “Hello?”
He walk through the hallway seeing a door to his right open a jar to show a rather roomy bathroom with a bathtub, toilet and sink in it, with cupboards, mirrors and tower racks, the bathtub having a shield over it, he did take not it was unlike any bathroom he ever seen.
Walking by it the place open up to a living room with a large long sofa, in front of it was a table and the other side another of these flat screens, on the table he believed was a device that works it without pressing anything on the flat screen sitting on a stand with it own cupboards under it, beyond that was a curved window view of the Sunflowers up to the wall and dome, he turn to his left to find Octicovix in a open plan kitchen, the smell he smelt was coming from there.
Octicovix was in her yellow griffon form with black wings and head feathers, yellow sharp eyes with black beak and talon working her amazing cooking skills at the kitchen. “Hey Grey! Your just in time for dinner, once I figured out how all this stuff worked I got the real hang of making something really amazing with all the ingredients that were stored here.” She swished the pan with sizzling sounds coming from it, she glance over to him. “That twenty years lost new look on you going to take some getting use to.”
“I am not even going to try and figure out how Sunflower stocked the kitchen with food...”
Greystorm put one paw on a foreleg gave a twist to pull off the paw to show his talon, he does it to the same on the other putting the paw forelegs on the table size he found between the living room and the kitchen. “It sure will be, for you and me including all those that have to get use to a mayor that been deaged by a magical mishap...”He rubbed the back of his head. “I hate feeling this young, it just doesn't sit right.”
“Don't worry about it Grey, even you look like that I still love you for who you really are, nothing will ever change that, so just accept it, buck up and take a seat, dinner almost ready.”
Greystorm chuckled with a bow. “Yes your high o mighty Princess.”
Octicovix glance over her shoulder. “Haha feather brain.” She drop the smile giving him a look that sent a chill through his feathers and fur. “Say that again and your sleeping on the sofa tonight, now sit!.”
He knew she was dead serious. “Yes ma'am...” Greystorm sit down on the chair knowing he pushed it a bit too far. “Sorry about that Octicovix...”
She smiled once again going back to finishing their meals. “I know you are and you know how much I hate being reminded about that connection I have... Lucky for you I give a warning, anyone else...”
“They are doomed.”
“Yep!” She turn off the stow and walk over the table on hindpaws carrying two plates, placing them down on the table, at the table were knife and folks with a candle lit in the middle, a bottle of wine with two glasses. “Sunflower said this is the finest finch griffon wine around, they call it Kaboom of all names to call a wine.” She giggled as she sat down and pour a bit into each of their glasses. “Oh you'll like this!”
Greystorm watch her pick up something with flat buttons on it, she press on one causing the glass to tint and another to lower the lights in the apartment. “That pretty neat, you got a hang of this tech stuff pretty quickly and not surprised at all.” He raised the glass to her.
Octicovix raised her glass. “It all in the changeling.” She chuckled clinging her glass against his. “To solving the greatest puzzle that goes back 4000 years.”
“To our every lasting love.” They both take a sip of the wine.
Maple stood on the very top of the dome with Sunflower looking out to the surface remains of the very facility that her past now was catching back up, the last time recalling being in that place before the surface side of it was heavily damaged during the conflict with Guto the Betrayer, was the moment that her grandfather Graverton saved her life.
“The past and future are colliding aren't they Nanner?” Sunflower broke the silence glancing up at Maple lying on top of her head.
“They are Sunflower, in the last 24 hours alone everything that was, is and will be has been shaken up...” Maple sighs. “I never thought in the last 200 years that I would even get to even see Pistol again, now that I have...”
Sunflower's eyes shift around to the moon lit forest, creators, ruins and mountains in view. “We have a renewed reason to finally break open the felicity and seek for clues, but how can we trust these guys in one day? Isn't it fast?”
Maple chuckled. “Sometimes things that take forever rushes in all at once, my gut tells me deep inside we can trust them to save my beloved Pistol, your grandfather to be.”
“Better than that old cranky one in Griffonstone, I never understood what you saw in him Nanner...”
“When he was a lot younger and not long after the betrayal of Guto, it took him standing up to that fallen king and he was there for me as I was for him, he struggled against that curse from that damn idol for a very long time...” Maple sighs. “He the last of those that remember the true Griffonstone before it fall into ruins, somewhere deep inside he still fights the curse of greed and that why even you don't understand what I see in him, I still see a heart under all that crank, rude, greedy look in that one eye of his.”
Sunflower rolled her eyes. “Sappy and still don't understand... At least dad came out better than him.”
“That we both can agree one.” They laughed and spent a good family quailty time together on the roof of the greenhouse dome under Luna's moon light.
Morning came and at the train station they step on, a small wooden platform with one pony at the ticket box, Maple wearing talon gloves pays for their tickets and give each of them one. “Doctor Caballeron I give you something to you and your team, something not found anywhere else in Equestria.” She pull out of her bag four Finch Griffon idols each holding a different colour gem, giving one to each of them. “These were made in a village temple before it was torn down for Flaputa, they are close to 500 years old.”
Biff, Withers and Rouge were surprised to get one idol each to their boss. “Well I wasn't expecting this, they truly look like something of that era...” Caballeron rose his up with a hoof to get a good look. “Why are you giving us something that important to your cultures past? What if we go ahead and sell them in the next town?”
She shrugs. “Than do it, they yours to do what you can like with them, I believe you can keep my home a secret and know that sometimes the price of a heart is worth more than bits, it up to you what you all decide.”
Biff gave her a hug. “I will keep it as a reminder of this day.”
Withers also hugs her too. “Same here, thank you.”
Rouge smiled. “I really like it, no way I am getting rid of I! Not after we had a successful mission without that Daring Do getting in our way.”
“Yes, that is something I agree on, Daring Do for once wasn't involved.”
Maple slyly smirked. “Tan Pegasus with greyscale rainbow mane wearing the most stupid outfit as if she in a movie?”
“Yes!” They said together. “How did you know?” Biff asked.
Maple look out far away. “Let's say the odds were stacked against her this time.” Getting a curious glances from each other, not able to ask when the train pulls up and the whistle blows.
Daring Do found herself tied up, bound and gagged against a rocky side with the view of a desert town near by, she had woken and struggled to break free of the bindings when a sound of breathing came from above her, looking up to be face to face with Sunflower the nine hooves tall finch griffon.
“Now I've taken all your stuff that lead you to my home, I left you here and you will be able to get out of those bindings soon.” She walk right over her and stood at the edge of the cliff side turning to face Daring Do. “If I ever see you in my home again or you speak about it to anyone else, I will personally not drop you off somewhere safe but in a pit of boiling lava while your still out cold.”
Daring Do gulped a little staring at the large finch griffon big eyes looking back at hers, she nods a little in response. “I did the same with those four other idiots, they got the same memo, one chance only I give, I am not that kind the second time.” She open her wings.
Daring Do close her eyes ready to get blasted by sand from the take off to find nothing, she open her eyes to see no sign of the large snow white griffon, not even a paw print or a feather anywhere to be seen, this gave the adventurer a deep chill and a sigh in relief, this was one adventure she wasn't going to write and rather forget about.
Sunflower hovering high and directly above pat her paws against each other with a smirk. “Another whoopy adventurer scared off, my job is done!” She flies off back home.
At the mayor's office in Trottingham, a light pink unicorn mare with blue mane and tail wearing a suit using her magic write reports down and file them for her boss Mayor Greystorm get a surprise seeing him walk through the doors towards his office. “Mayor Greystorm how wa...was...” She stutters to a stop staring at him. “Sir you... erm... look... erm...”
“Younger? Yes I do, magic mishap that can't be reversed, so get use to it Assistant Mayday.” He gave that look she knew all too well working for him.
She nods. “Of course sir, I don't mean any disrespect!” Mayday got a few files out to give to him. “Sir there some files to look over and sign if all are acceptable and there a meeting with the head of the schoolboard tomorrow at 11am, do you want me to call it off?”
Greystorm raise a eye brow. “Why call off a meeting for looking younger? Just means I be in the job longer.” He took the files from her. “Thank you for keeping everything up to date as always.”
She smiled. “I do my best sir!”
“You have nothing to worry about.” Greystorm walk into the office closing the doors behind him.
Mayday fell back into her chair with a deep sigh. “Oh he so much more scarier looking so handsomely cute.” She clapped her hooves over her mouth with a epp. “No no no don't go there brain his married!” Mayday when back to work. “And he scary too, no way I am losing my job over that, no sirree!”
Greystorm peer through a crack in the door with a chuckle before fully closing it. “This is going to be quite interesting.” He put the files down on the desk putting his bag to the side. “One being back to work and two... Solving a 4000 year old puzzle that seem to effect the past and future at the same time, question is why?” He tap the claws on the desk. “One that will take time, but for now back to being the tough hearted fair mayor that everyone loves in Trottingham.” He open the files and get to work.
“Your late!” A grumpy stallion Pegasus screams at the white mare Pegasus disguised by Octicovix at the Cloudsdale Stadium.
She pretending to breathe heavily. “S-s-sorry sir! I over slept!”
“Well make sure it doesn't happen again Octty!” He push a roll of banners into her forehooves. “Now get up there and help the others get the VIP seating arrangement ready, we got less than a hour before the Young Flyers Contest begins and I just learned there is her son attending at his teacher, I want this to be the best first official experience for the young prince!”
(Octty) nods. “I-I wo-won't fail! Y-yo-you can count on me and the others.”
The boss stallion snorts. “Better be or your sacked.”
“I am only a temp sir...”
“Still can sack you.” He snaps. “You like me to do that now? Cause I can!”
“No no I'm going!” She flies up to the others in a hurry.
He shook his head. “Temps are the worst but they good help for less bits.” He took off to see what the other teams are up to.
(Octty) fly over to the booth were Celestia and her guard would have only been, but she saw it being expanded slightly by pulling the red curtains back a bit more. “Hey team, where do you like these banners?”
Looking into the water seeing everything that just happened before her eyes, the being tap the claw against the water causing it to ripple and show the flat rocky ground below the water. “Interesting development, the ripples of time have begun and what happens next will show in time.” Her glowing bluish white eyes raise from the water to the tree.
“The branches of time ever growing, ever changing and yet...” Her eyes focus on a flower on only one of the branches blooming than it friz out to be a bud again, it blooming differently and friz out once more, it repeats over and over again.
“Only one path leads to the Day of Chaos, the path that I stand on and clouded from, the other branches of time through out the multitude of universes are a open book in flux though...” She put her talon into the water lifting it out for the water to run off it, curiously watching the flow to droplets turning to a sound of the water flowing into the lake from the underground river.
“The river sings...” Standing in the river with the back to the being was RS, tilting her head slightly. “How curious, the river beings you to me.”
RS turn around looking directly at her. “Where am I and who or what exactly are you?”
“I saw you and you saw me, you were there, there were you...”
“Start making sense or you see what these claws can do!” RS raise a talon out the water showing the claws.
“Sense... What sense is there when the river sings and bring you here?” She sees RS starting to fade. “Your time has past for now, till we meet.”
RS blinked looking at her fading talon. “I am not here am I?”
“Yes.”
“This isn't your doing?”
“Yes.”
“Your not going to tell me why, are you?”
“Yes...”
RS chuckled as she almost faded away. “Guess my own game was bound to be played against me eventually.” RS completely faded away. “Till we meet interesting feathered friend...”
The being turn back to the tree. “As one story ends, another begins... But for now this one is on hold... Pieces of the puzzle take time to be filled and when it does all the final pieces will come together on the Day of Chaos...”
The Cloudsdale Arena were full of Pegasi ready for the Young Flyer's Competition to begin including three non-pegasus ponies, they out ready to support Rarity and Rainbow Dash, a light purple pony Pegasus on a cloud raising up into the air wearing a black and white shirt wearing a headset with a mic wearing sunglasses speaks.
“Filles and gentlecolts! Please raise and join me welcoming our beloved Princess Celestia, her son Prince Gale and Griffoness Gilda of Griffonstone!” He raised his hoof up and on cue they glide down from above, with them were two white stallion guards and female orange-cream guard with Equestrian theme music playing, they all land at the royal box.
Gale hearing the cheers looking around at those eyes all on them, he saw Celestia waving her hoof at them, he nerviously waved his talon too, Gilda saw Rainbow Dash looking at their direction and gave her a thumbs up.
The light purple pony announcer speaks out once more. “Please welcome our celebrity guest judges for the Best Young Flyer's Competition!” He stands on his hind legs with one foreleg up in the air with wings spread. “The Wonderbols!” They fly in with grey cloud smoke trailing behind them, they stop it and line up in a single file flying up high in the sky, they spin around each other closing into a very tight spin.
Gale watch as they broke away in three one way and three the other with magical fireworks explosion, he could see as they flew away through the star sparkles left behind the Wonderbolt symbol, he was amazed how they pulled off that stuff with their Pegasi magic and he cheered happily at the display with all the ponies, Gilda just smirked seeing Rainbow Dash giving her fan glee at the display.
“That is so her with the Wonderbolts.” Gilda whispered with a soft chuckle as the Wonderbolts took their cloud seats, three on either side of the royal box.
“And now.” All turn their attention on the announcer once more. “Let's find out who will take the prize as this years Best Young Flyer!”
The contest begun with a cream colour mare with pink mane and tail flew out from the curtains, she started to preform with music playing to her movement, Gale watched with interest as she did twists and turns in the air in rhythm of the music. “Impressive seeing the young flyers preforming isn't it?”
Gale nods. “Yes mum, interesting!” He continue to watch.
As the first one ends the next a light brown stallion with dark brown mane and tail flies out with the music starting, Gilda yawns with a talon over her beak. “He flies good but the music, it really doesn't go with those twists and barrel-rolls his doing.”
Celestia watched the stallion finish up. “I have to concur, the music was a tad too soft and made me feel rather sleepy watching him.”
“Mum, he confusing.”
“That is for certain.” Celestia smiled. “Let's continue to watch shall we?” Gale nods.
As each of the ponies came and went, some stood up to Gale, one of them was number seven the brown stallion with blonde mane and tail doing impressive number of barrel-rolls without getting dizzy from those tight rolls, number 6 Gale liked too with the rapid spin twist from the mare followed by the graceful back flip to land on her hind legs even with the minor many crashes.
Gilda looked over to the curtains. “Where is that dweeb? She should have been out preforming already!”
“The contest is almost over, I am much surprised not seeing Rainbow Dash or Rarity.” Celestia hummed rubbing the underside of her muzzle. “If neither of them preform now they be disqualified, it has happened before when the nerves got the better of them, even the most talented.” Celestia explained.
Gale rubbed his head. “Scared, not perform and... Erm...”
“Disqualified?” Gale nods. “Yes.”
Gilda growls. “Not if I got anything to do with it!” She got up on all fours.
Before Gilda could move Celestia speaks. “If you go down to her it will be seen as playing favourites and see will be disqualified Gilda, all we can do is hope.”
Gilda sat down grumbling. “Fine... I don't like it...”
“Neither do I...” Celestia look over to the curtains. “Specially Rainbow Dash created a Sonic Rainboom around ten years ago.”
Gale tilt his head. “Huh?”
Celestia explains to Gale. “It when a Pegasus travels so fast they not only shatter the sound barrier and go hyper sonic speeds, but create a spectral explosion through their internal magic being released outwards.” Celestia look back to the curtains “I saw that very thing in the sky only moments before Twilight past her example and hatched Spike from his egg.”
“Oooo, like to see!” Gale was keen to see the final performance.
The light purple stallion put his hoof on the headset. “Sorry for the delay fillies and gentlecolts, our final performance is about to start.” He speaks to the crowd. “And now for our final competitor of the day contests number 15-” Rarity comes out after a very nervous and scared Rainbow Dash. “And erm... Number 4?”
Ponies cheering, Gilda staring at Rarity with all the get-up to make up. “This is a performance not some weirdo beauty contest.” Gilda wasn't impressed at all by Rarity's appearance. “That fame of her wings really got into her head big time.”
“It appear so but it seem Rainbow Dash is not holding out very well from the look of things.” Celestia hints to the nervous and scared appearance of the rainbow mane pony.
Gale points. “She like me when we first met.”
“Oh that is for sure, a month has sure flew by hasn't it?”
“Yes mum!” Gale agreed.
The music starts to play. “Oh that dweeb seriously didn't go for the sappy ballerina music!” Gilda put her talons over her head. “Urg...”
They watch as Rainbow Dash tries to do her beginning performance weaving in and out of the cloud pillars as Rarity does Pegasi form of ballerina. “Interesting that you know of it.” Celestia smirked.
Gilda groans. “Just don't ask... It was a phase a long long long time ago!”
“I didn't need to, thank you for answ-” Rainbow Dash bash into the pillar and slam into the stadium wall. “Ooo... That rough...”
Gilda ruffled her feathers. “Dash seriously pull your tail out of your mouth and do something you dork!” Gilda yelled out.
Rarity start to do a spin, Rainbow Dash flies up high to spin around clouds causing one after the other to spin. “Mum...” Gale sees the cloud go off course right at them. “We duck!”
“Duck?” Celestia look down at him than at the incoming cloud.
Gilda quickly takes off hitting it with a closed fist knocking it out of existence. “You lame idiot! Get your act together! Show them the real Dash!”
“Gilda thank you.” Celestia praised the griffon for her actions.
Gilda wave her talon. “It is nothing big, it just a fluffy cloud.” Gilda saw Rarity take off high into the sky. “Rares you dweeb don't go that high! There less atmosphere up there! Those wings won't survive the suns rays!” Rarity doesn't hear her pleas over the music.
Gale gasped. “Mum we stop!”
Celestia nods. “I agree but she is already way up high!” She turn to Spitfire. “Captain!”
Rainbow Dash unaware of events unfolding took high up into the sky ready for her final move.
They watch the two ponies go higher and higher. “Soarin, Fleetfoot with me!” Spitfire takes off with her team.
Just as they did took off the worst came to be and before all their eyes the wings burned away by the power of the sun, Rarity on a rapid fall by passing the Wonderbolts by inches, they take off after her to catch Rarity, but with the screaming and kicking she knock out all three of them.
Gilda open her wings up. “I'm go-” She takes off to get tackled down by Gale, only a spilt second later Rainbow Dash zoomed right by where she would have been. “Whoa talk about cutting it close...” She turn to Gale hugging her tight, she lean over the cloud looking down and Gale did too as he let go of her.
They all in the stadium watch as Rainbow Dash creates a aircone and it explodes with rainbow light the crowd jaws dropped but Fluttershy cheered. “A SONIC RAINBOOM! SHE DID IT! ” She jumped up and down.
But for Gale the moment the rainbow explosion of light hit, a surge of magic from him pass through into Gilda without any of them even noticing it, the world for Gilda changed before her eyes.
Gilda looked around quickly finding herself on a mountain top of some sort, she heard something roaring and fading, turning to the source was some sort of metal winged object in pieces in the snow, parts of it smoking with fires burning and the roaring coming from a large round object on a wing.
“What kind of metal beast is this thing?” She walk up to it to the shell tapping it with a talon getting a cling sound from it, that when she heard a voice and followed it.
Before her were some sort of avian by the only thing Gilda could see from the talons on the forelimbs, the rest of the body was shimmering in a whitish blue glow making her shield the eyes from the light with a wing. “Hello Gilda of the flock Clawhowler-”
Gilda put a talon up. “How the heck you know that!? I made sure that part of me is buried!”
“Who or what I am not important Gilda, why you are here is.” She walk by Gilda, the griffon growls as she tried to see through the glow that gave this Avian cover. “Come with me and look upon the sun, tell me what do you see?”
Gilda rolled her eyes and followed her through the snow past the wreckage towards the peak of the mountain looking up at the sun. “I s-” She paused seeing a rainbow shimmer effect around and in front of the sun. “What the heck is up with the sun!?”
“A piece of history that happened is key to events that the past and future will collide after the day of chaos.”
Gilda watch the sun get obliterated by her own eyes as a rainbow blastwave cross the sky turning everything dark to whitish blue glow, this was caused by the aurora that engulfed the sky. “D-did the sun just explode!?”
The Avian turn around to Gilda. “The Gates of Elysium had opened and that in it path will be consumed.”
That is when Gilda recalled what Celestia told her. “The dying sun...”
“Indeed.” Wings come forth from the forelegs opening with talons raised. “The path of the day of Chaos is coming and that is when the Past and Future will collide.” She flap her wings going up high into the sky, Gilda tried to open her wings to follow but they refuse to open, the ground around her and even the air was starting to shake. “Yet the Gates of Elysium were closed and this that once happened a long time ago was the cause and effect, a action of a world's race few that saved so many without even realising it.”
Gilda saw the auroua started to move up and away around her as the shaking got worse causing Gilda to fall, spitting out some snow Gilda saw something bipedal crying in fear holding a plush she knew all too well. “Gale?”
It look over at her, the eyes were his. “Griffon?” He tilt his head blinking with red in his whites of the eyes tears causing the pinkish colour skin to look red and raw.
Gilda walk up to him. “I-” The land around them suddenly ripped to pieces as streams of bluish white cloud ripping through it, she quickly hugged him close to her as he screams. “It be okay... Gale it be okay...”
“B-bu-”
“Shhh... I got ya bro.” He cried into her feathers grabbing tightly into her feathers with the blunt soft skin claws.
The land around the mountain suddenly ripped upwards with more of the bluish white cloud tearing through it, the roaring sound of it as the air is pulled apart caused Gilda to scream and scream. “Make it stop! MAKE IT-”
Gilda sat up screaming out. “-STOP!” She saw Gale looking very worried and they were in some enclosed private room, she sitting on a couch with Celestia looking over at her, Gale sitting by the bed side. “What the heck ju-gawk!”
Gale jump hugged her tightly. “Gilda wake! Happy!” He nuzzled her chest feathers happy to see she was awake.
“You had us worried Gilda.” Celestia said to her. “You past out right after Rainbow Dash did the Sonic Rainboom saving Rarity and the Wonderbolts.” Celestia put her hoof on Gale. “We kept this on the quiet side and out of the way knowing how much pride you have.”
Gilda looked at her. “Thanks.”
“Gale give her some space.”
“Okay!” He let go with a few flaps landing a few feet away on the cloud. “Happened?”
Gilda rubbed her head. “Not sure... I am trying to remember what just happened but I am getting a big zip! I know it is there but I just can't just put my tongue on it...”
“Hmm... That is odd.” Celestia curiously responded. “For now, take it easy as I got a prize to award Rainbow Dash.”
Gilda leaning against the cloud wall. “Your not getting any argument from me here, I feel wiped.” Gale looked at her with concern. “Give Dash my best and tell her to stop being scared of her own dweeby shadow.”
Celestia smirked. “I will.” Celestia walk away.
Gale gave Gilda a bottle of water. “Drink?”
Gilda took it, opening the lid she drunk some of the water. “Thanks bro, ya a awesome cub.” A tear ran down the side of her feathered face.
Gale blinked tilting his head. “Gilda, happy crying?”
Gilda touch the side of her face pulling the talon away seeing the tear on it. “Guess I am, you really know how to make me sappy don't ya dweeb?” Gale shrugged as he sat down by her and she put a wing over him. “We look out for each other, got it?” She put a pinky claw out to him.
“Got it!” He repeated putting his pinky claw on hers and they hook the pinky claws together with a shake sealing the deal.
“Good, cause that happy crying never happened.”
“What happy crying?” Gale gave a cheeky beaky smile to Gilda and they laughed.
The end of the week and into the weekend seemingly blurred together for the teenage griffon, he had read, drawn, did home work set by Gilda and worked on his Flaputa model, even visiting the egg and walk around the castle grounds to watching Ponyville from the telescope in Cadance's sanctuary tower.
Now it was Sunday with lunch just finished with his mother, Gale was left wondering around once more trying to think of things to do or what to do, he didn't have Shining Armor to bug since he was working as Captain of the Guard, Flash Sentry and Sunbeam had the weekend off with both gone home for it.
Cadance were out of town at Dodge Junction at some cherry farm, Celestia in day court seeing to ponies requests and Luna fast asleep, Trace with his wife on their anniversary holiday trip, Gilda as always back in Griffonstone and this got him curious about the griffon city even he knew it wasn't in fair shape.
Gale sip some tea while reading a book in the castle library with the other foreleg knee press against the table and the talon against the side of his face, putting the cup down he flip over the page continue to read a spell book on advance transfiguration spells created by Star Swirl the Bearded, one thing he noticed through out reading the books that none of these spells were even close to Griffax's own spells.
Gale knew from what his mother told him that this griffon not only created magical artefacts but used the very transfiguration spell Grogar stole from him, the very spell that turned him into the griffon his is today and sending him 4000 years into the future shattering all his memories in the process.
Curious about the memories he had lost the teen sighs and pull out a photo from the plush in front of him of the black dog, this lead to the memories of the creature on the flatscreen box that created Blue... “Blue!” Gale suddenly had a idea.
Gale look through the transfiguration book going backwards till he found a spell. “I-No...” Gale grumbled. “Promise no use magic...” Gale slump back in the chair putting both talons over his face. “Urg... Promise no break, no want break, sick deeply if do...” Gale place one talon over his stomach recalling the twisting sickening feeling he got doing something wrong and even lying once.
Gale closed the book up, he walked up to the shelf putting it back in. “Soooo... Bored... If no-” He shook his head. “No no no!” He hit the side of the head with the talon. “Bad thought, wrong no do, easy to break promise, no break.” Gale reach out to grab another book to find a black talon with yellow feathered fur of a foreleg collide with his.
Gale turn to see a yellow griffon with black beak, wings and feathered head, the sharp yellow eyes of this griffon was a dead give away for a Changeling he knew. “Odo Octicovix!” Gale hugged her. “Happy see you!”
The changeling appearing griffon laughed rubbing his back as she returned the hug. “It good to see you too Gale, like the new griffon look?” She pulled away so he could get a good look.
“Yes like! Brighter yellow but yellow black like me!” Gale said happily. “How trip?”
“Very eventful Gale, things that would blow my mind that I just getting my head around even yours.” Octicovix responded. “I wish I could tell you but I am not allowed, promised not to tell anyone.”
Gale shrugs. “Know what promise like, no break cause sicky stomach comes.” Gale explained.
Octicovix wave for him to follow, he gladly did with a pair of stallion guards following close behind. “I gather your restricted to the castle?” Gale nods. “Bored?”
“Very...”
“I know how to feel when I was a teenager like yourself, you feel like that promising and trying to be good is too much work and dull right?”
“Yes...”
“Gale just don't let it get to you okay? Be that good pure griffon that you are, with a heart that really shines.” Octicovix said.
Gale thought about it and wanted to be that griffon for his mum, he liked doing good. “Okay! So what do?”
Octicovix smirked. “We just do whatever you do.”
“Awww... But bored!”
“Yes I know, you will get days like this, weeks even.” She stopped turning around poking the tip of his beak with her talon. “Now let's be bored shall we?”
Gale pouts. “Fine...” Gale leads her to his room.
When they got inside the changeling in griffon form stared at the large model. “That is really impressive...” She recalled being on street level of the main island. “You done all this on your own since we started?”
Gale nods flying around it. “Yes, want finish but bored and no did.”
Octicovix smiled. “Well we found our bored time to spend, shall we?” She pick up a paint brush.
Gale pick up a cut out. “Okay! We finish right?”
“We finish, now shall we?” Gale nods and they got to work on the model.
Later that Sunday evening Celestia walking to Gale's room was made aware of a bright yellow griffon with blackish grey wings, feather head, beak and talons being Octicovix the changeling that like to show up whenever she felt like it. “So she by past your new defences captain?”
Shining Armor walking by her responds. “She did, I am still working with what I got and nothing seem to really work, we could have other changelings here in the city right now collecting love and we not aware of it for years.”
“That captain I am okay with.”
“You can't be serious! They-”
“Need emotions to feed, if hiding in the crowd of ponies is their way of feeding and have done for years, I won't deny them that but...” She thought about it. “I would like to speak to their leader and find a way for both to co-aside without the need of pretending, find a way for them to feed without being feared for what they look like.”
Shining Armor thought about what Celestia said. “I guess that why they do hide in different forms... Even meeting Octicovix make me feel a little unsettled when looking at her, she knows it too from my feelings.”
Celestia felt a bit frustrated. “That make finding their leader even harder, we can't go around asking them or telling anypony outside the castle about them either, how do you contact a ruler that could even be in the castle right now?”
“I know the feeling Captain...” Celestia raise a hoof tapping on the door to Gale's room. “Gale can we come in?”
“Yes mum come!”
The doors open with her magic and walking inside to see a pair of griffons covered in paint, behind them was a complete model of Flaputa. “You've finished it, well done son!”
“Yep finished, bored stop but press on, Odo Octicovix pressed me on, now wash.” Gale pull the apron off putting it on the paint covered sheets, he walked into the bathroom closing the door behind, seconds later the shower could be heard.
Octicovix glance over to the door and back to them. “Hello princess, sorry for breaking in again.”
“I accept your apology Octicovix, I gather you came to check on Gale?” Celestia said.
“Yes I saw what happened at Cloudsdale with the magic from Gale trigging Gilda to collapse.” She explained. “I gathered that Gilda must of saw something and when checking up on anything about it, I got nothing and my guess she haven't told a soul or remember what she saw.”
Celestia looking over the model walking around it. “I had a feeling that what happened, it was triggered by the Rainboom wasn't it?”
Octicovix watching Celestia answers. “Yes, but Gale seem uninfected or even aware of it, I found he been bored all weekend so I thought I come on by and join in his boredom.”
“How was it?”
“Boring.” She chuckled. “But a good boring.”
Shining Armor decided to press a question. “I am sorry to change the subject here, but I was wondering if there a way to contact your mother.”
Octicovix turn around to Shining Armor. “No, leaving the way I did for following my heart, my mother made sure to wipe my mind of where the hive is located... It was the only way I could be with my love Greystorm and I took it.”
“Anyway to find any here in Canterlot?”
“There is, I am not doing much at the moment so I can help you set somethings up like creating a shield spell that could stop changelings from passing through, it will take some creative work to get you to use said spell, if your up for some training.”
Shining smirked. “I'll take what I can get Octicovix and shield spells are my speciality.”
“It seems we have a starting point.” Celestia peer around the island model. “If I was to suddenly come face to face with your mother, the ruler of the Changelings... How would it go?”
Octicovix shrugs. “I haven't got a clue, it been nearly eleven years since I left the hive, who knows what going on in her head nower days.”
“If you have any idea how to contact her, please let me know.”
“Sure thing princess, can't promise you I be able to, but I'll try.”
“That all I ask for.” Celestia smiled.
The door opens and Gale walk out all puffy. “Wow so that what a griffon look like after a shower, who would of thought they look so cute and puffy.” Octicovix blurted out.
Shining stares and ask the million bits question. “How?”
Chapter 63.5 – Night Mares and Surprising Discovery
Chapter 63.5 – Night Mares and Surprising Discovery
Gale ran through the streets of Flaputa for his life, he turn his head seeing purple black forms of finch griffons screaming and squawking in pain as they chase him, another set phase through the wall right before him and he slid to a stop darting down a narrow path dodging paws that tried to grab him.
Gale found others in front and above, they were all around him now and he was scared very scared, the red eyes he could see through them again laughing as it step out to show it was Grogar. “No matter how far you run, I will be close behind and that power will be mine as it will be now.”
Gale stepping back looking for a way out, suddenly a light brown hoof tap his shoulder and he squawks in alarm from the touch.
Gale falls out of the beam of bluish white light of his Dream Randomiser breathing heavily as he lay on his back staring at it. “Wh-why can't I get anything random to happen but that scary thing over and over again!? Why that Grogar and who is that hoof that touch me!?” He asked out loud.
Blue put a paw out to him and Gale took it to get up on his paws. “Master Gale that is the 32nd time you have attempted another random dream, the result been the same...”
Gale walked up to the platform pressing his talons on the different keys randomly. “I am going in again.”
“Master Gale this isn't going to work, you-” He is ignored and Gale activate it going in. “3... 2...”
Gale flies out backwards from it again this time caught my Blue. “Gah! Again! This is stupid!” He go to the panel opening it up pulling out chips and putting them in different places. “Now let's see I get a random dream adventure!”
“Master Gale please-”He sighs seeing Gale does in again to have him thrown back out seconds later, Blue watched and countered from 34 to 43 attempts to change the dream but all failed. “Master Gale please stop, you are not going to change the results... That is your 43rd attempt.”
Gale sat on his hindquarters ruffling his talons through the feathers on his head in frustration. “He scares me a lot, he is my worst fear and I try to face it but I end up running and getting cornered, than a light brown hoof touch me and bam I am back here! I don't understand! This machine not suppose to do this!” Gale got up walking over to the console staring at the display. “So many random symbols and all results are the same nightmare... How?”
“I do not know Master Gale, maybe asking Mistress Luna will help.”
“I will after waking up and thinking this through, I need time and being here will take it all in minutes.” Gale sighed heavily. “Thank you Blue.”
Blue bows his head. “You are very much welcomed Master Gale, bid you well.”
Gale shut down the system, close up the dome and with that he close his eyes fading out of Dream Cavern, Blue turn leaving the chamber heading back into Dream Cavern to inform Alpha of what transpired.
Gale woke up in bed sitting up, he look out the window at the full moon. “Time think of it...” He mumbled with a slight yawn, getting out of bed he walk out of the bedroom leaving his plush on the top of the bed, even not bothering to put on his bandanna or leg bands, he walking by a few bat ponies at guard saluting to him and Gale nod to them closing his door walking down the stairs.
Gale wondered the hallways for a fair amount of time unable to figure out what was going on with his machine in the Dream Cavern, he believed he did everything to fix the problems and even undid them with the nightmare adventure started, it was continuous no matter what he did and this still had no answers come to mind.
The teenage griffon walk outside feeling the cool air against his feathers and fur, staring up at the moon and stars as he walked made him feel at ease, letting his mind wonder to the nightmare that plagued him tonight till he walked right into something, stumbling back a little Gale shook his head to see the mass he walked into was Aunty Luna.
Luna looking down slightly to him she softly smiled to the teen. “It not even dawn for a few hours nephew, why are you up so late?”
Gale sat down on the cool stone fall looking up at her into the light blue eyes. “Woke cause random dream no work, nightmare same happen and Grogar in it.”
“Your randomiser is giving you the same nightmare?”
Gale nods.
“That is a curious problem you having, is this nightmare only started tonight?” Luna sat down herself keeping eye contact with her nephew.
Gale nods once more.
Luna put her wing out and let him move in to be wrapped up by it. “Nightmares are a curious thing, this I would normally be able to deal with, but with it being a dream magic machine within a dream it a bit out of my scope, you truly made a new form of dream magic Gale and it brings me pride to see what you created.” She softly rubbed his feathered head with a hoof. “But we have to figure this out so you can have more random dreams that every other would have.”
Gale sighed. “No idea how...”
“We'll go to my sister's study sit before the fire and you can share with me your memories of the dream via a dream link, is that okay?”
“Yes, I like.” Gale nods.
Luna remove her wing and close it to her side. “Come nephew.” Gale follows Luna to Celestia's study back inside the castle.
Luna put a log of wood into the fire using her magic to poke it with the poker, Gale sat near by watching her as the fireplace was firmly lit bring a lot of light into the room. “Now nephew, with the lack of plush and your accessors I can dream link to this one dream you had, it will take a fair amount of magic.”
“Because my magic erm... Conflict with aunty magic?”
“Correct, wearing your stuff and holding your plush makes it completely impossible, they act as a enchancer to your magic since they are made out of the very magic you have in you.” Luna confirmed.
Gale rolled his eyes. “Yes know aunty, why say what know again?”
“It a old habit.” Luna flatly responds. “Now relax and let my magic do it work okay?”
“Okay.” Gale took a few steady breaths and closed his eyes as Luna cast of magic.
A light blue line of magic attach to Gale's forehead from Luna's horn, she gain access to the nightmare and played it out in place of him, running down the streets from the screeching purplish black cloud of finch griffons to coming face to face with Grogar stepping out of it speaking to her, the light brown hoof touch the shoulder.
Luna's eyes snap open followed by a short freakish neigh of fear, breathing heavily after breaking connection Luna had experienced his nightmare. “Th-that was Grogar... I only saw pictures of him and know what he did from stories, but to see him was the scariest thing I ever experienced, you really have a troubling nightmare nephew...” Luna calmed her self. “You been experiencing that just tonight?”
Gale got up on all fours. “Yes tonight, 43 Blue say I try.”
Luna was surprised by the number, she didn't expect him to go into a nightmare that many time, she bearly was able to cope with that one and the thought came that he may have been less impactful after the first few times, his determination to fix his machine and try again to get away from the nightmare helped. “You are a brave young soul Gale, if I may ask.”
Gale nods as he walk up to his mother's desk seeing a open file on it, he was curious what this open file had on it.
“Were you determined to fix your machine that going through that nightmare became annoyance?”
“Yes annoying... Very annoying...” Gale muttered looking down at the paper on top to see it was Gilda's file for Junior Speedsters camp in Cloudsdale that Celestia did mention a few times before, he did a “aww.” When seeing the cute little cub griffon of Gilda on the picture to see her date of birth, when he saw the date he quickly rushed by Luna to the calender on the wall.
Luna stumbled a few hoof steps from the burst of speed, feeling it force. “Nephew!” Gale ignores her rubbing a talon over the days on the calender till he found it. “If this is about th-”
“Gilda birthday tomorrow!” He blurted out tapping the spot multiple times.
Luna look at the date and using her magic to pick up the file, she looked at it herself. “Well what you know it is.” The subject changed and Luna knew he was not going to go back to sleep or speak about the Grogar nightmare anytime soon seeing this, looking at the grandfather clock they had only about five maybe six hours before Gilda's train would arrive at Canterlot. “I gather your not going back to sleep?”
Gale shook his head. “No, what surprise big sister!”
Luna smiled, the younger part of Gale as she expected over shadowed the nightmare, he was going to avoid speaking about it anymore like any other youngster would. “Of course you do.” She walk up to the door opening it to speak to a guard. “Send a guard to Doctor Trace's apartment and send him over with absolute emergency.”
The bat pony salutes. “At once Princess Luna!” He takes off to inform another guard.
Luna walk back into her sister's study. “I got a idea how to buy us a few more hours on top of what we got already, but with it being so early most shops be closed for about three hours at least.”
Gale's ears drupe. “Aunty... How we it, if no open?”
Luna pasted back and forwards. “We could use formal party supplies, nobles and the Gala but I doubt it be up to her taste.”
“Yes, Gilda will no like.”
“I am in agreement Nephew, now... Ho-” A knock came at the door. “Yes?”
It opens with another guard a unicorn night guard pony. “Princess Luna, sorry to disturb you but a earth pony that says his a party planner just arrived.”
Luna raise a eye brow. “A party planner pony just happen to arrive, just now?”
He nods. “Yes Princess, the weird thing is...”
She noticed he was hesitating. “Go on Lieutenant Star Striker.”
He nervously said the last part. “H-he said something about emergency party and cheesy sense brought him here...”
Both Luna and Gale turn each other with confusion before facing the stallion to say the same confused question together.
Gilda stepped off the train soon as the doors open onto the Canterlot station platform, she adjusted her saddlebag ready to head off to the castle and get her weekend update of what Gale been up to, but soon as she left the platform and entered the streets her sharp eyes caught sight on a blue griffon with that hook beak of a Macaw staring right at her.
“Good morning Gilda.” He walked up to her.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “It was good till you showed up Trace.”
Trace knew the small talk wasn't going to work. “You already figured it out haven't you?”
“Just get to the point.”
“Your going to come with me and get a check up.” Trace said bluntly to Gilda.
Gilda chuckled. “Yeah right, you been trying for weeks and this isn't going to be any diff-”
Trace pull from his bag a piece of paper. “Gilda Clawhowler, you got quite the picture when you were a little cub.”
Gilda smug look disappeared in a instant, her expression showed horror and look around to see if any pony heard but none had luckily, she reach to take it from him but Trace pulled it away. “Hey give me that!”
“Your full name here too, nice middle name and oh it seems today is-”
Gilda quickly grab his beak with her talon. “Okay you made your point, I'll do the stupid check up!” She let go off his beak. “I really hate you.”
Trace gave a sly smirk. “Oh I know, come with me to the hospital and the sooner we get this done the sooner I am out of your feathers.” Trace put the paper back in his bag.
Gilda stared at the bag with that paper in it, she really wish that was the only one but if that was a copy from her flight camp days, than it wouldn't be. “Lead the way already you dweeb!” Trace leads her to the hospital, with a quick glance to a guard with a few blinks.
Soon as they were out of sight the guard open his wings up taking off to the castle after getting the signal from Trace, they had a bit of extra time to prepare while Gilda get her check up completed, the guard lands at the castle and reports to Blue Star. “The patient is on the move to the hospital as planned.”
Blue Star salutes. “Thank you for the report, head to the hospital and keep a eye out for Gilda when she leaves, make sure not to be spotted by her since we all know how good a griffon's vision is.” The guard salutes and takes off to the hospital while Blue Star heads inside the castle.
The guard by past Neighsay, he looked as unimpressed as each weekly update about Gale's progress from Celestia, she step out of the throne room noticing Blue Star. “Sergeant Blue Star, is there something going on that I am not aware of?”
Blue Star was taken back hearing this, neither Prince Gale or Princess Luna had informed Princess Celestia of the surprise party being put together for Gilda. “Why would you say that Princess?”
“Many of the morning staff isn't anywhere to be found and oh... My son and my sister Luna wasn't present at breakfast this morning.” Celestia answered. “Now Sergeant tell me, do you know where they are?”
“Yes I do.” He replied. “But it be best to show you than tell you.” Blue Star said.
Celestia closed the large doors. “Lead the way.” Blue Star salutes and match on by with Celestia in tow. “It must be important for them to miss breakfast and to have many of the morning staff not doing their normal routines.”
Blue Star glance over to his right side looking at Celestia in the corner of a eye. “Let's say it one of those things that only come by once a year type of thing.”
“Hmm... Now I am very curious.” Celestia rubbed her underside of the muzzle with a wing. “I wonder what it possibly could be.”
They walked up to a large double door. “When you open the doors expect a lot of ponies setting things up, so mind where you step Princess.”
Celestia nods using her magic to open the doors. “I will and thank you for the warning.” She open the doors to one of the many spare empty rooms of the castle to find it not so empty, what she saw was decorations, tables, cushions and all sort of things that a part would have, one thing that clued her in on it was the big banner that was just put up saying 'Happy Birthday Gilda' on it.
Before the ponies setting it up was Gale waving them to adjust it across two pillars, he give a thumbs up flying over to a long slender leg orange stallion with a brown tail and mane that remind her of Pinkie Pie's style while wearing a yellow shirt. “That perfect! Great team work!” The Pegasi stomp their hooves into the nails pinning the banner in. “Now Prince Gale what next on the list of things to do?”
Gale tapped his beak. “Refreshments? Music?”
“Ah yes, we need food, drink and a good DJ right?” Gale nods. “I got the perfect DJ funny enough, she mute but got quite the ear for that really upbeat jam that I am sure Gilda will like!” The stallion happily trot over to the doors giving it a kick, the doors open to present a white mare wearing head phones with two tone blue mane and tail, she also wearing purple shades wheeling in a large decking station with two towering speakers. “I present to you the one and only DJ-Pon-3!”
Gale flew around the station in awe. “Oooo music DJ cool!”
“That she is, how it hanging?” He raise a hoof to her, she gave him a hoof slap with a smirk waving her hoof side to side motion. “Okayish huh? Well we going to make it epic now!” She nods and continue to wheel in the station. “Next up is the refreshments!”
Celestia walks in slowly trying to avoid getting in the way of the ponies rushing around, she noticed two griffons in the mix that one recently met and the other a big pain in her rump. “Gabby, RS I am surprised to see you and all this.” She wave a wing to the room.
RS chuckled as she put up some ceiling decorations. “This Celly is all part of the young prince's surprise to Gilda, I got a invitation to come and saw they need help to get it all set up, so that what I am doing.”
“Yeah! It fun to help and surprise my cousin!!” Gabby squawked happily. “And getting to know RS is cool! A griffon that explore the most dangerous parts of Equestria and laugh at it is AWESOME!” Gabby said with excitement.
RS laughed. “Haha, your a complete bundle of happiness and hyper joy kid, you ready to set up the disco ball?”
Gabby gasped. “Really!!?”
“Yeah of cause sweetie, we a team aren't we?”
“Oh we DEFINITELY are!” They clapped talons and pick up the disco ball to put up on the ceiling.
Celestia watched them fly up to the ceiling as Luna step up to her. “Morning sister, quite the surprise is it not?”
“That it is Luna, I am sure she be just as surprised as I was.” Celestia smiled. “Seeing my son organize this, it really something.”
Luna chuckled lightly. “He had a bit of help from the party planner Cheese Sandwich, he really got this weird hyperness that remind me of that pink pony Pinkie Pie, he came at the right time and how he got those invites out so fast is beyond me.” Luna trying to understand his mysterious ways. “Greystorm should be arriving shortly and his wife Octicovix said to expect a much young adult appearance.”
Celestia raise a eye brow. “Young adult appearance?”
“From what she said, there was a bit of a after effect of the magical punch he got from Gale.”
“That is strange...”
Gale flew up to them. “Hi mum! You like?”
“Indeed I do.” Celestia hugged him and he return it. “So my young griffon, what can I do to help?”
“Cooking yummy amazing stuffy stuff? Is that okay?”
Celestia nods. “I think it is, care to help me son?”
Gale nods excitingly. “Yes help! Make awesome treats and birthday cake for Gilda!”
Cheese Sandwich watch them leave for the kitchen. “That cub really something isn't he Boneless?” He glanced over to the rubber chicken. “Hehe I know right? Pretty sweet that we already in this early of a story.” He turn to a few ponies setting up a table. “Already team table let's get that chocolate fountain up! We on the dime here!”
Gilda flying to the castle finally freed from all the tests she was put through on by Doctor Trace, only thing she was glad about all the tests that were done on her that he knew exactly how to do it probably to griffons, he might be one at the moment but born a unicorn and a doctor in practice he was one of a few ponies she would trust if she ever got hurt.
“That took way too long!” She growled and her annoyance grew as Gilda saw the time on a clock at a side of the building. “It past noon already!? I was there for two Grover damn hours!?” Gilda squawks angrily. “Now I am going to fall behind on my lessons to Gale! Just great! Thank you Trace!” She hovered in the air for a moment throwing her forelegs up in the air and zoom off once again to the castle.
Gilda lands hard on the stone ground with a burst of air, the guards standing at the entrance into the castle didn't flinch. “Still solid, cool dweebs.” She was going to get them to flinch or do something someday but not today, Gilda walked in side looking around seeing mostly staff and guards. “Hey where is Gale?” She asked a guard.
The guard raise a hoof pointing up the stairs. “Up stairs, to the left down the corridor, pass one cross point and turn right to the double doors, Prince Gale been waiting for you ma'am.”
Gilda groans. “Just bucking great... Thanks.” He nods and she follows his directions to stand before a pair of large doors. “Hey Dweeb!” No response. “Gale!” She walk up to the doors looking up and down it, she knocks on it. “Is it cool for me to come in?”
“Yes Gilda! Come in!” Gale squawks in reply.
Gilda put both talons on the handles and push them to open the doors. “Hey-” Gilda couldn't see into the room, the light of the corridor was giving limited light into the room. “Gale why the heck is it so dark in here?” She walks in and the doors shut causing her to squawk in shock. “Gale! Seriously turn on some lights!”
“Okay Gilda! Lights on!” He scream out.
The lights burst on, many ponies and some griffons scream out all at once. “SURPRISE!”
Gilda was taken by complete surprise as the room lights up, before her all she met to some that became her friends stood before her with a banner hanging directly above them. “Wh-how-when!?”
Gale grins. “It my idea! Saw when birthday and help from party planner and all!” Gale step up to her holding a party cone hat to her. “Happy surprise?”
Gilda slowly taking in what was before her, looking around at the tables of food, drink and a table stacked with presents, she also noticed DJ-Pon-3 was behind a DJ station with a vinyl disc in hoof. “Usually a hate this type of thing but because it you Gale.”
Gale ears lower. “Oh...”
“But I'll bite and say yes it a good surprise.” She took the hat putting in on her head. “Well dweebs what are you all standing around? Let's get my birthday party going shall we?” She give a thumb up to the DJ, she smirks and slam the vinyl down starting to play some music.
Gale ears perked up beaming with happiness. “Yay!” He turn to the stallion wearing the yellow shirt. “Cheesy came when need and helped lots!”
“Oh come on Prince Gale, all I was the suppler and helped get things set up, this is all you.” He poke the hoof against Gale's chest. “You created this happiness and seeing what I helped you create for our honorary birthday griffon here, that made me happy.” He put his hoof out to Gilda. “Name's Cheese Sandwich party extraordinary.”
Gilda cross her forelegs. “With a mane and tail like that, I don't think do dweeb.”
Cheese chuckled. “Fair enough.” He took off the hoof buzzer putting it in his pocket. “Now is that better?”
“Yes.” She took his hoof and shook it. “Now I got one surprise for everyone.” Gilda look down to Gale with a grin.
Gale suddenly got scooped up and given a hug by Gilda, Gabby stares in shock with her beak dropped seeing Gilda hugging Gale, ponies cheering stomping their hooves on the ground, DJ-Pon-3 play music matching the hoof stomps bobbing her head to the beats through her headset. “Now that something surprising.” RS laughed pushing Gabby's beak closed.
Gilda let go of Gale. “Now to chat with my cousin.” Gilda ruffled Gale's feathered head walking by him.
Gale turn around. “She hugged!”
“That she did.” Celestia laughed.
“Very unexpected.” Luna joined in with her sister.
Trace walks in with Amber. “I see everything went well?”
“If Kitty not stormed out, than yes.” Amber smirked looking over to Cheese Sandwich. “Good to see you again.”
He smiled back. “Good to see you too Amber, still taking care of those fraudsters?”
“Oh you know it.” She bump a fist against his hoof. “Sticking around?”
Cheese took a quick glance at Gale. “Of course I am, this party just starting and it be rude for me to just get up and leave.” He now looked at the rubber chicken on DJ station. “Boneless is in the grove too!”
Trace was confused by the rubber chicken. “Erm... Sure...”
“Just go with it sweet heart, come on let's go and congratulate Gilda.” Amber grab him by the foreleg dragging him over to Gilda.
A moment later Trace returns to Gale and the others with pie dripping off his feathered face, Celestia couldn't help but laugh. “Hahaha, Gilda's revenge?”
“Pretty much.” He licked some of the pie off the side of his face. “Nice pie though.” That got the others laughing.
Cheese also laughed. “Hahaha your a riot!” Trace laughed too.
The small number of creatures that Gilda got to know over the last month enjoying the party with her, she drinking some punch talking with RS, Shining Armor and Cadance with laughter soon followed, Gale happily dancing under the disco ball with Luna, Cheese Sandwich joining them to get laughter from Celestia, Blue Star, Sunbeam with others.
The latest arrivals arrive being Greystorm and Octicovix. “Wow they weren't kidding when I heard you look hot now.” Gilda had noticed their arrival and saw Greystorm. “Last time I saw you, you were that rich lame griffon and now I know it all a act.”
“Pretty much, that between us, happy birthday.”
“Thanks, not much of a party griffon but Gale did put a lot of effect into this and it awesome he did.” Gilda said circling around him. “Damn Gale's magic did that to you?”
Greystorm felt a bit warm pulling on the collar. “Pretty much, your staring.”
“What not good to stare at? Your a hawk and Octty really scored good.” She laughed slapping him with a wing at the rump causing him to squawk in shock. “Whelp mingle and enjoy! I am and that saying a lot for this dweeb.” She point to herself walking away.
Octicovix walked up beside Greystorm nuzzling him a little. “She right you know?”
Greystorm groans. “I say it again, I hate looking young.”
“Oh I know.” She laughed.
The party continues.
Gabby land on the dance floor grabbing Gale by the talon and whispers into his ear, he gasped with rapid nods turning to the DJ with a thumbs up to her, she nods as they raced off into a side door and DJ-Pon-3 lowers the sound till the music couldn't be heard any more, with a flip of a switch one of the celling lamps light up on the door way with the others dimming.
They all turn to the door to see it open and a large cake being wheeled in by Gale and Gabby with candles on it lit, Gilda whistled at the size of the blue frosting cake with each colour of the rainbow on each top layer, the number of candles on it counted her age. “That some cake.” She walked up to it as the spot light grew.
Cheese nod to DJ-Pon-3, she start to play music as he blow a whistle.
They all sang together.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Gilda Happy birthday to you
From good friends and true From old friends and new Happy birthday to Gilda Happy birthday to you!”
“Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!”
Gilda eyes drift left and right as one part of the birthday song made her think about something...
“Go on make a wish and blow out those candles!” Cheese Sandwich says out loud. “And it may come true!”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Yeah right...”
“Please?” Gale gave her a plea look.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Oh fine! I'll make the wish! Not like it going to be true!” She took a deep breath and blew out all the candles in one blow.
The smoke from the candles rose with the sweet smell filling the air, Gilda looked around to see nothing happened. “Oh look birthday wishes via blowing candles out doesn't work, it a childish idiotic dweeby thing that never come true.” Gilda said but no one were looking at her.
She saw they all was watching the smoke. “Dweebs! Any of you paying attention to me!?”
Celestia finally spoke up staring above her. “Gilda, I believe you should look up.”
“Huh? Look up what-” She look up to squawk in surprise seeing the smoke seemingly start to spin together forming in a smoke like sphere getting denser by the second. “What the heck is that smoke doing!?”
Luna responds. “From the heart on the day of birth if it is pure it will come true.”
Gilda quickly took a double take to Luna. “Say what!?”
RS lean against the table taking a sip of the punch. “Another magical surprise, birthday wishes can come true and this will be interesting to see for sure.” She put the glass down pulling out a blue book with a quill writing into it.
Gilda gulped as the smoke sped up to compress into a solid sphere with light glowing through it till it engulfed the sphere, everyone shielded their eyes from the light including Gilda, she part the wing being used to try and see what happening.
The sphere of light explodes and crashing into Gilda a rainbow trail line with a scream mixed with surprised freak out squawk, the two masses tumble around till they come to a stop, with a white and blue griffon with a rainbow mix feather head and tail tip lying on her back on top of Gilda. “Urg... What happened...” The rainbow brush tip griffon groans rubbing her side of the head.
Gilda growls. “You crashed into me and on top of me Dash! Get off me!”
“Gi-Gilda!?” Dash quickly push off standing on all fours as Gilda got up. “How did I crash into you and why am I in some sort of room where a birt-” She saw the banner. “This is your birthday!?” Not even releasing her sudden change of appearance.
Gilda shook her head. “It is and-” She stared right at Rainbow Dash. “Oh sweet Grover...”
Greystorm blinked a few times. “Octicovix, change into a griffon quickly.” His wife staring silently change into her griffon form quickly. “You see what I see now?”
“Birthday wish not only brought Rainbow Dash one of the elements and turn her into a griffon? Yes I do...” Octicovix staring at the Pegasus turn griffon.
Celestia lean in to Luna. “If I am correct birthday wishes have effect till midnight doesn't it?”
“Last time I checked... Yes, specially those that change ones form and I believe she is not aware.” Luna whispered back.
RS chuckled. “Now this is one for the books.” She brought out a camera taking a picture of Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash looking around noticing the staring. “Can somepony explain to me how I got here?”
“Oh Gilda made a wish and boom you came!” Gabby answered with a big smile. “Never knew Gilda had a white and blue griffon friend with a AWESOME rainbow fluffy feathered head and brushy rainbow tail tip before!”
Rainbow Dash stared at Gabby. “Erm... What?”
Gilda swallowed hard. “Dash sit and look at your forelimb...”
Dash rolled her eyes doing that and rose a h-talon that was white staring at it with shock. “Wh-what happened to my hoof!? Why have I got a griffon talon!?”
Celestia step forwards. “Relax Rainbow Dash, the magic of the birthday wish only last till midnight, enjoy being a griffon while it lasts, it will be a interesting experience you are sure not to forget is it not?”
Rainbow Dash open and close the talon before her, including open and closing her beak swishing the tail around. “I guess you got a point princess but...” Rainbow turn her attention to Gilda. “You seriously made a birthday wish and that was to bring me here as a griffon!?”
Gilda now out of shock growls. “Oh come on Dash how many times did you make a wish from a bunch of candles on a cake and it come true!?”
Rainbow thought about it before she lost her own rage over Gilda. “None...”
“EXACTLY!” Gilda screeched. “I made a wish for you to be at my birthday and see what it like to one of my kind! I never thought in a million trillion whatever years this would come true! I had no idea a stupid birthday wish could be magical!”
“Okay... You got a serious point there G...” Rainbow responded.
Gilda took a deep breath. “It just crazy that a birthday wish magical happen.”
“It cool G.” Dash said. “So... Erm... I guess I am here now and back to normal by midnight?” She turn to Celestia.
“As I just said... Yes, transformative means via a wish by the one celebrating their day of birth by pure means only last till then.” Celestia confirmed. “It is a interesting wish though, I am curious why you made it Gilda.”
Gilda rubbed the back of her neck. “It been a month since we broke up our friendship yet I still see you as my friend even I hate to admit it Rainbow Dash... That stup-”
Rainbow Dash interrupts. “Gilda I broke the promise, it was completely stupid of me and I should of did this from the moment I made that idiotic mistake and got called out on it, it was lame of me and now I am going to say it with heart.” Rainbow Dash put the talon over her feathered fur chest. “I Rainbow Dash sorry for being a complete jerk and breaking a promise I made with you when we were young, please accept my apology...”
Gilda hugged her. “That all I wanted from you dweeb.”
Rainbow Dash first froze but return the hug from her friend. “This feels so weird and embarrassing you know?”
“Yeah I know you dweeb, but I don't give a damn about it at the moment.” She continue to hug getting a massive clap of talons, stomp of hooves with cheering from everyone around. “Now since I dragged your sorry tail all the way here, care to join us for my birthday?” Gilda release from the hug.
Rainbow Dash look around. “Heck yeah! Not missing out on my friends birthday and guess what?”
“What?” She raise a eye brow.
“I win, I found out your birthday before you found out about mine!”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Please... I figured it out ages ago.”
“Yeah right!”
Gilda grins. “It was on the day you moved to Ponyville.”
Rainbow Dash smug look disappeared with surprise. “Oh come on!”
“Sorry you dorky griffon, I knew for years, heck I am the anonymous gift giver of those Wonderbolt stuff you got on your birthday.” She chuckled. “Just couldn't be bothered to tell ya since you got a big ego.”
“Smooth G and your one to talk.” Rainbow Dash puffed.
Gilda laughed. “Soooo true Dash, so true.”
Gabby put both talons against each other with a squee squawk. “Awww that is soooo awesome and cute! You made up and know you two have egos as large as a mountain!” She pulled out a camera from the bag taking a picture of both of them.
Rainbow Dash turn to her. “Are you her friend?”
Gabby giggled. “Nope! I am her best cousin in the world!”
“Cousin!?”
“Yep, this dweeb of a hyper friendly griffon is my cousin Gabby, she might be annoying but she family.” Gilda confirmed.
Gale flew around Rainbow Dash. “Ooo you look better griffon than pony! Stay like forever?”
Rainbow Dash snorts through her beak nostrils. “Yeah... No, as interesting and awesome this is, I rather be back to normal.” Gale pouts and Dash rubs her talon over his head. “Doesn't mean I get to enjoy being one for now, no point mopping about a birthday wish surprise right?”
Cadance step up. “Exactly Rainbow Dash, also before you turn back I suggest surprising Twilight.”
Gilda grins. “Please do! I love to hear how Purple went all frizzle over that!”
Shining chuckled. “Even that is my sister we speaking about I am all in for that.”
Rainbow Dash imagined it and laughed. “Oooo I so can see it!” Getting laughter from them all.
Luna speaks up. “Maybe later, for now we are celebrating Gilda's birthday afterall.” She holds up a cake knife in her magic with a plate to Gilda. “It is I believe still tradition for the birthday griffon to cut the first piece.”
Gale look to the stack of presents. “Than we give presents?”
“After we all have cake, yes.” Luna smiled giving the knife and plate to Gilda and Gale accepting that with a gleeful nod.
Gilda step up to the cake. “This first piece for my oldest and renewed friend Dash.” Gilda cuts into the cake and put a piece on the plant handing it over to Rainbow. “Also for unexpectingly dragging you here.”
“Don't sweat it G.” Rainbow took the plate with a talon. “Wow it feels weird not using kinetic magic to hold things with a hoof, I even get to do this.” She poke a part of the icing and put the claw into her beak pulling it out. “Wow that some cake!” She grab the cake and took a bite out of it chewing happily.
Gilda continue to cut pieces and give out to every pony, griffon changeling turn griffon and cat in the room till she took one for herself, there was still plenty left over. “This is one birthday I am never going to forget.” Gilda said before eating her own piece happily enjoying it.
Soon after everyone gathered for present open time, Gale really excited for this moment when she start opening up the presents, Gilda step forwards to them and Cheese Sandwich put a hat on putting his hoof on the door. “Well Boneless, our job done here and we got more pony parties through out Equestria to do...” He smiled warmly. “Till we meet again.” He tip the hat and walk out closing the door behind.
Amber crossed her arms seeing he had left. “Just like that wacko stallion to do, see ya around Sandwich.” She turn the present opening about to start. “Never dull is it Trace?”
Trace standing on his paws leaning against the pillar with forelegs crossed. “Not at all Amber, I do hope she like our gift.”
“I am sure Kitty will.” Amber put her arm around Trace. “It was last minute too, so we did our best.”
Trace shook his head. “You did your best, I was busy doing her general check up.”
RS pulled out a wrapped gift from her bag. “It will take time but Gilda will figure it out.” She grab the foreleg of a waiter pony walking by. “Can you be a sweetie and add this to the pile?”
The stallion bows. “Of course, ma'am.” He takes it with a forehoof walking over to the table.
“It took two years but it was worth the wait.”
“What took two years?” Shining Armor asked hearing RS said.
RS raise her glass up to the tip of her beak. “Spoilers Captain Armor, Spoilers.” She took a sip.
Shining gave a very confused gaze upon the messy feathered head griffon. “You are always so cryptic...” All he got from her was a sly smirk from the corner of the beak.
Gilda pick up a present looking at the tag on the wrapped up gift. “From Gale.” He cheered in delight seeing she took his first getting a chuckle from her. “Well let's see what you got me cub.” Gilda rip the paper apart.
Rainbow Dash saw what she pulled out of it. “Seriously a book?”
Gilda open it up to see it was signed by the author. “Dash don't dis a book to ya try it, I thought they were lame till Gale got me into reading this.” She showed the Daring Do book to Rainbow. “It a pretty cool adventure novel for a pony that stars in it.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Whatever G, you won't get me reading that.”
“I bet you twenty bits but this time next year you will not only read Daring Do but you be hooked on it.” Gilda grins putting a free talon out to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash put her talon against Gilda's shaking it. “Your on G!”
Gilda turn to Gale. “Thanks for the awesome gift Gale, I'll read this later tonight.” Gale jumped up doing a few spins on the spot before landing on his paws punching the air with a talon with joy. “Now... What should I open next?” Gilda looked around at the different presents.
She took what look like a letter size one, opening it to pull out a voucher for Wagons and Cookeries at Hoofington Wares, she saw it was from Cadance. “It will get you anything you need for your scones Gilda, Gabby showed me the state of your current one and thought you might need a new one when that finally goes, it has no expiry date so you got plenty of time to use it.”
Gilda stared at it. “That would be a big help, thanks Candy I'll keep this safe for future use for sure.” Gilda put it in her Daring Do book for safety. “Now... Let's go for something bigger.”
“See told you she like it.” Cadance nudged Shining.
He rubbed his side. “Your very much right my love.” He chuckled lightly.
Gilda grab a box with shields on the wrapping paper. “Oh I wonder who this is from?” She pulled the tag. “Blue Hooves.” Gilda look over at Shining Armor. “What the heck did you get me? This thing heavy!”
“Open it and see for yourself.” Shining said.
Gilda put the box down and remove the paper to find it wasn't a box but a wooden chest, opening it up she saw a chest plate, foreleg guards to hind quarter plating and a helmet. “Armour? You se-” She saw the crest on it. “No bucking way! This is King Grover's royal guard armour!” She took the helmet out getting a good look at it. “How the blazes you get this dweeb!”
Shining Armor stepped up. “I found it when looking into more of the griffon past deep in parts of the castle I didn't even know were there, thanks to Princess Celestia showing me those blue prints of the castle I found that in one of the forgotten parts of the castle, thought about you and saw it look like it would be a good fit on you.”
“You idiotic pony! I would only wear this thing if I really need to, this is a piece of the best of the best griffons had, the moment we were not a bunch lame brain greedy two face griffons.” Gilda put the helmet down and pull out the chest piece seeing the wing hole sides on it to the well craved markings through out it. “This going to the canterlot house I live in and put up in display to show what I can amount to.”
Rainbow place her talon over it. “It pretty cool G, but what do you mean by greedy griffons?”
“Griffonstone isn't sunshine and rainbows like you think your home town and cities are like, if anything it a dump.” Gilda stated. “But I'll tell ya about it another time, okay?”
“Sure, still pretty neat armour, you should at least try it on once.”
Gilda put the armour back into the chest closing the lid, she went to the tube and open it to find a bottle of Apple Cider from Sweet Apple Acres in it. “If you can help me finish this bottle maybe I will.” Gilda shows it.
Rainbow's beak start to water. “Oh yeah, that would be sweet!”
Gilda turn to Celestia. “Thank you for the Apple Cider Princess Celestia!”
Celestia nod her head slightly. “Being last moment I quickly grabbed something and it happen to be the cider.”
“Well you made our day.” Gilda chuckled seeing Rainbow following the bottle where ever she moves it. “Dash and I have a love for this kind of cider, this sure brings back time.”
“I aim to please.” Celestia smiled.
Gilda goes back to opening the presents...
Gilda and Rainbow Dash sat on top of Gilda's Canterlot home roof, they watching the sunset talking about the last month and drinking the apple cider. “-teaching Gale the last month really been one of the best things I did Dash, it weird for me to say but I see him more and more like a little brother but the cub really had that effect on me.” She raise the glass up to her beak taking a sip of the cider.
Rainbow looking at the bubbles in hers glance past it at her paws, twitching the three toes on each hind paw. “The cub attached to ya G, your the first griffon he saw and you stood up for him when I was a total lame jerk of a pony.” Rainbow drunk a little of her cider.
“Yeah you were, also Gale the one that put the birthday party together last second.”
Rainbow looked very surprised. “Seriously?”
“Seriously, if it wasn't for him this most likely never happened at all.” Gilda chuckled lightly. “Life has a funny way of twist and turns huh? And guess we needed this month to just cool off?”
“Totally, that cub is totally awesome.” Dash raise her glass up. “Got admit that weird cat Amber, sure got some awesome glasses for ya.” Dash looked at the Griffon and Pegasus engraved into the glass holding up a shield.
Gilda laughed. “Gingernut always had a way of getting some pretty neat stuff on the legit side, some day I'll write ya about my experience working with a anti-fraud officer.” She raise her glass up to Dash's clinging them together. “To renewed friendship.”
“Renewed friendship!” Rainbow repeated as the last rays of the sun vanished and the moon start to raise with the stars showing. “This quite the awesome view we got here.”
Gilda drunk the last of the cider from her glass. “It sure is, I sometimes sit here with Gale chowing down on some fish and chips take out.” Gilda put the stopper back on the bottle, getting up on her paws flexing her wings adjusting her counterbalance with them.
Rainbow Dash finished off the last of hers also standing on the paws balancing with her wings. “Sooooo weird having paw pads instead of hooves G.”
“Always had it, never had hooves so I can't tell Dash.” Gilda shrugged taking the glass from Rainbow Dash giving the third of cider filled bottle to her. “Bet by morning you miss having talons and paws.”
Rainbow chuckled shifting the paw toes on the tiles feeling the limbs shifting through muscle movement. “Most likely.” Rainbow chuckled.
Gilda flap her wings dropping down to the door, Rainbow lands by her as she open the door and walk inside turning around to face Rainbow Dash. “Keep the bottle Dash, just don't drink it on the way home, you don't want to drop and smash that.”
Rainbow held it tight to her chest. “Not a chance G and thanks!”
“No problem dweeb.” Gilda put the glasses down on the table by the door, she move her wing out to Rainbow Dash, she in return move her wing to Gilda, they slap wings followed by a press of wings shaking them up and down. “Keep in touch okay?”
Rainbow Dash flap her wings taking off. “Sure thing G!” She turn to fly away but turn back around. “Hey G!”
“Yeah!?”
“Thanks for making that wish!” Rainbow Dash flew off to Ponyville.
Gilda waves her talon. “Your welcomed Dash!” Gilda closed her door walking over to the bed flopping on it with sigh. “Best... Awesome... Birthday... Ever...” She snuggled up into the sheets resting her head on the pillow closing her eyes with a big warm smile on her beak.
Author Note: Link closed, thank you for voting !
Question: Should Rainbow Dash wake Twilight up hours before Gilda's birthday wish transformation wears off to show Twilight and Spike the awesome griffon she is at the moment?
1. yes 2. No
vote closed
64.75 short chapter will be made either going to Twilight's home or not! The power of this chapter is in your hands, talons, hooves readers!
Into the night Ponyville was peaceful and silent with the only sound a gentle wind blowing through with ruffling of flags, the night clear with the moon shining down over the magical powered street lamps, over at Golden Oak Library Twilight and Spike were peacefully asleep like all those in Ponyville.
A knock on wood a few times echo through the interior into the bed room causing them to stern in their sleep, Spike turning over in his basket and after a moment past another set of knocks came. “Twilight... Stop kicking your bed, I am trying to sleep!” Spike complains.
Twilight groans raising her head. “Sorry Spike I-” Another set of knocks came. “That sound like the front door...” She yawned. “Who in Celestia's name is knocking at the door at this hour?” She look to the clock on the wall. “Just a little past ten...”
Spike yawns. “Can we just ignore it and hope they go away?”
“Alright le-” Another knock louder this time. “From the sound of that knocking I doubt they-”
A voice came from outside. “Hey Twilight! It be Rainbow wake up already!”
Twilight flop back on her bed. “Come back in the morning!” Twilight yelled back. “It late and we trying to sleep!”
“It can't wait! I only got till midnight to show ya something awesome!” Rainbow Dash shouted back.
Twilight got out of bed using her magic to open the window peering out of it looking down at the door. “Seriously Rainbow Dash it can wait! I-” She saw no one at the door. “Rainbow?” Twilight looked around seeing no sign of the speedter. “Urg... Seriously? A prank at this time of night!?” She move away from the window closing it.
Spike sitting up rubbing his eyes. “No one at the door?”
“Yeah...”
Another knock. “Twilight can I come in?”
Twilight walk over to the balcony doors opening both of them up. “Rainbow Dash! I am not in the mood for some stupid prank! Show yourself or get lost!”
“Alright, step back and get ready to see something totally awesome!”
“Just tell me already!”
“Nope, step back so I can make a awesome entrance!”
Twilight getting anger by the minute gives in. “Fine! Just get this over with so I can get back to sleep!” Twilight step back from the balcony window.
Spike watching Twilight stepping back. “Why can't it wait till morning?”
“No clue... It better be a g-”
Rainbow Dash flew in and come to a sliding landing on the paws doing a twist flaring her wings out with talons out. “Tadaa! One awesome landing for a awesome pony turn griffon!”
Twilight eyes locked on Rainbow Dash with her mouth quivering and right eye twitching slightly. “Whoa Rainbow Dash you look awesome! How are you a griffon!?”
“G made a birthday wish not only teleporting me from Ponyville to Canterlot but transforming me into a griffon till midnight tonight.” Rainbow Dash boosted. “Pretty sweet right?”
Spike got up quickly walking around her to get a good look. “Wow you do look awesome Rainbow! I never knew birthday wishes can come true!”
“I didn't either till I learned it a really rare magical chance that it could come true! I totally now jeaous of those claws of your Spike, this things are useful as heck! The telekinetic magic in our hooves wasn't there, we be all thumbs!” Rainbow bending the thumbs at Spike getting him to laugh and she joining him.
Twilight finally snaps out of it. “I read up about birthday magical wishes! I always wanted to study it and see what I can find out about it!” Twilight eyes lit up. “Before you turn back I got to do tests on this right away! Come with me to the lab!”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “They said you act like this.” She step up to the balcony getting ready to leave.
“Who?” Twilight asked.
“Your brother and Princess Cadance, they told me to show ya before changing back and the look you have, Gilda was right too!” Rainbow chuckled. “It totally awesome and got to jet!”
Twilight's eye twitching. “This is the prank!?”
“Yep! See ya Twi!” Rainbow about to leave but Twilight caught her by the tail with the magic pulling her back in and closing the balcony window. “Twilight let go!”
“Not a chance! I am going to be the first to figure out how birthday wish magic works!”
Spike spoke up. “Twilight why haven't anypony studied it before?”
Twilight shrugs. “Because no one had the chance!” She grins. “Now your coming with me Rainbow Dash, your not going to tease me like this and now I am wide awake I won't be sleeping till I figure this out!”
Spike got a strange worrying feeling quickly rushing out the room to the library. “Hey don't leave me alone here Spike! Help!” Rainbow yelled out.
“Now I'm going to teleport us to the lab, no struggling.” Rainbow Dash refuses and struggles to break free from Twilight's magical grasp.
Spike quickly looking through the books till he found the one about unexplainable magic, he flip through to he found the one he was looking for. “Birthday candle wish magic... Not much known about this magic part from it being very powerful... Blah blah blah...” He skims through to the warning. “Warning... Do not attempt to study it, unexpecting effects can happen resulting in magical... Backlash...” Spike gulped dropping the book running up the stairs.
“Not a chance! I am not staying still! Let go of my tail Twilight! I am not some guinea pig!” Rainbow Dash fighting to break free from Twilight's magic.
Twilight gives a pleading look. “Please! You pranked me and woke me over this! Your my friend and this isn't nice of a friend to do!”
“How about you just take a feather instead!” Rainbow open a wing up hoping that be enough for Twilight.
Twilight eyes lit up on that idea. “Oooo that I can do!”
Rainbow point to one. “Take this, it won't effect my flying.” Twilight recast her magic on the feather.
Spike burst in as Twilight pulls on the feather. “Twilight don't do it!”
Twilight turn as she pull the feather out. “What the matter Spike? I am just taking a feather to study.”
Rainbow Dash close the wing up. “Yeah what the big deal?”
“The book I remembered you read a few weeks back had a warning in it! Those that tried to study it never got a chance cause the birthday wish magic has unexpecting effects when they tried!” Spike explained with panic seeing the feather starting to vibrate in Twilight's magic.
Twilight feels it and let go of it. “Oh no...” Rainbow Dash reacts without thinking about it by grabbing the feather with her talon, she opens the balcony window and flying up high with it, they run onto the balcony watching her fly high and pull the foreleg back.
Rainbow Dash with all her might toss the feather high into the air, it suddenly engulfed in a massive glowing burst of magical energy and explodes, she use her wings and talons to shield herself as it engulfing her.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight screamed out in horror, she watched the blue and white griffon come out of the explosion cloud falling down unconscious right towards the library, Twilight stand on her hind legs with forelegs out to catch her, Spike bracing against Twilight for extra support.
With a thud Rainbow Dash collides with Twilight and Spike, they roll around to come with a heavy thud knocking out them as well, they all lying in a heap by the bed side all unconscious.
The citizens of Ponyville woke to the explosion but unaware of where it came from before they all went back to sleep soon after...
Gale put on his bandanna and leg bands on, looking out at the morning sun he was all set for the new day, he picked up the plush putting into his saddle bag walking to the doors and open them to stand confused who was guarding at his door, two griffons in griffon style gold armour both white with blue brush tail tip.
They glance and salute with a talon in golden armour raise to the forehead. “Morning Prince Gale.” One of them said.
Gale blinked a few times and rubbed a eye with one talon still seeing them there. “Erm... Morning...” Gale slowly step out seeing two unicorn guards stationed outside the guest room Greystorm was in, he tried to figure out how or even when did his mum had griffons trained to be guards in the castle, nothing he could remember even solve this puzzling view of these griffons.
Gale walk down the stairs to ask his mum over it, that when he saw a female and male griffon in staff uniforms that clean up the place go by with two ponies talking to each other. “More griffons? No understand... Confused...” Gale saw more mix of pony and griffon guards, it was making him very weary as the confusion continue to mount for the teenage griffon.
Upon opening the door to the private dining room everything seem normal till his eyes locked on a dark grey griffon with a white feathered head with similar rainbow colour styles to his mum's mane and tail, she had a chest plate and crown on. “Morning son, sleep well?”
“I did I think, con-SQUAWK!” Gale gave a high surprised squawk in mid-speech seeing his mum, before his eyes was a rather tall and big white griffon, she look like his mum but in griffon. “M-mum!?”Gale's beak dropped open staring in bewilderment and utter confusion.
She giggled putting the frying pan down with the plate, Celestia griffon walk up to him and sat down with a playful press of the claw tip in talon shoe against his beak. “Oh you silly little griffon.” Celestia ruffled his feathered head. “Go on and take a seat, your pancakes are up.”
Gale beak still open slowly nod a few time, he closed it turning around to the table walking to it trying to process what he saw and why was his mum not a Alicorn but a Griffon! Sitting down at the table putting his saddle bag to the seat side, the griffon sitting at the table next to him speaks. “Hey little brother, what up with the freakish squawk? It almost like the day you saw mum for the first time when she sent tickets to Twilight and her friends.”
Gale slowly turn slightly to this unknown griffon, he just heard her call Celestia mum. “Y-you say mum?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I have, I been calling her that for almost 800 years you silly cub.”
Celestia put his plate down with a cup of apple juice before him with her talons. “And after all those years you still like to be a tease, you know Gale still adapting Nightingale.”
The griffon Nightingale that Gale now got the name of responds with a toungue out at Celestia before responding. “And who fault is that huh?” She tap the end of her beak and give a toothy grin. “You mum!”
Celestia laughed sitting down on a large seat with her own food, taking a knife and folk to cut the pancakes. “That is just basic facts because I am your mum.” They burst into laughter.
Gale slowly turn to his own food and without a word cut into the pancakes and took a bite of a piece on the folk, it felt and taste the same but everything else wasn't making sense, the level of confusion hit a whole time high for him.
Luna enters the room, she was a pony still so that made sense to Gale but that ends with what she said next after Celestia greets her. “Morning Luna, have was things last night?”
Luna took a sit pouring coffee into her cup. “It was relativity fine with a few dreams to deal with.” She sip some coffee. “Sitting here after almost eight weeks of my return I still can not get use to this new look sister.”
“New to you but I been like this since that night I made a birthday wish with candles over 800 years ago.” Celestia softly smiled looking over to Nightingale. “One thing that I never looked at as a mistake, if it were it was a good one, got married to Grover, had a beautiful daughter and recently got my sister back, I say everything that happened recently been great.”
“Indeed.” Luna started to eat her breakfast.
Gale held his folk close to the open beak staring, he just heard his mum made a wish with candles over 800 years ago, she married or was? He couldn't take it anymore putting the folk down. “Mum can go see Gilda? Do lessons?”
“Mum can I go see Gilda? And... Continue my lessons bro.” Nightingale corrected.
Gale glares at her. “Nightingale I know your here for a week before going back to Griffina, but please be patient with Gale and the way he speaks.” Celestia said calmly to her daughter. “In a space of five to six weeks, Gilda done more than any of us could have done.”
Nightingale point at Gale. “Which make no sense mum! His a griffon like us, a extra special type but a griffon! We got beaks too and none of us could do it!? What makes Gilda so special? He even calls her his sister too! I am his sister even he was adopted by you, he my little brother!”
“I don't understand it myself but it what it is and Gilda makes him feel comfortable to learn, she doesn't have siblings part from a hyper friend cousin that I know of, Gilda also thinks of him as a brother, the bond they created is special, just like we have shared for the countless years.” Celestia said back so ever calm to the grey and white griffon.
“Okay you got a point... I hate it when you go all wisdom on me mum.”
Celestia smirked. “Because I am the mum.”
“Muuum!” Nightingale whines, Gale got up and leaves the table after drinking his juice, picking up his bag the teen quickly left the dining room. “Just a note of reference, Gale acting a bit more Galey today.”
Celestia drunk a bit of her tea looking at the empty seat. “He was wasn't he?”
Gale quickly flying through the hallways heading right for Gilda's home quick as he could, he was about to exit the building to only collide with a rushing blue hooved stallion, they tumbled around till Gale came to a rest lying on the white stomach and chest of Shining Armor. “Urg... What hit me?” Raising his head to see Gale. “Prince Gale are you okay?”
Gale got off him rubbing is head as the stallion rolled over. “I fine I think.”
The griffon guard came out. “Captain is everything okay?”
Shining stares at him for a moment before responding. “Yeah... Everything fine...” The guard salutes walking back inside. “Where the heck did all these griffon guards come from?”
This made Gale's ears twitch with wide eyes followed. “You same!?”
“Same?” Shining blinked. “You noticed the weird thing about the griffon guards suddenly appearing too?” Gale nods. “Glad you see this weirdness too, I thought I was going nuts!” Shining Armor was glad to see another being the prince to notice it. “Anything else odd?”
“Mum griffon...” Gale answered.
“Princess Celestia is a griffon!?”
“Yes and daughter too...”
“Daughter too!? She a griffon?”
“Nightingale her name...”
Shining Armor take off his helmet rubbing the side of his head. “What the heck is going on around here?”
Gale shrugged. “No idea, confused, see Gilda!”
“Agreed! Come with me Gale.” Shining Armor wave for Gale to follow him, they run to Gilda's home.
When they arrived at the door after running around the tower steps, they heard Gilda shouting. “I said get out and get lost you stupid griffon!” They watch a plate goes flying out of the door crashing to pieces down below.
“But Gil-”
“But nothing! Get out and if I catch you in my home again I will do more than throw stuff at you! I will rip your bucking head off and shove it up your rump!” A light brown griffon shot out of the tower flying far away.
Gilda stepping out breathing in and out, she saw them staring. “What are you two looking at!? That griffon self invited himself into my home with take out breakfast! I have no idea who that jerk is and why he was in my home! I hope that teaches him to never come in uninvited ever again!” Gilda said in a really angered voice.
Shining stepped up to Gilda. “Other than that unknown griffon has anything else weird you noticed?”
Gilda snorts. “What are you talking about Blue Hooves!?”
“Right... Let me ask you this...” He figures a way to see if she not affected by whatever it going on. “Is Princess Celestia a pony or a griffon?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb she a pony, why are you asking me such a stupid question at this time in the morning and dealing with that lame griffon!”
Gale answers. “Mum griffon now, she has daughter Nightingale and married Grover.”
Gilda blinked a few times as she tried to even process what he just said. “King Grover married to Princess Celestia? She a griffon and has a daughter griffon called Nightingale?”
“That pretty much new to me too about the married part, but the rest that what I just learned from Gale too.” Shining confirms.
“Get inside dweebs!” They do so and she close the door locking it with the key. “What kind of messed up prank is this!? Is this just some windup for me having a awesome birthday yesterday!?”
Gale shook his head. “No true, no like prank...”
Gilda sat down on her bed. “You got a fair point Gale, you had pranks.” Gale nods. “Than what the heck is going on around here?”
A knock at the door. “Gilda! It Rainbow Dash! Are you awake! Please answer! Something really weird going on and I am still stuck as a griffon! I was suppose to be a pony again! Now Twilight saying I knew the wish you made to bring me here and turn me into a griffon was permanent!”
Gale quickly unlock the door and open it for Rainbow to quickly walk inside, Gale close the door up locking it. “Wow Dash you are still a griffon... Welcome to crazy town...”
“This isn't funny G! I woke up to find half of Ponyville populated by griffons! I mean I never seen so many in one place and even on the way here I ran into many more! What crazy dream am I in!?”
“One I am not laughing and two... It not a dream unless we all sharing it.” She turn to Gale. “Gale...”
Gale shook his head. “No we awake, here I prove!” He grab her talon with magic pulsing for a second and cuts off. “See!”
Gilda shook her head a few times. “Okay that was proof enough.”
“G what the heck was that!? And when did a griffon do magic!?” Rainbow Dash surprised to see Gale cast a form of magic on Gilda.
Gilda walking back and forwards now on all fours. “That was Gale's pure magic, I don't understand how it works and such, it a egghead thing and what he did was took me mentally to Dream Cavern, Blue were there training with Alpha.”
“He took you to a dream place?” Rainbow gulped. “We not dreamer are we?”
“Nope we not.” Gilda said as she continue to paste.
Shining Armor eyes following her movement. “It seem so, the question is why are we the only ones not to be effected?”
“Beats me!” Rainbow said. “All I want is to be a pony again! I was suppose to return to normal! Princess Celestia said so!”
Gilda stop walking back and forwards. “Did you go to Purple, Dash?”
Rainbow nods. “Yes, I showed off, teased her and was about to leave but she wanted to study the magic before I turn back into a pony, finally I agreed by letting her have a feather.” Rainbow Dash open the wing up showing her where the missing feather is. “Then Spike comes in shouting about it doing unpredictable things, it started to vibrate and I reacted by flying a mile above the town to throw the feather away.”
Gilda gave her a odd look. “You tried to throw a feather?”
“Yeah... Now thinking about it, that was dumb.”
“Totally dweeb, go on.”
Rainbow Dash continues to tell them. “After throwing it not only a few hooves from me it explodes! That the last thing I remember till waking up a minute past midnight freaking out that I was still a griffon, Twilight saying something about I knew about this already and I am freaking out for no reason and hit me with some sort of stun spell, I woke up in the spare bed and after that rushed right here to you G!”
Gilda stop walking back and forwards turning around to Rainbow Dash. “That might explain you but doesn't explain why all the sudden there a crazy mix of ponies and griffons working and living together as if it is one kingdom and not two, including the fact Celestia is a griffon.”
“This isn't in the realm of any of our expertise, I am a guard, you two are flyers with little to no experience in field of magic and Prince Gale been adapting and learning in only the last five to six weeks now.” Shining sat on his rump. “This is well out of any of our leagues and anyone we speak to about this will think we been knocked on the head a few times over...”
Rainbow Dash groans. “We can't just sit around and do nothing!”
“Erm... Mum had birthday wish over 800 years ago, connected somehow?” Gale finally said something catching all their attentions.
“What did you say Gale?” Gilda asked.
“Mum birthday wish too but long ago.”
“That couldn't be possible can it?” Gilda asked the other two.
Rainbow shrugs. “Not a clue...”
Shining rubbed the side of his. “I would of said that possible if it wasn't for the time gap.”
“Sometimes time doesn't need to be factor, trust me I been there.” They all turn to the stairs to the study, RS stepping down from it with Octicovix, Trace as a unicorn again and Greystorm. “I gather you four been through the same weird morning as we all have?”
Gilda rubbed her back of the neck. “We have and were you here when erm... Well...”
“We arrived after Rainbow Dash arrived, we saw the window was open up there and entered through that.” Octicovix glance over to the upper floor at the top window. “Do you ever close that window?”
Gilda shrugged. “Never thought about it.”
“You really should, who know what kind of unsavoury characters are out there.”
“That not what is import.” Greystorm cuts in. “What is important is the strange things that going on here, why are there so many griffons mingling with ponies? Also who is Princess Nightingale of Griffina? I am not only mayor of Trottingham but also come here often when she come visit her mother in Canterlot.” Greystorm pull out a scroll from his bag waving it around.
Gale answers. “That my mum... She daughter...”
“Seriously?” Greystorm raise a eye brow.
Gale nods a few times. “Saw and heard and talked... Very confused...”
“We all are cub.” Rainbow said with annoyance in her voice. “We just going around in circles here, clueless as ever...”
RS standing on her hind paws leaning on a wall with forelegs crossed. “I experienced a lot in my line of work, but this is a whole bunch of new even for me...”
Gale looked around. “But why we know different and others no don't?”
“A very good question kid.” RS said. “One we need to work together and to solve, I got a really strange feeling with haven't got a lot of time.”
Gilda gave her a odd look. “And you know that how?”
“Do your feathers fill as if there static running through them?” RS asked looking around. “Do you all have that feeling too?” They looked around without a word said. “W-”
Suddenly the key pop out from the lock land on the floor, they all stared down at it and it suddenly slides under it. “You saw that right?” Rainbow point to the floor.
“We did...” Trace responded.
The key is reinserted and turned from the other side unlocking the door, they all grew tense as the door open, stepping into the house holding the key now with a strange magnet looking object was a reddish beak finch griffon, before she could speak Gale points and squawks out in surprise.
In the dining room Princess Luna tapped a hoof on the table while looking to each of the doors as she drank a bit of her coffee. One field of her magic holding the coffee mug, while another lazily spun an enveloped card in the air. She had been waiting for her sister to come in, or either Gilda and Gale, but none of them were showing up which puzzled Luna.
Luna got up from the table and walked up to one of the doors, opening it up with her magic to see two stallions stationed there. “Where is my sister?”
The guard responds, “On this day no pony sees her.”
“No pony sees my sister on her birthday?”
“No Princess. From what I've heard, the last time Princess Celestia celebrated it was around 800 years ago, ” the guard answered.
Luna's eyes shifted trying to thin of any reason that could held her understand why her sister wouldn't celebrate her own birthday. Let alone the conceptof not doing so for 800 years. “Guard, do you know the reason?”
“No, Princess, no pony knows. And if any ask, they either get ignored or a sharp response of, 'It's personal and leave it at that! That's all we ever get for an answer.”
“Is she in her room?”
“Yes.”
Luna nodded, “Thank you, I will go see my sister.”
The two guards looked a bit concerned, “Princess... Just be ready if she snaps at you.”
“I will and thank you.” Luna said as she left heading to her sister's bedroom. “What happened to you, sister? Why close every pony off on this day? Your day?”
Arriving at her sister's door Luna raised a hoof to knock, but thought she should just open the door instead. As her magic gripped the door, the guards standing watch by it quickly shifted away from it. She knew this was serious if they were that wary. "Sister?" Luna walked in upon opening the door to find it was semi dark inside. Closing the door behind herself, she use her horn to light up the room and saw Celestia sitting on cushions by a very dim, low fire.
Celestia was holding what look like a porcelain doll of a grey and white baby griffon. Humming to it and muttering sweet words to it as if it was alive. “Sister?” Celestia raised her head turning it slightly and Luna caught sight of tears falling. “Celestia... Why are you crying at that doll?”
Celestia sniffed a bit, turning back to the doll she rocked it back and fourth in her forelegs. “Nightingale... My sweet Nightingale... Luna, she only had a whole day's worth of life and it was over... It was my fault... My birthday wish...”
Luna slowly stepped towards her listening to Celestia. “Sister you had a griffon child?”
Celestia nods slowly while moving a hoof over the feather fluff of the doll. “Yes... I fell in love with a kind honourable proud griffon... I fell in love with King Grover the ruler of Griffina,” Celestia said softly. “He brought candles with him on my birthday 800 years ago in this very room... He got them from a Zebra shaman and said there was a chance a birthday wish can come true and it did...”
“You created life with it?”
“No... I became a griffon with my Alicorn magic. And through the heat of the moment, set of a series of events that brought us closer than ever before. That night, before midnight, we- Well...”
“Yes you do not need to go there, Sister... Continue beyond that please.”
Celestia nodded. “The next day, hover I was still a griffon and then I found out why. I was with child... I was with Nightingale. For eight months I lived my life as a whole new race... The largest griffon any have ever seen. When the eighth month passed... Nightingale came at one minute past midnight. And for a day, we were the perfect family. But as all wishes go that create something or change something... It ends at midnight... Fades...”
Celestia cried, holding the doll right to her muzzle and nuzzling it as tears fall on the porcelain face of the griffon doll. “Oh Luna, I tried everything, I burned almost all my magic trying to save her! She was soooo innocent! She had a right to live! But it was not to be...” Celestia turned to Luna. “Grover and I, our love stayed but our marriage was hidden. We both were never the same again... The loss of our daughter broke the perfect family we became... I so wish that I could have seen her grow... Seen my daughter become a beautiful griffon...”
Luna bolted to her sister's side, falling upon her and giving her a hug. “Oh Celestia... I am so sorry for your loss.” She started to cry too. “You blame yourself because of your birthday wish... You believe it to be your fault... Sister... It isn't, none of this is...”
“Thank you, Luna... Thank you for listening...”
“I am always here for you, Celestia...” Luna looked to the doll. “She's beautiful. And Nightingale?”
Celestia smiled slightly, sniffing a bit. “In honour of you, the sister I had lost for 200 years...”
Luna smiled back as she wiped the tears away from her sister's eyes with a hanky. “Thank you, Sister...” Celestia returned the favour, then they sat by the fire for a few minutes pressing their heads against each other and looking down at the griffon doll silently. Celestia felt some relief with her sister by her side on this painful day for the sun princess.
The door opens suddenly, both sisters turning to the light of the door. Sunbeam stood at it breathing laboriously in and out. “Princess Celestia, sorry for bursting in but it's urgent! Gale and Gilda are missing!”
Celestia quickly got up with Luna. “What!?”
“Explain!” Luna adds.
“No pony's seen them leave the room or the house. We went in to find only Prince Gale's plush on the bed and no sign of Gilda at the tower house.” Sunbeam reported. “Prince Gale would never go far from his plush.”
Celestia looked to the doll. “No, please no...” What Sunbeam said next caught both sisters' attention.
“They're not the only ones missing too! Mayor Greystorm with his wife Octicovix are unaccountable for, and no pony saw them leaving the castle either!” Sunbeam continues to report after breathing in and out again, “ Amber has also arrived saying that Doctor Trace didn't report in for work this morning, nor did she hear him leave. And Doctor RS that griffon with the wild feathers, also hasn't been seen on the grounds.”
Another guard came up. “Captain Armor didn't change over with the nightguard captain, nor have we been able to locate him. And there were reports of a strange glow from four domes of snow on the far side of the mountain Princesses.”
Celestia's eyes shifted left and right with alarm. “All mis-” A scroll suddenly appeared before her and Celestia swiftly opened it. “Twilight says Rainbow Dash hasn't been seen since this morning after she saved Rainbow from crashing into the ground when her feather explod-” Celestia seem to realise something and this caught her mid freeze caught everyone's attention.
“Sister?” Luna got an answer as Celestia's horn suddenly glows and, in a instant, both princesses vanish before the guards' eyes.
Sunbeam looked around and so did the other guards. “What do we do?” One guard asked.
“We look for them throughout the whole castle, just don't look under flower pots and pillows... I've seen searches from some ponies in searches before being that stupid and wasting time.” Sunbeam said looking at them. “Well?" They stood to attention. "Send word out to the other guards!”
“Yes ma'am!” They saluted and rushed off, Sunbeam looking back into the bedroom before closing the door with her hoof.
In a blinding flash Luna found she now stood with Celestia in some sort of large hallway at a juncture with large torches on marble pillars lit up. A large red carpet splitting to lead under four large, thick, stain-glass dome windows. The cross point of the carpet lead down another hallway, through sets of two massive double doors, and up to one big one at the end of the hall, There, large golden griffon guard statues flanked the door while holding flag poles. One gold flag was an Equestrian one depicting Celestia with the sun and moon to the left and right of her. The other was a crowned griffon holding up an idol with a large tree behind it.
“Sister, what is this place and where are we?” Luna looked around the still hallways taking notice of the dark grey armoured pony guards standing watch before the great door. They looked eerily similar to what looked to be clay guard 'statues' standing against the walls in pairs, Her magic sensing their true nature as all magical constructs, enchanting clay golem guards made in pony shape.
Celestia starts to walk and Luna follows. “We are in my private vault, this is where all my journals and personal effects are kept. No pony knows of it and where it sits under is a restricted zone for the safety of all.”
“This great hall is your personal vault!?”
“Indeed, but we get to that later. What's more important, is finding if there any connection between this vault becoming active,to the disappearance of my son and everyone else.” Celestia said knowing more than she was letting on.
One of the armoured clay guards stepped up and saluted to them. “This one look different...” Luna stated
“It is.” Celestia replied and stood firm to the guard. “Captain Clay Guard, report!”
The guard stomped once and speaks. “PRINCESS CELESTIA! CCG 001 REPORTING!” He said in a sharp non-emotional voice and continue to speak. “CELESTIA AND GROVER VAULT ACTIVATED AT ZERO HUNDRED HOUR PAST ONE!! CSG 227 ARRIVED AT ZERO TWO HUNDRED ENTERED THE CHAMBER AND HAS NOT LEFT! PRINCESS!”
Celestia rubbed the underside of her snout. “That's strange. That clay pony scout went missing a little after there was no war with the griffons, during the moments before Guto fell from power...”
“What does that mean sister?”
“I do not know, but it seems to be another connection to the vault I haven't stepped in for the last 150 years...” Celestia look at the guard directly. “You are to stand by and wait. If something happens, be on alert. And register Princess Luna as equal to me in all manners.”
“REGISTRATION COMPLETE! PRINCESS LUNA! STANDING BY!” He walked to the side and stood at attention.
Luna stared at it. “That is one weird clay pony guard...”
“That he is. Come along, Luna.” They walked down the great hall to the large door at the end. “As I said before... Last time I was here was 150 years ago... When it became active for a very short time...” Celestia took a deep breath feeling tense and sick. “Inside is a sphere that I created trying to save Nightingale... Both I and Grover agreed to keep it here safe and sound. We never figured out what it did or what it was...”
“You never tried to look deeper into it because of Nightingale?”
“Correct...” Celestia said, using her magic to open the massive door. They walked in to stand before a large golden statue in the middle of a large circular room. It stood at thirty hooves tall with two griffons holding up a slightly pulsing, glowing sphere above them with one pair of their talons, white their other talons gently held a baby griffon. Their heads bowed to reverence to the child.
Surrounding the statue was a few dishes with wires attached to thrm and flat plates resting against the pillars, sides pointed directly at the sphere. “I gather that's new?” Luna asked upon seeing Celestia's surprised look.
“It is...” Celestia answered as they walked closer to one. “These are computerized machines, but they look different to anything I have seen...” Celestia took a closer look at one and reached out, about to touch it.
A voice spoke out, catching their attention. “I wouldn't do that, you might get a shock. I didn't get a chance to ground some of those wires in the rush to get the equipment set up to find out how Nanner Maple ended up in that thing.”
They turn around to see the largest griffon they have ever seen laying atop a pile of pillows, and with their fore paws holding a strange tablet of some kind. The tablet was connected to a wire, which lead to a box with many wires, and the wires connected to that spread out around the room to connect with all the strange dishes and flat plates one by one. “Luna... Please tell me do you see a massive griffon lying on the pillows Grover gave to me?”
“Yes, I do...”
“Hi, Princesses Luna and Celestia,” she waved to them with one paw. “the name's Sunflower. And with the pleasantries over, we've got work to do.”
“Tell me, exactly why are you inside my vault? And while you're at it, how did you get in my vault?” Celestia asked bluntly.
Sunflower raised her tablet. “After Nanner Maple vanished right before my eyes, I tracked her here. And I used a gem from a clay pony that had been kept by my family for generations, ever since the defeat of Guto the Betrayer, to let myself in.” She went back to typing on the tablet.
“Okay... And what work were you speaking of before?” Luna asked still staring over the large form of the griffon before her eyes.
“Princess Luna, the work is most likely why you are here. Finding out why Nanner Maple, and whomever for you recently disappeared, are in that sphere.” Sunflower looked up at it, pulsing on top of the golden statue.
Celestia turned, looking back at it. “My son, Gale is inside that?” She didn't know what to think, wondering how could it have happened? Or how it was possible.
“If he's one of those that vanished like my nanner, pretty much...” Sunflower responds. “So... We going to keep talking about it? Or are we going to do something about getting them out?”
“We are in a rush?” Luna asked.
Sunflower gave them a stern look. “Oh, we definitely are.”
Celestia turned away from the sphere walking a few steps closer to Sunflower. “Explain griffon!”
“It's Sunflower, and to explain I just need to show you this! Do the maths!” Sunflower turned the tablet around to them. What they sisters saw made their blood go cold with horror, and their voices froze from fear after seeing the numbers with a display of the sphere's energy levels.
Sunflower speaks firmly of what they did not what to say was displayed before them...
“Because by 23:59 at the final second to midnight tonight... that sphere will cease to exist!”
“Yes my name is Maple and I can vouched for by those lovely love birds over there.” She pointed at Greystorm and Octicovix.
They both nodded. “We both know Maple, long story short looking into griffish past we entered up meeting Maple.” Greystorm start to explain.
Octicovix continues. “We unwittingly trespassed on her lands, and her granddaughter used an magical stun artefact on us, I was knocked out but Greystorm wasn't.”
“I was mostly immune to it due to the effect of the pure magic in my body still.” Greystorm then gestures to himself. “The mixed result of the artefact and pure magic. I was stripped of 20 years making me look the way I am.”
“Good.” Maple sat on her hunches putting down her saddle bag, the magnet. “Now we got a summary on how we met, let's get to the nitty-gitty part of how I got here. And how I found you all within five hours flying here, that way we don't go into twenty questions, and not waste valuable time.”
Gale came up to her. “You real, you not comic, how?”
“Long story short, we like our privatise us finch griffons, so fictional comics like that we allow ourselves to be part of.” She made up a story on the fly to Gale.
“Erm... Okay... Confused...”
Maple put a forepaw on his foreleg. “How about after we get home, I sign one of your comics.”
Gale nods with excitement. “Okay deal!” He gave her a happy hug and released stepping back to Gilda. “Okay listen ready!”
Maple stared into space from the surprise hug. “Sure...”
“You get use to it dweeb, it his thing.” Gilda chuckled.
Maple finally snapped out of it. “Alright, here is what happened between one minute after midnight to now all compressed for time...”
Maple holding her hot chocolate still found herself no longer in front of Sunflower her nine hooves tall granddaughter. But at the entrance of the dome with one of the large metal doors sealing the dome off from the environment outside on the ground, the other hanging with vines all over it.
“What the bloody heck!?” Maple looked around in total confusion dropping the cup smashing on the ground, the contents soaking into the soil. The finch griffon quickly opening her wing flew into the dome to see the inner doors were open slightly enough for her to get through with ease.
What Maple found was everything overgrown, foreign plants and the massive tree was also unmanaged with the top of it pressing against the glass of the dome itself. “This is insane, it as if no one lived here for somewhere between 100 to 150 years!”
Stepping out of the towering sunflowers a black old finch griffon wearing a green tatted robe over him, he had a glasses hanging on the bridge of the beak. The tired looking finch griffon raise the forepaw to the glasses adjusting them. “Hello deary, I don't offer get guests here any more, what a young finch like yourself need?”
Maple gave him a very odd look. “What I need? What the heck are you talking about!?” Maple begins. “This is my home! I want to know who you, and what are you doing here!?”
He chuckled lightly. “You do resalable my great-grandmother, but younger, and I only know of her through photos I kept.” He wave a paw to have her follow. “Come I'll show you youngster.”
Maple growls. “I am not old! I never age, I've been stuck like this for well over 200 years!” She followed him through the sea of sunflowers. “Also I was with my granddaughter Sunflower a second ago!”
“Then it has begun.”
“What begun?”
He glance over his right side at her. “The final day of course, GGM left a message to be past down generations, she said something special happened 150 years ago.”
Maple was very confused as she followed him out to the large tree stair entrance. “There is your answer.” He shakingly point a paw to the diamond steel forged caskets.
Maple flew over him to them, her heart skip a beat with a gut sickening wash over her. “Maple to Maple, we lived a long wonderful life, 150 years to this day you will look down on us on the final day.” Maple saw both names. “Maple and Pistol Clawhowler... Beloved beyond life...”
She quickly turn to the old griffon. “Who the blazes are you!?”
“Oak Clawhowler, now go do what you need to do, and I can finally rest.” The black finch griffon walk back into the sea of sunflowers. “Return to the reality you belong before midnight or it will be too late, also some you met are also here, that should make things easier shouldn't it?” He was gone.
Maple went after him but after ten minutes of searching from the air above the sunflowers, there was no sight or movement of the old griffon. “Okay... I met my dead self in a casket, lived to about 150 years ago a avenge finch griffish life...” She muttered. “Now he said there was others here I met...”
Maple gasped quickly flew inside, running to her workshop through the corridors misshapen with growth of the tree, she made it to the workshop seeing dust covered everything. “Okay time to get creative and messy!” She clapped her forepaws together rubbing them together. “First build a tracker to track Greystorm, that be my best bet.”
Maple got to work breaking apart some of the machines she created in the past, taking out wires, screens, motherboards to processor chips, grabbing the welder she go to work making a tracker with a mishmash of technology. “Good thing the welder works.” She said behind the face mask, wearing long sleeve rubber gloves and apron.
Soon the early sun rays shine through the dome Maple step out of the tree. “Let's see...” She activated the tracker. “Good it working.” Adjusting the saddle bag the finch griffon took off, she leave the dome to see the large floating city Flaputa high above a healing creator, trees growing around a new freash water lake.
“They really did it, these finch griffons made their dream come true.” Maple smiled. “Got to admit that one heck of a view.” A beep came and locking eyes on the display of the tracker. “Ah I found you!” Maple felt something hit her.
Struggling against it at first, she finally got free to find it was Oak's cloak. Looking around her eyes lock on to the old griffon smiling to her, he give her a weak salute and nod. “Thank you Oak! I do not know who you are but your a good cub!” She called out.
Oak weakly laughed. “Oh to be called young, that made my day.” He watch her put it on, and he watched her fly away.
Maple knew she wouldn't make it all the way by flying alone, the finch griffon lands at the train station just as a train arrived, getting onto the train after buying a ticket Maple rode it all the way to Canterlot. “This thing better be pointing me in the right direction.” She muttered under her breath.
“And that's it.”
Rainbow Dash rubbed her talon over the feather fluff on her head. “Soooo... Where the heck are we?”
RS blurted out the answer. “We in another Equestria, this isn't our home, what more concerning is this final day, Oak spoke of.” RS raised a important fact.
Gale's mind started to race as his mind start to piece things together. “Wishes? Maple birthday cake wish?”
Maple looked over at him. “Last time was 150 years, I don't want to talk about it.”
Gilda caught on what she said, what Gale just asked. “That not good...”
“Create, transfiguration wish vanish, end midnight, create wish mum, Gilda wish transfiguration Rainbow pony to griffon.” He randomly saying words.
Rainbow Dash now caught on. “G...”
“Yeah I see it too...”
Trace felt a slight discharge of pure magic. “Gale?”
Shining Armor tap a hoof on the maple flooring. “It sound like a wish is coming to a end at midnight from how Oak put it.”
“Bye bye af-af-after mid-midnight?” Gale shaking with fear growing, the horror becoming of his mixed up mind came up with a solid conclusion.
Greystorm answers without realising the mood of the question. “Yes that what birthday wishes with creating and transfiguring does at midnight, the one changed forms go back to what they were, well that what should happen part from Rainbow Dash.”
Maple shrugs. “Guess by final day means final day, if that the blatant answer to this.”
Rainbow Dash gulped. “G-guys...”
Gale was breathing in and out rapidly. “Bye bye us midnight... Bye bye no want... Bye bye... Bye bye...” Gale looking around for answers, nothing was coming to mind, no solution, no way out.
Gilda growls. “You nitwits! Stop talking about this in front of Gale!”
“Why?” Shining asked and saw how terrified Gale looked. “Oh no...”
“Oh no-” Maple saw a faint glow come off Gale. “-What...”
Gale shook his head rapidly. “No want bye bye! Want home! Go home! No no no no!” Magic started shimming from Gale as he was hyper ventilating with total panic.
“What happening!?” Octicovix put a wing up in front of her as energy pulse out of Gale.
Maple shouts as a new roaring sound comes as more magic builds up. “His having a panic attack! His freaking out!” She ducks as a magical pulse almost knock her off her paws, the door behind slam shut. "His surging!" Another huge pulse of magic set her flying against the door, pinning the finch griffon to it.
Gilda gets pushed back with her talons digging into the marble flooring holding herself in place as others now pinned against the walls. “Gale! Chill!” He didn't hear her call to stop.
Shining Armor tried to create a shield but the pulsing of magical energy from Gale's pure magic shattered it in a instant. “I can't move! I can't even use my magic!”
RS tries to move but couldn't. “We better think of something fast or we all done for!”
Maple trying to move her paw towards her bag, another burst of magic reduced that attempt to nothing. “This tower isn't going to hold!” She noticed large cracks starting to form on the walls, pillars, ceiling and flooring.
Gilda screams out as she slides back a bit with claws ripping through the flooring. “WE NEED HIS MUM! TRACE TELEPORT TO CELESTIA YOU IDIOT!”
Trace feeling the pain of the pressure from the pulses of magic realise that he could use his magic, he was partly pure. Closing his eyes the unicorn vanish before their eyes. “I hope he doesn't take too long to convince her!” Greystorm said through the pain.
Celestia opened up a birthday card laughing at it contents. “Nightingale this has to be the funniest one yet.”
Nightingale sitting on the window side of an open window. “Well I have to keep it up, don't I?”
“That-” Celestia felt a pulse of magic wash over her, Nightingale too.
Trace appear before them falling on his back breathing in and out in pain. “Urg... So much pain...”
“Trace?” Celestia help him to sit up. “What happened?”
Trace look up at the griffon. “Wow you are a griffon, a beautiful big griffon. Birthday griffon.” He said with a giddy laugh.
Nightingale got up from the window side. “Doctor Trace your acting very weird.”
Trace instantly blurts out grabbing Celestia's talon with both forehooves. “Gale surging in a panic-attack! Everyone is in danger and trapped!” Trace passed out.
Celestia put him down on the ground “Gale?” She quickly went to the window as Nightingale moved out the way, she sees the tower house with large amount of magic pulsing out of it, the ground and path cracking under the pressure waves.
“Mum what-” She noticed Celestia had teleported. “Mum!?” Nightingale about to leap out look at Trace, growling under her breath she grabbed him. And leap out the window flying right for the tower house
Gale's eyes solid white as he lift into the air, the bluish white magic tightening around him, suddenly Griffon Celestia appears before everyone. With a wave of the talon, a magical golden glow comes from it, the magic covers over each of them, and they fell down on their fronts with a grunt of pain, they still feeling the effects of being pinned against the walls from the immense magic release.
Griffon Celestia without a word, stared right at Maple, the look Maple saw she knew something, after their brief eye contact Celestia walk to him calmly and put a claw under his beak raising his head for their eyes to meet. “Gale...”
Suddenly the whites fade and his eyes return to normal, the magical aura disappears around him so did the golden glow around the eight ponies and griffons. “Griffon mum... No want bye bye...”
“I know...” She picked him up giving Gale a hug as he cries into her white feathers. “I know. And it won't happen, I promise you.”
Nightingale burst the door open, Maple set flying into Gilda, Maple lying now on top of the painful bigger griffon, Gilda in too much pain to even try to get Maple off her. Nightingale rushed in. “Mum is-” She clap eyes on Maple, with an shriek dropping Trace on the ground. She point at Maple with a mighty squawk saying one single word at her. “GHOST!”
Maple managed to roll herself off Gilda grunting in pain. “If... I wasn't...” She groans. “In so much pain I'd...” Maple hold her side slowly sitting up against the wall. “I'd give you a... Mouth fall... Griffon...”
The others was staring at Celestia with shock and confusion, while they tried to get up on all fours, the other factor was this white and blackish grey griffon they never seen before, she called Celestia mum.
Nightingale's fear transformed into confusion. “I didn't know the dead could joke?”
Maple growls. “I never di-arg...” She grunts in pain.
Celestia release the hug from Gale. “I need to help them, your reaction is very understandable. So I am not upset with you okay?” Gale nods as she wipe the tears away with a talon. “Now...” She raise her talon with a flick of golden magic, it spread over all of them.
They soon found the pain fade till it completely gone, the injuries also gone. “Mum... What's going on?” Nightingale looked around. “They staring as if they never ever met me or you...”
“They are not of this reality Nightingale.” Celestia said slowly walked around Gale looking upon each of them as she spoke. “150 years ago, I became aware not everything as it were.”
Trace woke up rubbing his head with a hoof seeing the tense talk between Celestia and Nightingale. “How long was I out for?”
“Not long enough...” Gilda muttered.
Nightingale felt tense hearing Celestia speak. “M-mum I don't like the way your talking, it scaring me.”
Celestia sighs. “I know...” Raising her talon with it glowing everyone of them found they were no longer in Gilda's home but in some grand hall. “Welcome to my private vault, please follow me.”
Gale shivered having experienced his first teleportation by magic. “Teleport! Mum no can do that! How Griffon mum can do!?”
“Wish magic son, the world filled with it.” She continue to walk, Gale followed her quickly.
Gale was surprised. “Wish magic work, teleport work cause it?”
“Indeed, son.”
Nightingale growled. “Mum! Tell me what the heck is going on here?!” She turn running after her down the hall towards a large door with two golden griffon guards stood at either side.
The silence between the ponies and griffons slash one changeling as griffon, it was broken when a set of beeping sounds from Maple's saddle bag were heard. “What is that weird sound?” Rainbow Dash looked directly at Maple's bag.
Maple reach in with a forepaw, pulling out her tablet. “I got a connection.”
“Connection? What does a weird flat rectangle thing have connected with that griffon version of Celestia?” Gilda asked with a frown.
Maple ignores her pressing the paw tips on it, swiping at it a few times. “Nanner where are you? Contact me if you get this, dude you got me splitting feathers, if you get this message I am in a large room behind a door with two golden griffon statues either side of it, Sunflower...” She look ahead at the large door with the two golden griffon statues. “SUNFLOWER!” She instantly open her wings taking off in a blur of speed down it.
“Erm... I guess we follow?” Rainbow said staring at the finch griffon zoom off.
RS took off after Maple. “Of course! Sunflower is her granddaughter! If she somehow connect to her with that tablet, it means she must be close!”
“We in!” Greystorm took off with Octicovix.
Trace turn to Shining Armor. “Captain I have no idea what exactly going on, with everything that happening so fast and sudden. But my gut says follow.”
“Agreed, even the Princess look like a griffon she still is a Princess and Equestria still Equestria no matter what reality it is, I serve to protect it, the citizens, the Princess-”
“We get it dweeb!” Gilda interrupts. “Move those sorry legs of yours or I am carrying you! Blue Hooves.” Gilda snapped.
Shining gulped. “No thanks! I rather keep my hooves on the ground!” He quickly galloped by them.
Rainbow Dash was surprised how fast he bolted it. “What was that about?”
Gilda shrugged keeping Shining's secret safe about his air sickness. “Not sure Dash, best we fly or we be left behind.” Gilda flew after Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash followed.
Trace's horn lit up with a pulse. “Huh?” He looked around. “That's odd, I am tracking some sort of odd magical field.” Trace used his tracking magic to track whatever triggered his senses. “It fate but it close...” Walking around a pillar he found a black hoof smashing into his head.
“You had to have the ability to track odd magical energy didn't you?” The figure stood over the knocked out unicorn. “Two for two for you today isn't it? Well they will notice soon enough you are missing, I am going to have to speed up things.”
Celestia stood before the door, she raised her talon to use her magic to open it, Nightingale flew in and grabbed it with both hers pulling Celestia down slightly. “MUM! Tell me what the buck is going on here!? I demand to know!”
Celestia looked into her pleading eyes. “The answer behind the door Nightingale.”
“Not good enough!” She growled bearing her teeth through the beak at her mother. “This have something to do with you not coming to Maple's funeral 150 years ago!?”
Maple stared at her device and at the door, she wanted inside, the signal on it said Sunflower was very close by.
“Why you never was there for our finch griffon friends!? Why you never let me down here after that day!? TELL ME!” The others arrived standing behind Gale listening to the griffish princess demand her questions to be answered by the griffish Celestia.
Celestia eyes turn away with her head slightly, her eyes fell upon the group. “It goes back further than that Nightingale, it goes back to that moment in my bedroom, the moment I made that wish in front of Grover 800 years ago to this day, the moment that lead to your birth and when everything changed that moment just as midnight hit at the end of your first day of life...”
Maple was growing tired of this, her forepaw tapping the backside of the tablet grew rapid with each second. “Just shut up already and open the damn door.” She said under her breath.
Nightingale gave her a hard frown. “Mum! Stop being cryptic already! Get to the damn point!”
Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, followed out a heavy release of air. “Nightingale, you-”
Maple's patients reached it limit and she interrupts them. “How about you open that damn door! My granddaughter is on the other side of it! I got a message from saying she inside that room beyond the door with two golden griffons! The moment we arrived in wherever we are!”
Celestia and Nightingale both turned their heads in surprise from the hovering finch griffon's outburst. “What di-”
“OPEN IT OR I BLAST IT OFF IT HINGES!” Maple pulled out from her bag a mini cannon like object aiming it at the door. “I don't care what going on between you two at the moment! All I care is that my granddaughter is inside there!” She point at the door.
Nightingale let go of Celestia's talon. “Your definitely not the Maple we knew.” Nightingale muttered.
“Good! Because I had over 200 years of life and the one thing that really matters at this very moment is my grandcub!”
“I keep hearing that, you and Pistol never had any cubs.” Nightingale said back. “Guess you never got together with him.”
“Not by choice, Guto the Betrayer saw to that.” Maple gave an anger snort.
Celestia raise her talon, the door glows golden and it start to open. “I don't see how your granddaughter is in here but if she is, than Celestia on the other side must of found a way through.”
Gale's ears flickered slightly at that word from his griffish mum. “Mum in there!?”
The doors open and Maple with Gale enter quickly to find the room with shelves of scrolls to large sums of pillows and one massive golden statue, it was of Celestia, Grover and Nightingale holding up a sphere together with one talon each raised. “That doesn't make sense! The signal is max out! She should be here!”
“Mum no here! You say mum is!” Gale turn to Celestia. “Griffon mum wrong!”
“Unless they are, but outside.” Celestia walk in with the others.
Maple and Gale said together. “Outside?”
“Yes outside that.” She hint to the sphere.
Gale tilt his head. “No understand, how mum outside sphere?”
“I don't get it too, but that thing is putting off some weird energy. And it giving me the creeps.” Maple also agreed with Gale, the cub shivered too at the sight of it.
RS eyes locked on the sphere. “That is impossible! That an inverse sphere!”
“Inverse? As in, inside out?” Greystorm asked.
“Not exactly, that inside out sphere IS what we are in!” RS responded.
Gilda looked back and forwards between the sphere and RS. “Are you telling us we in that thing!? How can we if we outside it!”
“Don't you get it! We are! The edge of reality is right here! The centre of it is out all around us beyond our eyes can see! It a universal impossibility on any scale! Physical, magical, dimensional, everything!” RS said with a raised voice at all of them, both talons out at it. “That thing is screaming out wrong all over it. And it physically there!”
Celestia walked to one side of the room to the other, pacing back and forwards with little to nothing she could do, one of three princesses and co-ruler with Luna she felt so useless, even asking Twilight's help would be a bad idea with the limited time they had left, all they had was a large finch griffon with strange technology mixed with magic.
Sunflower's ears twitch to each hoof step as she tried to do her work. “Celestia stop pacing!” Sunflower snaps once more at the solar princess.
Luna lying on a few pillows raise a quill to a note pad ticking off on a tally chart. “Celestia stop pacing...” She whispered, this mark making it number seven.
“Look Sunflower, I pace when I am worried, I pace when I CAN'T do anything!” Celestia countered.
Sunflower counters Celestia's counter. “Then do it outside! I need to focus! Do you or know anyone with advance degrees on computer programming, robotics and mathematics, all rolled in one!?” Celestia was about to say Twilight, but she closed her muzzle up. “We have just under 12 hours on the damn clock. And since you decided NOT to study that damn thing at all! We working against time and learning as we go!”
“Yes I know I've made a grave error b-”
“SO LET ME WORK AND SIT YOUR FAT ASS DOWN OR I WILL COME OVER AND STUN YOUR ASS AND MAKE YOU! GOT IT DUDE!?” Sunflower roared at her.
Celestia instantly sat down. “Y-yes...” She squeaked.
“Thank you! Geez you old timers are alike! I am sooooo glad I'm just twenty, dude!” She went back to work on the tablet.
Luna got up walking over to her oldest sister, sitting by her. “Celestia you had that coming, she had warned you six times before.”
“I know...” Celestia lower her head. “I just don't know what to do, we even one element short, I do not know if bring Twilight and her friends here would help.”
Luna look over to Sunflower. “The young griffon is working hard, from what I know of she haven't slept in over 30 hours, I would suggest a fresh mind. But I would believe Twilight would not know how to use any of this, and I doubt wherever Sunflower came from is close by either.”
Celestia gave a defeating sigh. “All we got is over worked young massive griffon, that even make us feel dumb in her presence?”
“That we are, none of this stuff I could begin to understand what it purpose is, part from Sunflower calling them radio dishes to electronic wave detectors and what not.”
Sunflower suddenly looked very surprised from their view, they got up on their hooves quickly going over to the towering griffon as she now stood up on three of her paws. “Nanner read my message!”
“WHAT!?” They quickly shouted together looking at the device from either side of Sunflower.
“Your sure? It doesn't have a reply.” Celestia said looking at the words on the screen.
Sunflower rolled her eyes. “You two are so backwards, when a profile picture appear under the text.” She sat down on her hunches pointing to it with her free forepaw. “That when you know the one you sent it has read it, also I made sure this is a localized connection too, so she very close by.”
“What hasn't she responded?” Luna asked. “If she read it.”
Sunflower hummed. “I am not exactly sure but I got a way.” She brought up a new window typing on one paw set of fingers and thumb over it. “There, I just hacked into Nanner Maple's tablet, we be able to see from it.”
Luna gave a confused look. “Ha-hacked? What is this word hacked you speak of?”
Sunflower press on the camera icon activating the tablet camera. “It entering another device that not yours from somewhere else.” Sunflower gave a basic answer. “Since it Nanner Maple's, I am sure she'd be fine with it.” The image that appear before them was scrolls and a shelf wall. “Let's flip to the other camera.” She press the two twisting arrows icon to have the image change.
What they saw was the same chamber but the golden statue was different to the one in their chamber, it had Celestia as a griffon still with Grover and a third adult holding up a sphere together, near it were Celestia griffon, everyone Sunflower, Celestia and Luna knew, including one griffon that made Celestia's heart jump a beat at the sight of her. “Nightingale...”
Luna was amazed at the sight of her sister as a griffon talking with Nightingale, they could hear talking but the audio from that distance wasn't too great. “Sister I got to admit, you look good as a griffon, it would be something I could easily get use to seeing.”
“Yes...” She noticed Gale looking around, picking up scrolls opening them and putting them back down. “Gale!”
His ears twitch turning to Griffon Celestia. “Yes, Griffon mum?”
“Yes what?”
“You call name.”
Griffon Celestia shook her head. “I didn't.”
Gale rubbed his head. “Sure heard.”
“GALE!”
Gale instantly turn to the tablet Maple put down, he could see the screen display the chamber but three figures were in front of it. “Mum?” Gale walk up to it.
“It me Gale! You can hear me right!?”
“Yes I hear, you video chat.” Gale look to Luna. “Hi aunty!” Than he saw the griffon. “Ooo you Sunflower! Maple say you granddaughter right?”
Sunflower smirked. “That I am, also yes I am bigger than your mum.”
Gale tilt his head. “Nightingale say other Maple have no family, only Pistol but she got great grandson.”
Sunflower raised a eye brow, there was a world where a Maple and Pistol did exist but they never had children. “Yeah that don't work like that, if she and Pistol pasted away without children there wouldn't be me or a great grandson.”
Gale rubbed his head. “But there she did but no Pistol?”
“Correct.”
Gale grew concerned. “Confusing...”
“It is, but what is important at the moment is what you said to me.”
Celestia listen to them and started to piece things together, a picture growing and it dawned on her. “Gale! You and the others are inside a sphere only many hooves away from us!”
Gale look over at the sphere. “Outside inverse sphere mum you at?”
“Inverse sphere? Dimensions of the sphere inner walls match that of the outside sphere...” Sunflower made their video chat a bit smaller, she looked at the data displayed. “That does explain the readings that coming in, but dimensions beyond the walls is something I never seen or even thought it was possible, yet we got a inverse universe before us inside the sphere.” Sunflower glance over to the sphere.
Luna agrees. “Star Swirl did create a building that was far smaller on the outside to that inside, it dimensions did not add up from inside to outside.”
Celestia nodded. “That how all buildings have bigger dimensions to the outside, the magic used allow adverse dimensions to exist.”
Gale tilt his head. “It no explain how we all inside!”
Celestia finally clicked. “Oh no...”
“Sister what is it?”
“Don't you see it!? They were taken! Something took them and brought them there magically! Birthday wish magic.” Celestia quickly speak to Gale. “How you and the others ended up in there, it because something pulled you all in there and that something is most likely that fake great grandson!”
Luna also now caught on what Celestia just said. “That the connection!”
Gale hears something turn to the entrance. “Mum... That fake griffon is-ACK” They watched Gale is sent flying, RS catches him passed out and the black finch griffon step into view.
“Well well well, no surprise the child found me out.” The griffon slowly turn to vapours and replaced by a zebra stallion with a tied up mane pulled to the back of the head, wearing a orange jacket.
Maple pull out her cannon. “Zebra you just crossed the line.” She fires to have him swipe each energy blast away.
Gilda and Nightingale leaps at him as Maple fires her shots, they only got a claw nearly tapping the end of his muzzle, they frozen in place. “Now now, we can't go around clawing out the Zebra that play with his toys now, do we?” He looked at each of them. “Let's do something about that.”
They felt their talons being pulled up and back till a loud sicken snap, they squawk with mix of screams in pain as both had one foreleg wrist snapped, the zebra toss them into Shining Armor and Maple. “Nightingale!” Celestia went to her aid.
Nightingale held the foreleg with the undamaged tally crying in pain. “That freakish pony broke my wrist!”
Rainbow Dash by Gilda. “Sweet Celestia Gilda, that look really bad!”
“No bucking way, it does doesn't it you dweeb!” Gilda growled in pain. “Oh course it does! That lame zebra just broke my wrist without even moving!” Gilda glared at him. “Don't try playing hero Dash, he do the same to you he did to me.”
Rainbow gulped seeing the black pupils look upon her. “Yeah gotcha G...”
Celestia turn to Gilda. “You keeping calling him that, I never seen or heard of a z-zeb... Zebra.”
“How do you not what a zebra is?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“It simple, I erased them from my playground, she or Nightingale wouldn't of knew about them at all.” He step closer seeing RS holding Gale still. “Those that able, don't be stupid, your no match against me, this is my playground after all.” He chuckled.
RS growled. “Your a monster.”
Celestia, Luna and Sunflower watched this get out of control fast, Celestia couldn't sit and watch. “Luna we have to do something. And do it now!”
Luna turn to the sphere. “Agreed sister, Sunflower do you have enough of this data to help us or we going on blind?” Luna asked the large finch griffon.
Sunflower looked at the data to see a result. “I have no idea what will happen, but when in Rome and all crazy breaking out dude, go for that point on the sphere and fire away!” Sunflower point directly at one area of the sphere.
Celestia and Luna stood before it with their horns glowing, they fire a beam of magic at the surface of the sphere. “Sunflower, tell us if we doing anything!” Celestia said as they continue to push their magic at the sphere.
Sunflower saw data flying in with results showing a rift was starting to form. “We creating a opening! If you keep it up they can escape!”
“Oh oh we can't have that now can we?” Sunflower's ears pinned upon hearing that voice. “Thank you for allowing me to directly attack them, wonder how wish magic will effect a pair of Alicorns hmm~”
Sunflower gulped looking down at the video link, it was still connected and the solid black eyes of the zebra look back at hers. “Princesses! He knows stop!”
“Toooooo late~” He sang with a flip of the hoof.
Celestia felt it, a surge through her horn, there was a feedback loop of magic building up, reacting quickly she divert enough magic to create a burst of magic to send Luna flying, she looses connection being caught by Sunflower. “Sister!” Luna tried to reach a hoof out to Celestia but Sunflower held in place. “Let me go!”
Her horn lights up to blast Sunflower, but the look Celestia had at her caused that to fizzle out. “Luna it be okay.” Celestia gave her best smile.
“Celestia!” Luna cries out as cracks all over Celestia's horn forms.
Celestia closed her eyes. “It be okay...” The horn shatters with a massive explosion of magic released, she sent flying backwards for Sunflower to dive and catch Celestia landing on the ground with a grunt.
Sunflower got up on her hind legs towering right over Luna, she walk over to the pillows placing Celestia down, her horn completely destroyed. “C-Celestia...” Luna had tears falling quickly got to Celestia's side seeing the state her sister was in.
Celestia raise a hoof. “It was either both of us or one of us, I couldn't let it be you...” She rub it against the side of Luna's face.
Laughter caught their attention turning to the tablet screen.
“All of you a big zip zero and Zerra the Wish Sherman a massive win, next step total revenge upon my kind for locking me away over 1000 years ago! Now for you outside, we be back after a intermission, see you at twenty minutes before midnight for the finale, my escape and it all thanks to a BIRTH day wish from you Nightingale that made this all possible!”
He dance around a few times with no one daring to try anything now, seeing what he did in just simple ease. “Now the princesses outside, you two try to leave the chamber any means possible till midnight, I will do more than shatter horns, snap bones. I will take one of these little lives and this will happen!” He raise his hoof at Griffon Celestia. “Any last words?”
Gale slowly open his eyes. “Urg... Headache...” Gale groans.
RS growls. “You proven your point already Zerra!”
“Prove what?” Gale sat up seeing Griffon Celestia showing tears falling. “Griffon mum?”
“M-mum...” Nightingale saw her starting to glow in places with cyan blue light spreading. “What did you do!?”
“She and all those pesky toys out lived their usefulness, no point keeping my toys around since they not playable anymore in MY Wish Reality, it been fun letting you have your little imaginative life here, but now reality has come!” Zerra said sitting down on a few pillows with hooves behind is head. “Also here a stallion all tied up.” He wave a hoof and Trace came flying into the room rolling around, he all tied in rope with a muzzle over his snout.
Shining Armor removed his binds with his magic and use the hoof to pull off a ring from Trace's horn. “Princess...” Shining watched helplessly seeing the light cover more of the griffon body of the sun princess.
Celestia gave Gale and Nightingale a hug. “I love you both, Nightingale be there for your little brother and remember that day on your birthday 100 years ago?”
“I-I do...”
“Good and you know what to do with it.” She lower her head down kissing both of them with her beak on the foreheads. “Don't be afraid, thank you Nightingale for the life you gave me and Gale even you are not exactly our Gale, you are our Gale, I love you all the same.”
Zerra rolled his eyes as the cyan blue light completely engulf her. “About time.” She burst to sparks of light causing both griffons to fall to the ground, they staring in horror among the others at what they saw.
“Mum!” They screamed out in horror.
Celestia, Luna and Sunflower watching this happen had their hooves, and paws over the snouts and beak gasping at what just happened. Griffon Celestia was gone, he just erased her. “Now you have your warning and you haves yours.” He said to the group and to the screen. “I believe I made my point, when the intermission for you two out there ends, nothing will happen here but for you it be near midnight when you reconnect, till than see you soon.”
The last thing they saw was the dark grin from the zebra as the screen goes dark.
“What do we do?” Luna asked.
“I do not know...” Celestia said sitting up grunting in pain as sparks of magic with electrical discharged fly from her horn.
“Zerra... The zebra that was banished to a lamp for twisting wishes over 1000 years ago, locked away in the deepest depths of the sands... Zecora she told me the tale when I was little, when dad took me to Zebirra in help to stopping my continuous growth.” Sunflower just said.
Celestia eyes lit up. “Zecora! She is the Everfree Forest!” She turn to Sunflower. “We can't leave, but he said nothing about you leaving! Go find Twilight Sparkle at the Golden Oak Library! Ask her to take you to Zecora!”
“That doesn't make sense...” Luna said.
“I know, but it a loop hole we can use and take, go and get them!” Celestia asked.
Sunflower got up on all four paws. “How exactly do I do that? It daylight and a nine hooves tall finch griffon, it going to raise a lot of eye brows, it will cause a mass panic!”
Celestia with sparks flying out of her shattered horn gave her a dead serious look. “We will deal with that crossing of the bridge when it comes, for now everything is off the table and all living creatures are in danger! With one element out of the picture we can't even go to extreme and call for Discord's help!”
Sunflower grabbed her bag putting it over her back behind the wings. “Fine! I'm going dude! I am doing this for Nanner Maple and you better know what you are bloody doing Celestia.” Sunflower put a device in it. “I got my phone on me, so next time you hear from me, is when you get a automatic answering call from my tablet.” Sunflower continue to pack a few other items into the bag.
Luna looked over surprised. “We crossing that bridge?”
“We would if we could...” Celestia stared at the sphere. “It seem Zerra been playing with our lives for 800 years and from the sound of it, he just wiped out all life including my counter part in the Wish Reality. But not the ones from our reality including Nightingale.” Celestia turn to speak to Sunflower. “Go a-”
Sunflower stood between two houses smack in the middle of Ponyville, using her stealthy skills with flight internal magic she managed to get close to the Golden Oak Library, the nine hooves griffon stared at the tree library only roughly one hundred yards away, each attempt to get close to it proven to be a total failure due to a pink pony.
Sunflower peer past the buildings looking to the left and right seeing none of the ponies in sight, after almost a hour of trying to get to the library, she had her goal in sight till- “Damn dude, you seriously starting to tick me off.” She muttered in annoyance seeing the bouncing hoofed pink pony once again.
Quickly moving back into the shadows of the building, Sunflower watched her look around everywhere by in her directly. “I am sure somepony new is near by, everytime I get close, my senses go poof! So I am soooo close that I could smell this new comer!” She bounce around looking into flower pots to under rug mats.
Sunflower watched. “This is getting stupid, if this take any longer I am going to have to show myself.” Sunflower slowly turn around. “One more try to get around that pony.” As she turned fully to start making her way around the back of the streets, the eyes of the nine hooves tall griffon locked upon three fillies eyes all looking back at her. “Aw come on dude! Seriously!?” She hissed the words under her breath.
Standing before her were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, their mouths open with surprise and shock at what stood before them, Scootaloo on her scooter, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle on the cart attached to it peering to the left and right of Scootaloo, their shortcut to the library cut short by a large blockade of a nine hooves tall griffon staring back at them.
Sunflower raise a forepaw placing it to the bridge of her beak rubbing it a few times. “Right... Just get to the point and whatever you foals want to do, just do it.” She lower herself to lay down on her front with forepaws only inches from them with her head down far enough, to be near their level.
“There something really urgent happening up near Canterlot, Princess Celestia told me to find Twilight Sparkle to help me find Zecora, a zebra that lives in the Everfree Forest, she told me to just come straight in and ask directly in front of the whole damn town, I choose to use stealth and that lead to me being stuck here for the last hour trying to get to the library because of one pony.”
They still stared with their mouth open, she rolled her eyes moving her paw gentle over to their muzzles, with a soft gentle movement close each of their mouths up. “Now with that said, what will you do? Cause whatever it is dudes, I am just going to sit here and do jack.” She rose head up looking down upon them, waiting for what they will do.
They blinked a few times. “Yer really on a mission from the Princess?” Applebloom finally spoke looking right up at her.
“Yes.”
“You have really pretty spots!” Sweetie Belle said.
Sunflower felt a bit warm, the blush showing. “Erm... I... Erm... Thanks?”
Scootaloo tilt her head. “You really been stuck here for a hour?”
“Sadly, yes.”
“No pony seen you?”
“Nope, not even the one behind me looking into potted plants and under rugs.” Sunflower glance back seeing the pink pony still looking around.
Pink pony lift her tail up looking around. “No new pony here!” She hums to herself bouncing to another location.
Sunflower blinked a few times . “Am I missing something here? Why are any of you not even freaking out?”
They looked at each other followed by a fits of giggles. “Well at first we weren't sure you was one of those scary griffons, but soon as you started talking to us and close our mouths up, ya cool and kinda awesome, not so awesome as Rainbow Dash though.”
“Fair... Enough.” Sunflower decided to introduce herself. “My name is Sunflower.”
“I am Scootaloo!”
“Sweetie Belle!”
“Applebloom!”
“We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They screamed together afterwards.
Sunflower chuckled. “Dudes, you got really good set of lungs there.” Sunflower turn to the tree house library. “So... Could you three do me a solid and tell Twilight Sparkle to come here?”
“Sure thing, but I do have a question.”
“Is it about my name?” Scootaloo nods. “Urrrg... My dad named me it after improving sunflowers to keep flowering all year around in greenhouse environments, it a finch griffon tradition to name your young after something amazing and it happen to be sunflowers.” Sunflower explained. “I am cool with it though, it sticks and for a griff like me to move around so silently it sorta fits.”
Applebloom step around her to see the pink pony. “Yer stuck because of Pinkie Pie?”
“Yeah th-” Sunflower raise up on hind paws twisting around silently to sit down facing the library to pause in what she was saying hearing the name. “Nah... It couldn't be could it? What are the chances?” She muttered to herself.
Scootaloo whistled. “Sweet Celestia did you see her move! Silent, twisting and not even a feel of wind! That is soooo awesome!”
“It was! It was like watching a dancer! Sunflower your amazing!” Sweetie Belle agreed.
Sunflower watching Pinkie Pie now. “Thank you, it come with practising to use my internal flight magic, with crazy large wings and body I have, you need to learn a few stealthy tricks, and I am full of them.”
“Ah say, yer really good.”
“Now...” Sunflower focus on Pinkie. “You said Pinkie Pie right?”
“Eeyup!”
“By any chance is her full name Pinkmena Diana Pie?” Sunflower asked them, they gave a shrug after looking at each other to get a shake of a head from them afterwards. She turn to see Pinkie was gone, looking around the snowy finch griffon looked around in puzzlement till Sunflower felt something on top of her.
Looking up Pinkie Pie looking upside down back at her from above. “Hi! You called?”
“Pinkmena?”
“Yep!” She giggled with a snort. “But my friends call me Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie Pie drop down floating before Sunflower with balloons tied on.
Sunflower stared at the balloons. “H-” She shook her head. “No forget that, what important is other things, such as does Sunflower Grace Clawhowler ring any bells?”
Pinkie Pie squealed. “No way! Your Sunflower! My pen pal friendzy! Since I was a filly! YOUR HER!?” She spins around happily dancing around in mid air. “Your the new pony! Well not pony but griffon! I never knew you was a griffon! But my Pinkie Senses said somepo-well somegriffon in this case was new in town but I knew for a LONG time!” Pinkie Pie hugs the large chest. “Awwww your too big for a Pinkie Pie hug!” She push back pouting.
Sunflower processing what Pinkie said grins. “Well Pinkmena I think you can have a famous Sunflower wing hug!” She move a wing over and pulled Pinkie in to her chest for a few seconds and let go. “How was that?”
“Soooooo soft... So comfortable.” Pinkie said in a dreamy state hovering with the balloons still attached to her, Pinkie shock her head a few times snapping out of it. “I am really happy to meet you for realizes!” She giggled. “Soooooo, what brings my long time awesome pen pal friendzy to Ponyville?”
Sunflower glance down at the fillies and back at Pinkie Pie. “Pinkmena, what need to be said isn't child friendly.”
Pinkie Pie salutes. “I gotcha covered!” She pop a few balloons, it lowers her down onto all four hooves before them. “Your looking to get your cutie marks right?”
“Yes!” They said together.
Pinkie popped out of her mane a book. “This will help give you fillies some awesome ideas!” She gave them the book.
They looking through it quickly pointing and talking among each other. “This is perfect! Thanks Pinke.” Scootaloo beamed, she turn looking up to Sunflower. “Are we gonna see ya again? We just got to know ya!”
Sunflower smirked. “Before you go ahead and give me a cutie attack, I will let Pinkmena give you all my contact details and I'll drop by this Sunday.”
“Cool! Yer can come by the treehouse at Sweet Apple Acres! It out of the way too!” Applebloom said.
“I'll show her, now go on, have fun!” Pinkie wave them to go.
Sweetie Belle give Sunflower a hug against the forepaw. “You are soft!”
Sunflower laughed. “That I am dude, and proud of it.” Getting laughter from the fillies. “Go on have fun and good luck on your cutie mark hunt!”
“With you saying that we sure to get it!” Scootaloo quickly got on her scooter. “Come on girls let's go!”
They got on and waved to Sunflower. “Bye!” They said together as Scootaloo buzzed her wings, then they were gone.
Sunflower turn towards the library. “Cute fillies, full of life.”
“Yep they sure are! Now to the Everfree Forest! Start of operation Pen Pals Friendzy!” Pinkie giggled.
Sunflower frowns. “I thought you were going to help me get to Twilight?”
“Of course silly! She with Zecora right now, and the edge of the forest is that-a-way!” She point a hoof, Sunflower turn to that direciton.
“So... I been stuck here for a hour wasting time!?”
Pinkie Pie shrugs. “Depends, you did meet the Cutie Mark Crusaders and we got to finally meet didn't we?”
Sunflower had to agree. “Fair point, meet you there Pinkmena.”
Pinkie Pie laughs. “Silly cubby call me Pinkie-” She turn around to see Sunflower were gone. “-pie?” She look around. “Wow! I never even heard her leave!” Pinkie Pie races off to the Everfree Forest.
Pinkie Pie arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest, looking around she couldn't see Sunflower at all. “I guess I got here first!” Pinkie giggled.
“Or did you?”
Pinkie shivered upon the voice, quickly turning around to have a foreleg in her view, looking right up to a grinning griffon looking back down. “Whoa! How did you do that!?
Sunflower walk over her. “Mastery of Flight Magic and having tones of it in my system, all thanks to the Zebras back when I was a cub in their lands.” Sunflower looking around at the edge of the forest. “Reminds me of home, just without the golems.”
“Maybe I can visit now?”
“Sure, I don't see any problems, just need to keep our home location a secret though, Nanner Maple doesn't want anyone including friends outside in other areas of Equsetria knowing.”
“Fair enough!” Pinkie bouncing to keep up with her. “Follow me!”
“Right behind you.” Pinkie Pie look to her left and behind to see no tracks or sign of Sunflower.
Pinkie Pie blinked a few times. “And I thought I was the really stealthy one.” Pinkie burst into laughter with snorts. “Oh the fun we going to have!” She made her way into the forest with Sunflower near by following.
After a short time Pinkie Pie arrived at Zecora's home. “Twilight~! It me Pinkie~” She snag. “Is Zecora with you?”
Twilight and Spike walk out with Zecora. “Of course, Pinkie, what brings you all the way out here?”
Pinkie grins. “Bring my Pen Pal Friendzy to see Zecora and to talk to you!”
Spike look around with Twilight. “I don't see anypony but you.”
Zecora was looking in one direction and up slightly. “That it may Twilight Sparkle is not a pony, but a griffon many times tall, a cub once now adult, Sunflower it good to see once again.”
“Huh? Where?” Twilight asked now see Zecora looking, she turn to see just by the trees just in the shadows with some light through the leaves. “That a griffon!?”
“That's a griffon.” Sunflower step out into clear view.
Spike whistles. “Whoa your huge! How do you fit in any place being that big?”
Sunflower chuckled. “I like you little dragon, you asked a very good question, one I can answer is not many.” Sunflower sit down before them looking directly down. “I wish we can chit-chat but I was given orders by Princess Celestia to find Twilight to find you Zecora.”
“What? Why?” Twilight asked.
Zecora raise a hoof. “For Sunflower to be so open and out about, the question that should be asked, What is grave enough for Sunflower to come directly to find me.”
Sunflower smiled warmly. “So ever wise Zecora and I am here because of a tale you spoke of to me about.” Her smile disappear to serious. “Zerra has been discovered, his trapped in a sphere with a inverse reality powered by wishes in Princess Celestia's private vault.”
Zecora eyes delight. “Rush we must, to the vault we go, give me a moment to prepare!” She rushes inside her home.
“Princess Celestia has a private vault!?” Twilight screamed in utter surprise. “But why didn't she just message us through Spike?”
“You will see why when we there.” Sunflower turn to Pinkie. “Pinkmena, care to come?”
Pinkie rush up to her with a big bounce landing right on her head. “Of course silly! Pen Pal Mission is a go!”
Zecora returns carrying saddle bags. “Lift me on quick, so we can go, flight to the vault with time on the fly!”
Sunflower lower her self, using her wing as a walk way for the zebra to climb on her back. “You two can come now or stay, I don't have time to explain.”
They looked at each other. “It must be serious Twilight, also she Pinkie Pie's pen pal and Zecora also knows her from a long time ago, that two things for sure we can trust this griffon.”
“You are most certainly right Spike.” She turn to Sunflower. “We're coming.” She and Spike climb on her back. “Wow your soft!”
Spike rub his claws through the fur. "It feels softer than anything I ever been on Twilight."
Sunflower blushes. “Urg... I am so never going to hear the end of this if Nanner Maple hears about this.” She shook her head. “All of you hold on tight and do not worry you won't feel a thing!” Sunflower takes off to Canterlot, to their surprise but Pinkie the take off was nothing they experienced in their lives.
Zecora look to the mountain as the sun starts to set in a jitter motion. “Just hope we are in time, or time will be limited for all of us.”
The door open into Celestia's private vault, Sunflower walking in carrying Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie and Zecora, she look right and left at the golems, none of them reacted to her as she hoped, the gem was still doing it job making them think she was one of them as she close the large door behind her.
Sunflower causally walk over the red carpet towards the large door with the two griffon statues. “You can open your eyes now.”
Instant they open their eyes Twilight spoke. “This is Princess Celestia's Private Vault!?” Twilight looking around at the size of the grand hallway as Sunflower made her way to the Celestia and Grover vault. “This place look even more grander than her throne room! Look at those stain glass domes!” She point a hoof up.
Spike whistled. “It sure is, I never knew anything like this exist.”
“Private is in one that holds dear, not all wish to share their personal life, Princess Celestia had one that out live many including us.” Zecora rhymed curiously looking around, she eyed the golems. “Best not to leave Pinkie Pie, those guards are not what they seem to do, enchanted clay they are, strict in order.”
Pinkie giggled. “So they grumpy looking cause they are made without ever smiling?”
“I doubt they would ever smile Pinkie, I read up about these clay enchanted ponies after Shining Armor told me about them, they have a gem core within that powers them.” Twilight explained to Pinkie Pie, she tap a hoof on the tip of the muzzle. “They would have been active already, something you have Sunflower and our close proximity to you isn't it?”
Sunflower almost at the door to the vault. “Yep, I have a scout core gem on me, it make them see me as one of them, it been in the family for generations since my Nanners time, but the tale of how the scout golem is for another time, we got far more pressing matters.” Sunflower stop at the door with a paw against it. “Now... We enter.” She push it open.
Soon as she open it and walk inside, they all saw the charred remains of her horn, they all shared a collective gasp. “Before any of you ask about my health, I am fine part from no use of my magic at this time, please do not ask about it and only know it was Zerra's doing.”
“Indeed, Celestia saved me from the shared fate when we tried to breech the sphere, he created a magical feedback that shattered my sisters horn, we are in the mist of looking through her personal effects and documents of 799 years and four months ago, also 150 years ago to this day.” Luna explained the rest after Celestia.
Twilight swallowed hard. “P-”
“Twilight I do not have the time or patient to talk about it, Zecora was the one I asked for with your help to bring her here, not for you, Spike or Pinkie Pie, this vault is very personally private to me, I gather Sunflower had a reason to bring you all here.”
Sunflower step by them putting the bag down, she pick up the tablet. “I would of called ahead, but I knew you want me to drop them off so I choose to bring them to help you find the answers faster dude, your family not the only thing on the line, her's is too.”
“What do she mean by that?” Twilight now deeply worried by those words.
Celestia sighs heavily. “Fine you have a point...” She turn to the sphere. “Inside that is a reality wishes come true and hold, a reality filled with wish magic that my children, Sunflower's grandmother, Gilda, Doctor Trace, Greystorm, Octicovix his wife and your brother are trapped within.”
Twilight sharply turn to the sphere. “My brother inside that thing!?”
“Yes-”
“We need to act no-”
“Twilight Sparkle do not attempt to blast it or you will share the same fate as me.” Celestia warned. “Zerra holding them all hostage, not only he had the power to destroy my horn and my ability to use magic, but he managed to wipe out every living thing from that reality for just revenge on Zebra kind.”
Zecona sighed. “So long ago he fell, to fall even further into madness...”
Celestia point a hoof to the scrolls and personal effects near Luna. “Help Luna, but do not look at anything else, you try and do, my faith and trust in any of you be lost forever.”
Pinkie Pie salutes. “You got it Princess!”
“Wait for me Pinkie!” Spike quickly rushes off after Pinkie Pie not wanting to have Celestia's fury brought upon him.
Twilight look upon the statue holding the sphere. “Is that you as a griffon?”
“Yes, a story you will discover as you read with Luna, a life that could be so different today if things were so different, love is powerful Twilight but it can be painful too, I found that out the hard way on that day...” Celestia turn to Zecora. “Now I must speak with Zecora in private with Sunflower, be on your way.”
Twilight bows. “O-of course Princess..” She quickly go to help Luna, Pinkie and Spike.
Celestia took a deep breath. “Thank you for coming so quickly...”
Zecona bow slightly before walking with Celestia. “Troubled as you and I are, the task at hoof to stop Zerra the Wish Shaman must be a first, or all will be lost for Zebra kind and beyond.”
“Indeed, that why I need you and Sunflower to tell me everything about the tale of him and how we can use the power of wish against him.”
“Fight fire with fire, the saying that both wish and dumb.”
Twilight only could stare for a moment. “What are we exactly looking for?” She using her magic to pick up a scroll.
Luna reading through one. “Anything that was overlooked, anything that could explain how the Wish Reality came to be, how we can free them all and stop Zerra.”
“Better get to work, there a lot of scrolls to look through before twenty minutes to midnight....”
Zerra creating magical image after image on the walls, showing the empty streets, carts toppled over, plates left half eaten, Canterlot was void of all life, Ponyville displayed before them the same thing, he show-boating the power he had over them, what he did to every form of intelligent life to animals, even going as far to the bugs.
A clock tower's hands were moving at a alarming rate, showing the passage of time was passing but the sun not setting since there was no Celestia, and not even Luna were around now to try, Gale huddled against Nightingale between her and the wing, nestled close to her sobbing quietly as Trace tended to her broken foreleg with make shift bandages and split.
“That should ease the pain a little, just don't jostle it too much okay?” Trace said as he put a sling around her neck resting the foreleg into it.
Nightingale look at the work he did on her, as well the magic work on Gilda's own. “Thanks Trace, and I won't.” Glancing over at Zerra brought rage to her. “That creep got a lot of nerve.”
Trace didn't even look over at the zebra as he continue to show the empty life of the Wish Reality. “He a narcissistic evil creature, with only the care of one thing now, revenge... Once he is done it will be whatever next to amuse him to no end, what he did in front of Gale, is no child of any age to see.” Trace saw how withdrawn Gale became holding tightly to Nightingale. “How is he?”
Nightingale move her head down nuzzling Gale a little, he didn't react at all to it. “Since what Zerra did? Shut down, closed off and shattered, even mum wasn't exactly the mum he knew and the one that raised me for almost 800 years, he watched Zerra just end her existence while she held us tight for one last hug...” She growls slightly, Gale dig his claws in slightly flitching. “Sorry Gale, just anger over it... There there...” She balancing on her hind legs sit stance rubbing her talon over the side of his face.
Gale relaxes a little. “Hey Night, how about I take care of him, Maple want to talk to you.” Gilda hobbled over to them on three limbs, sitting down before them.
“If Gale let me.” Nightingale shows Gale keeping himself nestled into her side under the wing.
Gilda open her wing up. “Gale will you let Nightingale go see Maple? I'll keep you safe.” Gale slowly let go of Nightingale, he walked very slowly and very distance seeing as he came up to Gilda, he shifted between her wing against her side. “Go Night, I got this.”
Nightingale got up on three legs. “Thank you Gilda.” She speaks to Gale before walking over to Maple, Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor. “Gale there always a bright light, even I feel sad, anger, filled with rage and want to rip that freak to pieces, there is a light, you will find it.” Gale slowly look at her with some gilt of hope through his slightly red sore eyes.
Maple checking through a scroll when Nightingale joined her and Shining Armor. “I know seeing me young, alive and far older than you thought possible is strange, I need your help in running through some things about 150 years ago.”
Nightingale felt very tense on the subject. “That part of my life isn't exactly easy to speak about, specially who I am speaking to.”
“Look we don't have time for this-”
Shining Armor raise a hoof speaking over Maple. “I can not even begin to understand what it like to stand before Maple, but we have very little time from the look of the Ponyville clock tower, best guess we got minutes before it hits twenty to midnight.”
Nightingale fluff her wings. “Fiiine I'll fight through my own personal feelings for the moment, let's get it over with before I throw up.”
“Thank you.” Shining gesture for Maple to talk.
Maple smirked. “Captain you are really something.” She turn her attention to Nightingale. “The griffon Celestia of this reality spoke of seeing her pony self in a white field upon touching the sphere, what if she didn't see herself, but Celestia outside the sphere, the two being the one and the same with different lives create a minor breach in the walls of reality itself.”
Nightingale thought about it for a moment. “Zerra is show boating at the moment and when he was in mine and Gale's face, moments after we lost contact with outside the sphere, he did say he'd be needing my good talon soon.” She shuddered recalling the touch of his hooves on her talon. “That creep...”
“He also bragged about blowing up Princess Celestia's horn outside the sphere, we saw it too.” Shining Armor recalling that point. “I wish there more we could do, but he can easily wish anything up.” He look over at Zerra trying on outfits in front of a mirror, practising what to say too. “Talk about a ego... It like looking at a comic book villain celebrating before he really won, only for him to get it taken away.”
Nightingale didn't. “No thank you, don't want to do another stupid.” She turn to Maple. “If I am getting what your saying, he going to use me and erm... Mum to create a opening.”
“Yes that is correct, but why did he not let her and Luna do it?” Maple wondered.
Greystorm and Octicovix joined them. “I believe we got the answer.”
Octicovix put a scroll down in front of them. “Celestia speaks of the Zebra race vanishing 800 years ago, but soon after there is no word about it at all, no history, nothing.” She show the scroll to them. “One thing I expect, he needs a solid bridge, only one that of two of family can open, a child and their parent.” She show a Zebra paschal. “This shows a bridge of two realities and I think these Zebra found out about Zerra fast.”
Nightingale took it with her good talon sitting down on her hunches. “Th-that Zebra been playing a long game on my life!? He been letting me live my life just to escape!?”
A clap of hooves caught her attention and the others. “Yes indeed, everything here I let to be, the zebra in all their holy wisdom like the real ones figured it out, I let that little piece stay.” He chuckled. “Every wish made outside the sphere I even influenced the wisher to those around them, from using you as a new born and mummy Celestia, you were pulled here and your life story begins, as for Celestia and Grover, oooo they weep and cried over your lose, they stayed married but in secret, never the same they were.” He gloated to them doing a few prancing steps.
“Than there was Maple, oh your wish it was sooo deep and personal, that little push to fight all the way to save-”
“Shut up!” She hissed.
“Oh oh oh, your anger is nice and for you.” Zerra turn to Rainbow Dash. “Gilda's wish was one step but the main one was using you to influence that nerdy unicorn to test the wish magic before it went, I made sure your feather or something was to go boom!” He laughed.
“You monster!” Rainbow Dash growled with a closed fist at him. “If you didn't play dirty I'd give you a knuckle sandwich!”
Zerra walk up to her booping her beak. “Oh I know, that why I do.” He turn back to Nightingale. “With those distributions came the push, the wish reality, this whole sphere now exposed to the reality which wishes of creation or transfiguration ends at midnight, you see no matter what they were going to go bye bye.” He laughed.
Nightingale sat down as the horror sunk in. “All this for revenge?”
“Yep! All for good ol' revenge on my own kind!” He stood before the golden statues in a stance of pride. “Best thing is, I made the Alicorn cry, cry and cry! I broke her and I loved it!”
RS sighed. “Revenge is never the answer, trust me I been there.”
Gale slowly emerge from Gilda's side. “You made mum cry!? Griffon mum real as mum!” He roars with tears falling.
“Yep and I'll do it over and over again kitten!”
Gale snapped jumping into the air flapping his wings, eyes narrowed upon Zerra, a griffish fury unleashed. “AHHHH!” He zooms right for Zerra.
Zerra eyes shrunk as the teenage was upon him in a flash. “WISH YOU HURT!” A burst of energy erupt from his closed talon upon hitting the zebra.
“And choosing your words poorly are a added bonus, I saw that coming.” RS cross her forelegs. “Specially a teenager with a mind mixed between a very young griff to some teenage sense.”
They watched him go flying backwards right into the sphere bouncing off it on to the ground, Gale charge at him again only to squawk in surprise feeling a set of chains around all four legs, Zerra got up rubbing his muzzle, blood dripping down the side of his mouth, lapping his tongue a bit of the iron taste. “That I did not expect! That pure magic in you is really something, now sit there in chains and be a good griffon, the show about to start.”
They all quickly came to Gale, the chains were impossible to remove. “That was something kiddo! You really did hurt him!”
Gale snorted. “Good! He made griffon mum bye bye! Because he no like he kind! He bad, hurt not good but he only can hurt!” Gale growled. “Wish hurt, wish got!”
Gilda eyes lit up. “No way...” She quickly grab Nightingale. “Night I got a stupid idea and it might work.” She whispered to her.
Zerra point a hoof. “No whispering, you continue I will just have to tighten those chains.” He nod to the chains and they did, Gale trying to fight against them. “Now all of you sit by him AND SHUT UP!”
With little choice they did.
Zerra rubbed the underside of his muzzle. “That really smarts...” He grumbled, ignoring the lingering pain he now had, the rapid speed of time start to slow towards twenty to midnight. “Lights!” Studio lights appear turning on with spot lights over him. “Camera!” Zerra point to the tablet. “Annnnd Action!”
What displayed on Sunflower's tablet camera shown on the wall to the others, Celestia, Luna and Sunflower looking at him with them behind him sitting down silently, Celestia noticed Gale was in chains. “Gale! Are you okay!?”
“Sad, empty first, now rage! Want hurt him! Hurt him big for you mum!” Gale said glaring at Zerra trying to break free from the chains.
Zerra chuckled. “Isn't he so filled with rage, just like me, some day he will go all out for revenge even at the risk of others.”
Instantly Gale snapped out of it. “No no no! No want no want!” Gale backed up.
“Oh so sweet to see a conflicted teenager, seeing him break down, it torture isn't it?” Zerra look directly at the screen at Celestia. “A mother can not do anything but watch as I twist the rights and wrongs with her beloved son, sadly it wouldn't work with a daughter almost 800, let's see if she make it to that huh?”
Celestia calmed herself. “You like to play games do you?”
The chilled response got Zerra curious. “Oh? What type of game you got?”
“I like you to play the meet Zecora game.”
Zerra's fun to tease them and to break them came crashing down. “Zecora? As in-”
Zecora step into view and as she spoke, Zerra's rage start to show. “As in the name a zebra of Zebirra.”
“ARG! WHEN I GET OUT I AM GOING TO TURN YOU TO DUST!”
All the captives recoiled from the explosion response to Zecora. “Geez, he really hates his own kind...” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“You can say that again dweeb...” Gilda responded.
Gale mumbled to Nightingale. “That revenge?”
“For him yes...”
“No want...”
“I agree little brother... revenge tend to make those that seek it crazy, rather figure a non-revenge way to defeat him... Rather you not become him.” Gale didn't need to say anything to that, but nod in agreement to Nightingale.
RS nods. “Good to see you two cubs caught on.” She noticed Luna give a quick wink, this caught RS's attention. “Maple, I think you might be expecting a message.” RS whispered to the finch griffon.
Spike press his claw finger on the flat screen phone. “The ultimate wish party is about to begin!! Muhahahahaa!” Pinkie did a fake evil laugh raised on her hind legs.
As Zerra rages at Zecora, Luna lean in next to Celestia whispering to her. “Told you it would work.”
“Yes... But we got Pinkie Pie being over dramatic over it?” Celestia muttered back.
Sunflower smirked. “My idea dude, we needed a bit of flare.”
Celestia gaze fell to the pile of pillows. “Flare yes, not total anarchy...”
“Whatever dude, it worked, Pinkmena having a blast, and we get to watch the fireworks, if Nanner gets the message Spike sent, it game over for Zerra.”
Twilight watching everything that played out. “Revenge, not revenge? Plans I have no idea what they are, what the heck am I missing here!?”
The group watched as the zebra now grabbed the tablet with both front hooves, standing on his hind legs shouting at the screen moving around the statue, curious, ranting and saying how he was going to burn Zecora when he is freed, they were very bewildered by his actions now.
Rainbow Dash rubbed her fluffy feathered head. “I don't get this clown, he had us all by the ropes but soon as Zecora came into the frame-”
“He started to break down and act like a total lame zebra.” Gilda finished watching him still. “This is almost like a cartoon or something we watching right now.”
RS watched this play out. “It is very bizarre...”
Maple look to her flat screen phone. “You were right though.” She show the message. “It seem we do have a way out, it just feels way too easy...”
“As if he wants to fail?” RS adds.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Good for us, let's take it and get the heck out of here! It be way better than him using us to get-”
Zerra came right over to them and turn holding up the tablet with one hoof showing them up close. “Now after all that ranting, we got around fifteen minutes on the clock, little time to think! Thanks for letting me blow off steam and watch me do it!” He span around on one hind hoof, landing on both hind hooves again, standing up with ease.
Celestia just calmly stared at him from their side of Sunflower's tablet. “You are going to put us into a situation were I have a lose lose option correct?”
Zerra pouts. “Ah come on Princess! I did all this for a show and to force you into a impossible situation! You can at least look like someone that already lost!” Zerra poke the screen with the free forehoof a few times. “Now h-”
“Get on with it! This is sooooooooo boring!” Pinkie Pie yelled out sitting back on a deck chair eating popcorn.
Sunflower turn to her left doing a double take. “Wait what!?” She looked at the bag and chair, she was sure there was nothing in this room or in her bag of such a thing.
“Like some? We listening to a boring zebra after all!”
“Erm... sure...” She reach in and pick a few up carefully.
Pinkie stared in awe. “Oh wow, you have big paws and you managed to not only take some! But the bag held! How did you do that!?”
Sunflower smirked. “You have your secrets and I have mine.”
“Ooooo touché!”
Zerra speaks up. “Hey don't ignore me!” They turn to the screen. “Fine right to the damn point! Celestia and Nightingale touch the sphere at the same time, create the door way to let me out and everyone else! I don't care! I'll crush the Zebra and play with them for a few hundred years! So you get to live your stupid lives! That fair isn't it?” Zerra just ran his mouth on letting him out and what he will do.
“You know that wouldn't sell.” Luna said flatly.
Zerra grinned. “Oh it will, you see you all missed a vital little bitty thing!” He turn to Rainbow Dash. “I created a wish time bubble around little ol' rainbow griffon, using Twilight Sparkle to get her to get the feather, it all I needed to peer in, create a wish bubble that froze her in time by 11:59:599 *inhales* 9999... You get the picture, lots of nines!” He chuckled. “So when it hit a minute past midnight I pulled nine of you into the sphere! So I can one use you as lavage annnnnd bring the ultimate game over!”
RS gasped. “No he isn't! You can't!”
“Ooooo she figured it!”
Twilight also caught on appear on the screen's view. “Your crazy! You do that it will cause an netural reaction! Your looking at wiping out two realities!”
“WHAT!?” Everyone else said at once turning to RS and Twilight on their respective sides.
Zerra rings bell. “Bonus points to Shining Armor's sister and the griffon that sings in the river!” He winks to her.
“Sings in the river?” Greystorm raise a eye brow at RS.
RS grumbles. “I like to sing when I wash in a river at times, so what?” She glares at him “How?”
“Me to know, you to find out~” Zerra sang with a chuckle.
Zecora frowns. “That would mean the end of you too.”
“Oh I know, I gladly do it, got no family to lose, so I can do anything I like!” Zerra laughed. “Now as we reach the final second I will put a nice little time wish bubble around the outside sphere, that will create a inverse refraction that will cause both realities to fold inwards and go boom!”
Celestia glance over him for a second as Octicovix whispered to by Maple, than transform into a mouse running up to Gale, climbing up to him and whispers into his ear. “No.” Celestia said flatly.
Zerra rub his hooves together. “Here come h-” He blinked. “What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“But crush and boom! I'll do it!”
Celestia stared right at him. “I am being serious too, the answer is no.”
Zerra clap his hooves for a script to appear, he flip through it rubbing his mane. “I don't get it, you suppose to say 'I got not choice but to do it' not no! So keep to the script lady!” He rolled it up bagging the table with it. “N-”
“No...”
“Gah! Wh-” Her mouth didn't move, it sounded like it came from behind him, it caused his fur to stand on end. “Y-you didn't say it, b-bu-but that means...” He felt and saw as he look down a armoured talon grip around his neck, lifting him up to turn around.
He came muzzle to beak of Princess Griffon Celestia. “I believe you were saying something?”
“H-How?”
“Oh one thing you didn't look into.”
“W-what was that?” He squeaked.
Gale hovered by her waving his talon. “No know birthday! Anyday maybe birthday!” He grinned.
Zerra stared at the teenage griffon. “You got to be kidding me! The cub doesn't know!? How can I know that!?” He throws the papers into the air, they fluting around and tried to pull himself free. “How are you able to hold me!? I should be able to will you out with my wish magic!”
Celestia moved him closer to her. “Wishing wish wishing gone.” Gale said with forelegs spread out. “You no wish harm anyone!”
“Now for our final moments and your plans to go completely off the rails, we are going to celebrate your birthday.” Celestia walk towards the group, they part ways as she walk between them, looking to her left at Greystorm, Octicovix as a griffon again, Maple and Shining Armor. She turn to the right looking at Gilda, Trace, Nightingale, Rainbow Dash and RS.
“No-no-no-no-nooooo! Let me go you stupid griffon! This isn't part of the plan! My revenge!”
Griffon Celestia push up with a flick of her talon causing a spell on the door to open, she turn and did the same upon Gilda and Nightingale, their wrists glow for a moment and found they could move their talons once more. “I fixed what he broke, just keep them in the slings for now and rest them for a few days, I am sure Doctor Trace will agree.”
Trace snaps out of his trace. “Y-yes that correct Princess...”
“Mum...”
“I already said my farewells Nightingale, remember what I said before, now go home and one last thing.” Celestia smiled softly. “I and her, we are one and the same, just lived a whole different life, I got to live it with you, she didn't and at that cost her birthdays ended, Zerra took that away.”
Nightingale swallowed hard. “Mum, why are you throwing him a birthday party? He caused the collapse...”
“Because sometimes to fight fire with fire, you need to be kind and his...” She took his timer. “Seven minutes left, it time for our farewell.”
Zerra still trying to kick himself free speaks up. “I did! I disturbed wish after wish! Causing a whole slur of chaos! I am even better than that Discord! I twisted so many wishes! Watched them never wish again on their birthdays! It was glo-arck!”
Celestia tighten her grip a little. “Oh was that a bit too tight? I am sorry but I believe we late for your birthday, I hear Pinkie Pie lined up the best party this reality has ever seen, it be a shame to be late now wouldn't it?”
“Get your sticking talons off me and let me at Zecora! I still have that ace left!”
Gale shook his head. “No wish time bubble, made it bye bye.”
“Gah! I hate children! They are impossible to twist when it comes to wishes!” Zerra cross his forelegs giving up trying to break out of the iron grip of a armoured talon. “How did you do it?”
RS step to the side and into view of them. “Sweetie that would be spoilers and we don't like those do we?”
Zerra stared into her own eyes, he snorted a laugh. “Oh but I do! And here one for you! The blue you hold, the blue box comes to the island without a present in a verse that is both the past and future! But here is the juicy part! Before that moment comes the day of chaos! Over and over again it goes, when it stops who knows!? But when it comes and goes you will meet your husband you married on the top of the pyramid when time stood still.” He giving pretend kisses towards RS.
“Married on top of a pyramid?” Shining Armor raise a eye brow.
Gilda tried to imagine it. “Dweeb, that just weird...” Gale shrugs.
RS groans seeing the looks they all had. “Okay I did! And time felt to stand still on top! What can I say!? I fell in love!”
Shining raise one hoof. “I think it different, but it cool with me, me and Cadance most likely be getting married in Canterlot.”
“I think it romantic and exotic.” Octicovix giggled.
Rainbow Dash shrugs. “All of it is sappy to me, rather be sleeping or practising to impress the Wonderbolts to get in.”
“Fine fine fine! What I like to know!” RS now growled at Zerra. “How the heck do you know that!?”
“Spoilers and not enough time! Hahahahaah! Tick tock tick tock! Let's waste all our time! Hahahahaha!”
Nightingale take the tablet looking at the time on it. “Sweet Griffax! We almost out of time! It says we got a minute and a half to go!”
Zerra winked. “That is my ace.”
“We need to move now!” Shining Armor ordered. “Princess Nightingale, that tablet is in contact with princess Celestia, you two need to make contact with the sphere now!”
Gale looked confused. “Thought did right and good.”
“You did Gale, now go with them, get out of here and I will take this birthday stallion to his final party, goodbye everyone.” The griffon Celestia turn, she walk away with the door closing as Zerra continue to laugh, the door closed and the laughter ends for them.
Celestia quickly went to the sphere removing her hoof shoe from the right forehoof. “Nightingale, I am ready!”
“Okay, ready on this end mum.” She give the tablet to Greystorm, flapping her wings to hover near the sphere.
They count together. “Three... Two... One...”
With a nod from both of them they touch the sphere on both inner and outer shell, everyone near Nightingale suddenly engulfed in a blinding golden light, one last look back at the closed doors RS had a strange sneaky feeling the zebra DID want to lose, the question that bothered her was...
Massive pulse of magic from Celestia's side of the sphere cause her to slide back, the equipment getting blown over, scrolls knocked around, with papers flying around, Luna, Twilight, Spike, Zecora and Pinkie Pie shielded by the large burst of magic by one of Sunflower's large wings, soon the light dims and they peer around the wing.
Celestia push herself out of a pile of papers and scrolls, they all watch ten golden streams of light come out of the point Celestia had touched, all flowing around the room till slamming into the ground in front of the sphere, each reviling a form of eight griffons, two ponies. “It worked!” Twilight cheered racing over to Shining Armor with Spike, he rushed over to them.
At the same time Pinkie Pie dive bombed Rainbow Dash giving her a massive hug, Sunflower scoping Maple up hugging her with the wing special, Gale flew into Celestia's forehooves, they nuzzling each other happily with sparks coming out of Celestia's shattered horn, Luna smiled warmly seeing them reunited.
RS cautiously turn around looking at the sphere. “Actions a zebra lost his mind, Zerra you are wary of?” Zecora approached RS. “River that sings, it good to see you once again.”
RS glance at her. “We met?”
“In the river of time nothing flows as it should, put a hoof in the way it changes direction, lift the land and it will reverse.” Zecora rhymed with a soft smile. “The first you see of me today, yesterday will be my first, curious how time works is it not?”
RS look around noticing no one really paying attention or hearing what Zecora just said, she leans in. “Spoilers?”
“Spoilers indeed River that Sings, what Zerra has done, will ripple from this day fourth, to what ends it meets? Even I do not know.” Zecora stares up at the sphere. “But this one thing that can be said.” Zecora leans in and whispers in rhyme to RS.
RS move her head back with surprise. “No! Really?” Zecora nods. “Well aren't we all full of surprises?”
“Aren't we all.”
Gilda, Greystorm and Octicovix noticed Nightingale watching her mother with Gale happily brought back together, she felt tensed, out of place and unsure what to make of seeing a injured pony version of her mother. “Dweeb, what the matter?”
“Alot...”
“It what Zerra did isn't it?” Greystorm said.
Nightingale look to her talon held up in the sling. “Never I had a broken bone, been ill or had anything go so horribly wrong... Zerra not only had snap my wrist, but I found out that I was taken away from my real home, the home I had all created by my privative side of my mind when I was less than a day old cub...”
Octicovix tilt her head. “Privative side of the mind?”
“All life when born, specially griffons and ponies, it take about a month give it take for the rest of the mind to fire up, we act on nothing but pure privative instincts.” Nightingale explain to Octicovix. “Basically putting it, Zerra made the wish for me, using me as a vessel, I was used to not only give me a fantasy I lived 799 years of my damn life, but my mum, the real one that I now discovered shuffled by his madness.”
The reunions from the others stopped all now paying attention to what she was saying.
“He was a complete word salad there, he was so off his rocker that nothing about what he was doing didn't make sense, it as if he loved the thrill of causing dream wishes to come crashing down all around us, he took the life I had and now thrown me into this world, the world that my mum had to watch me vanish... So even he was defeated he still won in a way...”
Celestia finally spoke. “It crushed me and Grover, we stayed married but we never truly recovered...” Celestia got up, Gale hover near her giving his mum space, she didn't dare to move though. “My heart is racing, I feel conflicted looking at you Nightingale, afraid to hug you before midnight, I don't want to see you vanish again, I can not see that, I don't want that, I feel selfish, ashamed, happy, confused, anger, sick...” Her horn sparking with golden magic explosive pulses with electrical discharges.
Trace try to calm her. “Princess, y-”
“Doctor, not now.”
“B-”
“NOT NOW!” Celestia snapped with a blast of golden lightning bursting upwards against the ceiling causing scorching against the surface, Trace quickly step back recoiling from the burst of magic from Celestia.
Gale squawk in surprise, he quickly flew backwards, flying to Gilda and keeping close to her.
Luna raise a hoof and try to say something, but Sunflower's large paw finger press against it, pushing the hoof down, she look up at her to get a shake of the head from the large finch griffon.
Celestia breathing in and out from the outburst, the mixture of feelings racing through her mind as she stared at Nightingale.
Nightingale turn to Maple. “How long?”
“Twenty Seconds to midnight.” Maple answered.
“Then we wait, we wait and see what happens beyond that point.” Nightingale stood staring right at Celestia, Twilight embraced by Shining Armor, Spike holding his tail nervously watching Nightingale.
Gale pull out from the bag the wish reality plush holding it tight to himself, he saw all eyes was upon Nightingale as the seconds slowly tick by, the tense feeling getting worse by the seconds get closer to the new day, Pinkie's teeth chattering against the tips of her hooves, Rainbow Dash muttering to her. “Come on, don't disappear, come on please don't do this to us...”
Midnight passes, Rainbow Dash glows and a burst of light she was back to a pony. “Whoa that was weird...”
Gale's plush and bag vanish into dust, he look around in confusion. “My plush gone!”
“It not the only thing look!” Gilda point to the sphere, they all look up as it glows brightly till it dims and was simply gone, the statue no longer held it up.
Nightingale still standing very tense, her own heart racing as each second now past beyond midnight, that become a minute and than two minutes. “N-Nightingale?” She saw Celestia start to cry with tears rolling down her face, Celestia stumbling towards her, hoof steps becoming very wobbly till her eyes turn up, the shattered horn letting out bursts of magic as it fizzles out.
“MUM!” Nightingale in a burst of speed race over to Celestia, flying past everyone as they all see the sun princess collapse, the sling flying off and with both talons out to catch Celestia, she eased her down with Celestia's head resting against her lap, a few more tears fall from Celestia. “Mum... No please...”
Trace quickly teleported to her side, he using a magic scan over Celestia. “Princess Celestia is seriously drained of magic, we need something to steam the leak from her shattered horn!”
Gale quickly pull off his bandanna putting it around her horn tying it up. “This help?”
“Yes it did.” Trace sighed slightly. “But we need to get her to Canterlot General ASAP!”
Nightingale saw a dark shadow loom over them, she look up at Sunflower, taking notice of the griffon that was bigger than the Wish Reality Celestia. “Oh sweet Griffax... Your huge...”
Sunflower pay no attention. “I'll take her.” She picked up Celestia placing her on Sunflower's back. “Doc, you, Gale and Nightingale come with me.”
Luna step up. “What of me!? I am her sister!”
“Teleport everyone out of here, this place hidden for a reason, you seen what that sphere was, what else could be here? We don't want more to know of it exact location, also don't forget we got a bunch of golems outside this room too, who knows what they will do with this lot. Soon as you are done come to the hospital.” Sunflower ordered.
“How dare y-”
“It it wasn't for finch griffon tech and me finding Nanner was here, none of this would be happening right now! So stop with the chit-chat and get moving!” Sunflower growled. “I might be way younger, but I got a better clear head then you have at this moment!” She poke Luna.
Luna stomp her hoof down. “Fine! You better hurry and if anything happen to my sister cause of your actions, I will come for you personally! Not only here but in your dreams!”
Sunflower smirked. “Wouldn't expect anything else from the dream princess, I will get her there without fuss.” She turn to Maple. “Nanner, I'll get in and out without being seen, meet you back here in the vault.”
Maple shrugged. “With all the crazy in the last twenty four hours, I say you handle it as you see fit, our laws never counted for something like this ever happening, it a major loophole we got.” Maple point to the door. “Now get going!”
Gale, Nightingale help Trace onto Sunflower's back, they held Celestia in place. “Alright, get ready for the smoothest ride you ever had!”
All of them watch her just leave in a blur with no wind, no sense of feeling of her even leaving. “That was seriously awesome...” Rainbow Dash stared at the empty spot. “How the heck did something that huge move like that!?”
“My granddaughter is full of surprises.”
“You look really young to be a grandmother.” Twilight said with surprise. “I would ask questions, but I really need to get to the hospital!” Twilight refocused on Princess Celestia. “Princess, I don't want to waste any more time.”
Luna nods. “All gather and Twilight will you help please?”
“I can Princess!”
Maple look around. “I am staying here, most likely Sunflower be back here shortly, all our tech need to be removed.”
Twilight looked around. “Why?” Distraction sets in and the focus on teleporting out put to the side.
“It the Finch Griffon Council policy not to share our technology, violating that is a very big no no and one I strongly agree on, specially what happened with Guto the Betrayer, I would love to come, but I rather not be around to be seen by others, I take it you all will keep the Finch Griffons on the low?” Maple replied and asked.
Twilight look to where Sunflower took Celestia with the others. “Are the rules that important not to stick around?”
“Sadly yes, you and many of you have no idea what this stuff does, if it got in the wrong claws, paws or hooves, who knows what nightmares could be created, it could end up with it worse then this, a possible chance I won't take.” Maple sighed a little. “You have your rules, we have ours, fairs fair Twilight.” She walk up to one of the dishes pushing it back up right. “All the equipment and us most likely be gone by sunrise.”
“Maple, going so suddenly after all this, seem a bit cold?” Greystorm curiously asked.
Maple rubbed the side of her face with a forepaw. “Greystorm, I am not being cold, the danger past, Princess Celestia being taken the hospital right this second, I can't do much to help due to our own laws, I made some of them and sticking to them, removing this tech and taking it home is best to avoid any more dangers that may come if I don't.”
Greystorm gave in. “Fine... I still think it a bit cold, but as mayor I can see where your coming from, this technology is way ahead of anything in Equestria, it could bring more harm than good, if used wrongly and wouldn't want to see the citizens of Trottingham put in harms way because of it.”
“Thank you for understanding my point of view.” She pat him on the side of the face, Maple goes back to picking up some of the smashed equipment.
Octicovix fluffed her griffon disguise wings. “We saw some of the more crazy stuff that have, it is beyond our own understanding in the simplest of devices.”
“Let me guess, you have to be a egghead to understand this junk?” Rainbow look around.
“Pretty much filly.” Maple answered bluntly, Rainbow got a little irritated by being called filly.
Luna decide to step in before they clash. “How will we keep in contact?” Luna requested.
Maple turn to Pinkie Pie. “I gather your Sunflower's pen pal, Pinkmena?”
Pinkie giggled. “That's me!”
“You have permission to give the station postal address to Princess Luna.”
Pinkie salutes. “I'll gladly pass on the contact details to Princess Luna! And any letters from Twilight I'll send for her through me!”
“Thank you, I would like to know if Princess Celestia will be fine, I would offer some of our medical medication, but outside the territory of the Finch Griffon lands in Equestria, it is forbidden to be shared only used within our lands, telling you this alone would be against the law, but a loop hole in it allow me to, because of what happened to me and how my granddaughter got involved, got to love the loopholes.” Maple chuckled.
Spike wondered and spoke his thoughts. “How old are you exactly?”
Maple shrugged. “Around the 220s mark, not that old.” Spike's and Twilight's jaw dropped, Maple turn to Pinkie. “Make sure not to give our address to anyone else.” She look around the room. “Well part from the cub Gale, I do have a promise to keep and also maybe, just maybe I'll let some of you visit my home, under our terms.”
“Really?” Pinkie gasped. “Including Twilight, Spike, Rainbow Dash and my other friends?”
“Maybe, depends if they can be trusted to keep their muzzles shut, those three can for a few weeks then I think on it, best I got.” Maple said looking over at Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Spike.
“Good enough.” Pinkie shrugged.
Maple give a wave of the forepaw in a shooing motion. “Now get going, by the time we done with this chit-chat, Princess Celestia should be at the hospital by now.”
Twilight gasped. “Oh the Princess!” Spike slap his forehead, followed by shaking it.
Luna turn to Twilight. “Ready?”
“Yes Princess Luna!”
Luna nods. “Connect your teleporting spell through my magic, linked we will be able to teleport this large group in one go.” Twilight nods and their horns glow.
Pinkie gasped. “Oh one more thing! Tell Sunflower, I'll see her by the forest outskirts on Sunday, so I can take her to the Cutie Mark Crusaders Club House to meet the crusaders!” And in a blinding flash all of them vanished from the Celestia and Grover vault.
Maple blinked a few times. “Did Pinkmena just say what I think she just said?”
Moment before Wish Reality collapse sitting on a wall of Canterlot with the sun setting, Zerra watching the last rays of the reality fading, he picked up a sphere with both forehoves, it having an elongated eye on it. “Boss, everything gone as planned, word salad and all, even ditched the griffon Celestia through the massive crowd of creatures at my birthday party!”
“For over 1000 years you have served me with loyalty and without failure.”
Zerra chuckled. “What can I say Boss, I am good at what I do, just hit a minor hitch with the griffon cub, he managed to remove the wish magic powers I had from me, other than that they are none the wiser, part from the River that Sings griffon, she look very suspicious about it all.” Zerra reported in the two important details.
“That is interesting, I knew he became a griffon and failed in my final attempt to forge a new artefact, after which was mine were taken.”
Zerra with a giddy look, trying to hold back his laughter. “Is it wrong for me to have a blast toying with their lives? Crushing dreaming wishes from long term to short?”
“Not at all, you bring those creatures into the Wish Reality to rushing through it all, followed by your on purpose lose is all part of the plan, none be the wiser and confused.”
Zerra dance the glass orb between one hoof to the other. “It just all part of the act, part of the enjoyment of working for you boss!”
“Indeed, in all that served me, you have been the most loyal.”
“What the next step Boss?”
“With all the disruptions you caused, all the unbalance without any of those creatures even realising it, the next step is to enter the pocket universe at the moment of Past and Future collides, smash the orb and a portal will open for you, I'll be waiting for you at the Isles of Flaputa. Don't be late!”
Zerra toss the sphere into the air and does a round house hind kick, it sent flying right into a wall smashing to pieces, the pieces reform into a large orange black portal. “Oh the fun that is to come! I can not wait to meet them again!” He galloped right into the portal laughing.
Griffon Celestia saw everything. “If I didn't see and hear it, I wouldn't believe it was him... But it was, he survived...” She flew near the portal. “There no time to get back to the vault...” She turn to see the party going on. “No time to gather any allies either!” She saw the last strands of light of the sun, the reality starting to break apart around her.
“I have no choice but to go after him and just pray I don't fade like the rest of reality, just enough to warn them at least...” She swallowed hard. “When in Griffina!” She flew into the portal as it closes up only a moment before the Wish Reality became no more.
Click and thud with hoof steps echo the hallways of an hospital corridor at the dead of night, RS nervously looking left and right, on edge soon as she was inside the hospital, looking for anything to come out to attack her from the way she was acting, a blue hoof touch her side causing the messy feathered head griffon to squawk in fright clapping her beak shut with a talon.
Doctor Trace clearly could see her distress. “You are very jumpy, you've been like this since entering the hospital.”
RS took a few deep breaths. “No offence sweetie, but hospitals I really hate and bring back a lot of bad memories.”
“That why you haven't visited Princess Celestia in the last two days?” She nods. “Why now?” Trace asked.
RS glance at him. “I have my personal reasons.”
Trace curiously listened to RS's lack of reason, it felt that was more to the matter to the unicorn, but he was a doctor and those that wish not to share their personal reasons are free not to. “You do know Princess Celestia haven't woken in the last two days.”
“Yes I do...” RS replied.
They stop at a open door, looking inside the room were a three griffons, a pony and dragon sleeping, Gale holding his plush close lying on his side, the head resting against Nightingale's side, her wing drape over him as she slept with a blanket over her, sitting on chair Gilda slept with a book open on her lap snoring slightly with a whistle, Twilight sleeping on a bed with Spike next to her.
Trace using his magic close the door a little, not completely but enough to give them some privacy. “They refused to leave the hospital, Gale continued his studies here cancelled his one on one flight training with Spitfire yesterday, Gilda decided to keep close even she won't admit worrying about the cub.”
Gale eyes rapidly shifting behind the closed eye lids till he woke up, quickly sitting up looking around to just see the magical glow of the door, he pulled himself free from the blankets holding his plush walking up to the door, Nightingale yawned feeling his movement and saw the teenage griffon open the door peering out of it.
Gale watched RS and Trace standing at Celestia's door talking to each other, the guards listening but not paying much attention to them, Nightingale walk up to Gale and peer over him to look down too. “RS? What is she doing here at this time of the hour?”
Gale shrugged. “No idea, woke with weird feeling, was having nice dream for change.” Gale muttered in annoyance.
The watched RS walk inside, Trace turn heading back their way, they quickly hid behind the door hearing the hoof steps go by till they fade away, Nightingale rubbed her wrist with the other talon. “I believe we should see what RS is up to.” Gale nods. “Now how do we get in...” She looking around to see the airvent above them. “Oh I know how.”
Gale saw what she was looking at. “Ooo like mission impossible?”
“Sure let's dub it Mission Impossible little brother.” Nightingale giggled, she flew up to it push it up and across, grabbing the sides she pulled herself in, Gale followed her inside, holding his plush close to him.
Gilda open her eyes to the sound of metal creaking, she looked up to see the two griffon siblings put the vent cover back in place. “What are those two are up?” Gilda whispered getting up from her chair.
They crawled a short distance through the vent to come over the cover directly over Celestia's room, Nightingale remove the cover silently, placing it to the side, she and Gale peer over it looking down as RS step up to the end of Celestia's bed, the princess sleeping with the sound of the machines beeping to her heart.
RS stood looking directly at the resting princess of the sun. “I never asked for this you know?” She start to paste to the left and turn around to go the other way. “I had a life, an wonderful crazy, dangerous wild life, than soon as I said my final goodbyes I find out that I am born into a whole new life.”
Gale and Nightingale glance at each other with utter confusion before they continue to watch and listen, RS sees them in the corner of her eye. “Not too subtle, I heard you two with talon to metal contact, I'll give you two quite the show.” She thought with a slight smirk from the corner of her beak.
“Yet I grew up with a loving family of wonderful griffons that are getting on in age, but still very wonderful parents I love with all my heart, I couldn't help but get back into some of my previous life roots, yet out of all of it I lived in the moment, even when I married that crazy amazing griffon, no traversing time and space, no idiotic world ending event to get mixed up in till now, not only that I find out there events that happened yet to be on top of everything.”
They listen to her ramble on in front of Celestia's sleeping form.
RS pull out of bag a white letter waving it left and right. “But no! I have to be put into the spot light once again! Is it too much to ask for a normal life?” She sighs. “Yet I got lucky when I was little, a accident that should of left me for dead discovered that I had that ability again with twist, I kept my appearance, that is a blessing and rather not risk it again, this time around came close to it with that crazy zebra.”
Nightingale frowns slightly whispering to Gale. “What is she talking about?”
“Regeneration.” Gale whispered back. “She hurt so badly that she go bye bye, she regenerate to be no hurt and no bye bye.”
Nightingale blinked a few times. “Your seriously saying she can cheat death?” Gale nods and turn back to looking down at RS. “With the way my life been turned into a total mess because of Zerra, I can believe it.” Nightingale shrugged and went back to watching.
“You seem so calm, so relaxed even after losing your horn, as if you knew it was coming and yet...” RS jump up on her hind legs placing the talons on the railing staring right at Celestia. “You never expected to see Nightingale again, the surprise, the rage, the fury and the fear all tipped you over the edge.”
RS toss the letter on top of Celestia's chest. “Now look at you, the once proud princess that rose the sun, the friend that came to me with a job of the life time, yet you knew something about me more than I knew myself, I enjoy not being spoiled sweetie, but you are just as bad as him, his number one rule-”
Gale whispers the exact word. “Doctor lies...” RS says it too a second afterwards.
“How did you know that?” Nightingale quietly asked.
“Flat box moving pictures, wife of the Doctor say it number one rule, he has to lie, almost always, suddenly remembering more.” Gale answered.
“That the fictional stuff right? Like Blue that jackal diamond dog, you remembered him from that box too.” Gale nodded in response. “So... What if she the wife of this Doctor she speak of?”
Gale shrugs. “Maybe?”
“The penny in the air Celestia...” RS pull out a bottle from her bag, walking on her hind legs without opening her wings very naturally. “And the penny drops.” She pull the cork off. “It time for you to tell me some spoilers.” She wave the bottle in front of the muzzle.
Celestia's eyes snap open, she instantly sit up gasping from the sudden rush of a wake up call. “Ni-” She look around till her eyes fell upon RS. “RS?”
“Hello sweetie, had a nice two day nap?” She put the cork back on, put the bottle away and drop back down on her talons, standing on all fours.
Celestia breathing rapid at first, it slows till she felt a few sparks from her shattered horn. “Two days nap?” She noticed the beeping from her left, turning to see the heart monitor. “I'm in a hospital.” Celestia turn to RS. “I thought you would never step in one, no matter what.”
RS walk back to the front of the bed, she turn around to Celestia. “Well, there a first time for something right? Or should I for me at least.”
Celestia look to the white envelope resting on her chest. “Two days upon the sun shattering, the river and the sun will meet upon the cracks of time.”
“So you knew this day was coming.” RS looked at her angrily.
Celestia nod as she open up the envelope with the other hoof, using her hoof telekinetic magic through them. “It been a while since I had to use hoof magic to pick something up.” She pull the letter out. “I did know this day was coming, but didn't know which day it be though, and you know why?”
“Go ahead tell me.” The rather pissed off griffon wanted to know.
“You told me a few days before your wedding, I asked you and your husband to be, you two didn't even have a clue.”
RS recalled it. “Yeah that was correct, I did say I don't recall meeting you a few days before the wedding and just thought I forgot all about it.”
“What happened to Doctor Necktie? I hardly seen that chatty griffon around, saw him once last year.” Celestia said to RS.
RS snorts slightly. “His around, get to the point already.”
“My point is... You told me to have it posted to you in the event of the sun shattering, Shining Armor knew about the letter and must of posted it to you, and also told me to read this.”
RS anger drained slightly, she was played by herself. “It had to be me of all to play me into this, I should of knew of all to anger me, it had to be a future version of me, I really hate myself.”
Celestia shook her head with a soft smile. “No you don't, now shall I?”
“Sure, knock yourself out.” RS sat on her rump. “Not like I have a choice in the matter, is it?”
“We all do my dear friend, we all do, also I have long lived pains of my own, do I not?”
RS snort a laugh. “Okay you got me there, you have much cobwebs as I do.” RS took a glance up to see nothing special, the vent closed, but in the corner of her eye she knew it wasn't closed a moment ago. “Like Nightingale?”
Celestia lower her head. “Yes... Out of everything that happened, I never expected to see my daughter and know she was taken from me by Zerra, now two days later, I am woken up and I still have no idea what to do, what to say, what I can do for her... I am out of my depth on this one.”
“Aren't we all.”
Nightingale pull the lid back to watch again. “I feel the same way mum...” She whispered with tears forming.
Gale put his wing over her nuzzling her side of the face with his. “I help, we help, malfunctioning family.”
“Yeah that we are.” She nuzzled back. “Even we just became brother and sister only days ago for you, Gale you sure know how to be that amazing little brother.”
Gale grinned. “Good heart, happy family, we help together, we move on together, weird having sister that call mum mum too, but happy Nightingale, learn about you, you learn about me.”
“That we do and we will.”
Celestia raise the letter up with her hooves to read it out loud.
“At the dead of night Hour at one The Griffon and Pony meet Upon the path time
All shall come to light Light shall come to dark Past and future shall be told Spoilers are free to go off the rails
Glacier Melodyclaw Celestia Solarclaw The Gales of Solarclaw Time has come.
Ding, ding... ding?”
Soon as Celestia finish saying the last word, the sound of the grandfather clock against the wall to their right goes off with a pony and three griffon figures ringing a bell each before retreating back into the grandfather clock little doors under the clock face.
RS point a claw at it. “Now that just showing off.”
Celestia turn to RS. “I don't recall hospitals having grandfather clocks in the rooms.”
“It most likely was placed here for this exact purpose.” RS said walking up to it, she open it casing to see only the cogs and wheels turning with the weight swinging back and forwards. “Yep just a big show off.” RS close it up and return to stand before Celestia once more. “Go on and ask.”
Celestia does. “Your given name is Glacier Melodyclaw?”
RS chuckled. “The irony to be named after a river of slow moving ice by your parents, as for the Melodyclaw, it the griffon family name, like Solarclaw.” RS speaks up directly at the vent. “Isn't that right Gale and Nightingale?”
They were surprised and climb out of the vent since they were discovered. “How did you know?” Nightingale asked as she grab the sides and rolled herself out to land on her hindpaws.
Gale does the same. “Sound of claws and metal, good griffish hearing and eye sight, it all comes with the package sweetie.” RS said with a wink. “Also I knew you two were there all this time, even before your mum got her smelling salts wake up call.”
Celestia and Nightingale now locked eyes on each other, tense and silent.
Gale on the other claw drop down on all fours walking up to RS, he stood looking up at her slightly, she look back down at him as the smile from the teen grew. “You last life name River Song, given name Melody Pond!”
RS stared at him with completely surprise. “Yes... How the blazes did you know that? Did my husband tell you?”
“No never see him, know you fiction, know you flat box with moving pictures, show!” Gale answered.
RS took in what he said and caught on. “Oooooh I see, well isn't that something, I thought that I wouldn't be that surprised, but here I am surprised!” She smiled back at him. “You watched me as a TV show didn't you?”
Gale thought about the word she said. “Maybe? Moving pictures with sound, called that?”
“Yes.” She answered.
“Cool! When you say stuff, suddenly I remember! Still not remember much, only pieces still.” Gale said. “Like name Glacier! It pretty name! Can call you it?”
RS put her talon on his side. “Sure thing sweetie.”
“Cool! Erm... Ask something okay?”
“Sure go ahead, what can I for the prince that saved our rumps from Zerra?” She lean down to him.
Gale turn to Celestia as the tense stare off between her and Nightingale continued. “Can you use regenerative stuff to make mum horn better?”
The moment the question was asked, the tense situation had both daughter and mother turn to them with surprise.
RS now accepting to be called Glacier by Gale rubbed the underside of her beak. “Hmm... Now that a good question to ask Prince Gale, one that I can't take lightly.”
“You can do that?” Nightingale was surprised.
“R-”
Gale cuts in on Celestia. “Glacier now!”
Celestia couldn't help but smile at Gale. “Very well Gale.” She turn to Glacier. “Glacier can you really do that?” Glacier nod. “How is that even possible?”
Glacier slyly smirked. “Sweetie, doing the impossible is something I am good at doing.” She turn to Gale. “I gather you got a second chance at life too?”
“Yes! But crazy happened, mum better at explaining.”
“Sure thing sweetie and since we both had another chance at life from the look of things, I am going to be fair and honest with my answer, no lies, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point.”
Gale nods. “Ready for answer!”
“Good to hear youngster.” She turn to face Celestia. “My friend, the answer I give can go either way.”
Celestia smiled. “I know, it won't effect our friendship, it is up to you how to use the gift you have, I won't have a grudge if you refuse to restore my horn, even though I find it mostly unlikely and impossible.”
“That is good to hear my friend, it good to know whatever I choose we still be friends and still have a working relationship.”
“That we will Glacier.”
Glacier chuckled lightly. “That is going to get some getting use to, from not being called RS any more, bur we all move on don't we?”
Celestia glance to Nightingale. “You are correct, we do have to move on and forwards, I am willing to try if you are, Nightingale.”
“Alright... I'll give it a try.”
“That all I ask for, nothing happens over night...”
“Nope it doesn't.” Nightingale relaxed a little, both smiling a little, Gale clapping his talons together happily, seeing their first true interaction a bit bumpy at first, but was going somewhere at least.
Glacier now turned the smile to a serious look.
“I have my answer Celestia, the answer to help restore your horn or not, and my answer will be-”
Time to vote and it a big one specially what may happen next, this could change the direction of the story by a huge margin, the vote is a simple yes or no to the question to be asked, you will have till Wednesday 9am GMT to make your vote and also comment your personal view on this very critical point of the story.
I could of just go with what I wanted but with it being a new year and allow the stories path to go where the vote has taken it at times, this which lead it to this very moment.
The question is: Should Celestia's horn be restored?
Yes
No
Celestia regenerates into a griffon
Edit: voting is closed
Remember this vote will have major effect on Chapter 69.
“I have my answer Celestia, the answer to help restore your horn or not, and my answer will be...” Glacier showed a smile. “Yes, I'll regenerate your horn, just a word of advise when I do this.” Her talon start to glow with golden light with clouds of energy flowing around it. “You might feel immense about of pain, you may unleash a surge of magic, it all guess work when it comes to an Alicorn with magic in the mix.” Glacier advised Celestia when to might expect.
Nightingale look around the room. “You know that second maybe, we should be in a more open area to do something like that, shouldn't we?”
Glacier smirked. “What the fun in that sweetie? Shall we see what happen?” She put her talon over the top of Celestia's horn, the regenerative energy passed on into the horn, Glacier quickly step back. “Show time.”
“Are you crazy!? Didn't I ju-” Celestia closed her eyes and Nightingale watched the outline of the horn appear as the golden energy spin around tightening on the form of the horn.
Celestia's eyes open with them being solid white and glowing with a burst of magic shooting up against the ceiling, it spreading outwards across it, with golden particles raining down around them. “Ooooo pretty!” Gale look up lifting a talon up to the particles, they disappearing on touch as Celestia's horn continue to be restored.
“Well isn't that something? The excess regeneration energy being expelled from the body as a horn of magical harmless discharge, now you don't see that everyday.” Glacier looking around.
Nightingale put a talon up letting some land on it before fading. “Soooo... It harmless?”
Glacier continue to watch the horn almost fully formed. “Completely, unless you are someone with something damaged, like bones, damaged organs-”
Nightingale instantly interrupt Glacier. “Does that count for the brain?”
“Of course, why?”
Nightingale turn to Gale as Celestia's horn is fully restored and the burst of magic mixed with regenerative energy ends, she blink a few times shaking her head. “I can feel my magic through my horn, it worked!” Celestia focus her magic through it, she felt it was a bit tender but the golden yellow glow appeared around it.
“I say that went swimmingly, don't you think so Princess?”
Celestia smiled. “I believe it did, my horn been restored and it as if I never lost it, that regeneration energy is quite something.” Celestia reach up her hoof to the horn, tapping it slightly. “Glacier your gift is a amazing one, one I am sure we all will keep quiet on.”
Glacier bow her head slightly. “Thank you Princess.”
“Gale?” Nightingale saw he was staring into space, his pupils contracted. “RS... I think we got a problem.”
Celestia saw the blank look Gale had. “Gale?” No response, “son?” He turn around holding the plush under his wing walking to the door.
Glacier quickly got in his way putting a talon against his chest. “Hey prince Gale y-” He grabbed her foreleg with his talon. “Cub?”
Gale stood up on his hind legs, he pulled her closer to him, placing his talon on her chest, it glowing. “Leela calling me, must go to Leela, do not block, will attack, Leela calling me, must go to Leela.”
Glacier knew what would happen if she kept her talon on his foreleg, letting go with the free talon raised, the glow from the talon fades and Gale also let's go of her foreleg. “Leela?” They all turn to the vent, Gilda flip out of it landing on her paws, with a talon in front. “That the name of his pet dog.”
“His dog calling him?” Glacier step to the side, Gale walk up to the closed double doors placing a talon on it.
Celestia recalled what Gilda told her. “That isn't possible.” She got out of bed, almost falling with help from Nightingale to stop her from collapsing. “The dog past away over 4000 years ago.”
Gilda turn to Celestia staring at her horn. “Yeah... That right...” She frowned pointing a claw at the horn, as this happen Gale's talon glows against the door. “Your horn, it restored... Dweeb how the heck is that possible?”
“I believe we should focus on Gale, why he has a dog that passed 4000 years ago calling him.” Celestia said flatly.
Gilda give a humpth. “Fine, tell me what up with the cub acting like something processed.”
Glacier turn to Celestia. “Are you telling me that-” Gale open the doors to have them staring at the Canterlot Gardens. “Okay now that is some magic trick.”
Gale walked through the portal entering the gardens, he turn with a blank stare at them. “Leela calling me, must go to Leela, do... go... do... go...” He turn and continue to walk, the plush held firm inside his wing against his side.
Glacier walk through the door turning around to them. “He want us to follow.”
“How the heck you know that dweeb?” Gilda walk through seeing the night lit gardens around her.
“Sweetie, I been around the block a lot, when I say a lot, I mean it in a very literal way.”
Nightingale help Celestia through the door portal. “I remember that spell, it create a portal link between two doors, make it like a teleport spell but through doors instead, if I remember right Starswirl created it.”
“Indeed he did, guess the other me taught you about him?”
“Yeah she did, and you would of too.” Nightingale said as they followed the teenage griffon. “Still I wonder how he knew to do it.” She look back to see the double doors were closed.
Glacier recalling the blank look, the no emotions to advance magical spells. “It was part of a pre-programmed set of instructions from this Leela, in his mind there must have been a sleeper trigger within, this is what we seeing, it a triggered response from a section of restored memories.” Glacier said.
Gilda frowned as they past the statues towards the hedge maze. “Are you saying that some dweeb put stuff in his head, and now that stuff is active?”
“Most likely before the transfiguration overload spell 4000 years ago, which caused Gale to not only become who he is now, but to bring him forwards through time itself.” Celestia concluded from what she understood from Glacier. “Am I correct River?”
Glacier glance over the weak princess being supported by Nightingale as they followed Gale to just to the left of the hedge maze entrance. “Yes you are Princess Celestia, and have to say that I never would of even guessed he from that far in the past.”
Gale grabbed a stick, he started to pull it across the soft soil, creating symbols with it in a rather large circle he drew first. “That a rune glyph he creating, if I am not mistaken it a teleportation one.” Nightingale stated. “Those things are rougher than a teleport spell...”
“To Leela I must go...” He looked over at them, the small pupils looking at each of them. “To Leela this circle leads, she awaits...” Gale continue to draw the markings.
Celestia look at them. “Get between the lines and stay still, we going with him.”
Gilda look at it and her. “Are you crazy!? Can't we just knock him out?”
“Go and try, cause he almost blasted me in the hospital cause I tried to stop him.” Glacier step into the circle between the lines. “Whatever got him at the moment, put a lot of counter-measures in to stop anyone from trying.”
Celestia watched Gale continue. “I agree, with the state of his mind, anything to break this could break his mind...”
Gilda growled. “Fine! I been dragged through all types of crazy already, what one more?” She step into one of the gaps.
“Thank you Gilda.” The griffon snorts with a flick of the tail as Celestia and Nightingale enter the circle too. “I believe he is in there.”
“Way he been wanting us to follow and step inside? Sure I can believe that Celestia, the cub is definitely in there.”
Gale complete the rune glyphs, it glows with it lifting off the ground around them, it start to spin around with the inner part going the opposite way, it spins faster by the second. “Get ready everyone! This is gonna be rough!” Nightingale warns them, it folds in on itself with everyone in it, the glow, the humming and the folding in left no trances of it ever being there as guards arrived to see nothing.
A small clearing in the middle of a forest with light shinning from high above, a glyph explodes outwards with Celestia, Nightingale, Glacier and Gilda sent flying outwards from it, Celestia spinning out of control to land on a massive pile of pillows, she sat up instantly looking around in surprise where she landed.
Celestia saw Gilda in a large safety net fighting to get herself free from it, Nightingale was bouncing up and down on a large open bouncy castle, she stared with confusion on how they ended up landing on something safe with minimizing injuries, than came a big splash to her right, turning to see Gale surface.
He gasping and splashing about, he swam in a messy kicking of all four legs till he got out of the water shivering from the freezing cold plunge he just got. Wiping the water from the dripping feathers Gale saw his plushy had landed on a single cushion on a pedestal. “Why in freezing water!? Where am I? Why not in hospital!?” Gale looked around utterly confused, no idea how he ended up in a freezing cold pond of water in the middle of a forest, he shook himself to free much the water off his body quickly. “Cold very cold!” He shivered as he rubbed the forelegs with his talons.
Gale sneezed a second later, sniffing a bit. “Gale?” He look over to Celestia walking up to him. “Are you okay sun?”
Gale noticed her horn. “Mum horn back!”
Celestia sat down next to him using her wing to warm him up, using the other to pick up the plush to give it to him. “Yes it is, do you recall what you did just moments ago?”
Gale tilt his head as he held the plush close and kept very close to Celestia's body and wing, trying to warm up. “N-no, remember touching golden sparkles and than freezing cold.”
Glacier sitting on a mattress held in the air held by sheets tied to many trees around it, she crawled over to the edge looking down directly at Gale and Celestia. “The control over him ended Celestia, he most likely won't remember casting those spells or how he got here.” She jump off with a few short flaps to land on all fours in front of them. “Who ever this Leela is, went to a lot of trouble calling him here.”
Gale blinked a few times with surprise. “Remember! I remember her!”
“The dog?”
“No dog, bird, bird with magic book!” Gale answered.
Gilda and Nightingale joined them. “Did he just say bird with a magic book?” Gilda asked.
Celestia about to say something when they heard a twig snap, all of them turn to the direction of it, standing the shade of the trees they could make out a creature about Spike's size, it was holding a book under it arm. “Are you Leela? Did you force my son here?”
The creature step into the light, a bird wearing clothing without wings but arms, big expressive eyes with small glasses on smiling at them. “Yes I am Leela, annnnd I did create the recall spell that was put in my masters head, I had to under the order of Grogar little over 4000 years ago, buuuut...” She raise a talon claw finger up quickly halting them from doing something hasty on the her. “I altered it for Master Wayne to come here to my home and prison, not to that power mad goat.”
Came a mix of words from the four griffons and one alicorn.
The moments seem to tick by without a word said, since after what the small anthropomorphic bird Leela had said to them, She tap the talon hand claw tips against the book binding, the light high above bright and warm, wind blowing through the trees, leaves rustling with the sound of small birds chirping in the distance.
Gale walked up to Leela, putting the plush down on the ground, he put a foreleg around her, giving Leela a gentle hug. “Happy Leela, happy remember you.”
“I am happy too.” She smiled giving him a hug back.
Gale let go stepping back, picking up the plush. “Leela, nice bird.”
“That I am.” She giggled, now turning her attention to Glacier and the others. “Right... To answer your one word questions, three of them in fact.” She adjusted her glasses slightly. “Let's start with River Song's question or her new given name Glacier Melodyclaw.”
Glacier raise a curious expressive look upon hearing that. “How the blazes you know who I am?”
“Two now.” She open the book and with the free talon hand flick it over the book, pulling out a glyph from the pages, Leela display before them in the air, the picture of a new born cub.
Gale pointed at it. “Ooo you cute Glacier!”
Gilda chuckled. “She sure is.”
“At least she doesn't have a baby self in gold.” Nightingale muttered under her breath.
Glacier stared. “Yes cute...” Her right eye twitched looking at the picture.
Leela continued to speak. “You were born at 947CE on October 11th, and how I got hold of this information is rather simple, my book magical stores everything written, printed and carved, including photos, paintings and other unique methods of art, expect digital.”
Glacier put her talon on the bag against her side. “Even-”
“Even that blue book you hold, do not worry, I do not disclose very personal entries, even I have read them.” Glacier was half fine by the answer, but rather irritated that everything written in the book was known by this small bird. “That is how I know about your previous exciting life.” She dispel the image, to bring up a new one of a cube. “As for the single word question on prison.”
Glacier walk around the new three dimensional image. “We inside a cubic prison?”
Leela nodded. “Correct, this is a ten miles by ten, if you look to the sky just to my left, you can make out in the distance the ceiling joint point of one side to the cube.”
They all did and as she said it was there, three lines meeting at one point, the blue sky and clouds made it slightly hard to see but it was there. “Micro ecosystem within a sealed cube, mountain, water, light with most likely night cycles, this is a terraformers dream come true.” Glacier said with somewhat impressed by what they were seeing. “Now, the most important question, how big is the outer shell?”
Leela made the image of the cube shrink to show the very mountain Canterlot sat on it side. “Ten feet by ten, buried deep within the mountain.”
Gale tilt his head. “TARDIS?”
“What?” Gilda turn to Gale. “What the heck does TARDIS mean?”
“Time and relative dimensions in space.” Glacier answered. “But this place is similar but it isn't, this was created by magic, the shell holding a bigger dimension within, it like every house, castle and building in Equestia and Griffina, transdimensional magic.”
Celestia confirmed it. “That is correct, that how the corridors ar-”
“I know that you dweeb! It basic knowledge, if a idiot doesn't know that they are idiotic.” Gilda snapped at Celestia. “The question is, why haven't she left this place by teleport, using a teleport glyph or a portal of some kind? She has everything written right? So... How come she haven't?”
Leela close the book up, the three dimensional display vanishing. “The book and I can't because in that moment we be in two greater distances at once, even it a mini-second.” Leela kept the book close to her chest, hugging it. “If I am more than a half mile from my book, we both cease to exist... We continue to exist without end if we stay close, but if we don't, goodbye us.”
Nightingale shook her head. “We had about enough disappearing for today, there no way I am going to see that happen again.”
Leela curious look over to Nightingale. “Enough disappearing for today? Also who are you? I have no records of you in my book, the only vague thing I have on your appearance is something about 798 years ago, a painting of a cub that never was, created by Princess Celestia herself in honour of her beloved daughter Nightingale.” Leela stated. “Other than your close appearance being a adult look alike to her, I haven't got anything on you.”
Nightingale rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah... Funny you say that...” She thought about something and ask. “What do you know of Zerra?”
Leela open the book up checking through the pages, they flipping continuously for a few moments, till it stop. “Ah here we go, Zerra the Wish Shaman, banished by his tribe for abusive use of Wish Magic little over 1000 years ago, he found a way to twist it to make the wish the worst it could be even following the wish that was granted.” She close the book up. “What does that have to do with you?”
“I am Nightingale, Celestia's daughter, she is my mum, I was taken and trapped in a inverse wish reality for close to 800 years living out a life that was real to me, he took it away from me for kicks, he was insane and completely off his rocker.”
Leela look through her book. “I found something about a sphere created 799 years ago, another 150 years ago, but it was inversed on the inside? You were in it? That is curious, I would like to know more.” She smiled. “You sparked my interest Princess Nightingale.”
Nightingale rubbed her foreleg with the other talon. “I guess...”
“Sorry if that seem insensitive, I didn't mean to be.” Admittedly Leela felt bad.
Nightingale put her talon on Leela's arm. “It fine, you didn't know and you've been without a soul to talk to in here, I'll tell you about it in time, just not now.” Leela flinched slightly, this caught Gilda's attention.
Leela put her own talon hand on Nightingale's. “I can wait.”
Nightingale let go, so did Leela. “Thank you.” Nightingale than asked. “Is there a door in this place?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven't you used it?”
“Solid rock, not enough information on what around the shell, using a spell to blast my way out, to digging could result in the shell bring cracked.” Leela answered.
Gale imagined it and shook his head. “No good, bad, crack mean home go bye bye with everyone on it.”
Glacier now leaning on a tree, standing on her hind legs with forelegs crossed staring at the mountain in the distance, she responded to what Gale just said. “He right, Grogar could of made the outer shell thin all we know, thin enough to try anything to get out will cause it the crack like a egg, you do that with this much transdimensional differences between here and the outside, you get a implosion that would turn the mountain to dust in mere seconds.”
Gilda suddenly could see in her own imagination of the mountain with the city turning to dust from Ponyville, she shook her head rapidly getting that image out of her head. “Okay, that Grogar is just insane to do something like that!”
Celestia agreed. “It a catch twenty-two, she can't teleport cause of distance between book and her, even they cross together, she right about the mini-second too, also not knowing how the outer shell is to what around it is a factor, a perfect prison to keep your worst secrets.”
Gale tilt his head. “Why no magical write or appear in mirrors talk others? Magic spells can do stuff, right?”
Leela sat on the book making it levitate. “Yeah... I kinda tried, many times in fact over the last 4000 years, a few times to Princess Celestia.”
Celestia suddenly recall the bird in the mirror before she blast it and melted it. “Oh...” She felt embarrassed. “Yes I recall, you appear in my bathroom mirror and I might of overacted.”
“By blasting the mirror till it turned into a puddle of molten, it not the first or the last.” Leela chuckled. “So I just gave up and waited till Master Wayne's r-”
“Gale!” Gale interrupted. “Name is Gale!” He point to himself.
Leela softly smiled. “Yes that is the new name you gave yourself Master, but it not your true name, it is Wayne, that tag on your plush, you want to know what it says?”
Gale held up the plush looking at the tag and back at her. “Erm... Yes?”
“You seem unsure, do you really want to know?”
“Yes.” Gale nodded.
Leela pulled out a glowing glyph from her sleeve. “This I held onto since I sensed your arrival two and a half months ago, I spent 4000 years waiting for you Master Wayne.” She gesture him to come to her, he does. “Open your talon.” He does and she place it on it. “Now the honour is all yours Master, toss it and what is said will be reviled.”
Gale look at the golden glowing glyph resting on the palm of his talon, staring at the sparkling light he tilted his head to the left than to the right. “Son, it your choice.”
Gale pulled his foreleg back and thrust it forwards, tossing the glyph up in the air, it explode and displayed to all to see, the symbols exactly seen on the label shift into griffish letters, Nightingale reads it out loud. “To my beloved son. Happy birthday Wayne.”
“Wayne... Remember name, remember birthday gift, no remember when though...” Gale held the plush close to him. “Mum... my Mum had plush made for me, it last thing have of her...”
Celestia pick him up with a wing, giving the cub a warm hug, he return it to her nuzzling his head against her furry chest. “Treasure it with all your love Gale, remember the love of family.”
Leela float up to them on the book. “That one of the things Grogar didn't count on, that what came in bring me life, why I am loyal to a fault to Master Wayne.” She put her talon had against Gale's face. “Come with me back to my cottage, we can all sit, talk, enjoy a good cup of tea with some biscuits, I think we all need it.” She remove her talon hand, the book turn with Leela on it, the book float towards the mountain in the distance.
As they made their way down a dirt path, down a small sloped hill, with trees on either side, near the end of the path was a bridge which lead to a garden with fresh fruit to vegetables being grown in patches, apple trees, grape vineyards, water channels around them connected to a waterfall near a cottage beside a rocky side, high above the mountain towering for a few miles.
Celestia looked up. “A house directly under the mountain?”
“Oh don't worry there shield rune safe guards in place, they deflect rocks that fall every so often and set them to the piles to your right.” Leela point to said pile, they saw a large pile of different size rocks. “Come in handy with transfiguring them into stuff I need.” The book stop at the door, she got off it, putting it back under her arm.
Leela felt a bit tense. “Dweeb you look really nervous.” Gilda stated.
“Yeah this is the first time I am having any guests in my home period.”
Gilda muttered under her breath. “Riiight and I was born yesterday.” Gilda decided to press. “Leela, Who else is liv-”
“Sooooo... Everything here is sorta private and personal, I'll let you in to sit in the living room and if you need to use the loo, there one adjacent in the hallway to the living room door, there plenty of cushions around, I like making cushions, they soft to sit, lay and sleep on.” Leela quickly said.
Celestia bow her head slightly. “It your home, I'll respect your wishes.”
Gilda glaring at her, she didn't say a word.
“I'm good with that.” Nightingale agreed.
Glacier shrugged. “It your castle.”
Gale nodded. “Okay!”
“Thank you!” She pull out a key from her sleeve, slip it into the lock and open the door.
Gilda frowned upon seeing the key. “Why do you have a key, if you live here alone?” Gilda pressed once again taking the chance to call her out.
Leela sighs. “I was hoping that question wasn't going to be asked...”
“Why?” Celestia asked.
Leela press her head against the door. “Why I have a key? Because I have a snoopy raccoon that love to steal MY pillows!”
“Snoopy raccoon?” Nightingale frowned. “Why would a raccoon steal pillows?”
“Most likely the guest she been avoiding to admit.” With irritation Gilda said to them.
Leela pull her head away from the door. “Your right Gilda, I have been trying to avoid mentioning about him...” She glares to the apple tree field, they all looked to see a raccoon wearing a black blazer, trousers, white shirt with black tie, sunglasses.
Gilda whispered to Glacier. “Psst, RS, I bet you ten bits that oversized trash panda can talk.”
Glacier didn't take her eyes off the raccoon. “The size, the way he dressed, I am not taking that bet on, I believe you will easily win that bet.”
The raccoon step up to them, lowering the sunglasses down his snout slightly looking at Leela with his brown eyes, with the mask fur markings around them. “Hey Leelee, who the pony and the griffons? Finally got bored of lil' 'ld me after 2,000 years? And created some new friends?”
Gilda just chuckled lightly with a closed talon up to her, Glacier bumped it with her own.
Leela rolled her eyes. “No, they were not created, they arrived via teleport glyph through my recall spell to Master Wayne.” She gestured to Gale.
He step up to Gale with a paw hand out to Gale. “Nice too meet 'cha! Master Wayne, finally get to see the face behind the legend per say.”
Gale took it with a shake. “Erm... Okay... Gale name.”
“Gale huh? Got a good classic griffish ring to it.” He gave a click sound from his mouth, with a wink. “Now how about presenting me to ya pals, this time not telling porkies of being alone.” He put his hand paws against his sides.
“I present to you all my only sapient creation, this is Rocky Raccoon, I created him close to 2000 years ago with some magic and a object, I was hoping you wouldn't meet him.” She introduced him.
Rocky chuckled. “Oh, she just pulling ya legs, Leelee is my creator and yes, I did sneak in and steal pillows from her, I got bored.” He said taking off his shades, and putting them away in his blazer inside pocket.
Glacier rubbed the underside of her beak with a thoughtful look upon the three foot tall raccoon. “You can't lie, can you?”
Rocky turn to her looking up with his arms crossed. “Yep, I have no concept of lying, I am cheerful, charming, honest to a fault and love to steal soft cuddle pillows from my creator, also leave a note for her to turn into a new pillow with her awesome transfiguration glyph spells.” He laughed.
He continues to say with a few shifting feet paw movements. “The faults of my creation were, no ageing, love for soft things that I got to get my grubby paws on, and unable to lie at all, she been trying to get me to tell one porky for the last 2000 years, as ya see, didn't work at all!”
Leela rub her forehead with a finger and thumb. “That why I keep the door locked, you are a big pain.”
“Awww come on now, ya know I keep things interesting, and ya would of gone mad a long time if it wasn't for this honest thief, and pain in the tail.” He nudged her with a elbow.
Leela shook her head. “True all the way, now since you've came over, care for a cupper?”
“Is there a pillow I can take when I go?”
Leela groans. “Even I say no, you would take it, soooo... Yes there is a pillow for you.”
“That grand Leelee.” He open the door walking inside humming to himself.
Celestia curiously watched him go inside. “Quite the interesting raccoon Rocky is.”
“Just don't encourage him.” Leela walk inside, they follow the bird inside.
Gale than said as they walked in. “Purple, Spike and Trace, no know we gone.”
Gilda knew what Twilight and Trace would do. “Yep, I bet they gonna to flip!”
Celestia instantly froze upon realising what Gale and Gilda said was true. “Uh oh...”
Twilight and Spike woke up to the sound of rapid hoof steps, they sat up looking to the door, a few guards raced by, they went to the door and open it, what they found were Princess Luna talking with some of the guards with Doctor Trace, they saluted and raced off down the corridor, turning towards Celestia's room they could see guards using scan spells all over the place.
“Princess Luna, what going on?” Twilight walked up to her with Spike.
Luna turn her attention from Trace to Twilight. “My sister Celestia is missing.”
Suddenly Twilight was wide awake with Spike. “WHAT!?” They both said together.
“Last one that was in there were RS, but soon after that Nightingale, Gilda and Gale was heard inside.” Luna explained to them. “Guards reported they didn't see them enter from the door or windows, we found they may have entered for some strange reason through the air vent.”
“Okay, but what about Princess Celestia?”
“That the thing Spike, she not the only one goal, soon after there was a glow on the door, the guards couldn't open it till the glow vanished, when it did they were gone.” Luna said waving them to follow her as they went to Celestia's room peering inside. “The unicorn guards are running scan spells to determine what happened, we still at a lose.”
Trace sighed. “With all the crazy that been going on recently specially the sphere, I have no idea what to expect next, at this time we at a loss and unable to figure out where to go next on this.”
Spike scratched his claw over the scaly head a little. “What can we do to help?”
Twilight thought of a idea. “Send a letter to Princess Celestia, maybe you can do it Spike.”
Spike pulled out a quill and paper. “Sure thing Twilight, we can give that a try!”
“Why didn't we think of that?” Luna asked Trace.
Trace shrugged. “The simplest of ideas always slip our minds, Princess.” He turn to the room. “I am still very much worried though, they vanishing like that isn't something I am fond of.”
“Nor am I...” Luna muttered. “All I want is my family to be safe.”
Spike scribbled away on the paper. “Done Twilight.”
“Send it away.” Spike blows his green flame over it, the letter ashes vanish. “It worked... That mean Princess Celestia's magic is back to normal.” She turn to Luna. “That means-”
Luna realised what it meant. “The horn been restored, how is that possible?”
“It should be, unless-”
The pause got them looking at him. “Unless what? Doctor.”
Trace tap the muzzle a few times. “Through out my career tending to magic mishaps, I did come across a few oddities.”
“Such as?”
Trace put his hoof down to get a click, looking down he saw a talon. “Serious, now I-” He glows and grow slightly to change into a griffon, his coat ripped to shreds. “I serious hate when that happens unexpectly.” He grumbled through his beak, ripping off the last of the ruined doctors coat putting it in the trash bin.
“Now what I was going to say before my unexpected change, is there are those with this regenerative abilities, they can heal themselves without the aid of magic, it a form of energy in their cells that activate, some even learn to control it and even share it to others, only trouble with that, by doing so they drain that energy from them, once it gone it gone, it not like magic at all, it has a limited supply in their bodies.”
Spike raise a claw. “So... If I had this stuff and I broke a leg, it would heal in no time at all?”
“Yes, even mend a broken horn, restoring it to what it was.” Trace confirmed. “I know Gale or Gilda doesn't have it, but I can not say for sure about RS or Nightingale, it can be in any living thing, it rare for sure.”
“How do you know about this Doctor Trace?”
“Because I saw a young Earth pony nine years ago give up all of it to save his dying mother, she was beyond the point of saving, I saw the golden glow come out of him through his hooves, into her and brought her back, it was the most incredible thing I ever seen a little foal do for his mother.” Trace answered Twilight's question. “Doesn't-”
A guard came out with a bag held in his magic. “I found this weird gold dust, there parts of it scattered around, it was only spotted because of the lighting, it doesn't registry as magic.”
Trace took it with his talon hold it up with amazement. “Oh sweet Celestia, it it regenerative energy! This is the by product from it!”
The guard stared at Trace. “Wasn't you a pony a moment ago?”
Trace nodded. “I was, the magic in me cause a shift in pony to griffon and back again, it a pain in the tail, never mess around with magic you do not understand without protection.” Trace walk to his office.
The guard blinked. “Should I go back to checking through the room Princess?”
“Please do.” Luna followed Trace with Spike and Twilight.
Twilight was amazed by the sudden change. “So how did that happen?”
“Messing with a 4000 year old spell created by Grogar, it, pure magic and poison joke tend to have a unforeseen effect.” Trace replied in a sarcastic manner. “Now I am living with the cure only working to a certain degree.”
“That must be a real pain in the rump.” Spike said.
Trace nodded. “It is, specially with my wardrobe...”
Spike suggests a idea. “What about Rarity, I am sure she could make something that could flex with your changes, even add wing holes.”
Twilight smiled. “That a good idea Spike, she would love the challenge.”
“I will have to take you two up on that, and go see her.” They reached the office and open the door to find a light brown griffon with a dark brown fluffy feathered Mohawk, wearing a white collar and green neck time sitting at his desk, with paws on top of it, talons behind the back of his head. “Who the blazes are you and why are you in my office!?”
The blue eyes of the griffon locked upon his. “You can call me Necktie, most does nower days, and why I am here, to help of course!”
Luna frowned. “Help with what?”
“Helping you with finding Princess Celestia of course.” He took the paws off the desk, sat upright picking up quill with his talon. “Oh this bring back the day in the Oval Office.”
“Explain fast or I will have the guard drag you out to the castle.” Luna said with frustration growing.
He sighs. “Fine Princess Luna, at this moment Princess Celestia, Nightingale, Prince Gale and Gilda are in a ten by ten mile prison within a cube that ten by ten feet on the outside.”
“How do you even know this or even telling the truth?” Twilight said. “All we know you could be making this up!”
“Oh don't worry, you will be getting your evidence in five... Four... Three...” He raise a talon up at four, closing up each claw to the count down.
At zero Spike suddenly put his claw over the muzzle till he burped out a green flame, sending him flying backwards to be caught by Luna's wing, the flame spinning around reforming from scroll to flame and back again, over and over. “Urg... That was rough...” He groaned.
“Are you okay though?” Luna asked.
“A bit soar in the throat.” He rubbed it a little. “But I think I'll be okay.”
The scroll finally appeared and land on the table, before they could take it Necktie snatched it with his talon, opening it up. “Dear Twilight and Spike, I, my family and Gilda are fine, we seem to be in some sort of cubic prison created by Grogar over 4000 years ago for a bird called Leela, named after the late dog from over 4000 years ago from Gale's previous home, we are discovering more about Gale, do not worry. Yours sincerely Princess Celestia.” He finished reading it out loud and threw it over to Luna. “You can see I read it word for word.”
Luna took a good look. “It says as he said it.” Luna rolled it up. “Doesn't explain how you knew.”
“Spoilers.” He smirked. “Now there a grandfather clock that set to go off at two am, which is about ten minutes from now. We got to get that clock to the Canterlot Garden maze entrance if we going to get in contact with them directly.”
Twilight stared. “How do you know this? And how do you even know we can?”
“Spoilers Twilight Sparkle, just say I am a griffon that know what his doing in a crazy way, got to say shifting between forms pretty neat, don't you think so Trace?”
“How do you know about that?” Trace said with surprise.
“I been watching, also here.” He tossed over a pearl, Trace caught it. “That my friend will stabilize your magic matrix in a way that will allow you to switch from pony to griffon at any time you wish, only while wearing it.”
Trace raise it up to the light. “What kind of magic pearl is this?”
Necktie smirked. “The best kind and also I owned you for what you did to save my tail two years ago.” He winked.
Trace suddenly realised looking at his eyes, it was the same eyes from two years ago. “Oh it you! But you were-”
“Yep.”
“But that means-”
“Yep again!”
“Okay he can be trusted.” Trace said, putting the pearl away in his draw. “I'll look into that pearl another time, we got a grandfather clock to move.”
“Fair enough, time awasting! Avante!” He jumped out of the chair over the desk, running out the room. “Come on what are you all waiting for? We got nine minutes and counting! We going to need your trusty teleportation Princess if we going to make it in time!”
Luna blinked a few times trying to process what just happened. “Do we follow?”
“Yes!” Trace turn and left the office quickly.
Twilight groans. “This is happening too fast, I can't keep track what going on anymore!”
Spike frowned. “I thought he was making sense, in a weird way of course.” Spike quickly followed.
"For now with the limited time we have, we will work with him, than we get answers." Luna said, they reluctantly followed to Celestia's room.
In a blinding flash of light Princess Luna, Twilight, Spike, Trace and Necktie appear with the grandfather clock outside the maze on a dirt patch, Trace noticed some markings in it. “There was a rune glyph spell used here recently, you can make out some of the markings still present.” He point a talon to part of it.
“That pretty much correct, it most likely a teleportation one, not fun they are, suck you in and spit you out at the next location, most likely the only way to get inside Grogar's cubic prison somewhere below.” Necktie said as he pulled out a metal object, it made a buzzing noise that caught their attention, he looked at it. “Yep definitely.”
“How can you tell from that weird buzzing metal thing?” Spike asked.
Necktie put it away under his wing. “That for me to know.” He pat Spike on the head. “It almost show time.” He point to the clock face.
Spike frowned. “Twilight, he reminds me of that pony in Power Ponies comic, the one that helps but avoid answer direct questions when helping others.”
“I am sure that not true Spike.” Twilight turn to Necktie. “I am not sure what that thing you used was, but I do have a few questions for you.”
“Ah yes questions, how about after the clock does it work?”
“I can accept that.” Twilight turn to the grandfather clock seeing it hand reach 2am.
“Show time!” The grandfather clock started to glow, rune glyphs started to form all over it. “Oh how Glacier going to be so surprised when she see what I pulled off, took me years to get all the glyphs to be put onto that clock for this very moment, but it was worth the wait!”
“What did yo-” The clock glows brightly, Luna tried to continue asking the question but she couldn't see him or the others through the light, as it dims they regain their sight to see the others sitting on cushions.
Gale quickly got up looking at Luna. “Auntie!” He went to give her a hug but past through her. “What?” Gale turn around looking back at Luna.
"What just happened?" Luna was surprised as much as Gale is.
Leela got up seeing the grandfather clock seeing it frizzle out slightly. “Those glyphs, that a real time communication rune glyphs! The grandfather clock is acting like a go between for us to talk to each other from two locations, but look like we in each other places! I haven't seen these glyphs used in years!”
Leela opening her book looking through the pages rapidly. “In fact I saw these pop up one by one in the last few years! I never expected this to be pulled off! Not direct communication without secondary glyphs here! There isn't any! I can't explain this! it should be impossible!”
“That explain that part partly, but how did you-” Luna turn to see Necktie was gone, she looked around confused. “Where did that griffon go?”
Twilight found a note, opening it up she read it out loud. “See, there was nothing to worry about.”
Spike crossed his arms, snorting out a flame. “I told ya!”
Twilight walked around Leela, watching with fascination, as the short anthro bird pulled out a rune glyph from her book, it turn into a three dimensional form of the grandfather clock with the runes glyphs being added to it, the display collapses soon after and Leela was at it again, creating another putting the rune glyphs in a different way around in the same places.
Glacier could see the frustration growing on Leela's face. “My husband as a habit of doing things that seem impossible, without knowing exactly what he did to the grandfather clock, I highly doubt she would figure this out after ten minutes of trying.”
Leela seem to hear this slamming the book shut. “Your right, I won't, and it really getting my tail feathers in a twist, sadly if glyphs like this work we got about another twenty-nine minutes, than the spell have ran it course.”
“How do you know that?” Twilight asked with her eyes set upon the book.
Leela could see that eager look. “Look at the clock, the glyphs are burning away, soon it be a plain sided clock once again.” She point to it, unable to touch it from their side. “Also stop staring at my book, it creeping me out.”
Twilight quickly averted her eyes away from it to the grandfather clock. “So-sorry, books are kinda my thing, and I never seen one like that, how you can pull out rune glyphs like that.”
Leela get it firmly under her arm. “This is connected to me as I connected to it.” Leela said. “I only can understand it, no one tried to read it and I wouldn't let them, I can feel that if someone did, they might lose their mind...”
Celestia steps in on the matter before Twilight could ask. “Twilight, some books are not meant to be read, I believe this is one of them, look at Spike.”
Twilight turn to Spike, seeing him look very worried holding his tail, rocking back and forwards on his claw feet. “Twilight, please don't try to understand it, that kind of risk for a book isn't worth it.”
Twilight walked over to Spike putting a hoof on the side of his face. “Spike, I promise you I won't, even it will drive me nuts to no end, Princess Celestia right, not all books are meant to be read, not at the cost of my mind, my friends, family and you Spike.” He gives her a hug, Twilight returned it.
“Now this matter is resolved and with our time limited, my sister told me about you Leela, you were created to be a keeper of knowledge, mainly for Grogar.” Luna looked at Leela from where she stood. “Tell us what was his goal for my nephew Gale.”
Leela now hugging the book tightly to her chest, sat down on a pillow, staring down at it. “The knowledge I hold on what Grogar did, putting ponies in check, using his monsters on horrible experiments, he did this for power, control and fear.” Leela closed her eyes. “I saw them as much they were stored in writing, Master Wayne was put through them too, and I will not speak about them in front of him or the young dragon.” She open her eyes looking at Gale and Spike.
Trace sitting on a stone wall near the hedge maze of a pony statue spoke up. “I know a thing or two about stuff like that too, had all sort of creatures come into Manehatten with cases of magic experimentation, it not pleasant, and not suited for the young to hear, that something we have to talk about another time and place.”
Gale and Spike glance at each other. “I am in agreement, let's move on from that subject shall we?” Celestia wish to move the subject on. “Tell us at least how Grifiax Boreas came to be.”
“That was one of the lessor of evils done to pony slaves, Boreas before he became Grifiax, a unicorn that served Grogar.” Leela open the book, pulling out the glyph out, throwing it up to display a pony bowing to Grogar, in the middle of the chamber they were seeing, a bipedal being wearing clothing similar to Gale's ruined clothing, but with foot wear and trousers.
The two things they noticed, one the face was, and exposed skin was almost see through shimming bluish white all over, the other was holding tightly in a hug the griffon plush. “What kind of creature is that?” Nightingale asked.
“That is a homosapien, well sorta one.” Leela answered, Glacier raise a eye brow. “Master Wayne before I know him now.” She looked over at Gale. “This was him, as you called pure magic, it kept his form, soul and memories, but there was almost no emotion, except one... Love, love for family.” Leela explained to them about what Gale use to look like.
Gilda got up from the cushion walking up to the image, putting a talon through it. “That was the cub? Some weird magical shell homo-what-it?” Gilda turn to Leela. “How was he that thing and became the little dweeb that melts your heart?”
Rocky munching on a cookie with paw hands behind his head laying down on a pile of cushions. “That where we getting to, let Leelee finish, ya hear me?” Gilda glared at him. “Oh don't give me that look, dollface, ya know I'm right, let her talk.”
Gilda snorts. “Fine, but you call me dollface again,” she point at him. “I'll give you a mark to remember me by.” She snarled with the talon claw tips shin slightly.
Rocky stared at them. “Whoa that some real sharp claws ya got! No wonder the griffons are dubbed the ultimate predator race!”
“Your just trying to be nice.”
“That I am and also I can't lie, so I mean what I mean about your kind.” He winked.
Gilda felt warm from that and growled. “You annoying trash panda...” She grumbled.
Leela watched their exchange. “That was interesting to see.” Leela turn to her rune glyph display. “Where were I? Oh yes!” She played the image for them, it showed her standing to the side recording what was about to happen or did happen to their perspective.
Grogar point to the plush, the pony shook his head and rough words seem to be exchanged till the unicorn reached out, artefacts around him start to glow as Grogar cast a spell, suddenly the homosapien unleashed a burst of pure magic at him, the artefacts amplified it, before their eyes the unicorn start to change into a griffon but before he finished changing Boreas, the moment he become Grifiax vanishes.
“Grogar forced Boreas to reach out for the plush, knowing the reaction Master Wayne would give, he cast a spell on the artefacts using his magic, and the bell, it with the pure magic created Grifiax, teleporting him to the griffish island of Griferlatias, this moment is when Master Wayne calculated what Grogar would do to us once he got what he wanted.”
Twilight had a feeling what the answer was. “Once he had gotten his cloven hooves on pure magic, he would of removed both of you.” Twilight stated. “But this must have been the moment when everything started to go wrong for him, wasn't it?”
Leela nodded. “Correct, this the moment lead to Master Wayne and I working with the rebel forces that were growing, with the griffons of the island city, giving them the best moment and chance to steal Grogar's bell, a unicorn called Gusty did, she was known from that moment as Gusty the Great.” Leela showed a shadow theatre of her taking the bewitching bell. “The Bewitching Bell was taken and he grew fearful as he lost ground.”
They watched the shadow theatre change to Grogar's forces being beaten back, by both ponies and griffons, the two races over the years pushed him back to the mountain and contained him. “That when I told them how to move in and finish the job, Grogar became aware and I took the fall, without his bell and his magic heavily depleted from the countless attacks on his fortress, he had me put in here, and use his monsters to bury the cube deep in the mountain.”
“That when he used the idol of Boreas and it copies to transfigure Gale from that form into a griffon, the moment Boreas and Gusty moved in, Grifiax used almost all his magic to overload the spell, and that caused him to be transported through time.” Luna said.
Leela open her book up, using magic from the talon, electrical energy dancing through the page. “In the next twenty minutes, please share with me much as you can about Master Wayne.”
“Why?” Celestia asked. “What are you doing?”
Leela continue to cast her magic over the page. “I am adding information, this I been working on for about two months now.”
“Yeah Leelee, felt this weird feeling she haven't felt in the last 4000 years, it gave me goosebumps through out my fur.” Rocky rubbed his arms with his paw hands.
Leela rolled her eyes. “I am aware of both events, I knew Grogar must have been defeated and Master Wayne arriving two and half months ago, this information you gave me answered what he was trying to do.” Leela said.
Trace got up from his seat, using his own magic to show his information from the first moment he scanned Gale. “I believe we can do that, how about this for starters?”
Leela smiled. “That will do!”
Gale whispered to Spike. “I was glowing homo-what-it, than I me, but why no remember this? Why try it blank?”
“I don't know Gale, but it really crazy that was you 4000 years ago.” Spike recalling that appearance. “You don't remember looking like that at all?” Gale shook his head. “But you know it was you?” Gale shrugged. “Will it change how you see things?”
Gale shook his head. “No, this my life now, that was past life, remember want, but have it take away what I now is? No...” Gale answered.
Glacier curiously listened to everything, including what they said to each other,
The rune glyphs on the grandfather clock was fading fast, Spike put his claw hand against the side of it, feeling the markings fade. “How much longer is it going to take? I don't know how much time we got left.”
Twilight muttering to herself and got a rough answer. “Around seven minutes left out of the twenty-nine minutes Leela spoke of.”
Leela sitting on the cushion using her talon hands over it, she listening to them speak. “With the little time we have left, I finally got a rough draft, there is a 39.6% chance of error here, so please take this as a grain of salt, it will take me time to smooth out the errors.”
Luna step up beside Celestia, they all got up to gather around Leela, even Rocky got up from his beloved pile of cushions. “Please show us.” Luna requested.
Leela closed and open her talon hands over the pages, a set of rune glyphs raise from it, as the talon hands move the glyphs mould and shape into a long string of bluish white with a homospaien stick figure, to a griffon stick figure.
Glacier saw the burst of energy coming from it at points. “This is over 4000 years of time travel, this bluish white string with the cloudy gases around, it is the transfiguration spell working itself, for Gale the travel is instant, but for everything else if this model is right, fragments of Gale was being left behind from the moment his travel through time begun to arrival.” She move the talon from the beginning to the end.
“That would mean, what I said about the potion I used to try and cure myself was right, it would-” Trace turn to Gale. “It would have been fatal, the partial remains from my first scan and this, even with the chance of errors convince me of that more than ever, I will not with a contiguous thought go through with giving that to Prince Gale, that is against my oath as a doctor I took, to do no harm to my patients...”
Glacier took a good look at the burst points. “Pure magic, memories and clothing was torn from him, the overloaded spell broke down is body and reformed it, but it needed something to create his new griffon body, specially one to look very closely like his plush.” Gale felt his plush tight to himself. “Look at these burst points, even there is a error here, it the best look we got on how the travel through time, the transfiguration had on Gale both physically and mentally.”
Gale stared at it. “That why no remember being that homo-what-it appearance? Try remember no remember.” Gale reach out to the dimensional image, the talon past through it. “Is parts of me scattered through time?”
Celestia slowly around them staring at it, her thoughts going through the first moments. “It would explain why Gale only acted on instincts for the first two weeks, the transfiguration wasn't just changing his body, it was as if he was reborn... Is that even possible?”
“I can not say.” Leela said.
“Geez, that one rough ride if this was right, also no way of telling, I doubt that cute-attack griffon can tell you or any of us, doubt this ever happened to anyone, if it did we don't know about it.” Rocky said rubbing the underside of his muzzle. “Look at it this way, not only he was saved from Grogar, but he been given a new life, one with love, kindness and a parent that would do anything to protect her children, I bet that rules into Nightingale too doesn't it?”
Celestia nodded. “It does, some may think how I treat Gale as my son as if he was blood greedy, selfish even, I do not care what they think, I will do what I can to help him in the best possible way a mother can to protecting their child, Nightingale.” She turn to both griffons. “I know everything you knew for 799 years been completely uprooted, even we hit very rough patches, seeing this and what we experiencing at the moment is a whole new meaning of rough.”
Celestia step up to them and put her wing around them pulling the two griffons in, giving them a graceful hug. “We even will fight, clash, yell at each other with words that could wound us, let's pull through this together shall we? As a family? A very malfunction family?”
Nightingale hugged her back with the forelegs, Gale too against her chest putting their heads against her neck, she lowering her head resting it against theirs. “Your so like the griffon that was my mum for so long, no matter what you look like, how much you know about me or I know about you, your still my mum.”
“Mum, sister, happy, anger might happen, might not, nervous of thoughts from others, no care because we family.”
“That we are.” They embraced each other.
Luna wished should could be able to, but since they weren't really there, that made it a bit impossible. “When you return, I expect a hug too.”
“Can do aunty Luna.” Nightingale responded.
Gilda crossed her forelegs. “This is all good and sappy dweebs, how do we get back? Teleport spells won't work because of Gale's plush.”
Leela smirked. “I already figured that one out.”
“Oh no, you can't be serious! I see that look you got dweeb! No way I'm going through that again!” Gilda shook her head.
Glacier turn to Leela as she closed the book up. “The teleportation rune glyph spell, the one Gale used to bring us here, am I correct?”
“Yep!”
“Are you seriously kidding me! Can't we use one of those door spells!?” Gilda point to the door in the living room, to Luna, Trace, Spike and Twilight, she was pointing at nothing.
Rocky answered that question. “Dollface it quite simple, Gale did it with pure magic as you told us, only way he could do it if he remembered, the recall spell made sure not to make him remember, that part of-” He realised she was walking towards him, her body lowered, Gilda snarling. “Erm... Good kitty?”
“I'll give you good kitty, you lame trash panda!” She launched herself at him.
Rocky quickly bounce on his backside and over her, to spin and land on his paw feet, Gilda crashing into the pile of cushions, Gilda quickly got up, she charged right at him again. “Got to catch me first dollface!” He open the door and ran out the room, Gilda giving chase, the sound of the door opening out of the house could be heard.
Gale, Nightingale, Celestia and Glacier stared out the window watching Gilda try to get Rocky, he kept easily dodging her, teasing the griffon even more. “Should we do something about them?”
Leela step up beside them. “Nah, they'll be fine.”
Glacier turn to the grandfather clock. “Very well, Luna.” She turn to Luna's direction. “If I am right, where your standing right that moment is in the middle of what was Grogar's fortress, that the weak-point for the rune glyph teleporataton, why it worked, it would be best to prepare for our arrival, we going to be flying out of it.”
Luna asked. “When will you be back?”
“They be back just before sunrise.” Leela answered and the runes faded completely with them, including Gilda and Rocky passing through trees and statues, as Gilda chased him down.
Spike looked around. “So... How do we explain to the guards about getting crash mats and stuff out into the Canterlot Gardens?”
Luna knew it was only her that could get the guard to aid them for her sister's and the other's arrival, Luna could only mutter one word under her breath. “Buck...”
Gilda flew after the raccoon Rocky around the cottage, he was dodging her attempts to catch him with very flexible quick movements, the raccoon to her surprise that ran on two legs was fast on the paw feet, he glancing back with a big grin and a wink, she roars and with a burst of speed charge right at him.
Rocky slid to a stop and did a backflip over her, she look up and he as flipping over her point, in that moment she saw what he was pointing at, no way to stop Gilda lands in the right, surfacing she looked around growling. “Where did that bucking trash panda go!?”
“Hey dollface, why the long beak?” Gilda snap her sight upon him standing on top of a tree branch, putting his shades on. “Come on, ya can do better than that, your the ultimate predator after all, aren't ya? Or are ya just the chicken kind?”
Gilda let out a mighty roar bursting out the water. “YOUR DEAD!” With a powerful burst of speed rocketed right for Rocky.
Rocky pulled out of his pocket a ball. “Catch.” He tossed it at her calmly.
It hit her and explode into smoke, she coughing into one talon, and waving the other to clear the smoke from her, she look to the branch to find him gone. “Hiding from me are you!?”
“Nope, chilling on the river!” Gilda turn to see him wearing black shorts with a leg crossed over the other, a arm behind his head, the other holding a glass of juice with a little umbrella on it, Rocky was lying on a inflatable deck chair drifting down the river. “What's up?”
Gilda blinked a few times, than she rubbed her eyes, but he was lying there on a inflatable deck chair. “How the buck did you do that!?”
“Catch me and you will find out doll!” He finished off the drink, jumping into the river swimming down river.
Gilda growled. “Gah! That raccoon driving me nuts!” She gave chase. “I will not back down from a challenge! I will catch you!”
“That's it dollface! Ya got it!” He laughed jumping out the water running into a open field, Gilda chased him to get wet shorts slam into her face, pulling it off her to find he was back wearing his suit running from her. “Y'all taking too long! I even got enough time to get back into my formal wears!”
Gilda stared at the shorts and at him. “H-how is he doing this!?” She throw it to the ground, Gilda saw him run into very long grass, flying around it Gilda looked for any movement.
Rocky jump out of it grabbing her by the sides of her face, than giving her a kiss on her beak with his muzzle. “Catch me if ya can!” He drop back into the grass.
Gilda spits a few times shaking her head. “Gross gross gross!” Gilda shin her claws. “Time to show what I meant about them not being for show!” Gilda flies down and with a slash, she cut through a section of grass, the long blades falling, over and over again she cuts through it.
Each time Rocky jump out and dive in again, Gilda couldn't catch him each of the times, and each hiding place she took out, he took another popping out, Gilda cutting the grass down again, this repeated it self many times. “I am over here! No heeeerrrreeee!” He bouncing around till Gilda took to the air and took a good look for him, what she saw made her gasp, it was of her face cut into the field of long grass.
“You got to be bucking kidding me!” Gilda screeched, in the corner of her eyes at the edge of the tall grass was that raccoon. “No more games, dweeb!” Gilda screamed at him.
Rocky called back cupping his paw hands over the muzzle. “Nah! You love these games! Dollface! Catch me if you can!” He salutes running into the forest.
Gilda followed him from high above watching him run through the tree lines. “He heading to the mountain!” Gilda flew towards it quickly as she could, almost there she saw a dust trail zoom into the cave. “Sweet Grover! How fast was he moving!?” She lands at the cave entrance, slowly walking inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimming light. “That trash panda is impossible!”
Rocky popped out of a tunnel on the cave wall near her. “Of course I am impossible! I am gonna be 2000 this year! Stand at three feet and talk ya head off!” He quickly disappear into the tunnel as Gilda leap into it.
Gilda looked around in it, she couldn't find Rocky in there, Gilda entered it and followed the rock tunnel, it bends around, goes up a bit till it turn downwards, using her claws on talons and paws lean down it. “Where did that raccoon go?” She looked around upside down.
Hanging upside down beside her was Rocky, he grinned. “Hello doll!” He gave her again a big kiss on the beak, before she could grab him, he was gone.
Gilda fell out of the tunnel hole, flapping her wings to stop from falling on the ground, wiping her beak. “Gah! Damn that raccoon! How can he do all that crazy stuff!?”
He popped out another tunnel entrance further up the cave. “I had close to 2000 years, doll! I can do things that-” He rolls his eyes. “-Crazy.” He chuckled popping back in.
Gilda looked into it to find him not there, she looked around into the darken cave, one of the plus sides to being a griffon, eyes can adjust to the dark, blinking a few times. “Yeah I can see that trash panda.”
“Like a raccoon, I bet you got great eye sight too for the deep dark recesses of the mountain.” He popped into view of Gilda grinning at her. “No chase?”
Gilda flew close to him. “Nope, you'd just get away from me again, after all the crazy stuff you pulled on me, even kissing me TWICE, I am not gonna play your games no, so see ya dweeb!” She turn to leave.
Rocky put his paw hands behind his head. “Ah come on now, we almost at the top, you really don't want to miss what up there.”
Gilda looked over her shoulder. “We barely gained any height!”
“I know, isn't it sweet to have shorter routes in the inside to that of that out?” Rocky grinned. “Took some convincing, but for my 1000s birthday Leelee made this tunnel for me, folded the dimensions with some rune glyph magic, making it shorter on the inside to the outside!” He waved her to follow. “Come on doll!”
Gilda rubbed the bridge of her beak. “Fine! I'll see whatever up there!” Gilda flew up after him, new light coming into view.
Soon she found herself outside on top of the mountain, looking back it was a small entrance, which didn't make sense, but Gilda saw Rocky standing at the edge of the mountain plateau with his shades removed. “Now what ya call this view?”
Gilda step up beside him, what she saw was breathtaking, Gilda could see almost the whole ecosystem, what surprised her was to one far side of the cubic wall was a beach with cliff sides and a sea, another part was a snowy field with what look like some snow falling at the moment, not to far from that was a dessert. “Sweet Grover...” She saw fields of green too, jungles, forests, including the grass cut portrait.
Rocky point down to below them. “There the cottage.” Gilda looked over the edge and she saw it. “What a view isn't it?”
“Yeah it is Trash Panda.” She put her talon on his shoulder. “And gotcha dweeb.”
“That ya did doll.” He brought up a glass bottle with a fizzy blackish brown liquad in it. “Here, this here is Coke-Cola, it some homosapien drink, Leelee recreated it and can't get enough of this fizzy stuff, it will make ya burp.”
Gilda took the bottle, feeling the cold dampness on the glass, she drunk a bit of it, lapping her beak a bit. “Hmm, that not bad, got a frizzy tangy taste to it.” She felt a gas build up and burpped. “Wow you wasn't kidding.”
“Cause not, I don't lie.” He took a sip of his own as the sun orb dims into a white blue, the ceiling above them turning from light blue to orange, purple and into night colours with stars appearing with nebula clouds. “Look like Leelee being that extra creative with the sky tonight, that quite the night sky.”
Gilda stared at it, sitting down with Rocky doing the same on the edge, they looking at the ceiling to the land as night fell upon it all. “I never seen a sky like this, this is-this... There no words I can say to say...”
“Nope there isn't, it might be fake, it a no words to describe fake sky.” He chuckled raising his bottle to her. “To future friendship, doll?”
Gilda smirked. “Maybe in a few weeks.” She knock her bottle against his with a clang.
Rocky chuckled. “I'll drink to that.” He glanced over to her. “As I said before, ya one awesome predator, I enjoyed the chase, it was fun.”
Gilda glanced back to him before looking back out at the view of the sky. “Even you annoyed the heck out of me and-” She paused slowly turning to him with a sly smirk.
Rocky heard the pause, slowly turning to see the sly smirk. “Wh-” Before he could react, she grabbed him by the tie, pulled him to her, she gave him kiss with her beak against his muzzle and let go.
“Now I got my own back on ya for kissing me, that makes us even, you did that ever again, I will claw you for it, that a promise.” Gilda said with her head turned looking back at the sky ceiling.
Rocky's jaw just hung, in almost 2000 years he never thought the tables be turned on him, slowly turning to look at the sky, he had no witty remarks, no words, nothing, all he could do is close his muzzle a little, sip some coke-cola and enjoy the view.
The night orb glowed brightly with the stars, stellar clouds on the ceiling of the cube, Leela lead them all through the night lit forest back to the place they arrived, Rocky decided to tag along with his paw hands behind the head humming away, Gilda, Gale, Glacier and Celestia followed behind them.
Leela pulled out a sheet of loose paper form her book, lifting it up to Celestia, she took it with her magic. “That Princess Celestia is for your eyes alone, this is the rune glyph spell for teleportation to here.”
Celestia looked at the scroll, the rune glyph symbols for the spell. “Is this the only way to get here?”
“Yeah it is, quite the ride too, getting sucked inwards to be thrown out in another location, quite the thrill ride!” Rocky laughed. “Leelee launched me through one right into the sea, she did it to try and stop me from being annoying.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised to hear that?”
Rocky shrugged. “What can I say? When ya made without a age limit, pretty much can take anything ya get thrown at ya, I found ways to pick up a hobby or a few hundred, one being pillow collection.”
Gale tilt his head. “Leela made you without limits?”
“Nah, I do have limits cub, just can't age or die, while the book exist, I am pretty much connected to it as she is, just have better coverage in distance, as in no limits, so I can be in one part of the universe and the book in another part, I'll still be able to sing the blues!” He chuckled. “Isn't that right Leelee?”
Leela pat the book a little. “His right, while this exist he and I do, but while I have limited connection range and full access to the magic, he has unlimited range and no access to the book's magic.”
Rocky gave her a hug with the arm around the back of her neck, hand paw resting on the shoulder. “Pretty much what she said, but even I am without that kind of magic, I have my own.”
Gilda knew that all too well. “I found that out the hard way chasing you all over the place Trash Panda.”
“Too right, Doll!” He gave her a wink. “But totally worth the chaos though?”
Gilda chuckled. “Yep.” She saw him let go of the hug from Leela. “No hugs, only one that can is Gale, even I tell him to stop it, I know he won't.” Gale grinned and Gilda shook her head.
Ricky snap his fingers. “Darn, and I give good hugs!”
Gilda grinned. “Gale, do your thing.”
Gale launched himself at Ricky, giving him a big hug. “Whoa, tight! That some hug!” Ricky approved returning the hug.
Nightingale was staring at the sky sitting by the pond, Celestia step up to her. “Nightingale?”
“Hmm?” She glance over to her.
“Quite the night ceiling isn't it?” Celestia looked up at it too.
Nightingale return to gazing at it, the stellar gases moving around, with the tickling of the stars. “It is mum, I never seen a night sky quite like this, I know it isn't real, but it just have that awstruck feeling, one I never thought I have upon looking at a night sky, no offence to aunty Luna, but I think Leela got her beat.”
Celestia laughed. “I believe she does, just don't tell my sister I agreed, okay?”
“It be our secret.” Nightingale put a claw to the beak.
Leela open the book up, pulling out the teleportation rune glyph spell, setting it down before them. “Once you all are inside, I will trigger the completion of the spell and send you all back to the Canterlot Gardens, just hope Princess Luna is prepared.”
Celestia turn to her. “I am sure she will.”
Glacier grabbed Leela's arm. “Before we go, can I have a quiet word to the side?”
“Glacier, what is it?” Celestia asked.
Glacier turn to Celestia. “Something I can't say, it a matter on a personal note, something that is to me.”
Leela look to the saddle bag and back to the talon, followed up to the eyes looking down upon her. “That personal hmm?”
“Yes.”
“Very well, let's go and come over here, Rocky hold the fort for a moment please?”
“Since ya asked nicely, sure thing Leelee.” He gave a two finger salute against his forehead, and out to her.
Leela and Glacier walked a bit away from them, then a dome appear around them. “Silent spell, no way of knowing what they saying, even made it solid so we can't watch their beaks either.” Nightingale stated looking at the dome.
Gale just shrugged. “Private is private, respect it right?”
“That we do son.” Celestia nodded.
Gilda tap it. “I am curious what they are talking about.”
After a few minutes the dome drops. “All done, ready to go”
Leela open her book. “I will continue my research on the matter we talked about, Glacier.”
Nightingale curiously looked at both of them. “What kind of research?”
Glacier writing in her book. “It private, with Leela having everything written in that damn book, I needed her to do some private research for me.”
“And I agreed to it.” Leela stated. “Nothing to worry about.” She closed the book up. “Nothing at all.” Rocky frowned with his arms crossed but didn't say anything. “All of you step in the circle, I have a promise to keep, rather not tick off Princess Luna.”
They all stepped into the circle. “Bye bye Leela! See you again?”
“Of course Master Wayne, we will keep in touch.” Leela creates a book with her own magic, sending it over to him, he took it to see a black feather on the cover of the yellow book. “It maybe look blank, but when you write in it, I will be able to see what you wrote to me, in turn I be able to respond on the paper, like this.” She open her book, moving her claw finger around.
The book glows, Gale looked surprised as he opened it to see what Leela wrote in her book. “Whoa! That cool! Text Book!” He hugged it tightly. “Thank you for awesome gift!”
“It my pleasure Master Wayne,” she bowed to him.
Celestia's eyes fell upon the book and to Leela. “Sunset...” She whispered.
Gale held it up to her, with the plush tucked under his wing. “Look it a Text Book!” He said happily to her.
“It sure is.” She smiled back. “Now hold on tight to it and your plush, we going to be flying out when we teleport to our destination.”
“Okay mum!”
She looked around. “We all ready?”
“Sure.” Gilda said.
“I am good to go.” Nightingale nodded.
Glacier adjusted her stance. “Ready as I can be.”
Celestia nodded to Leela. “We ready, it now or never.”
Leela cast the last part of the rune, it lifts up around them and spins, than fold in pulling them in, the teleportation completed. “Is the door unlocked?”
“Yes it-” Leela turn to see a cloud of smoke, a dust trail leading to the cottage. “Oh come on you bloody raccoon! Can't you not steal my pillows just this once!?” She jumped on the book, it flew back to the cottage.
Gilda stepped off the train at the Griffonstone station, she sighed in relief to being home, after what happened in the week from her birthday, the wish reality, regenerating energy to a cubic prison, she needed some sense of normality now, the griffon open her wings taking off to the massive tree in the distance.
“Finally get to go home, deal with greedy griffons two face griffons, sound like music to me.” Gilda flew to the city, to land at the arching entrance, she noticed Gabby just on the outskirts, she sitting just in front of it. “Hey Gabriella!”
Gabby waved to her. “Gilda! How was your week?”
Gilda landed in front of her. “A very very crazy week! I am just glad to be home for once, get to face off with greedy griffons.”
Gabby move her head back a little with surprise. “Gilda are you feeling okay? You NEVER say anything like that!”
“Ooooh trust me dweeb, after being sent to a wish reality to being in a cubic ecosystem, this I am looking forward to.” Gilda walked by heading into the city.
Gabby turn walking alongside her. “I LOVE to hear everything about it!”
Gilda chuckled. “I be glad to do so, come on back to my place.”
“How Gale anyway?”
“After everything that happened, pretty chilled, he even got a sister now.”
“SISTER? Like another other than you?” Gabby said with surprise.
Gilda nodded. “Yeah, that griffon was lead to believe for almost all her life the world she called home was fake, one with strings pulled, even it was fake, it wasn't to her, it was her reality and now it gone, who knows how Nightingale will be in the next coming weeks, with all the crazy stuff, it was a good distraction for her.” Gilda said as they approached her house, opening the door with the key, Gilda allow Gabby in. “That not the only thing, she-” Gilda closed the door.
Peering around the corner of a house wall, Gale watched them enter, he held up the plushy self. “It like Gilda said, it messy, run down, even griffons are meanies too.” He whispered to it. “Maybe we shouldn't come?”
“No you shouldn't.” Gale clenched up tight to his plush, slowly turning his head to the white and blackish grey griffon bearing over him. “Gale what made you think of coming to Griffonstone? Even what Gilda said to me about this version of it to the one I use to rule over in Griffina?” Nightingale lower herself to him. “Luckily mum knew what you would do and asked me to follow.”
Gale tilt his head. “Mum anger?”
“She upset for sure, but mum knew this would happen, so lucky for you.” She poked his beak with her claw. “You got a big sister that managed to sway her from grounding you when we get back, but she will make sure to not let you do this kind of stunt again.” Nightingale look upon the sun setting. “As for learning more about this place, you need bits and the right griffon with the right information.” She showed the bag of bits to Gale, she put the bag away in the saddle bag.
Gale suddenly leap back as water land in front of him, he smelt it and realised it wasn't water. “Gross! Gross gross gross! Why you do that!?” Gale look up at the griffon that tossed it, angrily speaking at him.
“Whatever cub! You should watch where you are walking! It not my fault!” The griffon growled slamming the wooden shutters shut.
Nightingale looked at the mess. “That is very nasty, not much running water or loo felicities... This place really have gone down hill...” Nightingale look towards the castle. “I believe we can camp out at the castle, it look like the place haven't been used in hundreds of years.”
Gale nodded. “Okay, no expect it be this bad, it real bad isn't?”
“It is...” Nightingale sighed. “Good thing I left my regal gear behind or I wouldn't have seen that, knowing griffons how they see those with money, they would show a different side, for the worth of bits, it one of the things Gilda told me, glad she did.” Nightingale took to the air with Gale following her towards the castle built on the large tree, two large branches either side with homes sitting on, or against them.
They walked in through the main entrance, pushing the large doors open, inside where armour should be displayed, banners, stone statues, many were missing, the throne was even gone. “This is place where idol sat on!” Gale pulled out a book from his bag, he open it to show Nightingale.
Nightingale look at the picture and at the large stump. “The Idol of Boreas, who would of thought this is where they displayed it hmm?”
Gale nodded walking around it. “Gilda told me, it was taken.”
“Most likely by the creature with one eye.” Gale turn to Nightingale. “In the reality I believed was real, still do in my heart.” She place her talon on the chest. “One stormy day around 200 years ago a creature, he name was Arimaspi, a giant goat-like cyclops from a faraway lands, never knew why he came to steal it, only know he didn't get far to escape.”
Nightingale took Gale to a hole in the wall, they look through it to a gorge. “Why he go to gorge?”
“It was a land-bridge, destroyed by lightning, it goes over what called the Abysmal Abyss, chance had it, while his attempt to flee lightning hit, he was sent to his doom deep into it.”
A few coughs caught their attention. “You know the tale.” The old griffon coughed again, he was wearing a red fez on his head, with one eye grey with a scar through it. “Who are you two wipper snappers? Why are you in here?”
Nightingale step up to him, pulling out a bag of bits. “Stay here for shelter for a few nights, getting to see what Griffonstone turned into.” She put five gold bits into his talon. “I believe we have agreement?”
He bit into one of the bits with his beak. “We good.” He put the bits in his fez, putting it back on his head. “Now that griffon I know, I seen a few papers on him, your that cub that Princess Celestia adopted, finally choose to see Griffonstone huh?”
Gale standing close to Nightingale, he nodded. “Yes, curious and knew bad place is, but want see anyway.”
“You got guts, prince.” He point the stick at Gale. “Lucky for you, the only other that I know of that read the papers is Gabby, that annoying too friendly for her own good griffon.” He grumbled. “Now you, something about you strike me as odd.” He took a good look with his good eye. “Your feathers are shifting in colour, large amount of magic must be cursing through your feathers.”
Nightingale watched him circle them. “What of it?”
The old griffon look up and down. “You have a striking resemblance to our first king, in fact it look like you have part of Princess Celestia's look on you too.” He smiled. “Oh it couldn't be.” He coughed. “So legends are true! You are the lost Princess of Griffonstone! The daughter of Grover and Celestia!”
Nightingale was taken back by the fact he knew. “Okay, I have to admit and dare to ask... How?”
“Give me another ten bits, not only your secret is safe with me, but I gladly tell you how.”
Nightingale pulled out another ten bits giving them to him. “You try to swindle me for me, I will make sure that goat not the only thing to go in that gorge, are we clear?”
The griffon took the bits and put them in his fez. “Fine, to make it official so I do keep my beak shut, we pinky promise.” He raised the talon up, brought up the pinky claw to Nightingale. “You know of the binding promise of a griffish pinky promise, correct?”
Nightingale put her pinky claw around his. “I do, and I know what happens when you break this magical binding promise.”
“Good.” They shook. “Now the promise sealed in magic, I can't tell a soul about you.”
“The question is why?”
“Because sometimes it not always about those delicious gold coins, it about knowing what others don't.” He chuckled. “Now here how I know, I was there at the fall of King Guto, the lose of the idol, the night the storm took that foul beast to the abyss to never be seen again, he the one that gave me this.” The griffon point to his eye. “As for you, I dug up Grover's old journey from in here, before it was taken by some griffon that would of sold it to some idiotic pony for a few coin.”
Nightingale again surprised. “You kept my dad's journey?”
He smirked. “So what he said about Celestia being a griffon is true, as I promised no to say anything about you, I have to keep my word on that little nugget too, not that you get the journey, it would cost you a million bits before I let that go, enjoy your stay.” He turn and leave the castle grounds chuckling as he left.
“Nightingale, is it weird, that I believe odd old griffon?”
“No Gale it isn't, cause I also believe him.” Nightingale said to Gale. “The question is...” She walk up the steps with Gale following behind her. “Why did he promise to keep my identity a secret? He could of black mail me forever with it, instead he opt for ten bits and a promise, what does he gain from this?”
Gale looked around the corridors as they walked. “I do not know, confused...”
Nightingale step up to a door, with a talon hovering over it. “This was my room, well in the other reality, we will set up a tent and stay here, okay?”
Gale nodded. “Okay!”
Nightingale felt a warmth of magic come off the door as her talon came in contact with it, she opened it and what they saw was-
As the door opened the first thing they saw was a large purple diamond in the middle of the room, held up by six gold stands attached to a gold brace around it base, as they stepped inside the two griffons noticed there was written noted papers, sketches attached to walls, and tables, also scattered on them were different open, and closed books both on the tables and floor, some of these sheets of notes and sketches also scattered around on the stone floor.
Gale and Nightingale entered the large room, one of the other things that they noticed was the concave mirrors above the diamond, four of them, another two above them, all attached to the ceiling. “No windows, strange glowing crystal.” Nightingale put her talon against it, feeling a strange warmth from the touch. “I wasn't expecting any of this to be in here, I was expecting a empty run down room.”
Gale walked around the purple diamond, he curiously picked up a book. “Zebraian, the language and history of Zebra kind?”
“Sound like a research book.” Nightingale said, she walk up to some sheets of paper, picking up the ones with drawings on it. “A sphere on this one.”
Gale put the book down, he picked up a piece of paper. “This spell.” Gale showed it to Nightingale, the took another seeing one about dimensional travel. “This notes on dimensional travel spell.”
Nightingale came over to Gale, taking it. “This is weird, who ever was here, were researching on spells, zebras and some sort of sphere, what exactly were who ever was in here doing?”
Gale shrugged. “No idea.”
“Let's check out more of this stuff to find out who was in here, and what they were trying to do, okay?”
“Okay.” Gale walked over to another spot of the room, picking up some notes, even some maths on a few pages. “Confusing...” Gale turn to see a pull rope tied up to the wall, he walked up to it. “Nightingale, found rope, should I pull?”
Nightingale not exactly paying attention reading through some of the papers. “Sure Gale, go ahead.”
Gale put his plush down, with his bag, he reached up and untied the rope, with a pull on one side of the pull rope, he turn to see part of the ceiling start to open up. “Ceiling opening!”
Nightingale rose her head. “Huh?” She looked up seeing moon light come through the opening, it hits the reflective mirrors, that in turn hit the other four mirrors till each of the now four parts of moon light shined over the purple diamond. “Well... At least we know what those mirrors were for, the question is, what exactly does moon light have to do with the diamond.”
“We find out?”
“Yep we do.” They turn to the diamond as it start to glow from the four spots of impact, it spreading out over the four points to cover the whole diamond. “It reacting to the moon light, whoever did all this really knew what they were doing.” Nightingale step up to it once again, it glow now lighting up the whole room.
The light shined out of the door, this caught the attention of a pair of blue eyes.
Gale picked up his plush, walking around to Nightingale. “Could it be like viewing crystal thing?”
“Viewing crystal?” Nightingale asked.
“It under throne room, it big shiny crystal hanging above table, it show map of Equestria.” Gale recalled.
Nightingale turned her head. “Why would mum have something like that under the throne room?”
Gale thought about it. “Almost war with Guto, war almost but never happened.” He answered.
“War with the griffons? That would be around 200 years ago, how did things get that bad?” Nightingale learned a little about how divided griffons and ponies were at one point. “Could this be Guto's?”
Gale shrugged. “No idea.”
Nightingale turn back to the crystal. “Let's find out.” Nightingale place the talon on it, the reaction they got was a blow back of energy, papers flew all over the place from it, books open with pages flipping over.
The blinding flash made it hard to see at first what happened, but as it cleared a old see through griffon stood before them. “Hello Grovelia Nightingale Solarclaw, it comes with a heavy heart that you are hearing this, it means all my efforts to free you from that cursed sphere had failed, I stand before you old and with about ten years, or more with this ticker of mine.”
“D-dad...” Nightingale whimpered with a soft gasp. “It Grover... My dad...” She said to Gale, they watch the old griffon limp around the glowing purple diamond.
“I designed this spell to react to moonlight and your touch, it the only way you could be hearing this now, many years after I am most likely gone, time past beyond this old griffon.” He softly said with a raspy voice. “I found out you were trapped in the sphere so early on, I worked on ways to getting you out, in the early years I was close till that blasted zebra Zerra blocked me from contacting you.” He hit the fist against the table top, than clawed it hard.
Nightingale and Gale, they went to the table, pushing some of the papers away to see the claw marks in the wooden table. “Dad...” She placed her talon over the groves.
Grover had moved away walking around, picking up a paper looking at it, the transparent display showed Celestia on it. “I loved Celestia was all my heart, still do.” He softly smiled. “I never told her how close I was to you, or what I was trying to do, I did a lot of research on the Zebras, even visit their lands to discover about that Wish Shaman Zerra...” He growled. “That blasted zebra escaped his prison, he not only took you away from us, but he prevented all my damn efforts to rescue you!”
Nightingale had tears falling, Gale hugged her and put his plush in her talon, he nodded to her to hug it tightly, and she did as they continue to watch Grover walk a full circle, now turn to face the diamond itself.
“This viewing crystal, a unquie diamond I found in the ruins of a old island griffon nation, the first I think, it were I found the Idol of Boreas, how I brought all the griffons together once more, it why I found love with that wonder solar princess, how we brought to the world the most beautiful daughter I only held on her first day to the world, I never got to see you again but I know you are hearing this and that make me proud.”
What made her freeze up is when he turn to her directly, he slowly walked right up to her raising a talon, the magical weaves of energy touching her feathers, she leaned into it feeling as if he touching her.
“Yet I got this very moment, I can't see you but I can feel you my little Nightingale, I am happy that Celestia gave you it, Grovelia is a bit bland.” He smiled with tears falling. “Be the princess of us griffons, help them, be there for all their hopes and dreams, if greed come back, you beat it out of them daughter, as for I.” He let go.
Nightingale reach out to have the talon pass through him. “D-dad...”
“I am going to Canterlot for one last time, tell Celestia I am going to the Arctic Circle, one last adventure of this old griffon, one last chance to maybe see you again my little Nightingale, I am going to make it very hard for her to follow me, if she tries, and I know Celestia will, she won't be able to find me and most likely never told you or anyone of it.”
He turn one last time looking directly at Nightingale. “Don't blame your mother, I did this and locked all this away from her, if anything I am the stubborn old griffon that refused her help, not after she almost killed herself to save you, that creation of the sphere was that cursed Zerra's plan, if you ever encounter that damn zebra, throw that creature in the Abysmal Abyss, let him root in the depths of that gorge for all entity!”
Nightingale's tears continue to fall. “If I can, I will dad... For you and mum... He deserve no mercy...”
The old griffon put his talon on the crystal, it glowing brightly, his eyes widen. “Nightingale! Oh I see you!” His eyes spark with new energy and life.
“Dad!” She sobbed.
“I do not know who with you, but the way he hugging you, I say little brother? Maybe? If that so, be that big sister.” He chuckled softly with joy of tears. “I am going to Canterlot, I won't share this with your mother, I will if this work, see you whenever I see you now, this isn't goodbye for now but till next time.” He let go of the diamond.
They watched him fade and the diamond dims, it till pulsing with magical energy from the moonlight hitting it. “H-he saw us?” Gale managed to say.
“I don't care how... I am just happy he did!” She turn, lift Gale up giving him a big hug. “This is a wonderful gift and surprise! Thank you for coming here Gale! I wouldn't have found it if it wasn't for you sneaking off to Griffonstone.” She span him around with cheer in her voice. “You are amazing little brother!”
Gale laughed. “Amazing, awesome and adorable!” He squawked.
Nightingale placed him down poking his beak with the claw tip, and giving back his plush. “That you are Gale, your a Tripe AAA griffon!” She giggled.
A sound of stone falling catches their attention, they turn to the door way, curiously peeking out of it they found a little blue jay preening itself on part of a damaged wall, it stopped staring at both of them. “Cute birdy.” Gale raise his talon up to it. “Hi little bird.” He said softly to it.
The bird fluttered it wings, then with a few flaps flew from the wall to perch itself on the claw Gale had out, it tweets to him, he whistle a little back, it flutters it wings tilting it head a few times. “Look like the little guy like you Gale.” Nightingale whispered, giving it a little stroke on the head.
“Go to family little bird.” He raise his talon up, the bird chirps and flies off down the corridor. “We look through stuff?”
Nightingale walk back in, pulling on the rope to close the ceiling up, cutting the moonlight off. “Not tonight, we had enough surprises for now, the room not been disturbed since we came, one more night won't hurt, it not going anywhere.” She picked up his bag, walking out closing the door behind her.
“Where we go?”
“To another room that is empty, we will set up camp there.” Gale nodded, he followed Nightingale.
Gallus pinned to the wall around the corner breathed relief as he heard the door closed, and the two griffons walking away from the room, he peer around the corner to see them gone. “Good timing on that bird, I woul of been spotted otherwise.” He whispered.
The blue griffon walked up the corridor, he turn to the- “Where the door?” He put his talon on the wall, feeling it, than stood up on his hind legs placing the other talon on it. “That impossible, the door was right here! Where is the stupid door!”
Gallus padded his talons against the wall in hope of finding the door, even clawing at it, no results came as only claw marks and stone wall was all he got. “I know it was right here, where did it-” He turn to see a single piece of paper on the ground, dropping back down on all fours, he walked up to it and picked it up.
Turning the paper around to find a sketch with measurements of two griffons holding a cub and holding up a sphere. “This look like some sort of statue, did King Grover draw this?” He saw Grover on it, the other he guessed must have been Princess Celestia as a griffon, the cub being held by them must be Grovelia, the griffon with the cub Gale.
“So... It was there and now it isn't...” He turn to the wall. “No wonder no griffon knew it was there, to all of us it was a plan old wall, it must be some weird magic cast over it, only Groveler and that cub saw it cause they related to King Grover.” Gallus concluded, rolling up the paper, putting it under his wing. “Now to find where they went.” He slowly and quietly walked.
For about ten to twenty minutes he peered around corners, moving from one level to the other, looking for Gale and Grovelia, till he saw flame light coming out of a room, he quietly moved towards it, peering quickly around the corner to see Gale sitting in front of the fire on top of a sleeping bag, next to him on another was Grovelia.
“Nightingale?” Gale spoke without looking over to her direction.
“Yes Gale?”
“Can we go see Gilda tomorrow?”
“She most likely be surprised and annoyed at you coming here, you know that right?” Gale nodded. “Yet you want to go see her anyway?” He nodded again. “Very well little brother, we go see your honorary sister.”
Gale shook his head. “She like big sister, like you big sister, I have two big sisters!”
Nightingale put her wing around him, pulling the cub close to her. “That we are, you little cheeky cub.” He laughed as she rubbed her talon over his feathered head. “Finish your hot chocolate and we get some shut eye okay?”
“Okay Nightingale.” Gale said, he looking at the night sky in front of them past the dancing flames. “It a pretty night sky.”
“It sure is, we got front row seats to it too.”
Gallus listened for a bit more, he sat on his hunches holding his tail with both talons, the young teenage cub sighed softly. “Wish I had that kinda thing, but I don't, so no need to mope about it.” Gallus let go of his tail, the blue griffon walked away from the door.
After a short decline he leaves the castle, flapping his wings to head back to his home, glancing back he could see the camp fire at the castle, it soon dims and goes out. “Tomorrow I'll confront them on this.” He held up the rolled up drawing in his talon staring at it for a second before he continue his flight home.
Gallus woke up pushing the Wonderbolt bed sheets off himself, sitting up with a yawn, morning light shining through some of the wooden boards bring a bit of light into his home, the blue griffon reach over to a box opening it to find nothing in it. “No bits, no food, no water, lousy way to start the day...” He grumbled with a short yawn, slapping his beak a few times.
Gallus recalled how he ended up with no bits, just before going to the castle he ended up giving up all his bits to a bunch of griffons he owned money too, they took more than he owned. “At least I don't own any bits to any more griffons.” He grumbled under his breath, the stomach growls a bit with a sick feeling coming to it.
Gallus picked on a saddle back and take off towards the castle, ignoring his hunger pains.
“If I am going to get any bits, I need access to that room.” He whispered to himself as the flight over the houses quickly came to a end upon landing at the steps of the castle. “Time to play them.” Gallus walked inside.
When he got to the floor they were sleeping at, Gallus nostrils caught whiff of something that made his stomach growl, the sick pain of having nothing to eat now worsen, he peered around the corner to see Gale holding a frying pan over a heat plate placed over the campfire, he swishing the mix turning solid.
“What is that?” Gallus whispered to himself. “I never smelt anything like that...” He continued to watch Gale.
Gale flipped it over. “Nightingale, want seconds?”
Nightingale eating her pancake swallowed before she answered. “Oh no, I think what you made already for me was filling enough, mum really knows how to teach you to make these didn't she?”
Gale nodded. “Yes, pancakes like, pancakes fun to make.”
Gallus raise a eye brow. “Pancakes?” He whispered, his stomach growls again.
Gale's ears twitch to the sound, Gallus quickly hid behind the wall as Gale turn towards his directly. “What is it Gale?”
“I heard stomach talk.” Gale said.
Nightingale laughed a little. “Stomach talk?”
“Yeah, when stomach make growling gurgling sound, stomach talk.”
Gallus sit on his hunches against the wall, staring down at his stomach area. “Stupid stomach, keep quiet will ya?” He hissed quietly to his stomach, but it refused with another growl, then he came up with a sudden idea, he could use this to his advantage. “I know I am hunger, I know I haven't had anything for the last few days, just keep it down.” He whispered to his stomach pretending to plead it to stop.
Gale peer around the corner seeing Gallus holding his stomach, it gurgling sounds quite loud. “Nightingale, found stomach talk, it from blue griffon!”
“Blue griffon?” She step out of the room seeing Gallus too, she walked up to him, the blue eyes turn to her and he scrambled back a little from her. “Easy there cub, I am not going to do anything to you.” She stopped moving raising a talon in a non-threatening manner. “I am Nightingale, this is my little brother Gale.” He waved to Gallus.
Gallus played into it, seeing the plan was working, he gave a fearful reaction, with a lump in his throat the blue griffon spoke out his name. “G-Gallus...”
Gale was inches away from him, Gallus stared wearily at the cub as he curious look over him. “You hunger?” Gallus nodded a little, his stomach growled. “Come! Sit and eat with us!” Gale grabbed him by the foreleg, pulling him up on his talon and paws, with the other talon held by Gale he was lead into the room.
Gale let go of Gallus' foreleg, racing up to the pan he put the mix in and started to cook, Nightingale poured some tea from a flask into a metal cup, she claw it over to Gallus, he took it silently sitting down on his rump, he knew Gale from the picture he saw, also Gilda being his teacher, the idea of getting access to Grover's secret room was working.
The lack of bits, trash that was useful to resale, and no real eatable food in the last few days, no way he was begging for scraps from Grandpa Gruff, Gallus didn't want to indebted to that old griffon even he was Gallus' guardian, he needed the bits badly, playing these two royal griffons will get him what needed.
Nightingale watched the blue griffon drink the tea she gave him, he been silently staring at Gale, lost in deep thought too, Gale happily humming away as he cooked the pancakes for Gallus, Nightingale was aware from what Gilda told about the griffons of Griffina and this city, she had a crafty idea how to beat this cub at his own game, knowing he most likely thinking of one right this second.
“Making pancakes bring a smile, Making pancakes are fun Making Pancake! Making pancakes! Making pancakes bring a smile~!” Gale song happily as he continue to make them, Gallus raise a eye brow staring with an dumbfounded expression at the yellow griffon, he doing a little spin and flipping the pancakes over.
“Wh-what is he doing?” Gallus whispered to himself.
Nightingale used the time during Gale making pancakes for Gallus to come up with a plan, how it would benefit them and Gallus at the same time, play the game but making it fair all around at the same time.
Gale finished cooking the pancakes, he slid them onto a plate, added sugar over them and put a knife and folk on the side of it, he twist around to present it to Gallus. “Enjoy~!” Gale warmly smiled.
Gallus slowly took the plate. “Yeah... Sure... Thanks...” All that managed to escape his beak, staring at this weird griffon, he made Gabby at this second seem less weird.
Nightingale chuckled at how the blue griffon were left totally confused over Gale's hyper happiness, the cub really was in a good mood.
Gallus place the plate on his lap, he took the cuttery, Gale watched with eagerness as Gallus cut a piece of pancake, and with the folk put it into his beak, soon as he started to chew on it the sweet flavour of it filled his beak. “Whoa! These are really good!” Gallus really went to town on it, happily eating the pancakes.
Gale squawk in delight, with a jump and fist pump showing his overwhelming joy of seeing a griffon happy, for Nightingale she was more caution of Gallus, she couldn't tell this was played or for real, she wasn't going to let her guard down upon this teenage griffon, looking out to the city of Griffonstone an idea finally came to mind.
Nightingale walked over to the camping bag, putting her talons into it to fill the small pouch, pulling it out with a jingle of coins in it. “Play by their game, beat them at their game and maybe, just maybe sway one to work with you.” She whispered, glancing over to Gallus, the teen distracted with enjoying the breakfast.
Gale had calmed down a little eating his own breakfast. “Yummy...” He said with glee, fluttering his wings. “I make good pancakes, mum be proud!”
Gallus finished off his plate, licking the last off it. “Yeah you did.” Gallus had to accept Gale really blew him away with the pancakes, now for his neck phase of the plan, get their trust and move in. “So what bring you two to Griffonstone? It not the kindest place around.”
Before Gale could say something a bag land by Gallus with a jingling of coins, some falling out of it, Gallus looked at the coins and back to Nightingale. “I got a deal for you cub, there thirty bits inside that bag, you give us a tour of the city, give us the scope and chat with the griffons, at the end I'll give you another thirty bits on top.”
Gallus stared at her, slowly moved his eyes away to the bag of bits. “What stopping me from just taking this and run?”
“Than run, I won't stop you, that down payment either you accept my deal or not.” Nightingale responded. “So Gallus, take your pick.” She holding the second bag of bits on her talon, tossing it up and catching it, repeating the process. “I gather you need these bits more than for greed, way your stomach was growling, I say you had a patch of bad luck.”
Gallus eyes now glued on the bag of bits being tossed and caught by Nightingale, he knew she just played him into her own trap, that when he realised she might know what his game is. “So what I am having a run of bad luck? What is it to you or him? It my problem and I deal with it without some stupid charity!” He put the bits back in the bag and tossed it at her.
Nightingale caught it. “It not charity, you accepted food from strangers.” She toss it back at Gallus, he caught it. “Griffons that could of conned you into doing something being in debt, but I am willing to pay you for the tour of this run down city, you look like the type that knows more than he letting on.”
“So what if I am! I might be just taking advantage of your good will!” He tossed it back.
“Than why are you arguing with me and not going!” She tossed it back.
“Maybe I just like to be mean!”
“Really? That a pretty weak!”
“Your weak you freak!”
“Your one to talk! Your blue!”
“You have glowing feathers and a tail brush! Your one to talk!”
“I get that from my mothers side you little brat!”
“Your the brat!”
“You are!”
Gale was turning his head to Gallus than to Nightingale, back again as they threw the bag back and forwards, throwing words at each other, trying to out do the other, Gale decided this was going no where, he flew up catching it. “Stop this!” He squawked loudly at them both. “No one argue! Take bits help us, we give other bits afterwards! That all we ask!” Gale tossed the bag at Gallus. “Big sister pride getting way! Stop and think! Mum no want this!” He turned after throwing the bag glaring at Nightingale.
The blue griffon caught it with both talons, the strength from Gale's throw winded him slightly. “Ooookay... I'm good with that...” Gallus slowly nodded. “But expect a lot of slamming doors.”
Gale pulled out from his own bag a pouch. “They greedy for bits, they get bits for talk! Problem solved!”
“That would work.” Gallus slowly look past him at Nightingale.
Nightingale stared back. “That would, so your willing?”
“Get him mad? No thank you, he just ended a argument in ten seconds flat.” Gallus held tight the pouch of bits. “And no way I am going to even try to con you guys, his terrifying.” Gallus turn to Gale. “Yeah I am talking about you.” He walked up to Gale. “I can see you putting Grandpa Gruff in his place, I can see Gilda been rubbing off on ya, that wicked.”
Gale took a few deep breaths. “You caused me anger, no like it.”
“Maybe, but you know how to cook, that another thing Gilda good at too, her scones are the best.” Gallus turn walking away from them. “Meet me in half a hour outside the castle, I'd be there.” He leaves the room.
Nightingale looked around making sure Gallus was gone before walking back to Gale. “Gale thank you.”
Gale was relieved. “Gallus no will go to room?”
“Hopefully not, if the plan holds, I'll sway him that it be worth more to work with me for the betterment of griffons.” Nightingale walk over to the hole looking down, Gallus leaving the castle flying back to the ground level buildings. “I am glad you found this feather.” She pulled it out from under her wing.
Gale took a cup of dirt putting it over the fire to put it out. “It griffon feather, it only matches him, but I mean what I mean, I very happy to help, happy he loved pancakes!”
“That I know little brother, your overwhelming joy is something, but I gathering that your status played a factor too, most likely he know about you being the son of our mother.” Gale joined her looking upon the morning lit buildings.
“Gilda?”
“If she told him, than somewhere inside he has a good heart, we just need to reach it.” Gale nodded.
Gale turn to start rolling up his sleeping bag. “We clean up, we go meet Gallus, meet meany griffons, get tour of city, than see Gilda, and Gabby!”
“That sound like a solid plan, Gale.” Nightingale helped him, taking the pan putting it in a bowl of water, the hissing steam coming off the hold metal surface. “I wonder how mean they can really be...”
Gale thought about it too. “If what happened between both you, than griffons could be worse?”
“It did get heated didn't it?” Gale nodded. “Urg... Your right, my pride did get in the way, pride of the griffons should be, not what they are.”
Gale nodded. “I pride too, we pride and kindness, they have mean and greed, they friction, we find way for neutral, today only start, tomorrow brighter future, saying goes, Griffonstone no made in a day.”
“I am 799 years old and I am getting out smarted by my little brother, who would of thought?” Nightingale laughed and so did Gale.
In the large greenhouse dome, within the massive tree at the centre of it to the very larger than normal room, Sunflower looking through her chesterdraw, she pulled out a navy blue night top from it, placing it on the bed, beside a massive window looking out at the lake. “Should I wear my night shorts too?” She hummed, with shrug pulled out a matching colour shorts placing them on top of the top.
Sunflower close the draw, turning to the bed, she put the top and shorts into a back pack. “Tent... Night gear, enough super calories food to keep me going for tonight and tomorrow, sugar high drinks, check.” She made sure to have everything needed for Ponyville. “I never thought I'd use this outside the dome, dude this is gonna to awesome!” Sunflower pat the tent kit with her paw, than zip up the back pack.
Sunflower picked up the letter on top of the chesterdraw by the alarm clock, next to a photo of her, Maple, her parents and grandpa, the letter from Pinkamena Diane Pie her pen pal, she read it out loud once more to herself.
“Hi best pen pal Sunflower! I am REALLY looking forward to seeing you in Ponyville again! But there a small tiny winny little bitty snag in it, not anything crazy or all buuuuuut, you got to come the night before just to talk with the crusaders families, Applejack, Big MacIntosh for Applebloom, Holiday and Lofty for Scootaloo, they her aunts! Annnnd Rarity for Sweeite Belle, it should be their parents but they out of town and Rarity looking after her sister at the moment!”
Sunflower trying to mimic the hyper way of Pinkie Pie put it, she coughed a bit rubbing the neck. “Pinkamena, your one hyper happy pony.” She laughed and continue to read out loud.
“Other than that, you get to meet the crusaders! Soooooooooooo meet us on the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres closest to the Everfree Forest! See you later alligator! Hehe, that one from Gummy! Isn't he a awesome pet! From your best pen pal friend, (Pinkie Pie) Pinkamena Diane Pie.” Sunflower refuse to say Pinkie, it was her pervasive.
Sunflower open another draw up, adding the letter to the many other letters from the pink pony, closing it up. “Whelp, chores done, backpack is packed, all good to go, if I leave in the next ten minutes and take the long way through Equestria, I should make by a hour before the meeting.” Sunflower said to herself.
She picked up the backpack, putting it on between her wings on the back, put her forelegs through the loops, clipping on the strap around the mid-section, the nine hooves tall finch griffon walk up to the massive door, grabbing the handle she opened the door to take a good look around her room. “See you in a few days.” Sunflower walked out closing the door behind her.
The snowy white finch griffon silently made her way through the corridors within the tree, doors she past to many apartments that were not lived in for a very long time, the time before she was even born, Sunflower wondered how busy the corridors were, how many finch griffons once lived in the tree that they called home, it was a curious question she always had in mind, this very place were and had been called home to her for almost ten years.
Sunflower knew why her parents wished for her to stay with Nanner Maple, they visited quite often and used whatever time they had to be with her, Sunflower long ago accepted her reality, and now with what happened with Zerra and the Wish Reality, the doors were cracked open to never close again. “Pandora's Box has been opened.” Sunflower whispered to herself.
The door into the holographic projector room opened, Maple walked out of it. “Stupid politics, they can shove their stupid beaks up their bloody butts.”
Sunflower stopped watching Maple walk directly across of her, unaware of the presence of an nine hooves tall finch griffon. “You shouldn't have been spotted, you know our rules, lucky for you there rules in place in case of magically incidents.” Maple did a squeaky stupid voice, doing a little jiggle with her forelegs shoulders, with a roll of her eyes. “Politics!” She snorted.
“Let me guess, you had to tell them of my visit to the fillies in Ponyville?”
Maple stopped, she quickly turn looking up at her granddaughter. “How long were you listening in this time?”
“Just showed up to get the moaning part about politics, Nanner Maple.” Sunflower chuckled. “Dude you really hate them.”
“Of course I do! The Parliament is ruled by a bunch of idiotic idiots that sit on seats in a big room shouting at each other for brownie points, to behind a desk, they wouldn't know real life if it hit them in the face with a sloppy smelly fish!” Maple flapping her wings coming up to eye level with Sunflower. “Since we both been spotted due to that crazy zebra Zerra, we can go out and about among the ponies of Equestria to the griffons of Griffina, but without saying where we truly from.”
Sunflower shrugged. “You think I tell them where we really live? Rather stun their butts and drag them back to the train station.” Sunflower smirked.
Maple shook her head. “Oh little Sunflower, you really are something.”
“That I am dude, that I am!” She laughed. “Well I got to be on my way Nanner, walk with me?”
“I'll fly.” Maple said and they made their way to the entrance. “I don't like the idea of meeting their family members, but sadly being the grandmother of the biggest griffon in the world, I can understand why Pinkie Pie wrote to you about it.”
Sunflower glancing at Nanner Maple. “Well at least you got the politics to agree to it too.”
Maple smirked. “Of course I did, it took beating words over their heads over and over again, but I got through to them after a hour of shouting at those idiots.” Maple smile fades. “Yet it a double edge sword for me, now I got no excuse to see my husband in Griffonstone tomorrow.” Maple sighed softly, her head lowered.
Sunflower knew she was still married, but kept it under the rug for many years, pretending to not to be, a secret that were an lie. “The lie finally caught up, Nanner?”
“Yes it did, Sunflower, and now I got to face the 100th anniversary music.”
“I never understood why you two clash so often, it as if you two did it on purpose.”
“Sad thing is... We did Sunflower, we really did cause this divide between us.” Maple confirmed what Sunflower just said, to the large griffon's surprise to hear this too. “He and I knew that I never will grow old, we tried everything possible, I even used experimental technology with magic to extend his life, he the only one to have it period, that why his still as sharp minded as ever, it not the mind is going but the body, like all things part from the few of us, the time comes.”
The doors open and they step outside the tree standing before the path to the gate. “Is it also to do with Pistol? The fact we know his still alive in some pocket universe fizzing in and out of space, time and dimensions?” Sunflower lift her forepaw up to Maple, with a finger gently place it against the side of the face of her Nanner.
Maple let out a deep breath before answering. “That as well, how do you tell the first love and was gonna marry, that you are still married to a old grouching grumpy griffon?”
Sunflower move her forepaw away putting it back down. “That something you have to figure out Nanner, it your 190 plus year romance after all, even it took you two 90 of that to get married, than another 50 odd to finally have children, hence why we stand here are talk.”
“And witty as well smart.” Maple slightly smiled. “Go on Sunflower, get your tail moving before you are late for that meeting with the fillies family, have fun and keep in contact okay?” Maple kiss her on the side of the face. “Love you little Sunflower.”
“Love you back Nanner Maple, say hi to Grandpa for me Nanner!” Sunflower use her wing to give a small pat on the head, than turn to leave walking down the path to the gate, pulling out of the side pocket of the bag a device, pressing it to open the gates up.
Maple watched her granddaughter leave, the two gates slowly closing back up. “Hello RS...” Maple turn to the field of sunflowers, the griffon step out of them.
Glacier glance to the doors. “Sound like we have something in common.”
“Maybe, but our love lives isn't why you are here.”
“Nope it isn't, I am here because we need to talk.”
Maple saw the seriousness in her eyes. “Ah one of those is it?”
“Indeed.” Glacier simply responded.
“Come on in RS, I also have it ready for you.”
“You do?”
Maple turn to walk inside. “You gave me a challenge and I think you will like the results my friend, after all, we are both impossible griffons, aren't we?”
“That we are sweetie.” Glacier follow her inside.
“Now RS, what is it you needed to talk to me about?”
Gale and Nightingale walked out of the castle, the two griffons looked upon the city from high above, griffons were out and about, some flying by them going about their day, one thing they noticed right off the bat was a few fly almost into each other, followed by arguing and flying off the opposite direction.
“Why they anger with each other? Why no say sorry and fly on?” Gale asked with confusion.
Gallus land in front of them. “That just the norm around here, grumble, anger and mean, including the desire for bits and other valuables on top of that.” Gallus explained.
Nightingale took a good look around. “I gather they won't shut us down, or slam doors in our faces if we present a few bits of a few minutes of their time?”
Gallus shrugged. “Maybe, never bothered trying, no griffon in fact has.”
“That doesn't vote any confidence in getting to the root of this problem, and maybe solving it.”
Gallus chuckled. “Yeah you won't get far on that, it most likely take a life time to do that.”
“Good thing I got all the time in the world.” Nightingale slyly smirked.
Gallus frowned. “What the heck does that suppose to mean?” He lied, as he knew she was somewhere close to 800 years old after he listened in on her and Gale.
Nightingale hummed. “Pay me 799 bits and I might tell you.” She winked.
Gallus pretend to be taken back by the shear amount. “W-what!? Y-” He continue the fake surprise of what the 799 was. “No way you are not that old!”
Nightingale grinned walking up to him, ruffing his feathered head with a talon. “Your not as dumb as you act to be, shall we begin?”
Gallus pushed her talon away. “I don't know if your pulling my tail or even saying you are, at the moment I don't want to even think about it.” Gallus open his navy blue wings up, flapping them a few times to get some lift. “Where you like to start? The ones flying, these upper tree homes or on the ground? Either way I am getting paid for this.”
“Houses here, they closet, and work down.” Gale suggested.
“Sound like a plan little brother.”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “Right, super rich, stuck up griffons first, don't blame me if they take the bits and slam the door in your beak, Grovelia.” He took off.
Gale flew after him with Nightingale. “Nightingale, he know middle name, that prove what we thought.”
“That he was Gale, don't worry I got a plan.” She winked, Gale nodded as they followed Gallus.
Gallus put his talons out to the few homes on the branch. “Knock yourselves out, I'll be right here.”
The two griffons flew up to the first house, landing at the door Nightingale gave it a few knocks with her talon. “Go sell to somegriffon else! Scram!” Came a female voice from behind the door.
Nightingale spoke back. “I am not here to sell anything, I only wish to talk.”
“Yeah right! As if I fall for that bucking trick! Get lost before I set my prized hawk on you sale's griffon!” The griffon threatened.
They left and went to the next. “Wow not even a door open, that was one stuck up griffon.” Gale nodded in response to Nightingale.
Gale knocked on the next door, it was opened by a golden brown griffon wearing a white shirt, black blazer, black bow tie with white cuffs on the forelegs and hindlegs, feathers on the head combed neatly. “Hi! I Gale, we like talk, we give bits for few questions, is okay?”
“No...” He said calmly. “I can not accept money from the common-folk, I would loss my job from my master, if you wish to speak to him, leave a letter and possible time from a meeting, payment for such meeting will be 40 bits up front and 10 bits a minute.”
Gale blinked. “No! That rip off!”
“Then be on your way.” He slam the door.
Gale snorts. “Greedy griffons...”
Nightingale's right eye twitching. “That was only two...” Nightingale look over to the other homes. “How about we go to the lower levels, these griffons are beyond talking to.”
Gale shook his head. “Try one more!” Gale flew over to another door, he knocked on it.
The door opened to a female blackish grey griffon, she look down at Gale. “Cub I am not buying any-” She noticed all he had on him was an plush of himself, carrying a set of saddle bags, wearing a bandanna and leg bands. “-Cookies...” She stared at him for a moment. “I never seen you around Griffonstone and I make it my business to know every griffon.”
“I from Canterlot! Home there! Came for weekend, curious of city Griffonstone!” Gale pulled out two bits from his bag. “Could I ask questions for bits?”
“Two bits to ask me some questions? Sure?” She open her talon out to him, he gave her the two coins, she took a good look at them. “Two questions, then go back to Canterlot, your type of griffons not welcomed here.”
Gale was curious why she said that, he was about to ask but caught on to it. “Why griffons in Griffonstone greedy and mean?”
“Ask the old coot Grandpa Gruff, next question.”
Gale blinked seeing she avoid it to put it on somegriffon else. “Erm... Do griffons here ever not mean and greedy?”
“Blue Moon festival cub, now beat it!” She slam the door in his face.
Gale turn to Nightingale. “Blue Moon Festival? Grandpa Gruff?”
Nightingale shrugged. “I don't know either of them, the Wish Reality Griffonstone had similar holidays to Equestria, in fact since I was ruler I slowly installed it to become part of Griffina culture to have holidays that brought joy, guess here it never happened.” Nightingale suggested her theory on it.
Gale looked upon the other homes on the thick large branches. “I no think others be as good.”
“I agree, we will take the lead on this Grandpa Gruff, let's go back to Gallus.” Gale nodded and they flew back to Gallus, they found him on a small branch counting his bits, splitting them apart into small piles. “Gallus, we done with the rich class.”
Gallus didn't look at them as he continued to split the coins into smaller piles. “They didn't give you the time or day?”
“First two didn't but the third gave us somewhat two answers, one being a Blue Moon Festival.”
Gallus answered. “That the one time of the year griffons are nice to each other, well nice as we can be here in Griffonstone, families get together complain about the food, give each other presents they don't like and try not to yell at each other.”
Gale frowned. “Very weird holiday...”
“Whatever Gale, it our holiday, so tough!” Gallus snapped at Gale.
Nightingale thought about it. “Fair enough, that something I might have to look deeper into, as for the second, it to do with a griffon called Grandpa Gruff.”
Gallus rolled his eyes, now gathering his bits and putting them back in the pouch. “Gee, I didn't see that coming.” He gave a sarcastic response. “The old coot live near the old run down library, he will talk your ear off about old time stuff for bits.” Gallus said as he took off down massive tree, they followed him to the ground settlement around the tree. “Should of took you there in the first place.”
Gale thought about the old griffon, thinking about the one they met in the castle. “Does he wear red fez?”
“Yeah he never take it off.” Gallus answered turning to Gale. “You met him already?”
“Yesterday night.” Nightingale confirmed. “He never told us his name, but he was old and wore a fez.”
They land on the ground, walking up to one of the buildings. “This is he home, knock yourself out.” Gallus turned away walking up to a bench, sitting on it with his forelegs behind the back of his head.
Nightingale knock on the door, soon it opened and the old griffon appear from it. “What do you youn-” He saw whom was before him. “Oh it YOU, what do you want!?”
“Some questions to be answered, you can give them for bits correct?”
Grandpa Gruff step out closing his door. “Pay, than ask and I will answer, that how I work.” He poked her. “Now Grovelia pay two bits!”
Nightingale rolled her eyes. “Here.” She gave him the bits.
He bit into them. “Good, now ask!”
“What caused the fall of Griffina, the fall of Griffonstone?”
“Oh that very simple, you like the short answer or the tale how we were once greedy, turned proud then greedy once again?”
“I'll pay you extra two bits for the tale.” Nightingale offered.
“You got a deal!” Gruff with a closed fist bang his chest a few times.
“The first griffon king, King Grover, united our kind like we've never been united before or since! And he did it all with the incredible Idol of Boreas!”
Gale gasped upon hearing it. “Griffax Boreas!” He whispered to Nightingale.
“Yes I know, now shhh.” She put a claw to her beak, Gale nodded. “Sorry about that, you may continue.”
“Right...” Gruff gave them a strange look. “As I was saying...”
“The idol brought pride to the heart of every griffon that saw it! From one king to the next, Griffonstone had our golden idol. We were the envy of all other species, it held us together – it gave us an identity – right up until the reign of King Guto.”
“Guto the betrayer, Maple said that.” Gale whispered to Nightingale, she nodded.
Gruff eyed Gale. “Guto the Betrayer did you say? Cub.”
Gale nodded. “Hmm-mmm, he went mad after losing idol, he took army to try steal griffon stuff from smart Finch Griffons, but he failed and war with Equestria no happened cause of it!”
Gruff sighed. “Yes... Shall I continue?” Gale nodded, Gallus was curious now, he never saw that look Gruff just gave, he looked a bit paler than he usually look.
“That's when Arimaspi came to steal our griffon treasure! King Guto tried to fight him off, but Arimaspi managed to get away with the idol! They say when our treasure fell into the Abysmal Abyss, our pride went with it. King Guto was the last king of Griffonstone, Griffina, and we all lived miserably ever after!”
Nightingale had started to paste back and forwards through the strew filled ground. “No that can't be, that could be... Maybe... Yes? Could it be?”
Gallus step up to them. “What is this about Finch Griffons?”
“There are a sub-group of griffons, they are small, paws instead of talons and very smart, they could think of things that we could never even think of in a million years.” Gruff told him. “That a freebe, any more you pay me cub!”
Gallus shook his head. “Nope, you gave me enough of a freebe there, they sound like eggheads.”
“Cause they are, you won't be able to find them, they only be found when they want to be.” Gruff turn to Nightingale and Gale. “Now I've told you what you wanted, now leave me be!” Gale gave him the two bits extra before Nightingale could, Grandpa Gruff walk back to his home slamming the door shut.
Gale and Nightingale glance at each other then turn to Gallus. “We go to Gilda?” Gale asked.
He shrugged. “Sure, why not, I need to buy some scones from her anyway, also it past lunch time too.” Gallus lead them away. “Gabby most likely be there too, she a h-”
“Yay! Gilda and Gabby! We go now! Take us take us!” He jumped around Gallus.
“Geez your crazy! Okay stop dancing around me! Stop I s-gah! Get off me! No hugging! Get off! Help!”
Gruff peer through the door watching Gallus trying to get Gale off him, no matter what he tried Gale wasn't letting go, Nightingale laughed a little, she said something to Gale, he let go and they left heading to Gilda's stall, he closed the door, resting his talon against the wood. “How did Prince Gale know about that? And did I hear him correctly? Did he say Maple?”
A griffon gave eight bits to Gilda, she gave in turn a bag of ten scones to her. “You should stop doing that teaching stuff Gilda.”
Gilda shook her head. “Not a chance Greta.”
The brown, white griffon with green fur feathered markings around her eyes and feathered head tip, wearing a scarf with a gold ring on it, she shook her head. “What happened to that mean take no bucking rubbish griffon I know?”
“Still here, just had my eyes opened to what out there, also dweeb, your holding up the line.” Gilda hints to behind Greta, she turn to see a few griffons looking very annoyed.
Greta noticed a group of them, one was Gallus the dumbster diver griffon she seen looking through trash, but the two with her were new. “Look like you got out of town griffons wanting your scones, are you sure not give up that stupid job in Canterlot?”
“I already said I-” Gilda saw them, Gale waved happily. “Gale!? What the bucking heck!?” Gilda quickly flew past the queue of griffons. “What the heck are you two doing here!? Didn't I tell you how crappy this city is!?”
Gale flew up giving her a hug. “Hi Gilda! Happy see you! Know annoyed you maybe, but I came to see!”
Gilda looked around seeing the griffons stare. “I let him do this! You got a problem!?” They turn their heads muttering to each other.
“Gilda teach me, Gilda like big sister! You no say things behind back! Mean! I no like mean!” Gale growled at them and gave a mighty roar at them.
They surprised by the roar and she been his teacher, it dawned on them not to cross him like Gilda. “That cub got guts, a big surprise from a Canterlot Griffon, now I know why you refuse to stop teaching him, he even gave me chills.” Greta flew up to Gale, ruffled his feathered head with her talon before flying off with her scones.
Nightingale watched her fly away. “Greta...” She whispered.
Gale let go of Gilda, she flew back to the baking wagon. “You three wait till I am done here, we will talk a moment dweebs.”
They nodded and wait for Gilda to finish with her sales of scones, once she was done with the last of the sales, Gilda put a sign up saying 'Closed for Lunch, come back later you dweebs!'
Gilda turn to Gallus. “Now cub, how are you involved in this?”
Gallus smirked showing the bag of bits. “We made a deal, I give them the tour, 30 bits up front and another 30 at the end.” Gilda beared her teeth, beak raised at him, growling. “Before you snap, it was their terms not mine.”
“It true, we needed a tour and from what I was told about Griffonstone from you, we took that into account.” Nightingale told Gilda giving her a wink too out of sight of Gallus.
Gilda understood the wink. “Your bits to waste.” Gilda shrugged. “Now...” She turn to Gale. “I am guessing your here to fill that stomach of yours?”
Gale presented eight bits to her. “Yes! I buy! Got bits! Eight bits for ten yummy scones! Four me, three Nightingale and three Gallus!” Gale said eagerly.
Gallus was surprised upon hearing that. “Wh-what?”
“You guide, you hired, you need food too, till hire over food part deal! No take back!” Gale grinned.
“Urrr... Sure?”
Gilda took the bits, giving Gale a bag of four scones, three scones to Nightingale and three to Gallus. “Happy doing business with ya dweebs, now come back to my place, we sit and chat there in private further about this, it be far warmer than out here.” Gilda walk up to the wagon, hooking the strap around her waist, with a pull she start to walk. “Also to have a bone to pick with you Gale.”
Gale nodded. “You mad...”
“Oh I am, but also I knew this day was coming cub, this isn't a friendly place, guess it a good thing YOUR new sister is here and got you out of a heap of trouble.” Gilda said as they started to walk. “But Celestia will have you more carefully watched for now on, that I can count on.”
Gale nodded again. “I know, Nightingale say that too.”
“Yeah well, Nightingale most likely using this to distract herself from the pain she has.” Gilda glance at the white and blackish grey griffon.
Nightingale sighed. “It is and isn't, it very complicated.”
“I was there, I know HOW complicated it is.” Gilda said.
Gilda took them towards her house. “Gilda can I come too!?” Gabby lands before them.
“How long were you there?”
“Only for a moment! I know what you know, also I am like family to to Gale since he call you big sister and that means I am his COUSIN! Right?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Sure dweeb, did you sell those scones I gave you?”
“Yep! All sold!” She showed the bag of bits. “See!”
Gilda smirked. “Good Gabriella, I'll make sure to give you your cut.”
“Cool!” Gabby gave Gale a hug, he returned it. “Hi honorary cousin! I heard what happened this week! It must good to have some norm this weekend right?” Gale happily nodded, she turn to Nightingale. “Also can't believe your-” Nightingale did a wave over her neck part a few times. “Oooooh right! Gotcha!”
Gallus frowned. “Care to share?”
“We will dweeb, and your mind will be blown cub.”
“Right... As if.” Gallus didn't believe Gilda.
Gilda chuckled as they all walked back to Gilda's home. “Oh you will be, and before that your Griffish Pinky Promising not to tell a soul.” She stopped turning to Gallus.
Gallus frowned. “You really think I'll agree blindly to that? I am not making you that kind of promise.” He sat on his hunches crossing his forelegs angrily looking at Gilda.
Gilda gave him a dark look, this gave him a chill down his spine to the tail tip. “Oh you will, because...” She unhook herself walk up to him, whisper into one of his feathered ears.
His ears fell with a panicked look fallen upon his blue eyes. “Ho-how-”
“Well?” She raised a talon up, pinky claw out to him. “I promise not to tell a soul, if you promise not to tell a soul what said behind the walls of my home.”
Gallus growls. “Fine you win! I can't believe you know that and would!”
“When it comes to Gale, I will.”
Gallus hook his pinky claw around hers. “I promise not to tell a soul! Happy?”
They shook on it, Gilda let go. “Good with me, you better keep it dweeb.”
Gallus recovered flapping his wings holding the paper bag of scones tight to him. “You seriously changed Gilda, and I can see where he got that mean streak from too.”
“What can I say? He rubs off me and I rub of him.” Gilda hooked herself back to the wagon, she continue to walk with the others following.
Gale curiously asked. “What happen if Griffish Pinky Promise is broke?”
“That cub, you never want to know.” Gilda responded, she pulled the wagon into a big shed, taking the harness off she, stepping out Gilda shut the door and clip on a padlock, she finally stood before the house door before the group of griffons. “Welcome to my lame home, come on in.” She put a key into the door, turned it to unlock the door and pushed it open.
Gilda point a talon to the truck like table. “Take a seat, this place might not be much, but it home sweet home.” Gilda put down the bag of bits into a draw, closing it up and turn to see them all sit down, eating the scones. “Now with all the crazy that happened, what new crazy have you two found in the Griffonstone Palace?”
“I thought it was a castle?” Gabby said with a confused look at Gilda.
Gilda shrugged. “Castle, palace it all the same to me, it a oversized building saying look at me, I all big and mighty.” Gilda did air quotes with her talons, she sat down at the table with them. “So?”
Nightingale swallowed her food. “We found a room untouched, a room my father once stood in.”
Gallus nodded. “I saw it, but when she closed it up, the door vanished and all I found was wall.” He than took a bite out of the scone.
Nightingale glanced at him. “I know, we both knew.”
He swallowed and asked. “How?”
Gale pulled out of his bag a feather putting it down on the table. “You feather.”
Gallus looked at the navy blue wing feather. “So you were playing me at my own game, what'cha know, you two know a thing or two about griffons here.”
“Wish we didn't, but Gilda's advise was solid.” Nightingale answered.
Gilda crossed her forelegs. “I know what I was talking about, when it came to Griffonstone, dweebs.” Gilda then asked. “Night, this room you found, how did you know it was King Grover?”
Gale answered. “Viewing crystal like one under throne room in Canterlot, it left message for Nightingale! After it finished Grover say he left for Canterlot than plan to head to Arctic Circle.”
Gallus confirmed it. “I saw the same weird thing, it was like he was there but wasn't, the marks he left in a table were still there too.”
“What was King Grover doing in that room?” Gabby asked.
“Trying to find a way to free me, he knew about Zerra, the sphere and kept his findings to himself.” Nightingale said, she took a bite out of the scone.
Gilda shook her head. “And there is our three, I really hate how things like that come in threes.”
After that they sat eating their scones, having a filling lunch, Gilda giving them each a cup of water, it wasn't much else to drink and Gilda refused to pay out the costs for such things like tea, Griffonstone prices being stupidly expernsive.
Gallus pulled out of his own bag a drawing. “Since I can't sell this cause of that promise, here you can have it.”
Nightingale pushed it back as Gallus reach out to give it to her. “No you keep it.”
“Why?”
“Cause I said so.” Nightingale responded.
Gallus put it back in his bag. “Fine...”
Nightingale flex her talon. “This Griffonstone need serious help, dad told me too, but I have no idea where to begin, it could take years even making some sort of dent.”
Gilda shrugged. “I been here most of my life, part from being at Cloudsdale during my summer camp times, all I can say is good luck.”
“Geez thanks Gilda.” Nightingale rolled her eyes. “In any reality, you are just as rude as you are kind.”
Gilda chuckled. “Thanks Night.” She turn to Gale. “As for you cub, after this visit, you dare come back here again without your mum's permission, I will make sure never to be your teacher again and you won't see me again.”
“B-but-”
“No buts, I am serious Gale, this is one of the most stupidest things you done, yes it came with merit with Night finding out about her dad, how he tried to free her, but it doesn't make mends the wrong you did.” Gilda looked disappointed at the young griffon. “So cub, what you got to say?”
Gale look down at the table. “Sorry...” He sadly responded. “I sorry for worrying mum, worrying you, Nightingale and the others... I won't do it again, promise.”
“Good.” Gilda pleased that she might get some sense into him. “Gabriella, how about you and Gallus take him on the remaining tour, I got to have a one on one chat with Night.”
Gabby finished her scones. “Sure!”
Gallus stared. “Right now? Come on!”
“Tough dweeb, my home.” Gilda said back. “Now you want those remaining bits don't ya?”
Gallus sighed. “Fiiiine! I really hate you Gilda.”
“I know.” She smirked. “But in a good way I bet?”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “You wish.” He got up with Gabby. “Come on Gale.”
Gale looked at Nightingale. “It alright, you got Gabby and Gallus, you be fine.” He gave her a hug, she returned it.
“Come on! We'll show you the shop that sells pretty much everything!” Gabby grab his talon with her own.
Gallus turn to Nightingale. “For a griffon that is almost 800 years old, you sure don't look it.”
“I sure don't.” Nightingale leans in whispering into his ear. “I saw the bluish white glow from a prime feather on your wing.”
Gallus quickly looked surprised. “Wh-what...”
Nightingale smiled. “Now we have one thing over each other.” She winked.
Gallus groans. “You are a real high pain in the ass!”
“I learned from the best griffons.” Nightingale laughed, Gallus shook his head leaving the house grumbling under his breath, quickly taking off to catch up with Gale and Gabby.
After a few minutes past, Gilda got off the stall, walking around the table, her eyes never leaving Nightingale's form. “I am going to be dead serious here, I want a dead serious answer from you.” Nightingale nodded. “How are you?”
Nightingale resting her talons on top one over the other on the truck table. “Not so well, barely holding it together, I had a few distractions to keep myself from thinking much about it, lack of sleep for the last few days, want my old life back.”
Gilda opened up a cupboard door, pulling out a bottle. “Here.” She pour some into a cup and give ti to Nightingale.
Nightingale took a look at the purplish liquid, took a sniff of it too. “Grifape Wine, Griffish Isles speciality, the grapes grow in special conditions only found on that island.” Nightingale took a sip from it with her beak. “This taste exactly like the wine back-” She put the cup down with tears starting to fall. “How do I help the griffons? I do I beat them out of their senseless greed?”
“A few griffons at a time, also-” She poured herself a cup, taking a small amount of it herself. “I bet even with the rosy world Zerra created for you, it wasn't that simple being a ruler for over 700 years.”
Nightingale shook her head. “No it wasn't, I had support from some griffons and my mum, the stuff I set up to improve griffon and pony relations took many many years, trade negations, exchange programs, mayors arguing over the silliest of things, natural disasters, almost wars, greedy ponies and griffons illegal using the system to improve their lives over the ones that worked for them, and so on.”
Gilda chuckled. “Sound like a normal lively day to me, that kind of crap Celestia deals with, so does that old fart feather brain of a dweeb, Grandpa Gruff, he might look like a old timer that seem to do barely nothing, but many see him as the one that decide things around here, even the super rich snobby types wouldn't dare cross that line.” Gilda explained to Nightingale.
Nightingale wiped away a few tears. “I seen my share of those types, still... It took Zerra 799 years to make the reality cease to be, wiped out his own kind there...”
“Yeah I know, I was there.” Gilda rolled her eyes. “The nutter used three wishes from here, very personal ones to break down the walls of reality to escape, that world might be made of wishes, might be made through your primal thoughts, it was still your home and don't forget it.” Gilda reached over and poked Nightingale on the beak. “Your world might have been a big rosy one, but it still had it share of problems, like Nightmare Moon.”
Nightingale nodded. “It did, Twilight and her friends restored her, I gather that happened here too?”
“Sure did, dweeb.” Gilda confirmed. “How did my Ponyville surprise go over there?”
Nightingale thought about it. “From what I was told, you and Rainbow Dash had a falling out, you called her a flip-flop and left, after you falsely blamed Pinkie Pie for the pranks, but it was Rainbow Dash that set them all up.” Nightingale said about her version of events.
“So I still broke up with her but never met Gale?”
Nightingale shook her head. “No it was when you was on your way home, you flew into mum, the griffon one, she just got a letter from Twilight, that was also when Gale was introduced to you and with a few days of help, he got his first word, also the birthday surprise he set up patched things up with Rainbow Dash.”
Gilda smirked. “Well it seem with some differences, our worlds won't that different.”
“No, but one was, I never exist here, which mean the crown, the chest plate, it worthless.”
“Unless you make it that, you can sulk and hide from it, let your pain get to you dweeb, or use it to show that Zerra was a complete bucking ass, something like Nightmare Moon level, which I think he was.”
Nightingale drunk a bit of the wine. “Your right, he sorta was, but he made them all vanish with a wave of a hoof...”
“Yet Gale restored them, gave them their final real moments with a counter wish.” Gilda countered. “Just punch through it and start with your dad.”
“Huh?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Geez, do I really need to spell it out for you!” Gilda drunk the last of her wine. “What did you find out in that stupid room you spoke of, you lame griffon!”
Nightingale eyes widen. “D-dad was trying to free me, with all kinds of magic, runes and whatever else was on those notes, drawings, and those magically artefacts!” She drunk the last of the wine. “I can retrace my dad's steps! Get to know him from this reality! Maybe even track him down into the frozen northern lands!” Nightingale rushed around the table, gave Gilda a hug. “Thank you Gilda! You gave me something to stride for!”
Gilda grunts in pain. “Damn it with you Celestial offsprings and those hugs!” Gilda pulled herself free. “I didn't do jack you dweeb! All I did was tell you what you are overlooking you dolt!” Gilda ruffled her wings. “And I suggest getting Gallus to help ya, he know about it, so use that to get him to earn bits to help you!”
“Yes! That would work! Your a genius Gilda!” Nightingale said with giddiness. “Oh and I gather this stay in these walls?”
Gilda smirked. “It does, I am not going to look soft for you or Gale, this is Griffonstone Gilda beyond these walls.”
“I got it! Just don't forget, Gale won't care and will hug you!”
“Oh I know it.” Gilda raise the bottle. “More?”
“Yes please!” Nightingale took the empty cup. “Also we can exchange tales!”
Gilda shrugged. “Why the heck not, this life I got now, just never going to be simple ever again.”
Nightingale nodded as Gilda pour a cup full each. “Nope, with a almost 800 year old griffon added to the mix, it won't be.” She took the cup raising it up. “To never normal.”
Gilda raised her cup. “To never normal, you lame griffon dweebish dolt!”
“That I am.” Nightingale laughed and Gilda laughed too.
Pinkie Pie hummed to herself as she bounced towards the edges of Sweet Apple Acres closest to the Everfree Forest. Walking behind her were five other ponies. Rarity, Applejack, Big McIntosh, Holiday, and Lofty; all family of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pinkie had told them about her pen pal Sunflower going to meet the fillies, and believed it was best for them to meet her first.
“We're almost there.” Pinkie Pie said to them, stopping her bouncing to walk. “After years and years and years of being pen pals, I got to meet her face to face. It was amazing! And it was because the Crusaders found her close to the library!”
Holiday spoke up. “It sounds like this Sunflower was sneaking around. Why would your pen pal do such a thing?” She followed up by with a question.
“Well... I can't really say. Princess Luna told me not to speak about it until Princess Celestia's ready, all I can say is that she came for Twilight's help directly from Princess Celestia, and she...erm... well... unique.” Pinkie Pie answered.
“Unique? How? In a Good or bad way?” Lofty asked.
Pinkie Pie giggled. “A good way. She's not bad, it's just her uniquness is something you have to see for yourself. It will show you why the Cutie Mark Crusaders asked to meet her tomorrow. She promised and that's why she's here.” Pinkie Pie answered Lofty's question.
Rarity looked around using a lantern to light them and the surrounding area up. “Darling, I am sure we could have done this in town, not all the way out here at night.”
“Oh I tried Rarity, she refused and I understand why. You will too, I promise!”
“Ah get the feelin' yer not exaggeratin', sugarcube.” Applejack said, looking around.
“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed, as they past the last of the apple trees, nearing the large untamed forest of Everfree.
Before them was a large tent, next to a lit fire in a stone circle. Around the camp fire were were large logs arranged for setting. And sitting in plain sit before their eyes by the fire was a snowy white griffon with blackish grey spots, feathers and ear tips on the head, and beak. The eyes had purple irises set in yellow coloured sclera, and scanned left to right across the pages of a very large book held in one forepaw.
“Hey Sunflower! What'cha reading?” Pinkie Pie happily walked up to the camp fire.
Sunflower's eyes turn from the book to Pinkie Pie. “A science fiction novel created way before our time, it was put into print a few years back from the achieves directory. It's called Star Trek Voyager and it's about a crew on this star ship sailing between the stars trying to get back home.” Sunflower said showing the cover to Pinkie Pie, it showing a star ship in front of a planet.
“Ooooo, spacey!” Pinkie giggled. “Oh by the way! I brought them over!” She turned waving for the others to step closer. “This is my awesome long time besty pen pal Sunflower Clawhowler! I usually call her Sunny!” She explained happily to the five ponies as they stepped into the light of the campfire.
Sunflower raised her free forepaw. “What's up, dudes!” She closed the book up, twisting her body around to sit upright with forepaws on the ground in front of her, and looking down at them as they looked up. “As Pinkamena said, I'm Sunflower. A Finch Griffon.” She gestured for them to sit near the campfire.
They walked up to the camp fire, sitting down around it, all still staring up at her. If it wasn't for Pinkie Pie vouching for her, they would most likely be extremely wary of this very big griffon. It had only been a few weeks since the Ursa incident.
“Sit down by the fire, and before the questions are asked... No I am the only Finch Griffon of my size. The rest are about your size. The reason for my size is due to a faulty gene in my body controlling growth. It took some very clever zebras to solve my growing problems years ago. So I am a chilled, pretty rad, nine hooves tall, 23 year old Finch Griffon.” She raised a forepaw at them. “And you are?”
After a few blinks from them as they tried to process her size, and what she said, Holiday finally responded. “I am Holiday; and this is my wife, Lofty. We are Scootaloo's aunts, and now I can see why Scootaloo is thrilled to see you again.”
“Hehe, you are quite the looker. That soft fur and feathers, I bet you get heads turning.” Lofty chuckled.
Sunflower knew what she meant. “I... erm... well... I...” She fluffed her wings a little. “Nice to meet you annnnnd moving on.” She turned to Rarity.
Holiday rolled her eyes. “You had to Lofty, didn't you?”
“What? You have to admit, even if she is the biggest friendliest thing we seen, it doesn't mean I am wrong.” Lofty nudged Holiday.
Rarity stepped up taking a good look at Sunflower. “My word, you have quite the natural beauty about you.” She walked around the griffon. “You really take good care of that coat of yours, those claws are not too long.A nd those feathers! They really glisten in the light of the fire! I can see why Sweetie Belle is eager to meet you.” She came full circle, standing before Sunflower and raising a foreleg up to her. “Any friend of Pinkie Pie's is a friend of mine.”
Sunflower, with a single finger paw, tapped the hoof. “Thank you... erm... for both the comment about me and for seeing me as a friend, even though we just met.”
“No trouble at all, darling. At least you're not a rampaging young Ursa Minor.” Rarity smiled, stepping back to allow Applejack and Big Mac to approach.
Sunflower gave Rarity a questionable look. “Ursa... Minor? What is that exactly?”
Pinkie Pie gave the answer to the question. “Oh, it's a blue bear that looks like it's got stars all over it's body, partly see through, also about half of you bigger.”
“Half of me... bigger?” Sunflower imagined a see through star coated bear towering over her. “Wow dude, I would love to see that!”
“NO!” All the ponies said together.
Sunflower flinched. “Okay dudes, don't need to shout, just a very simple not yelling 'no' or 'that's a bad idea' would of done-” She raise a finger paw up. “-or even suggest a book to read about them.”
Applejack stepped forward with Big Mac to introduce themselves to her. “Ah guess we did react a bit too harshly to the question, and ya brought up three valid points.”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed.
Applejack took off her hat, putting it to her chest. “Ah'm Applejack and this here mah big brother Big McIntosh. The trees of apples ya most likely seen is part of our orchard, Sweet Apple Arcs. And just like Rarity, any friend of Pinkie Pie's is an friend of mine.” She put the hat back on white gesturing to her big brother.
“Eeyup!”
Sunflower looked at each of these ponies. “Pinkamena, you were correct. I just had to be chilled, do some introductions, and boom! We can chat on the level. Dude, you really know your stuff.” Sunflower smiled at the pink pony.
Pinkie giggled. “Oh course silly! We're best friend pen pals!”
Lofty walked up to Sunflower. “Pinkie Pie is known for befriending many. The fact that you're been her friend for a long time, the fact that she organised this as well, and the fact that she keeps your seret even though you're shown to be a rather large yet very friendly young adult griffon, shows she really cares about her pen pal. It is what a true friend does.” Sunflower smiled warmly to what Lofty said. “The question I have for you Sunflower is; how are you with the young?”
“Honestly, I don't know. They were the first youngsters I met, and I am a griffon of my word when I promised to meet them again. Unless that will be a problem for you?” Sunflower said putting a forepaw on the chest. She suddenly came up with a idea and her face showed it. “Sooo... if it eases any worries... If it helps, one of you could supervise it tomorrow.”
Holiday nodded. “That sounds like quite the idea, Sunflower. I gather after tomorrow there be more visits?”
Sunflower shrugged. “Dude, I haven't thought that far ahead. Also getting to come was quite the chore, Nanner Maple most likely won't like the idea of me coming out this far so often. Maybe once every two weeks to a month, if repeat visits are acceptable. Let's see how we do with this first one tomorrow, shall we?”
“Wish I could, darling. But I have a busy schedule and our parents also got a bit of a hoof full.” Rarity said.
Before either Lofty or Holiday could respond, Applejack did. “Big Mac and Ah'll watch over them.” Applejack stepped up. “Also, we would like to get to know a bit more about ya Sunflower.”
Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup!”
“Sure, ask away. Just a word of warning, I may not be able to answer all of them due to finch griffon laws.” Sunflower laid on her side, resting her forepaws over each other. “So...What are your questions?”
Applejack, since she asked to get to know her more, decided to ask the first question. “Ya said finch griffon a few times sugarcube, what exactly are the differences between a Finch Griffon and Griffon?”
Sunflower showed her forepaw. “One, we have forepaws with inner toes that work like the fourth talon, a good example is writing and grabbing things. The second is that the subclass finches are around your size generally. I am the exception to that rule. Three, we are very smart and use our imagination to expand and grow. What we lack in strength, we gain in the imaginative department.” Sunflower answered with the third paw finger tapping the side of her head.
Big Mac asked the next question. “Why haven't we seen any more finch griffons? Yer bein' the first for us.”
“That's to do with a 200 year old rule. The reason I and Nanner Maple are exempt to that is because we have been discovered due to a magical incident... or was discovered... Anyways, that's why I am able to visit the Cutie Mark Crusaders tomorrow. Why that law came into place? I can not tell you, the law forbids me from doing so without the council's approval.” Sunflower answered his question.
“Darling, how ever do you fit in places and how do you keep those beautiful coat and feathers looking so glamorous?” Rarity presented two questions, one about her size going to places, and another about her personal appearance.
Sunflower could easily see from the look of Rarity, and the way she talked, that this pony was one of fashion, appearances and a hunger for new ideas to grow her passion. A look she seen in her father Clawpaw's and Nanner Maple's eyes. “I've seen that hunger for innovation, that hunger for new ideas dude. Both from my dad and Nanner Maple.” She chuckled lightly. “To answer your questions though; I fit in fine at home, the corridors, my room, and many others are big enough to feel as if they are normal size... for me at least.”
Sunflower lifted a forepaw up to her line of sight, flexing the paw. Staring at the fur, pads, and extending the claws. “As for my glamorous look part; well I mostly have daily showers, use shower gel specially made for me... which Nanner Maple only knows where to get it. And I just brush out my fur every so often, most of it just plain normal me.” Sunflower answered the question.
Lofty recalled something Scootaloo had told her about Sunflower. “I recall my niece saying that you are very silent when moving, also having a grace about you that left the area around you unaffected, even the ground you tread on. Can you show us?”
Sunflower got up on all fours. “Sure, and it's a mastery of my inner flight magic that allow me to do this.” Sunflower started to move in a dance fashion of steps, from all fours to hind legs, wings open around them and the fire. They didn't feel anything as the wing was mere inches from their backs or their faces, even the fire wasn't affected by her.
Pinkie Pie played some music as she continue to dance. Moving with grave, care, and leaving no noticeable impact from the paws touching the ground. Even flying a little as she does a few spins until landing so swiftly it left them breathless expecting a sound from the impact, or to at least to feel the weight of it make the earth tremble. Only to be left in near stillness and silence, broken only by the breeze through the trees that had not once been disturbed during her performance. “Sweet Celestia, no wonder our Scootaloo is trilled to meeting her again!. Look at the way she moves, it's incredible...”
Rarity pictured her wearing a dress, purple with gold trimmings. “Oh my stars, the ideas I can create! How even could I not make such a dress for this amazing graceful griffon!”
“Ah'll say, that one fancy hoofing dance. She wasn't kiddin' with the mastery of flight magic, Rainbow would be jealous.” Applejack said while Big Mac's muzzle just hung open in awe from watching her move. The embers from the fire swirling about in front and behind her only now that she stood still, it was a sight both stunning and beautiful.
Sunflower finished with her laying on her side, with a wing up and out, forepaws over each other. “Is that a good enough answer?” They clapped their hooves, or stomped them. “Guess that's a yes.” She chuckled. “Dudes, can you stop? Seriously, stop.”
Pinkie Pie giggled. “Awwww! We're just so amazed! Even I understand now how you can now zip away without anypony noticing! You can be-” They blinked and she was gone. “-behind us?” She looked up to see Sunflower looking back down at her, grinning. “Oh, wow! You are really fast!”
“It all in the magic, my friend.” Sunflower walked around them to sit back down. “Soooo... Am I good?”
“Ah say so.”
“You have my vote, darling. But I do hope to get some measurements from you though.”
Sunflower frowned. “Measurements?” Then she realised. “Dude, you can't seriously be thinking of THAT? You'd be put in the red before even getting half way through! There no fabric in the world that can work with a griffon of my size! You could easily make twenty dresses for my one!” Sunflower shook her head. “I also don't carry around that kind of cash either, my earnings go int-”
“Darling, I will find a way. Even if it takes a few months to gather it through sales, I always find a way, I won't take no for a answer either, this will be my gift to you.”
“Bu-b-but we just met! I am not even exactly a friend! Dude, you ponies are insane with this friendliness!”
“That we are.” Pinkie giggled.
“I am curious myself.” Lofty chuckled a little. “How about I make you a few cookies for Scootaloo to give to you tomorrow?”
“Please stop...” Sunflower groans, she put her forepaws over her head. “I don't have anything to give back!”
“Ya already did. sugarcube.”
“What?”
Holiday smiled. “Your dance, it is a gift enough. Witnessing such grace, even I agree that it's a good enough gift.”
Sunflower lowered her paws from her head. “I am not going to stop any of you from doing this for me am I?”
Gabby and Gallus gave Gale the tour around Griffonstone, the encounters with many rude self-centred griffons was one of the common things they ran into, Gale managed to get some information from them for a bit or two, the final stop of their tour was the one of a few shops in Griffonstone, the only one that was open at this time of day.
Gabby step up to it with a talon out to it. “This shop sells all kind of things, but some of the stuff might not be in the best of conditions, so if you can't find anything for Princess Celestia, do not worry.”
“Most of the time I buy the cheapest stuff and put it back together to sell myself.” Gallus said. “Bits is bits at the end of the day.” Gallus put his talon out at Gale, stopping the young prince to be. “The shopkeeper a grumpy griffon, don't touch or she will make you buy it.”
Gale nodded. “Thank you.”
Gallus shrugged. “Just being the tour guide you hired me for, the bits I am getting is worth giving you fair warning.” Gallus turn, he and Gabby walked in pushing the swing western style bar doors open.
Gale followed them inside, stepping down a few steps onto the shop floor. First thing he noticed it was not that big, a large hook with rope to his left on top of shelves with general items, bags of flour by that with a larger shelf, above held by rope a wooden platform with a chest sitting on it, netting over the griffon sloped by the till, glass display case under her forelegs crossed over each other.
To his right there was other shelving and other supplies, some of it look like helmets, climber vests, ropes, books, plates, kettles, and candle lamps. Gale noticed that some of the stuff had spider webs on it, even dust covering some items too. He wasn't sure to blow off the dust or remove the webs, this griffon seem to not even care, Gale's guess all she cared about is the bits from sales and nothing less.
Gallus frowned at the state of the place. “Talk about a dump.” He muttered. “I thought the other griffons were kidding that they only come here if they really need too. Now I can see why.” He whispered to himself looking around.
Gabby went up to the shopkeeper. “Wouldn't cleaning this place up a bit give a good impression to other griffons?”
“Give me some bits and I'll answer.” The shopkeeper answered with a gruffy female voice.
Gallus rolled his eyes. “Wow, isn't that a surprise.”
The griffon stared at him. “You don't like it, tough, my shop my rules.” She said, Gallus shook his head turning away to look around. “You have five minutes or your out of here, I have no bits to waste with you standing around not buying anything.”
Gale frowned at the real shameless attitude this griffon had, she just seem to just care for the money they can part with and nothing less. The shop showed that shamelessness too, Gale walked around the shop taking a good look. “Dusty... Dirty...” Gale said under his breath, the chance to find a gift for his mum wasn't looking good.
“Master Gale.”
Gale ears twitch, he looked around startled by who he just heard in his mind. “Blue?”
The griffon point to a shelf. “If you want something blue, it there.”
Gale still puzzled, look around. “Blue, where you?”
Gabby tilt her head. “Do you know anygrif called Blue?”
“No, unless it a lame nickname for me.” Gallus answered.
“I am where I have only excised at, Dream Cavern. Master Gale.”
Gale stopped looking around, he whispered. “How you talking to me?”
“I do know Master Gale, I only spoke cause I was meditating at the hot springs when I felt something near you in the waking world.” Blue responded.
“You felt something? In dream to real? How?”
“Yes I did, I do sense it, you are close to it. And how? I do not know.” Blue answered.
Gale walked towards the shelf he was nearest, looking at the ropes, vests and hooks. “Am I near it?”
“Yes Master Gale, you are very close to it.” Blue confirmed.
Gale's eyes slowly scanned around the shelving. “Gale are you okay?” Gabby asked.
“Yes good, looking for something.”
“Interested in rock climbing?” Gallus frowned.
Gale shook his head. “Can't explain, know something here.”
Gabby and Gallus looked at each other.
“Master Gale it is directly in front of you, I can feel the aura from it.” Blue clued in the location.
Gale grabbed the vest, he pulled it out. And that when he saw a figurine, carved out of stone. “Found it!” Gale reached deep to the back of the shelf, grabbing the figurine pulling it out. He was surprised to see it was of his mum as a griffon. “Griffon mum...” Gale noticed how clean it looked compared to the other stuff in the shop. “I buy this!” He turn around to the shopkeeper.
Shopkeeper looked at the stone crafted figurine. “I forgot that was even there, sure and the climbing vest is added to the charge too, you touch you buy cub.”
Gale nodded. “Yes understand, worth it.” Gale said. “How much?”
“Twelve bits for both.” Gale instantly gave the bits to her. “Good now you are done, get out so I can close up for the day.”
Gale picked up the vest. “Okay! Thank you!” Gale said happily leaving the shop.
Gallus and Gabby followed him out of the shop. “Ooookay... That is one very weird cub, also how did he find that thing? No griffon ever found it... Urg!” She shook her head. “Forget it, I got my bits and time to close up this lame place for another day.”
Gale sat by a building and he looked over the figurine of Griffon Celestia. “Blue, is this what you felt?”
“Yes Master Gale, it stronger than ever, it feels like the aura I sense in the dream reality.”
Gale was surprised by the answer he got. “You say it from dream reality? How that possible? How we talk? I speaking, you thought speak, confusing...”
“I do not know, best to ask is Mistress Luna, I will keep meditating, so I be a word away.”
“Okay I will, see you tonight?”
“I be waiting.”
Gabby and Gallus approached Gale. “What was that all about? First; it look like you were talking to nothing, than you suddenly took off the climbing vest from the shelf, pull out a weird griffon statue that giving off crazy weird energy.” Gallus point to it. “And all but least you bought it without batting a eye lid, so what the deal?”
Gale tried to think of a way to tell him. “Erm... Blue... Is erm... Dream Guardian when sleep, he excised in Dream Cavern with a wolf called Alpha.” Gale tried to explain. “Maybe this work.” He reached up to Gallus grabbing his talon.
“Hey what are you doing!?”
“Blue.”
“Yes Master Gale?”
Gallus looked around hearing it in his head. “Wh-who said that!?”
“Blue! That him, he jackal diamond dog, he my dream guardian, happy it worked! Contact with you. You can hear!”
Gallus stared at Gale. “Your saying that Blue guy is talking to me in a dream?” Gale nodded. “Okay... Soooo... Blue?”
“Yes?”
Gallus shivered. “How the heck am I hearing you in my head?”
“Telegraphically speaking to you via my mind, it the only way I can talk.”
“How are you talking to me right now?”
“I do not know, it only recently happened, I am trying to figure it out as well, what Master Gale knows I know.” Blue answered.
Gallus pulled himself free. “That was seriously creepy Gale...” He now focused on the stone figurine. “That thing you found, could it be Grover's?”
Gale gasped and flew off to the castle, he quickly returned grabbing all his stuff and zoom off. “Gallus did you really hear this Blue?”
“Yeah... Wish I didn't.” Gallus responded. “We should follow, I know where his going to.” Gabby nodded, they took off after Gale.
Gilda and Nightingale searched around the lower levels of Griffonstone, night had fallen onto the city, not much light lit the streets, good for griffon kind they didn't need much of it at night. “Damn it cub, where are you?” Gilda's golden yellow eyes scan the streets for him, Gabby and Gallus. “Come on dweebs, show yourselves!”
Nightingale on the other talon had no luck on looking for them, she choose to take another route and land at Grandpa Gruff's home. Nightingale walked up to it and knock at the door, she heard sounds of things getting knocked over, the scrambling of getting up rushing to the door. “Wh-what is it!? It late at night!” Was his first words upon opening the door a jar.
“Sorry for waking you, have you seen Ga-”
“His in the castle! So is Gallus and Gabby! NOW BUZZ OFF!” He slammed the door shut hard in her face.
Nightingale blinked a few times. “Ooooookay... He didn't even take any bits...” She held some in her talons, the black and white griffon took off to find Gilda, she found her in no time.
Gilda was still looking around in the sky, she saw Nightingale flying right for her. “You better have found them!
“I did! Well Gruff did, he told me without charging me for the information wh-”
“Blah blah blah! Get to the important stuff dweeb!”
Nightingale point to the castle. “They in there, if I to guess where, I say they in dad's secret room.” Gilda was already flying super fast to the castle, Nightingale quickly took off after her.
By the time she got into the castle and to the room, Gilda was already standing outside it, before Nightingale could say something Gilda grabbed her beak, putting a claw to her own. “Shhh, look.”
Nightingale peer into the room, she saw all three of them asleep at a table, all their heads resting on the forelegs. “Isn't that cute.” Nightingale whispered, they walk inside.
Gilda looked around the room. “What is all this junk?” She picked up a paper from the floor. “This is some of that weird rune glyph magic.” She whispered raising it up.
“I know, my dad was looking at everything possible to get me out of that sphere, he failed on all fronts.” Nightingale said to Gilda quietly. “But why were they in here? What are they loo-” She saw the stone figurine. “Mum?” She picked it up from the table, she felt a strange energy coming off it. “What kind of stone is this?”
Gilda saw it. “How did Gale get hold of something like that?” Gilda took it from Nightingale. “That doesn't even feel like stone, it feels like something coming off it through my scales.” She put it back down, shaking the talon. “Any clues?”
Nightingale shook her head. “No.” She looked over at the table. “Maybe they were looking into it.”
Gilda took a sheet of paper. “I am looking into finding a way to make contact with my daughter through the veil of dreams, I found out that the Zebras have some expertise in this field and going to them to investigate these findings, I hope that maybe through the veil I can make contact with my little Nightingale again, it already been nine years...” Gilda didn't finish reading it. “Wow that some king... No wonder we all respect him still.”
Nightingale nodded. “My dad was...” She put her talon out to Gilda. “Can I?” Gilda gave it to her. “Thank you.” She sat down by the wall reading it to herself.
Gilda looked around at the three griffons. “Now how do we get them into something more comfortable to sleep in?”
“Sleeping bags upstairs.” Nightingale answered.
“Right, be right back.” Gilda leaves to get the sleeping bags.
Nightingale press the paper to her feathered fur chest. “Oh dad... Every time I get to know something more about you in this world, the more I want to know if you are alive, if you even alive after all these years, I will find you, even it just your remains.” Nightingale whispered to herself as tears fell once more.
Grandpa Gruff breathed relief with a talon on the door, he was glad to get rid of Nightingale.
“Really necessary?” Grandpa Gruff turn around to the candle lit table, with meals for two on it with a fine wine from the Finch Griffon vineyards, sitting at the table Maple. “You came unannounced, you brought this feast with you. And on top of that you ask me that was really necessary?”
Maple holding a folk with a bit of cooked fish with some lettuce, looked past it at Gruff. “Don't forget I cooked that said meal, prepared this romantic set up too Gruffy.”
Gruff walked up to the table, pulling up the chair, grabbing his fez off the floor, he dusted it off and put it back on his head. “I get it, you did cook a lovely romantic meal, still how did you get here without any of the griffons noticing?” He sat down on the chair.
“When we have a granddaughter that can get around without being noticed, you pick up a thing or two off her.” Maple ate the food on the folk.
Gruff swallowed his piece. “Good, last thing I want is my imagine ruined by you!” He point the folk at her.
Maple rolled her eyes. “Oh Gruffy, stop being so dramatic, this meal is to celebrate the eve of our 100th year being married, just loosen up and enjoy this candle lit dinner.”
Gruff gave a huff. “Fine...” He look to the bags she brought with her. “I have to ask, where is those fake talons of yours?”
Maple drink a bit of the wine. “Don't need to Gruffy, I was discovered, so the rules as you know them. Allow me to be paw fancy and free.” She wiggled her free forepaw fingers at him. “Now you get to feel the soft sweet touch of fur and pads, right on that sweet spot between your wings.”
Gruff swallowed hard coughing, he hit his chest a few times. “Y-you had to say that when I was swallowing didn't you!?” He growled.
“Oh you know you love those padded massages.” She smirked.
His face turn red as his fez. “Er-erm... Well I...”
“Oh you got a nice shade of red my sweet.”
Gruff shook his head. “Damn it Mapy! Stop that!”
“Ooooo I now got you to lower your barrier, nice to hear that after all these years.” She reach over putting her forepaw on his talon, he closed the talon over it, rubbing the gritty scaly claws. “I got another surprise for you my sweet Gruffy.”
Maple release her paw from his talon, she reach down to the bag by the table, pulling out of it a envelope, giving it to him. “What is this?”
“Open it.”
Gruff did and pulled out two tickets. “Hinny of the Hills?” His one good eye showed the reaction to it. “Isn't this that pony play that always sold out. And you have have to wait for months or even years to see!”
“Yes it is, that for tomorrow night, also added bonus, we get the best suite in the best hotel in Manehatten for a week for free.”
Gruff's beak dropped before he managed to speak. “W-what!? How!?”
“They give that suite for a week for those celebrating 100 years of being married, guess they never thought it would come up much. And expect it to be a pair of Earth Ponies or that odd few of Unicorns, being a pair of griffons was a first for them.” Maple said going back to eating her meal calmly.
Gruff's ganked. “B-but how did you prove that we been married that long!? We were married by a bucking finch griffon that most likely in the grave!”
Maple pulled out the papers from her bag. “Very simple, I showed them the papers on the way here.”
“WHAT!?” Gruff grabbed the papers looking through them. “You were discovered! How!?”
Maple giggled. “Oh your so sweet when you fluster Gruffy, even age got to you.”
“Tell me!”
“A crazy zebra called Zerra from over 1000 years ago is responsible for it, he pulled me into a inverse reality sphere that wishes came true.”
Gruff rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised to hear it some weird magic?” He did air quotes. “You are the definition of weird magic and technology science!”
Maple drunk a bit more of her wine. “I met the young prince, Celestia's daughter, Gilda and a few others from our reality, so my cover was pretty much blown.” She turn her gaze to him. “In that world, both you and I long past our mortal chains.”
“You mean we were dead there!?”
“Yes, married to Pistol, died old and happy, a world where Guto didn't do what he did, where Nightingale was ruler of Griffina and sat on the throne of Griffonstone castle. You served as royal guard till retiring without a family, you were a career griffon.” Maple said.
Gruff turn his gaze upon the helmet with part of it sliced open over the eye sitting on a griffon mannequin with a suit of griffish armour. “No King Guto, no mass murders of a whole city, I turning on him to defend and save you, no experimental treatment to slow my ageing to a crawl. You not effected by the destruction of Flaptua.”
“Pretty much.”
“Live a normal life span and not see what I seen? It sound like a dream, but not one I would ask for, not after what we both been through, it be a disloyalty to those that lost, we are the last that remembers what really happened that day.”
Maple got up from the table approaching the griffon mannequin, looking upon the claw damaged helmet recalling those eyes set upon her on moments after the floating city seemingly blow up, but she knew now what really happen to it and the smaller floating land masses. She recalled also creating the very magical technology prototype nanites that prolonged her husband's life span.
“Maple?”
Maple sat down on her hunches, she turn her gaze down to the forepaws, closing and opening them. “I had no right to do that to you Gruffy, but I had to try something to keep you with me, you been there for me when I needed you the most, we had a beautiful son, even have a very large granddaughter...” She sniffed a bit. “This is why I was hoping to avoid this, with everything that happened in the last few months, the mortality of life has... My life has really been turned upside down, I was being-”
She saw a pair of talons place down on her paws, close them around it soft fur and tough pads. “Now you lowered your barrier Mapy.” She rose her head up, Maple's red eyes met the black and whitish grey eyes of Gruff. “Before you say that your being selfish, that isn't true at all, you are a griffon with a giant heart and it took you a long time to move on from Pistol.”
“About him...”
“His alive isn't he?”
“Yes bu-”
“I had a feeling that was the case of your unexpected visit first, now I know for sure, I am not stupid Maple, one thing this old bird got is his mind.” He chuckled. “Your a smart dumb griffon at times, just as much I am.” He laughed with a bit of a cough afterwards.
“Gruff...”
“Now... how is that even possible?”
“Trapped between dimensions on the Isle of Flaputa for the last 200 years, the only survivor in a manner of speaking, it wasn't destroyed but ripped from our dimension.”
“And do you still love him?”
Maple sighed heavily. “I do and did, my love is to you Gruff...” Maple squeeze her forepaws back against his talons. “200 years we been together, 100 by tomorrow we been married, he was my first love and always will be, but you are my true love, even we have a lot of bumpy points in our life.”
“Very bumpy, but worth the investment we put into it.” He chuckled lightly. “But I accept that I wouldn't have it any other way, at least we can get out of this dump for a week, I am sure Gabby be happy to house sit for me while I am gone, she too kind for her own good.” Gruff said with a smile.
Maple eyes brighten. “That means?”
Gruff nodded. “You sold me Mapy, how we getting there?”
Maple smiled, kissing his beak, he returned it, she than answers. “Tonight we flying to the port on the west coast, there a ship waiting for us, I pulled a few strings to get us a ship to get us there by morning.” Maple said letting go of his talons. “Let's eat up and get ready to go shall we?”
Gruff shook his head taking his seat. “I should of knew that you had this planned.”
“Of course, even there was a chance of this happening or not, I had to put into action if we did go through with this, who do you think I am?” Maple sat on her seat.
“The smart beautiful griffon I sold my heart to.”
“As I sold my heart to you my grumpy griffon.”
Gruff raise his glass. “To a well invested marriage.”
Maple raise her glass too, they clang together. “And invested life, to an invested family.” Maple tensed, Gruff smiled and they drunk some of their wine, they went on to eat their somewhat romantic meal before their flight to the harbour town Grifshore Bay to start their 100th anniversary trip to Manehatten.
“Dream Randomiser unauthorized arrival. Alpha 002 protocol activated, Dream Cavern has been locked down from the rest of the Dream and Waking Realm. Proceed to Safe Zone Alpha imminently, Dream Guardian protect priority 001, 008, 011 with imminent effect."
Chapter 77: An Unexpected Guest(s)
A (figure)(group) arrive in Dream Cavern via Gale's Dream Sphere through the Dream Randomiser, the readers once again on the chapter of lucky 77 will make the choice, you have only twenty four hours to choose.
Voting closed
Which of these are the unexpected guest(s)?
Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers - 1 votes / 3%
Voyager crew (Star Trek) - 3 Votes / 9%
Nick and Judy (Zootropolis) - 5 Votes / 14%
Mass Effect (Normandy Crew) - 3 Votes / 9%
Twelfth Doctor and Clara Osward (Doctor Who) - 0 Votes / 0%
30-30 (Brave Star) - 2 Votes / 6%
Ash, Brock, May, Max and Piakchu (Pokemon) - 3 votes / 9%
Digimon Tamers (Digimon Season 3) - 1 Votes / 3%
Po and Furious Five (Ku-Fu Panda) - 6 Votes / 17%
Hiccup and Toothless (How to Train your Dragon) - 7 Votes / 20%
SG1 (Star Gate) - 2 Votes / 6%
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles (Sonic X) - 2 Votes / 6%
Total Votes: 35 Updated: votes closed Winning Vote: Hiccup and Toothless (How to Train your Dragon)
High in the Dream Cavern a platoon above over looking a good amount of the cavern land below, on top of it was a rectangular battlefield, a stands to the left of it. Sitting on the stands watching Blue and Alpha spar with each other were the three griffons, Gale, Gallus and Gabby.
Gallus threw some popcorn into his beak chowing on it with excitement in his facial expression, the two anthropomorphic guardians exchange blows and blocks with staffs, kicks and punches. “This is so cool to watch! Look at them go! I know it a spar but this! It nothing I couldn't pull ever! Look at those twists, kicks, punches with those blocks! How do they even do it without really hurting each other a lot!?”
“I don't like fighting but this is AWESOME to watch!” Gabby agreed. “It almost like watching a performance!”
Gale drunk a bit of his smoothie. “Now you like the dream sharing?” Gale smirked at Gallus as Alpha and Blue continue to train.
“Seeing this dream share place and this! I have to say it awesome!” Gallus threw his forelegs up. “And you say we will remember this no matter what?”
Gale nodded. “Yeah, it the weird thing about dream magic, you tend to remember the dream in almost every detail.” Gale answered.
Gabby put her foreleg around his back, giving a sidewards hug. “I love it! It so beautiful and cool! As if I am really here!” She move her free foreleg around to the view before them.
Blue does a jump with three kicks that Alpha blocked with his hand paws, in return he give a punch followed by a spin kick, Blue using his hand paw to block the punch followed by the arm, they grinning at each other as they push off to go again.
Suddenly the large crystal that gave light to the cavern turned red, the whole cavern given a orangey red appearance, the sparing stopped and Blue quickly leaped over to the edge of the platoon looking around, he closed his eyes with dreadlocks raised as he point a forepaw out.
“Dream Randomiser unauthorized arrival. Alpha 002 protocol activated, Dream Cavern has been locked down from the rest of the Dream and Waking Realm. Proceed to Safe Zone Alpha imminently, Dream Guardian protect priority 001, 008. 011 with imminent effect.”
“Wh-what the heck!?” Gallus dropped the bag of popcorn looking around. “What is a Dream Randomiser and what did that female voice say about locked down!?”
Gale showed he was worried. “Something arrived through it! I put that in place encase of something like this might happen, it was suggested by Blue from the nightmare event I had through it.” Gale quickly flew up to Blue. “Blue do you sense who ever it is?”
“Yes, it just left the waterfall entrance, it is one massive life force.” Blue informed him. “We must take you and the others to the safe zone at once.” Gale nodded. “Alpha with me, we got to get them to safety at once and deal with this threat.”
“Got it boss, Lord Gale this way.” Alpha grabbed his mallet waving for the griffons to follow.
Gabby noticed something black when looking over the edge moving fast. “I saw it!” She pointed.
“I know! Now get moving!” Alpha grabbed her by the foreleg pulling her to follow him. “More time we chit-chat the more time whatever it is to find you three! What matters is getting you to safety!”
They quickly followed Blue and Alpha down the path heading into the forest. “Why aren't we flying?” Gallus asked as they ran.
“Because whatever it is can fly, I been sensing it movement through the life force it giving out.” Blue answered.
“I thought this was suppose to be a dream, why not just wake up!?” Gallus said loudly as the guardians turn at a cross road path in the forest to the left, the griffons following. “I mean what harm can something invading a dream can be?”
“You just answered your own question Master Gallus.” Blue said glancing back before focusing on the life force moving around.
Gallus realised what he meant. “You mean this thing could do something and harm me for real!?”
“Only if something invades the dream!” Alpha confirmed. “And that has to be very powerful on Lady Luna or Lord Gale's level of magic!”
“That mean it good it happening here right?” Gabby said with worry and hope.
“Yes, the fact it here, it trapped.” Blue came to a sliding stop with forepaw raised. “It coming this way, everyone hide in the brush and trees now!” They quickly split up to the left and right hiding in the brush to the trees.
They hid and waited.
Blue closed his eyes keeping track of the aura life force as it got closer, he could see it was almost on top of them coming down to path, it landed and closed in on them. “Only you all can hear me now, the life force is coming into view any moment.” They watched the path from their hiding places.
Coming into view was a black dragon to their surprise on all fours and walking by it was a skinny armoured and clothing wearing biped with a fake foot on the leg. “That's the threat? Some weird dragon and whatever that thing is?” Gallus whispered to Alpha.
Blue closed his eyes scanning them with his aura abilities. “Together they share a very similar aura, as if it one.”
“Giving the illusion of one big life force.” Alpha whispered under his breath. “That dragon got a fake tail fin on the end of the tail, including that outfit it wears, I say that skinny one is it rider.”
“Agreed, still wait for them to pass and we will deal with them after getting Master Gale and the others to safety.” Alpha nodded in view of Blue to confirm the plan.
The warning came out again.
“Dream Randomiser unauthorized arrival. Alpha 002 protocol activated, Dream Cavern has been locked down from the rest of the Dream and Waking Realm. Proceed to Safe Zone Alpha imminently, Dream Guardian protect priority 001, 008. 011 with imminent effect.”
“There that weird female voice again bud, any clue where she is?” The dragon greenish yellow eyes shift around, it shook it head in response.
Blue noticed something about their aura, he had a hunch and had to take it. “Alpha keep them safe, I am going to engage, if they fight back, get them to the safe zone while I keep them distracted.” Alpha nodded in response, the griffons getting ready to move, Blue formed a sphere of energy over one of his forepaws.
Gabby gasped. “Wh-what is that?” She whispered.
“That a sphere of aura.” Gale whispered back. “Blue picked up on that new trick a few days ago.”
The biped pat the dragon on the head gentle. “Alright Toothless le-” Suddenly the blue sphere slam in the ground in front of them, they quickly jump back looking around for the attacker.
“You do not need to look.” They heard in their heads, the pair of eyes turn to Blue stepping out from behind a tree, with another hovering over his paw. “You two are trespassing, I am the guardian of Dream Cavern and that was your only warning.” Toothless bared his teeth at Blue.
The biped raise his hands waving them quickly. “Whoa whoa whoa, easy there... Erm... Whatever you are. We came here by mistake! This is why we are here!” He pulled out from the pouch a sphere, the dragon glance at him with a humpth seeing that his friend was going the talk out of fighting route, he just sat on his hunches with grunting grumble.
Blue's eyes locked on it, so did Gale's and Alpha's, they knew what it was. “That's a Dream Cavern Recall Sphere, how are you in procession of it?”
“This thing came crashing through the roof of my home a week ago, hit me square on the head.” The biped put the sphere down on the ground, he than removed the helmet. “Are you telling us that we no longer in Berk but in another location in the world?”
“Simply put it, yes you are in another location.” Blue responded calmly letting the sphere fizzy out into nothing putting is paw hand to his side, his hunch was right. “I am Blue, a jackal diamond dog, the Dream Guardian of Dream Cavern.” Blue introduced himself to them.
The biped looked to Toothless and back to Blue. “So, that it? We good? Just like that?”
“You and the dragon Toothless have some no ill-tent, no actions that respond to deadly force, the fact your aura as you spoke never shifted showed you are telling the truth.” Blue calmly responded walking around them. “Your buddy trusted your judgement did he not?”
He looked over to the black dragon and back to Blue. “Guess you got a point there, well... My name is Hiccup and I'm a Viking.” He put the gloved hand out to Blue.
Blue calmly put his paw hand against his. “Welcome to Dream Cavern, even it wasn't a intended trip.”
Hiccup chuckled lightly. “No it wasn't, that sphere is surely something.” He took a closer look at Blue, seeing the spikes on the chest and wrist tops, the sharp slitted red eyes, the wolf like face with fur mask mix with blue and black, the four dreadlocks, the fur like shorts were a weird appearance.
“You seem to be studying my appearance.”
Hiccup let go. “I am, I just never seen anything like you before.”
“Most likely never see another like me, just like we never see another dragon like Toothless.” Blue picked up the sphere tossing it over to Hiccup, he caught it.
Hiccup fiddled around with the sphere in his hands. “You got a point there Blue.” He looked over the sphere. “How exactly did it bring us here?” He got a raised eye brow expression from Blue. “Not that I want to recreate it or anything.”
“That would be up to Master Gale to tell, he is the one that created the recall sphere in the first place, I am simply the guardian of him and this place.” Blue answered.
The alarm voice spoke again.
“Dream Randomiser unauthorized arrival. Alpha 00-
Suddenly it cuts off the reddish orange colour disappears and replaced by normal lighting from the crystal high above, Gale used a control to reset the security system. “That's it? The BIG so called threat is just some lame skinny creature, and some so called scary black dragon!?” Gallus points out to them as he come out of hiding.
The dragon snorts in disapproval.
Hiccup points at Gallus. “You spoke with a beak! And what the heck are you!?”
“Of course I speak! And I am a griffon!” He lands on all fours looking up slightly at Hiccup.
“Grif-what?”
“Griffon.” Gallus half growled. “And why are you surprised I am speaking with a beak!?”
Hiccup walked around Gallus, with a hand under his chin, with a finger just under his lip with a thoughtful expression, Toothless tilt his head with curiosity and Blue with caution watched. “Well, one thing you stand on fours like Toothless, you have talons and paws, wings, tail and-” He noticed the face showing annoyance. “Eyes, facial and very flexible beak with-” He saw them. “Teeth?”
“Yeah? So your walk on two, not the first thing I saw that walk on two, your just way skinner than them.” Toothless nodded in agreement. “The dragon gets it.” Gallus smirked.
Hiccup turn to Toothless. “Geez, thanks a lot buddy.” He gave a toothless smile. “You can smile too, guess being naked is the norm for you?”
“Naked? I have fur and feathers you idiot! Your the naked one with that skin exposed!” Gallus snapped at him, pointing at the exposed skin. “You need to wear that stupid stuff cause your overly exposed!”
“What of the dragons?” Gabby said sitting on top of Toothless. “He got scales, under it not skin, it muscle.” Toothless was surprised at first seeing she was on his back, he was confused how she managed it too, but soon that melted away when she slowly moved the talon over the grain of the scales, Toothless groans with happiness from the talons scrapping against it. “Ooo you like that do you?” He nodded with the folk tongue hanging out with a satisfied expression.
Hiccup turn around seeing Gabby on top of Toothless. “Another griffon?” He noticed she was different in colour and shape of the beak, including seeing some feathers tied to the back of her head. “Your female and you tie your feathers back?”
“Yep! I am Gabby and the hair-band is more a fashion sense for me, I like having my head feathers tied back.” Gabby giggled. “Oooo you liking that are you?” Toothless flop to his side, she hooped off and gave him a tummy scratch with her talons, his hind leg kicking out.
Hiccup rubbed his hand over the hair. “Well this is certainly one of the weirdest days I ever had, never thought I see Toothless warm up to anyone that quickly.”
“Oh that just Gabby, she super friendly and cheerful, if anyone can warm up to anyone it be her, she just keep trying to no end.” Gallus said crossing his forelegs sitting on his hunches. “Even when every single griffon slam a door in her face or tell her to get lost in Griffonstone.”
Hiccup glance over to the blue griffon. “Griffonstone? A whole town fall of your kind?”
“Yep and you try to go there, they most likely pretend to be nice.” He does airquotes with the talons. “And drain you of everything you own till you got nothing of value then see you as nothing worth their time.”
“That a bit harsh isn't it?” Gallus shrugged in response.
Gale came out with Alpha. “I only recently got there and that the sense of feeling I been getting.” Gale said flying up to him with a talon out to Hiccup. “I'm Gale!”
Hiccup took off his glove and put his hand against Gale's talon shaking it. “Your Master Gale? You sound like a child.”
“I am a cub, guess that mean child, so yeah I am!” Gale smiled warmly. “So is Gallus, the only adults is Blue, Alpha and Gabby!”
“She a adult? But she a little taller than you, are you all this small?” He looked around.
Gale rubbed the underside of his beak with the other talon. “Never thought about that, mum and some of the others are, but most adults are a little bigger than me and Gallus, just thought that normal, guess other races are different in size.” Gale shrugged.
Hiccup still holding the talon took a good look at the scales. “The claws match the talon colour, the texture feels gritty yet warm to the touch as if it skin, feathered fur mix covering the upper parts...” He let go of the talon. “Sorry I studied dragons of all kinds, I never seen anything like your like ever.”
Gale smiled warmly. “It fine.” Gale reviled the sphere. “I am sorry that my sphere caused all this mess in the first place though.”
“It fine, accidents happen, just make sure not to lose it again, okay? Or next time it might not be as friendly as we are.” Hiccup said with a smile of his own. “I wouldn't mind getting home though.”
Gale nodded. “Sure! Maybe we can visit?”
Hiccup looked over to Toothless. “What do you think buddy?” He nodded happily. “It seem Toothless like it, sure thing.”
Gallus frowned. “Seriously? We just had a scare for no reason and now we thinking about going on some adventure to this Berk place?”
“Aww come on Gallus! You never left Griffonstone till now!”
“I am still in-” Gallus paused for a moment, Gabby made some strange sense, even they are asleep this felt real and they were kind of not in Griffonstone. “Urg! Your right! This is the first time out of town, might as well make it a second.” He rolled his eyes. “Can't have you lot have all the fun.”
Blue frowned. “Master Gale, the reason this happened was because of the Grogar event you went through, I advise caution.”
“Blue this might be the way of fixing my machine! We can have random adventures again!” Gale said back.
“That is true and I can not argue with that fact, but I still advise caution.”
Alpha stepped up. “I am coming Lord Gale.”
Hiccup stared at him. “Wow your a talking wolf that has hands....”
Alpha glared. “You got something against me talking!?”
“N-n-no not at all! I mean it cool! You even wear clothing like me!”
“Of course I do, even with fur my culture sees it as tabo.” He looked at Blue, Gale, Gallus and Gabby. “Even to their culture it isn't, each are their own as the young lord stated.” Alpha looked into Hiccup's eyes. “That why I am coming, we have no knowledge of how others will react to us, I rather be there to protect Lord Gale and the others if things get nasty.” He poked him a few times in the chest.
“Fair point.” Hiccup step back a few steps. “Your really scary.”
Alpha smirked. “Good.” He walk by. “I'll be at the Randomiser waiting.”
Gale waved. “See you there!” Gale warmly smiled. “Ooo this is going to be so much fun! Going on another dream adventure!” He turned his head. “Nightingale and Gilda are asleep! I can get them to tag along too! Be right back!” Gale using his talon to create a door, he opened it and walked inside. “Maybe I could get Spike to come to-”
The door closed and vanished before Hiccup and Toothless, they staring with their jaws hanging. “So that how he does it! That so AWESOME!” Gabby said with glee.
Suddenly a new door appears and Luna rush through it closing behind. “What is going on in here!? I sensed a strong defensive dream magical shield placed around Dream Cavern! Where is my nephew!?”
Hiccup muttered a mix of confusing words seeing the Alicorn, she saw him. “I-What-door-appearing-disappearing-”
Luna's horn glows. “Where is my nephew!?” She ready to engage Hiccup and Toothless.
The dragon bears his teeth shifting his body ready to engage this creature, Hiccup drew his fire sword ready to fight too, seeing one about to happen fast. “I don't know what you are lady, but I haven't done anything to this nephew of yours!”
Blue quickly leap between them with both hand paws up. “Mistress Luna, please allow me to explain! Before you actions are rash! And Stand down Hiccup and Toothless, this is a fight you will not win, guaranteed!” Blue's telepathic thoughts made both sides paused.
“That seriously went off the rails...” Gallus muttered under his breath.
For Blue this was a relief, now came explaining what has happened in the short ten minutes that had past, the short ten minutes for so much in the realm of dreams to spiral out of control.
Grifshore Bay a busy port mostly populated by merchant Griffons, ships sailing in and out from the seas to the the skies, even at dead of night as it near midnight the port was still heavily busy, at one of the sky ports on the higher levels of the town built below and up the side of a steep cliff, a large ship differs from the others with blimps attached to them.
This one had no blimp but hovered against the dock tied to it, the ship had a white with golden brown colour with blue on the upper half to the back end, it had two sails on either side of the bow with four large thrusters attached to the very back, it had three large masks attached to the mid front to middle, with a griffon on a glass orb at the front, the long mask leading out of it, above the crow nest a flag of Grover's Griffina era being displayed.
The short orange with black striped griffon checked the paper work. “I gather all the paper work is good for the HMS Victory?” His deep voice made the much taller red griffon flinch slightly.
“Yes everything is good for your voyage to Manehatten, still this airship is really something, Big-Rig.” The red griffon took from the talons of Big-Rig checking that he signed it. “Powered by a gravity magical crystal, how the blazes did you get your talons on something that rare?”
Big-Rig chuckled. “My connections, not yours kid, I am a very successful business griffon.”
“That you are, well have a safe journey and see your ship by next week for first cargo to Las Peagsus.” He checked through the final parts of the paper work. “I can see good profit coming from this ship of yours.”
Big-Rig rolled his eyes. “Money isn't everything cub, you need to see beyond it, that how I got this beauty built.” Big-Rig salutes and fly up to the ship deck.
The dock griffon shrugged. “Weird shorty.” He turn away to get a squash hitting him in the back of the head, turning around and looking up to see a really anger griffon.
“CARE TO REPEAT THAT CUB!?”
“Oh buck, I broke the number one real dealing with Big-Rig!” The dock griffon quivered in fear quickly putting his talons together raising them to Big-Rig. “I am sorry! It was the slip of the tongue! Please don't take your business elsewhere!” He begged.
Big-Rig laughed as the ropes was removed and raised by his crew. “You got me in a good mood cub! So I'll let you off with a warning, but if I get wind of you or any of your team talking behind my back about my size, my business will go elsewhere!”
“Oh thank you! I'll make sure!” The ship lifts up and the sails open up, many griffons with some ponies watch it leave dock, they amazed by the way it was moving in the sky without a blimp.
Big-Rig turn to the helm. “Gritter take us out on the heading south west by west on a heading of 2, 1, 0, 1.”
The light grey finch griffon turn the wheel. “Heading 2, 1, 0, 1 aye sir!”
“Full speed ahead! Let's show them what HMS Victory can do!”
Another griffon salutes. “Aye sir!” She speaks into a pipe. “Full speed!”
The town watched the ship's thrusters engage and it flies off from the port at high speeds.
Big-Rig removed the talon gloves, he flexed the forepaws. “Finally get out of those daffed talons.” He threw them on top of a create. “At current flight speed and weather, we looking at morning sunrise at best on arriving at Manehatten.”
Gruff looking out to the sea of clouds sailing by, sitting at the port side of the ship. “Good to hear.”
“I don't know what Maple sees in you, but I am not one to judge a book by it cover, you two had waaay more time together before I was even born, enjoy the trip cause you never get another like it.” Big-Rig turn to walk up the steps to the captain's cabin, Maple walking down the steps to the left of him. “That makes us even on that mishap a few years back.”
Maple smiled warmly at the small griffon. “It does Big-Rig and do not worry, you will still get your moment back home.” She walked on down the steps. Maple glanced back. “Also that doesn't make us even on the other subjects at paw, so don't think I forgot.” She said in a sweet calm tone of voice.
Big-Rig shuddered. “I hate it when she speaks like that, it really creepy.” He muttered and continue to walk up the steps. “Captain, I like to inspect the pride of the ship itself.”
The yellow finch griffon with black spots all on the fur and feathers, wearing a blue jacket with gold trimmings salute. “Aye sir, come this way.”
Big-Rig rolled his eyes. “Just show me the damn gravity crystal core!” The captain flinched and lead Big-Rig through the door down below deck.
Maple walked to join her husband at the port-side of the ship, she looking around at the finch griffon crew at work around her. “Gruff, what you think of our ride?”
“Nothing that I seen before, and that is saying a lot for a grumpy old griffon like me.” He glance over at her as she stood by him, jumping up on her hind legs, with forepaws on the ship side.
“Grumpy? Yes. Old? Nah, your way past old my love.” Maple put her wing over him looking out at the view before them, the stars littered the sky around the moon. “Happy 100th my grumpy, moody griffon.” She put her head against his as the view of Grifshore Port disappear into the distance.
Gruff nuzzle his head gentle against hers as it did past midnight. “Happy 100th my crazy smart griffon.” He whispered to her. “Thank you for getting me out of Griffonstone.”
Maple thought about it. “You should thank that young prince, if it wasn't for him, Greystorm wouldn't have been hit by him with pure magic, allow him to withstand the stun rifle Sunflower used on him, that lead to a chain of events that lead to this very moment.” Maple said sighing in relief. “I was at first so conflicted on this day to come, now it here I am happier than I ever been in a long time...” She purred putting her paw on Grandpa Gruff's talon.
The old griffon turn her paw around closing his talon around the padded side between and around around the paw fingers. “That cub has something about him that I haven't felt being near for a long time, I just can't place my claw on it.” Gruff said quietly looking out to the stars above as the ship rose above the clouds. “If he the reason why we are here at this moment, I am glad because this greedy bits griffon now has the most valuable thing in his life beside him once again, sailing high above the clouds bathed in the moon light with stars twinkling like pure white diamonds.”
Maple hummed happily. “You make it sound like we in a story, a story of Gale the Griffon of Canterlot, the prince that is the main character and we just secondary.” She said softly staring at the stars and the moon too with little to no clouds obstructing their view.
“Maybe we are Maple, but frankly I do not care, this is a moment I will keep to my heart.” He hummed.
“To secondary characters and their 100 year love life.” She giggled softly,
Gruff chuckled. “To our love life and for many many more, for this moment we hold together.”
They turn their heads to face each other and kissed in front of the moon to the view of the finch griffons at work, they paused for a moment till got a grunt from the second command griffon, they got back to work, that griffon hinting them to work pulled out a camera and snapped a short of them, the polaroid comes out. “Get this framed and put in their cabin.” He paws the photo to another griffon.
“Aye aye sir!” The griffon salute and leaves.
The low hum from the gravity core of the HMS Victory filled the air of the engine room, finch griffons at control stations, others regulating the energy out put generating from within the diamond -gold reinforced casing the magical gravity crystal sat within, the wires and piping pumping the energy it generates to the solar sails above entering the chamber.
Big-Rig opened the door into the engine room doing his rounds around the ship once again in the early hours of the morning. “Big-Rig sir!” One of the engineer Finch Griffons saluted, the others did too.
“Keep working cubs, and give me the report on our beautiful heart of Victory, Chief Solarsail.” Big-Rig step up to the screen displays seeing data coming in from the core beyond the control room.
The chief engineer a female Finch Griffon with white fur and feathers, black strips over the neck down to the tail, and wing tips, greenish-gold eyes wearing a blue jacket with a crystal on the badge stepped up with a tablet in one foreleg. “The solar sails at at 21.2% efficiency from the light of the moon, the gravity core still running a nice warm efficiency of 98.3% and holding stable.” She said with a thick northern accent.
She sat on the hunches using the other forepaw fingers to swipe up on the screen. “The anti-gravity is working at normal levels, thrusters still running nice and hot, lighting, air-conditioning and pretty much everything else working like a charm for a brand new ship on it madam voyage, Boss Big-Rig, sir.”
Big-Rig gave a sly toothy smirk at Solarsail. “You did that last part on purpose didn't you?”
“That I did sir.” She put the pad under her wing, standing up on all fours. “I can understand that you want everything to be perfect, but nothing is truly perfect and one of those is that old chap inside the GC room.” She hints to the window.
Big-Rig flapped his wings to fly up to it, he saw inside sitting on the outer wall looking up at the core near one of the pipes was Grand Gruff Clawhowler. “How long has he been in there? And how in the name of all sanity is he sitting almost upside down in there!?”
Solarsail step up beside him looking into it. “About a hour at least and from the readings the gravity inside had a effect that allow you to walk on the outer wall as if it down and the central core casing is up, it a effect from the gravity crystal from what we can tell, still doing some tests on how that works and the old chap been a great help so far, we been going in every so often to check up on him.”
“What of the catwalk?”
“You can still walk on it as if it never affecting you, still working on how that exactly work boss.” Solarsail told Big-Rig. “I got to get back to work, enough chit-chat for now.” She turn and head back to the main control console.
Big-Rig rubbed the underside of his beak. “Never thought the gravity crystal would have that effect on gravity in such a way, yet this is the first to be made and used in the last 200 years.” He shrugged, flying up to the door he press his paw fingers on the pad, the door beeps and unlocks, it slide open.
Big-Rig fly in and as the door closed he felt the strange effects the GC room was having on his flight. “Urrr... That is some weird effect, it feels like I am flying upside down, to the right side and left side, it as if I am being hit by minor waves of gravity.” He flew with some difficult to Gruff landing a bit roughly on the outer casing.
“Experiencing the joys of gravity waves within the secondary chamber?” Gruff said with his good eye looking at Big-Rig for a moment before going back to staring at the central chamber, the light orange gravity crystal through the glass glowing with waves of energy expelling from it. “It been a long time since I been in one of these, last time was at the very heart of Flaputa itself.”
Big-Rig walked up to the old griffon, sitting by him looking up at the crystal too. “I only seen photos, design plans, heard stories from Maple and read about it in journals, this is my first time being close to it being active, when we tested it before installing the crystal into the heart of HMS Victory, we were on the otherside of the glass so to speak.”
Gruff chuckled lightly. “Quite the feeling isn't it? The way laws of gravity being magically influenced in ways you never dreamed.”
“That it is, I heard from the chief you been in here for quite some time, why aren't you with Maple?”
“Straight to the point, you are a business griffon for sure.” He said without looking at Big-Rig. “Never underestimate your type of griffon, but to answer your question, I told her I had to come here.”
“And she didn't?”
“Would you like to be inside the chamber that effects gravity and was part of the reason your whole floating city was supposingly obliterated to atoms?” Gruff asked a counter question and answer in one.
Big-Rig got a understanding. “I gather she told and showed you?”
“Yes...” Gruff took off his fez looking at it as he ran the talons through it. “If they knew, the banning of the crystals would have never happened.”
“The banning of the crystals happened because of that day, we can't change it Gruff, we can only move forwards.”
Gruff sighed. “I know...”
“It took a lot of money and jumping through red taped hoops. This ship and it core has been a two year up hill battle, but as always every Finch underestimated Big-Rig.” He said with pride. “If all goes well in the next few months I will have planning to build more of these ships, get my cargo out there far and wide, even transport others cargo too.”
Gruff put his fez back on his head. “Grifshore being your key interest isn't it?”
“It already is.” Big-Rig got up on all fours. “It been fun having this little chit-chat, but I got rounds to make, enjoy the rest of the trip and get your old ass out of my core, and back with Maple.”
Gruff chuckled. “Fine, be that way you little brat.”
“Fossil.” Big-Rig responded as he left.
Gruff huffed. “That small fry...” He got up walking to the door. “Well better get some rest with Maple.” He opened it, looking back at the core. “Hmm... Do not worry Pistol, Maple will be saving that tail of yours soon enough, just you wait.” Gruff leave the chamber and the door closes behind him.
Standing before Berk only a short walk away as the first light of the sun appear over the horizon Hiccup and Toothless stood. The Viking pondered. “How am I going to explain this one to Dad, Toothless?”
Toothless looked back at the five Griffons, one wolf, Alicorn and little purple dragon behind them, he shrugged. “Thanks for the suggestion bud.” Hiccup rubbed his hand over his hair. “This is way over my head...” Toothless licked it. “Aww seriously Toothless!?”
Keeping to the shadows of the buildings, Alpha leap from one building to another through out Berk, the Vikings or the dragons not noticing this large anthropomorphic wolf moving about, he kept low wind too from the dragons. Alpha made his way to Hiccup's home as the drawing the young adult had given to the wolf, he looked to the map and to the house with his good eye.
“This better work.” He licked the side of his snout. “I think this is a horrible plan...” He grumbled, leaping off the roof to land at the steps up to Hiccup's home without much of a sound, Alpha looked around before approaching the door as the rays of sunlight start to hit the buildings. “Urg... Better get this over with.” He raised the paw hand up to the door knocking on it a few times.
The opened with Stoick staring down at the wolf, Alpha's ears lowered, he gulped at the size and height of this Viking, he just stared deeply into Alpha's only eye. “Grhmmm...”
Alpha gulped loudly stepping back a few steps. “I-I-I'm here on the behalf of your son Hi-”
Stoick grabbed him by the neck and pinned him against the wall, the wall pawed and kicked to break free but couldn't. “Creature what have you done to my son!?”
“I didn-gah-” He felt the squeeze around his neck. “He told me to come to you! I told him it a horrible plan!”
Stoick let's go, the wolf land on his backside tail tucked between his legs, coughing and rubbing his throat leaning against the door frame. “That sound a lot like Hiccup, now where is my son?”
Alpha coughing a little bit wheezing to get some air back in his lungs. “Ur...” He coughed again. “He on the outskirts near the forest with Lord Gale I serve as protector, his aunt, and others...” He got back up onto his paw feet lapping the side of his muzzle with the tongue.
“Good to hear, now what are you and who are you?”
“My name is Alpha and I am a wolf.”
Stoick gave him a hard gaze. “I seen wolves and you look similar, but not stand on two, have paws that look like hands or even wear clothing.” Stoick grabbed his axe pointing it at Alpha. “Now tell me what are you!?”
Alpha growls. “I am a wolf! Just one from a far away land called China! I left my home taking a oath to protect Lord Gale!” He proves it with a howl and a snarl. “Does that convince you!?”
Stoick lower the axe to his side. “You would die for this Lord Gale?”
“To keep him out of harms way... Yes.” Alpha growled.
Stoick saw the hard gaze from the red eye staring back at his own eyes. “Vikings and Dragons were enemies, now we are more like family, if that possible, what you say is. And the fact you came alone to tell me where my son is proves that.” He walk out of the house seeing a few Vikings and Dragons gather, Alpha step into view behind him. “Take me to him.”
Alpha looked around at the others staring, with a humph. “Follow me...” Alpha walked down the steps, the other Vikings and Dragons wearily parted as the wolf walk by them with Stoick following close behind him.
“Wait!” Alpha stopped slowly turning his head. “We making a detour.”
“You asked me to take you to him! Now you want to take a detour!? Make your mind up!” Alpha threw a fit of snarls and growls in the mix of his words at Stoick.
Stoick pushed him as he walked by. “We making the detour, follow me wolf.”
Alpha howled in frustration. “I am really hating this dream logic, first all sneaky, suddenly they all up and about. Now I can walk without a blink or question why a talking wolf is with the chief of Berk!?”
Suddenly his train of thoughts are broken by four dragons landing before him and Stoick, each of them had a rider on the dragons part from the two headed one had two, they look like twins. “Chief has Toothless returned and what is that thing behind you?” The female asked.
“Astrid that is Alpha, his a wolf from a far away lands, he came to me because of Hiccup, we going to get Gobber and head out to my son.”
“Wolf? But it wearing clothing and-”
“Stand on feet paws, blah blah blah! I get it I am not your typical wolf! Now can we get this Gobber thing and head back to Lord Gale and the others!?” They and their dragons stared with mouths opened, he licked the side of his muzzle. “I am never going to leave Dream Cavern EVER again! If this is the mess I am going to be dragged through!”
Stoick couldn't help but laugh. “Welcome to Berk and now I am very sure my son is safe.” He walked on, Alpha opened his muzzle than closed it with a grumble under his breath as he followed.
Ruffnut gave him a pet on the head as he walk by. “Who the good-”
Alpha turn and growls. “You pet me like that again and that hand will be gone with one BITE!” He snap his jaw at her before walking after Stoick.
Tuffnut grinned. “Oh wow sis, wouldn't mind a pet like him right?”
Ruffnut was unphased by Alpha's actions or words. “Definitely.” Alpha groans hearing the twins.
Fishlegs raise a finger. “Is it weird that we just seemingly calm around a talking wolf?”
Snotlout walk by him following the wolf and chief. “Your just thinking too hard, weird is the norm.”
“He got a point.” Astrid shrugged and followed them with hands behind the back of her head. “Come on Stormfly.” The others followed with their dragons.
Fishlegs with his dragon glance at each other. “I do have a point don't I?” The dragon lick him in agreement. “At least you agree.” He rubbed the scaly head, they followed the group.
Hiccup sat in front of Gale drawing into his book as the young griffon had his wings spread open, the Viking taking note of the appearance of a teenage griffon, including Gallus to a adult one from Gilda, Nightingale and Gabby. “You two still growing and yet this shows that wing span from any of you even with feathers says it about a third too short. The body mass is too big to give any of you lift, even for you Princess Luna...” He drift the charcoal end of the sketches he made.
Hiccup turn his attention to Spike munching on a gem from a bag held in one claw, using the other claw hand to put each glimmering rock into his mouth. “And you Spike, not only you can speak, your jaw is impossibly strong for a baby dragon, I mean you are chewing on those rocks as if it nothing, your body also is differently shaped to any dragon as well, I can't even find any wings on you at all.” Hiccup said.
Spike shrugged. “I can't help you on that, Twilight my sister hatched me around ten years ago during a magic exam to get into the school for Gifted Unicorns run by Princess Celestia.”
“Annnnd that the part I find a hard time believing, magic. Really?”
Luna rolled her eyes using her magic to pick him up, Toothless watched with a curious tilt of his head seeing his friend float in a blue aura emitting from Luna's horn. “Do you wish to explain to me how I can do this?”
Hiccup shook his head. “Nope I'm good!” Luna lowered him back down onto the downed tree trunk. “That feeling is sooooo weird.”
“Prince Hiccup each of us from Equestria and Griffina have magic in us, it a core energy that flow through us, it how my and Nightingale's mane and her head feathers move without wind, it access magic within us.” Luna stated using her magic to take the stick to draw a orb in the middle of the diagrams, with lines going outwards, mainly to the wings and limbs of those with only wings
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb, without our inner magic cores we wouldn't be able to fly, it basic 101 for us. And also give us the ability to control weather, Griffons and Pegasi.”
“Control weather?” Hiccup frowned. “Can you prove it?”
Gilda smirked. “You are going to eat those words.” She open her wings, with a mighty flap the griffon zooms straight up at high speeds.
The blast of wind from take off made Hiccup cover his face, he looked up afterwards seeing her zoom right up to the clouds, she was climbing at speeds he and Toothless have done a few times after gaining some speed from some flight. “Wow she fast...”
Gallus sat against a tree with his forelegs crossed. “Not sure why I agreed to this, it boring.” Toothless came up to him and sat by the griffon. “What do you want?” Toothless gave him a lick. “URG Gross!” He quickly got up wiping his face with his talons trying to get the slobber off his feathers.
“He like you.” Gabby giggled.
Gallus flick some of the saliva from his talons at Toothless' face, he reacted by shaking his head and using his foreclaw to clear himself. “Well he can keep his lick likeness in that mouth of his.” Gallus flapped his wings flying up to a tree branch, resting his back against the tree truck with forelegs behind his head.
Toothless watched the navy blue tuff of the tail tip wave back and forwards, he groans unhappily as he unable to reach Gallus. “Guess he not the dragon licking type bud.” Hiccup add a detail into the book about the griffon foreleg being very mobile alongside the talons, the reverse claw of the three forward ones able to move forwards to them and act like a thumb. “It interesting how the inner claw can be fully reversed to move forwards to a inner claw that act like a thumb, it shows that the talon joints are far more durable than they look.”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “I KNOW! I am a griffon for Grover's sake! It griffish 101 for us!” Gallus lean over the edge glaring down at him. “How about we stop waiting on the outskirts and go already!”
“We will go when I say.” Luna said back, Gallus grumbled disappearing from view. “Nephew...”
“Yes Aunty?” Gale walked up to Luna.
“Be prepared for us to leave, just encase things go south.”
“I got it one turn away already.” Gale padded his bag. “But I am sure it be fine.” Gale looked over to Berk. “How cool is it? We get to have a dream adventure together?”
“It wouldn't be happening if you didn't lose that sphere of yours in the first place.” Luna said dryly.
Gale turn to her. “I didn't know how it ended up here, or why this place out of those many tries to break out of the nightmare cycle my Randomiser was on.”
Luna sighed. “indeed, that nightmare of Grogar is still troubling... As if there a piece of-” She paused. “No it couldn't... That-”
“Aunty?”
Nightingale kept a eye out for anyone approaching. “I see Alpha with-” She saw the group of Vikings and Dragons. “Aunty Luna, Alpha bring quite the crowd with him, I see seven Vikings and four dragons, five if you count the two headed one.”
Spike quickly came up to Nightingale. “Two headed!?” He saw the dragon with the two long necks with a head on each. “Oh wow there dragon does have two heads!” Luna and Gale saw it too, what bothered Luna was quickly push to the side as they saw the dragons with the Vikings coming up.
Hiccup put the stick in his book closing it up. “Here we go.” He wave for Toothless to come up by his side. “Ready buddy?” Toothless nodded. “Princess are you and the others ready?” Luna look up to Gallus.
“I'm coming...” He grumbled leaping off the branch flapping a few times to land on all fours beside Gale, the two teens and Nightingale walking up beside Luna, Spike just by her right forehoof.
“We ready.” Luna nodded.
Hiccup straighten himself and took a deep breath. “Alright, let's get this over and done.”
As both parties now only meters apart. “Hiccup...”
“Hi Dad...” Hiccup waved nervously. “Your going to love what happened to me...”
Stoick frowned. “Alpha told me you were transported by that sphere with Toothless to Dream Cavern and they brought you back, and this was your plan.”
“A horrible plan...” Alpha muttered.
“It was...” Hiccups said. “I thought it was better for Alpha to bring you, I wasn't expecting my friends and Gobber to show up too though...”
“I told you not to mess around with that thing, your lucky to have ran into those that cared about your well being and bring you home.” Stoick said pointing to the ground. “You have any idea how much danger you could of brought to our home with that stunt?”
Hiccup sighed “Alot... But at least it worked out didn't it? We got to meet some friendly creatures that aren't dragon for the most part.”
“Aye, that we have.” He look upon them. “I gather the beak, talons and paws with the feathered wings are the griffons?” Alpha nodded. “And that mean...” He eyes fell upon Luna. “You are Luna, the Princess of Equestria, the aunt of two of the three-” He looked around. “I was told there was five griffons.”
Gabby popped up in front of him. “Hi! I am Gabby! It nice to meet you Stoick the Vast! Father of Hiccup! He got a really AWESOME dragon pal too!” She grabbed his hand with both talons shaking it. “Wow that a really big hand you got! I bet your super strong too! Like to claw wrestle some time?”
Gallus slapped his forehead, Nightingale shook her head, Gale stared, Hiccup was very nervous at what might happen next. “Yes... Nice to meet you too Gabby...” He slowly said staring down at her big emotional eyes. “Do you mean arm wrestling?”
“Yep!” She giggled.
“He better not, she WAY stronger than she look.” Gallus warned Hiccup.
Hiccup rubbed the back of his head. “This is not exactly what I had-”
A cloud lowers to the left of them, Gilda walking on it sat down. “Hey dweebs, one cloud as promised.” She slyly smirked. “Now do you believe be you lame dork?” She directly said to Hiccup.
“-In mind...” Hiccup rubbed a thumb and finger against the bridge of his nose, Spike put his claw hands over his snout trying not to laugh.
Gobber blinked. “Are you all seeing what I am seeing or am I going completely mad!?”
“I see it too Gobber and I can't believe what I am seeing...” Stoick replied.
Astrid put her hand out for it to go through the cloud. “How is that even possible...”
“Magic you dweeb.” Gilda chuckled.
“I give up... My plan go awe!” He threw his hands up in the air in defeat.
Alpha muttered. “Told you it was a horrible plan...” Toothless giving a grunting laugh in response.
Luna directly look to Stoick. “I gather you want a expectation?”
Stoick couldn't stop staring at the cloud and Gilda. “Yes... I would appreciate that...”
“Okay that weirder then the weird norm we have.” Snotlout rubbed the back of his neck.
“The way she just chilled on that cloud is awesome.” Ruffnut chuckled
“Sis it awesomely weird how she chilled on the cloud!” Tuffnut chuckled too.
Gilda chuckled too. “I like these two, they seem less dweebish then the rest of you, part from you Gale, your just awesome.” The twins fist bump each other.
Gale shrugged. “Wow things just gone past eleven on the ten o metre...”
“That it has dear nephew... That it did...” Luna said.
“Stupid dream logic...” Alpha grumbled.
Stoick rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You know what...” He turn away from Gilda, she chuckled as he don't want to even try to understand how she sitting on a cloud. “It morning and this is just way over my head, how about we all go to the Great Hall and have breakfast as our honorary guests?”
Gilda hopped off the cloud with a few flaps and gave it a twist kick puffing it out of existence. “Cool with me dweeb, I wouldn't mind some cooked fish.” She calmly walked by him.
Hiccup clapped his hands. “Well dad, it look like things are good, lets get going shall we?”
He tried to walk by Stoick to only be grabbed by the arm. “Hiccup we going to have a very long talk about this whole mess.” Hiccup groans knowing he was in for father son talk in the not so good way.
“The trap been sprung master, he is here.”
“Good. Are my creations ready?”
“Yes they are.”
“Are the Anti-Recall dampers in place?”
“Yes they been installed around Berk and one activation away.”
“Good, no escape or waking up for Wayne. The pure magic will be his through the veil of dreams, it one of many methods I... He had in mind to acquiring the magic from that being, once acquired I be transferred to my true-self.”
“Master?”
“We are but a echo, a piece of the greater whole minion, we are created to serve our purpose.”
“Shall we set sail?”
“At once my minion, it time to claim what is rightfully his.”
Stoick sat down at the table where Gobber, Luna and Hiccup sat at, he rubbed his wrist glancing over at Gabby who was celebrating her victory, Gale happily eating some cooked fish, Gallus grinning from one end of the beak to the other. “That Gabby is far stronger then she look, I never been defeated so quickly...”
“Aye that griffon is a bundle of surprises, that hyper happiness doesn't even say super strong.” Gobber drank some of his mead. “Princess, you and them are full of surprises.”
Luna cautionary look at the contents of the wooden mug, taking a sniff from it followed by a sip. “Strange, strong and not something I would like to drink much of.” She put it down with her magic. “And Gobber what surprises you doesn't surprise us, but what surprises us is how this village is full of two races living together, so it seem to work both ways.”
“Aye it does missy.” He raise his mug up and drunk some more.
Stoick turn to Hiccup. “Now Hiccup care to explain what happened, and Princess Luna can help fill in her side of the tale too.”
“It be my pleasure.” Luna bowed slightly.
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. “We can start with how that sphere ended up smashing through our roof.”
Luna nodded. “Gale has erm... A creative mind... He made what called the Dream Randomiser, it allow to input symbols to transport him and anyone else to somewhere beyond Dream Cavern, it also allow the traveller to blend in too so they are not so noticeable.” Luna started to explain. “He only used it once before and that where Alpha came in.”
Stoick glance at the wolf standing against the wall, his one eye keep a very watchful view of the whole hall as he ate. “China he said his from, a wolf from a very far away land that can do pretty much what we can and more.”
“Correct, Alpha use to serve another lord, one that turned dark and evil, this lord was going to do something dreadful to Gale and he refused to let that happen.” Luna said. “That is for another time to talk about, for now the machine that allow this transportation started to go wrong, last week it didn't take Gale to another place but into a nightmare, played over and over again, I even saw it for myself, it was as if we were watching a play, unable to act upon it with events replaying the same from start to finish over and over again, no matter how many times Gale tried to fix it.” Luna explained. “That is when the sphere he take with him was lost, and somehow found it way to Berk.”
“That doesn't make any-sense, how can something that transport you from one location to another put you into a re-playable event that each time you went through from start to finish the exact same way?” Hiccup questioned trying to get his head around it. “I saw that place, saw all the weird runes, your saying that no matter which ones you pressed it lead to the same outcome?”
“Correct.”
Stoick rubbed his beard. “That doesn't explain how the sphere ended up in Berk.”
“No it does not, or how it was able to activate a machine that was shut down too.” Luna stated.
Hiccup shrugged. “I can't explain that either, that machine as you call it doesn't even make sense, the flat weird things with mini lights all over the place, how the whole place is lit up without fire, it a very strange place.”
“It does sound strange son.”
“That not the strangest thing, soon we got there the thing reacted to me and Toothless being there, this booming ladies voice rang out about unauthorised access, and everything was in lock down, we left the chamber to find we was in this hidden world paradise, it was red lit at first but after getting across our misunderstandings this big crystal changed colour, and it felt like being under a warm sun.” Hiccup explained his strange encounters in Dream Cavern.
Hiccup open his book to show a drawing of Blue holding a sphere up above him. “What is this son?”
“That Blue, he something called a Jackal Diamond Dog, guardian of Dream Cavern, he can create this weird sphere of energy above his paw, the size, the body and his ability to talk inside your head is all impossibly crazy, he didn't move his mouth, and the words just appeared in your head like a echo.” Hiccup best described Blue.
Gobby took the book to have a look at the drawing of the creature as well the land. “Aye that is one strange creature, spike on the chest and two more on the wrists, that one serious mean looking creature for sure, as for this cavern, it look like Berk's woodland but underground.” Gobby point out when looking at Hiccup's sketch.
“Hiccup what you did was wreckless playing around with that sphere, but in turn something good came out of it, your still going to have to make up for disobeying me, but I will make sure it something along the lines of cleaning up the Dragon Stables for a week.”
Hiccup gasped. “Dad please any-” He gave his son a stone face look. “Urg... Fine...” He sighed.
Luna cringed at the thought of large- “No not even going to think of that.” She shook her head. “That is disturbing and disgusting...”
“Aye lass it will be, but it better than what else that Stoick could do.”
“I wouldn't even dare think what could be worse than that.” Luna cringed again. “Oooo disgusting.” She flapped her wings a few times getting a shiver through her fur. “Now when I arrived at Dream Cavern through a magical door I created... I met your son and the dragon Toothless, we talked and he told me where he came from, I agreed that it would be best to help bring him home.”
Hiccup nodded, he was glad she made it seem so much less worse then it was. “That pretty much what happened, their magic just impossible to understand dad.”
“As I seen, also how strong one so small can be.” Stoick rubbed his wrist looking over to Hiccup's friends interacting with the griffons and Spike, Alpha just don't seem to be interested standing against the wall. “It good to see the others warning up to our unusual visitors, surprisingly fast, even for me.” He turn to Luna. “Are you using magic to drop our guard?”
Luna brought up the cup before his view. “If I wanted to take this place over or wipe it out, it would have been done before you could blink.” The magic crushed the wooden mug into a tiny cube of wooden dropped on the table.
Stoick took it and looked over the fact it was metal and wood, but now one small cube. “That answers my question.” He toss it over to Hiccup, the young adult caught it. “Now, how about another drink for the Princess?”
Luna shrugged. “Why not.” She smiled and he returned the smile.
Hiccup ran his fingers over it. “That's very scary to know that me and Toothless could of ended up like that...”
“Be glad you didn't Hiccup.” Gobber put his arm around Hiccup. “Now tell me about that little dragon Spike over there?”
Hiccup put the cube into his inside pocket of the fur sleeveless jacket for safety. “Why don't I take you over to him and ask?”
“Well... Having a dragon talk about to you is very weird.” He said rubbing the back of his neck with the good hand.
Hiccup rolled his eyes. “Come on Gobber, let's go have a chat with Spike.” The two left the table heading over to Spike munching gems from a bowl happily.
Stoick now alone with Luna among the noisy Vikings around them enjoying their meals, they drank a fair bit of their mead in silences with the noise around them till Stoick finally spoke up through the awkward silence between chief and princess. “Luna...” He gave her a mug, she took it with her magic. “How many times did this nightmare rerun happen?”
“From my nephew's count... 43 times before giving up, where are you going with this Stoick?”
“Don't you think it a bit odd out of those 43 times, only one of these had that recall sphere land through the roof of my home? The only home that has a very curious inquisitive mind like my son?” He drank some of his mead. “What are the odds of that?”
Luna drunk a bit of the mead. “Very slim...” Luna felt uneasy. “Where are you going with this?”
Stoick put his mug down. “I might sound crazy, but with what happened in the past four years since dragons become part of our lives, I think something or someone might have a hand in bring us together like this, I am going to put scouts out just to be safe.” He got up. “You are concerned with this too, I can see it.”
Luna put the mug down standing up. “Yes you are correct, I have been thinking of this myself.”
“Than let's oversee this, keep it between us and the scouts, unless we are sure of this uneasy feeling we have, we do not want to cause a panic for no reason but our gut feeling.”
“Agreed.”
Snotlout jump up on the table with a raised fist into the air. “Who with me on this!? Dragon Racing between us Dragon Riders versus the Griffon Five!?”
Luna glance to Stoick. “Prey tell what is this Dragon Racing Snotlout speak of?”
The Vikings all cheering as they liked the idea. “Snotlout...” He grumbled rubbing his finger and thumb at the bridge of his nose. “I'll explain while we send out the Dragon Rider Scouts...” As they left the Great Hall Stoick explained to Luna, while Hiccup now caught up in it on his own end help explain Dragon Racing to the griffons...
Near the water edge sitting at the stands the five griffons, they sat before Hiccup as he walked back and forwards between the hatches with nets below each of them, Toothless sitting behind him. “Dragon Racing has some basic rules, one is finding a sheep with markings on it, these give you three points, the normal sheep give you one and the black sheep give you ten points.” He point to each sheep standing there lazy eyed chewing on grass.
“We also usual use the dragons abilities to help us too, including rough tackling, but we all agreed that fire and rough contact would do a lot of harm to you lot.”
Gilda snorted. “So your saying we weak.”
Hiccup shook his head. “No not at all, I am saying fire and feathers don't mix, your wings, fur and feathers would be burned to crisp.”
Gabby nodded. “He got a point, also the dragons do have really tough scales, so a heavy contact could rip our feathers out too, cause us to crash.” Gabby brought up valid points too. “We not like dragons Gilda.”
Gilda gave a humph. “Fine... You win, point taken.”
Hiccup sighed in relief seeing Gabby got the point across. “So the other things need to know, after a set amount of time goes by, the horn will blow and the black sheep will be launched, we can intercept passes between each other and snatch the sheep from the other without heavy contact.” He stated. “Also all the sheep will be within Berk itself, not anywhere near the forest or mountain areas near by. Now Astrid.”
The blue dragon flies in tossing the sheep into the hatch, she lands and Astrid jump off the dragon Stormfly. “As you can see our sheep can withstand a lot, and I mean a lot.” She hint to some of the roofs of Berk's houses. “As you can see those holes were made by these sheep, they are not even phased, also with the wool your claws won't do much harm to them as you can when Stormfly held one.” The dragon gave a small grunt with soft roar showing her claws.
“Those hatches got each of your dragons painted on them, I guess we using one or two of those for our team?” Gale asked.
“Yep, you will be using mine and Hiccup's, the twins and Fishleg's symbols which is the two headed dragon and the big round head dragon marks are our teams.” Astrid said pointing them out to each of them. “We will give you practice time till the sun is at the highest point.”
Gale looked up at the sun, he pulled out from his bag a pocket watch, opening it. “Two hours that would be.” He closed it up and put it back in his bag.
Gallus flapped his wings a few times. “Plenty of time to stretch our wings.”
Hiccup raise a finger up than point to Gale. “How exactly did you guess that?”
Gale got up flapping his wings taking to the sky with the others. “Time, we have something to keep track of time, day or night.” Gale flies off with three of them.
Nightingale hovered over them. “To us there is sixty seconds in a minutes, sixty minutes in a hour and twenty four hours in a day, it pretty much simple maths kid.” Nightingale flies off after them.
Hiccup frowned. “As in using numbers to messure when you building stuff? They use it to keep track of time too?”
“Well we do count numbers for points, so I guess seconds is in... One... Two... Three...” She raise one finger at a time as example. “Just like when we very little playing hide and seek with each other.” She got up Stormfly. “See you in the Great Hall Hiccup, we don't want to be caught cheating by watching them practice.”
Hiccup got on Toothless. “Right, and while we wait I can look into this twenty-four hour day they spoke of.”
“Sounds like a plan.” They flew off to the Great Hall.
Hiccup noticed as they flew his dad with Luna talking to some Dragon Rider scouts, they nodded, got on their dragons and took off. “Wonder what going on down there...” He whispered with curiosity.
(Linebreak)
Given the time to practice, the griffons took note of the flight course through out the town of Berk, Gale flew over to see a bunch of sheep being painted by some Vikings, he stood on the roof watching them curiously. “How really tough are they?”
Gale heard the sound of rock falling down, he turn to see Gallus staring at a sheep just calmly standing on top of a pile of rumble chewing on grass. “Sweet Grover! All I did was toss that sheep into that boulder and it ju-just-just-WHAT!?”
Gale flapped his wings flying over to Gallus, he picked up a piece of rock. “Did you really just throw a sheep into a boulder to try and prove them wrong?”
“Yes! But that insane! No animal should be able to be tossed into a boulder and just chew grass!” He points at the sheep in disbelief.
Gale toss a rock behind him. “You do know this is a dream adventure, so rules that should apply don't here.” Gale stated to Gallus.
Gallus rubbed the back of his neck. “Urg! Whatever! This feels like it real and-” Gallus growls in frustration. “You know what!? I am just going with it and grabbing that damn sheep to do some flying drills!” Gallus flew up to the sheep grabbing it and flies off.
Gale shrugged as Gabby and Gilda flew over him tossing a sheep between each other, doing twists and turns around buildings, in the air as Nightingale move in to intercept pretending to be the riders. “Wow I know it a dream but seeing that made me cringe.” Spike walked up to Gale chewing on some gems. “How is it going?”
Gale flapped his wings a few times. “It going as best it can go, I think it going to be tough on us even with them handicapping themselves with the rules they put in place, they had years of experience to our two hours we getting.” Gale picked up Spike putting him on his back flying up high above the settlement.
Spike looked around from the sky high view. “Wow there so many spots that those sheep could be when the Dragon Racing starts, do you think it be limited to the town area or beyond it?”
“From what we were told it limited to Berk only, kind of silly risking the damage of buildings over it, but rules are rules, also there a lot of Berk, you got the lower levels and the dragon pens too.” Gale flew down through a tunnel to emerge in the pens, the dragons being looked after by the Vikings within.
Spike looked around. “It so weird seeing dragons act like this, it as if they partly domestic like a dog or cat.”
“I think that very close the real deal.” Gale agreed flying around, some of the dragons watched the feather, furred hybrid fly around before leaving through the main entrance leading out to sea flying over the waters turning around to face Berk. “You see the pier and lower levels?” Spike nodded. “That also the possibly locations for the sheep to be at too.”
“Wow that a lot of area.”
“It sure is.” Gale flew back up to see Alpha watching him. “Hi Alpha!” Gale waved.
Alpha waved back. “Lord Gale.” He walked up to the teen as he land and Spike got off his back. “Something smells strange in the air, I wish to investigate it with your permission.”
“What smells funny?” Spike asked.
Alpha looked out to the outskirts of the settlement. “I don't know... I want to check it out.”
Gale nodded. “Sure Alpha, go ahead you have my permission.”
Alpha turn to do his investigation. “Spike I would like you to help me, your message fire may help get word back soon as possible to Lady Luna and Lord Gale.”
Spike liked that idea. “Sure! I'll be happy to help!”
Gale waved his wing. “Hope it nothing but some wild animals!”
“Hmmm... Hope it only that.” Alpha said wearily and leaves with Spike.
Gale shrugged. “Since Alpha took being a guardian, he been taking his new responsibility seriously. Guess with his past that understandable.” Gale open his wings and took to the sky to continue is practice with the others before they run out of time.
All the Vikings that won't on portal, or standing guard gathered at the stands taking their seats excited for this Dragon Racing event, it is a first for the Berk Dragon Riders to V against a bunch of giffons, they mostly cheering on for the Dragon Riders. Stoick standing in front of his chair, Luna to his left and Gobber to the right, he raised his hands quieting the crowd.
“For the first time ever in Dragon Racing here in Berk! We going to have two team! Our Dragon Riders lead by my son Hiccup! And the Griffon Five lead by Nightingale!” The dragons land and their riders get off standing before them with everyone cheering, the griffons land by them with more cheers of excitement.
Luna stepped up. “There are three minor changes to the rules, one; no fire, two; no heavy contact and finally it will two flyers at a time per team will take to the skies at a time.”
Stoick nodded. “Plain white sheep will be one point, three points for the bullsize sheep and finally the black sheep is ten points.” Stoick explained the points to everyone. “Now! Who is ready for Dragon Racing!?” A might cheer came. “First two fliers of each team on your marks!”
Fishlegs got onto his dragon Meatlug with the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut on theirs, Barf and Belch, Gilda and Gabby stood ready with wings open. “Get set!” Luna raise her hoof with Stoick's hand.
Both of them lower it. “Go!” The dragons and the griffons take off into the sky flying for their first sheep targets.
“Gabby keep your eyes peeled.” Gilda looked around as she said it, they flew between the buildings fast.
Gabby nodded. “Got it!” They zipped in and out looking for the sheep, they soon see one.
As they flew to grab it, the twins grabbed the sheep first flying away from them. “Too slow!” Tuffnut stuck his tongue out at Gilda.
Gilda growls. “You go find another, I am going after them to steal it!” Gilda turned and flew after the twin headed dragon. “I'll show you slow!” Gabby giggled and continued her search.
Ruffnut glanced back seeing her closing in. “Hehe, nice one Tuffnut, we got her mad!” They fist bumped laughing as Gilda gave chase, they turn around a building with Gilda right behind.
Diving down the side of the cliff face they went under the rope bridge and upwards, Gilda came up from above it with talons out for the sheep to only get gassed by Barf, she flew back coughing waving her talons. “What the bucking name of Grover!?”
“Good one Barf!” Ruffnut praised her dragon head, Gilda watched them zoom up to the bridge tossing the sheep into one of the hatches.
“That's first three points to team Dragon Riders!” Stoick shouted out, Barf and Belch landed, the twins clapped hands with Snotlout, Hookfang takes off to join Meatlug and Fishlegs.
Gilda lands growling at the twins. “Nightingale go, I got to have a word with that Viking!” Gilda slap her talon.
Nightingale saw what happened and she knew there was no way Gilda was going to let this go. “Just don't do something stupid.” Nightingale took off.
“What was that!?” Gilda gawked at the smell that covered her. “It disgusting!”
“It's Barf's gas, no big deal.” Ruffnut said casually.
“Gas!? You gassed me!?” Gilda growled at her.
Tuffnut shrugged. “Why are you making a big deal? The rules said nothing about Barf using her gas, it not fire.”
Gilda roared. “Arug! I can't believe this!”
Hiccup walked up to try and find a middle ground. “We can have-”
Gilda glared at him. “Don't! I am ticked off that I got gassed! Not that it was unfair you dweeb! I got caught out!”
Luna caused a spell over her, the smell was gone. “That should help.”
Gilda took a sniff. “Thanks for the clean up Luna!”
Stoick looked at Luna. “What? It was disgusting.”
He chuckled. “That it was, thank you for saving us.”
“Don't patronise me.”
“Not at all.” He put his hands up, they continued to watch the race.
Alpha and Spike walking on the outskirts of Berk, they looking around the area they in. “You think we will find something?” Spike poked his head out of a bush.
“Not sure... I am hoping not to.” Alpha said picking up a large rock and putting it back down, he leap over to a large boulder taking a good look around the area.
Spike turn to the sound of screeching, he saw Toothless with Hiccup on his back zoom right by them with a sheep held in the claws of the dragon, Gallus and Gabby giving chase. “Wow the Dragon Racing really something isn't it?”
Alpha watched as the Dragon Riders score again, Hiccup and Toothless exchanging with Astrid and Stormfly. “It is.” His ear twitched to a twig snapping, with rustling of leaves. “Who do you think will win?”
“I am hoping for the Griffon Five, but they are racing against pros.” Spike stated. “They know more to this than Gale and the others.”
“True.” Alpha leaped down from the boulder, he noticed something on the ground, a large stone with fresh dirt around it. “Hmm...” He knelt down to it taking a sniff. “This is what I smelt.”
Spike walked up to him. “A stone in dug up dirt?”
Alpha nodded. “Indeed, but this is more than a stone, look at the markings.”
Spike took a closer look. “What is that?”
“Glyph runes.”
Spike knelt down running his claws over the stone. “I can feel them, but why can't I see it?”
Alpha's ears twitched, they weren't alone. “Someone took a good deal of effort to hide it in plain sight and-” He grabbed Spike and leaped to dodge a barbed tail hitting the ground. “-Guarded by a beast.”
Spike saw the creature growling. “It's a Manticore from Equestria!”
Alpha's eye swift to the left and right, to behind him, more emerged. “It not alone.” He put Spike behind his neck, the dragon sat on his shoulders with claws holding the side of his neck. “Hold tight, dig your claws in if needed.”
Spike nodded. “What are you going to do?”
Alpha took a battle stance. “Fight, to protect you, Lord Gale and everyone!”
The Manticores roared and launched their attack at Alpha.
Each rotation the sheep built up in the neats, the points going up and up, from steals to out flying, the Vikings were loving it, Gale swooped in and stole a three point sheep from under Hookfang and Snotlout as they went to score, he quickly scored passing over to Gallus.
The blue griffon took off as Gabby came in to score a one pointer, Gilda clapped and took off to the sky. “What the score?” Gabby asked.
Gobber looked at the sheep in the neats below the hatches. “16 to the Griffon Five and 25 to the Dragon Riders.”
Stoick stood up. “It time Gobber, launch the black sheep.”
“Aye!”
Stoick raise his hand to the horn. “Would you do us the honour to blow the horn for the final lap”
Luna walked up to it. “With pleasure.” She blew into it, a Viking with a flag waves it back and forwards.
“All racers are free to fly! This is all or nothing! Scoring this means victory for either team!” Stoick yelled out.
They all looked at each other and took off into the sky as Gobber went to the launcher. “It time to fly.” The black sheep chewing stopped, it gulped as Gobber pulled the leaver. “Off you go!” The black sheep is catapulted into the sky.
Stormfly flies in and Astrid gabbed the sheep, she only held it after turning around a building to have Gallus grab it from her, he flies around dodging Snotlout and Hookfang, followed up by coming to a dead stop in mid air with Fishlegs and Meatlug flying past. “Gallus over here!” Nightingale flew around closing in on him.
Gallus tossed the black sheep over to Nightingale, she caught it flying through the streets down to the pier, Toothless in hot pursuit. “Watch out! He right on your tail!” Nightingale flies low over the water doing a few twists and turns, Hiccup and Toothless on par with her movements.
“What is it going to take to shake him!” Nightingale noticed some low bearing clouds. “That's it!” She turns flying right at the others tossing the sheep over to Gabby for it to be intercepted by Ruffnut and Tuffnut, they zoom by. “Gale, Gabby and Gilda! Go up and kick that cloud down!”
Gale looked up. “Ooooo! Good idea!”
Gilda grinned. “I like your thinking!” They took off high into the sky.
“You and I going after the sheep, get ready for some fog!” Nightingale warned Gallus.
Gallus nodded. “Got it Groverlia!” They both fly after the twins, splitting up.
“Fishlegs!” Tuffnut toss the sheep over to him, he catches it and dodged as Nightingale dived in, they continue to mount pressure, the progress to the goal slowed by the continuous attempts.
Astrid and Hiccup watched. “Where are the others?”
“I don't know Astrid, I was going after Nightingale.” Toothless looked up as the skies darken, he grunts and caught their attention. “I think I found them...”
Astrid looked up. “Oh sweet Odin...”
Gobber stared at the large cloud descending upon Berk. “Is that against the rules?” He pointed at it.
Stoick shook his head. “No...” He glanced at a smug look Luna. “There no rules for that...”
The cloud bank hits the settlement, it flows outwards covering every inch of Berk, blanketing the whole place in thick fog, they couldn't see far from their own faces. “Now this make it interesting, how does one see in fog this dense?”
Stoick looked around. “This remind me of the fog around the island four years ago...”
“Aye... It is really creepy...” Gobber said as he tried to see where the racers were. “Guess we just sit and wait.”
Hiccup looked around. “Can you see anything?”
“No Hiccup, it too thick and unsafe to fly.” Astrid said landing Stormfly. “They evened the odds against them, they can't fly, we can't fly...”
Toothless landed, Hiccup got off him. “We need to find the others and find our way to the finish, hopefully they landed at once as well...”
“Hiccup is that you!?” Snotlout called out emerging into view with Hookfang. “What crazy stunt did those griffons do?”
Hiccup waved his hand. “It me, the griffons dropped a cloud on us and it turned into thick fog.”
Snotlout crossed his arms. “That totally against he rules!”
“There isn't any rules for this.” Astrid countered. “Plus Barf and Ruffnut gassed Gilda at the start.”
“Don't forget the many times after.” Tuffnut said standing by Hiccup with his sister. “This just like that, not fire.”
“Yeah, we all here aren't we?” Ruffnut agreed and looked around.
Hiccup shook his head. “Fishlegs and Meatlug aren't here, they got the sheep so we need to find them in this fog, stick close, dragons and all.” They nodded and started to make their way through the streets.
Alpha grabbed the tail of one of the Manticores, spinning around he smashed it into one of the others, they shattered to pieces on impact with gems rolling to Spike's clawed feet, he picked them up. “More gem cores!”
“So they all magical clay golems.” Alpha looked around as the fog enveloped them.
“I heard about those, Princess Celestia has some right?”
“Correct.” He punched one through the chest pulling out the core, the Manticore lost it colour turning to clay stone before him. “We got to warn the others of this! Someone set up these runes and created these golems!”
Spike dodged a claw swiping at him, he blow green magical fire at it. “How!? They keep coming!”
Suddenly the Manticores stopped attacking and sat down, the way they sat made Alpha very weary, they were sitting to attention. “It seems I am going to have to move things up, you are a curious one.” A deep calm voice spoke within the fog.
Spike shivered at that sound. “Alpha...”
“Keep close...” Alpha scanned the area listing to hoof steps moving around him. “What do you want? What are you planning?”
A laughter came from the fog. “You really think I will reveal my plans? You were created by Wayne's subconsciousness to defend him, you are very strong because of it.”
“Wayne?” Spike looked up at Alpha in confusion.
Alpha snarled. “Ah he is here, that all I needed... Now to take care of-” Alpha grabbed Spike and leaped into the fog soon as a oblong object lit up in the fog.
“Master his getting away!”
“Yes he is, but in the wrong way, once the glyph runes are activated there will be no need, prepare the attack.”
The creature bows. “Yes master.” He disappears into the fog.
The fog suddenly starts to clear from Berk, Hiccup and the others looked around to the sound of cheering, they saw Fishlegs standing proud above the hatch, the griffons stood behind him with defeated looks on their faces. “Fishlegs? Did you score the black sheep in that fog!?”
“Yep! Me and Meatlug worked as a team and found our way, it was tricky with the griffons on our tails, but we did it.” Fishlegs said with pride.
Gallus grumbled. “I can't believe our all or nothing plan failed...”
“We gave it our best, that all that mattered.” Nightingale said. “We had fun also.”
Gallus shrugged. “I guess, still wanted to win.”
Stoick pat Luna on the back. “Better luck next time.”
Luna smirked back. “Indeed.” She used her magic to pat him back, causing him to stumble a few steps, they laughed.
Gilda shrugged. “Not all dreams work in favour, sometimes it just something lame.”
Gale reached his talon out to Hiccup. “Good game!”
“Yeah same to you, nice one with the fog.” Hiccup put his hand around the talon shaking it. “It was a close game.”
Gale shook his head. “Nah, you had the advantage from the get go.” Gale looked around at the cheering Vikings lifting up the other riders. “All that mattered as Nightingale said, the fun.”
Toothless licked Gale a few times, he laughed pushing the dragon away, but Toothless continued.
Gabby giggled. “That was a lot of fun!” She looked around. “Huh?” Gabby saw something out to the water, flying over Stoick to get a better look. “Oooo look! Rocs!”
“Rocks?” Gale flew up to her to get a look seeing the massive birds, lots of them.
“No Rocs, massive birds big as large dragons like Hookfang, look!” She pointed.
Hiccup quickly ran up to the wooden railing seeing them too. “Dad! We got trouble!”
Stoick saw them. "That look like a attack formation, they preparing to attack!" He looked around, than heard a growl, turning to grab a barbed tail of a Manticore. “We under attack! All Vikings grab your weapons, your dragons!” He pulled the beast up to him, lifting it up and throwing it into the sea with a mighty splash to not resurface.
"Seriously!? We just won and this happen!?" Snotlout complained.
"Less complaining! Get to the air!" Hiccup pointed.
"Ruffnut, Tuffnut, go with Snotlout and prepare to take on those birds!"
"Got it!" They said together jumping onto their dragon taking to the sky with Snotlout.
Luna used her magic to blast many of them away with beams of energy to see standing on the highest hill near Berk. “No it can't be...”
The bell hanging from his neck dinged and the attack on Berk fully begun as monsters descend upon Berk from all sides.
The assault on Berk being watched through red piecing eyes by a blue large goat wearing a red harness around his neck, four gold domes with a gold bell hanging at the middle, white Mohawk, and tail. The black cloven hoof rubbed the goatee a few times as he calmly watched the Vikings and dragons fight his golem monsters on every part of the settlement.
A Roc came crashing down in front of him shattering to pieces with a crystal rolling up to his cloven hoof, he pressed it down shattering the magical crystal core to pieces. “How interesting, they are very capable of fighting a small amount of my golem monsters.” He noticed Luna looking directly at him. “It seems she knows of me.”
“Knows of the echo of Grogar, you are without his horns are you not?”
Grogar glanced at his own shadow as a shadowy black bird came out of it, with a few flaps land before him. “Yes, please remind me how I am just a echo, a shadow, and a dream-scape throw away that has a mission to complete, as you do minion.”
The bird's eye solid eyes stared into his red eyes. “You and me both know I am acting as a servant of information because of the agreement I made WITH Grogar the Father of Monsters.” The bird ruffled his wings. “I play the minion game and only gather information and command your golems.” He picked up the stone head of a Roc with a talon before tossing it to the side.
“Ah yes, the creation that live in the shadows, that hoop from reality to dreams and back again, the creation that feeds of the imaginative creations of the mind without being noticed or effecting the host.” Grogar walk by him to watch the continuous fighting below. “What have you discovered?”
The bird walked up beside him, seeing the larger golems stopped the dragons and Vikings for nearing them, the hydra golems knocking them back. “A pony called Luna, she is a Alicorn and knows of Grogar the Feather of Monsters, he was defeated over 4000 years ago, that you are lacking his horns that the only difference.”
Grogar the Echo looked up at the area of the horns should be, lowering his head slightly grumbling. “And of Wayne my target for my malevolent creator?”
The wing point to Gale flying to the Great Hall with the other griffons, Hiccup and Astrid fighting the monsters off with their dragons keeping the path clear. “That yellow griffon with the black wings, he is Wayne.”
“That the decoy Grogar the Father of Monsters warned me about, it would be placed within the dream-scape as a distraction, a defence...” He turned away walking up one of the rune stones in the ground, pressing his hoof on the bell letting it magic flow out to for a ball hovering over his cloven hoof. “Don't make a fool of me, you were there and it not 4000 years, it two years... Whrisp.”
Whrisp squawked at him with annoyance. “Echo! I searched her mind, I did all of theirs! How do you think I work! The only one I couldn't search the minds was that griffon cause we IN it via a dream generated reality!”
Grogar glance at him. “That is because his a decoy, there is no mind.” He blow the gold orb to the runes, the bird glares at the echo. “Wayne is here, order the reinforcements to push them all to the Great Hall, than force them to give over the decoy and crush it.” Grogar the Echo said calmly to Whrisp. “Than Wayne will be easy to find and my mission will be fulfilled and this existence of mine will come to a end.”
Whrisp coos with a wing over the top of his beak shaking his head. “Such a limited villainous mind, I put up with two years, two and half months of this, for you to not believe me? I told you what you wanted to know, tell your own reinforcements to do it, I'm done! This contract is completed! No more commanding armies! You do it and I am moving on!” Whrisp flap his wings taking off to dive into a shadow and vanish.
“So that how it is? You decided to break your terms with my creator? So be it, my golem monsters will tear you apart as well.” The magic hit the rune stone, it starts to glow and in a instant a pillar of stone with glyph runes all around it light up, soon more of them start popping up one by one around Berk. “Monsters push them back to the Great Hall, do whatever it takes to push them all back!” He turn around speaking out to all the monsters, only they heard what he said.
Grogar the Echo glance to between two of them, a large sum of timberwolves emerged from it. “Go and aid the others to take care of the wolf and dragon that fled into the woods, rip them to shreds.” The wolves howled and ran into the woods. “Now... Time to make my entrance.” His bell rings with magic coming out of it, he point it at a few dragons in the sky, a blast of golden magic misses them but hit a cliff side.
The dragons see a huge explosion with the cliff edge collapsing into the sea, they quickly fled as Grogar fired another magical blast at them. “That's it, keep pushing.” More golem monsters emerged from between the pillars, running, slithering and flying into Berk.
The Vikings and dragons fighting wave after wave of monsters, each waved they destroyed another set emerge, the larger ones stomping down some buildings roaring out as Toothless and Stormfly blast them with fireballs, Hiccup and Astrid looked around seeing that all fronts were being pushed back rapidly, they were losing ground fast.
Stoick shouts out to Hiccup. “Pull back to the Great Hall! Hiccup!”
“We on it!” Hiccup called back. “Come on bud we got to pull back, there too many for even you to take on.” Toothless growled in fustration seeing a large flock of Rocs chasing his fellow dragon friends and their riders from the coastal defence line. With a snort of flames, Toothless unhappily agrees to pull back.
Alpha running on all fours with Spike riding him darted through the treeline, the sound of howling from the timberwolves got him glancing back to see the wooden animals chasing them. “Now we got bark chasing us!?”
“They timberwolves! We got to get away from them!” Spike said with fear.
“That what I am trying to do!” Alpha leap over a few downed trees, sliding down the embankment to jump into a large open area with a body of water in it, he come to a sliding stop turning around to see the twelve wolves jump into the open area snarling at him.
Spike was picked up by Alpha and put to the ground. “Your going to fight them!? I thought we were running!”
Alpha stood in a battle stance with one hand paw out at them, the other to his side, with one paw foot out in front sliding it slightly through the dirt. “We were till I knew we couldn't they too fast.” Alpha said to Spike. “I have no choice but to fight.” The wolves parted, they slowly started to surround them. “They not dumb, this is a pack we facing.” He glanced to the left and to the right. “They examining for a weak point, one or two of them will attack first, soon many more and the rest...”
Spike gulped. “Wh-what are we going to do?”
Alpha eye fell upon Spike. “This is a dream adventure, you are asleep and we alone, you are limited to yourself.”
Spike blinked. “You mean I can be big?”
Alpha rolled his eye. “Yes...”
Spike closed his eyes and glowed to change into a bigger adult looking Spike holding a shield, wearing armour and a cape. “Whoa this is sooo cool!” He stood proud. “Now come and get some dragon!”
One of the timberwolves seemingly waiting suddenly now engage, one lunge at him to get a shield in it face to send it flying, the wolf land on it back to slide a bit before twisting around to charge again with the others, Alpha kicked one, jumped over another to twist around as they attacked.
Spike using the shield to block the wolves to push them back or smash them with it, Alpha leap over Spike, the dragon raise his shield for Alpha to land on it and with a push to a wolf. Alpha kicked it into a tree for it to shatter into pieces but as they landed the wood had turn to clay rock to shatter with a crystal sitting between them.
“They more magical golems!” Spike said seeing it. “They don't regenerate like the real deal! We can destroy them!”
Alpha grabbed one and threw it into another to shatter to pieces. “Good to know.” He countered nine left. “Now to take out the-” More timberwolves emerged and jumped down to join the nine remaining ones. “-Rest...”
Spike growled. “You got to be kidding me!”
“Well it seem we stuck in a rock and a hard place...”
“I wanted to join Gale on a dream adventure, but this is turning into a nightmare!”
The wolves growled as they moved in, suddenly muliple blue spheres come crashing down on the timberwolves, large sum of them blown to pieces. “I know those sphere of energy! That only come from Blue!”
On queue Blue land in front of them in a hero landing pose, a wolf lunge at him to get a glowing blue staff through it chest, the crystal core bouncing a few metres away, the timberwolf turned to stone. “Before you ask, I'll explain why and how I came after we take care of these wolves.”
Alpha smirked. “Fine by me, you could of brought my-” The large hammer slam into the ground beside him, he picked it up by the handle hoisting it over his shoulder. “Show off.”
Spike stood ready. “Okay now this is a awesome dream adventure! I get to fight with you two!” He grinned.
“Indeed, let's show what we can do to these timberwolf golems.” They nodded and charged right at the wolves as they charged right at them.
At the Great Hall everyone had gathered inside, the largest dragons with Vikings barricaded the two large doors, they using their strength to hold it closed as the monsters tried to break in. Stoick through another boulder into the pile, Luna using her magic to place some on it and even using her magic to create a shield over the door too.
“Do you think it will hold?” Hiccup asked looking at the stuff in front of the door with the light blue magic cast over it.
“As long Grogar doesn't come down and use his magic, I believe we can hold it back till Gale activate the sphere to get us all out of here.” Luna said to Hiccup.
Gale held the sphere looking at it and everyone else. “Aunty I have to make many trips with it, the room is too small for everyone.” Gale stared down at it. “Also I am not sure if my Dream Cavern could hold that many...”
“Hmm... Yes...” Luna knew what he meant. “I have no idea how it will effect your mind too...”
Gale sighed heavily. “This doesn't feel much like a dream adventure anymore...”
Gallus growled. “Than we end it! Come on just end the adventure already!”
Gale nodded. “Your right.” He grabbed the ring to turn it. “So-” He tried to pull it, but the ring wouldn't move. “Huh!?” Gale tried again. “It stuc-” Gale squawked in pain letting go of it as his talons now showed smoke coming off them. “Ow ow ow, that red hot!” He waved the talons to stop, the sphere before his and everyone's eyes were floating.
All the markings started to twist on it own, buttons press down, symbols twist and rings span around. “Dweeb what did you do to it!?” Gilda went to grab it but the sphere released a pulse of energy that sent her flying from it, flapping her wings to get control Gilda was surprised by what it just do. “Cub...”
Gale press his talon against a barrier that was between them and the sphere. “It a invisible shield...”
Fishlegs press his hand against it, he felt it but didn't see the surface. “I can feel it too...” He give it a few taps. “Can your sphere create a barrier like this?”
Toothless fire a fireball for it to impact the shield with the blast fanning to to dissipate. “No...”
“How do we get through it to your sphere?” Hiccup asked.
Gale stared in horror. “I don't know...”
Nightingale punched it hard to get no results. “It our only ticket home! And to wake up!”
“Wake up? What do you mean? We are already awake.” Astrid stepped up to them. “What are you hiding from us?”
Gabby fiddling with her claws. “Erm... Well you see... You and everything else here is-”
“Are of no interest to Grogar the Echo.” They all turn to see a black bird emerge from the shadows to land on one of the few remaining tables. “He out to destroy me and Gale to get to Wayne, but little does he know or fail to even listen with the limited thought patterns that echo has, it doomed to fail from the beginning.”
Stoick moved forwards ready to strike down the monster with a axe. “Your one of his creatures!” He slam it down to have the bird turn to black dust and reform by a touch. “You are only here to distract us! Put our guard down!”
Whrisp wave his wing and all of them part from the dreamers fell to one knee in a instant, even dragons were forced to lower their heads by the strange power that was over them now. Luna left holding the door back from the invading monsters. “I could do more than that you simple fool.” He waved it again and they all stood up. “Now that I showed off what I could do, will you LISTEN to what I have to say!?”
Stoick looked at him with weary eyes. “Fine... Talk.”
“Why weren't we effected?” Gallus asked Nightingale.
“Because we are the dreamers, they are all imaginative beings from the mind of Gale, so simply put it, he just showed how easy it to manipulate the characters in send dream.” Nightingale answered without anyone even noticing them talking.
Whrisp walked towards the sphere putting a wing to the shield, the wavy particles coming off his wing from the touch. “I don't have to say much, this whole battle was lost the moment Grogar the Echo activated the Recall Sphere Jamming Runes.”
“And how?” Astrid asked.
“A simple colour to a simple answer... to a very anticlimactic end to this adventure.” He turn around to them.
Upon activating the magical runes to stop Gale from using his recall sphere, that was the moment Grogar the Echo made a very fatal mistake, hidden within the sphere was a protocol for such a matter that could possibly happen, and now it was activated before even Gale had realised the sphere was now blocked from recalling the dreamers back to Dream Cavern.
At Dream Cavern Blue to his perspective had just watched them leave, only a minute past when the normal lighting shift to blue with the screen lit up. “GUARDIAN BLUE PROTOCOL ACTIVATED, RECALL SPHERE INTERFERENCE DETECTED, RECALL SPHERE ACTIVATION BLOCKED, BLUE REPORT TO DREAM RANDOMISER IMMINENTLY.”
Blue walked up to the screens seeing what was said displayed. “Is Master Gale in danger?”
“CONFIRMED, INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY EITHER MAGICAL, DAMAGE OR TECHNOLOGY, RECALL ABILITY BLOCKED INTENTIONALLY, BLUE STEP ON PLATFORM FOR IMMINENTLY TRANSPORTATION TO DREAM ADVENTURE 0045.”
Blue picked up Alpha's hammer, holding it tight with both paws he stepped onto the platform. “What is my objective?”
“ELIMINATE OMEGA THREAT TO PROTECT DREAMERS AND GALE BY ALL MEANS POSSIBLE.”
Blue looked up at the energy vortex with a dead serious look in his red eyes. “Activate...” A beam of blue energy blasts down over Blue, as it fades from his view, the chamber gone and he stood upon a cliff edge over looking a forest. “Hmm... I would of expected it to send me closer to Master Gale...” That when he noticed Alpha with Spike on his back, they were fleeing between the trees on the ground from a pack of wooden wolves.
Blue closed his eyes with the dreadlocks raising, he saw the life force from Spike and Alpha as they fled the wolves, he saw from the Timberwolves were a single form of energy pulsing out through out the bodies. “An energy crystal giving life to lifeless, these most be magically forged golems Master Gale had encountered in Mistress Celestia's personal vault.”
Blue knew these was a threat and had to act, he bent down slight and with a push to leap off the cliff down to the trees, landing on a branch he pushed off another and another, that when the jackal diamond dog notice more Timberwolves racing ahead just behind the first twelve. “Those golems are not going to harm them on my watch!” He spent up his leaping, feeling the speed increase at bursts of leaps till it felt like he was doing long stride running steps.
Soon he saw a large open area in a drop with steep cliffs for most sides, Alpha and a much bigger Spike fighting the first twelve timberwolves, they took out three of them to get the larger numbers emerge to surround them. Blue leaped up high above them throwing up the hammer above him, blue orbs formed in front of his paws and launched them down with a few more.
The results were many of the wolves being turned to pebbles with semi glowing crystals sitting among the piles, Blue land in front of them in a hero landing pose, a wolf lunge at him to get a glowing blue staff through it chest, the crystal core bouncing a few metres away, the timberwolf turned to stone. “Before you ask, I'll explain why and how I came after we take care of these wolves.”
Alpha smirked. “Fine by me, you could of brought my-” The large hammer slam into the ground beside him, he picked it up by the handle hoisting it over his shoulder. “Show off.”
Spike stood ready. “Okay now this is a awesome dream adventure! I get to fight with you two!” He grinned.
“Indeed, let's show what we can do to these timberwolf golems.” They nodded and charged right at the wolves as they charged right at them.
Blue creates his blue staff with a push of one paw foot, he leaped right at the timberwolves, three of them lunged at him, Blue held out the staff with both paw hands and the wolves bit into it trying to get to him, he used the momentum to push them backwards towards the ground and slam into it shattering those wolves on impact.
Blue pushed off his hand paws doing a forward flip twist to kick another across the side of the head, two jump at him with a slash of the forepaw to a bite, he leaned to backwards from the bite and used his right hand paw to block the slash, his red eyes stared into the green glowing eyes of the wolf before he slam the left forepaw into it chest.
The wolf get hit in the back as it flew backwards by Alpha's hammer, he running through the timberwolves swinging the hammer into them, he does a forwards flip to smash it down on top of one, lifting the hammer Alpha span around in a circle a few times smashing away many others. Tossing it up he kick one to block a bite and punch a few more before catching the hammer and swinging it under arm to knock a wolf skywards.
Spike run by him using his shield to plough through the wooden wolves, knocking them to the side or being pushed into a pile, he twist and hit another that was about to bite him, blocked a forepaw claw to holding it on the side swinging it through a few more timberwolves. Spike slam it down on top of another.
Blue push off Spike's back with a foot paw, leaping up high above the wolves using energy sphere attacks upon them, Alpha jumped in slamming the hammer into the ground causing the shockwave of ground being uprooted, Spike blocking the wolves to push them off, they soon regrouped seeing the wolves also regrouping.
“They gathering for another attack!” Spike said.
Alpha shook his head. “No they doing something else!”
Blue closed his eyes and saw them in life force energy merging, the crystal cores joining together as one. “It worse, they merging, we need to end this now and I got a plan, follow my lead and this will be over in one move.” Alpha and Spike nodded.
“Spike raise your shield at them.” Spike did it and Blue put his hand paws against it, aura energy pass through and around it, a blue aura shimmered around it now. “Alpha hit the shield with all you got when I say!”
Alpha grinned. “Got it.”
“Spike hold fast and steady.”
Spike shifted his claw feet, digging into the dirt slightly. “Got it!”
The timberwolves fused together of wood and greenish cloud energy, soon many became one huge wolf, it growled with piecing green glowing eyes locked on them, the wolf ran at incredible speeds at them. “Wait for it...” Blue's dreadlocks raised with his eyes closed seeing it get closer by the second. “NOW!” Blue opened his eyes.
Alpha slam the hammer into the shield, the result was a huge burst of bluish energy reflecting outwards at the speed of sound right for the massive timberwolf, it only knew the game was over upon impact in mid lunge. The wolf is engulfed and blow to pieces with the shockwave continuing pass it to knock down a large sum of trees before fading out, the sound of many paws through the leaves retreating soon followed.
The creeking of trees falling and saw by the three showed the destructive force they unleashed on the timberwolves. “Sweet Celestia! They retreating!” Spike stared in amazement. “That was some crazy attack we just pulled off!”
“One heck of a bang.” Alpha chuckled resting the hammer pole against his shoulder. “Now Blue why are you here?” Alpha turn to the jackal diamond dog.
Blue knelt down picking up a crystal core, using the other paw hand to move it over the gem. “Guardian Blue Protocol is active, we need to get to Master Gale.” He stood up turning to them. “Take me to him.”
“I could help with that.” They all turn to a black bird emerge from the shadows of one tree that remained standing, they stood ready to fight. “I don't fight and I knew you were here Dream Guardian, I sensed your massive serges of energy, you are powered by the very imaginative mind of your master, that is your limit and cause his imagination is vast, we both know how strong you really are.”
Blue closed his eyes raising his paw hand up to him, the dreadlocks raised and vibrating, they lowered and his eyes reopened. “Very well, take us to Gale.”
The black shadowy bird smirked. “I got one better for you three, that neat trick you pulled, let's say what I said this is going to end in an anticlimactic way.” He raised a wing to the shadow. “Walk through and you will be in Berk, see you after you took care of Grogar the Echo and his army of monsters at the Great Hall.” He flew into the shadow vanishing from them.
Alpha frowned. “Usually I don't trust things that suddenly appear, but-”
“He felt like we can...” Spike finished.
“We got no time to waste, we will take this method of travel.” Blue step into the shadow walking through the tree.
Alpha walked up to it putting his paw hand in it and pull it out. “So strange...” Alpha walked through.
Spike turn to see a single timberwolf shivering in fear, the one look from Spike caused it to scramble backwards pinning itself against the rumble clay remains of it pack. “Wow your really scared... Did we do someth-AGH!” Alpha's hand paw came out of the shadow grabbed him by the arm pulling him into the shadow.
The timberwolf shivering in fear soon had a chance to relax, it looked around to see they were gone and the best thing it could only do at that moment...
Grogar the Echo calmly walked up the stone steps towards the Great Hall doors, monsters parted ways as each hoof fell upon the stone, he looked to his left, to the right and above, the magical golems had failed to breach the doors since his calm causal walk to said doors. A hydra slam into the barrier over and over again till it's own crystal core shattered, the feedback from the energy barrier caused it to collapse and smash to pieces upon the stone steps.
The hornless Grogar used the magic from his bell to capture the falling pieces and toss them to the side, he glanced at another hydra, it three heads lower in shame. “If you need something done, do it yourself.” He grumbled.
Creating a ball of magic he tossed it right at the barrier, the golden energy hits the light blue magical shield, the whole shield lit up. “When it goes down and I blast the door down, storm it and surround them.” They bowed and stood ready for the signal.
Luna on the other side felt the impact from the magic, she fought against it but the surge of the magic from the bell made it far more challenging. “Grogar the Echo on the other side of the door... He has a fragment of the very bell's magic, you are fighting against Grogar's own magic.” Whrisp said calmly to Luna.
Luna glares at him as she struggle to hold the magical assualt back. “HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM!?” Luna roared at him with her Royal Canterlot voice at him.
The blast of her voice pushed everyone back part from the black shadowy bird staring at her, the look was still calm. “Because the answer to my question has arrived, do you know what it is Gale?” He glanced at the teenage as he pushed himself up from his back into a sitting position.
Gale shook his head a little getting some senses back, he felt Blue's presence. “Blue is here!”
“Your jackal diamond dog guardian!?” Hiccup was surprised to hear that. “How do you know?”
“I can sense him, he very close by...” Gale stared at the door.
Luna grunted as the magical pressure from Grogar the Echo increased. “Could of told us you stupid bird!” Luna growled.
Whrisp shrugged. “I did, it was a simple question for a simple answer.”
Grogar the Echo formed another magical orb to send at the door. “This should be the last one.” He about to launch it when a Roc slammed right into the barrier shattering to pieces, the blue goat turn around and at the base of the stairs leading up to the Great Hall stood a wolf, a dragon, and a strange blue, cream and black anthropomorphic canine with spikes on it chest and wrists. “Hmm...”
Blue's red eyes met his. “That look like Grogar but without the long curved horns.” Spike pointed out.
“A parasite dream echo, they made by the original but never completely identical with a limited choice in actions.” Alpha and Spike glanced at him. “Think of creating a magical copy of yourself and putting it in someone's subconscious to either retrieve magic, information or destroy the mind within.”
Alpha gripped the handle of the hammer tightly. “He after Lord Gale's magic.”
Grogar the Echo rolled his eyes listening to them. “That griffon is a decoy, here is what I am going to do, crush him and find Wayne, but since you three idiots wanted to play hero for that decoy, I'll just have to have my golem monsters rip you all to pieces.” Grogar grinned darkly.
“But Gale is-”
“Spike as I said, limited choice in actions, he can not see past that, even the truth hit him in the face, that why his a Omega Threat.” Blue said looking around at the large sum of hundards of monsters. “Let's repeat what we did in the forest.” They nodded.
Grogar watched Spike raise his shield up. “Monsters get rid of these annoying pests.” He point a cloven hoof at them, Blue put his paw against the shield as the monsters all race down the stairs and flew towards them. “You are a fool to play hero, I have a army, what do you have?”
Alpha grinned as the shield start to glow. “The power of shield, aura and hammer.”
“What?” It all the echo got to say when the hammer slam into the shield, a burst of a expanding blue bubble speeding right up towards him, all the monsters hitting it as they were charging at them were obliterate to pieces. Grogar the Echo quickly using his bell to create a golden ball of magic slamming into the ground to create a shield to protect himself.
The blue wave of energy hit the shield, it rips the shield to pieces sending the blue goat flying into the shield around the door, he smashed through it and the burst of energy travelled through the Great Hall. Everyone including dragons were knocked back from the blue energy wave.
On the ground groaning, Grogar slowly getting up in a haze. “What...” He coughed. “What was that power?” He coughed a few times looking around at the army completely destroyed, dust coated the air making it hard to see beyond a limited range.
Stoick pushed himself up seeing a shadow through the dust upon the opening of the doors, the blast wave had blew out all the touches, the only light was from the opening. A shadow cast over Grogar, and his eyes laid upon the jackal diamond dog staring back at him, the chief watched Blue take a few calm steps towards Grogar.
The right paw spike glows turning into a three claws extending over the paw, Blue raised it back and slashes with the horror in Grogar the Echo's eyes.
Stoick saw the large blue goat not moving after the slash, but he saw the bell fall to the ground in pieces, clattering on the stone floor. The blue goat before his own eyes stared to ripple till he faded from sight completely.
The humming of the inner workings of a massive gravity chamber, the large crystal housed in a gold reinforced diamond containment shell with wires and pipes leading out of it, a large blue goat stood staring at it from the catwalk he stood on. “So my echo finally failed.”
“Master?” Zerra turned his head to Grogar from the computer console he sat at.
“I created a dream echo to claim the Pure Magic from Wayne or now known as Gale, the son of Princess Celestia, the Griffon of Canterlot.”
“That was over 4000 years ago wasn't it?”
“Correct, it was another one of my many failures that I knew was going to fail.” Grogar walked up to the console displaying a island with four others. “Did you locate the bug?”
Zerra tap his hoof on the console a few times to bring it up on the screen. “It is as you said it would be sir.”
Grogar chuckled. “The Changeling long range communication bug that was used on this very sent of floating islands, it quite wondrous when you use magical artefacts on prototype technology isn't it?”
“It is Master Grogar, also how it was a small little wishy input into that idiot griffon and that one eye goat that lead to it.” He chuckled with forehooves behind the back of his head leaning back on the chair. “My best work I do say so.”
“That it is, you have never once failed in any task I given to you.” Grogar grinned staring at the display showing the little golden bug attached to the crystal inside the chamber. “Is the blue box in range?”
Zerra change the display to the scanners. “It just came into range.”
“Attract it attention to Flaputa, I'll prepare the echoes.”
“Right away sir.”
Hidden from their view behind some machines a white large griffon watched carefully. “Zerra... I was right to follow... He serves Grogar, what do I even do?” She slip into the dark tunnels to come up with a plan of attack.
Blue knelt down to the pieces of the bell, he picked them up with his paws and the magic particles coming off them faded completely. He looked to the recall sphere hovering in the air, it stopped spinning and fell to the ground with a clang, the barrier around it pulsed once before it disappeared.
The staring from all in the Great Hall was interrupted by the sound of a mighty thud, they turn to see the sphere had landed on the stone ground, Gale walked up to it with the barrier now collapsed too, he picked up the sphere. “What happened to Grogar the Echo?” Gale asked.
Blue toss the pieces to Stoick, he caught them. “The bell was his life force, once it was destroyed he cease to be and the runes were also connected to it too.” Blue said telepathy. “The threat has been removed from Berk.” As Blue said this Alpha and Spike stood either side of him, Spike back to normal holding a oversized shield. “If it wasn't for the help from Alpha and Spike I wouldn't have the opening I needed to take the bell out.”
“Don't forget that weird black bird.” Alpha stated glancing up with his one eye at the very bird sitting on a beam looking down upon them.
“Yeah he helped us get back to Berk!” Spike confirmed.
Gilda towered over Spike looking over to the shield. “You helped them?”
“Yep!”
Gilda gave a short chuckle. “Well the mutts say you did, who am I to question it? Good on ya dweeb, not sure how you managed to help pull off this easy victory, but that cool in my books.”
“Thank you Gilda!” Spike said with pride.
Toothless jumped around Spike curiously looking at the little dragon. “Look like Toothless like you.” As Hiccup said that he gave a big slobbery lick across Spike's face, the little purple dragon laughed.
Stoick looked up and down at Blue. “I don't see how something so strangely skinny could beat so many of those monsters, even I saw that weird claws emerge.”
“I believe I can show you?”
“Fine g-” Stoick had both hand paws grab his arm and tossed him right over Blue to land back first on the ground with a grunt of pain, Blue put a paw foot on his chest lightly leaning down to stare into the large Viking's eyes.
“Is that proof enough?”
Many looked worried including Hiccup, but confusion rose when he started to laugh. “Yes haha you got me good.” He raise his hand up to Blue.
Blue took it with his paw hand helping the chief back up onto his feet. “I am not your typical being, I am the guardian of Master Gale after all, his protection comes first to my own life.”
“Honorary as well.” Stoick slap the back of Blue causing him to stumble a little, but kept is balance. “I can see how you defeated that goat so easily, very uneventful and suddenly over.”
“Sometimes you have only one mention... Action.”
“Soooo... That's it? Bad guy lost, we stand celebrate and chat?” Tuffnut said bluntly in a unhappy expression.
“Talk about boring...” Ruffnut grumbled crossing her arms.
Fishlegs rubbed the side of Meatlug's scales. “I am glad for the strange looking wolf defeating that goat.”
Astrid walked her dragon out of the Great Hall. “I agree, we safe and that what matters.” Stormfly nuzzled her before flying up with many other dragons, the dust and rumble of what was the golems blow around from the take off.
Snotlout glared at Alpha. “Show us how you defeated all those golems!”
“No.”
“Than it was just dumb luck you won than!?”
“You calling us a liar?”
“Yes!”
Alpha growls. “Spike, Blue... Can we just do a small display to this idiot.”
Spike shrugged. “Sure.”
“Very well.” Blue looked around. “For your own safety, please made clearing.”
“And have Hookfang ready to catch his bratty friend.” Alpha slyly smirked, the dragon saw that look and quickly did so.
“Really? You are going to side with them on this!?” He nodded. “Urg! Fine!” He turn to the three standing before him. “Give me your best shot!”
Gobber whisper to Stoick. “I bet Hookfang will catch him.”
“I won't take that bet, cause we all witnessed that strange blast of blue light that knocked us all off our feet.” Stoick crossed his arms.
Astrid facepalmed with a shake of the head. “Why is he so thick headed at times?”
Hiccup shrugged. “It Snotlout.” Toothless gave a heathery dragon laugh.
Whrisp's beak turn into a smile as he watched Spike lift up the shield, Blue put his paw against it putting a tiny amount of aura energy against it, Alpha stood ready to strike it. “Oh this is going to be good.”
Nightingale, Gabby, Gallus and Luna watched this unfold. “Could you stop this?” Gallus asked.
“I could, but I won't.” Luna said with a smile.
Gabby giggled. “Ooo if it like what we just felt, this is going to really be a SHOCKER for sure!”
Nightingale shook her head. “What a dream but a dream?”
“Indeed.” Luna said.
Gallus frowned. “This whole adventure just been one confusing mess, first we having fun, than we getting attacked by some stupid echo of some very long ago lived blue goat, and after he defeated we standing here watching some rock head Viking want to get blasted by the same thing?” Gallus blow his head feathers back up into place. “Am I the only one that confused?”
Gabby giggled. “Oh I am very confused too.” She rolled her eyes around. “But it a dream! So things are confusing!”
“Last chance pup, you really want this?” Alpha ready the hammer. “This is only a fraction of what we did.”
Dragons and Vikings working together through out Berk since the defeat of Grogar the Echo at the paws of Blue, the clean up of golem rocky remains to reconstruction of homes destroyed or damaged had already started, Stoick with his arms crossed watched from the steps of the Great Hall, Vikings inside also fixing up the tables and clearing up the mess too within.
Gobber walked up the steps towards him. “Stoick your brooding.”
Stoick glance down the steps at the peg leg blacksmith. “Aye I am, this was a serve attack on Berk, not only we were pushed back with such ease, that goat used magic of all things to create what looked like living monsters.” He kicked a piece of a stone paw down the steps.
Gobber turn following it with his eyes as it bounced down the steps. “Aye that did happen, yet we had also allies with magic that helped us, don't forget that strange looking mind speaking wolf defeated him.”
“How could I?” Stoick uncross his arms, rubbing the beard with his hand. “Blue I could see in those fiery red eyes as he struck down that monstrous goat, he is dead set loyal to a fault to Gale.” Stoick walked down the steps. “There will be remaining golem monsters out there, I already talked to a few Vikings and they agree on my idea.”
Gobber looked over to the Vikings and Dragons over by the mountain side chipping away at it. “Big stone statue for Blue? Ay.” Gobber turn walking alongside him.
Stoick picked up a few big pieces of stone, holding it up on his shoulders. “Aye, this will show those that remain, we are protected by him, Alpha and Spike.”
“Now that something to see when it done.” Gobber chuckled. “What of Whrisp?”
“The foul black bird? He leaving with Princess Luna and the others, he will never be welcomed here again and that is as good it will get for that bird, he aided them and us to defeat that goat. But it doesn't change the fact he helped the attack to begin with, and dragged us into this mess when Grogar the Echo stole the sphere a week ago.”
“Aye, true that is Stoick, that sphere did start everything off a week ago, with all that planning and pretty much winning, how someone's madness for endless power really corrupt them hmm?”
Stocik sighed. “Yes, I get your point Gobber, I also fell into that trap myself many years ago, I seek to become the greatest Viking by taking out the dragons once and for all to have them not only our loyal companies, but be the proudest father of a amazing son like Hiccup who showed us another way of living with the dragons, seeing them as family.” Stoick looked over to seeing Toothless being rode by Hiccup fly over with Gabby, Gallus and Gale flying right behind them carrying supplies.
“Aye, that is a good reminder to keep.” Gobber looked to the cliff over looking the port lower levels. “Talking of which, it seem the pony princess with a few others having a talk with that bird.”
Stoick saw them. “Yes I know, leave them to it, that bird not our problem and with what we dealing with at the moment, I don't want that to add onto the growing number of issues we have to face now.” They continue to walk.
As the sun start to draw it last light as it lowers from the sky slowly, sitting at the cliff overlooking the port Luna, Blue, Nightingale, Alpha and Gilda sat or stood before the black bird staring out to the sunset. They asked for answers to their questions and he accepted to it without any terms, Whrisp had already made his mind up to be straight with them.
Gilda decided to jump to the first question after a awkward silence for what seen forever. “Why were you working for Grogar? That echo thing, the real deal.”
Whrisp didn't turn just kept staring out to sea. “He used Wayne to find a Shade and it happened to be me, that tends to happen when you have life form that only of soul and memories at the time.”
“Soul and memories?” Nightingale asked.
“Before you knew him as Gale, before the cub full of hope, imagination, dreams, love, and so much more, came the remains of the homosapien, a echo of the life once was.”
Luna shivered a bit. “The way you are saying about Gale, he was neither alive or dead over 4000 years ago.”
Whrisp slowly turn around to answer this. “Yes that what he exact he was, a shell held by a new form magic you call Pure Magic, without it there would be no Wayne, no Gale.”
Gilda's face drained of colour a bit with a deep sickening gut ranching feeling deep in her gut. “Sweet Grover...” She muttered. “How is that even possible?”
“No idea.” Whrisp had no answer to give on the subject. “If Grogar knew, he never told me.”
Luna looked at the last light fading behind the horizon of the sea. “He created the echo of himself and sent you with that echo into Gale's subconscious, his goal was to steal the magic from within wasn't it?”
“Yes. But he failed to take into account there was no subconscious to find, we were basically trapped within his dreamless void till around two months ago.” Whrisp answered Luna's question and added the flaw to Grogar's plan.
Gilda half chuckled hearing that, but she went back to the question she had asked. “Still doesn't explain why you worked for that evil goat.”
Whrisp ruffled his wings a little. “Your right, I didn't answer that part of the question, the answer is about being discovered and also by the magical law of a Shade, if discovered or caught by any creature, we are to provide our services for one action only, mine was to find the key within the dream to unlocking the pure magic.” He gave the answer to Gilda.
“Sounds that you have rules of non-direct involvement, am I correct?” Blue asked.
Whrisp nodded. “Correct, we Shades tend to not take sides, even though it seem I did, it wasn't by choice. It was by our magical law, if we break it... We cease to be by the next sunset.”
Alpha stared with his only eye. “So all you Shade creatures are bound by this law magical? “
“Yes.”
“That sounds like a good safe guard, but also doesn't give you much choice of a mortal high ground does it?” Luna questioned.
The black bird lower his head with a sigh. “Yes...”
Gilda asked the next one. “Your no long bound by that duty?”
“No, I fulfilled our terms to the contact, it was his fault to ignore me.”
Blue took another chance to ask a question or two. “Your kind, the Shades. Do they change their appearances and what is your diet?”
Whrisp answered the questions. “Yes, we change our appearances determining on the individual we interact with, mainly the young, in the dream we can directly interact with them and in reality we phase through everything, only seen by the young one.”
“That sounds like imaginary friends.” Gilda frowned upon saying what it sounded like.
“Imaginary friends?” Whrisp tilt his head. “Interesting concept of a name, not one any of us Shades thought of around 4000 years ago...” He paused of a second. “Well to me 2 and half years, strange how time seem to be a concept that this part too, a Shade out of time.”
Luna smiled. “Join the club, I and Gale know how exactly how you feel on that notion.”
Alpha had a thought came to mind from what he knew about Gale's past, and Grogar's defeat. “Was Grogar losing control of his empire by the time he tried to take Lord Gale's magic?”
Whrisp thought about that question. “Yes, in fact that is true, Grogar the Father of Monsters told me that his years old mistakes, one of them turning a unicorn into a griffon by the name of Griffax Boreas, he had created a idol that rallied all griffons together with ponies.”
“It sound like the stories I heard, and of Griffax message.” Luna confirmed it. “Did he launch a assult on the island nation of the griffons?”
“Yes and it failed, he realised the greed to control so many now was pushing back on him, he knew the only way to win now was acquiring the magic from Gale.”
Blue leaned against a rock with his arms crossed. “Losing ground, creating new experiments to acquire Master Gale's magic, it does match up with everything, this cost him the bell too.”
“Cost him the bell?” Whrisp questioned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Misty the Great with help from the griffons and ponies managed to steal his bell.” Nightingale answered. “She sealed it away somewhere safe and out of reach.”
Whrisp hummed a little. “It sound like I was tangled in a mess of an panicking emperor seeing his kingdom falling apart, I didn't know it was that bad for him.”
Gilda asked the next to the black bird. “What are you going to do now? Dweeb.”
“Go home to the rest of my kind, hopefully catch up with them after being gone for so long, the gateway to the Shade's gathering grounds are open, I know what I done to help the Echo can not be undone, but I only did it because I was bound to...”
“Hopefully it will never happen again, since you did in a indirect way helped us to win, I believe this leaves us even.” Luna said.
Gilda shrugged. “Can't argue with that.”
“Agreed aunty.” Nightingale nodded.
Alpha lean down. “You better take the cease out of existence path next time when it comes to Lord Gale.”
The shade nodded. “I know you want that, but I can't promise it.”
Blue smirked. “I believe I have a way to solve that problem, you need imaginative energy and bound yourself to one that is young, what of one young of mind to the body?”
Whrisp's solid yellow eyes turn to look directly into the red eyes. “You mean connect to Gale?”
“Correct and I have the perfect form too.” Blue revealed a piece of paper showing it to the shade. “Master Gale drew this before our trip here.”
Whrisp looked at the drawing. “That small, cute and fluffy, fly without wings, big long tail, huge paw feet, small arms with tiny paws, big head blue with big blue emotional eyes that look mischievous too.” He looked back at Blue. “Are you sure of this?”
The answer came from Blue's telepathic voice. “Yes, do this and your free to go, it will work out for both you and Master Gale, it a win win.”
Whrisp took a look around. “What of you?”
Gilda raise a talon. “Not getting involved with the mutt on this one, he has a good sense that freaky.”
“Agreed, Gale's guardian must have a solid reason.” Nightingale also letting Blue handle this.
Luna turn to Blue. “I believe the Dream Guardian knows what he is doing.”
Alpha saw the drawing. “Think it too cute for my taste, but I have to say he got a good point, go with it.”
Whrisp flew up in front of them. “Fair enough, with that voted here I go!” He started to glow, the dark form engulfed in light.
“Your going back already?” Hiccup asked as the Berkains gathered to see their new friends off.
Luna step forward. “Indeed, we will return in time, just need to get home.”
Stoick put his hand out to Luna. “You are all friends of Berk, be well on your journey home.”
“We will.” Luna place her hoof in his hand, smiled at each other and remove hand and hoof. “Gale please do the honour.”
Gale twist the orb. “Bye!” Gale warmly smiled.
Spike waving his claw hand. “It was fun meeting all of you and the dragons! Take care!”
“See ya dweebs!”
Astrid smirked. “See you later, also look forward to another race.” Gilda grinned back.
“Till next time.” Alpha smirked at Snotlout getting a gulp from the young Viking, he took cover behind Hookfang his dragon.
Nightingale bowed slightly. “It was a interesting set of events, I do hope for a speedy recovery.”
Gobber laughed. “We Vikings, we bounce back every time! Just look at me!” He showed his arm and leg getting a set of laughter from everyone.
Gallus smirked. “Take care twins, you were a riot!”
“That we are!” They said together clapping hands together.
Gabby giggled. “It was fun helping to work with the dragons Fishlegs! I really like it!”
Fishlegs smiled. “It was fun too! You are really good at cleaning up the dragon stables!”
“What can I say? I love to help!” She said with pride.
Gale twist the final part and they were engulfed in a bluish white cloud, it pulls in and they were gone. “Now everyone back to work! Berk not going to fix it self!” Stoick clapped his hands a few times, they all parted getting back to work. “Hiccup, I am going to need that mind of yours to prepare for something like this could possibly happen again, they are our friends but there are forces out there that isn't.”
Hiccup smiled. “What do you have in mind dad?”
Luna, Spike, Alpha, Blue, Nightingale, Gallus, Gilda and Gale appear back in the Dream Randomiser chamber. “Thank you for the ride! I'm off home and see you sometime Gale!”
They all turn to Whrisp emerge from the shadows, he giving a salute with a mischievous giggle before flying into the shadows once again heading home. “What the buck was that thing!?” Gilda blurted out.
The sun rising in the morning sky, birds chirping at Sweet Apple Acres, Applebloom awoke from her peaceful night sleep, she yawned a little as she sat up, rubbing her eyes with a foreleg. Applebloom got out of bed walking up to her wardrobe to pull out a bow from it putting it into her mane.
“Today the day ah and mah friends get to meet Sunflower again!” She said to herself walking up to the window pulling the curtains back.
To her surprise upon opening it, she was greeted by a pair of purple eyes for Sunflower looking back at her. “Good morning Applebloom, hope we didn't wake you.”
Applebloom's mind took a few seconds to process what came out of the beak of Sunflower, she slowly peer through the window to see Applejack and Big Mac sorting through the baskets of apples. “What the hay goin' on here?” She open the window up. “Ah thought me and mah friends were meetin' ya at the clubhouse! Not ah seein' ya right outside mah home!”
Sunflower put a basket full of apples into the wagon, followed by another as Big Mac hook himself up to the harness. “I woke up early, just as the sun started to shine and dude these two were already working on the farm, so I offered to help and here we are.” Sunflower explained.
“Eeyup!” Big Mac confirmed as he started to pull the wagon into the barn.
Applejack finished stacking a pile into one basket left behind. “Ah said no at first, but than Sunflower showed a picture of her home, she and her grandma tend to more sunflowers than ah ever seen, so with that how can ah not accept help from her.” Applejack put a hoof out to the basket. “They all yer's sugarcube, chow away.”
Sunflower grabbed a bunch with one forepaw. “Don't mind if I do.” She dropped the apples into her beak and happily chewed on them.
“What about Granny Smith!”
“What about me Applebloom?” The old mare step into view carrying a single pie, held on her forehoof.
Applebloom jaw just dropped. “Dude, your not asleep before you think of it, Nanner Smith is cool as a cucumber, not the first oddest thing she seen.”
Granny Smith looked up at her. “Indeed it is cub, but it Granny.”
“Granny, Nanner, mean the same thing, just the way I was brought up calling a grandmother.” Sunflower shrugged. “That cool with ya, dude?”
Granny Smith smiled. “Ah can live with that, and here is ya award for ya hard work, here one of mah own special applepies, enjoy!”
Sunflower carefully took it from her hoof with the forepaw, pulling out with the other a oblong object, she flicked it to have a stick come out with a tiny folk at the end of it. They watched her take a piece with the folk and place it into her beak, happily chewing on the little amount she scooped up. “Hmm... That some good pie.”
“Glad ya like it cub, now Applebloom come on down for breakfast and ya can take Sunflower to meet ya friends at the clubhouse of yer's.” Granny Smith walked back into the house.
Applebloom still stunned. “A-ah ah coming... Today goin' to be awe-” She closed the window.
Sunflower continue to enjoy the fruits of her labour, wings fluttering slightly from each tiny piece she chewed on. “Ah think Granny got a winner.”
Big Mac returned from the barn. “Eeyup.” They continued to watch the nine hooves tall griffon happily eat Granny Smith's signature apple-pie.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat in the Cutie Mark Crusaders Tree House waiting for Applebloom to arrive, they both eager to meet Sunflower again and made aware by the adult family members of the terms of meeting Sunflower again.
Sweetie Belle flip a page over with a hoof as she laid there reading, Scootaloo pasting back and forwards. “Do you think any of these ideas to get our cutie marks will work with help from Sunflower?”
Scootaloo continue to walk back and forwards as she respond. “Maybe, but I don't think it gonna work, specially with Applejack and Big Mac keeping a watchful eye of meeting Sunflower again.”
Sweetie Belle closed the book up. “Rarity said that the grown ups all were good with Sunflower, and she the one that suggested it to ease their fears, she even suggested if this goes well we could even hang out with her without adult supervision.”
Scootaloo stopped pasting. “I guess...” She stared out the window. “What do we exactly do with her today? I mean we can't go into town.”
“Guess we didn't think this far ahead when we asked her to come back for a visit.” Sweetie Belle stood up walking up to the window looking out of it with Scootaloo. “What are the chances she already here?”
Scootaloo turn her head to Sweetie Belle. “How awesomely she moves! I say definitely.”
They went to the door opening it to have Sunflower's face before them with Applebloom sitting on top of her head waving at them. “Howdy girls!” She leaped of the head landing on the wooden surface. “Yer been waitin' long?”
“Not really.” Scootaloo answered looking past her at Sunflower. “It awesome to see you again Sunflower! My aunties asked me to give you these cookies!” She went back inside and came back with a bag of cookies held in her mouth placing it down before the griffon.
Sunflower smiled. “Thank you Scootaloo, and tell your aunties thank you for the cookies too.” She reached over to the bag, she picked it up empting it into her other paw before throwing the whole lot into her beak. “Hmm...” She closed her eyes with a very satisfied look on her face. “Those cookies were awesome dude! I mean seriously! How can something so small have so much flavour!? How can anything here taste so much better!?”
“You don't have anything like this?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Sunflower pulled out a wrapped up bar from her bag. “This is a high protein bar, it has some flavour, but mostly bland, when you are my size you really burn through a lot of energy dude, I mean serious amount!” Sunflower shift her foreleg close to the fillies on the treehouse walkway. “Take a feel of my foreleg, that is nothing but muscle.”
“Whoa! You can feel it through the fur if you push hard enough.” Scootaloo exclaimed with surprise. “Is that cause of your size?”
“Pretty much dude, I need that muscle.” Sunflower said. “Also worked on my internal flight magic to beyond it normal limits too, it why I move around so light on my paws.” Sunflower step back and do a few spins, with a shift of body along the forelegs with tail, wings and hind legs to stand on all fours again. “It all pretty much second nature to me now.”
The fillies were amazed. “That really awesome! I mean I can dance, but your moves are so breathless!” Scootaloo said admitting she can dance. “It how come I am awesome with my scooter!”
“I saw dude, those are some sick moves you can pull.” Sunflower smiled.
“Really!?” Scootaloo screeched.
Sunflower laughed. “Really dude.” She turn to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. “Now little fillies what shall we do today? We got a whole day to burn away.”
Applebloom rubbed the back of her head with a forehoof. “We didn't think that far ahead, the usual thin's are out the window.”
“Yeah, last time you was being all stealthy.” Scootaloo added.
Sweetie Belle also confirmed it. “Even if you weren't, I don't think you could fit in anything there.”
They were expecting the massive griffon to respond badly to it, all they got was a simple shrug. “Same old song and dance fillies, I been through it all already.” Sunflower took off her bag placing it down before her, sitting down she shuffled her forepaws in the pockets and main compartment. “That why I already thought ahead of it.”
Applejack and Big Mac supervising the meet up curiously watched from where they sat. “You did?” Sweetie Belle walked down the ramp up towards the big bag. “What did you bring?” She asked as her friends gathered beside her.
Sunflower pulled out a few boxes. “I brought with me some boardgames.” Next thing she pulled out was a set of comic books. “Comics of a bunch of super heroes.” Sunflower pulled out next a bag full of marshmallows in it, they were mix of different sizes in them. “Marshmallows for a nice camp fire for later on.”
Sunflower put a flat table down on top of the boxes. “A music device to do some fun dancing.”
Last thing she pulled out was a harness with what look like seats on the back of it, safety belts on them. “Finally a flight harness for giving others a ride from yours truly.” Sunflower bow with a foreleg across her chest with a cheeky smile.
Applejack and Big Mac approached. “That some harness, there even seats on it, yer took that into account for sure.”
“Of course, it was one of the things Nanner Maple and I thought of, dude” Sunflower answered. “Also all the stuff we can do for now, nothing too crazy part from the flight part.” Sunflower looked around the set piles she created.
Big Mac curiously picked up a comic with his hoof, flipping a page or two through it the curiosity grew. “Ah believe ya.” Applejack said seeing her brother read one of the comics he picked up.
Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle talked among each other till they parted. “We just talked it over, and we go with the flight first.” Scootaloo said with the others nodded in agreement.
Sunflower turn to Applejack and Big Mac. “With your permission to give these fillies a short flight, to experience how I fly.”
“Yer went out of ya way to put this harness together for their safety, ah can safely say yes.”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac and Applejack allowed it to go ahead.
Sunflower fitted on the harness, adjusting the straps to make sure it is secure, the nine hooves tall griffon lay down on her front with a wing open out to them. “Crusaders welcome on board the Sunflower Finch Express, take your seats do your seat belts up and prepare for a flight of an awesome griffon like me.”
The three crusaders cheered and raced up her wing, they sat into the seats putting the seat belts on. “Ah can not believe ah'm doin' this!”
“Me neither, but how often do we get to fly?”
“Like never! I am totally in!” Scootaloo said after Sweetie Belle with excitement.
Sunflower stood up, they were expecting to be rocked around but it felt very smooth. “That felt as if we weren't moving.” Sweetie Belle stated.
Sunflower grinned. “Oh that just the beginning.” The wings open up and with two flaps she took off, hovering a bit above the ground and the adults felt nothing from the wings flapping, they couldn't even hear the flapping sound.
“Ah seen the dance, but this...” Applejack was left speechless.
Big Mac nodded. “Sunflower somehow makin' herself feel absent to the area around her...” Sunflower took off with the girls screaming with joy, if it wasn't for their screams and their eyes on the griffon they would never knew Sunflower took off. “Ah wish to know how she can move so silent.”
“Yer just wonderin' to be like her, big and move with such silence that yer never knew ya there.” Applejack took a sharp look at Big Mac, he nervously laughed with a hoof behind his head and Applejack just rolled her eyes with a shake of the head, they turn to the sky seeing the large griffon flying around at great speeds.
Sunflower flew around a few clouds, skimming them with her wing tip to doing a few twists, she zoom down over the tree line just metres from them and took high into the sky again to hover high above Ponyville, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were giggling and laughing with joy, the movements felt as if they were not at all.
“That was so awesome! We span, went fast and drove, I felt nothing from it! How can you even do that!? Scootaloo said with high levels of excitement to asking for a straight east answer.
Sunflower drift down on top of a large cloud standing on it with all four paws squishing against the white cotton fluff of the cloud, she walked up to the edge of it looking down to Ponyville towards the city of Canterlot on the mountain side. “Alot of hard work, to get where I am today, took determination, sweat, pain and tears. Including a awesome grandmother for support.”
“So no easy way?”
“No little filly, no easy way.”
“Darn.” Scootaloo crossed her forelegs with a pout.
Sunflower laughed a little. “Scootaloo, dude, cheer up and smell that air.”
“Yeah! We got a amazing view from up here! Look at all that land!” Sweetie Belle point out her hoof to the view before them.
Applebloom agreed. “Ah for one happy that Sunflower did train a lot, mah brother had to work hard to come as good as he is like mah sister at the farm, they do EVERYTHIN' day in and out on a almost daily bases.” Applebloom point over to the farm below. “Ah help time and again, but nothin' too crazy.”
“Your young and full of life, you three have each other, I never had that chance when I was growing up, first it was my parents than soon after dad managed to help fix my growing problem with the Zebras help-”
“Zebra? Yer know Zecora?”
“I sure do, met her a few times over the years.” Sunflower confirmed. “I was only a cub when I first met her in the lands she came from.” Sunflower pushed off the cloud flying down slowly with each steady flap. “The Zebra have a very rich history, both good and bad like any other culture, even my own and even yours.”
Scootaloo looked around and saw a rainbow blur moving across the sky. “I can believe it, we deal with these two ponies that bully us because we don't have cutie marks, we try so hard to get them.” The others sighed.
Sunflower gave a soft smile from her beak turning her head to them. “My young friends, the best comes to those that work hard and wait, don't rush and do something silly, trust me I been there many times before.” Sunflower caught the rainbow blur at the corner of her eye. “Talking about rushing.” She quickly turn to come face to face with Rainbow Dash. “BOOOO!” She bellowed at the rainbow maned pony.
Rainbow Dash screech with fright flying backwards rapidly getting a set of laughter from below and from the fillies. “Ho-how the hay did you know I was there!?”
“One the vibration in the air I felt, two that unmistakeable rainbow streak you leave behind you and three me.” Sunflower answered as she hovered before Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash crossed her forelegs. “As if you were not being subtle too Sunflower, I saw you flying around up there, got to say for a griffon your size that was...” She squealed the last word. “Awesome!”
Sunflower drift down a bit more to land. “I wasn't trying to be, if I were I be on you faster than you can say Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dash descend alongside her. “If what Pinkie Pie says about you is true, most definitely.” She felt uneasy not feeling any air pressure from Sunflower as she descended to the ground. “I can also believe you when you'd said about a lot of hard work to the Crusaders too.”
“Ah I see.”
“See what?” The fillies asked together.
“Something between experienced fliers like ourselves little ones.” Sunflower said as she land on the ground gracefully. “Now we get to fly again a bit later, but for now who up for some boardgames?” She said as she let them get off her back.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Board games really?”
“Afraid to lose to a big super awesome griffon like me? Dude.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “I am going to make you eat those words!”
“Awesome! We get to play with not only Sunflower, but with Rainbow Dash too! On some of these weird looking games! This day gets better and better!” Scootaloo said with total excitement, she saw a pack of cards and took it with a hoof. “UNO, what is UNO?”
Sunflower took the deck, open it up with her large paws and even shuffle the deck. “It a really simple game, the object of the game is to clear your hand completely.” They seemingly not paying attention to her but the paws. “What?”
“How in the name of Equestria are ya doin' that?” Applejack asked.
“Yeah! Your paws are massive and yet your doing that!?” Rainbow Dash point her hoof at the forepaws. “How the heck is that even possible!?”
The CMCs all nodded with muzzles hanging open.
Sunflower looked to the cards and back at them. “Oh? This?” She continue to shuffle the deck. “It’s my secret.” She grinned. “Now ready to hear the rules? So we can play?”
Gallus leaning against a tree near the Abysmal Abyss had decided to have a casual chill day, the dream adventure was something and after all that excitement while he slept, this blue griffon needed some just plain old relaxation. “Just me, the hollowing winds of the abyss and no weirdness.” He shifted a little content with the day been so far.
Moments later Nightingale land by the gorge, she stepped up to the land bridge remains. “Here we are dad...” Nightingale slowly walked up to the edge looking down into the abyss. “Little over 730 years ago in the Inverse Reality you threw that piece of gold into this abyss, yet it happened again with King Guto here.”
Gallus opened his eyes seeing her standing at the edge, the strong bursts of wind from the abyss unfazzing her as she continue to gaze down upon it. “What is she doing?” He sat up watching her now.
“Unlike here, there was only one new transfer of power, the king gave his crown to the princess, his daughter, and with that crown it took me years after dad's passing for Griffina to begun a beacon, Griffonstone to be a central transport hub through out the country.” Nightingale picked up a rock and dropped it down in the abyss.
Gallus had gotten up and heard what she just said. “So one of those cross reference things to do with that other Griffonstone?”
Nightingale turn her head seeing Gallus. “Matter fact it is, and this was the place funny enough the idol was tossed into the abyss by my dad, same location that one eyed monster Arimaspi fell when lightning happened to strike the land bride of all times.” Nightingale said and picked up a crystalised rock tossing it to Gallus.
He caught it, looking at it as if a shell over solid rock. “A rock in crystal?”
“That caused by highly charged lightning that was discharged.” Nightingale turn away from the edge walking up to Gallus. “After our little dream adventure, I been thinking about my Griffonstone again.”
Gallus frowned putting the crystallised rock down. “That the version you took crazy amount of years to make it a shining beacon of all griffon kind right?”
Nightingale sat down looking out to the empty skies ahead. “Yes, but it wasn't all that shining, there was a lot of factors that played into it, some really bad, some really good or just the avenge griffon raising like a beacon to show how we can grow that bit more.”
Gallus sat beside her. “I bet the skies around here were crowded.”
Nightingale laughed a little. “Oh it was, cargo and passenger airships flying in, mail griffons to ponies delivering small parcels to a personal letter from love ones, a market buzzing with all kinds of creatures selling their wears to make it big.” Nightingale put her talon on Gallus'
He look down at it and out to the mountains. “Wouldn't mind seeing that.” Suddenly a window of magical light appeared before them, it was showing the skies filled with ponies, griffons and dragons, with airships with and without blimps attached to them. “Wh-what is that!?”
“It my home! That exactly what I said it look like!” She remove her talon from him to point at it and the window disappeared in a instant. “Where did that image go?”
Gallus felt the tingling feeling through his wing, looking to see that flight feather was glowing slightly. “I think it was me, that feather lit up and erm... That happened.”
Nightingale thought about it and turn to the city. “Gallus please go with me on this one, I think what we saw was a time echo, a reflection of my home, could we try again this time looking at the city?”
Gallus look to his talon than to he feather, he saw the look she was giving him. “For a almost 800 year old you sure don't act like it at times, your looking at me as if your a cub wanting more ice cream!”
“Oh and those big blue marbles with a quivering beak isn't one?” Nightingale countered.
“Urg! Fine let's get this out of the way!” He lift his talon to her.
Nightingale took it and nothing seem to happen. “Weird...”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “What a surprise, the stupid magic feather does whatever it want to do! I bet it can't even show us what it would look like right this minute!” Suddenly the magical window reappeared upon him saying it, what they saw was a city in ruins, the large tree half it size with castle remains all over the city, buildings in ruin.
Nightingale's heart skipped a beat seeing it. “Th-that not possible...” She saw the endless blackness beyond the city, it seemingly look like day time without the sun. “That my Griffonstone at this current time...”
Gallus eyes dart left and right at the view they were seeing, he saw airships where they crashed, parts of the mountain seemingly broken away drifting without gravity, pieces of wood, cloth, buildings and even parts of the large Griffonstone tree drifting around. “Wh-what happened to it!?”
“What happened is not the question, the question is how?”
Gallus gave her a sharp anger look. “The city is in ruins! Things are floating when they shouldn't and you ask that kind of question!?”
Nightingale nodded as they continue to hold their talons together keeping the connection open. “Exactly, a week ago Zerra caused the reality to cease to exist upon midnight of my mother's birthday, the Sphere that housed the Inverse Reality is gone...”
Gallus suddenly realised what she meant, quickly looking back at it. “Sweet Grover...”
“Exactly my own shock...” She felt sick to her stomach, it was twisting and she wanted to throw up, but held it together from years of practice of being a ruler. “That blackness is all we should be seeing, no Griffonstone, yet we looking right at it.”
Gallus looked around at the real time reflection from the Inverse Reality. “Does that mean some griffon could of survived?”
Nightingale recalled Gale's wish. “It could be... But how does one travel to reality that is now only a mountain size?”
“I want to know how I am even doing this!” Gallus now paid more attention from the ruined city in the magical bluish white ring window to the glowing feather. “The only thing I could do with it when I first got this stupid feather was to hide it, now it doing all this!
Nightingale looked at it peering over him slightly. “You got it first? As if someone gave you that feather?”
Gallus turned his head. “Yeah, it was some weird underground cavern with this massive glowing tree, some female lived there and exchange one of my feathers for hers, she said something about our encounter wasn't to be, along the lines of knowing who I am, I know she could be even avian or part cause of that talon I saw.” Gallus suddenly recalled something else to it. “She said timelines! Out of many timelines this was not to be!”
“So she took a feather from you exchange with one of hers to study yours, most likely to study a map of timelines...” Nightingale thought about it. “If she can peer into different timelines that means-” She looked at the window into the remains of the Inverse Reality. “-you have been given that ability too...”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “Wow, that great and all, but why now?”
Nightingale thought about it. “Maybe it something to do with touching me, I am a griffon that almost 800 years old, who the daughter of Celestia and Grover, the mix of two-
“Don't you even go there, I know what you are going to say and I-” He cringed. “Now I got that in my head, thank you very much!”
“I wasn't going to say th-” Gallus remove his talon from her's.
Gallus sneered. “It something I shouldn't be hearing! I am only thirteen for Grover's sack!”
“For the last time I wasn't even going there! Your the stupid feather brain that jumped to that conclusion!” Nightingale snapped back. “I was saying I am a mix of two races! Have the looks of a griffon, act of a griffon and have the magic of the Alicorn in my blood! That why my feathers shimmer and flow without wind!”
“Whatever! I don't care about this Alicorn, griffon mix in you, I don't want to do something like that again!” He point to the closing window. “I didn't ask for this! I didn't want that stupid whatever she is in that underground cavern to give me that stupid feather!” He pointed to the shimming flight feather. “All I want is for that moment to never have hap-” He angrily said to Nightingale waving his talons around and pointing not only to her, but to himself and the-
Nightingale saw him pause in mid pointing with beak open with shock and surprise, his pupils were shrunk staring at something behind her with all anger suddenly melted away, she slowly turned around to see-
The avian stood before a well of water with the underground lake and tree in the distance, she moved the talon over the water dropping the feather in, opening a bottle and pouring a golden liquid into it. “With the potion completed, the feather within the well of time, answers I seek shall be enlighten.”
The feather engulfed in the golden liquid and forms into a flowering bud that rose from the well, it opens with light blue peddles, dark blue pollen shimming with golden light. “Now show me how he came to be here, the bearer to be, Gallus of Griffonstone.” She put the drawing on top of the flower.
A explosive blast of golden light shots up above her, she watched it explode with different strains of light, all but one fade out and that one continue to go up explode again. It shift it one of the sparks with the rest fading again, it continue to do this many times till it explode with chaotic shapes, lines, symbols and images. Finally it showed a wave of clouds smashing into a floating set of islands, over and over and over again.
“Mutliple paths of time, the others fade away and one only continue leading to the Day of Chaos and than the moment of Past and Future collides... I know this.” She seemingly disappionted in this result, but it suddenly drops down before her landing on the flower.
Standing on the flower before her was her, taking Gallus' feather and giving one of her own in place of his primary flight feather. “What is this?” Suddenly it shift to show Gallus and Nightingale, a ring window appear before them. “No... That can not be possible.” Her gaze turn to the tree. “Gallus can open windows to other timelines... He has access to the Tree of Elysium...”
The last image showed showing the last fragment of the Inverse Reality. “The Inverse Reality? All outcomes show it only was to last 799 years, 1 month, 1 day and 7 minutes... How does a fragment exist?”
The flower suddenly close up and shrink back into the well of time, the feather and picture pushed out of the water onto the ground, she took both and looked at the tree.
“My act was rash, and in doing so have lead to a chain of events even I did not see coming, and yet we are still on the path to the Day of Chaos. And the moment when the Past and future will collide, the bearer to be Gallus of Griffonstone, your feather revealed more questions than answers.
The puzzle to be solved growing more complicated as the day draws near, what other surprises are we all in for? How will this branch in time will grow to? Answers I seek will have to wait, time to come to you bearer to be, Gallus of Griffonstone, we shall be seeing each other again...
“UNO!” Scootaloo slammed her last card down, winning the game.
Rainbow Dash groans and so does the fillies, Sunflower just laughed putting her cards down on the pile. “Whelp! We lost to the Orange Torando once again, that six out of nine games she won, dude.”
Applebloom put her cards down. “Ah can't believe it.”
“Ah can.” Applejack said watching from the walk way with Big Mac. “Been watchin' and seein' how she doin' it, got quick reactions.”
“Eeyup”
“Most likely from her riding the scooter all the time and doing those tricks.” Sweetie Belle said looking over to the orange filly proud to win again.
Sunflower shuffled the cards back together in a neat deck, she put them back into the box. “Well I for one done with losing to the little one, and for her award.” Sunflower put the deck box down in front of Scootaloo.
Scootaloo took it with her hooves. “Your giving me this!?”
“Yep, I got a few spare sets back at home, you be surprised how easily my paw claws sliced those cards clean in half.” Sunflower said, she picked up a stick, one claw come out and push down to cut it down the middle.
They watch the two halves land. “Whoa, that sharp.” Rainbow Dash said picking the pieces up with her wing taking a good look at the clean cut.
Sunflower flex her forepaw a few times. “That happened cause Nanner Maple made me jump while playing with her friend, I was so focused on beating him she decided to get her own back and-” She slam the paw down letting the weight through her internal magic, the thud cause them all to bounce, birds flying away from the tree tops, the ponies screamed in fright. “-wham! My claws come out and bye bye cards.”
Sunflower lift her paw up leaving a big paw print in the ground. “Did you HAVE to scare us like that!?” Rainbow Dash growled.
Scootaloo was also scared by what Sunflower did, but was surprised Rainbow Dash was. “Y-you were!?”
“Ah think we all were.” Applejack said taking a few deep breaths.
Applebloom yelled at Sunflower. “Yer did that on purpose!”
Sunflower grinned looking down at her paw print. “Oh I did, aren't I evil? Muhahahahaaha.” She wiggling both forepaw fingers and thumbs at them all doing a fake evil laugh.
“Yeah... No.” Rainbow Dash wasn't convinced. “You lost the fear factor after that Sunflower.” She said with a deadpan look.
Big Mac thought about it. “That was kinda lame.” Scootaloo muttered.
“Ah believe she did it to lighten the mood from the fear factor she created as ya called it Rainbow Dash.”
Sunflower did a snap with the forepaw. “Big Red is right on the mark, you sure say what needed to be said when it has to be, don't ya?”
“Eeyup.”
Sunflower look down at the paw print. “I can get this filled in.”
“NO!” The crusaders shouted together.
Sunflower frowned. “No?”
“Yeah! We want to keep it!” Sweetie Belle said.
Applebloom nodded. “It a keep sake! Look at the size of ya paw to mah brother's hoof, that is huge!”
Big Mac look to his hoof than at the paw print. “Hmm... Yup.”
“We can put some fencing around it!” Scootaloo added.
Sunflower still kept her frown, the beak scrunched up a little trying to even understand. “A keep sake? Put fencing around it? Why in name of all magic you want to preserve my paw print?” Sunflower raised her paw up. “You know what, do whatever you like with it, I don't get it or even understand you ponies over it, so I am just going to go with it and leave it at that.” Sunflower decided to drop it and move on.
“Weird is normal in Ponyville.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Well, I would like to stick around a bit more, but I got my duties to do for this evening's weather, see ya!” Rainbow Dash took off into the sky.
“Bye Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo waved.
Rainbow waved again. “See ya around squat!” Rainbow Dash zoom off into the distance.
Sunflower went to her bag, opening it to take out her tablet, she looked at the time displayed on it. “That time already? Guess we were stuck playing UNO longer than I thought we here” She put it away. “Well as the saying goes, time flies when your having fun.”
“Wish she could of stayed longer.” Scootaloo muttered.
“We adults do not have the same freedoms you have cub.” Sunflower said, getting Scootaloo to surprisingly look up at her, she point to the large ears. “I am nine hooves tall, these ears not just huge for show Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo frowned. “Let me guess, your eye sight is really sharp too?”
Sunflower raise her forepaw tilting it side to side. “So-so on that department, really good at night, and semi medium to long range, close up, a bit of a pain at times.”
“What kind of job do you do?” Sweetie Belle curiously asked.
Sunflower thought about how to exactly answer that. “Hmm... Kinda a bit of different things, I do some house work through out my home, tend to the fields and treat the lake around it, also deal with trespassers approaching our home.”
“So... Ya do a bit of everythin' at home?”
“That about sums it up, also tend to just chill out for the most part, it not easy being huge compared to those that are normal size, I burn through about two to three times more energy.”
“I bet that from you being light as a feather too when your walking and flying right?” Scootaloo put her front hooves on her foreleg.
Sunflower looked around at the Crusaders. “It is, I am glad you are curious and asking these questions, most just think I am all perfectly good and do anything with simple ease.” Sunflower pulled out a few comic books. “Could we do something that I been hoping to do with others for a long time?”
“Sure, what is it?” Sweetie Belle curiously asked.
Sunflower put down a small stack of comic books. “I heard about it and saw pictures of cubs reading comics, sharing their views on it from laughs, sadness, surprise and even to arguments.” She raise both forepaws up. “I know it weird to ask dude, but when you pretty much been home schooled all your life, you never get to experience being well... You.” She gestured to all of them.
They looked at each other talking quietly to each other, after a moment they turn to her. “You never had friends?”
Sunflower raised her forepaw up, tilting it left and right. “Friends as in face to face, that recently happened, long distance pen pal, yes.”
“Oooo yer Pinkie Pie's pen pal right?”
“Yep.” She smirked. “Annnnd she behind me, isn't she?”
The Crusaders peer around her to see Pinkie Pie standing there wearing reading glasses, holding up one of the comic books. “Hey girls! Thought I be the BFPP that I am and join you all in reading these comics! I got to say issue one is cool! I love that these super heroes are different races with differcult passes to earning their gifts, born with them, accidental got them or use what they have with mad skills!” She giggled.
They were staring at the glasses. “Pinkamena are you trying to be book smart with comics?”
Pinkie pull the glasses off. “Not working?” Sunflower shook her head. “Oh well, worth a try.” She giggled putting them into her mane. “Sooooo BFPP, ready to read and talk comic with the CMC?”
“CMC?” Applebloom asked.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Sunflower stated. “Like BFPP stands for Best Friend Pen Pal.”
The Crusaders all responded. “Ooooooooh” They got it.
“That kinda neat.” Scootaloo picked up a comic seeing it was issue one too. “How many issue ones did you bring?”
“Five, there five copies of issue two and three in there too, the spares are gifts to you all and Pinkamena.”
“Awesome!” Scootaloo said with joy. “You didn't need to give us stuff like this.” She also added. “Not that we complaining about it of course!”
Sunflower rolled her eyes. “Of course not, your the first youngsters to make me feel like being a cub that I wasn't, Pinkamena being a added factor on that, thanks.” She gave Pinkie a hug.
Pinkie Pie released from the hug was a bit dazed. “Ooooh so soft hugs...” She shook her head. “Of course silly! You missed out a lot and time to get a bit of that action!” She giggled. “Now let's read!” She dropped down on her stomach, one forehoof against the side of the face, the other turning the page of the comic.
The others laughed and joined in by reading the comics too, Applebloom than had to ask a question. “Why do ya call Pinkie Pie, Pinkamena?”
“That her given name, Pinkamena Diana Pie, if you want the full thing, she like to be called that other by everyone, but I can't, just my thing dude.” Sunflower opened up a three times larger version comic book of what they were reading.
Pinkie Pie smirked. “One of these days I will get you to say it!”
Sunflower glance over her. “Maybe, maybe not, just not today.” Sunflower smirked back.
Applejack and Big Mac continue to watch from the clubhouse. “Erm... That happened didn't it?” Big Mac glance to her sister.
“Eeyup.” Applejack responded.
Greystorm was going through some last minute paper work as the last rays of sun disappear from the view of his office window to behind the island mountains. Suddenly the doors burst open with Octicovix in her griffon form standing on her hind legs before him breathing in and out with shock on her face. “Octicovix?”
Before the eyes of the griffon Geremy the world was quite literature in chaos, griffons and ponies he knew for ages in Griffonstone were vanishing rapidly all around him as he raced through the streets to a golden statue with a large diamond crystal held in the talon of Grover, airships that were manned now weren't they crashing into houses with massive explosions filling the air.
The heat washed over him as another griffon suddenly just vanish before his eyes, a little cub that still had a full sense of life. Parts of a building rained down around him, one large piece heading right for him, Gabby rammed him out of harms way, she put her talon out to him. “Geremy we got to activate that prototype now!”
“Right! Let's get-” He took her talon to have it vanish before him with the grey griffon, he fell to the ground gasping with shock.
Suddenly the view changed from a chaotic event through out the city to staring up at the ceiling of a train carriage, he was staring up also to the grey griffon that he suddenly remembered went puff. “Hey easy!” She put her talon against his chest gentle as he tried to sit up. “You got a broken foreleg, hind leg and wing! I mean seriously you were messed up mister! We taking you to Trottingham Rose General Hospital!”
Geremy looked at her with confusion. “Gabby? That not possible... You and every other life vanished be-before the Grover Defence Shield Protocol were triggered...”
Gabby frowned. “You know me? I sure don't know you mister! I know every griffon in Griffonstone since I do the mail, and you I never seen! Well wouldn't since you appeared through some weird magical ring!”
He raised his good talon looking at the messy blue fur feathered foreleg, the dirt and dust stuck to it. “Yes... I saw and raced... T-to...” He eyes flickered a few times closing and opening rapidly till his consciousness left.
Gabby put the damp cloth back on his forehead, Gale stepped up. “He knows you?”
“Yeah... But I don't get how! I don't know him!” She stated.
Gallus stared over from the seat he sat on with forelegs crossed, his blue eyes had been locked most of the time on the large blue griffon with red feather head tips to his yellow, it was chilling for Gallus which made him shiver in non-existent coldness.
Gilda pasting back and forwards. “Sooo... Let's go over this again Nightingale, Gallus has this weird feather from that crazy avian that most of us seen or heard from by now, not only he was the first but she put some weird magical feather into his wing?”
“Pretty much as I know at the moment.” Nightingale said. “As for the griffon, his name is Geremy and was head of Protect GDSP, it was a universal project that was to have a artefact crystallised diamond in every city, that with a push of a few keys would activate a magical shield that was bound by almost every spell to be created or even imagined.” Nightingale stated to her as Gilda continue to walk back and forwards.
Gale stood before Nightingale. “Is from Inverse Reality?”
Nightingale looked over to the badly injured griffon being tended to by Gabby. “Yes he is.”
A guard pony entered through a carriage door, he saluted to Nightingale and Gale. “We ten minutes out from Trottingham, I've sent out word ahead for hospital wagon to meet us at the train station.”
“Thank you.” Nightingale bow her head slightly to him, the guard pony returned a bow to her and left the carriage.
Gilda continue to paste. “What up with Gallus anyway?” She hinted to him.
Nightingale felt a bit of a shiver. “If I am to guess, Geremy is his dad.”
Gilda paused her pasting. “Wait what?”
“In the Inverse Reality his mate, wife... Was with child and vanished over thirteen years ago, no trace of where or how she vanished, one moment they talking about things and the next thing gone, even almost everyone forgot Geremy's wife even existed...”
Gilda felt that chill now. “Sweet Grover... That sound like something Zerra would do to mess with others...”
“Or me...” Nightingale sighed. “I was best friends with his wife, I can't even remember her name and yet I KNEW she existed...”
“Than how is he even here when everyone else was pouffed out of existence by Zerra?” Gilda asked. “Seriously dweeb, how?”
Nightingale crossed her forelegs. “My guess... The prototype artefact, it would explain how Griffonstone of the Inverse Reality still there in a void of everlasting blackness, how part of the reality still exist with everything floating around, it also may explain how he got to that ring too, no gravity equals easy movement.” Nightingale glance over to Geremy. “Even if it is true what I think Geremy is to Gallus, he isn't at the same time, that griffon was my head of the Grover Defence Shield Protocol project, he never had a family.”
Gallus listened to what they were saying, his talons tighten against the seat and pieced the material.
“What of air?”
“Gale got a good question, Nighty.”
Nightingale kept her crossed foreleg stance, deeply thinking about it. “Air pocket is the most likely answer to it, one of the shield spells he merged into the artefact was to do with air pocket spells for underwater.”
“Your just grasping at strews aren't ya?” Gilda raise a eye brow.
“Pretty much, I signed off on the spells, I didn't see how they were installed into a crystallised diamond or when it was done, Geremy is the project leader after all. He would know more about it than I am, as you can see his in no condition to answer that.” Nightingale looked over to him as the others did too.
Gabby pulled off the gloves from her talons, putting them into the waste bin by the makeshift bed. “The griffon is resting, I am glad I did that first aid course last year.” Gabby walked over to them and took a seat. “The bandages should hold till the doctors can get to him at Trottingham.”
“He from Inverse Reality, wish place.” Gale said.
Gabby glanced over to the adult blue griffon. “That explain how he knows me, guess there was a version of me there... Wow that must be strange.”
Nightingale sighed. “You have no idea.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb that so understating what we seeing, even what you said might be true also ticking off Gallus.” Gilda hint to the anger teen glaring at Geremy's resting form.
“You mean why he look exactly like his dad that died with his wife protecting Gallus from the worst snow storm Griffonstone ever had ten years ago to this day?” Gabby blurted out.
Gilda put her talons over her face, Nightingale slowly turn to Gabby, even Gallus and the very dark look he was giving her even gave the grey griffon chills. “Did... you... just... say-” Nightingale slowly spoke in shock upon hearing that.
Gallus roared in fury, his claws dug right into the chair's material, he leap of the seat and stormed out of the carriage without a word said, Gale quickly goes after him a second afterwards leaving Gilda, Gabby and Nightingale alone with the injured griffon. “Gabriella! You dweeb! You and I know how sensitive that is to griffons at Griffonstone!” Gilda point her talon to the door that Gallus had left through.
Gabby poking the claw tips of her talons against each other staring down. “So-sorry Gilda...”
Gilda rubbed the bridge of her beak with her talon with eyes closed. “What done is done Gabriella, we just have to now tell Nightingale, this is something I for one didn't want to talk about...” Gilda open her eyes removing the talon from the bridge of he beak.
Nightingale was surprised the unconious form of Geremy didn't wake from that anger roar, but she was wondering how bad this snowstorm really was. “I am going on a hunch here from what I heard, Geremy and his wife past away during a very harsh snowstorm saving Gallus from the harsh storm, the question I have also is... How many lives were lost?”
Gilda glance at Gabby raising a talon up to let her tell Nightingale. “F-Forty-nine lives were lost... Most due to hiding in the castle when their homes collapsed... Gallus' parents with a three year old Gallus were found by Grandpa Gruff after the storm past... Their home collapsed on top of them, they used their own bodies to shield Gallus from the elements.” Gabby explained to Nightingale with sadness.
“Gruff took guardianship with Gallus, kept him under his roof till a year ago, as per the lame griffon culture states, once you hit the age of 12, you have to do it alone, learn to survive and all that lame garbage...” Gilda stared out the window. “The snowstorm left a mark on all griffons young to old in Griffonstone, it something we don't like to speak about, how idiotic we were too refusing the helping hoof from Princess Celestia in our time of need...”
Nightingale looked over to Geremy. “Then why would Gallus personally request to tag along?”
“Haven't got a bucking clue...” Gilda responded.
Gale travelled through the carriages to the end of the train to the box car, upon entering it he found two guards inside staring at the door leading out of it on the other side. “Did Gallus go through?”
They turn and saluted. “Yes sir, the blue griffon did.”
“He sitting at the edge, we were about to bring him in for his own safety.” The other reported.
Gale shook his head. “I talk, you stay and wait, okay?”
They looked at each other then back to him. “Sir?”
“He upset, talk maybe help, force back in maybe clawed you if try.” Gale said to them.
“Very well Prince Gale, we will be on alert and keep the door open.”
“Okay.” Gale nodded.
He walked by them opening the door to see Gallus, he walked up to Gallus and say beside him, the guards watched with caution. “I don't like this.” The other guard muttered.
“I know, but let's trust in the young prince's judgement, just be ready to fly.” He flex his wings.
“Got it.” The other guard flexed his wings too as they stood ready if anything bad was to happen.
Gallus glanced at Gale. “Go ahead, ask your stupid question.”
Gale shook his head. “Not stupid, question is, why come if know?”
“I came cause I... I needed to know why out of all the griffons in that stupid so called Inverse Reality, it had to be my dad! I look at him and all I see is that frozen sleep smile from the beak! It really freaking me out and I couldn't not come! I am furious that this stupid feather in my wing is the cause of all this! If it wasn't for that stupid avian exchanging my feather with hers I wouldn't be in this mess!”
Gale look to his talons. “You had drawing I drew too... That pure magic in it caused it... I blame...”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “Maybe, but you don't have control of that! How can you predict that some magic got on some paper and ended up trapped on my stupid window of all places! No griffon can predict that!”
“Bu-”
“Gale! Seriously! Your not the one that exchange feathers cause she weren't expecting me showing up at her stupid home! That bird brain caused of this stupid mess! Plain and simple!”
Gale noticed as the last sun raises vanished time seem to just. “Stopped?” Gale looked around in confusion.
“Stopped? W-”
Gale grabbed his beak and turn it to the side of the train. “Stopped! Train stopped!”
Gallus blinked as Gale removed his talon. “What in the name of Grover is going on here?” He took a good look around to see the guards also frozen. “It not the only thing, look the guards!”
Gale got up walking up to them, he waved his talon in front of one, even snap his claws at another to get no response. “They frozen...”
Gallus saw the steam cloud from the train also frozen. “I think time stopped...”
“It has.” They both turn sharply towards the track to see a large bluish white avian walking towards down, each foot talon landing on every other track beam towards them, the hand talons held over the wrists, wings shimmering part from a dark blue one attached to her wrist up to the shoulder joint, four long tail feathers waving behind, with six fanned ones on top of her head.
“I-it you!? Your that bird brain that took my feather and gave me this!” Gallus point to his wing growling at her.
“Yes and yes.” She said calmly now standing on the tracks before them, they looking at her at eye level from the box car platform they stood on. “Hello Gallus of Griffonstone, we meet again and hello to you Gale of Canterlot.” She bow her head slightly, the semi glowing blue eyes turn to each of them.
Gale curiously looked at her, she was also wearing a dark blue vest that for some reason reminded him of something called jeans. “Did you freeze time?”
“In a way it happened when I came to you, I was only able cause of this.” She showed the dark blue feather part of her wing. “As much as your feather is part of me now, as my feather is part of you Gallus of Griffonstone.”
Gallus flew up to her face. “SO WHAT! YOU GIVING ME THIS STUPID FEATHER CAUSED ALL OF THIS! MY DAD FROM ANOTHER REALITY IS HERE CAUSE THIS STUPID FEATHER DID WEIRD MAGIC! THIS IS ALL YOUR BUCKING FAULT!!!!” Gallus roared at her with fury.
“Yes it is my fault, I am completely to blame.” She answered directly to his raging words.
Gallus fury partly faded with confusion. “Wh-what did you say?”
“I said I am completely to blame.”
Gallus looked very bewildered by what this bluish white glowing semi glowing avian. “You seriously agreeing with everything I just said!?”
“Correct, before you arrived by means unknown, I experienced time differently to you and everyone else, I experienced it all at once, the beginning to the end, my concept of time was different, I never experienced this time line... I became part of it and had to figure this out, so I believed a exchange of feathers would suffice.”
“But...” Gale knew a but was coming.
The avian turn her gaze to Gale for a second before focusing it back on Gallus. “Yes there is a but, and this is you Gallus of Griffonstone with the feather gain access to the Tree, and to the Inverse Reality by creating a whole chain of event I did not foresee, you caused a window in time and reality to open nine years, seven months and three days ago.”
Gallus blinked. “Whoa whoa whoa! What does that have to do with that griffon from the Inverse Reality!?”
“You opening that window in time and reality created a moment that Geremy saw you two, you and Princess Nightingale, that in turn created a chain of events that lead to him surviving Zerra's attack to Griffonstone surviving in a fragment of Inverse Reality, that in turn with the second window that lead to him making a break for survival.”
Gallus frowned. “And how the heck do you know that!?”
The avian wave her wing arm to show a branch of time. “Most past events I can see within this timeline, however direct connection made it bright as the sun.” She glance to the rays of frozen sunlight than back to Gallus.
Gallus flew back a bit. “Your seriously telling me I caused that griffon's own survival!?”
“Correct, another fault in my own actions, one that I personally to blame.” She said calmly to him. “I am unaccustomed to this type of liner time, actions I took caused a chain of events that now I am to blame for...”
“Wow... I did not see that coming, you really admit this is your bucking fault?”
“Correct.”
“Why admit this so bluntly!?”
“Because it says so in the book I read from countless timelines, it states that one must own up for their own mistakes, even there is a degree of chance the other may never accept a apology.” She made the book appear flipping through the pages and show it to him. “Right here.”
Gallus land by Gale. “Can we exchange back? Fix this stupid mess and just get on with our lives?”
She shook her head slowly making the book disappear. “No we can not, the feathers are part of us, in removing them will damage our internal magic, shorten the life span, another error on my part that I can not fix.” Gallus growls. “Also changing events that are now set through the branch of time would be snapping that branch, and causing a chain of events from nine years ago to present.”
“So basically I am stuck with this stupid thing!?”
“Basically yes...” She answered. “But-” she raise a claw finger up. “-I have found a way to suppress the magic till your sixteenth birthday.”
Gallus still anger with her snorted before he asked. “So you can suppress this stupid feather magic for a time? Live with what we got and nothing like this will happen again for a few years at least?”
“Correct.” She pull out of her vest pock a small gem. “When you shatter this in your talon it will suppress the magic, you will regain it once again and correct to the Tree of Elysium the branches of time.”
Gallus reached out and took it. “But that Inverse Reality griffon of my dad is still stuck here?”
“Yes, as I said before, what has been done can not be undone.”
Gallus look to it and back at her. “How can I trust you?”
“That is up to you, I have spoken and admitted fault to my own actions, to make a partial amends I brought you this crystal to help you.”
“And of you?”
“That is your on decision too.”
Gallus groans. “I really ticked off with you and totally blame you for this mess!” He crushed the crystal feeling it effects flow through his body.
“As you should.”
“Stop agreeing! It making me feel bad for you!”
She tilt her head. “Feel bad for me? I do not understand, you blame me for the mess that is caused and I admitted that it was completely my fault.”
“Exactly that!” He groans. “Fine! I'll deal with my own personal demons with that griffon! As for you we going to have another chit-chat about this bird brain!”
She nodded. “Very well we shall, as for my given name since you have not asked, it is Avatar.” She turn to start walking away. “The Day of Chaos is still to come, followed by the day when the Past and Future collides.” Avatar vanishes from their view, time resumed.
“And with that she gone, stupid avian...” He growled in a defeated tone seeing his still got the semi glowing feather. “Guess I am stuck with it still...” Gallus focused on making it look the same as his other feathers and it worked.
Gale saw everything was moving again. “What do we do?”
Gallus blew the head feathers up. “Deal with this mess, get ticked off, roar, squawk and whatever it is...” Gallus turn to walk back through the box car with Gale beside him. “That bird brain will show up again and till than, we just press on I guess... This is so lame...”
“It is lame... Gilda would say she dorky dweeb.”
Gallus brought a smile to his beak with a snort of a laugh followed it. “Gale thanks, I needed that.”
Gale smiled back. “Happy to help! Even I no helped there!” Gallus just shrugged as they entered the carriage, leaving a pair of confused guards, to their perspective Gale just sat with him for a few seconds. Not only they were suddenly standing but switched places.
A guard lift up his mug taking a sniff of it. “I am soooo not drinking this stuff every again...”
“Agreed...” The other guard muttered.
“Attention all, we arriving at Trottingham!” Came the voice over the intercom, the train pulled into the train station, the guards put their helmets on and left the box car.
The griffon was taken to the Hospital Carriage, the griffon doctor checked the blue griffon over. "Get us to the hospital ASAP!" The ponies at the front of the carriage nodded and ran pulling it to the hospital.
"Let's get to the hos-" Gilda didn't getting to finish what she was saying when a griffon in a suit vest land on the platform.
Greystorm saw them and quickly asked something no one expected to hear. "Is it true!? Is my brother alive!?"
Sunflower worked on setting up a projector, speakers and the screen, just behind her is the flickering light of her campsite fire the Cruasders, Pinkie Pie, Big Mac and Applejack sat around it. There chatting and eating marshmallows Sunflower listened to with a smile on her beak, when she was finished setting up everything Sunflower hoped they would enjoy the surprise she had installed for them.
Sunflower made sure to set up her device to the projector but hidden from them, it was a black and white classic she, and Nanner Maple always had a lot of laughs over. “That should do it, now to see if it ready to go.” She held up the remote pushing the button on it to start the projector, light lit up the screen with 'standing by' on it. “Perfect.”
Sunflower clapped her forepaws together being pleased with the step up, she turn around walking back to the camp fire listening to them talk. “-wow these marshmallows are amazing! They even have chocolate in the middle! The melting warm chocolate with the squishiness is soooo amazing!” Pinkie Pie said popping another into her muzzle happily munching away.
Sweetie Belle swallowed. “They are! I really love the way the flavours melt together!”
“These are them most awesome marshmallows I ever had!” Scootaloo said licking her muzzle. “Did you make these yourself?”
Sunflower shook her head. “Nope, can't take credit for something Nanner Maple made.”
Applebloom was a bit surprised but also knew that grandparents were special too. “Like mah Ganny! She make Zap Apple jam like no other!”
Sunflower frowned. “Zap... Apple... Jam?”
They all looked surprised at first when she responded, but Applejack had a feeling she never got to try it where she lived. “Ah'll make sure to pack a jar or two for ya to take home with ya sugarcube, also a barrel of our best Apple Cider too.”
Sunflower groaned. “Please stop giving me stuff! I feel like a jumbo charity case here!”
“Yer never tried it so this is a tasty, and maybe ya Nanner can pre-order some to be delivered to ya PO BOX at that train station.” Applejack stated in a calm manner.
“Eeyup.” Big Mac agreed.
Sunflower rubbed her forepaw under the beak. “That does sound more reasonable, okay you got yourself a deal, dude.” Sunflower accepted that terms. “I am always up for something new.” Sunflower glance over to the projector. “As for something new, up for some black and white good old classical musical movie theatre?”
Pinkie Pie almost in a instant was over there looking at the machine and the screen. “Whoa! Your saying you can do something like that musical in Manehatten with this?”
“Your referring to Hinny of the Hills aren't ya? Dude, Nanner Maple with my grandpa is there right now enjoying it on their 100th anniversary of being married!” Sunflower dropped the bombshell on them that made they all gasp in shock.
“100 year anniversary!?”
Sunflower chuckled. “Dude, it a miracle they still married after all these years, the way they can clash, it even I would say, 'nope not getting involved, getting out of here', and that what I did, stay out of it.”
Applejack walked over to the projector seeing tents set up around it with cushions inside it. “Sugarcube, it amazin' to hear that ya have two grandparents that lived far beyond ah ever thought possible for a pair of griffs.”
Sunflower shrugged. “Never thought about it, now who up for some Finch Griffon hundard year old movie theatre?” Sunflower picked up the large remote.
“Sure!” Scootaloo quickly got into one of the tents, she sat down looking out to the screen.
“Yeah! What are we going to see?” Sweetie Belle also eager to see what Sunflower going to play for them.
Sunflower watch them all get seated ready to watch. “I got a few in mind, this first one of three Finch Griffons that are very comical, the next is more like a musical play, but it feels like it did happen yet it haven't because it all put together by a bunch of very good actors.”
Applebloom peeked out of the tent at Sunflower. “One funny and one musical huh?”
“Yep, thought I mix things up, dude.”
Pinkie giggled. “Come on play already!”
Sunflower rolled her eyes. “Your wish is my command Pinkamena!” Sunflower raise the remote and pressed play.
At Manehatten outside the theatre, ponies and two griffons piled out of it soon after the Hinny of the Hill play finished, Maple walking alongside Gruff down the street happy. “Gruffy, I haven't seen that kind of smile in a long time.”
“That because I enjoyed that pony show, now I can tell what all the huff about it and say it was worth watching with you Maple.” He nuzzled her slightly with his beak against the side of her face, she returned it.
Suddenly a group of ponies appear before them, one wielding a knife. “Look lads, we got so-Ah!” he suddenly couldn't move as Maple's paw was near his neck with claws sticking out of them, he dropped the knife onto the concrete with it clattering on impact.
“Now colt, I and my husband are celebrating our 100 years of being married, you and your buddies will not ruin our week here at Manehatten.” Maple slowly close her forepaw, the claw tips pressing slightly on the fur around the neck. “So, what do you and your buddies got to say?”
He swallowed hard. “S-sorry...”
“And?”
“An-and we will not try to rob you again.”
“And?”
“I-I will tell other gangs to leave you alone.”
She moved her forepaw away from his neck patting it against the side of his face. “Now that a good colt, and here is one more thing for you and your buddies to hear, I am 227 years old, my husband close to that too. Now you do the maths on our experiences with woppy muggers.”
The other ponies already turned and ran in all directions upon hearing her say that, the stallion backed up. “Y-you look so young!”
“Yes.”
“Th-th-that means you are almost like the Princess!”
“Yes.”
“Oh sweet Celestia! I never mugging another again!” He quickly turned tail and ran away.”
Gruff walked up beside her seeing the stallion tuck tail and galloping away. “You really enjoyed that, didn't you?”
“Maybe.” Maple smirked. “I am not gonna let some idiotic ponies that think crime the answer ruin our night.” Maple continue to walk with Gruff putting it away. “Also that was kinda fun teaching them a lesson, haven't had to do that in a while.” She giggled. “So worth it.”
“That it is.” Gruff chuckled again with a few coughs followed. “Now, where are we going to next?”
Maple point to it with her talon. “Right over there, I booked us a nice harbour view of the Pony of Friendship statue while we dine with the best fish from the Manehatten harbour.”
Gruff shook his head. “You are spoiling me.”
“You want me to stop?”
“Not a chance Maple.”
Maple gave him a soft kiss with her beak against his cheek. “Good Gruffy, let's dine!”
The Crusaders were in fits of laughter watching the black and white comedy of three Finch Griffons getting themselves into complete hilarious mess, one of them at times would bonk another on the head, it was playing alongside with the rapid paste music.
Pinkie Pie eating pop corn burst into laughter. “This is hahaha the best hahaha comedy show I hahaha seen!”
Big Mac was in fits of laughter with tears falling, he covered the face with one foreleg and hitting the other hoof against the ground. “Ah got to admit, this maybe the first ah seen somethin' like this but it the most hilarious thin' ah seen close to what Pinkie Pie does at times.” Applejack said with a small laugh followed.
Sunflower swallowed after eating a paw full of popcorn. “What can I say? Hehe, these triplets were comedic geniuses!” Sunflower chuckled, the end came with two of them carrying the third brother above their heads running on the hind legs, they being chased by the house owner waving his stick in annoyance with the circle shirking to a black screen.
“Awwwww!” The girls complained at once.
“Come on! Seriously! That how it ends! I was enjoying that!” Scootaloo was annoyed for it to end.
Sunflower shrugged. “That how it was, no real conclusion to a comedic mess they got themselves in, it left every griffon to think of what could be, even make up their on conclusion.” She giggled.
“So there is no real ending, and all endings are our own endings?” Sweetie Belle asked..
“Pretty much.”
“Ah like that! We can come up with our own endin's!” Applebloom grinned.
Scootaloo nodded. “I can go with that!” She giggled at what kind of ending she had in mind.
Sunflower started the next movie, it showed up the title, 'Pokemon: The First Movie, Finch Griffon Edition' came up. “Huh? I got a cartoon movie on here instead of a musical movie.”
“Is it good?” Applebloom asked.
“I watched it when I was your age and still do.” Sunflower said. “It a cartoon of total fiction, nothing about it is real, but it fun to watch dude.”
“Can we?” Sweetie Belle wanted to see it.
Sunflower shrugged. “Sure thing.”
Applejack frowned. “Finch Griffon Edition, what exactly does that mean sugarcube?”
“Can't say, that one of the few things I am not allow to answer, sorry Applejack.”
“W-”
Pinkie Pie cuts in. “It part of the Finch Griffon rule, we have rules, they have rules, you don't want to be a meany and get her to break that do you?”
Applejack saw the looks every pony was giving her, with a sigh she didn't press. “Yer right sugarcube, ah won't press, let's watch this Poke-mon.” 0
“YAY!” The Crusaders cheered in delight.
“After that it bed time for all of you, and you all got your own beds you are sitting on.” Sunflower grinned.
Pinkie Pie giggled. “Wow you really thought ahead!”
Sunflower laughed. “Of course my pink pen pal best friend, I had a week afterall, just mixed up the second movie.” She look upon the group of ponies. “So little ones, once we watched this, time to get some sleep understood?”
“Deal!” They said together with hooves raised.
“Good.” She raise the remote up and press play.
Princess Celestia turn the page of the book she was reading before the fire place in her room, she enjoying another nice evening and looking forward to seeing her children in the morning when they should come home by train. “It going to be a interesting day tomorrow, I do wonder what Gale experienced over there even against my wishes of going.”
Celestia thought of Nightingale how she saved Gale from getting into worse trouble. “Still... It been a crazy week and it be coming to a end, even things won't be as they would be with my daughter returned...” She closed the book up. “What a strange feeling... I never felt this tense since the war that almost came with King Guto...” Celestia put the book away, taking off her crown, vest plate and hoof shoes.
Celestia was about to get into bed when a knock came from the door, with a sigh she turn to the door. “Come...”
The door opened and Luna walked in closing the door behind her with magic. “Sister... I am sorry to disturb you.”
“It fine Luna, what is it?”
“Nephew Gale contacted me via the Dream Realm, something unexpected has happened in Griffonstone...”
“Go on...” Celestia said with wryness in her words.
Luna than reviles what she was told. “A griffon from the Inverse Reality from that version of Griffonstone have arrived and Gale with company are at Trottingham Hospit-” Luna didn't get to finish when in a blinding flash Celestia had teleported. “-al...”
Luna stared at the empty spot. “I better tell Nephew Gale, Celestia on the way...” Luna sighed heavily and saw all Celestia's royal gear on the table side. “Well...”
Celestia after her sudden teleport found herself in the Ascended Plains between realities which she haven't been in since Cadance ascended to an Alicorn, she walked on the star sparkling path with stars and cloudy magic all around, she soon noticed a whitish blue figure emerge.
“Who are you and are you the reason I am here?” Celestia demanded with a stern look at the strange avian creature now stood before her.
The avian lift her wing arm up with a talon raised, rectangle images flow in to the left and right of her down the path, each showing different events that happened through out the past, even showing possible futures. “I am the reason to bring you here, and I am Avatar the... avatar of the Tree of Elysium.”
Celestia instantly stopped taking a few steps back with shock. “Th-that not possible!”
“You are aware of me, curious.” She took a look at the windows of time, seeing events. “None show you should be aware of me, how can this be that you are?” She turn her whitish blue cool calm eyes upon Celestia.
Celestia kept a good distant from her. “The avian that look like no other, the avian that can see what was, what currently happen and what to be all at once, the keeper of the tree that shows the actions you could of taken but haven't or could take.” Celestia said in a firm tone. “There are those that seek you out for all their lives, but never found you.”
Avatar's eyes showed a questionable look, eyes half open, pupils shifting left and right. “I am not aware of this, how am I not aware?”
“It also says, those that seek you are hidden from your sights.” Celestia walked slowly around her. “Why did you bring me here?”
Avatar still trying to understand how she could not see those that seek the power of seeing through possible points in time. “I brought you here to talk about-” She slowly turn to Celestia. “What else does this legend speak of?”
“I-”
“This is serious Celestia, Princess of Equestria, Avatar of the Sun, mother of Gale and Nightingale, sister of Luna, Princess of Equestria, Avatar of the Moon, tell me please.”
Celestia hearing that lengthy title was serious. “The legend said that you gifted a feather to the first to come to you, in the rash actions you took to discover how this soul found you, there been many to seek this First for longer than I ever lived, all the way back to the three pony tribes lived apart.”
Avatar was startled. “Th-that impossible! I gifted the First as you call it only two weeks ago! H-” She froze. “Oh no... I caused this... I am the reason!” She showed the feather she had on the forewing. “The one I gave the feather to exchange for one of theirs! The connection to the tree is so much clearer! How can I not have seen this!? Wh-”
Celestia put her hoof on the wing arm of Avatar. “Calm down, breathe, take deep breaths and tell me.”
Avatar took a few deep breaths, inhaled and exhaled slowly. “I created a temporal event that rippled out not only through out into the future but back in time...” Avatar wave her free wing arm showing a ripple going outwards. “I caused a Time Ripple... Everything in the past was shifted so ever slightly out of what should of happened, I created the legend in the past, I...” She slowed looking at Celestia in the eyes. “I am the reason for you have a son and daughter... I am the cause of it all...”
“How can that be? How can you be the cause of something that happened in the past?” Celestia removed her hoof from the wing arm, she then realised. “The Chicken and the Egg Paradox...”
Avatar's actions weighed on her. “Yes... Before it happened it did happen, before I met the First as you call it, which I won't divulge for the safety of that soul.” Avatar walked with Celestia beside her nodding as she understood the safety of that life. “I have a lot to think about now, path in time is very uncertain within this very timeline I exist in now and part of.”
“What is it you wanted to speak to me about before this all happened?”
“I intercepted your teleportation to bring you here because of events to come.”
Celestia stopped. “Events as in we can not avoid?”
Avatar turn around. “Correct, they are bright, so bright I can not see beyond it or see what to come from now till than, or ever in this timeline, only what is and what had been, but other timelines, other realities I can.” Avatar showed her as a example.
Celestia saw different timelines she never experienced. “So... Each time we do something different to what we thought, a new reality is created?”
“Correct.” Avatar than show the branch with what look like a sun shimmering with different colours of the rainbow. “This is our timeline.”
“Our? As you are part of us? You move forwards into the unknown?”
Avatar shuddered a little. “Yes, it is unknown and strange to experience and one I am still getting use to.” Avatar stared at the light. “Two events are to come, one after the other. The Day of Chaos, and the moment over the Isle of Flaputa with the Past and Future will collide”
Celestia walked around the glowing sun like orb. “How do you know of the names of said events?”
“That are written into the stone of time...” Avatar showed every civilisation that come and gone. “Each speak of it through out the past, there are exactly at this moment 4000 references of it.”
“That very specific...” Celestia turn to Avatar. “When will it happen?”
“Unknown.”
“So... It will happen without warning, no real way of knowing what it is, what we can do to prepare, no answer to what is coming?”
“Correct.”
Celestia hummed slightly. “It seems there is nothing we can do, just live, be prepared best we can and hope that it will be enough to enjo it and break through it.” Celestia walked through the image to Avatar. “Thank you for coming to me with this, even it is very little and to discover together how this all came to be.” Celestia gave her a hug. “And thank you for everything.”
Avatar with arm wings out, frozen. “Y-you welcomed...”
“Now I have to go to my son.”
“Very well, this conversation didn't exactly go as I thought it would.”
Celestia smiled slightly. “It never does.” Her horn glows.
Avatar smiled back. “No it doesn't.”
“Next time though, contact me first, I am in a rush to get to my children.” Celestia teleports.
“Why did she not start that from the beginning? This could of waited...” Avatar curious asked herself staring at the spot Celestia once stood, she turn walking away.
“I am part of the legend... I am part of this timeline more than I ever realised...” Avatar disappears, and appear before the Tree of Elysium. “I am a creation of your making, is this a gift or a punishment creator of mine?” The tree glowing leaves rustle with a single bulb growing.
It shot off the branch of the tree over to her, she caught it with her talons for it to open up into a flower. “Curious...” She stared down at the glowing rose like flower now held in her talon hands. “A conflicting answer that can go either way, thank you creator of mine.” She bow to the tree
After the shocking reveal from Greystorm, Nightingale suggested to talk about this in a more private setting, they agreed to have it at the private waiting room while Gemery was tended to by the doctors and nurses. Gilda the last one into the room put her talon on the door pushing it closed, she stood up on the hind paws resting her back against the door.
Crossing her forelegs Gilda turn to Greystorm joined with his wife Octicovix. “Now we alone, explain how you are brothers with a griffon THAT had no family other than Gallus?” Gilda leaped right into it and want a answer to that very question all of them had.
Greystorm looked her directly in the eyes. “Geremy and I are twins, we were separated by our parents at a very young age during a feud by the Skyclaws and the Longclaws, you most likely know of this and how the Skyclaws were exiled from Griffonstone and the territories of Griffina, in fact I am still exiled from those lands to this day, if I was to board a train and head to Griffonstone I be imprisoned with imminent effect for LIFE.”
“Oh my gosh! You must of went with your dad and Geremy with his mum!” Gabby gasped. “I know about the feud from stories Grandpa Gruff told me! The Longclaws had sway with the Council!” Gabby recalled.
Gale blinked. “Skyclaws banished?”
Greystorm held his talon with Octicovix's talon tightly. “Yes the Skyclaws are and no the Longclaws didn't sway the Council, long story short... The two families took control after the fall of Guto the Betrayer, the last king of Griffina and to sit at the throne at Griffonstone, they spilt the territories of Griffina equally, but within a few short years the feud started, over the next 150 years it cost the two families more and more.”
Gilda raise a talon up slightly. “Whoa whoa hold it Grey! How do you know this and no griffon in Griffonstone does!? Not even Gruff mentioned this!”
“Gruff was never always around Griffonstone during that time, he was in any out of it while in a relationship with Maple, in fact he with her right this moment in Manehatten celebrating their 100th anniversary of being married.”
The bombshell dropped. “WHAT!?” Every single one of them screamed out at once part from Octicovix.
Nightingale remembered the freebe Gruff gave her before slamming the door in the face. “Oh sweet Griffax! When Gruff told me where to find Gale, Gallus and Gabby, Maple must have been inside his house! No wonder he was so willing to get rid of me so fast!”
Gallus waved his talons. “Hold on a second! Who is this Maple and HOW old is Grandpa Gruff!?”
“Well over 200 years old dweeb and Maple is a Finch Griffon who also just as old, but doesn't look it.” Gilda responded rubbing the bridge of her beak. “Gale you got a drawing of her right?”
Gale shook his head out of shock and nodded. “Yes in bag!” He searched for it.
Gilda turn to Greystorm. “Grey, continue about the feud, we talk about Maple and Gruff later, what really matters is that griffon being tended to at the moment.”
“Very well...” Greystorm looked at her directly. “To stop the collapse of the two families at their deist, they agreed on an arranged marriage after months of negotiations, that is where our mum and dad came into the frame about 50 years ago, the Skyclaw family decided to create a back up encase things go very south.”
Octicovix continued for him as he stopped talking for a moment. “After they were married things seem to be good for the families, but soon the old rivalry for power started to return, yet for Greystorm's parents they still loved each other and didn't give a damn about it.” She look to him. “The Skyclaws bought up land on the coast of Griffina and bid to join Equestria while this was happening, it went through and the land was no longer part of Griffina territories but Equestria's.”
Gilda knew that land in a instant. “Your talking about Griffshore Harbour on the west coast, the main shipping port for all of Griffina, the only pocket of land that is Equestrian jurisdiction, where all trade goes through for a good value of money for transit...”
“Exactly, so when the feud hit it peak, the Skyclaw family self-exiled themselves from Griffina, took everything they have and had to the harbour that was being built at the time, but in turn losing the feud with the Longclaws also meant they did exactly what they planned, they completely financially ruined the Longclaws to the point the family was dissolved over time, they destroyed all records of themselves to the point only the feud was known and no clear answer of why it happened.” Octicovix explained.
“Which lead to my father and mother breaking apart while we were less than a year old cubs, father told me this nine years ago, all of this.” Greystorm sighed. “I tried to contact him over and over for many years, till two years ago when I was told he was dead and to stop contacting the address period.” Greystorm sighed once again staring at the ground.
Gallus was conflicted by this. “Soooo... A feud lead to my gran being parted from my grandpa, which lead to my dad, which is your brother being married and having me, which lead to them never telling you or anyone else outside Griffonstone, and to top it all off you discovering I am related to you because of that Inverse Reality double of my dad...” He looked around the room. “Am I missing anything here?”
“That pretty much sums it up...” Nightingale said.
Gale pulled out the drawing. “My head hurts, feud, family, confusing...” He gave the drawing to Gallus.
Gilda shook her head. “It sure is Gale... I am getting a headache from all this too...”
Greystorm turn to Gale. “I never knew your dad, never knew he had a family, or how he past... I do not even know where we go from here cub... I really do not know...”
“It Gallus, and your right... I don't know what to do either... This just... Well... Is stupid finding out you have family like this! I mean seriously! What is the stupid chance of this even happening?”
Gabby blurted out the chances. “1 in 6,302,012.”
Nightingale stared. “I have no idea how you can come up with such odds like that, but it feels like it pretty actuate...” She looked around. “All we need now is mum popping in cause she didn't fully listen to Aunty Luna.”
Gilda's eyes widen. “You dweeb! Now it going to-” A bright flash caught their attentions and Celestia appeared before them all without her regal gear on. “Night!” She growled at Nightingale, the princess covered her head with the wings.
Celestia blinked a few times shaking her head a little, the teleportation left a bit of ringing in the ears to slight blurriness from teleporting from the Ascended Plains. “Mum!” Gale dive hugged her against the chest. “Happy see you, everyone!”
“Gale your okay!” She hugged him back with a foreleg around his back, Celestia saw Nightingale too. “Oh thank goodness! Your okay too!”
Nightingale still sitting at her seat shook her head in a disappionted manner. “Just like the griffon version of you mum, you jumped to conclusions before someone finished talking, specially when it came to me and in this case, Gale.” Celestia slowly looked around seeing she was in a waiting room. “If you listen to EVERYTHING that Aunty Luna had to say, you wouldn't have blindly teleported here thinking the worst about us.”
Celestia hummed. “I... Well... This is embarrassing...”
“You think?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Since your here you dweeb, here is the summary! A griffon from the Inverse Reality survived Zerra's purge, that said griffon is project leader to some egghead magic artefact shield prototype that worked for your daughter, it did more than save him, it saved that wishy world Griffonstone which sits in the middle of empty blackness around it. And for the kicker of him getting here he not only the counter part of Gallus' father but also the twin brother of this town's beloved mayor!”
Celestia blinked a few times. “Also mum, he happened to have a broken foreleg, hindleg and wing, which is why we here.” Nightingale added. “If you allow Aunty Luna to finish what she was saying, you would of knew this too.”
Celestia looked over to the annoyed blue griffon teenager. “I see... Well it seem this week has been a interesting one for sure...”
“Interesting my bucking tail!” Gilda growled. “First my birthday with wish magic, than we ended up in the Inverse Reality with all kind of crazy that stupid zebra created, which adding to your horn being blasted apart, two days later RS show up and with some crazy golden energy stunt restore your horn.” Gilda open one claw at a time on one talon, while using the other talon claw finger to press on each and thumb claw.
Gale didn't pay attention to any of this just happy to see them all again, he had been worried sick and refused to leave the room till their return, his focus was keeping a physical contact with his mum at the moment.
“During that Gale has a recall spell in his mind activate that takes up to Leela a small bird, and that annoying raccoon.” She growled a little in annoyance. “He won my friendship being annoying. Next Gale decided to sneak on board the train with Nightingale following to look after him in Griffonstone, which I do not approve of another visit PERIOD, that lead to King Grover having some secerts that are revealed and boom we come full circle to the next crazy which is this with the griffon Geremy”
Celestia nodded. “I give you that one Gilda, it has been beyond crazy, I never had so many strange things happen in such a short time for a very very long time...” Celestia still looking at Gallus. “So your Gallus I gather?”
Gallus shrugged. “Yeah I am, never thought I see the ruler of Equestria of all placed, but with the way things been going this weekend... It doesn't seem surprising now...” He raise the drawing up he held. “And now I know my guardian is over 200 years old and married to this griffon Maple.”
“Yet you seen very anger.”
“Oh course I am! Everything been turned upside down in the space of two weeks! All because of that feather brain avian.”
“Would this avian be bluish white?”
“You seen her!?”
“Matter of fact I have, she redirected my teleport to her to talk, even it was brief.” Celestia answered. “But it seem we all connected in one shape or the other...”
Gabby spoke up. “It sure does! I never knew any of what I do now, and it is CRAZY to even understand anything is up or even down!”
Greystorm nodded. “It has, I am usually three steps ahead, but I never saw any of this coming, no possible way of being prepared...” He got up walking up to Gallus placing his talon on the upper foreleg looking into the blue eyes. “Gallus, I'll do my up most t-”
“I don't want charity and I don't want to crawl to a uncle I never knew I had too, I rather talk this out with Grandpa Gruff, help Nightingale found out more about her father and just have time to think this through.” He push off the talon. “No offence Greystorm, but I rather not have found out about this like this at all...”
“Nor do I Gallus...” Greystorm glance at the door. “But if you ever want to visit at least, write ahead and I can arrange some days between work.”
Gallus shrugged. “Whatever...”
Gilda looked at the time from the clock on the wall. “You dweebs better think of something fast to go see him or not, he being born and lived from that reality, wouldn't that mean Geremy might vanish at midnight?”
They all turn part from Gale to the clock seeing the time was ten to midnight.
Gabby tilted her head with confusion, raising a claw up. “Where did all the time go?”
The door opened and the griffish light brown doctor was surprised to see them. “Prince Gale we haven't seen them still, we sti-Your back?”
“Back?” Gabby asked.
“There was a blinding flash and when the nurse came to see what it was, you all weren't in here part from Prince Gale, we been looking for all of you for the last four hours.” The doctor explained and still surprised to see them.
Celestia realised what happened. “I believe that would be my fault...” Celestia look down at Gale now knowing also why he still hugged her tightly with pure joy.
The doctor quickly turn to Celestia. “Pr-princess!” He bowed to her. “I didn't-”
“Call off the search and if we could, can we go see the griffon Geremy?”
“He been awake for about a hour now, you can and I will let them know right away! A nurse will take you all to Room Nine!” He quickly leaves to tell the guards to call off the search.
“Mum?” Gale was highly confused looking up at her. “Where you and all go?”
“Gale I don't understand.”
“You teleport in, than everyone vanish, I stay, I worried, I hoped return, you return happy!” Gale nuzzled into her chest with the side of his head.
Celestia fully came to the conclusion what might had happened. “I am so sorry for worrying you Gale... It was unintentional, purely accidentally.” Celestia turn around to all eyes on her too. “I believe my interaction with Avatar may had a unsuspecting side effect to my teleportation spell that I wasn't counting on...”
“That should be it for your medication Mr Longclaw.” The unicorn nurse finished off tending to the blue griffon. “Your foreleg, foreleg and wing should be mended in a few weeks time at most, try not to use them and ask for assistance by the press of this button between our timely checks okay?” She point a hoof to the button on a remote by the bed.
Geremy nodded. “Thank you ma'am, I will.”
She smiled softly. “It what we do Mr Longclaw.” The pony writes on the chart, putting it against the bed and leaves with the trolley.
Geremy stared at the light green wall in front resting his head against the pillow to get some rest, the beeping of the machine near him of his heart-rate and blood pressure being taken. “It shouldn't be like this...” He closed his eyes.
Every second and minute that past, things for Geremy and his team was growing dire, from a team of twenty since the chaos started he was down to six now. They finally putting the last of the spells into the crystal, a light pink unicorn with purple and blue highlights in mane, and tail merged the spells together within the crystal.
“How many more spells!?” She called out.
A stallion put down three scrolls. “This should be the last Miss Glimmer! W-” He vanished before her eyes.
“Damn it!” She quickly got the scrolls opened up. “Geremy! We running out of time!”
Geremy put the last of the statue together around the crystal, he pulled out a tablet looking at the data coming in. “I know Starlight! We ready here! The statue is finally put together!”
They all turn to the sound of a huge explosion, a airship just smashed into the port around the mid-section of the tree. “Oh sweet Celestia! It hit the military dock!” A red dragon cried out, the chain reaction knocked them all out of the sky to knocking those on the ground off their hooves, paws, claw and talons.
What left of the upper level creaked and cracked till it rained down on them, the dragon save Starlight pushing her to safety, he dodged the wood, brick and metal landing around them. “Are you okay Crimson?”
“Cutting it close, but I am good.” He sighed in relief.
Geremy pulled himself free holding his foreleg with his other, the wing was hanging and his hind leg bent in the wrong direction. “Grah! Damn it!” He rolled over and saw two more vanish, only leaving three, Starlight was going to go to his aid. “Starlight! Activate it NOW!”
“B-”
“DO IT! BEFORE IT TOO LATE!”
Starlight stared into his eyes. “R-right sir...” Starlight turn to the crystal firing her magic into it, merging the last of the spells into it and triggering the reaction to activate the shield. “Almost there! One more second!” She grunts as the magic is poured into it. “I am giving everything I have!” She let loose all her magic in one massive surge.
The crystal glows brightly and activates with a huge burst of energy throwing all three of them back into rumble or walls, they all black out from the impact.
Starlight looked out the hotel window towards the hospital. “Crimson, you are sure the guards said he in there?”
The red dragon with cream plate chest to under tail, finned ears, orange sail fin on head down back of neck, he crunch down on a crystal and swallowed it. “Some guards racing by spoke about it, a griffon from Griffonstone with a broken foreleg, wing and hindleg was bring brought here, also heard Princess Nightingale is here too.”
“She survived?” Starlight bonked her head with a hoof. “Of course she would, Princess Celestia would do anything to save her daughter.”
Crimson nodded. “So what the plan?” He put another gem into his maw.
Starlight looked out the window. “We find a way to contact Princess Nightingale, learn about this world and find out what so different about it compared to our old home.”
“I did see a library when getting these delicious gems, it about five minutes down the road from here, also they seem surprised that I was polite to them, what up with that?” Crimson said with a hint of confusion.
Starlight shrugged. “I haven't got a clue, we know very little about this Equestria, who know how much more is different around here, that we need need to get to the Princess, get to Geremy without being seen and figure things out.”
“You did say almost all of that before.” He turn to the stone like drums, the ones he haven't bonged in a long time. “D-do you think my sister still around?”
Starlight pull the netting down, using her magic to draw the curtains. “If she is and like my foalhood friend Sunburst, there most likely a version of us here too.”
“You really think so?”
“That pony we ran into, Cosmo Hourglass, you knew her for years and we ran into her.”
He sighed. “Yeah she didn't want to even talk to me... That a total lame bummer that happened...”
Starlight sat down at the table pouring herself some coffee into the cup. “Sadly it is...”
“We do have to remember home, at least for everyone that were erased...”
“That we do...” She pour him a cup of coffee. “Here drink up, it going to be a long night and I can't even sleep...” Crimson sat down at the table, taking the cup drinking a bit of the coffee at the same as she did. “Also we need to find out who was behind it all in the first place, for a whole universal reality to just collapse, something had to be behind it by messing with the fabric of time and reality...”
The sound of the wall clock made them turn. “Midnight...”
Geremy open his eyes recalling that moment, the teleportation spell cast to breach them through the rift. “Wonder what happened to the others...” He looked at the cast over his foreleg, hindleg and wing. “We might be the smartest bunch, but first aid? Not so much...”
A light brown griffon walked in with a dark brown tail brush, wings and Mohawk feathered head wearing a white coat, what caught Geremy's eyes was the green neck tie with white collar under it. “Well isn't that wizard? A word I never thought I use again.”
“Doctor?”
He press the stethoscope against his chest. “Your heart is on the right side, not the left.” He put it away into the coat, poking the right side of the chest with a claw tip. “Must say, seeing a griffon from the Wish Universe is something I never thought I see, but here I am.”
“So that what you call m-” He sighed. “Was my universe...” Geremy looked at him. “How did you know?”
“Prince Gale told me.” The doctor griffon said to him. “Still, wish magic shouldn't last beyond midnight, but here we are at Eleven past Twelve in the morning.” He picked up the chart looking at the papers. “Another surprise in a universe or in this case many universes filled with magic.”
Geremy turn his eyes to the window at the street light lit town. “Doesn't feel much of a surprise when your own is just a floating rock, a rock in just emptiness...”
The doctor griffon put his talon on the good foreleg. “Messing with time does that...” He put the chart down walking to the door. “Remember them, don't let one crazy zebra Zerra make them forgotten, stride to move on and help those that need it.”
“How? How do I move on?”
“I can't answer that for you Geremy Longclaw, all I can say your not alone.” With a soft smile the griffon doctor leave closing the door behind him.
Geremy left confused by what the doctor just said. “Your not alone? Did the others survive?”
A voice came seconds later. “Sorry Princess Celestia, I am not sure how the room numbers got mixed up, whoever swapped out the numbers are in some serious trouble.”
“It alright my little pony, at least we found the right room.” Celestia's voice came afterwards.
“Princess Celestia? Di-”
The unicorn nurse open the door and walk into his room, what followed him came with a double surprise, one was seeing Princess Nightingale. She had survived like he did and the second was the large white Alicorn with the wavy mane and tail, the change of colours, crown, and those pink eyes. That was Princess Celestia, the true form. “Mr Longclaw, I brought you two visitors, there was many many more that wish to come, but we have a limit of how many can visit. Do you wish for them to come in?”
The words echoed in his head. 'Your not alone.' And he know exactly what the doctor griffon meant now, he did have a third surprise with many others wanted to see him, that had a answer. They knew where he was from. “They may come in.”
“I'll be outside.” She turn to the two princesses first and than the unicorn left the room.
Celestia and Nightingale approached the bed standing in front of it looking at Geremy, he looking back at the two princesses in turn, he also notice four out of five orange opals in her crown here missing. “Princess Nightingale... Are you?”
Nightingale walked up to his bed side putting her talon over his good one. “It is Geremy... I was there when you appeared, with help you were brought here to Trottingham.”
Celestia stepped up behind her. “There a lot to explain, first-”
“I am no longer in my own universe, I already gathered that Princess Celestia, one your a pony not a griffon, two what left of mine after a total quantum reality collapse is the ruins of Griffonstone, only-” He paused thinking about the others that most likely survived too. “Three of us didn't get erased, we all past through the rift, the same rift I saw almost 14 years ago.”
“Three?”
“Yes.”
Celestia sat down by the bed. “It seems that we both have something to share, doesn't it?”
“That it does.” Geremy said. “Princess... I need to know one thing...” He looked directly at Nightingale.
She held his talon. “What is it?”
He looked determined to know. “The creature responsible for the whole quantum mess, erasing so many lives and rewriting our history... Was his name Zerra?”
Both princesses responded. “Yes...”
“Tell me what he did, and I will tell you any and everything you want to know.”
Nightingale started to cry, she had to tell him, Celestia put her wing over Nightingale to support her as she start to tell Geremy. “Geremy... A week ago-”
(Linebreak)
In the waiting room, the group that wasn't allowed to go into the room sat or stood around four orange opals, they glowing and sound from Geremy's room came through loud a clear, they listening to everything that was being said in there.
Gallus glared with forelegs crossed at the glowing opals with intent hearing Geremy speak. “I wanted to be there and tell him he not my father.”
“I don't think that would be a good idea, he could react badly.” Gabby said with concern. “Think about it in your point of view, if you were in that bed and it was him come charging in, and say your not his son?”
Gallus pictured it sunk a little on the seat. “I hate you Gabby...”
Gabby giggled. “No you don't, you find me annoying but you don't hate me!”
Gallus rolled his eyes without a response, Gale listen about the recent events that happened in the last week. “Lots happened, didn't it? Gilda.”
Gilda leaning against the wall on her hind legs nodded. “Yep it sure has dweeb, let's hope things a bit duller next week shall we?”
“Yes, I like idea.”
“Good to see your on the same page dweeb.”
Greystorm listen to Geremy and Nightingale talk. “I knew of pocket dimensions created by unicorns to hold things, internal magical dimensions inside builds. Now I know there are whole wide bigger dimensions, universes, alternate timelines and realities... Each are different variations of us or not...”
“Yet they not us and we not them, Grey with are who we are, even he look exactly like your brother he not, we need to remember that.” Octicovix said rubbing his foreleg gentle, comforting him. “That include you Gallus, your anger, furious even. Just remember to keep in mind, he not your father and he will be told about his counter part by Princess Nightingale.”
Gallus groaned. “I still don't like this, I didn't want to be mixed up in all this crazy!”
Gilda shook her head. “You think I wanted too as well? I am stuck with it, and I regret it?” She looked over to Gale, he looked back at her. “Maybe a little, but for the most part I wouldn't change a lame thing about it, who knows what my relationship with my friend Rainbow Dash would be around now.”
Gale got up walking up to her, lifting his plush up to her, she took it. “I happy you help me, you big sister more than Nightingale.”
“That I am you dork.” She ruffled his feathered head. “Gallus, at least you got a good job, don't ruin that opportunity.”
Gallus rolled his eyes. “I am anger, not stupid.”
“Yes you almost did something stupid, you dweeb.”
“Whatever Gilda.” He snorted turning his head away.
Gabby tap the tip of her beak. “You do have a uncle now, isn't that good?” She turn her eyes to Greystorm. “And you have a nephew, don't you think that good too?”
Gallus glance at Greystorm, he glanced back. “I guess...” They said at once.
Gale clapped his talons together. “Family!”
“Yep dweeb, and Greystorm, there one thing you can do.” Gilda smirked.
“That is?”
“Three of them teleported through the rift, sooooo...” Gilda rolled a talon around a few times, giving him a big hint.
Greystorm eye's widen. “The other two! Of course! I can look into it and try to find them!”
'-mum those heads of the magic and artefacts were Starlight Glimmer a light pink unicorn with a starburst cutie mark with wavy ribbons near it, she lead the magic and artefact fusion casting on the crystal, and the statue. The other a red dragon about a bit shorter than you mum, he very smart, love the bongo drums and just around 16 years old, for a youngster he determination showed a big heart to stop those that vanished and forg-”
Geremy's voice spoke up. “Erased from time and history rewritten...”
“Right... The both like Geremy lost something big in their lives and remembered... That was the whole reason for the project, to find the cause.. Yet we all know who was behind that...”
Greystorm got up. “Octicovix I-”
“I will go.” She grabbed his foreleg pulling him back to the seat. “You have to talk to him, even he not your real brother, he still blood.” She put both talons over one of his. “For me?”
“Okay...” He kissed her on the cheek. “I'll stay.”
“Good.” She let go, Octicovix got up from the seat. “I'll ask around town, who knows they might be right here.” Octicovix left the waiting room.
Gale looked at the door. “Knowing lucky we are, they are.”
Gilda chuckled lightly. “Dweeb you took the words right out of my beak.”
Gabby got up. “Who up for re-”
The door opened two griffons came in wheeling a trolley for food and drink in, the first of the two was a light grey female griffon with dark grey spots on it flank that look like bubbles, blonde tail tip, and feathered head. The other a orange male griffon with dark orange feathered head, wings and tail brush.
The orange one speaks. “Salutations, we brought you some much needed refreshments.”
“Yeah! There a lot of neat treats here!” The light grey one said cheerfully. “We got muffins, cookies, milkshakes, soap, applejuice, tea, coffee and so much more!”
Gabby quickly tap one of the glowing opals to turn off the audio coming from it. “Oooo! Yummy!”
Gallus got up with his stomach growling. “I could do with something to eat.”
“Yay! I can muffin? Chocolate one?” Gale asked Gilda.
Gilda shrugged. “It going to be a long night from the look of things, sure why not, if Celestia ask you, come to me.”
“Okay!” Gale hugged her, she gave back his plush to him.
Greystorm looked at the selection. “This doesn't look exactly hospital food material...” He looked at both of them.
The orange one gave him a letter. “I was told to give this to you Mayor Greystorm.”
He took it and opened it up. “Here a little something to pass the time... Necktie...” Greystorm closed it up. “The food good.”
“Just from that?” Gilda gave him a questionable look.
“He the author of the comics Gale read, so yes.”
“Oh wow! From the Pistol Misadventures!? That author!?” Gabby gasped.
The light grey griffon giggled. “It sure is! Also got this for Prince Gale too!” She gave Gale the present.
Gale ripped it open to see a comic book inside with a note. “Wow! Gilda read please!” He raise the note to her.
Gilda took it. “For my number one fan Princes Gale, enjoy this special one of a kind comic, you got the only one so keep it safe. Necktie, and it signed too.” Gilda gave the note back.
Gale hugged the comic with glee. “Yay! Thank you!” He than gave the light grey griffon a hug.
She giggled. “Your very much welcomed.” The griffon smiled. “Now ready for something to eat?”
Gale nodded. “Yes please!”
They gathered to enjoy the meal they were offered by Necktie.
Princess Celestia and Nightingale stood before Gallus and Greystorm outside Geremy's room, morning had came, and it was time for these two griffons to meet him face to face. “Before you two go inside, there a few things I must bring up first. For you two and him, this is a situation that no one can be prepared for.” Celestia said calmly to the two griffons.
“Very well Princess.” Greystorm said.
“Sure I'm listening.” Gallus shrugged.
Celestia glanced over to the door before looking back at the two griffons. “As you two are aware, he had been made aware by the circumstances of his counterpart, how you two are the son and the brother. As he discovered that he had a brother, and the son he never had, this is both shocking, sad and feelings of anger felt between you two and he.”
“You can leave at any time, he can't.” Nightingale spoke with a caution look. “Being furious and saying wild stuff at him will be very one sided, please don't do that, I know this is very uncomfortable and facing this now is better than later.”
Celestia open a wing up placing the wing tips over her chest. “Please as a request from me personally, don't force yourself into something you do not want to do.” Celestia closed the wing back up. “Do this only if you really have to.”
“Fine...” Gallus reluctantly agreed.
Greystorm nodded. “Understood.”
“Good, Nightingale and Gabby will be coming back with you to Griffonstone when you feel the need to return home.” Celestia said to Gallus. “As for me, Gilda and Gale, we are returning to Canterlot for a chill day before tomorrow.” Celestia turn to walk away. “I just got back my daugher, but she close to 800 years, I understand why Nightingale seek to know more about Grover, even I didn't know what he was doing...”
“Mum...”
Celestia glance back as she walked. “Your father was a very proud and stubborn griffon, I should of seen it, but he was good at the slight of claw to throw you off the scent. I will always love that griffon, and always love you Nightingale, keep in touch and tell me what you find okay?”
“Of course mum, keep that opal I gave you and I definitely can.” Nightingale replied. “See you on the weekend mum!”
“I look forward to it.” Celestia turn around the corner disappearing from view.
Nightingale turn to the two griffons. “I will be outside waiting.” She walked up to the door opening it up, and she step to the side letting them walk by into the room.
Geremy sitting up watched Gallus and Greystorm enter, they stood before his bed. “Hello to the both of you... We all lost something dear to us, and in a situation facing that loss in a very odd confusing way... That really conflicting with our emotions right this moment.”
Gallus frowned. “Straight to the point, huh?”
“There is no reason beating around a bush Gallus, we are in this situation cause of a chain of events that none of us foreseen, one being that magical feather that part of you.” Geremy tried to find that feather.
Gallus ruffled his wings with some irritation. “You think? I hate it! But I know trying to change something that happened is WAY worse than this!”
Geremy lower his eyes, raising his good talon flexing it to open and close. “Messing with time in a manner for personal gain or fixing something is very harmful... I know that all too well...”
Greystorm walked around the bed to take a seat, he pat the other one for Gallus to sit at, as the teen came over Greystorm spoke to Geremy. “So many of us would have that thought, a chance to go back in time and to change that very moment. The only problem is... How much would it effect from that moment to now? How many would be effected by the changes in to the timeline, how many would lose someone because of your actions? The very notion of the paradox is sickening to even think about...”
Gallus felt a twist and turn in his stomach. “Soooo... If I saved myself, mum and dad, it could effect so much more outside that? A single act in the past can do that?”
“Yes...” Greystorm sighed. “One of those notions could go back to 4000 years ago where Gale orginally from, the magical surge that brought him forward into our present is our history, that moment is a paradox in itself without anyone even knowing about it.”
Gallus shivered. “If that was stopped-”
“4000 years of history could change in a single whimper, Princess Nightingale could never existed, Princess Celestia never married King Grover. My home even it no longer exist in past, present or future now, could of never even existed at all, this chat we having could of never happened, Nightmare Moon could of won... The paradoxes of change could be that severe...” Geremy explained to them. “When I lost my family, I focused on the most unlikely, focused on trying to save lives, it almost worked and I think Zerra knew...”
Gallus stared at the ground. “I was so anger with you, now...” He slowly raised his eyes upon Geremy. “I know I was wrong... Sorry...”
“Things happen that we can not control, just like that magic you gained unintentionally, because of that act I saw the rift fourteen year ago just after my wife vanished a few weeks before. I saw that same rift that lead to Starlight teleporting us through it, it how I ended up in Griffonstone, your Griffonstone...”
“I and Nightingale lead to you being here!?”
“Yes.”
Gallus beak dropped, he stared in shock. “Well, how about that? A feather given by the avian of the underground lake tree that lead to this very moment...” Greystorm said. “It suppressed now isn't it?”
Gallus snapped out of his shock. “Y-yes... Avatar came to us because of my feather part of her, she gave me something to suppress it till I am sixteen... It the best she could do for me... I am stuck with it.” Gallus glance to his wing, fluttering it a little. “I don't want it, I never wanted something like this...”
“I never wanted to loss my home to a mad zebra... But here we are...” Geremy said with a heavy sigh. “Sometimes life isn't exactly fair Gallus... All we can do is make the most of it, family to me is one of the most important things now, even we are not family, we are in some sense.”
“I-I guess...” Gallus rubbed a talon over the other talon. “I hate this... Bu-but I think we can work something out...”
Greystorm put a wing over Gallus, the blue teenage griffon lean against him for comfort. “I do too... But I am willing to try too...”
Geremy smiled a little. “To new beginnings for the Not Family and our future.” He raise his good talon out to them.
Greystorm put his talon over the top of Geremy's. “To our Not Family.” Greystorm smiled too.
Gallus shrugged placing his talon on top of theirs. “Sure, to this weird Not Family... That will take some getting use too... That just sound so weird saying it...”
“That did sound awful didn't it?” Greystorm agreed as they moved the talons away. “Let's just never do that again shall we?”
“Agreed.” Geremy and Gallus said together.
Nightingale listening in smiled as she peered through the door window. “Had a feeling getting them together would work, it will take time, but I am sure they will find a way to make it work.”
Gabby walked up to her. “Make what work?”
“A Not Family.” Nightingale smiled.
Gabby titled her head. “Not Family?”
“Not Family.”
“I don't get it...” Gabby confusingly said scratching her feathered head with a claw.
Within the ruins of Inverse Reality Griffonstone Grogar slowly walked towards the centre of the city with Zerra, a magical aura around them that gave a sense of gravity, they both stopped before the Grover statue with the glowing crystal held up in it talon. “There it is, the prototype artefact.” Grogar said in a pleased tone looking up at it.
Zerra frowned seeing it. “Master... I thought the eraser of 4000 lives and the time lines rewritten was suppose to stop this from being created, and the total collapse of this reality...”
Grogar smiled darkly as he stepped up to it placing a cloven hoof against the magical artefact. “Zerra, it is true and also a lie, the lie being in the creation of this artefact, I wanted it to be made and had to make you believe it wouldn't for it to happen.”
The zebra still kept his frown. “Master I-”
“If I told you what I really wanted, it would of never came to be. I needed this artefact! I didn't stray you from the objective! I mealy swayed you to believe the results would be different to what we got! So don't dare question my objectivity Zerra!” Grogar turn around to him with horns going.
Zerra shift his forelegs forwards bowing his head to the ground. “Forgive me master! I shouldn't question your reasoning! You never stray me before without reason! I am sorry!”
“As you should be.” The horns stop glowing. “Now... Set up the artefacts I gave you through out the ruins, once your done return to me through this rift, I will be waiting at Flaptua's primary gravity core chamber.” Grogar create a rift with his magic.
Zerra rose up looking at the rift. “Of course sire... May I ask a question?”
“You may...”
“What exactly are they for sire?”
Grogar turn to him with a smirk. “It quite simple, I am going to capture a object that can transverse time and space.” He walked through the rift.
“Exactly what kind of object could it be? Some sort of magical artefact that allow one to do so?” Zerra asked himself staring at the statue.
Gale curiously walked into the school room of the school house of Ponyville, as he wondered around the front desk to down the isles of student desks, Gilda with Cheerilee walked inside watching him put a talon onto a chair looking at it to the front.
“He never been in a class room?” Cheerilee asked.
Gilda shook her head. “Not at all, I pretty much been his teacher, Princess Celestia give me the stuff I need to help him, it got so much egghead stuff that I feel like one now.”
“From the way he look, the way his curiosity shows, I say you been doing a good job.”
Gilda chuckled lightly. “Yeah, that dweeb think of me like a big sister, I helped him to speak, to write and now learn stuff I didn't even know at first. But it won't stop me being me.” Gilda said with a sly smirk. “You have to teach sixteen students at a time, I got a one on one with help from his mum, the guards and anyone else.”
Cheerilee smiled a little seeing him sit at one of the chairs waving at them happily. “That is true, but we both are doing what we can to help the young to grow.” She turn her attention to the egg he was carrying in a well padded bag. “I am curious, what with the egg he carrying?”
“It a black phoenix egg, usually Celestia's pet would been keeping a eye and keeping it warm, but she at this weird phase in life losing all her feathers, getting sick and soon to burst into flames and rose as a daisy.” Gilda explained to Cheerilee. “Basically, Gale has to look after it for now till that feathery flaming troll is ready to take care of it again.”
Cheerilee glance at her. “You speak so candy about Princess Celestia.”
Gilda shrugged. “After Gale dropped into her life, I ended up as his tutor, and having breakfast most mornings with the princess, it kinda does, it no big deal you dork.”
“Many would be honoured for that chance, you do it so... Causal.”
“Yep.” Gilda chuckled
Cheerilee walked up to the desk. “So Prince Gale, how you like our school?”
Gale looked around. “Erm... Nice... Warm... And urm... What word...” He tap the tip of his beak thinking of the word.
Cheerilee was about to say something but Gilda put her talon on the upper foreleg. “Give in a second...” She nodded and allow Gale to take his time to get the words out.
“Oh! I remember! Learn and noisy!”
“Learn and n-” Cheerilee paused remember how loud her students could be. “Oh definitely Prince Gale, it can be both, you ever thought of going to a school or your happy with the one on one?”
Gale looked to Gilda. “Happy one on one! Gilda help so much, Gilda best!”
Gilda chuckled. “Oh that I am you dork.” She head a soft thud near by the door, she slowly walked to it. “I gather being after four in the afternoon all the students gone home for the day?”
“Yes of course, why?” Cheerilee asked.
Gilda reach out to the handle. “Oh no reason, cause I think we have-” She pull open the door for three fillies to land on top of each other with a thud. “-a group of students that here for after hours lessons.” She chuckled.
Cheerilee shook her head slowly. “Applebloom... Sweetie Belle... Scootaloo... Didn't we just cover a lesson on listening in on private conversations?”
They got up. “Sorry...” They lower their heads.
“Now I gather you three are here because of the young prince?”
Applebloom first to answer. “Yes Miss Cheerilee, ah met a real-” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quickly clap her muzzle shut.
“What are you three hiding?” Cheerilee frowned.
“We can't say sorry...” Sweetie Belle answered letting go of Applebloom with Scootaloo.
Gilda quickly spoke up. “Cheers, they have a reason not to say, these dweebs met a griffon, let's say she has a really big interesting appearance.” Gilda quickly stepped in. “Other than that I can say things are okay and nothing to worry your pony head over it.”
Cheerilee looked at the fillies and Gilda. “I gather Applejack knows?”
“AJ sure does.” Gilda stated. “So does Dash and Rares.”
“Very well... If they know and kept this on the low, I gather there a reason.” Cheerilee accepted the reason.
Gale looked at the fillies, he got up from the chair walking up to Gilda to stand by her. “Hi, I Gale! Nice meet you!”
Scootaloo laughed a bit. “You sure speak funny!”
Gale shrugged. “Speak learning still, two months learning, Gilda helped lots!”
Gilda ruffled his feathered head. “I sure did dweeb.” She turn her attention to the fillies. “Now, since you three dweebs decided to drop in on us, how about a tour of the town, areas we haven't visited.”
“Do we have to?” Scootaloo whinned, getting a nudge from her friends.
“Welllll.. It either that or some lesson time with Cheers here, take your pick.” Gilda smirked.
Cheerilee smiled too. “I think that a lovely idea and choice, I am sure Applejack, Rarity and Scootaloo's aunts like to hear about why they ended up with a hour long out of class lesson right now.”
They gulped. “Ah say we do the tour!”
“Yes!” The other two agreed.
Gilda walked by them with Gale. “Smart choice, we be outside with Sunbeam who I am going to roast.” They leave.
Seconds later the fillies and Cheerilee cringed. “SUNBEAM YOU MORON! YOUR SUPPOSE TO BE A GUARD AND YOU LET THREE FILLIES BY?!”
“Ma-ma'am they just fillies I-”
“Your lucky I am in a good mood or I would throw you into the nearest fountain in Ponyville! Be a the guard you suppose to be for Gale you dweeb!”
“O-of course ma'am...”
“Are you dweebs coming or not!?” She shouted at their direction, Gale wondered why Gilda was upset over three ponies around his age being let by, did a guard have to keep him safe from the young too?
“Better go.” Cheerilee said and they quickly rushed out the door. “Wow that one heck of a teacher Prince Gale has, no wonder the rumours about her standing up to Neighsay now feel like fact than rumour...”
Shining Armor's ears folded against the helmet upon hearing Gilda from all the way at the school house. “Sweet Celestia she ticked...” He turn to a few guards also looking a bit nervous. “You two go and keep a eye on Prince Gale, help Private Sunbeam before Gilda really goes into one.”
They saluted. “Yes captain!” The two Pegasus guards took off heading towards the school house.
Shining turn to Sugar Cube Corner. “Better see if Twily not having her usual freak outs.” He muttered walking towards it to see Rainbow Dash trying to get the guards to react. “Good luck on that.” He whispered with a soft chuckle.
“Wow you two are really good! Getting bored now!” She took off back into Sugar Cube Corner.
Fluttershy soon approached. “Hello Fluttershy.”
She turn around to Shining. “Oh my, hello Captain, sorry that I am late, you see I was tending to some animals.”
He smiled gesturing to the guards to let her through. “It fine ma'am, this is not a formal but a get to know you friendly event, go in and enjoy yourself with your friends.”
She smiled back. “Thank you!” Fluttershy walked into the shop without incident, Shining walked in after her.
The captain watched Twilight and Fluttershy walk into the event room of the shop talking to each other, he saw Applejack unsure what to eat first, Rarity telling ponies to keep their distance from her dress, Pinkie being Pinkie, and Celestia being the troll he now can not be unseen. “It seem everything looking good in here.” He took a look at Philomena coughing, less applying to look at. “Now I know why Princess Celestia asked me to get a guard to tell her about tending a meeting with the mayor...”
On that moment a guard came up to her, whispered and soon she left with Shining Armor following just behind her. “I just heard about Gilda's outburst, the guard also told me it was three young fillies that go by the group name Cutie Mark Crusaders that were allow to ear wig as it were.”
“That would explain why Gilda was annoyed.” Shining Armor coming up with a conclusion. “What shall I do?”
Celestia walked outside with the guard and Shining. “Let her off with a verbal warning this time, since these are the fillies most likely met Sunflower this weekend past.”
Shining nodded. “Very well Princess, I will do so when we return to the castle, what of Philomena?”
“Oh she be fine, that young lady want to have a bit of fun and it seem she picked her target too.” Celestia hints to the open cage at the window side.
Shining Armor shook his head a little. “Since Gilda pointed out clear as day how much you are Philomena are, I can never unseen you as a troll princess.”
“Well that ruin the fun in doing it to you, but doesn't mean I can't to others.” Celestia winked with a little laugh. “I heard they have a Haybugar joint here, care to join me for a snack?”
“Didn't you just have-”
Celestia stopped and so did they, she turn around giving him that look that gave him a chill down his spine to the tail tip. “I said... Care to join me for a snack? Do you like me to repeat myself again?”
Shining Armor shook his head. “No not at all Princess!”
“Good, now tell some guards to post up some pictures of Philomena, and tell them to look around for her but don't try too hard.” Celestia smirked.
Shining saluted. “At once.” He turn to one of the guards. “Tell two guards what the Princess just said okay?”
“At once sir!” He saluted and run off.
“Now Captain, where did your sister Twilight say where the Hayburger was again?”
Mayor Mare sat quietly in a corner of the the Hayburger restaurant enjoying a good hayburger and hayfries, getting away from her duties for a time of being the mayor of Ponyville. “Is that the prince?” She heard a mare said, looking up from her Hayburger to see Gale walk inside.
With the young prince was the Crusaders, a guard and Gilda walking up to the counter. “Why is Princess Celestia's adopted son here?” A stallion asked.
“Maybe he here on a royal duty.” Another pony suggested.
Two more guards she noticed stood guard outside, Mayor Mare knew about Gilda from records arrived at her desk about the griffon's current status. “H-how may I help you today?” The mare at the till asked nerviously.
Gale looked at the big menu board behind and above it. “Have that one please.” He point to the hayburger with ketchup meal deal with hayfries and drink.
Gilda looked at it. “I'll have the same as the cub wants, what drink you like Gale?”
“Cola!” Gale responded.
“Same here.” Gilda chuckled, she glance back at Sunbeam. “Hey Sunny what ya like?”
Sunbeam looked at the menu and back at the Gilda. “I'm on duty Griffoness Gilda...”
Gilda smirked. “Your on break, now what do you want?”
“Y-”
“Care for me to repeat that dweeb?”
Sunbeam shook her head. “No ma'am... I'll have the same please...”
Gilda turn back to the mare at the till. “That cool with you pony?”
“Ye-yes... That be twelve bits please.”
Gilda gave the bits. “We be sitting at that table.”
The mare put the bits into the till. “O-of course, Three order sixes with cola coming up in a few minutes...”
“Chill, we here for lunch.”
“What about us?” Scootaloo asked.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Since you dweebs gave us a somewhat tour, sure.” She turn to the mare. “Another three meals.”
Applebloom smiled warmly. “Thank ya kindly Gilda!”
“Don't get use to it, next time your paying for ya own meals dweebs.”
“Of course we will!” Sweetie Belle agreed
Gale sat down with the others. “You kinda Gilda, happy!”
“Yeah yeah yeah.” Gilda dismissively waved a talon. “If it was three months ago I wouldn't have done this, your kindness in contagion.”
Gale grinned. “Yes is!”
Sweetie Belle curiously asked as they waited for their food. “Erm... Miss Gilda, is Prince Gale going to go to school?”
Gilda didn't take a second to answer that question. “I am pretty much his one on one teacher, that dweebish pony of the EEA gave me some sort of temp teacher status cause I am doing good job, he got nothing to stop me from teaching Gale, and that's that.”
“Wow that must be cool! Never have to worry about lessons!” Scootaloo thought he was lucky.
Gilda chuckled. “Scoots he has lessons, it just one on one, no other students, just me and him, also the every so often flying lessons he get with Spits.”
“Spits?” Scootaloo wondered who this pony was.
“Some hot head mare that great at flying and got a soft spot for Gale, she lead pony of some fancy flight team.” Gilda said in a dismissive tone. “We were suppose to be at some lame party at Sugar Cube Corner, but Gale wanted to know about the school house that was here.”
Applebloom was surprised. “Ya gave up a party to know about our school?”
Gale nodded. “Mum happy that I did, Gilda and Sunbeam here with me, happy learn about school, how many learned by one teacher, but no replacement to Gilda!” Gale said happily. “How visit with Sunflower go?”
They looked at each other than back at Gale. “Yer know her?”
Gilda put her talon out to Gale. “Drawing.”
“Okay!” He pulled the drawing out from the bag.
Gilda turned it around to show them. “Proof enough dorks?”
Scootaloo took it with her hooves. “Oh wow, did you draw this Gale?”
Gale held up a pencil with a big smile. “Yes, drawing fun!”
Sweetie Belle took it from Scootaloo. “It a shame she couldn't stay... That movie we watched was fun but also sad...”
“Ah know, those two energy attacks hittin' Ash like that, glad those tears saved him.” Applebloom added, she took the drawing to look at it. “It sure look like her.”
“The action was awesome, but the sappy crying part even got me crying, how did those griffons create something sappy that could be awesome?” Scootaloo said.
Gilda stared at the fillies. “What are you blabbering about?”
“Oh we watched a movie that Sunflower brought with her, it was the last thing we did with her before she went home the next morning.” Sweetie Belle said to Gilda. “It was some cartoon movie, well liked by the Finch Griffons.”
Gilda rubbed the underside of the beak. “Techno babbly stuff those griffs have, it did help when we were in a bind, so can't complain.” She shrugged. “Now where that grub?” Gilda looked around.
“I am sure they will have it up shortly Gilda, sometimes you just need to be a bit more patient.”
“Whatever Celestia.” Gilda didn't look behind her as a shadow cast over her by Celestia.
Every pony gasped than there was silence, the Crusaders muzzles dropped.
Celestia giggled. “Room for two more?”
“The more the merrier, dweeb.” Gilda bend her head up looking up at Celestia, she looking back down at Gilda.
“Why thank you.” Celestia sat down at the vaccinate spot, every single eyes were on Celestia, even Mayor Mare's. She never expected to see Princess Celestia in the Hayburger ever!
The Crusaders still staring at who was sitting at their table, none expected to meet Princess Celestia or even HAVE her sit at their table, the young prince was one thing, but none or even anypony in the restaurant.
Celestia turn to the mare behind the till as Shining Armor sat down with them without saying a word, he and Sunbeam looked at each other realising they were out played by their superiors. “Excuse me cashier, may I and Captain Armor have the Triple Deluxe combo with strawberry twist shake each?”
Gallus in his home sat on the bed cross hind legged before his prized box, everything that was him were in there and one of those items he refused to open no matter what, but after what happened in the hospital on Sunday into Monday morning made him now question to open that said object now.
He took hold of the lid with both talons, the claws softly digging into the box lid as the tension builds up. “Okay Gallus... I know I said to myself to never open it... But now come the day to do it...” sweat poured down the sides of his brow as the lid is lifted.
Putting it to the side Gallus carefully moved the plush, card and other objects to the side, till he came to a small gold circular container, he picked it up staring at it with his blue eyes. The reflection of himself coming off it between the engraved crest of a griffon holding a shield in front of it. “Dad...” He rubbed a free talon over the engravement.
Slowly reaching to the clip he flipped it, then open the small container to see a badge of the law in it. 'Griffonstone Sheriff' the last true enforcer of the law. “I can see why you and mum did all you can to save me... I hated you two for so long... I hated dad for being proud of who he was... Now I know what it means to be proud...” Tears run from his eyes down the sides of the beak to drip on the badge. “Dad... It took me ten years to realise it, but I am proud to be your son...”
For what seem forever he stared at the badge crying with a smile, Gallus was sad and happy at the same time, really moaning now the lose of his parents till... A knock came from outside the boards, Gallus whipped the tears away closing the container up. “Buzz off!” He yelled out. “I don't want anything of-”
“It me Nightingale!” Came the voice.
Gallus felt releaved it was her. “Open up the board and come on in.” He said back.
The black and white griffon pull up the board, she walked in pushing it back down behind her, Nightingale took a look around at Gallus' home. “You live here?”
“Yeah? And what of it?” He growled a little putting the container back in the box with the other stuff and closing the lid up.
“Y-”
“No help! I get out of this myself!” Gallus snapped.
Nightingale raised her talons up. “I know that, if you allowed me to speak you would of known that all I was going to say... 'you know with the wages I be giving you, it will help towards you getting a better place'. But you decided to jump the gun cub.”
Gallus felt his cheeks warm up. “Hehe... My bad.” He rubbed the back of his head.
“Indeed, now I brought breakfast for the both of us.” She suddenly presented it to him in a bag.
“Where did that come from?” Gallus frowned.
Nightingale smirked. “Magical pocket dimension, I might not be able to do all that magic my mum can do, but I managed to learn a trick or two for storage wise.” She put the bag down, showed that she had nothing in her talons, and with a pull out of the closed talon a sword. “This was my dad's well the dad I grow up with.” She put it down before him.
Gallus reached over his talon to touch it. “K-King Grover's sword!?” He picked it up. “The enchanted sword that could cut through diamond!?”
“It seem someone very respected of my dad.” She smiled, Gallus was too entranced in looking at the shine from the sword gave to the hooks on the side of the handle. “May I have it back?”
Gallus blinked. “Su-sure...” He gave it to her, he watched it slowly vanish before his eyes. “If I didn't see it with my own eyes I would never believe it...” Gallus said with amazement.
Nightingale presented with nothing in her talons now. “I am almost 800 years, you be surprised what you pick up through out those long years cub.” She open up the bag. “Now ready to eat?” Gallus' stomach growls in a instant causing the cub to blush in response. “I take that as a yes.” Nightingale smiled.
“Just give me the bucking food!”
“And?”
“Fine!” He rolled his eyes. “Please!”
Nightingale and Gallus walked up to the wall, to the princess there was a door but to Gallus there was only wall to his eyes, soon as Nightingale put her talon on the door it appeared before his eyes. “What kind of magic is that?”
Nightingale opened the door. “Blood Magic...”
“You sound like it a bad thing.” He followed her inside.
Nightingale looked around the chamber. “Because it is for the most part, this type simply lock the door behind a seal that can only be seen by those of family blood, such as I.”
Gallus frowned. “Wouldn't that mean Gale blood related?”
Nightingale turn to him. “That wouldn't be possible, his from 4000 years ago and from what Doctor Trace told me, he too perfect of a-” She suddenly realised. “Well isn't that interesting.”
“What is?”
“Gale.”
“Care to share?”
“Nope.” Nightingale walked up to a pile of papers picking up some with a talon.
Gallus gave her a questionable look. “I bet it something crazy.”
“It is.” Nightingale said. “But thanks for making me feel closer to him as a sister to Gale.”
Gallus was confused. “Your welcomed?”
Nightingale shrugged. “Here take these and have a read through, I need to know what my dad had been up to 700 to 800 years ago.” She gave him the pile she picked up.
Gallus held the papers up. “Are these like the other stuff about magic research to rescue you?”
Nightingale lift up a staff with a orange orb in it, the twisting wood around it looking like dragon heads on the end of three points looking away from the orb. “Partly, from what me and Gale discover from our short time looking through some of this.” Nightingale studied the staff's pole rubbing her claws over the groves on it. “Other parts were contacting me, trying to rip Zerra away from the Inverse Reality to finding a way in himself.” She place the staff back in it resting place.
“Wow... King Grover was really doing all this while being king of Griffina?” Nightingale silently nodded as she examined a rune spell on a scroll. “Just like my dad's counter part worked on ways to stop what happened to his family from happening to others...” Gallus took a heavy sigh. “Great... Now I don't feel so angry towards him anymore...”
Nightingale looked over to Gallus as he put the papers down. “As I learning about this Grover who never got to be with this daughter... This Grover who was really my father all along...” Nightingale picked up a box opening it to find a yellowish cube shimmering with it own light. “Together we will face these days of unknowns, getting to know the griffons that were not so much the fathers they never had the chance to be.”
Gallus groans. “I hate feeling so uncertain... So confused...”
“So do I, and I am over 785 years older than you, the life I had even it was very much real to me and all those lives, Zerra played with theirs and mine...”
“And King Grover.” Gallus raise a scroll up. “I just found this one and read some of it, he found a way to enter the Inverse Reality, but somehow Zerra already knew...”
Nightingale walked up to Gallus having a look herself. “He brought dad to a one on one chit-chat, told how everything he could think of has been thought of by Zerra, that zebra played around with dad's feelings and desire to save me...”
Gallus blow his head feathers up as they droop down over his vision. “And I wanted to try and sell of this stuff for bits... My dad would have been ripping his feathers out if I did... Screaming at me for doing wrong...” Gallus felt tears form, he got a nudge with a tissue held out to him.
Gallus took it wiping his eyes and blowing his beak. “You and I forced into something that neither of us wanted Gallus... We will work through this together, come on let's continue and find out where exactly did my dad go, we only seen the tip of the iceberg...”
“Iceberg?”
“large floating piece of ice, what on the top of the water isn't what truly below the surface, so hence the saying-”
“Tip of the iceberg.” Gallus finished.
Nightingale nodded. “Indeed, in this manner of words... The tip of our father's legacy.”
Gallus thought about it. “D-Do you think Grandpa Gruff will know about my dad's life?”
“Maybe, but he most likely want to be paid.”
“True...”
“We got a week till he returns, I'll pay for the information.” Nightingale put her talon on his top foreleg. “No charity, questions that need answering about your dad, the last real Sheriff of Griffonstone.”
Gallus smiled a little. “Thanks Princess.”
“No problem, now...” She looked around. “Shall we continue?” Gallus nodded and they went back to work looking into King Grover's past to discover what become of him, or where he went too.
Gale, Celestia, Shining Armor and the Cutie Mark Crusaders ate their meals talking to each other, Gilda spaced out. She was seeing a adult in a rattling falling metal bird, he covering his son with any and everything soft or firm to keep the young teen safe.
Than the crash and everything returned to the Hayburger restaurant. “Gilda you okay? You crying?”
Gilda put her talon to her feathered face feeling the tears on the claws. “Yeah but it personal okay?”” Gilda rubbed the claws to against each advioding what she really saw, not sure what exactly to say about how his father saved Gale's life, the reason why Gale could be sitting there now.
“Okay!” Gale smiled going back to eating.
A legacy of a father's action... "Why do I remember the actions of Gale's dad from over 4000 years ago and he does not?"
Gilda recall the Sonic Rainboom. "Buck me..." She muttered
“I have to say that was a very pleasant meal.” Celestia said as she, Gale, Gilda, Shining Armor, Sunbeam and the Cutie Mark Crusaders left the Hayburger Restaurant. “I am happy that I got to know you little ones, you will get your cutie marks in time.” She lower her head to them. “Just don't give up, it will come you see.” She winked.
Applebloom smiled. “Ah believe ya Princess! We won't stop tryin'!”
Celestia raised her head. “Good to hear Applebloom, when you do you will do your big sister proud.”
The others was about to speak but Mayor Mare came out of the restaurant. “Princess Celestia.”
Celestia turn and so did the others. “Hello Mayor Mare, enjoyed your meal?”
“I did Princess.” She bowed her head a little before raising it to continue speaking. “I was hoping to have some time with you about the town's budget, and possible funding to some future projects.”
Celestia looked over to Gale for a second. “I believe I can, please meet me at the town hall, I will be there in a moment.”
“Of course Princess, it will give me time to get everything out.” The mayor walked by them.
“Captain.”
Shining stepped up. “Yes Princess?”
“I like you to go with my son to Sweet Apple Acres, I like to make some advance orders from there, and think Gale can use the experience, you will be his aide for this task.” Celestia said lowering her head down to Gale.
Shining Armor raise a eye brow. “Princess, couldn't Gilda do that?”
“She could, but she won't.”
“What are you cooking in that head of yours Celestia.” Gilda frowned.
“I need someone that outside the box so to speak, unless your not up for the challenge.” Celestia glanced at her with a slight smile.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I'll amuse you on this, not cause of the challenge bait you dweeb.”
Gale checked on the phoenix egg. “What of egg?”
“That go with you, the captain be able to look after both of you.”
“Mum, no idea what to do.” Gale said with concern.
Celestia put a wing tip under his beak lifting his head a little. “I know, that why the captain will be with you too, he has experience in this kind of thing.” Celestia kiss him on the side of this face. “Think of this as learning what you might have to do when your older.”
Gale nodded. “Okay mum, I try and be best!”
“That you will be.” She nuzzled him. “Now Gilda shall we go?”
“Sure whatever.” Gilda shrugged.
Celestia turn to the three little fillies. “We will have to do this again some day, be good little ones.”
“We will!” Scootaloo said.
“Yeah! It was fun!” Sweetie Belle waved her hoof.
“Ah'll take them to Sweet Apple Acres, it where ah live!” Applebloom looked up at Celestia.
Celestia nod softly. “Thank you Applebloom, till next time my little ponies.” She turned to Shining making a scroll appear. “These are my personal requests on Zap Apple Jame and Apple Cider.” Shining Armor saluted while holding it in his magic, Celestia turned and walked away with Gilda.
Sunbeam stepped up beside Shining Armor with two other guards. “Captain I just got told that Philomena been seen at the bearer of Kindness cottage.” She whispered to him.
Shining looked over to Gale and the fillies. “On pure instructions from Princess Celestia, we keep the pretence of not knowing Miss Shy has Philomena.”
“Yes sir.” Sunbeam saluted without hesitation.
Applebloom waved her hoof. “Come on, ah'll show ya to mah home Captain sir!”
“Lead the way, ma'am.” Shining Armor said, they walked to Sweet Apple Acres leaving the town, they heading to the outskirts towards the acres of apple trees in the distance.
As they walked Gale noticed something, he saw a pear tree farm, run down and abandoned. “Pears?” He turn walking through the entrance of the farm, he could see a barn house, home and other structures all seen better days.
The teenage griffon flew up to a tree pulling one of the pears off taking a sniff, he took a bite of it. “Prince Gale!” He turn to Shining Armor staring up at him. “We got a task to fulfil and you are eating someponies food!”
Gale looked at the pear and around the farm. “Shiny no live here, it empty look.” He point to the structures.
Shining took a look. “Hmm... It does look it.”
“That because it is.” Applebloom said from behind Shining at the entrance. “Ah been told not to go there...”
“The way those buildings look, I understand Miss Applejack's concern, they look very unsafe.” Shining Armor turn his attention to Gale. “Let's go talk to Miss Applejack first and come back okay?”
“Okay!” Gale land before him with a pear in claw. “Eat?”
Shining Armor took it with his magic. “I'll save it for later okay?” Gale nodded as he watch it disappear in a puff of magic. “Now come along Prince Gale.” Gale nodded again and rejoin the group heading up the path to Sweet Apple Acres.
They continued up the path to the Apple's farm, they walked under the wooden arch up towards the house. “Do you know why no pony live there Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ah never thought to ask about it, ah just kept away from it.” Applebloom answered.
Big MacIntosh pulling a wagon full of apples towards a barn noticed them walking up to the farm. “Hi! I Gale!” Gale came up to him waving a talon. “Mum erm... asked erm...”
“What Prince Gale trying to say is that Princess Celestia asked him to request some advance ordering on a few of your unique products, those that made here at Sweet Apple Acres.” Shining Armor stepped up with the scroll held in his magic. “I am Shining Armor, captain of the guard aide to the young prince on this matter.”
Big MacIntosh nodded. “Eeyup, ah just need to put these here apples away and be with ya.”
“Fair enough, is your sister Applejack Apple here?”
“Eeyup in the house.” Big Mac continue his way to the barn.
“Thank you.” Shining Armor step up to the house. “Applebloom, would you be able to get your sister?”
“Will do!” Applebloom ran inside the house. “Applejack! Prince Gale and the guard captain is here to make some advance orders!”
As they wait, Gale noticed the almost featherless phoenix rush past towards Ponyville, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle running after her. “Philomena?”
“You saw that weird bird being chased by Fluttershy and Twilight too?” Scootaloo asked.
Gale nodded. “She phoenix like egg I have, she... erm... stage of featherless and soon burst to flames, than she turn to ash and reform into fully healthy phoenix, she mum pet.”
“Sooooo... That bird a featherless phoenix? But return to normal afterwards?” Gale nodded. “It sure can move.” Scootaloo said. “She going to be fine?”
Gale smiled. “Yes, she fine, she teasing them, having fun.”
Scootaloo frowned. “How smart is that bird?”
“She speak in mind, she very smart.” Gale turn heading back to Shining Armor, Scootaloo turn following the young prince, she was curious about how this chase would end.
Scootaloo thought about Philomena. “A bird pretending to be dumb to tease ponies? Do you think Rainbow Dash be fooled by Philomena?”
Gale glance at her. “If not know, yes.” Scootaloo imagine it and giggled, getting a little laugh from Gale too.
Applejack walked out of the door with Applebloom. “Howdy captain, ah hear yer here to talk business.”
“Not I, the young prince, I am just here to aid, advice and speak for him for the most difficult words he may have trouble saying.” Shining Armor stated. “May we come in?”
Applejack nodded. “Sure, the other guard stay out here.”
“Fair enough.” Shining turn to Sunbeam. “Private, you are the others take guard around the house.”
Sunbeam saluted. “Yes captain.” The three guards part to secure the house from the outside.
“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, why don't ya go up to Applebloom room and play okay?”
“Sure thing!” Scootaloo walk in.
“Thank you Applejack!” Sweetie Belle followed, they follow Applebloom to her room.
“Come with me sugarcube.” Applejack walk in, they followed and Gale was excited to learn about how business work
Philomena gave Twilight and Fluttershy the run around, Gilda watching this madness taking place through the window inside the town hall office, Celestia and Mayor Mare going through the finer details. “Philomena having fun.” Gilda chuckled turning to the two ponies.
“Indeed, soon I might have to step in, it does seem to be getting out of hoof.” Gilda gave her a look. “Okay it already has...” Celestia sighed. “Once we finished here I'll go sort this mess out-”
“And give them a friendship lesson.” Gilda did air quotes with her talons. “Blah blah blah, let's talk about funding and whatever before it does get out of hoof.” Gilda sat at the desk with her forelegs crossed.
Mayor Mare blinked a few times. “Ri-right...”
Gale yawned sitting on the sofa, it been a hour of talks between Shining Armor and Applejack, he got bored half way through. Big Mac came up to him with a glass of apple juice held in hoof. “Here.”
“Thank you.” Gale took it and drunk a little of it.
“Yer first time tryin' a hoof at bein' a prince talkin' business?”
Gale sighed. “Yes, it boring, I saw answer but go round and round...” He look down at the reflection.
“Hmmm... What answer ya have?”
“Mum does not want much, saw paper, two barreals cider stuff and erm... ten rainbow colour jam, mum even added extra to cost, both get fair share, why talk talk talk?” Gale sighed again.
Big Mac took the paper to take a look for himself as Applejack and Shining Armor argue over it, Ganny Smith slowly walk in. “What the hay gonna on in here?”
“Advance ordering and stuff... They been talking and yelling for hour...” Gale said and drunk a bit more. “I like what say on paper, but she say not far on others, no understand what she mean... Confused...”
Granny Smith looked at the young prince. “Yer ma asked ya to do this?” Gale nodded. “Experiencing what it like when ya order huh?” Gale nodded again. “Bored and confused?” Nodded once more. “Hmm... Big Mac let me have a look at that request.”
“Eeyup.” He went over taking it without them noticing and gave it to her.
Granny Smith took a good look at it. “Well ah'll be, Princess Celestia want to try some of her products, and at a higher than normal price... Ah can see where her heart is but we don't usually do such a thin' since Filthy Rich has the first mass pick of jars, it part of our contract.”
Gale listened to her. “I no knew that... She no say that.”
“Of course not.” Granny shook her head. “Ah think we could put one barrel aside and a few jars, far less than on this paper, but at a acceptable cost.”
“Really?” Gale eyes lit up. “So less better than nothing right?”
“Correct young prince, now ya gettin'.” She smiled. “We reduce the cost by half too to make it even, does that seem fair.”
Gale took the paper and look around. “Quill?”
“Here.” Big Mac gave one to.
Gale wrote on it with his tongue hanging out the side of the beak showing focus, soon as he was done the teen gave the paper back. “How that?”
Granny Smith took a look so did Big Mac. “Ah heard the natural gift of griffons and business, but seein' it with mah own eyes ah can see it true.” Ganny looked to the large Earth Pony. “What ya think?”
“Ah think it a deal.”
“Ah do so too.” Granny signs it with the quill in mouth, than so does Big Mac. “There we go sonny.”
“Thank you.” Gale gave her a hug, a sharp click was heard causing him to let go and flinch.
Granny twist her back a few times with a lift of the hide leg. “Ah'll be, that put mah hip right back into place, thank ya Prince Gale.”
Gale blinked. “I did?”
“Yer sure did.” Granny smiled. “Yer two youngsters done? Cause we are.”
Both stopped arguing to turn to her. “Done what Granny?” Applejack asked.
“The deal, we came to an arrangement.”
Shining looked at Gale. “How?”
“That between me, Big Mac and Prince Gale.” She winked to them, they smiled.
“Granny what did ya-”
“What we agreed on is signed by all of us.” Granny said back. “It fair and won't harm our traditions.”
Gale held the rolled up paper. “I did good! I did what mum asked!” He said with glee, suddenly he felt the bag shake. “Huh?” Gale pulled it open to see a crack on the shell. “Egg damaged!”
“No it not sugarcube it hatchin'!” Applejack said with alarm.
“What do I do? I no idea to do!” Gale said with panic.
“Well we-”
CRACK
Laughter from a newly restored Philomena and the ponies came to a sudden halted when the phoenix turn to the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. A pulse of magic rippled upwards into the sky. “So it finally happened.” Celestia whispered, she turn to Philomena. “Go.” She nodded and took to the sky heading to Sweet Apple Acres.
“What the hay was that!?” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof at that direction.
“That Dash is something just hatched.” Gilda responded
Gale gasped loudly as the roar of thunder hang high above with the sound of a massive downpour of rain, the teenage griffon sat up with water spreading out from his movement, he quickly recalled the phoenix egg hatched and he looked around for the chick to find it tucked into his wing shivering.
It squawking and chipping, one second they were inside Sweet Apple Acres home and now in some sort of sloped hole filling up with water from the heavy rain. Gale slowly got up on his paws, holding the phoenix chick using a wing to cover it from the rain, using his other talon to put over his eyes to try and see through the night through the heavy droplets slamming down.
A burst of strong wind cause him to stumble a bit, Gale waded through the water climbing up the steady slope using the lightning from the storm to get some bearing on where he was. Sadly he couldn't really make out much due to the heavy rain fall and strong winds that he felt more of as he climbed out, taking a look back he noticed it was a creator.
Gale adjusted his bag and hoped his plush wasn't too badly soaked or the little chick for that matter, he gazed down on the blackish grey chick seeing it was a bit better since he shielded it from the rain and wind with his wing. Before he could dell on the creator something caught the corner of his eye, something like a red light.
Gale could just make it out in the distance, he walked towards it through the heavy rain to see it was a pole with a red light glowing from it with two others not lit below, one amber the other green, the pole tilted by about twenty degrees from standing up right, that when he started to notice a ruined remains of a building, pieces of it wall to the roof missing.
Another came into view a massive tall one with chunks missing but with lights shining from intact parts of it windows. “Where am I?” Gale asked himself.
Highly confused in finding himself with the phoenix chick that just hatched in what seem to be a ruined city, Gale made his way to shelter to see in the lightning flashes that parts of this ruined city seem to be fused with a mountain that was high enough to piece the clouds.
Gale found a building saying 'Harvey Shopping Centre' above the doors of the well lit undamaged interior, close enough to the doors they slid open automatically, Gale stepped inside shaking himself off a little looking back to the ruined landscape beyond the doors. “What is place I in?” Gale asked himself.
The griffon noticed smash glass to his right and left in all what look like shops, nothing seem to be left inside them, whatever been here had cleared out everything in every shop inside this huge building, he even noticed moving stairs going downwards from the upper level ahead. “Weird place, least not getting wet still.” Gale sat down on a bench peering down to the chick now looking a bit happier to be dry itself. “You okay?”
The chick chirped in response and chirped again and again. “Erm... Hunger? How feed? I-” Gale suddenly remember reading about how a patient would feed a chick causing him to shiver. “Gross...” He pulled out from his bag a wrapped up piece of bread. “Urg... If I must...” Gale put a piece into his beak starting to chew till it got mushy...
After feeding the chick in the most disgusting way Gale ever felt, the teen sat by the glass door staring out at the endless rain, it seem no sign of stopping, lightning followed by roars of thunder was a common sound now and for the teenage it felt like hours since he arrived. “I want home...” He whimpered. “Mum be very worried... Maybe use dreaming.” Gale closed his eyes to focus on it like he did before.
But he found himself standing in front of a wall of water rushing down, he step up to it to find that the wall of water was a barrier and high above was a long endless line of a storm cloud only a few centimetres in width but enough to block him, he just barely could see Dream Cavern through it. “How can rain be blocking me here too?” He press the talon against the wall of water to feel a solid wet wall. “I don't understand, I can see Dream Cavern but I can't get to it!” He punched the wall to get no results, even a blast of dream magic seem to unphase it.
“Maybe flying over-” Gale noticed the clouds were moving fast in one direct. “Even the clouds are blocking me!? What kind of dream barrier is this!?” Gale roared and fired another beam of magic into the barrier and even at the clouds to get no results. “Damn it!”
Gale suddenly heard a growl, followed by alarming chirps from the chick, quickly ending the dream the teenage snap his eyes open to see a large wolf like creature with pelt up to it lower half, the lower half turn into grey scales with a bulky dragon tail, dragon claw hind paws. “Erm... Nice doggy?” Gale got up seeing two more emerge, Gale backed up a bit shivering in fear stepping back into the rain pulling the flap down over the chick that in his bag.
The wolf dragon creatures step into the rain slowly moving closer to him, Gale looked to each of their green glowing eyes. Gale opened his wings and let out a mighty roar at that, this only got them to become more aggressive with one lunging at him, Gale squawked in alarm and reacted with a magical glowing aura around his talon to punch it in the jaw.
Just above crunched down looking below at the screen playing out, a pair of sapphire slitted eyes watched the wolf dragons got close till Gale had struck one with magic, a huge pulse of magic was released from it causing the creature to shield it eyes from the magical blast wave.
The two other wolf dragons quickly came to a dead stop as the lead one shot past them smash through the automatic doors onto the ground, they turn around to Gale glaring at them, he gave a aggressive squawk at them, the two started to back away. Gale raise his talon up with bluish white magic appearing above it. “I got more big bullies!”
They quickly turn tail running back inside using their muzzles to grab the dazed one suffering from the effects of the magical impact still, he watched them drag the one he it away deeper into the shopping centre. “Phew...” Gale sighed in relief. “No going back in there...” Gale lift the bag flap up looking at the chick. “You okay?”
It chirped happily.
Another set of growls caught his attention, looking at the smashed entrance his eyes shrunk seeing a army of dragon wolves were slowly walking towards him into the rain. “You no harm chick! I protect chick!” Gale growled with magical aura erupting around him, standing up on his paws with forelegs spread out, talons opened to unleash his magic at the dragon wolves.
“That's it, use your magic creature.” The creature whispered watching for something to happen. “Strange... That black phoenix should have been absorbing the magic from that creature already.” The sapphire eyes narrowed.
The silver scaled tail whipped back and fourth.
“In over 500 years I never seen a black phoenix act this way... It should of absorbed the magic and life force from that creature already, it isn't maturing to a adult as it should of done.” The creature growled, as the lightning flashed above, rain and wind hit against the silver scales. “What kind of magic is coming off this feline bird?”
The silver scaly wings flared open, a short super heated white flame shot out of the snout between the teeth, the rain water hitting it turning to steam instantly. “Come on you bloody bird, take it magic!”
Suddenly the magic released creating a burst of energy that domed out, as it expanded the rain and wind was pushed back, the scaled wing quickly went in front of the creature blocking Gale's magical release, it felt the magic dance around the wing. Slowly lowering it the sapphire slitted eyes stared at amazement, all the dragon wolf hybrids were frozen in place with the same bluish white magic dancing around them like lightning, what also stunned the creature was no rain or wind against the scales, the sound of thunder there but very far.
It looked up to see the magical dome of energy being hit by the rain drops and wind, lightning striking against it too. “What the bloody hell in all of Nowhere is this!?” Standing up on the balls of hit clawed silver scaled feet looking around to see the city ruins within the bubble wasn't effected by the storm for the first time ever. “This is new... Very new...” Suddenly the blue whitish shield fade away with the rush of wind and rain returning.
Turning back to the ground the creature saw Gale had ran away as the dragon wolf hybrids recovered from the stun effect. “All that to just stun them and flee? It took out the alpha and as the pack was going to tear it apart, it just created all that magic to create some sort of stun field?” The creature picked up it rifle and bag from roof top.
“I felt the magic pass through me... How did it not effect me like those Draolves?” It looked around for Gale, soon it saw him entering a multilevel car-park. “Into one nest into another, those Echo Wings will tear it apart...”
Turning away with wings open it prepared to fly back to the mountain in the distance, but it paused glancing back at the multilevel car-park. “Grah! Bloody damn it! One thing change and now everything is off the rails! Damn it to hell! Why in 500 years out of all creatures, this one had to be different! That damn black phoenix had to be different! I need to know what make them different!”
It turn away again. “No forget it! I can't and I won't...”
Then shook it head again. “No I must figure out why...”
“No! It doesn't matter, what matters is surviving on the island of Nowhere, as it always been, look out for myself and only myself.”
“Something about it felt pure though... So did that chick... Why?”
“Stop questioning yourself!” It slap itself across the side of the snout. “Just go back to my bunker already!”
“DAMN IT!” It roared ejecting a huge blast of white flames into the sky, creatures all around quickly fleeing from the roar and feeling the intense heat wash over them, the rain droplets turn to steam and blown through the ruins with fresh rain droplets.
Gale walked by many strange looking metal wagons, the howling wind blowing through the open levels of the structure he took refuge in from the rain, the teen warily walked on his paws only, knowing his talons would make a sound on the flap stony surface. He noticed many strange blackish grey looking winged large cats with no eyes lying around, they seem to be even sleeping, resting or just laying there.
Gale noticed one of them sitting up doing strange clicking sounds in it mouth, the large ears twitching to each sound, it making a semi screech sound too before ruffling it wings a bit. “Wh-” He began to say and saw it turn sharply at his direct. “It use sound to see... I think this was a bad place to go...” Gale thought with a slight gulp stepping back from it slowly.
Suddenly a blast of hot air with a roar past through, all the winged cat creatures were up turning their heads back and forwards in alarm. Gale had felt it too wondering what that was, he noticed steam rolled in fast covering his line of sight making it very difficult to see anything, it felt muggy too.
Gale suddenly felt something scaly grab him across the front of his beak, the other against his right foreleg pulling him back against a pillar. The steam clears and his eyes meets slitted sapphire ones of a silver scaled dragon, his heart raced as he tried to struggle against the weight against him, the dragon raise the number free claw hand putting a finger to the front of it snout.
It eyes shift left than back to looking at his, Gale slowly looked left himself to see one of those blind wing cat thing, it clicking and screeching with ears twisting and head turning to the left and right, the dragon open it right wing moving to cover them from the view of it mostly.
The blind cat tilted it head sniffing the air, clicking as it step up to the wing tilting it head, ears twitching and wings slowly opening with the feathers rustling. Gale could see it paws with claws coming out of the paws slowly, than suddenly a loud thunderous roar came, it rose the head instantly towards the sound.
In a instant the wing cat fled, all of them scattered heading into the holes scattered around.
The claw hand slowly moved away from Gale's beak. “Keep quietly.” He heard a female voice came from the silver dragon as she step back for him to get a good view.
The silver dragon had light silver scales on the front from under the under part of the neck near the snout down the torso to the underside of the tail, she had dark silver horns behind the ears and dark silver spine plates on the top of the head going down the back of the neck, the tail had a dark silver fin.
She also had a rifle held over one arm with a strap bag on her side with the strap across the chest, the silver dragon stood at seven hooves tall on the balls of it clawed three toed feet, wings closed behind her back as she took a look outside. “It one of the feral ones, the big blue one that love his lightning.” She said quietly.
Gale against the pillar look down at the chick, it chirp happily at him as he gave it a little stroke with a claw. “Thank you for saving me Miss Dragon...”
She turn to him. “Silvite is my name feline bird hybrid thing.”
“I griffon, name Gale.” He smiled.
Silvite snorted out some smoke out of her nostrils on the end of the snout. “That easier to say, but doesn't mean I wanted to save your sorry tail.”
Gale's ears lowered upon hearing that. “Y-you didn't?”
“Not at first, than I had a nice little chat with my 500 years of sanity self and agreed that you with that black phoenix was worth saving.” Silvite answered. “Just don't make me regret it.”
“500 years?”
“Yes, that roughly how much time I remembered passing by, I keep track of time in a 24 hour circle, you do have that where you come from don't you?” She gave him a questionable look.
Gale nodded. “Yes I do...”
“Good cause time is the only way you keep track of days here on Nowhere griffon.” She turn around walking up to him, she kneeing down to come eye to eye with him. “I really want to ask questions and have a bit more of a chit-chat with you, but it not exactly safe in the city and flying a no go too with big Thunderous up there flying above at the moment, he got good eyes for things in the sky, that why he rules it when he flies.”
Gale titled his head. “Another dragon?”
“Yes, just 20 feet tall, run on animal instincts and love to eat electrified meat and gems.” She said in a sassy way to Gale. “Now get up on all fours and follow me.” She stood back up.
“I want home, you can help yes?” Gale pleaded.
Silvite groans. “You naive griffon... You going to trust me on a first meeting.” Gale looked a bit unsure now. “I would of let that phoenix take your magic and life force to save my own neck, but it didn't so that a first.” She bluntly said to the teenage.
Gale blinked with a shiver of fear. “Y-you only interested in us, cause Shadow no did what you think he do?”
“He? Shadow? You named it!?”
“Yes.”
“Attachment to-” She growled rubbing the bridge of her snout. “Fine name it-he whatever...”
Gale decided to do his plush trust motion. “I have idea of trust.”
“I got to see this.” She crossed her arms He pulled out his plushy held it out to her.
Silvite eyes locked on it, suddenly her eyes contracted for a moment before returning to normal, her claws now shaking as she slowly took it and looked it over. Gale noticed the sudden change in demeanour in the silver dragon. “You okay?” She didn't respond as the claw hand reach into the plush vest to pull out a photo.
Gale was surprised when she seem to just pick out the photo from it, handing back the plush to him as she stared now at the photo. “H-how you know photo was there?”
Her eyes started to water, with tears rolling down her silver scaled face staring at Gale over the photo, snout quivering as she stared deep into his golden brown confused eyes.
Gale's confusion faded into shock staring at the silver dragon. “H-how you know that?”
Silvite put the photo into the vest of the plush, she than walked by Gale to stand by the edge of ruined car park structure as the rain whip by. “This is impossible...”
Gale put the plushy back into the bag. “What impossible?” He stepped up behind her as she turn slightly to look at him.
“The chances of us meeting can only be by design.”
“Cause you know name and got sad?” Gale asked.
Silvite groans. “You don't realise who I-” She shook her head. “-Nevernind, let's get back to my bunker north from here at the base of the mountain, it will be safer than out here and we may discover whoever behind this.” Silvite turn to Gale giving a dead serious look.
Gale didn't like that look she gave, it reminded him of someone from the past memoires. “You got scary look that say we in big trouble.”
“We are...” Her eyes slowly scanning around the area through the wind and rain. “The only possible way we meet like this, if someone or something made sure it happened through time.”
“Time magic? If connected not good...”
Silvite loaded her rifle with darts. “Most likely, you've experienced it?” Silvite asked as she raise the rifle to look through it scope.
Gale stood beside the silver dragon. “Erm... Grogar want magic in me, he used transfiguration magic with artefacts to change glowy me to griffon me, but spell went crazy and memories with speak, sense and stuff when broken in my head, I slowly remembering parts of old life and learning speaking, and stuff. But keeping new.” Gale explained.
“So you prefer Gale over Wayne?” He nodded. “Fair enough...” She took once last look around through the scope. “Whoever did this wanted us to be too emotional compromised to catch us off guard.”
“Really?”
“It would be something I would of thought of doing.” Silvite responded in a cryptic tone. “Thunderous keeping the local monsters at bay with his display of electrical blasts in the sky, we got a clear run to the mountain.” Silvite glance over to Gale. “Keep low and follow me, got it?”
Gale frowned. “Only promise to tell how you know me, when we get to bunker place.”
Silvite growled lowering the rifle turning around to Gale moving into a stance of annoyance. “We got no time for this! I-”
Gale growled back. “Promise or no go!”
“You know I can force you!”
“Try!” Gale snarled.
Silvite anger faded into a semi roar laugh. “Well someone gotten a back bone finally.” She knelt down to put with her claw hand out to him.
“No shake, pinky promise, griffon ultimate promise of no break!” He raise his talon up with the pinky claw out.
“Really now? Well that is serious, very well.” She closed her claw hand up with the pinky finger out, hooking it around his she made the promise. “I swear to tell you nothing but the bloody truth.”
Gale smiled. “We can go!”
Silvite got up onto her claw feet strapping the rifle back over her head and arm. “Keep close to me, if you can't keep up I will carry you, got me?”
Gale nodded. “Got it!” Gale as she turn around leap onto her back between the wings wrapping his forelegs around the collar bone area, hind legs under the wing webbing attached to her body.
Silvite glance from the corner of her eye at him. “Cheeky bloody griffon.” Gale grinned. “Fine...” She hook her arms over his legs grabbing the hind legs just above the paws. “Ready?” Gale nodded.
With a push off from a claw foot she ran into the rain, running around ruined debris to leap over the some. Silvite looked to her left and right continuously as she ran towards the mountain that the ruins merged into, high above the dragon Thunderous appearing as a shadow in the lightning strikes keeping the creatures in the ruins hidden in fear.
“We about to enter the opening, when we do Thunderous will see us.” Silvite left the cover of the ruins running up the slope of the mountain, water washing down it didn't heed her movement. “Damn it!” She slid to a stop and the mighty boom came with lightning dancing around in front of her, the titan blue black dragon land heavily on the ground in front of them.
Thunderous eyes sparking with electrical energy growls as it display a threatening roar. “Get off me and hold my gear.” Gale slowly nod getting off her back, she took the bag off with the rifle giving it to him. “Thunderous I don't have time for this, get out of the way!” She growled at him.
He growled back and stomped hard, wings flap a few times with lightning discharging from it, the tips of lightning dance around Silvite, she sighed. “Fine...” Her wings open. “I warned you, now your bloody tail going to get kicked.” Silvite open her wings and took off into the air, she threw the head back with whitish flames coming out of the maw.
Silvite instantly launch her head downwards launching a huge white fireball right at him, Gale watched as steam came out from metres away from the fireball as it sailed through the air, the dragon quickly lost it intimating look and with a powerful flap took off with the fireball slamming into the ground below him.
Gale covered his face from the bright blast that came, followed by pieces of molten rock shooting by him, some flying up high into the sky nearly hitting the titan dragon, Thunderous quickly turn tail and flew into the clouds fast as he could.
“Coward.” Silvite snorted as the molten impact creator quickly cools from the heavy rain fall. “We can walk the rest Gale.” She lands onto her claw feet calmly taking her rifle and bag from him. “Come on Gale, it not far.” She causally walked around the creator up the mountain.
Gale blinked a few times. “Y-yes Silvite!” He quickly said and followed her, the teenager stared at the cooling creator as he pasted it, the heat he felt before was from her. “White flame, super hot...”
Silvite didn't look at him as they walked. “Best way the describe it colour and heat is a mix of chemical reactions in my body, the hotter the flame the bluer it should turn, but some reason my flame is white and hot as a hell, in fact my bloody body is the only thing that can resist it heat, everything not so lucky.”
“Y-you erm...”
“No never, surface burned some of those monstrous creatures and made my point clear to not mess with me.”
Gale thought back with the clicking cat winged creature. “Blind cat no harm me cause you hold me?”
“Correct, it was determining what or who I was, and most likely would of knew if it wasn't for Thunderous, he still doesn't get it through that thick skull to not attempt to attack me, yet he still does.” Silvite step up to a large rock among others around it, she lift up part of it pressing on keys, then the rock lift up to show a metal door below it. “My flame been pretty handy in making things though.”
Gale watched her lift up a handle with a twist around and push it down, the door slid open. “Stairs?” He look down it to see a spiral metal stair case with a railing on the outer part of it.
“Yes stairs, you really think I put a ladder in? No thanks.” She started to walk down the stairs. “Welcome to my home the Bunker.”
Gale followed her down the stairs, he watched her open up a panel on the centre pillar, pressed a few keys on it, behind him to see the rock lowering and then the door close up with a clang. Gale turn around to look over the spiral stair case railings, he saw before his eyes a open field of grass and flowers, a waterfall near by, forests, crop fields and a lake.
Above him was massive lights shining brightly with emitting heat from them. “Heat lamps and solar like lights?”
“Yes.” Silvite answered as she walked down, Gale followed, the metal pillar was of three that attached to the ground and ceiling, many other strong rock formations all around that acted like pillars, the stairs turn to cross ways at point than circle around another, he saw the walls far reaching, one closer to them. “I used my flame and claws to dig this place out, made the lamps for sunlight and heat, grew crops and built my home.”
“How long this take?”
“It still a working progress and what you see so far... I say close to 500 years give it take.”
“5-500 years!? You live that long!?” Gale squawked with surprise.
Silvite chuckled. “As long as I remembered, before that I do not know, I was as feral as that rock head dragon Thunderous, something happened and I regained a sense of awareness, soon I wasn't as feral, the need for a horde faded and that history.” Silvite step off the ladder, with a tap of her claw foot on the ground, part of it rose up, she pulled out the darts from the rifle and put both away into it.
With another tap of the claw foot the cabinet lowered into the ground. “Why so many weapons?”
“It easier to use them depending on what part of Nowhere I go to, using my fire takes a fair amount out of me at times, today was a good day for me.” She walked down the red brick path towards the house. “Now I believe I had a promise to keep?” Silvite stopped turning around to face him.
She noticed Gale wasn't paying attention watching a small bear like bee on a flower taking the pollen from it. “Bug bear?” Gale turn to her as it flies off.
Silvite smirked. “It is, those tiny little buggers are a vital part of the Bunker.” She knelt down to him. “Now... I believe I had a promise to keep.” She repeated to him placing a claw hand on his shoulder.
“How know name Wayne?”
“I know more than the name, I know that dog is named Leela, I know there a tag on that plush and it says-” Gale eyes widen already hearing the dog's name. “To my beloved son, happy birthday Wayne.” She said with tears falling again.
It hit Gale upon realising who this dragon was. “M-mum!? P-past mum!?”
“Y-ack!” Gale leapt onto her giving a powerful hug nuzzling her chest with his head, she return the hug without a word said.
Gale suddenly fell forwards after a few more seconds past to land with a thud, he found himself in a darken cavern with gems, gold, burned out cars, melted slaps of gold and metal. “Wh-what?” He looked around. “M-mum!?” He called out.
He suddenly heard the sound of claws against the gold and gems, they falling from the shift of weight, he turning around to meet a set of purple glowing eyes, a armoured claw hand glowing with the same colour, a staff with a glowing purple symbol on it, one also over the head of the clothed wingless dragon, it tail tip lightning shape but sharp too.
“Your mum of the life past isn't here.” The dragon spoke with a very heavy English accent.
“Wh-what did you do to my mum!” Gale growled.
He stood calmly looking at Gale. “Simple I restored the moment she wasn't at the heart of the collider explosion, I changed it so she was and would regain her sense of self, here she never did.” He point the staff to a massive silver feral dragon sleeping near by on top of the horde. “That is your mum, a mindless beast.”
Gale stared in horror. “Ti-time magic! You use time magic!”
“Of course, now as servant of Master Grogar I will restore her to Silvite you just got to know if you give up your magic freely to me to giv-” Gale was already upon him placing the talon against his neck squeezing it.
The dragon couldn't break the grip, he drop the staff gasping for air. “H-”
“Grogar what magic!? He made you so he get my magic, cause pain! Cause harm! Cause lose of mum of past again!?”
“Y-yes I was c-created...” He whizzed. “From your memories-” He chocked. “I am the Death Dragon serv-” Gale's talon glowing, he felt the energy come from it into him, the eyes showed red, they glowed darkly.
“No talk.” He growls. “No more talk, you die than he die!” Gale unleashed all his magic into the Death Dragon.
The dragon eyes snap open as he sit cross legged by the waterfall in the Bunker, he gasped with fear, terrifying fear. “M-Master Grogar...” He turn to the goat eye orb, it eye widen to show Grogar on it.
“Anubis...”
“I failed to acquire the magic for you, I’ve changed time without altering time outside Nowhere and the collider explosion resulting in the Pure Magic existence, I been planning this for 21,829 years to get to this point...”
“And you found that this attempt through time without alerting that tree and it Avatar is impossible.”
“Yes... Master... I did what the mountain that fell did to the child, I allow his mum to be self-aware and remember parts of her past like he has, she will soon enter the Bunker with him and tell him the truth.”
“Hmm... At least you tried.” Grogar said. “So you brought back his mum in a form of what exactly?”
“A silver dragon master... I also may have integrated myself into Equestria too... I am kinda a god... The god of the dead...”
“And?”
“And I may have a daughter and son...”
“I see... So you went beyond what I created you to do...”
“I-”
“Good, that will work.”
“Master?”
“I want you to revile yourself to them, tell them you are the reason for it and that you originally created to work for me, you gained a conscious and couldn't go through with it after you had children of your own.” Grogar grinned.
“Tell them you can get the griffon home to Equestria and bring this Bunker with you.”
“Master that would mean his current mum with meet his mum from th-” Anubis glowing purple eyes widen a little. “I see where you are going with this master, it a excellent plan!”
Grogar laughed. “Of course it is, I believe now that the events to take place on this island soon will be playing a part in all this, for me it be moments, but for you it be days, weeks, months or even years away. You have done me well Anubis, your award is a life to live, be the dragons god of the dead, be what you create for yourself.”
Anubis bow his head. “I will master.”
“I know now what I need to get from the blue box if I fail to acquire the pure magic when the Past an Future meets, for that you have done me well.”
The orb image turn back into a goat eye, Anubis pick it up putting into one of his side pocket bags, his gaze turn to the three metal pillars, the stairs and walkways, it opened and stepping down were his targets. “Now to play nice to these foolish creatures, and do my part for Master Grogar.” Anubis chuckled.
“How know name Wayne?”
“I know more than the name, I know that dog is named Leela, I know there a tag on that plush and it says-” Gale eyes widen already hearing the dog's name. “To my beloved son, happy birthday Wayne.” She said with tears falling again.
It hit Gale upon realising who this dragon was. “M-mum!? P-past mum!?”
“Y-ack!” Gale leapt onto her giving a powerful hug nuzzling her chest with his head, she return the hug without a word said.
What seem forever soon came to the end of the claw tip step sound approaching and getting louder, Silvite slowly let go of Gale, she gave him a slight look and he also eased his hug a bit. Silvite quickly get up, and twist around throwing a punch hit a armour plate on top of the face of a clothed wingless dragon.
He stumbled back holding the cracked mask pulling it off with his armoured claw hand with purple black magical energy flowing around it, the wingless dragon wearing armoured trousers that also covered the backs of his clawed feet, tunic chest plate with bocky shoulder pads stared at the ruined head plate. “Hmm... That was deserved.” He said calmly tossing it to the ground breaking to pieces.
“Who are you, how did you get in here and are you behind this!?” Silvite growled with white flames appearing around the inners of her mouth.
“Before you bloody burn me alive, let me talk.” He raise the clawed hand up calmly while holding a staff with the other, at the top of it was a two headed dragon meeting at the tip curving around with a purple black glowing symbol in the middle of it, he armoured tail with a purple semi glowing blade like tail swaying back and forwards.
Silvite put herself in front of Gale, the teenager peered just to the side of her leg looking at him too. “Speak!” She snarled at him.
“I-”
“Anubis!” Gale sharply spoke out pointing at him.
Silvite turn and look down at Gale. “As in the Egyptian god of the dead Anubis?”
“It seem I am know.” Anubis gaze fell upon to Gale. “Not a surprise since I was created by the memories of the child by Grogar.” He said. “I am a Death Dragon, the dragons god of the dead by respect of name sake, as for the other questions...”
Silvite turn her head and eyes back to Anubis.
He raised the staff for it to glow creating a purple flame ring expanding to show a different cavern to the one they in through it. “I was created and given magic by Grogar to traverse through time, make changes that were minor and undetectable so I can acquire the magic from the child.”
Gale groans. “Those that chase power, fail...”
“Indeed...” Anubis replied. “As for this, it what you should have been right this moment Silvite.” Silvite and Gale stared at a massive silver dragon sound asleep on a pile of gold and gems. “I made sure you manually activated the Collider to overload, I made sure you got struck by Thunderous in the side of the head at this point.” He walked up to her.
Silvite snarled.
“I am just going to poke that spot, not do anything else.” She allowed him, the armoured finger tip press on her head just behind the ear close to the horn. “That strike perfectly timed caused your synapses to fire, shaking you out of your greed, making you the dragon you are today from 513 years, two months, 1 week and 3 days ago.” He moved the finger away and took a few steps back.
Silvite move her claw hand over it to feel the scar she had hidden there. “You made sure Gale got the phoenix egg too...”
“Yes, but it was suppose to weaken him upon hatching... But I discovered through every possible point to this moment it never happened, Gale gave him a magical core, that why he isn't maturing and why he so... innocent...” Anubis eyes fell upon the bag seeing the chick sleeping soundly in it.
“I am getting a sense this chit-chat isn't one of your plans.” Silvite crossed her arms glaring at him.
Anubis put his staff down against a tree, he picked up a flower with the armoured claw hand that wasn't glowing, he twist the flower around, his glowing eyes gazing upon it. “No it wasn't, the plan took 21,829 years, 7 months, 1 week and 2 days for this moment to happen, the plan was to restore you to that you see through the ring there.” He wave the purple glowing armoured hand around for it to fade away.
“That a lot of time...” Gale said with surprise.
“Indeed, during that time I-I became the god of the dead for the dragons of Equestria... And I...” He eyes water with tears running down his muzzle. “Became a father to two dragons, one a young teen and the other is close to becoming adult.”
“This better work.” He thought quietly in hope to sway them.
Silvite frowned. “Hmm... So started to doubt this Grogar?”
“Yes... I couldn't go through it the plan to acquire the magic from the griffon...”
Gale stepped up to him holding out his plush. “Maybe you no like cause part of me in you?”
Anubis took the plush looking at it and past it to Gale. “I-I never thought of that...” He gave the plush back to Gale.
“He good, he gave plush back.”
“And that means?” Silvite raise a eye.
Gale smiled. “He gave plush, it mean ultimate trust between us, he and you may feel strange feeling after giving plush back?”
Anubis and Silvite looked at each other. “Some sort of magical acceptance of trust? How does a plush do that?”
“Anubis, you are the time magic wiz, can't you figure that out?”
“No...” Anubis looked at his armoured claw hands, a strong pull came to him about betraying that trust he gained from Gale, one that was worst than death or even betraying his master. “This could be problematic...”
Silvite snorted out white flames from her nostrils. “How many more of these freaks Grogar created?”
“There are seven monsters that remain, each given a unquie abilities and tasks to collect the pure magic for Grogar.” He took the scroll from the side of the leg giving it to her. “This is the list of said monsters.”
She opened it up looking at the sketches and writing. “Well, it seem I got some hunting to do.” She closed it up putting it away into her bag. “I gather you can zip in and out of Nowhere?”
“I do... But-”
“I already hate where this is going... Come back to my home and let's hear the doom result return trip for more than uno.” She push by him walking down the red brick path to the house.
Gale steppe up beside Anubis as he picked up the staff. “Thank you for giving back mum from past.” He smiled cheerfully to Anubis before taking off into the air flying after the silver dragon.
Anubis watched them go, he reached into the bag looking at the orb. “Problematic indeed...” He put it away walking after them unaware being watched through it, the goat eye orb cracked in his bag.
Grogar stared at the goat eye orb, Zerra stepped up to him. “Master, is everything going to plan?”
“More or less...” Grogar got up walking away from the orb. “I want Anubis taken care of, I got a feeling he going to be a problem now, even he is going to fulfil my orders... that griffon, that child has a way of getting to you, specially those I created from within his mind...”
“Yes master, what should I do?”
“It time for Thunderous to earn his keep, it time for he to get his revenge on Silvite, that way he can take care of Anubis as well.”
“Master the griffon with her!”
“I know.”
“Bu-but what if he kills the griffon!?”
“That is why you are going there and keeping that thundering beast in line.”
“WHAT!?”
“Did I stutter?” Grogar turn around glaring at the zebra who shaking in fear.
The zebra shook his head rapidly. “N-no no you did not, bu-”
“No buts, do as I say.” Grogar toss a bag over to him. “This will allow you to enter and leave Nowhere, upon Thunderous defeat or victory return to me if you are still alive that is.” Grogar leaves the room.
Zerra holding the bag with one hoof stared at the door way now empty. “I-I do as you wish master...” He pulled out a small black ball with a hoof, tossing it at the wall, a portal opens up and he step through it into a large cavern with electrical energy dancing around.
The large blue and black dragon emerges. “IS IT TIME, IS IT TIME FOR REVENGE?” His voice boomed to the zebra.
“Yes is it, but with one condition, the griffon is not to be harmed.”
The large dragon grinned with sparks of lightning discharging. “PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.”
Silvite walked towards her home with Anubis and Gale, as they got closer to it the building looked rather strange to the teenager, it wasn't one big building up many sphere shape structures supported by cylider pillars, each having a door and walk way between them, some with windows as well and a balcony on a few.
All connected to a massive one in the middle, with some wall ways being stair cases. “Sphere buildings?” Two of the lower ones connected to the ground with a set of stairs.
“Yes, I kinda wanted a home that stood out, I like it round.” Silvite smirked standing proud. “When you live alone you've need something to occupy the mind, this was one of them.”
Anubis took a good look at the structure. “Interesting design.”
“Your just saying it, you already knew what it looked like.” Silvite turn around at him snarling a little.
“True, but seeing it with my own eyes and not via through a rift is two different things.” Anubis calmly responded, but the calm changed he quickly turn around looking right up at the ceiling.
Silvite saw his sudden turn, now looking up at the ceiling herself covering her eyes from the brightness of the large ceiling lamps. “What is it?”
“Thunderous...” He raise the staff firing a blast of purple magic at the ceiling, it spread out across the ceiling.
Gale watched the magic wash over. “What you do?”
“Shield spell with strengthening the ceiling with hope it holds the impact.”
Silvite lower her claw hand turning to Anubis. “What im-” A large heavy boom came from above, the shield flash with the lights swinging wildly. “Thunderous?”
Anubis nodded. “I saw it coming by only seconds...” He continue to stare at the ceiling. “The faraday netting you have through out the ceiling to block electrical discharges, if he continue to smash into the ground it will break and when it does-”
“He'll breach the ceiling...” Silvite growled. “In all these years he never been this bold! Why now!?” She turn to Anubis. “Anubis! You saw the attack coming even it was close! Tell me what changed!”
Anubis holding his staff up trying to hold the shield up. “Revenge, he wants revenge and been holding back because-”
“Because WHAT!?” She shouted at him.
“He a servant of... Grogar, and only now his been unleashed to seek his revenge upon you.” Anubis turn to Silvite. “All the pent up rage is being unleashed, prepare for a fight and I will asst.”
“Gr-Grogar!?” Anubis nodded
Silvite pulled her bag off tossing it to Gale. “Get to my house and keep in cover, things about to get ugly, only way he get to you is through me.”
Gale nodded. “Okay, I go! Be safe please!” He quickly opened his wings taking off to the multiple spheres structure.
Silvite crack her knuckles, clicked her neck muscles, rolling her shoulders. “Should be saying that to the titan that about to come crashing down through cavern ceiling any moment.” Silvite flexed her wings and snorted out some white flames. “Anubis cut the shield spell on my call.”
He frowned. “Your serious?!
“I am, you be needing that magic of yours to deal with Thunderous, or would you rather be out of juice and let him blast you around like a bloody rag doll?” Silvite gave him the only two choices he had for use of his magic that cast the shield over the ceiling.
Anubis hums quietly. “Any option ends with him smashing through...” The ceiling cracked from another heavy impact with the shield shimming.
Gale quickly landed at the steps opening the door with a slight push of the talon. “I inside!” He called out, closing the door just enough to look outside through a tiny gap.
Silvite gave a thumb up to him knowing he most likely watching and turn to Anubis. “Drop the shield!”
Anubis lower his staff releasing the spell, the purple shield fades over the ceiling, soon as he does a massive impact followed by the ceiling near the stair case with the three metal pillars collapsed, the pillars gave way from the raining down rock and metal.
They watched the stairs go with it and rain wash down through the massive hole, the heat lamps going out one by one with sparks of electrical overloading discharges, back up lighting kicking in. Slowly descending into the cavern Thunderous looked directly at them. “Anubis is vulnerable, destroy him.” Zerra point his hoof from on top of the titan dragon head.
Thunderous grinned. “DEATH DRAGON DIE!” He roared unleashing a huge electrical ball of energy from his month at Anubis.
Anubis saw it coming at him but he froze in place, he never saw the attack coming in any foresight, Silvite grabbed him as it hit the ground he stood at, the blast caused huge discharge of electrical energy to fly. “What the bloody hell are you doing!? Are you trying to get fried!?”
“I saw him attack... But I never saw it coming before it came...” Anubis responded.
“I never had access to looking at time, possible events and crap! You buck up and live in the moment you stupid dragon!” Silvite grabbed him by the arm and lifted Anubis to his clawed feet. “Now show me what a Death Dragon can do!”
Anubis saw another coming at them, he raise the staff to fire a blast out of it, the two hit with a blast wave of energy unleashed. “I will not freeze up again you bloody overgrown lizard!” Anubis growled.
“If it wasn't for your little mess of a dragon beside you, it would of worked.” They both saw a zebra jump down and land beside Thunderous large foreclaw. “Now let's make this easy on my big friend here, and let him end you sweet and quick, I got a griffon to take back to Master Grogar.”
Anubis growled. “I-”
“Yeah yeah you did as he asked to the point you became a total wimp and failure.” Zerra waved his hoof dismissively to Anubis. “The master sees all that were created through the mind of the cub as unreliable assist, other words you are broken goods and we throw away broken goods.”
Anubis unleashed a blast of magic at him, only have a wing come down and deflect it. “I am Anubis the Death Dragon, the bloody god of the dead! I served and this is the thanks I get!? I will not serve that goat! I will crush you and than him!”
“Blah blah blah, you are boring me old timer, Thunderous crush them both.”
“REVENGE!” He roared and charge right at them.
Zerra saw the structure. “And I will deal with picking up my master's prize.”
Anubis jump out of the way of a string of lightning blasts coming off Thunderous, Silvite flew around them, the blasts hitting rock, ground, grass, trees and ceiling causing massive explosions that ripped them apart. Pieces of ceiling raindown with the large lamps causing fires to break out, the waterfall blasted to pieces too, Silvite saw how much damage the titan did in such little effort.
“For over 500 years that beast been holding back, I knew it.” She grinned with fury in her eyes. “Oh I am sooo going to enjoy being the stuffing out of this prick!” Silvite flew right at him dodging the lightning blasts thrown her way, she dives under his field of vision to get a heavy punch from under his snout causing Thunderous to roar in pain.
He stumble back shaking his head growling at her to get a beam of purplish magic slamming into the side of his head, the beam result caused the titan dragon to tumble down with a heavy thud. “I am up for a good fight myself, no more nice dragon.” He twirling the staff around from one claw hand to the other.
Thunderous got up. “I CRUSH! I REVENGE!” Fires now burn around him as more large lighting lamps crash down with huge fireballs erupting from it.
Silvite glanced at the Death Dragon. “Once we take care of Thunderous, you are going to squawk.”
“Crystal...” He snarled. “I am not doing this for you or Gale, I am doing this now for my family.” He clinched his claw hand tightly around the staff. “This has turned personal!” He release a burst of magical energy at Thunderous.
The titan block it with a electrified wing in front of him, lowering it Thunderous unleashed a blast of lightning at them from his maw, Silvite took to the air again dodging the lightning and Anubis shielding himself from it
Gale watched the land get shredded to pieces by the piecing blasts of lightning, more of the ceiling coming down with more rain and water falling into the cavern. Anubis and Silvite engaging Thunderous again, they getting hit by the foreclaw of the titan, but they didn't let up it was a full blown dragon fight with special dragon powers followed by Death Dragon magic.
“You safe, Shadow.” Gale peer down into the saddle bag seeing the little black phoenix chick shivering, and squawk in alarm from the explosion impacts from the dragons fighting, more of Silvite's underground home being wrecked and destroyed by the battle. “Silvite home, mum of past home being destroyed... Grogar bad, Grogar no care for me, you or anyone but himself and power...”
The chick didn't understand what he just said, but Shadow the recent hatched black phoenix chick felt the distress from his parent, he could see the flashed of light and that when the shadow of a new figure appear on the ceiling. He started to squawk in alarm as the sense of fear over came the chick upon seeing the shadow, it felt dark and cold and Shadow hated the sense of feeling washed over him.
Gale saw the rapid distress from the chick, he looked up at what Shadow was squawking at to see the shadow of a pony shape. He quickly turn as a blast of lightning lit up the pony shape to see it was Zerra walking towards him, Gale couldn't quite hear or see who was with the titan dragon but now the zebra was clearly seen before his eyes. “Ze-Zerra...”
“Hello cub, we meet again, no wish magic this time.” He grinned pulling out a small crystal from the pouch holding it around his fore hoof. “Now... No time to waste, Master Grogar awaits.”
Gale started to snarl with his back part of the beak raising up showing his bearing teeth. “Inverse Reality destroyed cause of him!?”
Zerra chuckled. “Yes and now those dragons will be crushed by Thunderous.” He glanced over to the battle. “They have no idea. But he got a lot of pent up rage.”
“You made Inverse Reality, reality of wish magic go bye bye, now you do again with mum of past!?”
“Yes and you ca-URG!” Zerra felt three sharp objects slash right across and over his left eye, dropping he crystal the zebra step back holding it with a hoof. He slowly moved it to see blood on the black hoof. “You li-GAH!” Gale spin around to kick him across the right side of the head with the right hindpaw sending him flying to the ground rolling around.
Zerra quickly got up looking at Gale with shock from his right eye as the left is closed with blood dripping down the side of his face, all he saw was predorary rage through Gale's eyes. “YOU MONSTER YOU GO BYB BYE! NO TALK!” Gale roared out with a burst of magic erupting from him. “YOU AND GROGAR EVIL! NO REGUARDS TO LIFE! LIFE MEAN MORE! LIFE IS LIFE AND SO IS FAMILY! I PROTECT FAMILY!”
Zerra started to shake with fear as the whitish blue magic around Gale coming to go till it sudden turn into a massive whitish blue griffon standing directly over Gale it solid translucent eyes of it translucent glowing form now bear down on him. “Oh buck! I am out of here! Thunderous is on his own!” Zerra grab a black orb from his bag smashing it down below him to form a portal that he fell into and it closed.
Gale squawked argerily seeing the zebra had fled, but he drew his attention on the titan dragon now having the upper hand on Silvite and Anubis. Gale had a target to use all this explosive release of magic he had. “Thunderous...”
Silvite unleashed white fireball after white fireball hitting the scales of the titan dragon, he roared out in pain and unleashed more electrical blasts at her, she dodged a few to get hit by some sending her flying into the ground. “Damn! My fire should of burned right through him!”
Anubis pushed Thunderous back with a beam blast into the ceiling causing the titan to smash down onto the ground with debris falling on top of him. “The fact you are burning his scales is impressive enough.”
“Any why is that impressive!?” She clenched a fist at him.
“You do know that dragon scales, eyes and ears are fire proof? In fact you never had a lava dip?” He calmly said looking back at her.
Silvite blinked. “What!? You are serious telling me I can sit in lava!?”
“Yes.”
“REVENGE IS MINE! SILVITE DIE!” The titan dragon burst out of the debris snarling at them and unleashed another blast of lightning at them, they got blasted back.
Silvite quickly recovered. “We talk about what I didn't know dragons could do later!” She took off flying around more lightning discharges to punch him across the face and drop kick on top of the muzzle.
Anubis unleash purple blasts of magic one after the other at Thunderous. “Very well I shall.” Anubis shielded himself from some of the lightning.
Silvite got knocked to the ground to get a foreclaw coming down right on her left wing and arm, she roared out in pain and unleashed a breath of white flames at his side of the face, the titan showed a massive burn on his scales but only snarled as he prepared to finish her.
Anubis charge in jumping at him to unleash a beam of magic to get grabbed by the other foreclaw, then he thrown into the ground hard with the staff shattering and exploding with magic being bleed out, the Death Dragon stared up near Silvite seeing they were beat. “I would say we done for, but we not.”
Silvite punching the foreclaw on her left arm and wing. “How can you say that!? We about to get electricity to death!”
Anubis turn his head to the whitish blue glowing griffon form towering over Thunderous. “Look to his right.”
Silvite did and saw the translucent griffon. “What the-”
Anubis intrupted her. “Just as what would of happened to me many times Thunderous about to get the taste of the 1000 times charged pure magic thanks to this reality.” He laughed.
“You knew!?”
“Yes, bu-”
“Why didn't you tell me!?” Silvite snarled
“Cause he had to snap.” Anubis answered. “He snapped each time cause of you at me and now he snapped cause of the zebra.” He laughed.
“Bloody asshole of a dragon.”
“That I am.”
Thunderous grinned not aware of the translucent whitish blue griffon towering over him from behind. “REVENGE IS MINE!” He prepared to unleash lightning on the two dragons below him.
Suddenly the glow reached the corner of his eyes, slowly turning his head looking up at the translucent griffon, it beak open with a powerful glow coming from it, the titan let go of Silvite turning around to face the titan translucent griffon, he unleashed the lightning breath at the griffon to have a powerful blast of whitish blue magic come out of the beak to slice through it.
Thunderous let out a mighty roar as the beam of magic engulfed him, the beam also covered Silvite and Anubis, they shielded their eyes from the brightness, the blast of magic burst outwards from the hole in the ground spending outwards pushing back the rain and clouds.
As the light died down Anubis finally was able to see, what he first saw was a large white marble statue of Thunderous roaring out frozen at over 50ft tall, he sat up with a claw hand feeling the wood of the staff, glancing over to see it was restored and so was he. “I've been healed...” Anubis also noticed everything was glowing around him.
He turn to see Silvite was flying at high speed past him to her home, as she did the land was being restored before the battle even took place, he knelt down to see a flower was restored putting his claw hand over it, Anubis looked up to the hole as it being repaired. The magic washing over it. “Incredible...” He whispered.
Anubis also noticed there was no sign of the massive griffon now, he used his magic to teleport to the house to find Silvite holding up a unconscious griffon in her arms sitting down on her legs. “Oh thank goodness you are okay...” She pulled him close to her chest, stocking his feathered head with the free claw hand.
Anubis looked around to see the whole cavern was back to normal as if there wasn't a battle part from a new addition of a massive marble statue of Thunderous. “Gale didn't kill him... The magic imprisoned Thunderous... Unlike the echo futures I witnessed... The magic also healed and restored us too... Why did it restore me? What changed?” His glowing purple eyes set upon his staff then turn back to the unconscious teenage griffon.
Zerra came tumbling out of the portal in front of Grogar, the blue goat red eyes stared down at the injured zebra. “I gather the cub did that to your face?”
Zerra got up. “Yes! That brat just went into some crazed rage! I didn't even see him move before I got this!” He point a hoof to the three claw cut marks on his left side of the face, blood seeping form it. “Also when his pure magic surged like that! I felt terrified!”
“Hmm... So the reality did as I expected it to do towards pure magic.” Grogar using his magic to pull a blooded yellow talon scale from the cut. “And you brought me what I needed too, good work Zerra. Even without your wish magic abilities you've proven useful still.” Grogar took a good look at the scale.
Zerra stared at it. “M-Master his pure magic was amplified!?”
Grogar put the scale into a small dish closing a lid over it. “Yes, by a factor of 1000 I believe.”
“Wh-What!? That beyond even you at your strongest!”
“Indeed, but we do not need to worry about that reality anymore.” Grogar pick up the dish walking out of the room, Zerra followed.
“What do you mean and what of Thunderous?”
Grogar glance back at him. “Just another pawn in my quest of acquiring the pure magic Zerra. As for the reality, if what Anubis reported to me of the echo future is partly true, pure magic most likely collapsed it.”
Zerra frowned. “What of the cub?”
“Oh the reality gone but Nowhere isn't.”
“How do you even know that master?”
Grogar chuckled. “I have my sources.” Zerra stopped staring at the large blue goat as he continue to walk, the zebra was very confused. “Zerra come, that wound need tending to, I do not want my most loyal serve-servant zebra having a infection from that nasty cut would I?”
Zerra bowed. “Of course Master Grogar.”
Gale suddenly woke up sitting up looking up at the silver dragon holding him. “Gale, how are you feeling?”
“Hunger and tired...” Gale answered.
“No surprise with that kind of magical release you unleashed to create that massive griffon.” Anubis said sitting next to the river with his feet claws in the water. “You've been out for about a hour.”
Gale gasped. “Oh I remember! I know why I wake!”
“Please tell?” Silvite asked.
“I talked to Blue at Dream Cavern! He say he sense two of me!” Gale answered.
“Blue? Dream Cavern? Two of you?” Silvite frowned.
Anubis pulled his claw feet out of the water, standing up he looked over to the stair case leading out of the cavern. “Silvite you have sensors all over Nowhere right?”
“Yes?” She responded in a questionable tone as Gale got off her and checked on the little phoenix chick.
Anubis picked up his staff. “Check them please.”
Silvite frowned. “Why?”
“Just humour me and do it.”
“Fine...” Silvite pulled out her tablet from the bag, she activated the sensor systems to looked surprised at the readings. “That can't be right...” She ran another check on the system.
Gale holding the chick with one talon, the other stroking his head carefully. “What not right?”
Anubis raise his staff at a rock, it break to piece to form into a arch with rune markings appearing on it. “There more than just Nowhere being detected now...” Silvite said.
“I believe walking through this to the peak of the mountain will answer your question and resolve your confusion.” Anubis activated the runes with a magical energy field gate forming. “Come.” He stepped through.
Gale followed him through and Silvite followed, they came out of another rune gate at the peak of the mountain, and what they saw made Silvite have to do a double take at the scenery. “How is this even possible!? And where in the bloody hell are we at!?”
Gale realised where they where, he seen this place in a book. “Oooooo I know! I saw pictures of this in book at Gilda lessons at library! We at-”
Vote for where Nowhere ends up! Updated: closed!
The land of Nowhere new location is at-:
Frozen North (close to Crystal Empire will appear at)
“-Dragonlands!” Gale exclaimed with a talon out to the rough rocky landscape around the land of Nowhere, with lava vents to sulphur fumes and the dark gloomy skins.
Silvite crossed her arms. “Dragonlands... Look more like a lifeless barren landscape full of toxic fumes, heat and lava endless venting out of those volcanoes...” Silvite said in a unimpressed tone.
Anubis looking out to the landscape. “Indeed it seem to be that, but this is what dragons of these lands on the far edges of Equestria like to live in, with Nowhere suddenly appearing the middle of it with a environment not like the Dragonlands it will create a differential effect, it won't be felt now but will be in time.” Anubis explained in a calm voice.
Gale looked around. “And all the creatures here on Nowhere having to adapt to the fact the endless 17 years of rain won't be happening now, that not exactly my concern...” Silvite looked to the west side of the mountain, near was a large forest, large marsh lands within it to what look like a settlement and a lake within the centre of the marsh lands.
Anubis noticed it. “I thought there was only feral beasts here, I never seen or even knew of a settlement in the No-Yantic Marshes...”
“That because the storm and rain created a endless fog around and over it, only for one minute and seventeen seconds standing here you could see it.” Silvite explained. “It home to the tricksters of Nowhere, the Kit-Yantic Clan. A bunch of transformative ability kitsunes with magical powers that are greater to the number of tails each have.”
Anubis was surprised upon hearing this. “I read and seen the myths and legends of the Kitsunes... I always thought they were created from tales about foxes...”
Silvite staring out to the barren lava fields. “Here they exist and most likely their leader blinded your ability to know of them through out time..”
“Sound like you know of this leader.”
“Oh I do.”
“Then ho-”
“Her magic of foresight is scarily impressive for a trickster of a fox she is, told me outside of the marshes not to speak of her, the settlement or her race period cause she felt there was something out there that could be watching. And I didn't and she was right.” Silvite smirked looking over to Anubis. “How does it feel not knowing anything about a small part of Nowhere?”
Anubis smirked back looking back at her. “Refreshing, just like what Gale did to Thunderous, I thought his life was going to end and it didn't, but now a new problem awaits us.”
“Oh?”
“The sudden appearance of Nowhere would draw the attention of the Dragon Lord, and if I am not mistaken it would be Torch.” Anubis looked out into the Dragonlands once again, the staff purple glowing symbol between the two dragon curved heads pulsed. He glanced at it, eyes narrowed upon the glare of it pulsing glow. “Dragon Lord Torch is on approach.”
Silvite crossed her arms. “Anything else I should know about this Torch?”
Anubis turn to the south-east of Nowhere looking out into the horizon. “He a titan dragon and been the Dragon Lord for a very long time, so long that by the laws of the land he will soon have to give it up in a contest what called the Gauntlet of Fire.”
Gale listened to them talk. “How does contest work?”
“The Bloodstone Sceptre is thrown into a island volcano, the dragons that were summoned by the Dragon Lord through the Bloodstone Sceptre are eligible to compete to become the new Dragon Lord of the Dragonlands, also if a dragon ordered through the sceptre within reason of not taking another life they have to obey said command.” Anubis gave a experimentation and what power the sceptre holds over dragons.
Silvite snorted. “Only one that get that job is my sister.”
Gale and Anubis turn to her. “Sister?” They said together.
“How do you think I know the leader of the kitsunes so well?” She gave a sly fanged smirk at both of them. “We watch out for each other, she most likely was there during Thunderous rampage in my underground Eden.”
“If th-”
Gale cuts in on Anubis. “Super griffon pure magic right?”
Silvite nodded. “Correct, she saw as you saw Anubis, as I said, 'her magic of foresight is scarily impressive for a trickster of a fox she is', don't you remember?” Silvite turn her head to Anubis.
The Death Dragon sighed rubbing the bridge of the muzzle. “I am really out of my element here...”
“Tough bloody-” She glance at Gale. “-Luck.” She finished saying the sentence. “Now your their god right?”
“Yes...”
Silvite looked out to the Dragonlands. “They know it right?”
“Yes, my staff's magic overrides the Bloodstone Sceptre power.”
“Does it effect me?”
“My staff?”
“Yes your stupid double dragon head staff! What other staff is out here!?” Silvite growled.
Anubis raised it to her with a pulse of magic washing over her in attempt. “Now here is my attempt...”
“Don't bother trying, I can tell you now it won't work.” She glared at him.
The staff flashed and he spoke out at her ignoring what Silvite just said. “I command you to bow.”
Silvite raise a eye staring at him with annoyance. “You might be the god to them, but your no more a dragon as I am, part from some magical abilities that beyond me, so stop before you really piss me off you bloody ass.” Silvite irritably said to him.
Anubis tried again. “BOW!”
Silvite snarled. “How about I sucker punch you to bow to me Death Dragon!” She turn around to him, her eyes narrowed with a fist clenched, white flames bursting out from the sides of her muzzle showing the rage that was building within her. “Say it one more time, I dare you!”
Anubis lower his staff with a calm smile. “As I thought, Dragons of Nowhere can not be commanded by my staff and thus the Bloodstone Sceptre will not too.” He turned away looking back out to the lands beyond Nowhere.
Silvite stared. “Jackass.” She snorted out some flames.
Gale looked into the bag at Shadow. “You confused?” The chick tilted his head. “Yeah me too.”
Anubis raise his staff to the air. “Time to direct the Dragon Lord to us.” A burst of magic shot off into the sky turning into a massive purple flame dragon, they stared up at it till it faded away. “Now all the dragons of the Dragonlands know their god is present...”
“The way your talking, it as if you do not want them to know their god is here.” Silvite said from what she saw in the corner of her eye.
Anubis clenched and unclenched his free claw hand. “Being the dragons God of the Dead isn't what it crack up to be...”
“Cause we longed lived?” Silvite asked with a bit of snarky tone.
“Yes...” Anubis grumbled, his gaze shift towards the south-east. “Dragon Lord Torch is here.”
Silvite and Gale turn to see the titan dragon slowly coming into view, massive grey-blue dragon with two massive long curved horns on either side of the head, one with a gold band around it, blackish grey vest plate with shoulder plates, orange under webbing of the wing and tail fin at the end, also wearing a orange crystal like crown on his head.
Silvite looked very unimpressed by the large dragon on approach, to her Thunderous was more imposing, Anubis eyes narrow upon the Dragon Lord and a smile fell upon his muzzle. “I just thought of a crazy idea to get Torch to accept the land of Nowhere on arrival.” Anubis raised his staff up the purple symbol glowing brightly. “Be back in a giff.”
Silvite turn around to Anubis. “What a-” A blinding flash of purple energy erupt and all was left a outline of where he once stood. “What the bloody hell!?” She looked around for him.
Gale also looked around. “Where he go?”
“I have no bloody idea...” She looked around till both of their eyes set upon Anubis walking up to them. “Good to see you two again after all this time.”
Silvite stepped right up to him and punched him hard in the gut, he cringed and bent down holding his gut. “That for disappearing on us you jackass!”
“Y-yes I know...” He managed to say slowly lifting himself up using the staff to support himself a little. “I didn't explain but I will now... I did travel 1010 years into the past to cut out this land into the shape of Nowhere before it became part of the Dragonlands. And foretold to the Dragon Lord of that time ten years later this land will be returning 1000 years to that day, which is today...”
Gale blinked and realised what he did. “You created prophecy?”
Silvite grumbled under her breath.
Anubis smirked. “Yes I did, but getting back without being noticed by myself proved a little eventful, and ended up crashing into Pom-Pom's home.” Anubis glanced to her. “That happened a year ago, and I am still repaying my debt.” He lost that smile getting a slight glare from the Silvite. “And I understand how you two got to be sisters too...”
Silvite shook her head. “This is one heck of a bloody stunt you pulled Anubis...” She glares at the Death Dragon.
Gale tilted his head. “Soooooo confused...”
Silvite crossed her arms. “I gather you prepared the dragons for Nowhere arrival with that stunt?”
“Indeed I did.” Anubis calmly said to her. “But my magic to transverse time becoming erratic of late, it took many trips through time to get back to Nowhere a year ago, Pom-Pom advised against trying to use it again.”
Gale tilted his head. “Pom-Pom? Is that your sister Kitsune?” Gale asked Silvite.
“Yes, she is.” Silvite answered. “A kitsune standing at seven feet tall, yellow with pink piecing eyes.” Silvite turn to the Dragon Lord closing in. “We'll meet her after dealing with this bloody mess Anubis put us in.”
Anubis raise a eye. “Mess? Your suggesting I created a mess?”
Silvite took a quick glare at him. “Yes... You interfered with events, gave me a life that I lived for the last 500 years, you even looked into taking it away to take Gale's magic, I can see Gale saw your start of redemption. That a small step in the right direction, but it will take more than a simple stunt like this to clear yourself with me Anubis.”
Anubis closed his eyes. “Yes I know...”
Silvite put her claw hand on the staff, Anubis looked at the silver scaled claw hand closed around it near his armoured one. “While Gale was unconscious, didn't you tell me your magic come from your staff, and it was restored by Gale's pure magic jumbo griffon event?”
Silvite let go of it, Anubis raise his staff looking over it. “My travel back to this point was far more troubling, each one became more tric...ker...” He slowly looked over to Gale. “My time travel magic is fading... How could I overlook this?”
Silvite crossed her arms. “Simple, Your a idiot.”
Anubis growled. “Idiot, I'll-” He went to cast a spell on her to get the silver scaled hand grabbing the staff.
“And you proven my point.” She smirked pushing off the staff causing him to stumble back a few steps.
Anubis magic flared for a second before fading away. “You insulting bloody dragon!”
“That I am a dragon and you are the reason for it, God of the Dead.” She slyly said back to him. “Also your dealing with a dragon that take no crap from others.” She recrossed her arms turning to face the incoming titan dragon. “At the end it all comes back to you.”
Anubis flared out some more magic in frustration. “Silver dragons...” He grumbled.
“Yep and your the reason one isn't dumb as a rock and sleep almost all the time on the biggest horde in the universe.” Silvite snarlingly responded. “Thank you for that Anubis, that another plus to the road of recover, your getting there.” She flared open her wings with a few flaps of display and closed them back up again.
Gale recalled the witty returns at his dad back in the day, another scattered memory finding it way back. “Oooo I remember that wittiness response!” Gale laughed.
Anubis rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. “I am far too old for this bloody crap...” He muttered under his breath glancing over to Torch, he then notice the smaller light blue dragon flying alongside him. “Princess Ember...”
Torch and Ember stop near the peak seeing them all. “EMBER JUST AS THE PROPHECY HAS FORETOLD!” Gale, Silvite and Anubis all looked up at Torch hovering near them with each flap blow the snow dusting around. “NOWHERE HAS RETURNED.”
Ember crossed her arms. “It has dad and there she is the silver star.” Ember's orange red slitted eyes locked into eye contact with the sapphire blue slitted eyes of Silvite, and with that Ember spoke out the words of the prophecy to them all.
“Upon the peak of Nowhere the Silver star shall shine She shall hold up high the Torch of Embers fire to the Lord of Dragons On the Phoenix flame a Gale of light Nowhere will return upon the mark of Purple Flame.”
Torch lands just behind them on the plateau peak just above them wrapping his tail around the lower part, foreclaws on the ground in front of him. Ember land with a fist to the ground with a knee casing the snow to explode upwards and away showing cracked rock under her.
Torch bow his head so did Ember to Anubis. “DEATH DRAGON ANUBIS, WE WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE DRAGONLANDS ONCE MORE, HUMBLY FOR YOU TO STAND WITH US MORTALS AGAIN.”
Anubis bow his head slightly too. “As it is a honour to stand before the Dragon Lord of the Dragonlands and fellow dragons once again.”
Gale stepped up to the foreclaw of Torch looking up at him, he looked back down at the teenage. “Hi! I Gale!”
“GALE? WELL.” He laughed. “ISN'T THIS A SURPRISE, YOU ARE THE GALE OF LIGHT! BE IMPRESSED GRIFFON!”
Gale tilted his head. “How I Gale of Light? You know of pure magic I have? Why be impressed?” Gale asked in confusion.
“MAYBE IT IS LITTLE ONE, PROPHECIES AND LEGENDS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM TO BE!”
“You I more like then big meany Thunderous.”
“THUNDEROUS YOU SAY? THE DARKEST OF DARK DRAGON LORDS, YOU ENCOUNTERED HIM?”
Anubis stepped up beside Gale with a claw hand on the back between the wings of the teen. “Indeed he did, and with his pure magic imprisoned the former Dragon Lord of times past in a marble statue form.”
Torch burst into another bellow of laughter before responding. “THIS LITTLE THING THAT LOOK SO ADORABLE DID THAT!?”
“Indeed.” Anubis looked right into the eyes of Torch. “Also he carries a black phoenix chick.”
“HMMM... THE PHOENIX FLAME... NOW THIS IS SOMETHING TRULY IMPRESSIVE AND I TORCH THE DRAGON LORD IS IMPRESSED!” He laughed once again.
Anubis frowned. “Yet you would of prated a creature as weaklings and a waste of time, even belittling the dragons you rule over it showing your strength and telling the dragons what to do, as in praise me, laugh and so on.” Torch stopped laughing with a bit of fear looking down at Anubis seeing that look the Death Dragon is giving him. “Yet you do not want me to see that when I appear.”
“NO YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG DEATH DRAGON ANUBIS! I-I-”
Anubis raise his staff it pulsing with magical purple energy. “Oh the God of Dead is wrong is he?”
Torch groans in defeat. “NO YOUR NOT...” He took a deep breath and huffed whipping his tail about.
“Just a hint of warning, the cub is also Princess Celestia's son.” Anubis smirked, Torch gulped loudly upon hearing that name. “Now your scared.”
“PLEASE FO-!”
Gale flew up to Torch with a warm smile. “Can I draw you?” Gale pulled out his pencil and drawing book interrupting the titan begging forgiveness to Anubis.
The titan dragon blinked. “DRAW?”
Gale nodded. “I draw, show and you keep! Okay?”
The pleading look Gale was giving, Torch couldn't say no to that look, it was too cute, a weapon of cuteness... “YES... GO AHEAD...” Torch said with confusion in his voice staring at the tiny griffon as he started to draw away into the book.
“Well it seems Gale's good nature wins again.” Anubis frowned. “Even studying all about the cub through time, he still is a surprising youth...” Anubis curious watched Gale do a drawing of Torch, the Dragon Lord staring at the hovering griffon and unsure what to do at this point.
Ember rolled her eyes seeing her dad been knocked down a few pegs of Dragon Lord pride by their god again, and was impressed with the teenage griffon speaking so candidly to her dad. Her interest was now set upon the legendary Silver Dragon, she stepped up to Silvite to see she was looking at the chest level of Silvite, she raised her head up to have Silvite look back down with arms crossed.
Ember crossed her arms back at Silvite trying to look a bit intimidating to the taller silver dragon. “Stories say your the Lord of Dragons, the only dragon not to take the Bloodstone spectre and on purposing greed grew to defeat our darkest evil Dragon Lord Thunderous.” She didn't seem impressed looking up at Silvite. “I would of thought you be as big as dad.” Ember hinted to Torch.
Silvite saw the sly smile Ember was giving, the egging on for a reaction, even she knew Anubis was created that whole story for Nowhere really had existed in this world when it truly never did. “I'll play along with your stupid stunt Anubis, but I am going to rip you a new one for this you bloody ass.”
The silver dragon returned her own sly smile with a calm look upon the young dragon. “One; size isn't what truly matters, but who you really are and that impression counts more.” She raise a claw hand up with one finger up, the second raised. “Two; I do not recall what I did back then, greed endorsed growth and kept like that for hundreds of years does a number on the mind, I only recall flashes and shattered memories of who I once was, only in the last 500 years or so I clearly remember.”
Her third finger raised. “Three; even I shrunk and been around this size for the last 500 years, I have no regrets and liked who I am now. I gained a quite unique sister, and even dealing with that oversized lightning throwing hot head through out those years, I created something I found true happiness and peace in my core.”
“That sound un-dragon like.” Ember curiously frowned.
Silvite uncrossed her arms turning to a bolder unleashing a burst of white fire upon it turning snow to steam and rock to molten lava slab quickly cooling from the fringed air, Silvite showed her thumb. “And finally four, I believe my strength, my flame and being proud of being quite the bad ass of a silver dragon with a hint of kindness, even to have her own legendary story to you youngsters doesn't need a stupid title of Lord of Dragons to prove how tough I am.”
Silvite turn around to Ember to punch the rocky side to cause a massive smash impact splitting damage coming from it. “Is this un-dragon to you?”
Gale curious watched Silvite's actions. “Why Silvite doing that? She strong, why show it like this?”
“It all down to dragon culture Gale, it has a very strange mix of messages that could easily get lost.” Anubis answered.
Ember stared at the cooling lava that once was a rock, and the impact point of the punch, her eyes slowly raising up to Silvite. “Now I believe you are really the Lord of Dragons.” Ember smiled.
Silvite snorted out some white flames. “That easy to impress?”
“No, your just legendary.”
Silvite rolled her eyes. “Legends are not always what they seem to be, I seem like that to you but what I am really is two different things, my home is under this mountain and not so barren as your Dragon Lands are, I guess it what dragons like, but I like what I made myself here on Nowhere.”
Ember listened to her. “Barren? It got stones that get under your claw feet, solphue fumes, lava rivers and pools, it barren to the eyes of others but this is what truly makes a dragon tough.” Ember said with a claw hand out stretched to the lands beyond.
Silvite clenched her claw hand into a fist feeling a bit frustrated with Ember. “Well Nowhere isn't like that, it has barren areas, snow, forests, mashes, desert, ruins and even large sums of water in lagoons to lakes. And with that brings creatures and many dangers that would test your metal kid.”
“Kid!? I-”
“I out live you by a factor of 100.” Silvite countered instantly. “Also as titles go, I think I'll use that Lord of Dragons and say this, I am the top dragon here on this land and what I say goes, got it you bloody little brat!?”
Ember grinned. “Now that a dragon, committed to protecting what is theirs, like my dad to the Dragon Lands! No wonder the tales from the Death Dragon Anubis that were told the new Dragon Lord over 1000 years ago w-”
“Anubis witness this event?”
“What the stories say, he used the magic to trap the land in a pocket universe by your demand, also says-”
Silvite tones out what else Ember was saying as she turn to Anubis, seeing a nervous gaze in return quickly shifting away, she walked up to Ember. “Really now?” She put a claw hand to Ember's shoulder. “Kid, thanks for telling me that.” She move the claw hand away walking towards Anubis.
Ember frowned. “Stop calling me kid!” No response and kept walking with her back Ember. “Hey don't turn your back on me!” Ember growled and got ignored, she let loose fireball from her mouth, the silver dragon calmly use her wing to deflect it harmlessly into the sky to explode, Ember stared dumbfounded by how easily Silvite reacted without even looking.
“Oh Anubis!” Silvite tone of voice gave the dragons a cold chill.
Torch felt uneasy and tense, he watched from his height the silver dragon so ever calmly walk up to Anubis. “AS THE LEGENDS FORETOLD... SHE TERRIFYING... EVEN FOR HER SMALL SIZE.” Torch thought as his watched.
Anubis gulped before responding. “Y-Yes Silvite?”
She stopped a few feet from him. “Your magic, you have a spell to silent a area?”
“I do why?”
“Oh so we can have a little chit-chat out of ear of everyone else.”
Anubis felt even more terrified of her, his heart racing. “I erm... Well...”
“I will give you two choices, you either do it or I'll snap those large horns of yours and put them whe-” Anubis quickly use his magic from the staff to create a purple translucent dome around them.
Gale and the two dragons watched as Silvite started to shot at him and point in their direction, he tried to say something but got grabbed by his horn screaming into his ear, they continue to watch and none seem to be sure what to say or even do.
“Well it seems Silvy really going to town with Anubis, I told him this would happen, she'll be at this for a hour or so, less if Anubis is lucky enough to let her rant at him.”
The female voice beside Ember made all their eyes trail over to fall upon a seven foot tall yellow kitsune sitting on her hunches, twelve tails with different colour flames shimming above each white tip of the twelve yellow tails, blue bandanna around her neck with blue braids through hair like long fur to the sides of her head.
The kitsune was eating something, she raise the forepaw up with a paper bag resting on the paw pads, the head turn with pink eyes look into the orange red ones of Ember and cheerfully said. “Like some candy? It gem flavoured.”
The yellow kitsune looked right up at him. “Wow that some chest plate you got there, and that horn bracelet, must of taken a lot of metal and gold to make them.”
“ANSWER THE QUESTION WHEN THE DRAGON LORD ASKS!”
She blinked. “Ooooooh silly me.” She bump her free forepaw against the side of the head with a giggle. “After 743 years I would of have better manners!” She put the forepaw at the end of her muzzle giggling a bit more before answering his question. “I am Pom-Pom the Kitsune, alpha of the Yantic Clan of the No-Yantic Marshes, pleasure to meet a fellow leader.” She raised her paw up and quickly shift it to look back at it. “Hmm that won't do.”
“WHAT WON'T DO?” Torch stared down at her.
Pom-Pom turn to Ember. “Here hold theses and don't eat them all, I might be a kitsune by I love a good gem flavoured snack.”
Ember being forced to hold the brown paper bag blinked a few times trying to process what exactly was going on. “What?”
Pom-Pom took a few steps back. “Ooooo this is something I haven't done in years!” Before any of them could say anything two of the tail flames glowed, she did a few back flips to do a massive bounce up into the air spinning around in a glow of green and blue magical aura.
Suddenly in a burst of light Pom-Pom not only had wings now and flying, but was as big as Torch was hovering only ten meters from him with a paw out. Their jaws hung open at the sight before them, Anubis even pointed at her inside the sound bubble, Silvite didn't seem to even care, and speak out something at him before going on a rant at the Death Dragon again.
“LET'S DO THIS AGAIN, I AM POM-POM, ALPHA OF THE KITSUNE CLAN YANTIC, OF NO-YANTIC MARSHES OF THE LAND OF NOWHERE.” Her voice boomed with the paw still out to him grinning silly at the Dragon Lord.
Torch slowly lifted his foreclaw up taking the paw to shake it. “DRAGON LORD TORCH... LORD OF THE DRAGONS OF THE DRAGON LANDS...” He seemingly unsure staring at her.
“HEHE I ALWAYS GET THAT REACTION WHEN I SHOW OFF!” She giggled loudly, moving her paw away she spins around backwards again to return to seven feet tall with no wings standing before Ember and Gale. “What?”
Gale had no words with a big smile on his beak, he eyes were starry eyed at the amazing skill of magic she pulled off before them, Ember finally got her voice. “That nothing I ever seen before... How did you grow wings and get THAT big!?”
“Eat one of the gummy bear gem flavoured sweats in that bag and I'll answer that question, fair?” She walked up to Ember hinting to the paper bag.
Ember rolled her eyes. “Fine!” She held the bag in one claw hand, put the other in to take out a bear shape gummy. “How can this squishy thing taste like gems!?”
“Try it.” Pom-Pom sat on her hunches, Torch above staring into empty space where Pom-Pom was once occupied with the foreclaw held out.
Ember rolled her eyes. “Fine I'll humour you Kitsune, just cause I want some answers.” Ember threw into her maw chewing on it, she froze for a second before her wings fluttered with glee as she continue to chew happily and swallow. “Th-That the best gem tasting thing I ever ate!”
“I know.” Pom-Pom giggled. “My friend Vinnix uses transformative magic to turn gem stones into those nice little treats, it a acquired taste though.” Pom-Pom stated. “Now to answer your questions, we kitsunes have magic, each tail flame is a speciality, blue is transformative magic; that work both on me and anything else, the green is to do with size magic; so I can change the size of myself or anything else around me.”
Ember blinked. “You mean you could make my dad smaller? Or me bigger?”
Pom-Pom giggled. “Heck yes! How do you think Silvite shrunk? Not only by getting over her greed, but by a simple bit of my magic that gave her the size and able to walk on two again. The main thing about dragons is that the older they get the BIGGER they get, it biology 101 with dragons.” Pom-Pom looked over to the silent dome.
“YOU USED YOUR MAGIC TO NOT ONLY CHANGE YOUR SIZE TO GREET ME AS A FELLOW RULER, BUT RESPECTIVELY TOO, I AM IMPRESSED BY YOUR METHOD EVEN IT IS SURPRISING.” Torch boomed with a smile.
Pom-Pom slyly smirked. “Please, that just my way of showing who the top dog here, when your in Nowhere not only you got me to tend to, but Silvy too, since my blood bond sister after all.” Pom-Pom's tails swishing around. “Also I believe you dragons got a saying... What was it?” She tap the bridge of her muzzle with a paw.
Torch recalled the tales from his grandfather. “NEVER MAKE A ENEMY OF A KITSUNE...”
“Oh right that right.” She grinned.
Ember crossed her arms. “Seriously? Over some fox that came cast different forms of magic? It impressive but I can't see how we should fear something like you?”
Pom-Pom turn to her grinning. “Oooooo a dragon that doesn't know of the warning passed down the family line, how about I show you.” Her tails magical gassy flames flared with brightness. “Hmm... What should I turn you into?”
One flame pulse freezing Ember in place, she couldn't move. “Wh-What!? I can't move!!”
Torch tried to move but he was frozen in place too. “I CAN'T MOVE!”
“You see this yellow flame, it specially effects dragons, using your very bloodstone magic against you, any dragon that follow the Dragon Lord within a mile will feel it effects too, unable to move and do jack to stop what I am about to do.” Pom-Pom casually walk up to Ember.
Ember tried to free herself struggling to break free. “I might be effected by the sceptre but I am not bound by it!” Ember roared out flaring her wings shattering the magical hold from Pom-Pom, the reaction she got from Pom-Pom was a impressive smile. “I am Princess Ember! Torch is my father and I will not let some fuzzy twelve tail freak do anything to me!” She flew right at Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom just stood there allowing Ember to come right at her, but Gale quickly moved in the way with forelegs out with wings flapping, Ember stopped with her fist inches from his beak, his eyes narrow and staring right into hers. “No fighting!” Gale growled. “I no want this! Stop magic, stop anger!”
Pom-Pom's yellow flame flares for Torch to be able to move again. “Fine by me, I am impressed enough to see not every dragon is blindly bound to the bloodstone.” She lean her head to the left looking past Gale at Ember. “You are a okay dragon, I like you a lot, when we get a free moment we should spar.”
Ember pull her fist back, opening her claw hand up staring at Gale then at Pom-Pom. “You use magic and threaten to turn me into something, and just like that you are cool with me!?” Ember snarled at Pom-Pom
“Pretty much.” Pom-Pom shrugged. “I showed some of my strength and you did too, isn't that what dragons do?”
Gale turn to Pom-Pom and back to Ember. “No fight?”
“Nope, not for now, when we spar it will be a fight consented by both sides for a friendly kicking some tail.” Pom-Pom answered.
Ember snorted crossing her arms. “Whatever... Fine, I'll still kick your fuzzy butt.”
“Look forward to it.” Pom-Pom grinned walking around Gale lifting her paw out to the blue dragon. “Pick a time and place and I'll be there.”
Ember stared at it and smirked back. “Alright, I won't got easy on you mutt.” She took the paw and shook on it.
“Good to know, cause I won't too.”
Torch stared down at them. “NOW I KNOW WHY OUR STORIES OF FEAR TO THE KITSUNES COME FROM, EVEN FOR YOUR SIZES YOU ARE FORBIDDABLE CREATURES.”
“Oh we are.” Pom-Pom giggled. “Now... As Alpha of the Yantic Clan, how about a tour of our settlement for about 40 or so minutes.”
“Your confusing...” Ember growled.
Pom-Pom giggled. “Misdirection, twist and turns, anger and happiness. It all part of the perks of being a Kitsune, any creature need to keep on their toes when dealing with us.” Pom-Pom put a paw under her muzzle looking up at Torch. “Though... We going to have to do something about your size, the place not exactly built for a titan dragon.”
Torch snorts. “I RATHER STAY, I KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING AND I AM NOT GOING TO BE SHRUNK.”
Pom-Pom sighed. “Awww you could have had so many gems.”
“GEMS?”
“Like these sweats we got real deal gems, I could easily part some to you.” She smirked.
“HMMM... FINE FOR ONLY 40 MINUTES!” He agreed to it, the reward of the tour for a large sum of gems was too enticing.
“Gladly!”
“Dad!”
“DON'T DAD ME! THIS IS MY CHOICE!” He roared at her causing the small dragon to be pushed back, she slid with claws on both feet and hands digging through the small layer of snow, into the rock to stop herself from falling off.
“Fine...” Ember snorted standing up with arms crossed again. “This is going to bite you in the tail.”
Pom-Pom grinned. “Oh you do not know how right you are!” She laughed as the blue and green flame magic flares and encase over Torch.
The form shirks and standing before them wearing the chest plate and a ring around one of two curved horns stood a nine foot tall three tail kitsune with no floating flames over them, the sceptre held by the middle one which look like his dragon tail. “Wh-what did you do to me!?”
“Your a dragon kitsune.” She giggled using a flame magic to form a rift to the settlement. “Don't worry it will wear off in 40 minutes, promise you on my Great grandson times seven.” Pom-Pom walked up to Gale whispering into his ear. "I know about you and Silvy, don't worry your in good paws from your aunty Pommy." She giggled, the kitsune turn and walked through the rift.
Gale put his talon through the fur of Torch afterwards. “Oooo furry and scaly, weird and cool!” He smiled warmly.
Ember laughed with hot flames coming out onto the ground. “Hahah Dad hahaha you hahaha-” She fell over on her back laughing harder.
Torch growls lowly. “Never speak of this to any dragon...” He stared at the rift. “Damn kitsunes... I should of listened to my grandfather more than I did...” He muttered regretting his bad choices in the past as he walked through the rift.
Ember sat up holding her chest. “Oh that I will never get out of my head.” She chuckled.
Gale turn to the bubble, Silvite say this happen and nodded to him with a smile, Gale turn to Ember grabbing her hand claw pulling the blue dragon up onto her claw feet. “Come let go! Explore!”
“Hey let go! Stop pulling! How in the name of the Death Dragon your so strong for something so small and cute!?” Ember shouted in protest getting dragged through the rift by Gale.
The rift closes, Anubis sighed in relief seeing they were gone and Silvite seem to be in a good mood. “Are you done?”
Silvite turn to him. “Oh I only getting started.” She growled turning to Anubis, the Death Dragon grumbled under his breath as she started to rant and rave at him again.
Ember pulled out of the other side to the rift, she finally let go from the teenage griffon's iron grip, rubbing her claw hand with the other Ember soon saw they were standing before two large stone pillars covered in green vines, ahead seem to be a large sum of trees sticking out of the water, many surrounded by emergent weeds.
Torch looked around flexing his leather wings on the back of his vulpine temporary body. “I gather this settlement is straight ahead?”
Pom-Pom smirked. “Indeed Lord Torch.” She put her paw to the tip of the muzzle, she blew to whistle.
Bursting out of the water two blue kitsunes with a chest silver armour plate, silver bracelets on each four legs, helmets over the vulpine heads, they had four tails each with red floating flames over each of them. “Alpha!” They saluted with one forepaw while holding a silver tip spears held by the other forepaw.
“Please raise the bridge.”
“Yes Alpha!” They said together parting ways with their flames flashing, Gale, Torch and Ember watched a set of stone slabs emerge from the water leading feather into the No-Yantic Marshes. “Welcome to the Kit-Yantic Settlement, Lord Torch, Princess Ember and Prince Gale! Enjoy the Festive of the Sun!” They said together and stood firm with one bang of the spear poles against the stone floor.
They all turn to Pom-Pom. “Explain.” Torch growled. “The Dragon Lord demands a explanation!” Torch said in a demanding tone, the sceptre wrapped around the dragon tail between the two kitsune ones shimming with red magical light.
Gale knew that answer. “Anubis told Pom-Pom.”
“How?” Ember frowned with confusion.
“Come with me and I'll give you the best answer I can give, it will take a few minutes to get to the settlement.” Pom-Pom smiled waving her paw for them to follow across the wet stone path that now reviled to them.
They followed past the guards, as they walked off each section the ones behind started to sink back into the water, the guards jumping back into the water. “How did our god Anubis know we be coming here?” His attention drew to the swaying of the twelve tails as Pom-Pom walked ahead, the flames above moving in sync.
Pom-Pom turn her head slightly, glancing back to him to see his eyes following her tails. “Anubis is your Death Dragon, God of the Dead, you really think that dragon will reveal how he knew?” Pom-Pom responded. “Would you risk demanding answers from a Death Dragon, who has magical experiences that could be on par with you and level your home, and your fellow kind?” Pom-Pom twisted the subject towards Anubis, his magic and the risk of knowing how he knew.
Torch didn't get to answer when Ember did. “No, no one that stupid, dad wouldn't risk so much lives for one answer, rather not anger a Death Dragon with that level of magic...” Ember looked over to her kitsune dragon hybrid dad. “Right dad?”
He growled a little. “Right.” Ember knew from that look she got, he was about to and most likely hiddenly thanking her from stopping him making a ass of himself.
Ember noticed the pillars they were walking by as the stone platforms rose in front of them, and others fell back into water behind them, the top of them had kitsune statues with rubies on the forehead. “They not statues are they?” Ember asked getting a deep feeling those unmoving stone eyes were watching them as they pass.
Pom-Poms plan had worked, the subject on that matter had been changed and now focused on something else, Gale on the other claw knew differently and about to speak when he heard Pom-Pom in his head. “Best not to tell them about time travel, they most likely won't believe you he travelled through out time.”
Gale blinked staring at Pom-Pom walking ahead of them, he responded in thought. “But it a lie...”
“Yes to us it is, clear as day, but this lie goes back close to 22,000 years of Dragon history, remember he travelled through time back and forwards for that long in the Dragonlands and Nowhere, he a part of their culture, their history, as much as Nowhere lands are. Telling them this will not feel like a lie to them but a insult.”
Pom-pom's expernation didn't sit right with Gale, but she had a very valid and good point, this had been going on far beyond any life span, even his mother's Celestia. “Okay, I won't say anything about it...”
“I know it feels wrong to you, feels wrong to me, but everyone, everything has secerts that never revealed for the best of reasons... It a very grey area that neither wrong or right...” Pom-Pom responded in thought, she glance back at Ember to speak to Ember after not responding for half a minute. “Princess Ember, you are right, they guards posing as statues, how did you notice?”
Ember looked at the next set they walked by. “The smell from the gems are really strong and tasty, even my dad's mouth watering at the smell of them.” Ember looked ahead at Pom-Pom. “I say it part of your transformative magic, pretend to be something, even look and smell it too.”
Pom-Pom did a back flip twist to face them directly as she walked now backwards. “Impressive Princess Ember, that was done on purpose to see if any dragon or gem eater would pick up on that, think of it as a test to see if any really notice and impress us.” Pom-Pom looked over to Torch. “I gather you realised this too, but choose to not to say?”
“Yes! Your swaying of the tails and those flames were distracting!”
Pom-Pom giggled. “Oooo you like my tails and flame do you?” She did a twist jump to walk forwards again swaying them again.
Ember put her claw hand over her head shaking it. “Dad...”
Gale was confused. “I no understand, what wrong with looking at tails sway with pretty flames on top?” Gale asked.
Ember turn her head looking down at the teenage griffon. “Nothing, it just nothing.” She said awkwardly and turned away as the scales under her eyes turn from blue to a soft pink.
Gale tilted his head. “Erm... Okay?” Suddenly he started to hear drumming and piano music ahead. “Oooo I hear music!” Ember sighed in relief hearing it, she didn't need to explain that one to this innocent looking teenage cub.
Pom-Pom now completely satisfied as the key question was swept under everything that happened in the last few minutes walk. “Welcome to the Kit-Yantic settlement Mystic KI.” Coming around a large set of trees they came into view of a curving stone platform path leading to a large stone arch with kitsune markings on it, at the top of it a red ruby kitsune sitting on it hunches holding up a large sphere diamond, with nine tails spread out behind it.
They stopped after stepping off the last platform, it sunk into the water and they looked at the archway entrance, three kitsunes to the left and to the right of it with spears held in their left paws to the mirrored right for the other kitsunes. “That no kitsune pretending to be that is it?” Torch asked staring at the beauty of the statue holding the diamond sphere high above it head.
“Nope, that was something Silvite made, took her many years to make, it sit at the main entrance arch of Mystic KI as a testament of our bond with Silvite and us Kitsunes, more personally to me due to our bond as sisters.” Pom-Pom answered, in view was stone walk ways over water with buildings built over mostly watery landscape with large trees around it.
Gale walked up to the arch way curiously, he saw ahead what look like a large circular stage with a lot of kitsunes around it, others were at stalls, rides or sitting down enjoying a meal, all around were banners, decorations with a sun on it with blue sky and white clouds behind it. “Wow!”
The others walked through seeing it too. “How did we not notice any of this while flying over?” Ember asked with a frown.
“Easy, look down and at the roofs, fly up and take a good look from above.” Pom-Pom grinned.
Torch, Ember and Gale did so to get a look down below, the stone walkways to the building roofs and balconies of some of the houses, they all were coloured in a way to blend in with the marshes. “Impressive...” Torch couldn't tell what were marsh lands and homes from the sky, even he could see the different colour kitsunes having fun at the festival now.
“It camouflage! I no can tell from above what marshes and what town!” Gale looked around before landing again.
Ember lands seeing different wall homes, with shops and neon lighting signs on them. “That is really clever... No wonder we couldn't see it, you kitsunes really live up to the myths...”
Pom-Pom giggled. “What can I say? We like to trick the eye.” She waved around only one tail, Ember stared seeing the kitsune had only one, till it flare out to twelve once again like a fan. “Now shall we see the show before it over? If I recall correctly, the triplets Dang, Pang, Tang are performing at the moment.”
“Dancing foxes?” Gale asked.
“In short yes.” Pom-Pom responded, they walked up towards the crowd, when they approached the large circlar stone platform with the stage on it, with a eight pillars holding up at roof, on the underside of the roof sat cameras, that when Ember noticed the large screens showing different angles of the dancing three orange kitsunes with black tails, ears tips and paws. Behind them were different colour kitsunes drumming away, between them were others playing on electric pianos.
High above them were lights flashing around over the musicians and the dancers to the beats, Torch and Ember could watch them at the stage to the large screens around them. “How are we seeing it in front of us and on those things?” She said loudly over the music.
“Reverse engineered the tech from the Forgotten Ruins! I'll talk more later! Enjoy the show!” Pom-Pom partly answered and point a paw to the stage.
They joined the crowd of orange, green, blue, purple, pink, red, black, grey, white and all shades of colour kitsunes from all ages that gathered around enjoying the show. The triplet kitsunes to each drum beat with the electrical tones of the pianos danced, they stood one third apart from each other, swishing their six tails around, shifting their forelegs around to do a few back flips, standing on their hind legs they shift and step around.
The magical floating flames leaving sparks of flame behind like streams of light, they continue to drum their paws to each drum that beaten down by the other kitsunes, soon they do a few back flips till leaping over the musicians and land in the middle of them as the stage section they on start to rise a little.
The triplets soon dancing around each other, padding around to leaping over each other, the mix of flame light creating a majestic sight before all, the drumming and piano play start to pick up paste, they clapping forepaws to twisting around each other on one or two paws, they turn to the crowds with tails twisted around each other, eighteen flames become one big one glowing brightly as they froze in the final pose.
They stood on the right hind paw only, the left raised up against their torso, the forelegs spread out with forepaws touching each others, their heads bent down with their golden slitted eyes looking to the ground, finally the flame unleash a burst of orange wave of energy outwards as the final group bang from the drummers hit.
The pulse of magic washed over the crowd, they soon were cheering loudly jumping about, as the triplets jump down and stood at one end of the platform to bow to the crowd with the musicians, they walked over to the next side and did the same till they came back around again.
As they started to leave the stage with equipment and all, a kitsune light blue with five tails, dark blue paws, tail and ear tips wearing a head set on the fluffy furry hair style stepped up onto the stage. “Let's hear it one more time for the Kit-Trips!” She said and the kitsunes cheered loudly, some whistling.
Soon the cheering died down she spoke up. “Today mark the first of many days to come with the sun high in the sky! Thanks to Anubis we got a heads up on this day to come, enjoy it in this amazing Festival of the Sun! I know we've always lived in the endless rain and darkness, but now we get to have something that none of us ever had, a day and night cycle that only were told in fairy tales when we were young!”
She walked around the stage, her pink eyes looking around the crowd of kitsunes. “Now from the new born to the elders, we all will be living in a new light to life here on the land of Nowhere, the light and warmth from the sun high above us, now those pesky feather kitsunes got work to do now, don-yaw!” She got hit by a small lightning blast on the rear causing her to jump forwards, rubbing her backside with a tail to see a black three tail kitsune laughed with a black cloud to the right of him.
“Hard-de-ha-ha!” She shook her head getting a mix of laughter from the crowd. “Now up next is our beloved Alpha's son Skip, he to take the stage to preform his own original song to us all! Give is up to the pink furred trickster of the crown Skip!” They cheered as a pink dragon with eight tails fly in and do a spin to change into a light pink fur kitsune, dark pink tail and ear tips, dark pink paws, four flames blue and four flames yellow around over the tails.
The curly fur on top of the head and three spiky ends to each ear, feathered wings flapping till they close by his sides with dark pink feather ends, the sharp dark pink eyes look around as he dance around a few times, swishing around his tails till he came to standing beside the announcer bowing to the crowd with a very cheeky smile on his muzzle.
Raising his paw to tap the side of the head set. “Heeeelllllllo Mystic KI! I can see everykitsune is have a great time already! I've sure been!” That got a mighty cheer from the kitsunes. “As our beloved announcer Russy just said, I got a song to sing and been working on this beauty from the moment we knew this day was coming!”
Skip walking around the stage noticed his mum, Gale, Torch and Ember, he stared at the Dragon Lord. “Damn it mum, you really had to go with my drawing...” He moved the gaze away walking around again as the kitsunes moved in equipment from drums and pans, guitars, piano and other instruments. “I've really been eager to sing this to you all! If you feel that magical moment to join in! Do so! This is a special moment for all of us on this day! And we only partly done! And you know why!?”
They all spoke up at once with him having a paw to a ear. “The raising of the Moon!”
“That is correct! The raising of the Moon!” He flared his tails to form a image of a moon above him before bursting to magical dust raining down around the crowds, kits trying to catch it with their paws. “Now who ready to sing!”
“Yeah!” They responded.
“I CAN'T HEAR YOU!” He screamed out.
“YEAH!” They cheered louder.
“Better!” He turn to the kitsunes at the instruments. “Ready to give us some tones?” They raise a paw in response. “Hit it!”
As the music starts to play Torch saw the smile from the muzzle of the Alpha. “Son?”
Pom-Pom glanced at him for a second. “Oh yes, that my son Skip, his 299 years old and still as creative as ever as he is a big pain in all twelve tails of mine.” She warmly kept the smile. “You knew cause of your connection to Ember didn't you?”
“Of course, what kind of father would I be not to see that? Or a Dragon Lord, be impressed!”
Pom-Pom rolled her eyes. “Yes oh Dragon Lord I am impressed.”
Torch sat down on his hunches. “Now I command you to turn back to normal without the size!” He point the paw at her speaking rather loudly.
Pom-Pom put the tail to his muzzle tip. “The performance about to start, now shhh.” Pom-Pom completely ignored what Torch just shouted at her.
Torch crossed his forelegs grumbling under his breath, Ember smirked seeing his attempt to sway the trickster kitsune fail. “Nice try dad, but even I saw that wasn't going to work.” She whispered to herself as Skip, Pom-Pom son was about to perform.
Gale lift the flap open for the black phoenix chick to see. “Look singing about to start, it be fun to watch.” Shadow didn't know what Gale said, but was curious about all the strange musical sounds coming from that direction though, curiously listening and watching.
Skip tapping his right forepaw to each drum beat from the drummer kitsune banging sticks down on the drums steadily, the strings of the electric guitar being plucked by another with purple fur standing on her hind legs, a white one tapping the forepaws on the keys of the piano, two green kitsunes playing the saxophones.
Skip start to sing out to the crowd doing a few movements with his four paw, swishing is tails around.
For the first time, we see the sun! The tales become true We stand on a histrionic moment And now we celebrate it!
The magic from his tails flare and a image appear above him, it showed a land covered in rain till the clouds part showing multiple appearances of the island in all directions as far as it can go, he open the wings flying around it.
Before this moment, it was so different The sun was only a myth For seventeen years we only had... rain Part from a minute or so!
The realm we once knew, maybe gone But it will be with us forever We will tell tales to the young This is part of our le-ga-cy!
Skip start to form glowing floating stairs running up them outside and around the stage, climbing up over it as he continue to sing, showing the sun behind him setting, to the moon rising up, followed by stars shining and than the moon setting to the sun raising once more.
The sun shining high the sky Soon it will set and the moon shall rise The moon shining high in the sky Soon it will set and the Sun shall rise
This is the cycle of a day, Day and Night that comes This is the cycle of a day Waking and sleeping to each day
He stand on the roof with wings flared out, magical orbs flying around, zooming over the crowds in all directions, around the stages, a few of the young kits catch these magical orbs for them to harmlessly pop, getting laughter from them.
We shall dream of our past We will move ahead We will adapt, and we will adjust We will remember of our past!
The kits will grow in a whole new world We will grow with them all Teaching, learning and having fun The kitsune way shall never change
Kitsunes join in with Skip as the verse of the sun rising and setting with the moon came around, they getting into the swing of it, waving their tails with magical energy floating up around Skip.
The sun shining high the sky Soon it will set and the moon shall rise The moon shining high in the sky Soon it will set and the Sun shall rise
This is the cycle of a day, Day and Night that comes This is the cycle of a day Waking and sleeping to each day
Two kitsunes, one black and one white raise up on magical glowing platforms with black flames over their three tails, the magic flares up creating a whirling mass of darkness over head blocking the view of the sun, this got some kitsunes skittish upon the sight, but than a moon appear in the middle of it with stars appearing one by one.
When the moon shines So will the stars We will see wondrous things And maybe something new
They so transfixed on it including Pom-Pom, Gale, Ember and Torch.
Bump in the night Our ears shall twitch We become wary what is in the night And then it will go...... BOO!
Skip screamed out to the right of Ember, her reaction was roaring in fear and punching right at that direction to hit a log pillar.
I got you~ Hehehehee...
Skip sung to the left of Ember with a laugh, she kicks out to hit another log pillar, growing as this kitsune evaded two attempts to hit him with ease and put in his place log pillars, she looked around for him to see him flying just in front of her giving a teasing wave of the paw.
Ember snarled and flew at him, Torch just laughed as she gave chase at the pink kitsune as he sang the final verse of the song, Pom-Pom put her forepaw to her head shaking it with a groan, Gale laughing and clapping away to the song.
Ember chasing him in, around and out of buildings around the stage.
The sun shining high the sky Soon it will set and the moon shall rise The moon shining high in the sky Soon it will set and the Sun shall rise
This is the cycle of a day, Day and Night that comes This is the cycle of a day Waking and sleeping to each day
The dark swirling mass vanish with the sun shining bright again, at the end he quickly turn around as the music sudden stop to plant his muzzle against Ember's snout as she slam to a stop right in front of him, her blue scales instantly turn red under the eyes, she quickly pulled away staring at Skip grinning at her, she looked around seeing the kitsunes cheering for the musical number and seemingly unphased by what Skip just did to her.
Torch was laughing at what just happened, and Ember saw a lake in the distance, she decided to get Skip back by grabbing him by the foreleg and throwing him over her shoulder right at the lake as hard she possibly could.
At the lake a light greyish blue kitsune sitting on a boat fishing, the elderly kitsune saw in the corner of his eye Skip coming in. “Hehe trust that kit to get into trouble again.” His tail flames flash and the fishing pole transform into a upside down umbrella.
Skip smash into the water causing a huge wave to splash outwards from the impact, water rain down around the boat and over the upside down umbrella. The pink kitsune surfaces punching a forepaw into the air out of the water. “Totally worth it!!!”
The elder kitsune change the umbrella into a fishing neat to see he caught thanks to Skip a dozen or so fishes, Skip swam up to the boat seeing the catch. “How many times has this been so far this year?”
“29.” Skip chuckled. “But this is far the best!”
“Whatever you say kit...” The greyish blue kitsune chuckled softly.
Ember land in front of her dad screaming at him. “Stop laughing!”
Torch manage to say before laughing harder. “You throw him into the lake, that soft compared to what you did to dragons before, hahaha!”
“S-soft!? Dad I am not soft!” This got him to laugh harder, Gale watched in confusion as Ember continue to scream at her dad.
Pom-Pom shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder if Skip is truly my eldest...”
Anubis and Silvite not to far away stood on a roof, they had watched everything that happened, the death dragon rubbing his horns on the head as he spoke. “I feel that my horns are going to ache for a long time and my ear drums ringing even longer... Did you have to be that extreme?” Anubis grumbled.
Silvtite with her arms crossed looking over to Gale answered him. “It got the point across, did it not?”
“Yes...” He muttered and turn his eyes to the lake with the wave hitting the shores. “I gather from your unphased reaction to that kitsune being tossed, this is a norm?”
Silvite turn her head towards the lake. “Pretty much, his pranks can go over the top and end up him being cratered.” She glanced at a impact mark on the ground near by.
Anubis saw her glance and also saw the crater. “I gather that your doing?”
“Yes, he teased me to chasing him and did the same dead stop to get a kiss, I then tossed him in a fit of rage right into that ground.” Silvite chuckled lightly. “And that kitsune just got back up on his paws as if it never happened, he one resilient kit.”
Anubis raise a eye brow. “You speak as if he just a child.”
Silvite walked over to the edge of the roof looking over at the stage as the announcer speak out, and the kitsunes start to go off in different directions to enjoy the other parts of the festive. “You can live for 1000 years and at age 300 your still as immature as you are at 150, a two kitsune that live for 120 to 150 years be more mature than someone that lives a lot longer.”
Anubis hummed. “So depending on the life span on the individual, depends on how fast they mature.”
“Pretty much.” Silvite looked over to Torch. “Even Pommy is the alpha and over 700 years old, how mature do you think she is?”
Anubis gave a smile. “I gather that 40 minute time has a twist?”
“Hours maybe.” Silvite smiled.
“Days?” Anubis chuckled
“Weeks, months or years.” They said together laughing at the thought of Torch realising he got played again by Pom-Pom.
They watched Pom-Pom lead Gale over to a tent where a festive game could be played at, she talking to him and showing him how to play it.
Walking out of the water Skip shook off some of the water from his fur and wings, he standing on the sand turn his head. “It would be fun if it was days, weeks, months or years, but...” He raise a forepaw up.
“That would be a bit too far, don't you think readers?” He grinned with the eight tails of flames glowing brightly. “How many hours do you think it will take for Torch to realise that my mum tricked him again? If you think it was going to be that simple, well we Kitsunes, it in our nature.”
Skip turn to walk away before stopping to turn his head putting a paw to the muzzle. "Let's keep this between us okay? Pinkie doesn't need to know." He winked before turning his head back around. “See you on the next chapter! Kits!” He raised a paw waving it as he walk back into settlement.
Doctor Trace sitting in his office looked through the sheets of paper of his patients test results, he looked over to the other side of his desk to the blue unicorn with white, light and dark blue mane, he placed the papers down to using his magic to scribble down on a piece of paper presenting to her.
The unicorn took the paper. “Minuette this perception will ease the headaches you've been getting since over taxing your magic, take two every four hours and please keep your magic casting to simple levitations for the next two days, okay?”
Minuette smiled warmly. “It will be of great help doctor, I will make sure to take it easy.” She got up from the chair walking to the door.
“Good to hear, if you are still having painful headaches after a few days, please come back for some scans over your horn.” Trace requested.
Minuette opened the door. “Will do Doctor Trace! Thank you!” She said cheerfully walking out and closing the door behind her.
Trace looked to the clock on the wall. “One last patient to see and I'll go for lunch with Amber.” He said to himself waiting for the last patient to come through the door, he pulled up the file to see it was a griffon.
“Right hind leg injury, sprained left wing, blast wounds from unicorn magic...” He sighed seeing the reports, seeing that the injuries were caused by those he tended to before the mint blue unicorn. “So that why there was a guard escort with each of those four unicorns...” He muttered under his breath. “They picked a fight that they couldn't win, now I bet they will try to twist the story to say it was the griffon that were the aggressor... Than you have a paper or two say this is fact when the truth is far from it...”
Nurse Pink Heart opened the door. “Big-Rig the griffon to see you Doctor Trace.”
Trace took the coat off then change his form into a griffon and put on his griffon form coat. “Thank you Nurse Pink Heart, please let him in.” He sat down at the desk.
“At once Doctor.” She said without a reaction to his griffon form, Pink Heart gotten use to it.
Soon the small orange griffon with black stripes hobbled into the office with his right hind leg raised up bandaged up with his left wing. “A griffon doctor?” Big-Rig surprised to see a griffon.
Trace felt transformative magic around the forelegs, he got sense it through his magic. “Some sort of gloved enhancements to make them look very talon like, for his size I gather his a finch griffon, I know of Maple and Sunflower...” He suspected Big-Rig to be a finch griffon. “Also the name a Big-Rig is a dead give away too, if what Greystorm said is correct about Finch Griffon culture naming their young after big successes in the family.”
Trace got up walking up to the bed raising a talon to it. “Please if you can sit on the bed, Big-Rig.”
“Yeah sure...” He walked up to it to use his talons to pull himself up onto the bed and sit on it.
“Also I like you to remove those magical enhancement talons too, they will interfere magically to tending to your injuries.” Trace said calmly to Big-Rig.
The small griffon stared at him coldly. “What did you say?”
Trace point to one of the talons. “I can sense a form of transformative magic around those talons, they most likely some form of gloves with magical enhancement gems embedded in them to make them look like the real deal by touch, including you using them as if they are really your talons.” Trace still spoke with calm.
Big-Rig still stared at him. “They n-”
“You can continue to try and lie to me Big-Rig.” The tone of saying the name made the orange griffon loosen his stare. “I know of Finch Griffon culture and how they name their young from inventions or improvements of technology, also I happen to know of one that stand nine hooves tall named-”
“-Sunflower.” Big-Rig said with Trace the last part before chuckling. “Look like I found myself into the trusted circle of those that know about my kind.” He start to remove the talons to show his forepaws. “What a lucky break for me.”
Trace start to remove the bandages on the hind leg. “Indeed, and it seem you know of us.”
Big-Rig flinched from the cool touch of the talons over his hind leg. “Yeah Maple kept me in the loop, just didn't exactly told me who part from Greystorm and his changeling wife Octicovix.” He squawked in pain from the touch. “Watch it you macaw buzzard!”
Trace hummed. “It fractured.” Magic flow around his talons over it carefully. “Luckily this healing spell will speed up the healing process of that fracture, but you will have to keep little to no weight on that hind leg for a few days.” Trace started to bandage it back up with new bandages.
Trace look to the wing. “Also keeping that wing bandage up will help heal that sprained wing of yours.”
Big-Rig stared at the magic coming off the talons. “A griffon can do magic!?”
“I am a unicorn by birth, this pearl stop me from randomly shifting from unicorn to griffon and back again, I messed with magic I shouldn't have.” He saw no reaction from Big-Rig. “You seem to be okay with what I just said...”
The small finch griffon shrugged. “I beat the crap out of four unicorns that started on me, first by words and when they didn't get a reaction they used their magic to trip me up, drop things on me and zap me. So in kind I returned the favour by smashing a sign into one of their horns, clawing and showing the terror of a griffon can percent even for his size.” He said calmly to Trace.
“If that hard to believe a small cub size griffon like me can knock out four unicorn smart asses, getting told some griffon that is a unicorn in reality messed with magic he shouldn't have seem very believable.” Big-Rig continue to calmly talk Trace.
Trace walked up to the desk, sitting at it he pulled out from a draw a piece of paper, he wrote on it in griffish for medication for the finch griffon. “Fair point.” He signed it and came back to Big-Rig. “Take this to the chemist on the ground floor, she will provide you with medication you will need to take for the next five days.”
Big-Rig took it. “That all to it?”
“Pretty much, you came out fair better then the unicorns-” Trace responded, than he felt his magic respond to something high above and far away, it was quickly approaching from the south Easterly direction. “That strange...” He walked up to the window to the balcony looking out to the horizon.
Big-Rig was about to say something but his right ear twitched and he flinched pulling it out of his ear, he put it back in after a second. “Gritter stop screaming into the headset and repeat that without the drama!” He growled.
“Sorry sir! But satellite sensors little under three hours ago picked up a huge release of unknown magic from the Dragonlands! The information just reached us and the shockwave is in the troposphere and coming our way! It be passing over us in the next few minutes from the south by south east!”
Big-Rig saw Trace looking out the window in said direction. “He can feel that magic coming our way?”
“Sir?”
“Keep the line open.” Big-Rig snapped back. “Hey Doctor!” Trace turn to him. “There a huge wave of magic coming right over our heads in the next few minutes, you can sense magic, what kind is it?”
Trace slowly looked back out the window, he flick the talon to open it up to step outside onto the balcony looking at the horizon, the finch griffon got down from the bed hobbling over to him. “It pure magic and I felt this magic before, it Gale's and far greater than I ever felt...” He start to see the wave of whitish blue magic racing over the sky. “Oh sweet Celestia that huge...”
Big-Rig frowned seeing nothing. “I don't see a damn thing! All I see is blue sky!”
“Sir it should be there! It on the sensors but even I can't see it either!”
“Hmm...” Big-Rig frowned seeing the look from Trace's griffish expression. “Yeah we can't but the doc griff can, his showing a really freakish look of fear right now...”
Trace head slowly raised up with his eyes following the wave passing over with a swirling mass of magic being left behind in it wake. “I can... Also my name is Trace and seeing some sort of wake of magic left behind the wave.”
Big-Rig looked around. “Magical wake?”
“I can confirm it from the images, the pure magic wave left a wake from it that look like it will end up becoming global in less than four hours at the current speed of the wave travelling...”
“So we have a shockwave that started from in the middle of the Dragonlands that travelling global and leaving magic in it wake that stuck in the sky!?”
“Yes...”
“No wonder you got told about this just now... The minsters must be unable to figure out to resolve this...” Big-Rig looked up at Trance. “You said this is Gale's pure magic, right?”
Trace nodded looking around at the sky. “It is... But it couldn't be... Yet it is”
“And why that?”
“You said it came from the Dragonlands, Prince Gale is with his mum at the Wonderbolt Derby at the moment over at the Sky Arena of Canterlot.” Trace lowered his gaze to Big-Rig. “Yet the magic I am sensing it is his... That what not making sense.”
Big-Rig rubbed the back of his neck. “There no help coming from me to understand this level of magic, your talking to the wrong Finch Griffon, I am more of a business and techo Finch that get the job done when those see it impossible.” Big-Rig stated. “It seem harmless enough, so I-”
Trace cuts him off. “If there a layer of pure magic between the sun, moon and the princesses there will be no sun set or moon rise.”
“What?” Big-Rig looked very surprised. “How can this pure magic stop that!?”
“It interferes with Equestrian magic, Princess Celestia control the sun, Princess Luna control the moon, they won't be able to use their magic to move them with that blanketing the sky.” Trace looked down at Big-Rig. “Now does that seem harmless?”
Big-Rig looked fearful at what Trace just said. “Y-you seem awful calm about this Doc...”
Trace went to his desk pulling out a sign and put it on the other side of the door to his office. “Because in the last three months I been dealing with a lot, this seem to be a norm...” He picked up the talon gloves giving them to Big-Rig. “We going to Princess Celestia.”
“WE!?”
“Yes, she aware of your technology as I am, you can see the pure magic with these satellite thing Gritter spoke of.”
“He can hear me through your ear piece sir?”
Trace looked to the right ear. “Yes, Macaw Griffon ears have a sensitive range on certain frequencies and you are using one that make it loud and clear.” Trace responded.
Big-Rig frowned. “Than we going to sort that out later Gritter.”
“Aye...”
Trace put his talon out. “Now I am going to carry you.”
“WHAT!? No your-”
“Can you fly or even run?”
Big-Rig growled. “DAMN IT TO HELL AND BACK!” He roared seeing he could do neither. “Fine! But this doesn't leave either you or Gritter! And anything about this moment is to be wiped from all servers and THAT final!”
“Ay-aye sir... I'll triple make sure of it and-”
“You better or I will show what a injured midget can do.” Big-Rig threatened as he put the talons on. “Now let's get this over with before I rather hobble there!”
“Very well it only a s-” Trace noticed a pony that was flying near by frozen in mid-flap. “What the blazes?” He looked around seeing everything seem to just- “Stopped?”
Big-Rig saw this too. “What going on?”
Trace continue to look around. “Time frozen...”
Big-Rig quickly try to contact Gritter. “Gritter can you hear me!?” No Response came. “GRITTER RESPOND!”
“While time is frozen he will be unable to respond, I do suggest you talk to Princess Luna Solarclaw.” A female voice spoke from behind them, a bluish white glow caught the corner of their eyes, they turn around to come face to face with a anthropomorphic avian.
Trace realised who she was, Celestia told him of her encounter only last night coming to see him to get a much needed check over after returning from Trottingham. “Avatar...”
Big-Rig squint his eyes at the brightness of the shimming magic coming off her. “Avatar?”
“I am, I gather from this unsurprised reaction you were made aware of my existence?” She directly said to Trace.
Trace walked right up to her. “I heard when you make yourself known to those that you need to talk to time freezes, or goes a tad bit slower. Am I correct?”
“Indeed.” She confirmed. “This is my second time directly coming here after my direct encounter with Gallus.” Avatar looked over to Big-Rig. “I am the reason also why your airship ended up being caught up in the cargo matador check up.”
Big-Rig growled. “So my encounter with those snooby griffons would of never happened if you didn't do that!? YOU-” Trace grabbed his foreleg as he pounched. “Let go! I-”
“Stop, she did this for a reason, to directly go against her own rules in such a manner.” Trace said to Big-Rig holding him back.
Big-Rig snarled. “Better be a good damn reason!”
She waved a talon hand. “Look at the sky.” They did and Big-Rig could see the pure magic wake frozen in the sky. “This should of never happened, tomorrow for you was yesterday for me, this never happened and now it has.”
Trace turn back to her letting go of Big-Rig, he seem conflicted by what she said now. “Explain!” Big-Rig demanded.
“A dragon called Anubis lead a chain of events that would lead Gale tomorrow to end up in the past by a day and to the Land of Nowhere.”
“Anubis the Death Dragon, the dragons god of the dead?” Big-Rig raised a eye brow in surprise. “I heard of him from Dragon Legends, he real?”
Avatar nodded. “Indeed.” She walked by them calmly standing at the balcony placing both talon hands on the railing looking up at the sky. “His actions through time lead to Nowhere appearing to your perspective in time little over three hours ago.”
Big-Rig rubbed the bridge of his beak. “Your saying that this Death Dragon has time magic?”
“Correct and used it recklessly, I been trying for the last 24 hours in my perspective of time to fix what he created, this I can not and the only way to fix it is to take Princess Luna to the source of the Pure Magic release from Prince Gale.”
With a wave of her right talon hand, they watched what happened and saw Gale unleashing magic to create a Pure Magic Griffon that unleashed all it magic on a titan sized dragon firing lightning out of his mouth at the beam of magic coming from the giant griffon mouth. They watched Nowhere pulled from a universal dimension upon it collapse from pure magic, it appearing at the Dragonlands fitting perfectly in the land.
“Well...” Trace frowned. “I gather this airship is a key to keep things happening the way they are at the moment?”
“Correct, Princess Luna can raise the moon and lower the sun there, it will take at full power the airship HMS Victory to arrive at Nowhere in five hours 17 minutes, if you go to Princess Luna and take her upon the airship you will make it in time for Princess Celestia to be unaware she couldn't lower the sun.”
“Isn't that lying to a Princess?” Trace looked at her directly.
She shook her head. “Yes and no, it a complex answer, I can not tell you what to do, all I did was set the pieces for the paradox to be fulfilled and to fix the mess Anubis has caused.” Avatar took to the sky flying up with her glowing brightly. “One will lead to events that happened tomorrow to happen, the other will cause a chain of unknown events that even I do not know what it will lead to, just that Nowhere will appear one way or the other and Gale will end up there tomorrow.”
“You have a hour to decide what to do before you run out of time on choice and a third unknown will be pathed.”
The avian vanishes in a blinding light and time was restored.
Big-Rig stared at the empty spot now seeing normal sky again. “I got a feeling she didn't tell us everything...”
“Indeed, but we have three options though...”
“Yeah... That is...”
Big-Rig raise his forepaw opening up one paw finger. “Option One; We go to Princess Luna and get her on my airship racing to the Dragonlands to get her to raise the moon and lower the sun...”
He raise the second paw finger. “Option Two; We go to Princess Celestia with Prince Gale, tell them what happened and whatever evidential created by our actions.”
He raise the third paw finger. “Option Three; We sit on this information and they realise the moon and sun can not be lowered, they freak out and try to figure out what to do creating a whole heap of panic...”
“I gather option one means the pure magic wake will be breaking down and almost all gone by the time we arrive at Nowhere.” Trace suggested.
“Gritter check the information, is the magical wake weakening?”
“Yes it is sir, I checked the latest information over the flash point, it seem to be fading at a rate that in just around six hours and ten minutes time will gone over it.”
Trace took a heavy sigh. “Come, we going to the market and meet up with my wife Amber Flare, we going to talk to her over this...” He stood ready to take off to the Canterlot Market Square
Big-Rig blinked. “Amber Flare? As in the Amber Flare the SCUAS agent!?”
“Yes, I gather she was inspecting your cargo this morning?” Trace asked.
“Yes I know I haven't been in my office, I got my best employees working there to make sure all your gear is delivered on time.” Big-Rig talked into the mic piece of his headset hobbling back and forwards on three of his four legs, he glancing out the large window of the fast moving landscape below the airship HMS Victory.
The door opened with the blue glow from Luna's magic, she walked in seeing the foal size Finch Griffon talking to someone, she closed the door and waited patiently for him to finish. “I am personally over looking the new Equestria side of business with the new airship HMS Victory...” He pause listening to the other griffon on the line. “For the last time if they screw up I will personally deal with it! So don't try to pull that stunt with me!”
He rolled his eyes sitting on the chair at his desk. “Stop yapping already! I am not gonna bend and you know it!” He growled. “Good you can see reason, your shipment as I seen has been sent out and be with you by tonight! Good day!” He pulled the headset off his head throwing it to the desk, typing away at the keys seeing on the screen the live information displayed on it. “Good grief those snubs are annoying...”
Luna stepped up to the desk. “I wish to have a moment of your time, if your able.”
Big-Rig remove his forepaws from the keyboard, shifting them to close around each other press on the desk looking over to Luna on the otherside of it. “You got my time Princess Luna.”
Luna sat on the set of cushions. “This whole situation we find ourselves in isn't something none of us was prepared for.”
“That is true.” Big-Rig responded glancing to his wrapped up wing and bandaged hind leg. “Either way it something we have to work through, no point mopping about it.”
Luna looked over to the window at the view of the retreating landscape. “Indeed.”
Luna recalled the moment Big-Rig and Trace came into the throne room telling her, she using her magic to talk to Blue, pressed the question for the Dream Guardian to give her the answer. The moment she had to go with them on the airship HMS Victory heading to the Dragonlands to the land of Nowhere.
“Anything else?” Big-Rig spoke up seeing Luna staring in the space.
She blinked. “Sorry, I do wish to inquire about having a airship such like this for diplomatic and personal use.”
Big-Rig rubbed the under side of his beak with one of the forepaws. “Hmm... You wish to commission me to build you a airship for those purposes only?”
“Yes, I know it won't have the level of technology and magical crystals you have on board this one, but it is possible for one to built is it not?” Luna inquired.
Big-Rig sat back in his seat now foreleg crossed. “It is possible to be done, I do have some early blueprint designs back in my workshop at home that do have basic workings for a solar sailed, gravity crystal airship on a more simplistic design.”
Luna smiled. “I will gladly invest into it.”
“I can see you would Princess, I am not one for taking on investments from governmental powers.” Big-Rig calmly responded to Princess Luna.
Luna switched to another subject that was on her mind. “Very well Big-Rig, how about a change of subject?” He nodded. “I do wish to discuss what Avatar showed you and Doctor Trace, how Gale ended up at this place called Nowhere today from tomorrow? How did he unleashed so much pure magic?”
Big-Rig took a long irritated sigh. “I wish I could give you those answers Princess, Avatar was very vague on it, just showed us that cub creating some massive pure magic griffon that blasted thunder breathing dragon...” Big-Rig recalled the name Anubis. “But she did mention about Anubis the Death Dragon though, I heard stories from some dragons I sell goods to, but never thought a god of the dead be involved and real.” Big-Rig said to Luna.
“Anubis... There was stories going back to my early days about the God of the Dead to the dragons.”
“From what I gather Princess, he can use time magic and quite reckless from the way Avatar talked about him, she couldn't fix all the messes he created.” Big-Rig recalling what Avatar said to him and Trace.
Luna knew about time magic, the fact a God of the Dead dragon can use it and seemingly involved with Gale too. “Reckless use of time magic can cause problems, it is why it was banned from ever being taught, it had application effects that could de-age or age the user and casting upon another.” Luna said.
Big-Rig whistled slightly. “I can agree with you on that, paradoxes another factor into it too.” He raised a finger paw up.
“Hmm... Indeed...”
Big-Rig shift his forepaw towards the table on the side. “How about a good cup of tea and some biscuits, it be a few hours till we arrive at the weak point for you to lower the sun and raise the moon, we can talk business till than.”
Luna smiled slightly. “I thought you didn't do business with governmental types?”
Big-Rig smirked. “Who said I am going to agree on anything? This just a talk about a possible set up, nothing off the table Princess Luna.”
“Indeed and also Big-Rig.”
“Yes?”
“This talk of business would of never happened if it wasn't for this Paradox, am I right?”
Big-Rig gave a hefty laugh in response.
Trace with Amber stood at the front of the top deck part of the ship, watching the clouds rushing by with the landscape rapidly coming towards and passing by them from far below. “I should of realised something was fishy about that tip...” Amber grumbled feeling some of the wind blowing through her fur, the gravity crystal within the ship creating a invisible shield around it from the forces pushing against it.
Trace had turn back into a unicorn, he could see her tail swishing about showing how annoyed she was without reading the facial expressions from Amber. “Amber it all down to the simple fact that you have reckless users of magic, you and I been pulled into mess of said fact...”
Amber placed squeezed her hand paws around the railing tightly. “I know Trace...” She carried on looking ahead. “Where we going to is a story of legend from many dragons, when you work on dealing with feud you tend to hear stories such as legends like this.”
“What kind of legend we flying towards?” Trace turn to her slightly.
She turn to him in turn. “Tales speak of a evil Dragon Lord called Thunderous ruled by force, a silver dragon called Silvite dubbed by the dragons of today as the Lord of Dragons took him on, even being unaffected by the Bloodstone Sceptre that the Dragon Lord holds and have power over all dragons, she allowed herself to be endused by greed growth to fight him.”
“I gather this happened at this land Nowhere?”
“Yes, tales speak of a rival to dragon kind, the Kitsunes aided her and the their god the Death Dragon Anubis pulled the whole land into a folded reality to save not only dragons of the Dragonlands but all neighbouring lands over 1000 years ago.”
Trace thought about the tale. “Thunderous can use lightning like breathing it out instead of fire?”
Amber nodded slightly. “Correct, how did you know?”
“Avatar showed Gale blasting him with immense amount of pure magic turning him into a statue.” Trace informed her. “Basically the evil titan Dragon Lord is a oversized garden display now.”
Amber crossed her arms. “Well isn't that surprising? That sweet pure thing did that? I wouldn't believe it Trace, but with this pure magic wave you saw and the Finch confirming it, I have to say I need to know why Gale did it.” Amber ponded what caused Gale to use his pure magic in such a way.
Trace shrugged. “I do not know Amber, Avatar evaded answering that, all we can do is ask him when we get to Nowhere-” He paused after saying 'Nowhere' and thought the Kitsunes and Silvite. “You don't think he did it to protect Silvite and these Kitsunes?”
Amber now questioned it in her mind, thoughts of the idea Gale doing it seem more realistically reasonable. “When you say it like that, I think it very possible...”
“Well we soon find that out when we get there.”
“Indeed my sweet love...”
At the settlement of Mystic KI the festive still going on with kitsunes enjoying it from games, dancing to music being played from the stages, eating meals and having fun on rides. Over to the lake of the No-Yantic Marshes sitting outside a Vinnix's Gemmy Restaurant Ember watched her father still in Dragon-Kitsune form telling dragon stories to kits and Gale, all sitting in front of him listening.
Ember sat with Pom-Pom and Skip at the table, a kitsune came up wearing a apron put down three trays of food and drink, he bow to them slightly and walked back inside the busy restaurant. “Dad been at it for hours... I keep hinting to him when should he be turning back and as usual he in a world of his own.”
Pom-Pom drunk a bit of her fizzy drink. “He loving being at the centre of attention, the Dragon Lord is having his moment and being praised without demand, the kits and Gale are loving it.”
Skip chuckled. “Could be the fact you got a group of kitsunes playing it out behind him.”
“Dad knows and his ego grows.” Ember look to her plate at the burger in the bun with lettuce sticking out of it on top of the meat. “Cooked meat? I thought I ordered a Emerald Burger?” She picked it up with both claw hands staring at the hot contents.
Skip rolled his eyes. “You did, didn't mum give you a gummy from Vinnix?”
“Yes?” She looked over at him. “Are you telling me this is a emerald turned into meat and cooked!?”
“Ding ding ding!” He shift the tip of his tail into a bell ringing it. “We got a winner!” He turn into back to normal before using his magic to lift his up and taking a bite out of it.
Ember took a bite out of it, her slitted eyes widen slightly. “Thish-thish shis sazing!” She said with a mouth fall, before taking another crunching bite with delight. “Mmmm...”
Pom-Pom swallowed some fries. “Vinnix is amazing what he can do with any type of food, his transformative magic is pretty much unique compared to many. Even on endless raining days we kitsunes gladly part ways with valuables for a meal from this place at the lake side.” Pom-Pom looked out to the lake, the sun slowly lowering in the sky with the changing colour of the sky shimming on the water surface.
Ember swallowed and grabbed a bunch of fries. “Does all kitsunes like eating gems?”
“Yep, our teeth and maws rival that of a dragon with ease, guess that why our kinds kinda clash or see eye to eye on some level of respect.” Skip cheerfully said to Ember.
Ember shrugged. “You seem too soft and cheery for my taste, rather get into a claw to claw combat, show a dragon or two not to mess with me, lava bathe or challenge them to a game or two to show who the best.” Ember threw the fries into her maw, enjoying her unique meal.
Silvite and Anubis stepped up to the table. “Enjoying the festive?”
Ember glance at the two. “Where in the name of all dragons you two been?”
Silvite smirked. “Enjoying the festive like you all have, we just been mingling with the kitsunes back in the settlement.” Silvite jab a thumb over her shoulder.
“We been having a bloody good time.” Anubis chuckled. “Got to admit this been a very interesting party and this is only the first part.” Anubis looked out to the lake at the sun setting, the moon starting to raise.
Ember rubbed the bridge of her muzzle. “Your telling me you our god and Silvite the Lord of Dragons just been CHILLING at the festive all this time!?”
Both dragons looked at each other than back at Ember to respond. “Yes.”
Ember groaned. “Fine... Whatever... I am going back to eating my Emerald Burger...” She went back to eating her meal.
Torch in the distance started to glow and before the youngsters eyes turn back into his formal dragon self, he roared with laughter. “NOW THAT A WAY TO END A STORY!” He continued to laugh afterwards getting cheers from them and Gale, he bowing to them getting so much praise from them.
The sun disappeared behind the horizon of trees for the moon raise with it glowing brightly, the kits all step up to the lake shore staring the shiny moon. “Wow that something I thought I never see again, quite the sight.” Silvite said with her eyes transfixed on the moon.
“I never thought the moon would look so beautiful...” Pom-Pom got off her seat walking up to the lake front with Skip. “Son... It really is something isn't it?”
Skip smiled. “It sure is mum...”
The music soon died down, kitsunes all gathering at the lake looking up at the slowly raising moon, they all amazed by what they saw, the stars starting to appear got their attention too, the dawn of the evening was upon them, seeing the moon and the stars was a brand new experience to all of them as were the sun.
Gale seen the moon rise into the sky many times in almost three months and something about this one seem brighter, different and reminded him of the moon looked exactly like this the day before he went to Ponyville with his mum Celestia. “This was night mum and I watch moon raise, but no one knew where Aunty Luna was till guard say she left on urgent personal matters, and be back sometime in the afternoon.”
Gale's thoughts came to a stop when he saw in front of the moon coming into view was a air ship with golden lit sails, it had no blimp like the others. “Airship with no blimp?” Gale tilted his head with wonder.
Kitsune guards quickly created wings on their backs flying towards the airship with their tail flames burning bright ready to defend Mystic KI, the airship slowed right over the settlement and lake, hovering with the semi-sound roaring of the engines.
Torch's mouth open with flames forming, Silvite flew up with Ember ready for a fight, as things was about to get heated time seem to freeze, Anubis quickly turn to get a talon fist right into his muzzle, stepping back dropping his staff the Death Dragon slipped and fell on his backside growling in pain landing on his tail, he held his muzzle with blood seeping between it. “Sweet bloody mother of all things! Who are you to punch me that hard in the muzzle you bloody bird!” He growled at Avatar while trying to tend to his bleeding muzzle.
Avatar squawked angrily at him. “I have every right to punch you how ever hard I want Anubis!” Avatar raised her fist at him. “Anubis I have finally finished clearing up all the critical messes you created! I even had to create my own just to fix this big blunder of yours!” She than walk up to him jabbing him in the chest with a claw tip. “And who I am! I am Avatar, the extension of the Tree of Elysium!”
Anubis sniffed a little wiggling the end of his muzzle removing his claw hands from it with blood staining the tip of it. “Awww bloody Tartarus...” Anubis got up on to his claw feet. “Look I-”
“I know why you did it, you were after Gale's magic for Grogar.” Avatar point over to Gale's direction. “Only reason I haven't done anything to you is because of Gale.”
Anubis looked to his blood covered claws. “You know they going to wonder why I am covered in blood.”
Avatar growled. “They won't, they will wonder why your in the lake!”
“Lake wh-” Avatar grabbed the Death Dragon pulled him up over her head. “Wait let's talk-” She toss him right at the lake. “-ABOUT IT!” He lands in the water with a mighty splash that freezes, he unable to move in the frozen in time water around him, his staff lands next time him frozen in the water beside him. “Bloody bird is really pissed with me...” He grumbled.
Suddenly time is restored, to everyone else Anubis suddenly zoomed right past all of them impacting the water hard, he surfaces holding his staff coughing out some water, all on the shore wondered what the blazes just happened.
Torch pulled the Death Dragon out of the water staring at the small clothed dragon dripping with water. “WHAT DID-”
“Nothing did this! Got me!?”
“YES?”
“Good! Now put me down on the shore!”
“OKAY...” Torch put him down on the shore line of the lake, he wish to ask what sent their god of the dead into the water, but wouldn't dare press the question to insult the Death Dragon.
Ember turn to her dad. “Dad aren't we going to-” He shook his head. “H-” The look Torch gave Ember made her just groan, seeing he wasn't going to budge on the subject.
Anubis flicked water off his scales and stabbing the staff into the sand he squeezed out the water from the clothing, the Death Dragon wasn't too happy with what just happened but also felt intrigued by it too. “Got my tail handed to me by Avatar the extension of the Tree of Elysium, why do I feel so anger and thrilled by it?”
Pom-Pom was in the air when that happened, she didn't even see what tossed him the water, one second he was on the shore than the next he was flying at the speed of sound into the lake. “Skip; did you see what did that to Anubis?”
“Some weird blue bird, but it was there and gone in a blink of a eye, I mean it was as if there was a whole heap of things happened in mere second...” Skip responded.
The distraction caused by it now created a new thing to catch their attention.
Luna fly off the airship hovering over them all. “Too all creatures below, we are not here to fight, I came to raise the moon, and to find my nephew Gale! I Princess Luna of Equestria, Princess of the Night!”
Gale flew right up to her giving the Princess of the Night a powerful hug. “Aunty!”
This followed by a mighty cheering roar from all the kitsunes, then followed up by magical balls of energy shooting up into the sky exploding into colourful explosions of magical dust fading outwards from each exploding point.
Pom-Pom, Skip, Ember, Silvite and Torch looked at each other for any words to say, they couldn't think of anything as the colourful magical fireworks explode around them.
Big-Rig, his crew, Trace and Amber look around on deck seeing more of them explode around the HMS Victory. “Well isn't this a heck of a welcome?”
As Kitsunes around continue launching magical fireworks into the sky in celebration of the first moon rise, and the reaction of hearing THIS was the Princess of the Night that even control the moon of all beings even from a land called Equestria, it was a thrilling amazement for all the Kitsunes.
Pom-Pom and her guard flew up to Gale and Luna. “Princess of the Night Luna, raiser of the moon, I Alpha Pom-Pom humbly welcome you to Mystic KI, the home and settlement of the No-Yantic Kitsune Clan.” She bow her head slightly and so did the guards.
Luna bow her head in return. “Thank you Alpha Pom-Pom, even this is a indirect arrival to your lands for reasons beyond my own doing, I am humble to be welcomed to your settlement Mystic KI, thou...” She got a good look at the flying Kitsunes. “I never ever heard of your kind, this is a truly new discovery.”
“As for your kind.” Pom-Pom responded looking right down and over to Anubis. “A certain dragon failed to mention that Equestria is ruled by a form of hoofed beings.”
Luna's eyes also locked on that dragon. “I am a pony and the very one that caused events such as the Pure Magic wave, reason why I had to come here to raise the moon...” Luna eyes narrowed on him.
Anubis saw both of them looking down at him rather angrily. “Why do I get a feeling I've bloody done something wrong?” He half growled.
“Maybe you should of told them about that Equestria is occupied by colourful ponies as you told me?” Silvite said with her arms crossed glancing over to him.
Anubis now had a third looking at him and he couldn't deal with this. “Ah bollocks to this.” Anubis took hold of his staff tapping it in the sand twice, the sand whipped around him into a whirling vortex and the Death Dragon was gone as it fell to the ground.
Ember blinked as she stared at the spot Anubis once stood at. “Did he just chicken out?”
Torch looked over to Luna. “WOULD YOU IF A ALICORN THAT CONTROL THE MOON SHOWS UP AND NOT HAPPY WITH YOU?”
Ember quick look to the moon and back at Luna. “Yeah... No.” Ember quickly answered getting why Anubis quickly fled the way he did.
HMS Victory slowly descends and lands in the land pushing the water across a bit, part of the hull slide open with a ramp sliding out and landing on the tip of the beach. “Look like you all get some shore leave, enjoy it while it last!” Big-Rig looked around at his crew.
“Aye sir!” They saluted and quickly depart to start interacting with the Kitsunes.
Amber and Trace step up to the ramp. “Look like we get to enjoy whatever this festive is.” Amber smirked.
“Yes we do.” Trace jump up to his hind legs with a foreleg out to her, she wrapped her arm around it and they walked down the ramp. “Do you think they will call it Festive of Luna?”
“After that entrance, I say my bet is on that.” Big-Rig's deep voice boomed behind them with a hefty chuckle.
Luna and Gale descend and land on the sand with Pom-Pom, Skip and the guard, the Kitsunes parted to give them room waiting silently for Pom-Pom's announcement. “All Kitsunes young and old, tonight is our first moon rise of many to come! Tonight we will declare this festive in honour of Princess Luna, Pony princess of Equestria and of the night! The Festive of Luna!”
The kitsunes all around cheered happily, Torch chuckled seeing now all the attention is on Luna. “QUITE NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH THESE KITSUNES.”
“Really dad?”
“EMBER I AM THE DRAGON LORD AFTER ALL, I CAN SEE STRENGTH AND POWER COMING FROM THEM, BEING ALLIES WILL BE BETTER FOR BOTH KINDS, WHO KNOWS WHAT DANGERS LURK HERE IN NOWHERE BEYOND THIS SETTLEMENT.”
Ember frowned. “Your only saying that cause their leader impressed you by turning herself into your size to greet you.” Ember looked over to the titan dragon.
“RIGHT YOU ARE! I AM IMPRESSED!”
Ember flew down. “Well I am going to enjoy this festive, shame your back to normal dad!” She called out.
He looked over at himself and all the others now smaller than him, even the airship near him look like a oversized toy, he huffed sitting on his hunches. “Mister Dragon Lord!” A young kit called up from in front of a foreclaw of the Dragon Lord. “Can you tell me another story in your booming voice?”
“Yeah! Please!” Another asked, than another and another.
Torch grinned. “OF COURSE I CAN! I AM TORCH THE DRAGON LORD WILL TELL YOU ANOTHER!”
They cheered and gathered around, some having ability to use their magic to create wings and fly up hovering around his face, Torch liked this attention from the youngsters and ready to tell another story to them in his normal level voice which to many was booming loud.
Luna felt overwhelmed by the cheering around her, they suddenly dropping on her naming their festive for the first moon rise they ever- “seen?” She turn to Pom-Pom seeing the wings vanish from her back and the guards. “I recall being told that this land appeared from a eruption of Pure Magic from my nephew.”
Gale nodded. “Nowhere in other reality place, it made Pure Magic surge erm... erm...”
“It surged by about 1000 times.” Silvite spoke up as she stepped up to them. “In fact blasting Thunderous into a marble stone statue in my home and saving not only me, but Anubis too.” She put her a closed fist out to Luna. “I'm Silvite.”
Luna tap her hoof against the fist. “Luna, Princess of the Night.” Luna responded. “I heard he did it, reason why I haven't been told.”
“Gale flipped on a zebra called Zerra, he escaped and left Thunderous to take the full rage from the cub.” Silvite revealed why Gale unleashed all that magic.
Luna looked very surprised. “That cursed zebra survived?” She said quietly to both of them, Gale nodded. “Now I can understand why the magic was unleashed in such a manner...” Luna continue to speak quietly to them as she put her wing over Gale. “Oh my poor nephew...”
Gale shifted himself close to her. “Aunty...”
Luna looked around. “I am honoured and hope you all enjoy the festival!” They cheered, some using their magic to change the banners appearance from a sun to a moon with stick pony Luna under it with a horn glowing. “Impressive...”
“You think that impressive, you should try to food.” Pom-Pom giggled.
“I might have to.” Luna smiled. “Afterwards we talk more about... him, okay?” Pom-Pom nodded. “Now nephew how about we enjoy this even festival?”
Gale nodded. “Yes! Shadow enjoy too!” He showed the phoenix chick.
Luna melted with adoring the adorable black phoenix chick. “That is the most adorable chick I ever seen.” The chick chirped happily in response. “Now shall we?”
Gale smiled. “Okay! Let's go!” As the walk up to the settlement kitsunes come up asking for photos with her or of her, she agreed and even got Gale into some of the photos too.
“Almost no one gonna sleep tonight, aren't they mum?” Skip stepped up beside Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom could hear the music playing, kitsunes dancing with magical images of the moon appearing in flashes of flame magic from some. “Nope, but I bet we all will suffer the results of this by the morning.”
Skip chuckled. “Oh most definitively.”
Anubis appeared somewhere in the Dragonlands near a waterfall of lava, raising his staff to it the waterfall part ways from the magic to reveal a pair of large statues of himself with a path leading under the river of lava above. “Home sweet home...” He walked over the pool of lava under the waterfall of lava, he end the spell for the entrance to be hidden once more.
Anubis looked back at the waterfall of lava feeling the intense heat from it. “Hmm... Nice to feel that wonderful heat once again.” Anubis walk between the statues heading deep into the cavern path, he walked down steps to come to a opening with diamond buildings around the walls.
Dragons in robes quickly turn to see Anubis. “Death Dragon Anubis, welcome home.” They said together dropping to one knee and bowing their heads to him.
“Thank you my followers, how the Inverted Settlement been since I left?” He asked the one with the red robe on, the white dragon wearing it stood up.
She answers for the other dragons. “We been thriving Death Dragon Anubis, under your guidance from many years ago.”
Anubis looked around. “Impressive, good work Snow.” He wave for her to follow and the white dragon did. “I gather my spire at the centre?”
“Indeed, the pride of the Followers of the Death Dragon made sure to show that your home the Inverted Spire is respected.” Snow answered as the dragons stood up and went on with their business.
“Good.”
“How long will you be staying this time?”
“Indefinitely, I have one word of advise, never mess with time or it messes with you.”
“Understood Death Dragon Anubis.
They approached the centre showing a building held up by a pillar from the ceiling, eight more sticking out the sides diagonally attached to the ceiling and walls, the spire going downwards supported by diamond pillars attached to the walls as it went down and down into a massive pool of lava, shimming glowing light of dragon magic held the lava from making contact with the structure itself.
They walked across the bridge to the doors, two grey dragons in armour grabbed the doors opening them for Anubis. “Can you personal go find my children, I wish to see them.” He walked through and the doors were closed behind him.
“At once.” She bowed at the closed doors, Snow turn walking away. “Death Dragon Anubis never asked for a dragon to get his young... Why now?” She shook her head. “No don't question his actions...”
The Festive of Luna was at full swing with kitsunes dancing to the music, playing games at the stalls, riding rides and chatting away either at tables enjoying their meals or walking around. Gale slept against Luna with Shadow the Black Pheonix chick tucked under his wing, a soft glow of magic over him and the chick from one of Pom-Pom's magical flames.
“They out like a light, this should keep all the sounds around out.” Pom-Pom softly lift a few of the head feathers up smiling softly at the young cub sleeping soundly.
Luna smiled seeing her mane and tail not being so wavy as before. “Thank you for casting that silence spell, it a good thing your magic can work around him.”
Pom-Pom looked at the mane and tail. “Is the Pure Magic effecting you?”
“Indeed, our magic in Equestria can not work well or not at all around Pure Magic, it interferes with it.” Luna answered. “I am glad your magic isn't as effected.”
The yellow kitsune did a bit of a sea-saw motion with a fore paw. “I am glad you added that 'as effected ' part... The Pure Magic did prove that I had to dump a bit more magic into the spell.” She looked over to him again. “I gather he won't run into himself in the dream realm?”
Luna smiled. “No, he staying in my Dream Realm, I made sure to keep them from interacting with each other, two time line versions of Gale meeting would not go well.” Luna smile dropped. “It could lead to a paradox that we never know the damage to...”
Big-Rig holding a cup of drink came up to them. “I see the cub couldn't stay awake.”
“Not at all, how are you enjoying the festival?” Luna asked.
“It pretty cool, they have levels of technology here that close to our own, the kits reverse engineered what they found in the Forgotten Ruins.” Big-Rig said and drunk a bit of his drink. “We planning to stick around for a few days to explore the ruins and some kitsunes agreed to be our guides due to the creatures that live within them.”
Luna nodded. “How would we get back?”
Pom-Pom giggled using her magic to create a rift before them jumping through it to jump through another next to it. “I'll create a rift portal directly to wherever you need to go, just need a memory picture of said location and boom a instant door way to said location.” Pom-Pom closed the rifts.
“Show off.” Big-Rig chuckled, she bowed to his praise with a chuckle at him. “I'm going to enjoy the party, if you see that Avatar, tell her cheers for this off track adventure!” He raise the cup up, Luna nod to him and he walked off.
Pom-Pom watched the small finch griffon slowly hobble away. “Impressive for someone that injured, he a stubborn piece of work.”
Luna move a hoof over Gale's feathers. “Rest well my little nephew.”
Trace and Amber sitting not to far away at a table watched the short interaction with Big-Rig and the two leaders, Ember sat down with them. “I heard from the cat your not just a pony, but a griffon too.”
“That a bit blunt to say when you just joined us, care to reveal why you asked Amber that?” Trace asked with a stern look.
Ember put her elbow on the table with a claw up. “I want to see how strong you are as a griffon! To see if you are really are one or it just some cheap illusion you unicorns can create.”
“Illusions?” Trace frowned looking at Amber who turn her head away whistling. “Amber...” He glared at her.
Amber got up from the table. “I am going get some refills, have fun!” She walked off.
Trace sighed. “You know Amber did that on purpose to sway you to do this right?”
Ember shrugged. “Don't care, hearing that a unicorn not just a unicorn sparked my interest, I met a griffon or two and they were not so strong.”
Trace put his hoof to the pearl, it glows and his form changed before her. “Happy?”
Ember grinned. “Yes, now give it all you got!”
Trace rolled his eyes putting his elbow down on the table with the talon gripping against hers. “One game, okay?”
“Sure, with a grip like that, this is gonna be easy.” Ember slyly said.
Amber stepped up to the stand where a kitsune was serving drinks, she put the cups down on it. “Refills of the same please.”
“At once.” The female kitsune took the glasses to refill them.
Skip drunk a bit of his drink sitting on a stall at the stand. “Crafty kitty, not everyone can say you twisted the arm of a dragon.” He glanced over at the two started to arm wrestle. “I gather it comes with the job of being that scam officer back at Equestria?”
Amber looked over to the pink kitsune. “How the blazes you know that?”
Skip grinned. “I have my ways as you do with yours.”
Amber chuckled lightly. “Yes it does to answer your question, as for what I done, you will see the results.” Amber turn around watching Ember start to move the forepaw towards the goal of a slam dunk. “Ember about to learn a very important lesson when dealing with a Abyssinia.”
“And that is?”
"Being outsmarted." They turn their heads to Silvite. "A cat is crafty as well smart, they will always have a trick or two as well landing on their paws almost all the time." Silvite wave for a glass to be brought over, she gave some gems to the kitsune as she give Silvite a soft drink. "Skip tonight is the easy part, tomorrow the hard part."
Skip drunk some of his drink and asked. "And that is?"
Silvite looked at her reflection through the dark fizzy liquid. "Facing Gale's mother..."
The eruption of magic when the egg of the Black Phoenix hatched sent all the ponies around Gale flying in all directions, but Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith and Shining Armor never hit the walls, instead they were caught by Luna, Trace, Amber and a silver dragon, Shining saw Gale standing there with a brown vest on with two very large foxes with multiple tails.
“How?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Erm?”
Before Luna or any of them could say a word Gale leaped over to Shining Armor giving him a hug. “Shiny! Look at Shadow, egg hatched!” He release the hug to carefully pull out the chick from the bag to show him to them.
The black phoenix chick chirpped happily.
“Applejack we heard and saw gl-” Applebloom and her friends raced into the living room, they came to a dead stop seeing the Kitsunes, Luna, Trace, Amber and a dragon. “What in tranation is gonna on Applejack?”
“Ah'm not sure... There a glow then we were thrown back and caught by them, they weren't here one second than they were...” Applejack said in a confused tone of voice.
Gale showed the girls the chick. “He hatched! Say hello to Shadow!”
“Awwww!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said together.
Scootaloo didn't but she did say. “That a awesome looking chick!” She looked around. “Who all these creatures?”
Luna spoke up with a raised hoof. “One that will be answered soon as my sister arrives, knowing of the magical surge from the egg hatching, her pet Philomena will be here first followed by my sister and the rest of Applejack friends.”
Applejack rubbed the underside of her muzzle. “Ah am mighty confused, but ah say we can wait, but how about the introductions to our unexpected gusts?”
Luna nodded. “Indeed.” She look to Granny Smith. “If that acceptable to you?”
She shrugged. “With all this ho-dicky thin' that happened, ah am mighty curious about these lovely large vulpines, that dragon and cat over there.”
Pom-Pom bow her head slightly. “Owner of this home, I humbly apologise for our intrusion, I am Alpha of the No-Yantic clan Kitsunes, I am Pom-Pom and this is my son Skip.”
Skip raise his forepaw up. “Howdy!” He chuckled afterwards. “I sooooo wanted to say that to a southerner!”
The Apple family curiously looked at each other. “Come again?” Big Mac asked.
“Oh it the accent, it something I read up in a very old dusty book from the Forgotten Ruins, it said they have this 'yer good mar boy' accent but it said you knew it when you hear it!” He explained happily to Big Mac.
“Fair enough.” Big Mac accepted the answer.
“I am Amber, I work for the fraud department for the crown of Equestia, this is my husband Trace a doctor at Canterlot General at the moment.” Trace nod in response. “As I am, yes I am a cat but one from the lands of Abyssin, we call ourselves Abyssinians.” Amber introduced herself.
Silvite took to leaning on the wall with arms crossed, she introducing herself to them. “I'm Silvite, silver dragon one of a kind, till Celestia arrives enough said.” She calmly said with a blunt tone in her voice.
Shining gave a odd look. “I gather you will tell use more when the others arrive?”
Silvite sapphire slitted eyes shift to lock eyes with him. “Yes Captain Armor, and I know who you and the others are because of Gale, how that possible you will find out, now that leave you all wondering what else happened.” She grinned.
Pom-Pom shook her head. “Silvy you have to get them all very curious and edgy to know now don't you?”
“Yes I did.”
All the ponies looked at each other curiously. “Should I alert the guard that everything is... Erm... Okay at the moment?” Shining Armor looked around.
“Yes please do so, Captain.” Luna responded to the requested order, he saluted and left the room.
There would have been a awkward silence between them, but unaware of it Gale had saved them from that moment showing his baby phoenix to each of them, and happily talking about Shadow to share his overwhelming joy of his pet phoenix, only a day old to the world the chick was just filled with bursting happiness coming off the teenage griffon chirping happily flapping it little wings.
Philomena had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres before Celestia and the others finally caught up, they found her sating on top of the arch, Shining Armor stood with the guard waiting as well for their arrival, he stepped up saluting in a instant. “Princess, everything fine in a... strange sort of way...” His firm tone of voice shifted to an unsure one.
“It is to do with a lot of sudden brand new arrivals!?” Pinkie Pie instantly asked bouncing up to Shining Armor before Celestia could speak.
Shining Armor blinked a few times unable to process how Pinkie knew already. “Yes... How did you know?”
“Pinkie Sense.” She giggled bopping his muzzle with a hoof. “Can we go and meet them?”
Twilight looked utterly confused and Spike did too giving a weird facial expression. “It a Pinkie thing, just go with it and save the headaches in figuring out how her Pinkie Sense work.” Rarity said calmly to Twilight. “Trust me don't bother trying darling.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Tell me about it.” Recalling her attempts to flee from Pinkie Pie before Gilda showed up for a visit.
Gilda shrugged. “Don't give a claw dweebs, so Blue Hooves, who the new arrivals?”
Shining Armor turn his head towards the house. “We have two Kitsunes from some clan, Doctor Trace with his wife Amber, Princess Luna and a tall silver dragon called Silvite.” He turn back to face them.
“Silver dragon!?/Luna here!?” Celestia and Spike spoke over each other with surprise.
Fluttershy raised a hoof. “Erm... Excuses me... What this about Kitsunes?”
“Some very big looking vulpines with multiple tails and magical gasses flames over each of them, they also sapient too.” Shining answered.
Twilight tried to process what she was hearing. “Are you telling me there two fox like creatures up there that could talk like us?”
“Yes.”
“And these gasses fire flames, are they some form of magic?”
He shrugged. “I guess, Princess Luna seem to trust them and the silver dragon, she won't tell us how she arrived with them or the doctor, only will say with Pom-Pom the Alpha of the clan of Kitsunes, other then that I have no other information. Well... part from Gale also wearing some sort of brown vest and the black phoenix already hatched and look about a day old.”
Celestia start to walk by Shining Armor up to the house, Philomena landing on her back. “Best we do not keep them waiting, it seem something interesting happened.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “When hasn't it? The last two weeks been a long string of interesting happenings!” Gilda followed Celestia flaring her wings out in a outburst of words.
“True... So true.” Celestia agreed.
Twilight's right eye twitched before she calmed herself a little to ask Spike, the eager look in his eyes twisting his claws together. “I gather you want to see this silver dragon Silvite?”
Spike nodded rapidly. “Yes I would! This be the first time meeting another of my kind!”
“I am curious about these kitsunes darling, have you ever heard of them before?” Rarity asked as they walked up to the house with the others, the guards followed behind.
Fluttershy hummed a bit. “I think I read up about myths and legends of a land called Nowhere, it some sort of place with many animals that you will never find anywhere else in the world, creatures that would defy exasperation, one being these cat bat hybrids called Echo Wings, they use sound to navigate, oh and there these wolf dragon hybrids too called Draolves!” Fluttershy said with some excitement in her voice as it rose a few levels of volume.
Rainbow Dash with her forelegs crossed hovering by Fluttershy spoke. “How does these Kitsunes fit in?”
“They suppose to be from the vulpine family tree, they related to foxes, just bigger and can do magic, also seem to be tricksters too if the myths are true. Like ponies are to each other, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns and Thestrals, we all part of the equine family tree.” Fluttershy explained.
“O...Kay... That a lot that I didn't get.” Rainbow Dash admited.
Gilda flew up to her and whispered. “I'll get the big picture cards out and you can fly over them to remember Dash.”
Rainbow Dash quickly gave her a double take. “Wh-what are you talking about!?” She whispered back.
“Oh please, I seen how you managed to ace some of your tests, your rock head need to work while you fly.” Gilda gave a playful knock on her head with a closed fist talon, she laughed and took off a head of everyone.
Twilight curiously looked over to a awkward looking Rainbow Dash. “What was-”
“NOTHING!” Rainbow Dash shot off ahead.
Twilight was surprised the quick response leaving rapidly. “All I was asking what did Gilda said to Rainbow Dash.”
“Sometimes somethings shared among each other are not to be shared with other friends.” Celestia responded in a calm manner. “Like a certain Smarty-”
Twilight instantly turn red in the cheeks. “Point taken...”
Soon as they walked into the house to join them, Gale leap to Celestia giving her a very happy joyful hug. “Mum! Happy to see you!” He nuzzled her chest happily as she rest her foreleg around him to hug back. “Shadow hatched!” Gale showed her the chick.
“Isn't he a beauty.” She said softly using a wing to tickle the little chick to get a chippy chirp fluttering it little wings, Philomena smiled warmly looking over the side of Celestia seeing the chick look very healthy.
Silvite saw all that was to join had finally walked in. “Good everyone is here, now we can tell this once to everyone.” They all turn to the silver dragon.
Spike walked up to her looking up. “I never thought I meet another like me!”
Silvite looked back down. “There plenty of dragons, just depend on which you meet kid.” Silvite knelt down with her claw hand out to him, he put his on hers and shook. “I'm Silvite.”
“Spike!” He grinned. “Do you like eating gems?”
“All dragons do.” Silvite chuckled. “How about I'll answer some questions from you on a one on one after this, okay?”
Spike happily nodded. “Yes! I'll like that Silvite!” He gave her a hug and rushed back to Twilight's side.
Silvite stood back up. “There going to be a lot to be said here, so this is going to take time since there are more than one point of view over this, I will be giving Gale's point of view as well mine own.”
Pom-Pom wave her paw. “Silvite stop rushing things, I know how much you hate this kind of thing, let me introduce myself to the fellow sister and co-ruler of this land will you?” Silvite snorted out some white flame in response turning her head.
“Fine... Make it snappy... I got a one on one to go over with and other things to do.”
Pom-Pom shook her head. “Sorry about my sister, things happened that she eager to sort out in the last twenty-four hours.” She stepped up to Celestia looking at her eye level. “I am Pom-Pom, Alpha of No-Yantic Clan of the Yantic Marshes on the land of Nowhere.”
Fluttershy gasped.
“It a pleasure to meet you Alpha Pom-Pom, I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria, welcome to our lands.”
“Thank you.” They bowed slightly to each other.
Skip popped up between them. “Hi! I am the son and Skip the name! Fun my game! Please to meet you!” Skip grabbed Celestia's hoof with both paws shaking it rapidly fluttering his wings. “Do you want me to make a banana cake after all this done?”
“What?” Celestia blinked trying to process what he just said.
“I-” Pom-Pom grabbed his ear by her mouth pulling Skip away. “Owwwwwy! Not the ear! MMMMUUUUUMMMM!”
“Okay...” Gilda frowned. “Why am I getting a Dorky Pie vib from him?”
Pinkie shrugged. “I don't know what your talking about.” She pulled up a bag of popcorn.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Right...” She turned her attention back to the others. “Can we just get this started already?”
Granny Smith sitting on her chair was about to get up. “Not before re-” Skip appeared by her with a hot cup of tea. “-freshments...” She took it and looked at the pink kitsune. “Thank you?”
Skip grinned. “Happy to help! Happy to help everyone!” He flicked his tails around with them glowing, suddenly every pony and creature had their favourite hot drinks. “Now we ready!”
Pinkie leans in. “How did you do that?”
“It a Skip Kitsune thing, you need to be around more than 200 years to understand it little one.” He pat her on the head with his paw grinning at her.
Pinkie giggled. “I like him!”
Pom-Pom put her paw over the bridge of the muzzle seeing not only he escaped her maws with ease, but randomly made many question how they ended up with their favourite hot drinks. “Just don't ask... Please don't... I am his mum and I still can't figure how he does some things... Just saying it will be safe to drink.”
Fluttershy took a sip of it and nodded in approval. “It very nice, thank you Skip.” He showed pride when she said it. “It safe everypony.”
They all took a sip of their drinks amazed how tasty it is. “Now can we start?” Gilda didn't take a drink of hers now more annoyed.
Celestia gestured her hoof to Silvite to start as Gale sat close to her, happy to be with his mum again, the CMC all sitting together eager to hear what they got to say. “Please start Silvite.”
“Right.” She start to tell them the moment Gale first arrived in Nowhere when it was in-between realities... Luna, Trace, Amber and Pom-Pom prepared to share their parts soon...
When it got to the part of the surprising discovery between Gale and Silvite, this is when Celestia spat out her tea followed by many saying at the same time. “WHAT!?”
Luna and the others that already knew this stood quietly allowing this to play out as requested. “Y-Your Ga-” Celestia couldn't form the words.
“In a manner of speaking yes, but only by our past memories.” Silvite said calmly still leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. “We both came to a understanding that we are who we are now, remembering the past and remembering the lives we once had to the best of our abilities.”
“How can you say that? That seem very cold darling...” Rarity dared to ask the dragon.
Silvite glance over to her. “If it wasn't for Anubis the Death Dragon, god of the dead to dragon kind messing with time, I wouldn't be here talking to you.” Silvite slitted eyes locked onto Rarity's.
Rarity was startled by the response. “Bu-”
“Things are far more complicated than you think it is 'darling', we both know it is and we both agreed that too much time past, memories and sense of family from beyond reasons is how we solved this, I could call him by his original name from the past but I won't. His Gale and that what matters to the cub.” Silvite turn to Gale. “Right?”
Gale nodded. “Yes right, you were past mum, but you Silvite but still remember and hold in heart and memories.” Gale put a talon on his chest with a smile on his beak. “Mum is here.” Gale put his talon on Celestia's foreleg.
Celestia look down as he looked up. “Gale...”
Applejack and her family minus Applebloom not in the room stayed silent, hearing that Silvite had told them she was Gale's mum from another life time, this gave them uneasy sense in the air being around her now.
Pinkie whispers to Skip. “How old is she as Silvite?”
“Somewhere over 1000 years, no one knows her true age. She always avoid it or give you that look.” Skip whisper back hinting to her, Pinkie saw the narrow look her.
Pinkie grinned in a sheepish way waving her hoof, luckily Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had left a while back getting bored listening to Silvite, a benefit for Applejack and Rarity.
Silvite smiled than direct her attention to Rarity again. “Now even if you can't understand, please understand what I am doing isn't cold.” Silvite got up pulling out a scroll from her pouch. “Now things are going to get very awkward, Pom-Pom, Luna and everyone else please finish telling them. I got monsters to hunt down.” Silvite start to walk away.
“Your-” Celestia raise her hoof to Shining Armor. “Princess?”
“Let her go, I do believe she going to deal with a threat not the elements can deal with or even the Royal Guard.” Celestia responded. “Am I correct?”
“Pretty much, but I would like Spike to join me for a walk to edge of town, dragon to dragon talk that I said I would have with him.” Silvite look down to Spike. “Shall we?”
Spike got up. “Sure!”
“Spike-”
“He will be safe Purple one, I give you my dragons honour that.” Silvite pulled out a small yellow gem. “Even giving you something so priceless and one of a kind, I will return for it when I dealt with these monsters on this list.” She toss over the yellow gem caught in Twilight's magic.
Gilda snorted in response, so did Rainbow Dash. “It's Twilight Sparkle! Why do you and Gilda have to call me Purple!?”
Silvite waved for Spike to follow her. “Till that moment I didn't know your name, no one told me you bloody unicorn and better keep that gem safe or there will be hell to pay.” Silvite walked out with Spike following.
Twilight's muzzle opened and closed, she couldn't say anything back to that. “She got a point, I call you it cause that my nickname for you dweeb.” Gilda chuckled lightly. “I like that dragon, she a no nonsense kind of girl.”
Twilight holding the gem in her magic looked at it, the silver dragon just randomly trusted her with something that priceless.
“She was kinda scary the way she acted... I am kinda glad she left.” Fluttershy whispered to herself shivering a bit in fear.
Gale shrugged. “Silvite do it for me, protect me from harm, protect family from harm.” Gale said pressing his head against Celestia's side.
Celestia using a wing to rub his feathered head. “Indeed my little griffon.” Celestia turn to Pom-Pom. “I gather from that moment on you know just as much as Silvite?”
Pom-Pom's tails twitching around. “Pretty much and I knew I was going to be dropped into it at this point, Sivly said so herself, now... Where was she? Oh yes, just after that little reunion of past mother and son moment, they agreeing to understand that was the past and not who they are now, the moment Thunderous the titan Dragon attacked from above.”
And Pom-Pom continue to tell them with Luna and the others to fill in their side of the story when it comes to it.
Outside three fillies hidden in a hay-bay planned to follow Silvite and Spike as they left Sweet Apple Acres.
Silvite took a good look of the land of Sweet Apple Acres, the soft dirt path under her claws, the warm feel of the afternoon sun, tweets of birds near by and the endless fields of apple trees around the house and barn. She wondered from this first sight of Equestria how beautiful the land truly is, but knew there was a mission she promised herself to take care of for the safety of Gale within the scroll inside her side bag.
“Quite the farm.” Silvite said as she started to walk, Spike following.
Spike looking up. “It is, Twilight's friend Applejack with her family work and live here, the apples are liked far and wide from what I heard!”
Silvite thought about picking one but choose not to. “I'll have to give it a try some day, now which way to get out of town around 10 to 20 minute walk?”
Spike point in a direction. “That way I think, but that would cut through Ponyville going into town, why would you want to take a longer way than go that way towards the Everfree Forest?” Spike point to the other way on the dirt path outside Sweet Apple Acres arch way entrance.
“Child, you do want this dragon heart to heart do you not?”
“Ah!” He realised why she wanted to take the little extra walk. “This way!” Spike leads the way and Silvite follow the young purple dragon. “Erm... So...” He swallowed hard. “You and Gale?”
Silvite had a feeling this would be the first question to be asked, Gale told her how Spike is a big brother figure even he was younger than Gale by a few years, she kept a calm collected expression as she respond. “There is no easy answer to this, simple way to put it, over 4000 years ago we were mother and son, what happened then doesn't play the role who we are now, he remembering parts of a shattered past, so am I.”
“How does that work? Were you two erm... Well...”
“Resurrected?” Spike nodded while twitting his claws between each other, Silvite glance over to the tower hall spire over some of the tree lines. “That would be a form of rebirth or hatching or whatever it is, for us our bodies, memories, souls were in a state of magical energy flux, mine cause of Anubis. Gale... I am not sure how, maybe being on top of that mountain at the moment of many random chances coming to one very small chance of point.”
Spike recalled hearing from Twilight how a magical surge of transformative magic happened with Grogar. “Not sure how his magical body flux thing happened, but I do recall how he became Gale the Griffon.”
“Go on.”
“Grogar wanted his pure magic and was panicking because of pony and griffon forces were beating back his monsters, so all else attempt used a magical artefact idol with copies of it, that lead to Griffax and Misty the Great causing the idols to go crazy in one big overcharged magical release.”
Silvite tap the tip of her muzzle. “Hence griffon and being here 4000 years from where he should have been... As for me, it seem to dragons from little I learnt, I been around for a very long time, way longer than most and my memories up to a little over 500 years ago being mush case of my attempts to stop the tyrant dragon Thunderous.” Silvite shrugged. “Life has a strange way of bring us back together didn't it?”
Spike looking up at her with amazement. “You are so cool!”
“Not sure about that Spike, but one thing you need watch out for is greed growth.”
“Greed growth? What that?”
Silvite used her tail to scope up a rock and throw it over her head to catch it in the claw hand. “You see this rock?” He nods. “Now think of collecting more and more, not wanting to give it up no matter what, that greed, it could be anything from a hat, quill, book, pen, computer game, gems or anything in fact.” Silvite said now holding a gem mixed with some leafs, twigs and flowers.
Spike blinked, he didn't even see her gather all that. “Okay? So... If I start getting this feeling to take more and refuse to give it up and ask for more to keep, that cause this greed?”
“Yes and you will grow and grow, the more greed and more you gather the more you grow, the down side to it is your mind.” She toss the stuff away. “You start losing focus on the world around you, only till you only matter, prolong greed growth lead to memories fading till you lose them forever, like the ones of my early dragon life.” Silvite haven't toss everything, she gave him the gem.
Spike took it looking at his reflection on it. “Wow, that bad huh?”
“It is, I did it over 1000 years ago on purpose to fight Thunderous, for 500 years of that in the realm Nowhere ended up in was all my greed focus was, it took a blast to the side of my head behind my ear to snap me out of it, than many many years later of magic and help from my sister Pom-Pom to give me a size I like.” Silvite showed him the scar under her ear, and showed off her dragonish body flexing her muscles to swiftly moving around.
Spike lost track of her movements till got picked up and placed on her shoulder. “Whoa that amazing! Your amazing!”
She walked over the small bridge, many ponies was about to bolt when they saw Spike sitting on her right shoulder waving at them, giving the sign it okay. The ponies still tense went back to their business. “Hmm... Was expecting many to bolt.”
“Nah they fine, they know me, so your good.” Spike said.
Silvite shrugged. “Very well.” She continue to walk. “Now what other questions you got for me Spike?”
Spike tap his muzzle to think of a question, he than figured one to ask. “Have you met other dragons? Part from this tyrant one?”
“Indeed, I met the current Dragon Lord, Torch and his daughter Princess Ember, not sure how princess title works with a lord not a king or prince though.” Silvite chuckled lightly. “Should of asked him that when I had the chance.”
“Dragon Lord?”
“It the leader of the dragons of the Dragon Lands, one that hold the Bloodstone Sceptre rules them all.” Silvite responded. “My lack of meeting many dragons and not knowing their current culture would be a major understatement, I only met them a day ago, as for me to them. I am hauled as Lord of Dragons, a title to one that never held the sceptre but respected by all from what I know of.” Silvite snorted in annoyance afterwards with some white flames coming out.
Spike felt the heat from the nostril flare flame. “That's hot... I even felt that from here. That white flame must be really hot stuff!”
“It is.”
“Lord of Dragons?” He noticed her lack of response, he diverted to the title.
Silvite clench her claw hand into a fist lifting it up. “I did what no other would do to stop him, I stood up to his power while holding the sceptre, no dragon has power of me, most likely why I hold that title, no Dragon Lord or even a dragon god can order me around with the magic of their staffs and sceptres.”
Spike was more amazed by hearing this from Silvite, he saw a strong willed powerful dragon that sort to protect others over herself. “You really care about others don't you?”
“If it mean risking my hind to save others without praise, than yes.” Silvite smiled slightly. “It a warmth inside that I enjoy having.” Silvite open the claw hand placing it on her chest. “It a wondrous feeling.” Silvite stopped in her tracks, her eyes shift to the right then to the left. “Someone or something following us.”
Spike looked around. “I don't see anything.”
Silvite eyes shift to the right. “Orange, cream and white, three little ones, one with a big pink bow.”
“That Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!” Spike responded.
Silvite turn right around to a building. “You three did well for about six minutes, didn't even notice you till now.” She tap her right claw foot on the ground arms crossed. “Come on out kids.”
They all slowly emerged from behind the building. “H-hey!” Scootaloo waved her forehoof, the others did too.
“Hey.” She gave a small wave from the claw hand. “Now if you three wanted to join us on this walk you had to only ask.”
Sweetie Belle glares at her friends. “Told you!”
“Yeah you did.” Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head.
Applebloom sighed. “Sorry miss.”
“No harm done.” Silvite smiled. “Now.” She put Spike down knowing this conversation is over, she needed to move things along. “Let's get out of town, find a rock.”
“Why?” They all asked.
“Just to show how hot I am really am, no pun either.” She winked.
Scootaloo points a hoof. “There a really big one near the water over there!”
“Lead the way.” The fillies run, Silvite and Spike followed them. “Before you ask about my flame, yours in special in it own way, I heard you could send messages with it, that a handy trick.” Silvite said with praise.
Spike running hard as he could, seeing Silvite calmly taking slow long steps to paste. “Really?”
“Spike, I heard or never seen another that can burp out scrolls from flame and burn them to send to another, that one amazing magic flame you got there, and do not let another say other wise. If they do tell them the Lord of Dragons said your flame is amazingly special.” Silvite said back.
They came to a clearing, near by was a lake of water and not to far a large rock sticking out of the ground. “Will this do?” Applebloom asked with excitement.
“Yes I believe it will.” She turn to Spike. “One more thing.” Silvite pull out four very loose scales from her body, gave each of them to the fillies and Spike. “A keep sake.” She smiled and step forwards cracking her neck a little.
“Whoa...” They said staring at the scales they now had.
“Now stand back.” They step back. “Now watch.” Silvite unleashed a stream of flame right at the boulder, it blast through the rock melting it on touch, she stopped as it melted into a molten puddle.
They had covered their faces from the intense heat, they saw what the large bolder had been turn into. “No way!” Scootaloo gasped. “It just turn to red hot liquid!”
Silvite turn around grinning at them. “No pun youngsters.”She winked.
Applebloom walked up to it staring at the cooling molten liquid. “Yer melted it instantly! That insane!”
“I did, it a bloody hot mess.” Silvite push Applebloom away from it with her tail. “Now to cool it down to be safe.” She flew over to the water, she flew to the far side of it to zoom over it it, using a kick to hit the water, they watched water fly in a wave from the impact covering over the molten with a massive hissing sound with steam flying around.
“Whoa... She just kicked the water into a wave!” Sweetie Belle said with a stunned expression.
“She a awesome dragon!” Spike said with a punch in the air.
Silvite land on the flat rapidly cooling rocky surface. “That should be safe to step on with hooves in about a hour or so, can I trust you four from letting any idiot hurt themselves?”
“What do ya mean?”
“I got to go, we out of town, I said only till we out of town to talk.” Silvite calmly answered Applebloom.
“Oh right...” Scootaloo recalled hearing that as they followed.
Spike stepped up to her. “Will I see you again?”
“Who as my gem?”
“Twi-” Spike eye's lit up. “Awesome!”
“That I am, keep others from harming themselves with this youngsters, I am trusting all of you!” She took to the sky.
“We will! Cutie Mark Crusaders protectors yay!”
Silvite flinched at their screams. “Damn you three got one set of bloody lungs on you! Keep it up!” She saluted. “Till next time Spike!” He nodded as she saluted to him.
“Till next time Silvite!” He saluted back, she took off and soon disappear from view. “Wow...” He looked at the scale held in his claw hand. “Isn't she awesome?”
“Eeyup.” Applebloom answered as they stared at the spot Silvite vanished from their view.
Silvite turn around looking at the town of Ponyville, the city on the mountain side in the distance beyond it. “So that Canterlot, the city where Gale lives at... The mountain that fell.” She smiled. “At least Celestia going to be a good mother to him.” Her eyes shift to the left and than to the right. “Decided to show yourself?”
Glacier and Octicovix come into view. “I told you she good, most likely knew we were there the whole time.” Glacier's beak raised into a right corner toothy smirk.
“Your right.” Octicovix said back with her wings buzzing, not hiding her changeling form from Silvite.
Silvite looked at the messy feathered griffon. “Your her aren't you?”
“Yes.”
“And you won't be saying how, are you?”
“Spoilers.” She chuckled lightly as she hover close to Silvite. “Let's just say we all are here for three reason.”
“And that be?”
“We here to help you take those monsters down, not just for Gale, but for my husband too, some of that magic part of him.”Octicovix said with seriousness in her orb like eyes.
Glacier raise a claw finger up. “Doctor Trace.”
Silvite looked to the griffon and changeling. “I gather you won't take no?” They didn't respond. “Fine... We have seven targets, working together we might clear up Grogar's monsters that dare to harm those with pure magic by a few weeks at most.”
“Just in time for Comic Con in Manehatten.” Glacier smirked. “Shall we get started sweeties?”
Three days had past since that moment at Sweet Apple Acres, the news of what happened to Celestia's son Gale to the continuous mountaineering threats that Grogar's monsters posed on the teenager. On top of all that she still had a kingdom to run and her son to raise, this was all piling up on top of the meetings, daily appearances and the most recent news she completely forgot.
The Grand Galloping Gala was only one and half days away.
Even there are more pressing matters such as her son's safety, Celestia knew Silvite with a few others she recently was informed about could handle it. This didn't stop her from worrying fears over his safety, the teenage griffon seemingly happy even what had happened to him and the last three days been very uneventful.
The doors open for the white unicorn with brown mane and tail holding a clip board in her pink magic. “Morning Raven Inkwell, I gather you have my schedule for today?”
“Morning Princess.” She approached. “I do have it, a key point is a meeting with the leader of the No-Yantic Kitsune Clan Pom-Pom, Captain Armor currently keeping her occupied with a tour of the city and the castle.” Raven took a piece of paper off giving it to Celestia. “There are other meetings with mayors of Trottingham, Vanhoover and Baltimare, as well a ribbon cutting of the opening to Easthoofwood Movie Theatre. And finally going over final preparations for the Gala tomorrow night.”
Celestia looked over the schedule. “It seems I am going to be very busy all day.” Celestia turn to Gale. “I won't be able to come with you to check on Shadow this morning, I do apologise.”
Gale looked disappointed but turn to Luna. “Aunty Luna you can go with me?”
Luna smiled. “Of course dear nephew, I will gladly go with you.”
Gilda had finished off her pancakes and drunk the last of her orange juice. “As for me dweebs I am going to get some air time, see ya later!” She got up and about to walk to the door, she turn with a roll of her eyes talons out.
As expected Gale gave her a hug. “Lunchtime?”
“Sure thing cub, usual place?”
“Yes!”
“Than see ya there dweeb!” She saluted and in usual fashion kicked open the doors with a hind paw, the guards glance at her before looking back out at each other. “Need new rotations Celestia, the guards don't freak out now!” Gilda called out as she left.
Celestia shook her head. “Never a dull moment.” She got up. “Now Raven, shall we?” The unicorn nod. “Gale I'll see you tonight okay?” She raise a foreleg out, Gale gave her a hug with the foreleg over him, her head nuzzling against his.
“Yes mum, tonight! Don't work to hard! Okay?”
Celestia release the hug laughing softly. “No promises.” She turn and leaves with Raven, Gale wave his talon to her as Celestia leaves.
Luna point a hoof to the chair. “Come nephew, finish your breakfast and we will go see Shadow.”
“Okay Aunty Luna!” Gale walked back to the table, he sat down to eat his breakfast.
The throne doors open with Princess Celestia and Raven walking into something they were not prepared for. Sitting on Celestia's throne at the top of the steps was her daughter Nightingale, sitting on the steps reading a comic was the blue griffon Gallus. “Hello mum! Surprise!” She waved a talon with a smile.
Gallus peered his eyes up over the comic book to see Celestia. “Hey.”
“Hello again Gallus.” Celestia smiled warmly to the cub, she turn to look up at Nighting.
Nightingale gestured to herself sitting at the throne. “How do I look up here mum?”
“My little princess sitting on my throne.” Celestia walked up to them, Nightingale gave her a look. “But you do look beautiful up there Nightingale.” She stopped at the base of the steps. “But I am surprised to see you here, I was told you be arriving tomorrow and alone.” She looked over to Gallus.
Nightingale got off the throne, with a few flaps of her wings she descended to stand on a few steps at eye level with Celestia. “Plans change mum, Gallus is working for me and got permission from his guardian to tag along, the cub been a great deal of help and think the Gala will give him a perspective of you.”
Celestia gave a curious look. “Oh?”
“That isn't why we here right now though.” Nightingale turn the attention away from the Gala. “I and Gallus got a very odd message from a Kitsune, Pom-Pom.”
Gallus lower the comic now paying attention. “She said something about Gale turning a oversized dragon into a statue with his crazy pure magic, also your overworked, stressed, unable to do anything about Grogar's monsters and that Zebra that wiped out the Inverse Reality still around working from said Grogar.” Gallus summed it up with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. “Is that about sum it up?”
Celestia was taken back by the direct blunt sarcastic tone from the teenage blue griffon, he was right on the dot with every word though. “I have to admit you are correct young one... I am having to continue as things are even with what is happening, I do not like it one bit at all.”
“Then just toss the crown.” Gallus responded.
“I wish it could be that simple, but I can not Gallus, my responsibilities run too deep, I have to keep a calm collected manner to my little ponies, I have to show strength, compassion, .”
Gallus shrugged blowing the feathers that drooped down over his vision. “Guess they solid points.”
Raven tap the schedule. “Princess we have a meeting with Alpha Pom-Pom.”
“And it happening right on time.” They turn to the doors as they open, Pom-Pom walk into the throne room with Shining Armor. “Morning Princesses, blue griffon.”
“Gallus.” The blue griffon informed her.
“Morning Gallus, how cute you look.” She smiled.
Gallus gave a odd look at her. “Cute?”
“Those feathers, that colour, your stance, it shows how cute you are and how prideful you look.” Pom-Pom stated.
Gallus quickly grabbed the comic book shoving it up into face covering the heavy blush, grumbling under his breath behind it. “Alpha Pom-Pom, you informed my daughter of my personal issues I am dealing with, I wish to know why.” Celestia walked up to her throne, and took a seat on it staring down at her with a dead serious look.
Pom-Pom walked up the steps till she stood before Celestia. “I did because I am a leader, parent and dealing with problems that I have to keep under radar at time, also showing I am giving a smile even there is negative things happening while dealing with meetings and so on.” Pom-Pom's tails sway around slightly with the magic flames pulsing through the heavy tone of voice.
“We use a form of magic with colours to hide the whole settlement from the sky, we have guards at the only three ways into it, each with magical safe guards, even in the settlement itself there a somewhat tense situation of creatures could attack, before a few days ago all we had was rainstorms, lightning and endless darkness to deal with on top of those beasts.”
Celestia listened to her as she continue to talk, the others did too and Raven Inkwell writing it down for Celestia.
“I been around the block for over 700 years, been the Alpha for roughly 620 years of it, I even with all this magic can be overwhelmed, even raising a child stressed me out, worrying for his safety, the threat of Thunderous every day. Yes we have Grogar and Zerra, including whatever monsters that were created to deal with, that why we have those that can handle it to do that for us to allow us to live and be the rulers we are.”
Celestia looked out the stain glass window to her left. “Hmm... What if they come directly for Gale?”
“Than you have a friend to call and ask for help, have guards be prepared, but keeping the citizens out of harms way, yes it wrong to keep information like this from them. But sadly a ruler must at times do things they don't like to keep the peace, there is no real danger of them coming to the city or harming the kingdom, until that moment comes keep them safe and be prepared.”
Pom-Pom please her paw on Celestia's chest plate.
“Be there for your children, work with meetings, deal with public appearances, yes it will be stressing and things get backlogged, but that life, nothing perfect, if it was we be singing rainbows and cuddles all day. Life be boring without a hint of chaos.”
Pom-Pom remove her paw from Celestia's chest.
“You have your sister, your daughter, Gilda, Captain Armor, your niece, your former student.” Pom-Pom turn around looking down at everyone. “You have all of us, and we will get through this one way or the other, let your daughter sort out the rest of the Gala, get Gallus to go hang out with Gale.”
“That would work, Gale and Gallus does have that honorary brother connection, and I can help out with sorting out the Gala too, I had many years of experience.” Nightingale confirmed and agreed to what Pom-Pom said.
Gallus closed up the comic putting it under his wing. “Seriously? I don't get a say in this?”
Nightingale stepped up to Gallus. “You can help me out sorting out the Gala if you want, you still get paid either way.”
“Hang out with Gale or do more work?” Gallus tap the tip of his beak. “I'll go with hang out.”
“Very well, captain could you take Gallus to Gale?”
Shining Armor saluted. “Of course princess. What will you do Alpha Pom-Pom?”
Pom-Pom sat down by Celestia's throne. “I am interested in seeing how a leader deals with everyday life of dealing with meetings and such, so I'll stick with Princess Celestia and observe, if that alright with you.” She glance over to Celestia. “Also we can chat a bit more as parents and leaders between actives, also how you feel uncomfortable about what happened with Gale against Thunderous and Zerra at Nowhere.”
Celestia wouldn't mind a fellow leader from another nation observe. “Very well Alpha Pom-Pom, you may join me, I never had a fellow leader of another nation join me on such a thing, it would be interesting.” Celestia said. “Also I feel welcomed of such talks, talking also about my son with someone such as you would be helpful.”
“Mum tonight I like to give you something that may help too.” Nightingale added. “You were unprepared as I am for all that happened, I am trying to adjust as much as you are, mine just digging into my dad's past that keeping me busy. And having this cub working for me been a welcome change of paste.” Nightingale said and turn to Gallus with a warm smile from her beak. “Thank you Gallus.”
Gallus shrugged. “You paid me, I got enough bits to keep myself fed and save up for a better place than that tip I call home, you helped me and I helped you even it being paid for.” Gallus thought about hanging out with Gale. “You know what, forget the bits for hanging out with Gale.” He got up.
Nightingale blinked. “Ar-”
“Yes and don't make me regret it, now where is he at?” Gallus interrupted.
Raven Inkwell answers the question. “I believe he at the Greenhouse Sanctuary of Philomena the Phoenix, Captain Armor knows where it is and can take you.”
Shining Armor walked up to Gallus pointing a hoof to the door. “Follow me, I'll take you there right away.”
“Sure, lead the way.”
They watched them leave the throne room. “That I wasn't expecting.” Nightingale stared at the doors now closed. “No bits? Am I missing something here?”
Celestia got up walking up to her daughter putting a wing over her. “That my little Nightingale is Gale's doing, his kind heart is infectious.”
“Magic?”
“No just kindness, generosity and honesty.” Celestia said removing her wing from Nightingale. “I look forward to our talk tonight Nightingale, and it good to see you home.”
Nightingale ruffled her wings. “Yet I don't have a room at said home do I?”
Celestia tap her hoof on the muzzle. “Hmm... Don't you?” She gave a sly smirk leaving a very confused Nightingale trying to process what she said. “Come Raven Inkwell, Alpha Pom-Pom, there still a long way to go till days end.”
“Lead the way.” Pom-Pom gestured for Celestia to go.
Nightingale watched them leave, soon she was alone in the throne room trying to process what her mother just said. “I have a bedroom?”
Gilda flying around the castle around the spires to under bridges and across the water ways, the relaxing fly around was a release for Gilda before the lame party she has to attend, she hoping that Gale will find it lame too and they won't spend too long at the Grand Galloping Gala. “Hey Kitty!”
Gilda came to a dead stop hover looking to the source of the voice to see Amber sitting beside the Pony Victory statue at the Canterlot Gardens, she flew down to the anthropomorphic cat. “Hey Gingernut, day off?”
“Pretty much, I hear your also been invited to the Gala.” Amber went directly to the topic she wanted to speak about and not mince words.
Gilda sat down against the statue beside Amber. “Your going to huh? Guess it won't be so lame after all.” Gilda teased.
Amber nudged her. “Maybe.” Amber pulled out of her leg bag a photo of Gilda and Gale. “I thought you like to have this, as a keep sake for your unprepared life choices you made.”
Gilda took it from the paw hands of her feline friend, moving a claw over it. “That lame photo taken when he hugged me, who would of thought three months later I am not only his teacher, sister and worried that dweeb over what happened in the last few weeks.” Gilda took a deep breath. “Matters that made worse for Gale because of that dweeb Anubis.”
“It must be effecting him in ways that we can not see either, trying hard to push it away to be that youngster we grew to know.” Amber looked up at the blue sky as the clouds roll by.
Gilda looked up at the sky too. “Gale was forced into something that no cub should be put in, if it was me before Celestia made that bet with me, I would of just laughed it off and moved on with life.” Gilda saw two guards walking by.
“Griffoness Gilda.” One said with a slight nod.
“Hey dweebs.” She waved at them, they continued on their patrol. “Amber, Anubis messed with things he shouldn't have, that Grogar created him from Gale...”
“It hard to believe that there are others created from Gale's imagination and memories by Grogar out there now being hunted.”
“That Gingernut is a crazy power hungry lunatic.” Gilda's tail twitching around showing her irritation. “I hate just carrying on and unable to do anything serious, now we know something big is coming and yet we going to some lame Gala! What the buck wrong with us?”
Amber reached over to her side pulling out of a bag two cans, she gave one to Gilda. “Nothing wrong with us, we doing our part here and now, it sucks that we can't kick some ass, but you have Gale and he needs you more than ever. Turning a giant dragon into stone in a fit of rage and will to defend those he cared for was amazing, it will effect him ways that make him think others might be scared of him.”
Gilda looked at the grape soda flavour drink in a can. “I hate it when you make sense Amber...” She pulled the tag with a hiss coming from the seal opening up. “But I am glad you do.” She drunk a bit of the frizzy substance.
Amber opened hers up taking a sip of the drink. “Glad I did.” She put the free paw hand on Gilda's shoulder. “Be there for him Gilda, be that sister he sees you as.”
“Oh I will.” Gilda turn her eyes to Amber. “Thanks for being a good friend.”
“No problem.” Amber smiled and Gilda return the smile back.
They sat back and chilled out watching the clouds float by in the sky as time past by left with their own thoughts.
Gilda finished her drink, she burped and toss the can into a nearby bin. “Well...” Gilda got up from the statue. “This dopey dweeb got to get back and check up on Gale.”
Amber raise her almost empty can. “Good you need to. See you around Kitty.”
“See ya, Gingernut.” Gilda opened her wings taking off to the castle.
As Gilda flew over the castle she noticed something shimmer catch the corner of her eyes, she slowed to a hover looking over to that shimmer was, that when her sharp griffon golden yellow eyes saw a shimming figure leap from one roof top to another. “What the buck is that?” Gilda flew down to investigate.
Gilda land on the roof, taking a good look around for that strange moving shimming object that was almost completely invisible to the eyes. “Honorary sister to Gale, Gilda we finally meet.” She turn towards the curved wall of the tower, she couldn't quite see who it was in the shadows, the sun shining at her in a angle that made it hard to see.
She squinted her eyes. “Your that shimmer, some sort of dorky unicorn spell to make you invisible?”
“Invisibility yes, magic no.” The calm deep voice answered. “If you wish to talk and to listen to my words I advise staying where you are, or this conversation is over.” Gilda got the feeling of getting a deep forboating stare from this mysterious figure that gave her chills down her wings.
Gilda shook off that chilly feeling. “Fine by me dweeb, you know who I am from the look of things, who the heck are you?”
“Hmm... One that lived and observed for longer than any that live on this mountain, as for who I am, that I will not share at this time, you haven't earned my respect to be given such.” He said to her as Gilda sat down on her rump glaring at him with annoyance. “You can be annoyed all you like, this is how I answered what you asked Gilda.”
Gilda half growled. “Fine, your really old and really annoying already.” Gilda thought about what he said. “Wait a second... You said been here longer than those lived on this mountain! That means your-”
“Correct I am.”
“You one of those creatures Grogar created!” She got up instantly with back raised, forelegs spread down with wings wide open ready for fight. “You think I am going to let you get near Gale your surely not!”
A soft deep chuckle came from the creature. “Yes I can see that young warrior, you are fierce and would act in such a way to defend your honorary brother, one you do not have to worry about.” She saw a bag tossed from the shadows landing before her, it impact sounded like glass cracking and breaking from the impact. “That holds the Eye of Grogar, or what left it.”
Gilda slowly eased her stance but cautiously took the bag opening it to see the contents was in fact a shattered orb. “Your one of those made from Gale's memories or his imagination before he was Gale, aren't ya?”
“That I am, that orb if intact would have been the transmitter to transfer Gale's magic from him into it to Grogar, now broken that connection is no longer possible.” He answered Gilda. “One time I did have a chance but choose that it was dishonourable to do such a act to one so young, so innocent.”
Gilda frowned. “You seriously think I am going to believe that?”
“Two days after the Night of Nightmare, the return of Luna of the family of Solarclaw, I stood before a teenage griffon hiding behind two waste storage units, one for waste, one for food waste. He was feral, no formation of memories, sleeping without dreams of his own.” The creature said strongly to Gilda no hint of hesitation in his words.
To Gilda he was either a really good liar that prepared this speech or he was definitely telling the truth to her. “Okay, if I am to believe what your saying is true, what exactly are you?”
A slight irritating hum come from the creature. “All that were made after the lose of Grogar's bell were created with a magical crystal as our cores, our bodies are formed from that core, with it drained, destroyed or removed from our bodies will turn us into rock.”
“Golems, you dweebs are all golems...”
“Correct, but unlike those golems you met and encountered, we are flesh, we eat, sleep and all independent of thought.” He confirmed. “We are more advanced versions to those Princess Celestia created, and we were all brought to life with basic memories with a mission ten years after Grogar's defeat.”
Gilda listened to what he was saying.
“Each of us have abilities and memories formed depending on our forms and appearances, Anubis, Leela and Shal-Quz were created before the bell was taken, they are the strongest of creatures created by Grogar to acquire the magic for him.”
“And Leela turned against him from the get go, only loyal to Gale.”
“Indeed, that is what I have observed and heard from many of you.” He confirmed. “She was his book keeper of records after all, any and all written languages stored within. But also even Anubis the Death Dragon and self proclaimed god of the dead to dragon kind has consequential actions that has caused rippling effects.”
Gilda growled slightly rubbing her head with both talons. “This is too much to think about! Why talk to me!? Not one of those eggheads like Purple!?”
“I have thought about talking to Twilight Sparkle of the house Sparkle, but I found talking to one with a heart of a warrior would be more benefiting.”
“I am not a warrior you dweeb! I am a griffon! Griffons are born with a inherited need to fight for what they deem worth while!”
He emerged from he shadows. “A race of warriors, natural at it.” Gilda looked up and down at him. “And if you wish to bring Celestia lead head of Solarclaw to talk to me, do so only in a form of a griffon, even as a pony it is a insult of her true heart within.”
Gilda still trying to take in what she was seeing. “Your really ugly.”
“As you are to me.” He countered calmly in response. “I believe I shared and shown enough to gain your trust, I will be waiting at my home for the rest of the weekend for your and Celestia's arrival at the place you once were without being there.”
Gilda tried to understand what he meant. “Splitjaw what the buck are you talking about?”
He points up and she look up at the mountain. “You already know from your experience at Cloudsdale during the young fliers event, when you spoke to Gabriella about it a few weeks ago here in Canterlot.”
Gilda lower her head. “Ho-” He was gone from the spot he stood at, Gilda looked around to get any sight of him. “Buck! He gone!”
“Gilda?” She turn to see Flash Sentry. “Why are you standing on the roof with a bag of what look like a shattered orb?”
Gilda picked it up. “Discovering something more than I liked. And now got a bucking headache over it.” Gilda open her wings up taking to the air. “Is Celestia done with the meeting?”
“No, the meeting with the mayors still on going for about another hour or so.” Flash stated.
“Fine... Is Gale still in the greenhouse?”
“Yes, in-fact that why I am here, you have a dinner arrangement with them at Gustave le Grand Restaurant, a young blue griffon called Gallus be attending as well.” Flash answered and explained his reasons for looking for her.
Gilda smirked. “Great timing, I think I really need some fish.” She pat him on the back. “Come on dweeb, I own ya lunch from last time, now good enough time to pay ya back dweeb.”
Flash tried to recall what she meant as the griffon flew off. “I didn-” He recall Ponyville. “She can't seriously mean that? I was just doing my job.” Flash stomach growls. “Okay, I get it, free food is great.” He loses to the stomach and flies after her.
The creature dubbed Splitjaw by Gilda watched them leave. “If being prepared were so easy.” He turns invisible soon after turning to walk away.
Gilda and Pom-Pom land on the plateau of the mountain peak, Celestia soon lands just behind them as her hooves sink into the soft snow from the gentle snow fall, clouds parting slightly to show the moon shining behind the peak, also they could see a metal shell of a object resting against the rocky walls.
Pom-Pom took notice of what look like sliding three hinge smooth metal door in the rock face under the peak. “Shall I cast the spell Princess?”
“Please do Alpha, we are guests and do not wish to insult this creature by violating his terms.” Celestia gave Pom-Pom the go ahead, she did notice Gilda looking very tense, her talons digging into the soft white powder. “Are you alright Gilda?”
Gilda shuddered at the sight of the wreckage covered in snow and ice. “That was a metal bird... A flying machine...”
Pom-Pom's green tail flame glowing as she prepared to cast the spell on Celestia. “An aeroplane, a machine with stiff wings and using a form of propulsion, I seen many posters and writings from old books at the Forgotten Ruins of Nowhere.”
Celestia felt uneasy. “I believe this one has a more significant connection to us.” Celestia turn to Pom-Pom. “This mountain fell from the sky over 4000 years ago, a tear in reality...” Celestia turn to the metal shell. “That aeroplane as you call it brought Gale to this mountain before he was Gale.”
“Yeah and I remember it...” Gilda grumbled fluttering her wings. “Can we get this over with so I don't have to stay here any longer than I have to...” Gilda demanded.
Celestia nodded. “Alpha do it.”
Pom-Pom cast her magic upon Celestia, her form glowing with hoofshoes, chest plate and crown, the mane shifting more to between the ears, her muzzle reforming into a beak, the tail shifting into tail feathers as a long lion tail forms with a brush at the end. The forehooves turn to talons with gauntlets, the hind hoof shift into paws with the hoof shoe turning into a plate resting just above the paw toes around the ankles.
The light fades and the now larger griffon wings flap a few times, Celestia shaking her body by instinct. “It been too long since I felt like this.” Celestia test herself with steady steps with talon to paw. “It seem our host has decided to show himself.” Celestia notice the door three panels slide open with the gold plated armoured creature stepping out with the doors closing behind him.
They turn to him walking through the snow towards them. “I am named Arbiter, welcome to my reforge, you honour me in your grace and appearance Princess Celestia, thank you for abiding by my wishes.”
“I gracefully did so in the terms we have much to talk about?” Celestia said lifting her talon up flexing it a little.
His split jaw quivered a little. “Yes there is much to talk, plea-” He instantly turn around towards the peak slitted eyes narrowing. “Shal-Quz is here, defend yourselves!” He pulled a object from his side and with a flick a red glowing blade appearance the snow hitting it with hissing sounds of burning water.
Pom-Pom's tails light up quickly, Gilda and Celestia stood ready, but in a instant from below them icy rocky tendrils bust out of the ground wrapping around Pom-Pom, Arbiter and Celestia. Gilda dodged them and saw a black tall anthromophic rabbit land in the snow wearing a white robe, she waved the brush with more bursting out going for Gilda.
Gilda quickly dodged and flew around them to slash at Shal-Quz but to hit snow, suddenly a blast of intense snow hit her, she recovers and roars at Shal-Quz. “I got to admit you are admiringly good with your reflexs, lets see how you play with gravity being bent.” She wave the brush forming a symbol.
Suddenly Gilda found herself weightless, even her wings couldn't work correctly in the change of gravity around her, she found the icy rock tendrils grab her and pulled down to the others. “When I get free I am going to claw that furry face of yours to pieces!” She snarled.
“Oh I think you would, but sadly you won't.” Shal-Quz calmly walked up to them. “Also the rocks are taking care of your magic, it blocking them from being used.” She stopped in front looking at all four of them calmly, pulling out a sphere from her robe.
Celestia, Gilda and Pom-Pom being held by icy rock formations with Arbiter, standing before them holding up the Orb of Grogar's eye to them. “Thank you for being test subjects for absorbing magic and the life force, when I am done all be left of you is a stony remains she chuckled.
“You are without honour monster.” Splitjaw growled.
“Whatever, I will deal with you after dealing with Celestia.” She wave the brush for the icy rock to move Celestia towards her.
Celestia struggled to break free as the orb moved close to her and touch, Celestia felt her magic and life force being drained from her into it, the energy being transferred into the brush. “Wh-what happening to me...” Celestia saw her beak being transparent.
“That simple, as I stripe you of everything, your basically fading form existence.” Shal-Quz responded.
Celestia had tears fall and they also fade. “Son... I-” She faded away completely, her crown, chest plate, gauntlets and ankle bracelets fall to the snow.
Shal-Quz grinned darkly looking over to the others as they stared in horror at her. “Now for you.”
Gale woke up with the alarm going off, he sat up in bed looking over to the window doors to the balcony seeing the sun haven't came up yet. He saw the moon shining still with the stars. “Huh? Why sun not up?” Gale got out of bed walking to the window opening it to feel something odd in the air, he watched wisps of energy float around, he ran a talon through one.
Suddenly Gale gasped as a flash of Sunbeam came to in senses. “Wh-What was that!?” He screeched.
He quickly rushed to the doors opening them to find sets of armour all over the ground with hoof shoes, Gale picked up the helmet of one of the piles there was no sign on the guards, he quickly raced to Gallus' room to open it to see no sign of Gallus in there, than he went to Nightingale's to also find nothing.
Gale rushed down the stairs to see Shining Armor's armour on the ground beside his cousin Cadance regal gear, he started to panic and freak out, Gale was finding maid outfits and no pony, no signs of guards. Gale reached the throne room opening it to see Luna she was transparent and energy pulling from her, Gale quickly raced to her grabbing the hoof, she suddenly came solid gasping for breath falling into Gale.
He held her foreleg. “Aunty Luna wh-what happening!?”
“We under attack... Ponies gone... Couldn't stop it...” She whizzed. “I felt my life force and magic being taken from me...” Luna said. “We need to leave now.”
“Wh-what of others!?”
The doors flung open with a blackish grey rabbit stepping in causally, she looked at them with yellow cold eyes. “Ah thank you for showing yourself pure one, it took the effort of finding you out of the equation, draining this princess slowly was the perfect bait.” She raised the orb out of her robe. “Since I took the lives of all at the peak I have no need to connect any more, now to take yours.” Shal-Quz raised it.
Gale suddenly felt his magic being pulled from him, he fell to the ground, Luna powered her magic. “Nephew run.” He looked at her and with a blinding flash Gale found him self falling beside the waterfall, he couldn't slow himself down in panic, the teenage splash into the water and struggled to get free from the currents.
Gale manage to pull himself out of the river with pain shooting through his right wing as it dragged, he couldn't move it at all as he managed to drag himself onto the shore, Gale turn to the mountain seeing everything was twisted and bulked in ways it shouldn't be possible, the reality magic at full work through out the city and the mountain.
Gale recalled roughly where Ponyville would be from the city side of the mountain, he turn walking to the city grunting in pain with anglished squawks from part of the lower wing dragging on the forest ground.
Soon the teenager made it to Ponyville seeing many ponies gathered at the town hall asking about what happening at Canterlot, when they saw the injured griffon walking up to them many quickly rushed to his aid including Twilight Sparkle and Spike to his relief.
Gale tells them that a anthropomorphic black rabbit called Shal-Quz attacked and stole every single ponies life and magic force, including the Princesses, Twilight was devastated at the news of losing her family and her mentor.
With a threat of Shal-Quz attacking and the Elements of Harmony at the heart of her realm of twisted reality at the city of Canterlot, she and her friends with the aid of Gale with Spike worked around the clock to find anything they could use or do to stop the rabbit, one thing they came across by chance was something about the Castle of the Two Sisters was built over the very place the Elements of Harmony was first discovered by Celestia and Luna.
They travelled to the castle ruins for Pinkie Pie to accidental discover a stair case leading down to the gorge below the castle, that is when they came across the cavern entrance. Within it they find the tree of Harmony and the spirit waiting for them in surprise to them looking like Twilight, she told them of what she felt and why they came.
They ask if the tree can help but she respond with limit abilities due to keeping the vines under the tree at bay, Gale suggest if she could free Discord and have him help bring the elements to Twilight and her friends, the idea is sound but she warn them of doing so would make Ponyville a target for the forest and vines.
Twilight tell Gale and Spike to go back, tell Big Mac and get every pony to leave and head for Dodge Junction, after refusing at first Twilight said they need as many that wouldn't be put in risk way if this goes south, Shal-Quz will advance and know there a threat.
Gale and Spike does exactly that and tell Big Mac, he tell the mayor and soon all the ponies were leaving Ponyville after gathering supplies, they slowly walked in a long caravan chain heading to Dodge Junction, Granny Smith watched the vines grow and over take the town and her farm, devastated at the family lose, the Apples press on with the others.
Discord is freed and informed my the tree about the situation, he get the elements and return to Twilight and her friends, they prepared themselves for Shal-Quz but wasn't prepared for what she did on arrival.
The black rabbit attacked with no remorse removing one of the element bearers in a instant by draining their magic and life force, Discord tell Twilight and her remaining friends to flee and he will deal with her with his own reality bending magic.
Only one of them would make it back being Applejack, she tells of how Shal-Quz over powered Discord and went for all of her friends, Twilight teleporting her to safety as it was only them left, now the threat of Dodge Junction being the next target they flee in all directions away from the direction of Canterlot and Ponyville.
Gale, Spike and the Apples flee with a group of ponies right to the Changeling Hive, they tell the changelings of Shal-Quz and what she already done to Twilight, Discord the princesses and many others, without the sun rising and the moon still in the sky the Queen of the Changelings Chrysalis knew they weren't making it up.
Soon she discover this to be completely true when Shal-Quz with her own strange reality warped creatures stood at the border of the Hive, she knowing of the Black Throne power to cancel out all magic part from Changeling, Shal-Quz leaves for every major city in Equestia, Changeling reports come in of empty cities soon after.
For a few months they were safe till Shal-Quz found a way to draw them out in the most crawliest of ways, she twisted reality around the Hive to suck out all the oxygen from the Hive Lands, Chrysalis orders a counter offence on Shal-Quz to keep her and the forces busy while airships from Big-Rig to the Storm King Black Fleet in the command of Tempest arrives.
They evacuate as many as they can as the fighting starts, those changelings that didn't fight watch helplessly as their home is consumed by the ground around it as the fleet of airships took to the skies and flew away.
Months down the line reports filter through the fleet of airships of the Dragon Lands being attacked, Nowhere creatures wiped out including the Kistunes and most of the dragons including Torch, Anubis and Ember, the Storm King and his forces soon fall part from the fleet that kept moving and never staying in one place too long.
Almost a year later they hear of a crystal kingdom in the far north appearing, a tyrant king using the subjects to invade, for a time Sombra was winning till Shal-Quz personally involved herself in it, and as swiftly as other leaders fell so did Sombra and the Crystal Empire with Yakyakisten a bit more north to the city, some airships managed to pick up a few survives of the assault on both cities.
The next to fall was a prisoner of Tartarus Tierk, he broke out and tried to absorb her magic when encountering Shal-Quz, but she reversed it on him and drained all his magic including the life force, next to fall was Seaequestria and only a few made it out with Queen Nova using the pearl magic to restore some to Hippogriffs.
Two years passed since the world below mostly went silence with Shal-Quz taking the life and magic force of everything, all that were left sailing in the skies of a twisted strange sky were a fleet of 62 airships with all the life of many creatures that were left.
Gale on that day of the annivsary stood watching the strange sky on the day he lost his family, loved ones and many more, including those at the time he couldn't bring himself to call friends and would call them family instead, honorary family.
He joined by Spike and a orange dragon Smolder talking about the way the world became, how they live their lives over breakfast and work at the Airship Garden where they grow all their crops, even a prince the last leader of any nation surviours work get his talons dirty, he had also lost his right wing during the early days of Shal-Quz reign.
Upon this day however a unexpected guest arrived in the cargo hold of that airship.
Soon they with Big-Rig on the largest of the airships working on the small fields on top deck, tending to the crop that were growing from the artificial sunlight to picking some crop, and followed by planting seeds for the next crop yield.
Smolder groans as her claw hands dig into the soft wet dirt as she dig a little to allow Spike to plant a seed in it. “Why can't we use spades?”
“We don't have any as ah told ya sugarcube, with all the maintenance to keep these here airships runnin' they need metals. So tough it out and get those seeds plantin'” Applejack sternly said to Smolder.
Smolder give a mock salute. “Yes ma'am...”
Suddenly a flash followed by a booming sound below deck catch their attention, hippogriff, dragon and pony guards race down below followed by Gale, Smolder, Spike and Applejack.
What they find in the storage room is- “Grogar!?” Gale gasped in shock.
The goat stumbling around knocking over barrels with guards tense with wooden spears raised at him. “Gale? Is that you? I hear your voice.” He asked looking around.
“Yes?” The griffon frowned.
Soon as the goat turn around they could see why he had a hard time seeing where Gale was, they were solid white, his horns mostly missing. “I couldn't stop her from destroying it... I tried with all my might, even the Inverse Griffon Celestia helped me...”
“Griffon mum!? What happened to her!?” Gale grabbed him by the bell strap lifting the goat near to his beak to the muzzle. “Tell me!”
“Shal-Quz attacked the Tree of Elysium, she destroyed it... We tried to stop her, trillions of lives silenced in a instant, so many realities wiped out... Zerra was pulled apart as he life force and magic was taken from him, I am broken and beaten, I couldn't muster anything... All I could do is stop her from breaching to other universes, tied her magic into it.” He told Gale. “I couldn't stop her from destroying it though, I couldn't stop her... I couldn't stop her...” He kept repeating over and over again.
Applejack waved a leaf over his muzzle causing Grogar to pass out at once fall limp on the ground. “Why did you do that!?” Gale demanded.
Applejack point to the large goat. “Look at the state of him, listen to him! He in shock, it the best way to go about it at the moment, we talk to him more after we tend to his injuries, and from the look of thin's he no threat.” Applejack pointed out to Gale.
Gale sighed. “Fine, guards take Grogar to be tended by Nurse Red Heart and Doctor Stable.”
They saluted. “Aye Prince Gale!” They all gathered around the goat slowly lifting him up and carrying him away.
Gale turn to Applejack. “If he saying is true and all the realities outside our own been destroyed, it means in our little corner of the Multiverse, this is the only reality left.”
“Trillions of lives... Gone...”
“Including Avatar...” Gale sighed. “Let's finish up and get some answers...”
“But-” Smolder begun to say.
Gale sighed. “If we don't do our part, who know what crops may not grow for next harvest, this is far more important at the moment Smolder, more than him at the moment.” Gale honestly said to the teen orange dragon.
“Fine... Let's get our claws dirty again, than we get answers!” She pocked his beak with a muddy claw walking out the room.
“Yes ma'am.”
Soon after they got more then they asked for, Shal-Quz directly attacked the Tree of Elysium and in it need Avatar called Grogar for help, he came with the assistance of Inverse Reality Celestia. But their attempts proved to be devastating, Shal-Quz destroyed the tree, took the life and magic from Zerra before their eyes and watched as branches of realities were instantly wiped out, trillions of lives silenced in a blink.
Inverse Celestia and Grogar fought against Shal-Quz and in result the goat got blinded, his horns snapped to the point he couldn't fight her. Inverse Celestia weakened knew she had to say Grogar as Avatar with little time magic left gave a crystal to her to give to Grogar, this led her teleporting him away from Shal-Quz reach.
The griffon stood and fought the rabbit knowing she would lose, but giving the others a life line for now.
Eight years later that moment came, the moment they needed, hard work with scarps of parts and time crystal from Avatar with determination from every single life on the fleet of airships, they knew this is all or nothing moment with Shal-Quz closing in on them at all fronts.
Grogar eight years before managed to use her reality magic against her after the destruction of the tree, more Shal-Quz grew stronger in return the barriers between realities did too making it impossible for her to travel to other universes, but it didn't stop her from believing that taking all remaining life she would be able to.
Now the rabbit was taking more sky by the day, she couldn't do it all at once due to complete reality collapse, but time and patient she was getting her wish, they believed there was only months left before Shal-Quz had them for sure.
That moment to save every single life that was taken had came...
On the airship HMS Victory Big-Rig and Smolder managed to put together everything they needed to use the time crystal to do something really crazy, they checked through the systems to see the time crystal ready to go with all the wires and tubes attached to a round platform made of different pieces of scarped metal.
The doors to the room open, a fully grown Gale minus a right wing walk in with Grogar resting his hoof on the back in aid to move through out the airship, the moment had came, Spike and Applejack joined them sooner after.
Watching on monitors all over the other airships were the citizens of the Sky Fleet Town, they knew of this moment but made it feel very tense for every life from young to old to see and hear what was about to happen.
Gale took a good hard look at the machine, a adult tall Spike taking Grogar to the side. “Today marks ten years since it all begun, since the day I lost a mother, aunt, family and you all lost the most amazing princesses in the whole world, even Queens and Kings fell to Shal-Quz they at the end made sure as many of their subjects would survive too.”
Gale walked around as many listened. “Through it all we found friends in each other, no more related issues of our kinds being so different on the outside, but what makes us in the inside, I found love through all of it as many of you did too, friends that feel like brothers and sisters.”
He took a look to Smolder. “Days we wouldn't want to forget or give up, Smolder made sure that hopefully all of our tales so ever short it is may get given to those that will never know what we had to give up to save them all.”
“Project Daybreaker wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for every single one of you agreeing to this, even one faulters and said no, the days we would have left be remembered by us all, but that didn't happen and soon we about to break a lot of rules to pull this off, change history for the lives of all.”
Gale stopped standing by Grogar. “Even enemies became friends would be lost, it worth bring back trillions of lives lost to that mad rabbit Shal-Quz, she caused so much suffering and it time for us to return the favour and shatter her reign of power once and for all.”
He raised his only wing up and drop it. “Activate the machine Big-Rig!”
“Aye Prince Gale.” He pulled the leaver.
The crystal lights up and the rings above the machine start to rapidly spin around with purple glowing energy, a beam shots down and emerging through the mix of misty magic created from the crystal stood Avatar of the Tree of Elysium somewhat confused by where she was.
“You got five minutes and seventeen seconds! Make it quick!” Big-Rig warned.
Avatar looked around the chamber she was in standing on a makeshift platform, her senses of this world, this time line flooded her system, her memories. “Your seeing it aren't you? Seeing what we all been through?” Gale asked
Avatar turn to him. “Yes I do... How is this possible? How are we talking in real time?”
“I wish I can tell you but we don't have time.” Gale nod to Smolder.
She walked up with a case in claw. “Take this, we hoping it will survive the collapse to come, our last will and testimony from all of us on Sky Fleet Town.” Avatar took it with her talon hand. “We want you to bring the younger Gale moments before Shal-Quz strikes down Princess Celestia to our present by two days from now to the ruins of Canterlot, the heart of Shal-Quz reign.”
“You do know doing this will change what should be, change so much that the love you found never to be.”
“Yes we know.” Applejack spoke up. “Ah found love with this dragon.” Applejack looked up at Spike smiling warmly, he smiled back giving her a hug. “But we all agreed to this, every life on this town, we only have months before Shal-Quz find us, it either a few months of happiness or a way to make the world spin full of life and deal a personal blow to that vermin!” Applejack said with anger carried in her voice at the end.
Spike open up a locket around his neck showing Twilight's picture on it. “We know that bring the younger version of the prince here will destroy our timeline, but it will save so many more lives, including all those realities when Shal-Quz wiped out the tree...”
Avatar raise her free talon hand resting it against Spike's scaly face. “I can see it in all of you, but this would also weaken the barriers of other realities, the multiverse outside our corner would bleed into this corner, even Shal-Quz would be able to escape through them.”
“A better fate then this one.” Spike said. “Please help us make this happen...”
“Please...” Came the sounds of all through the speakers, a mass plea from all. “Please...” They repeated.
Gale put his talon on her shoulder. “Avatar, Operation Daybreaker has to happen, it will create a mess, but this mess is far less serious than this one we currently in, I ran and ran and ran, but in two days I will no longer run and face her, all I hope you pull through for us.”
Big-Rig step back from the controls, smoke and sparks coming from it, the crystal cracking rapidly. “We got seconds!”
Grogar spoke up. “Send a message to myself, tell him what Shal-Quz did, what she about to do, even I will be still after Gale's pure magic back then, her fate will be far worse and hopefully at the moment of Future and Past collides Gale with everyone that should of gone to Flaputa that day will stop me. I believe they will, since good always has a way of coming through, even now.” He warmly smiled.
Avatar nodded. “I will... You will have only a few minutes while I hold the collapse back as much as I can, I will send Gale through to your time, the tree agreed and for it to do so, your matters must be se-” She vanished and the crystal shatters with the machine groaning to a complete shut down.
Gale put his arm over Smolder. “How about we all get together and feast as friends and family?”
“That I can agree on.” Smolder smiled. “And we can finally eat those gems we been holding back Spike.”
“I look forward to it.”
Applejack bow to Gale. “Thank you for being the best prince and leader we could ask for.”
They others including Grogar did too, Gale looked around with tears falling. “Thank you for letting me, now...” He whipped the tears away. “Dweebs let's gather!”
Avatar reappeared before the tree holding the case Smolder gave to her, she put it down enbedded in crystals. “This should protect it...” She walked into the water to the tree looking up at it. “Tree of Elysium, let's Operation Daybreaker start, send Gale to the ruins of Canterlot!”
The tree hums with it glowing brightly as the temporal energy from it is unleashed.
Gale had no idea what was going on, one moment he was on the way to check on Shadow after dinner before going to bed, next thing the teenager knew he was at in the ruins of the castle, looking around nothing seem to make sense, buildings looked twisted and warped. Roads went up and twist around with destruction everywhere, he saw Grogar the goat that caused him to become a griffon held up in magical chains in the air.
“Grogar?” He tilted his head looking up at him.
The goat slowly open his eyes looking burned, hurt and both his horns snapped off, the eyes white looking around. “Y-you came... It worked.” He said weakly.
Gale blinked trying to process what he was seeing. “What worked?, you try taking magic in me.”
The eyes shift to the sound of the voice. “You would be surprised young Gale, it been a long time since I heard that young voice.”
“Young?” Gale flew up to him. “What happened to place, what happened to you? Why home in ruins?”
Grogar listened to Gale. “Shal-Quz happened...” He coughed a bit. “My created became the master of her creator...”
Gale reach a talon to the side of the face of Grogar, feeling the fur to the touch. “Shal-Quz? Who that?”
“She captured the pure magic and took it for herself, used it to warp reality, twist reality to her will, betrayed me...” He chuckled lightly with a few wheezing coughs. “Now I hang as her helpless pet, blinded, magic mostly stripped from me and the endless chaos she causes to the world, the suffering she brings to others to her enjoyment...”
Gale didn't understand what he was talking about. “My magic still in me, why you say I younger? Why this Shal-Quz do this?”
“Because I created her and the magic from that brush to do such a thing... No one could stop her not even those ponies with the Elements, even Discord, Tirek, Sombra or Chrysalis could stop her...”
Gale was shocked to hear about Discord, he knew Twilight Sparkle and five others were these Elements bearers, but he had no idea who the others were. “Mum?”
“She was one of her first victims...” Grogar sighed. “The start of the day to the Grand Galloping Gala Shal-Quz steals her life force.”
Gale gasped. “Y-you mean-”
“Yes...” His ears twitch. “Right on time, Shal-Quz is coming, hide and stay quiet, allow us to do this for you and your future... Reality has been bent that we do not exactly excise in the normal flow of time any more.”
Gale was confused. “What?”
“Quick hide!” He growled.
Gale quickly does as he said and hide under some rubble looking up at Grogar, soon he saw a blackish grey anthropomorphic bunny wearing a white robe holding a large paint brush walk into view. “Oh creator of mine, I see you are awake today, how do you feel?”
Grogar growls. “The worst mistake I ever made and still regretting making you.”
With a flick of the brush Gale watched a stone stair case formed up to him, she causally walked up to him. “Oh so right you are, I became what you couldn't do, all your schemes and planning for that moment when the Past and Future would collide-” She pauses with a paw finger to the tip of her muzzle. “Oh wait! That never happened! Cause I twisted reality and captured it at a endless moment.”
She waved the brush to form a orb showing a tiny version of the Flaputa captured with a the Gates of Elysium frozen. “Even capturing a time traveller and his companions as a extra bonus.” She bragged making it vanish. “Now I am done with my usual boosting, I like to show you something.” She turn her head. “Bring him in!”
Gale watched two monsters in armour walked in dragging a battled griffon, no it was him a older him. Gale was startled to see himself with one wing missing, the other with torn feathers, cuts and patches of fur and feathers burned away. “Older me...” Gale whispered.
Shal-Quz chuckled. “I know you can't see since I took your sight, but I finally got him after he escaped when I stole almost all that pure magic.” She wave the brush pulling up the battered older Gale to her. “Time to take what is left from your body Gale.”
He opened his eyes. “Buck you Shal-Quz...” He growled. “With what I had left is already used up, there just enough to keep me breathing to say this to you.” He spat at her.
She wiped the spit off her face. “Oh?” She pulled him closely to her. “You been running away all this time and that all you had time, no time left for you Gale Solarclaw, whatever you did won't make a difference.”
“You removed all that stood in your way or a threat.” Grogar coughed.
She chuckled. “I did and the last two out of Alicorns, Element Bearers, villains, family all gone.” Shal-Quz laughed. “That griffon Gilda before I drained her of all the magic and life force put up a fight.”
Gale felt sicken hearing that. “N-no...”
“Nothing can stop me!”
Old Gale grinned. “Oh I definitely think one could, since you destroyed the Tree of Elysium, time haven't been straight and a big mistake on your part.”
“Please tell me.” She gave a unamused response. “Your boring me.” Shal-Quz made a goat eye sphere appear. “Now say and I can finally end your suffering.”
He directly look down to his younger self. “Midnight, the day of the Gala is when my mum was taken from me, the moment the War of Reality began, at the peak of the Mountain that Fell, with help from Grogar my enemy gave me what I needed to know, how to stop you after all this time.”
She yawned moving the orb closer to him, his magic started to be pulled from the body, Gale watched his older self start to become transparent before his eyes. “Bored...”
Older Gale spoke. “Shattering the orb before you get to use it on my mum, unleashing all mum's rage forcing you to splitting Daybreaker from her into a pony shell, changing the moment mum die to having two mum's.” He chuckled weakly as his limbs go limp.
Shal-Quz pulled it back and stared at the semi solid form of Older Gale. “Wh-what did you just say!?”
“Thank you for being over confident and thanks for not taking all mine and Grogar's magic.” He than shouts. “NOW GROGAR!”
Shal-Quz turn to see the broken horns glow as Older Gale's talons did too. “Nothing you do will stop me now.”
“Not now, but that night 10 years ago.” They said together with smiles.
“Because you can warp time, travel to other realities, bend dimensional barriers to cross over to other universes, but you can't travel through time, one thing that would of insured your victory.” Older Gale grinned.
Shal-Quz didn't bother to try and stop them, she allow them to destroy themselves.
“Because you destroyed all the magic that could travel in time part from two that Avatar came a piece each to before she passed!” Grogar also grinned.
“US!” They unleashed their magic bursting to dust before Gale's eyes.
Shal-Quz shook her head. “What a waste.” She dust her paw off against the robe. “Now f-” She heard a rumbling growl and turn to the directly to see Gale emerge. “No...”
“YOU MONSTER!” Gale roared charging right at her, she ready the brush to simply take care of the teen, but in a sudden moment Avatar appears grabbing him and vanish.
Shal-Quz stared at the empty spot. “Change the past can't change the future fools.” She look to the brush. “Wait... If the tree isn't destroyed that means the branch of time this is would-”
From the fleet of 62 airships, Smolder, Spike, Applejack, Big-Rig and everyone else watched Canterlot burst apart in a blinding shattering light, everywhere around them started to break down rapidly.
They knew the deed was done, their last moments grace was honouring their heroes and knowing Shal-Quz had been defeated, it was only seconds but for them this was their victory as time and reality collapsed.
Celestia in griffon form, Gilda and Pom-Pom being held by icy rock formations with the creature Splitjaw, standing before them holding up the Orb of Grogar's eye to them. “Thank you for being test subjects for absorbing magic and the life force, when I am done all be left of you is a stony remains she chuckled.
“You are without honour monster.” Arbiter growled.
“Whatever, I will deal with you after dealing with Celestia.” She wave the brush for the icy rock to move Celestia towards her.
A anger squawk followed by as Shal-Quz turn to get a talon grabbing hard into her wrist, she screeched in pain dropping the orb to have it caught by the talon, it was Gale holding it. “Son/Cub/What!?” Celestia, Gilda and Pom-Pom said at once.
Gale slam the orb hard into the rock shattering it to pieces. “No take magic! No take life!” He growled going for a punch to get a icy rocky vine come out of the ground wrapping around his foreleg and slamming Gale into the snow. “Gah!” He gasped in pain.
Shal-Quz shook her hand paw a few times. “That hurt you brat! And you destroyed my orb! Now I don't care about taking your magic! I am going to end you for that!” Shal-Quz said with fury using her reality brush magic to throw Gale into the rocky side of the peak, than alter gravity to pin him to the ground.
“Leave my son alone!” Celestia pleaded.
The blackish grey rabbit showed true hatred in her eyes as she continued to warp gravity around Gale. “No! I am will crush his bones in front of you! Rip him apart for what he did!” She growled. “And I get to watch with glee as you suffer the lose of your son!”
Gilda and Pom-Pom try to break free to save Gale, but Shal-Quz tighten the icy hold on them too, Arbiter glanced over to Celestia seeing a strange orange yellow glow form around her body, the ice starting to melt with steam billowing out. “Something dark awaking within her.”
They start to feel the heat and they came to witness the awaking of something deep in Celestia as she snaps.
Celestia let out a mighty lion roar from her beak, teeth in it turning sharp, fangs forming too, eyes turn orange and slitted, the whites turn black. “I... WILL... NOT... LET... YOU... HARM... MY... SON!” Her feather colours change from different shades of colour to a burning orange yellow flame. She shattered the restrains from intense heat blowing out of her.
The intense blast of magic and waves of heat caused Shal-Quz to shield her eyes, the change in the solar princess wasn't something this rabbit was even aware of, the force of this transformation had freed Gilda, Pom-Pom and Arbiter from their icy grips. She held down Gale with the gravity being warped by her magic, only thing Shal-Quz hoped that keep whatever Celestia became at bay.
Shal-Quz raise her brush as those that were held get up from the snow. “Don't try anything I still can c-”
“Blah blah blah.” The white griffon rolled her eyes flexing her muscles. “How can you do that and defend yourself at the same time?”
“Wh-” The white griffon open her beak and a jet of flames shot right at Shal-Quz.
Shal-Quz quickly shifted the warped gravity in front of her deflecting the flames skywards, she felt the intense heat coming from it, Gale slowly got up from the snow seeing his mum's form. “Daybreaker...” He said with surprise. “Second mum.”
Gilda didn't take a second to fly around to Gale. “Splitjaw that door of yours! Get that bucking thing open!”
Arbiter saw the callous look Daybreaker had as she stop the attack and vanish, appearing behind Shal-Quz, the rabbit sense danger and quickly turn altering reality to turn air into a solid wall, she reflects it to strike back for the white griffon to teleport again.
Pom-Pom deflects some of the cross fire attacks with her own shield spell. “Whatever Celestia became, I don't think she care much of us being in the line of fire!”
Arbiter quickly glance at her. “It a demon from within has awoken.””
“Buck whatever it is! Get that thing open you dweeb!” Gilda growled.
Shal-Quz appear from a cloudy vortex and pull up snow as a tidal wave at them, Daybreaker using her magic turn it into stream and compress it to clouds throwing it at Shal-Quz. “If you don't open it, I will gladly melt it open.” She flick a flame in her talon, Arbiter growls slightly and run to the door with the others.
Shal-Quz clears the clouds away. “Daybreaker is it?” The griffon grinned with the talon glowing with the feathered hair and tail brush showing more fierce flowing of flame like manner. “You will fall to my magic and than I will take care of them all.” She looked over to the door opening up, they racing inside. “That door won't hold, you and I know that.”
Daybreaker crack some joints, flexing her wings. “Well, shall we shed some light on that?” She raise the talon with the sun rising behind her.
Behind Shal-Quz the moon still shined, the sky now split in two, one night, one day. “Okay th-” She quickly dodge a flaming slash from Daybreaker.
Appearing through a rift a bit away Shal-Quz look down at her robe seeing the claw cuts with the cloth burned. “Your quick, I like it.” Daybreaker snarled with a dark grin on her beak. “Cooked rabbit sound nice.” She licked her beak.
Shal-Quz beard her teeth. “Your twisted!”
“Indeed I am.” She chuckled as she unleashed fiery magic at Shal-Quz, the rabbit going on the defence deflecting attacks to blocking them.
Luna teleport into the frame seeing the fight. “Celestia w-” She saw her sister. “Oh no...”
Daybreaker saw Luna but didn't care, her focus was on Shal-Quz, using telekentic magic to bring down rocks on Shal-Quz, she altering them with reality magic into butterflies to harmless flowers. “I can't keep playing defence! I got to-” She quickly create another rift falling back in it to appear a few feet away from Daybreaker's snapping beak.
Luna saw Gale and the others watching from the door in the side of the rock face. “What happened to my sister!?”
“She snapped when that rabbit tried to crush Gale with gravity!” Gilda snapped at Luna as she was checking over Gale, Luna turn watching her sister and a blackish grey rabbit fighting each other, with Daybreaker causing Shal-Quz to mostly be on the defence.
Luna knew she had to stop this right now, but the fight between Shal-Quz and Daybreaker was far more explosive, the magic being used by both of them was increasing in size with every release. “Who is the rabbit?”
Arbiter stood beside her. “Shal-Quz, the only other one to be made before Grogar lost his bell, at the moment that creature is on the defence, her attacks are barely able to be used since Daybreaker refusing to give her quarter.” He eyes shift to Gale. “Prince Gale spoke her name.” He went back to watching the fight.
“Daybreaker...” Luna whispered.
Pom-Pom's shield gets hit by some magical blasts, being just within the door gave less surface for the shield, allowing her to strengthening it. “I gather this is what it was like with Nightmare Moon?”
“Neigh... It was over within minutes of I becoming Nightmare Moon, after I turn day to night.” Luna look to the sky. “But this...” She stared at the sky cut in two, one day and one night. “This is new...”
“Dweebs are you all idiots!? Daybreaker whatever Celestia is at the moment has one objection! Destroy the thing that almost crushed Gale with distorting gravity with that bucking brush!” Gilda snarled.
They all turn to her as she spoke than turn back to Daybreaker hovering on the spot forming a lot of spheres of fire and launching them at Shal-Quz, she creating things out of thin air to block and deflect the attacks.
Daybreaker appear behind her and slash to get blasted by a direct blast of magic, the rabbit leap back a few feet to have the fiery griffon charge right at her, kicking the rabbit in the face, in turn Shal-Quz punch back, she quickly jump back into a rift to appear some distance away as Daybreaker look for her.
“Damn it, that griffon is way stronger than I estimated! She not holding anything back! I can't get a st-” She was cut off by a large boulder flying at her, she slash it in half with the brush magic, turning it into snow on impact into the ground. “I need-” She sees a whirlwind of fire coming at her, using her magic to destroy it.
“You think I will stop to let you talk!?” Daybreaker roared slashing at Shal-Quz, in turn the rabbit using the brush magic to deflect each slash stepping back with each blow. “I won't stop till your burned to a crisp! Celestia would hold back, but I! Never!” She clapped her talons creating a heatwave hitting the rabbit.
Her robes singed all over, parts burned away. “I know she would! But your clearly not her! Your-” Than a idea suddenly came to mind. “The pony!” She needed time. “Time to disappear!” Shal-Quz unleash her magic creating copies of herself through tears in reality around her, all identical, with the brush raised the sun and moon glowed brightly for a second.
Daybreaker suddenly found she was fighting many Shal-Quz, those she took out burst to dust, they were using magic like Shal-Quz had but far weaker, none were even harming her, just being annoying. “Your not hiding from me!” She pulled up rocks all around her turning them into molten fireballs unleashing them on all the Shal-Quz.
“I'm not!” Shal-Quz appear through a rift behind Daybreaker unleashing a huge burst of magic at the griffon.
In a instant Daybreaker slam into the ground, she gets up instantly on all four hooves. “You-” She saw the griffon Celestia hovering in front of Shal-Quz looking around in confusion. “Wh-What is this!?”
Shal-Quz land on the ground breathing heavily. “I twisted reality and pulled you out of Celestia into her pony body! Now I can-” A punch from Gilda caught her by surprise sending the rabbit flying into the snow a few feet away.
“Not a chance dweeb!” Gilda growled flaring her wings open ready to strike again standing on her paw with talons out ready to strike.
Shal-Quz raise her brush seeing the magic wasn't working. “No! I over used my magic! Damn it!” She got hit by a blast of blue magic sending her flying into rocky wall, lying against it breathing heavily seeing now the others was stepping into the fray.
Daybreaker get a sharp toothy smile. “You lose rabbit.”
“No don't!” Celestia pleaded.
Daybreaker ignored her to unleash a fiery spell for a fizzled out spark to come from her horn, even coughing out smoke from her muzzle. “Where my magic!?”
Shal-Quz chuckled as Arbiter pull out his red sword with a flick of the object he held, now raise close to her chest. “What did you do monster?”
“Simple, I took Celestia's pony body and put Daybreaker in it without the magic.” She laughed. “As for this rabbit, we always have one more trick up our sleeves.” She pulled out from one sleeve with the free paw a crystal breaking it, a rift appear around her and she pulled it laughing as it closed instantly as Arbiter stabbed the rock were she once was leaning on.
“Curses!” He growled pulling the blade out and with a flick the blade vanish and the device put back against his side armour plate. “She could be anywhere...”
Daybreaker snorted. “You idiots should of killed her, not talk.” She turn to face Celestia, the white griffon facing her demons right before her eyes. “What? Don't like what you should look like? Letting go like Luna did?” She proudly gave a stance with wings open giving a really disturbing smile.
Celestia responds to that question as her pink-purple eyes look into the slitted oranges surrounded my black. “No I do not...”
“Such a pity.”
Gilda scratched her feathered head. “There two Celestias now?”
“Daybreaker, I am not this weak idiot.” She snorted turning away from Celestia. “If I had my magic I would be doing more than standing here in this stupid snow!”
Celestia raise her talon lowering the sun back down, the night taking back over. “Good thing you don't, the mess you created I have to attend to, but now I have to attend with you too...” Celestia said with irrotation in her voice.
“Whatever Celly.” Daybreaker said without a care to Celestia's worries.
Celestia ignores it and look over herself. “Something tell me I am going to be stuck as a griffon.”
“Awwww boo woo, what a shame if that true.” Daybreaker rolled her eyes. “Save it Celestia.”
Luna blinked a few times. “I wonder if this would be my case if Nightmare Moon had her own body?” Luna questioned.
Gilda growls. “Let's hope that NEVER happen!”
Pom-Pom walked around each of them. “I wouldn't even want to chance using transformation magic on either of you, who knows what Shal-Quz might of done on the atomic level on both of you...” Pom-Pom warily said to the two solar princesses. “I gather both of you have the same memories?”
“Up to the moment we were split.” Daybreaker said coldly. “Yes I have, and I can say if I was in charge, much of this wouldn't have happened!”
“Your just speaking after the fact!” Celestia countered raising a close talon shaking it at her.
Daybreaker gave a short laugh. “As if! I would act first than deal with the problems of it later!”
Celestia growled. “That is not what we do! I do! You know that!”
“Yeah yeah yeah, whatever lion butt.” She waved a wing dismissively at Celestia.
“Lion butt!? Your one to talk! That flank is huge!”
“It our flank you idiot!”
“Yours now!” Celestia argued back.
Luna groans rubbing a hoof on her head. “This is confusing and giving me a headache, they are arguing with themselves...”
Gilda watched them continue to throw words back at each other. “As the saying goes, you are your worst own enemy...”
“And that fact is being proven.” Arbiter muttered.
Luna took a good look at the creature, standing on two large toes, digigraded legs, slightly long arms with what look like two thumbs and two fingers he had, the jaw was the most catching of it, four mandibles with no lower jaw with hundreds of sharp teeth within each, he wore mostly what seem to be gold plated armour over much of the body, even a helmet that went between the mandibles.
“What exactly are you?”
“A creature created by Grogar after the lose of the bell, awoken ten years after his defeat with a mission that I never will complete, created from the memories of Prince Gale, what my kind is not important, only my name. I am Arbiter.” He calmly responded without looking at her as they continue to watch the ranting and raving of Celestia and Daybreaker.
“Another that choose his creators side?”
“That it is.” Arbiter notice Gale looked sore as he walked over to them, but his eyes were locked on Celestia and Daybreaker. “Hmm... This is going to be interesting.”
“What?” The two solar princesses turn to see Gale standing before them both with surprise looking back at forward at the two of them. “Son?” Both said together looking at each other before Daybreaker snarled and turn her head away from Celestia followed by a snort.
What Gale said next would bring so many more questions.
“That what older me meant by two mums!”
Shal-Quz falls out of the rift landing in a pile of trash bags, she pull herself out of as the rift closes holding the brush to get a good look where she is, the blackish grey rabbit could see it was a large alley way between many tall buildings around her. “Manehatten? Out of all the places that crystal could land me in, it had to be this place?”
Shal-Quz looked over her ruined robe. “Better than the alternative that for sure.”
“I wouldn't say that.” Her ear's perked right up turning to the source of the voice.
She turn with brush aimed to see Zerra standing before her in front of a large glowing portal. “Zerra... What do you want!? I already having a bad enough day as it is!” She knew there was no magic till the brush had time to recharge, Zerra didn't need to know.
Zerra stood calmly at the edge of the portal. “Master Grogar not happy with you.”
“I lost the sphere! I can't get the brats magic now for him!” She snapped at him. “Just give me another one and I will get it for the master!”
“No.”
“What?”
“No, you shall not get a new Eye of Grogar.” Zerra calmly answered.
Shal-Quz step up to him with the brush near his face. “Don't make me use this on you Zerra!”
Zerra push it away with his hoof. “You would have if you could, your on empty at the moment and the Master doesn't take kindly to his own creations trying to stab him in the back.”
Shal-Quz was startled but kept her poker face. “That is bull! I would never d-”
Zerra punch her in the chest with a hoof followed by turning to give a hindleg kick sending the rabbit flying into the trash again. “Liar and you know how he knows?”
Shal-Quz rolled out of the trash groaning in pain. “How?” She whizzed.
He stood over her looking down. “In a time that once was Master Grogar got a message from himself saying you stole the child's magic, stole the magic and life force from almost every life in this world.”
Zerra pulled off a pouch from his belt. “I did win... Than I can win!” She grinned.
Zerra shook his head. “Not this time.” He tip the pouch, powder land all over Shal-Quz. “This will allow you to easily travel between realities while you run for your life from Silvite, Glacier and Octicovix.” He turn to walk back to the portal.
He stopped in front of it as Shal-Quz sat up with horror written on her face, he knew it without looking at her. “Grogar informed some of those monsters you sent to their deaths to keep them out of the way to let slip what you were about to do, and what you did, now they are to hunt you down without mercy, that powder will make it also very easy for them to track you down.”
“Master Grogar can't do this to me!” She stood up holding the side in pain.
“He did and has, goodbye Shal-Quz... And Shal...” A slight turn of the head, the corner of the eye seeing the distressed rabbit.
“Yes?”
“Run rabbit run.” She knew he was smiling without seeing it as the zebra walk through the portal and it closes.
And now Shal-Quz did.
Avatar magical appeared in the underground cavern standing before the tree. “Now we see what horrors we have awoken... Only time will tell...” The tree glistened with a sound in response.
“Older... you?” Celestia slowly asked with a very confused and stunned expression written on her griffish face, Daybreaker didn't have to say a word since the same confusion was set upon her own face, though a curious thought came to mind about it.
Gale nodded. “I walk to see Shadow, than in ruins of home with everything twisted wrong, broken, destroyed, Grogar hang in magic chains blind.” Gale start to tell them. “I and he talk, he expected me, called me young, than he say Shal-Quz come, I hide than saw future older me, he had right wing missing battered and hurt.”
Gale draw in the snow with a claw, they watched what he drew, it showed Shal-Quz standing before a battered drained Grogar and Gale. “They speak to her, but not to her, to me they spoke about mum rage, splitting Daybreaker by Shal-Quz and than they use all last magic and life force, signal Avatar I think, she came and brought me here, I anger, I rage at Shal-Quz, I attacked and smash evil magic life sucking orb.” Gale look to both Celestia and Daybreaker.
“Older me say I shatter orb to save mum to create two mums, that I did and Shal-Quz lose and we all safe!” Gale finished explaining with a semi anger squawk from the beak.
Arbiter listening to what the teenager said. “A broken future with no chance of life, the only choice to change the past to save the future by destroying what left of theirs, a noble course for a griffon.” He step up to Gale kneeing down to him. “Honour his noble course young prince.”
“But maybe I could done something sooner, not watch, maybe-”
Daybreaker cuts in with a snort. “He had it all planned out! Don't you get it son? Your older self, the one you will never be cause he changed it all!” Daybreaker flapped her wings only getting very little lift kicking up the snow around her. “Smashing the orb would cause her to go into a rage, attack you and awaken me in Celestia's rage th-”
Celestia continued it. “Then with the power to warp reality magic force Daybreaker out of me, taking the pony form with her and splitting us in two, just like Gale said his older self spoke of...”
Daybreaker snorted out smoke with irritation. “And now the deed is done! I have no magic, no ability to even fly! I am nothing!”
Gale let go of Arbiter's scaly hand, he flew up to Daybreaker giving her a hug. “No your no nothing, you save us all, you stop War of Reality, you hero of all! You hero mum!”
She looked down at him hugging her around the part of the chest to the neck part, her slitted eyes blinked a few times. “H-hero!? What!?”
Luna hummed. “Indeed nephew is correct, thanks to your a little extreme methods of combat with Shal-Quz, you saved pretty much every single life on our world, good, grey and evil I assume.” Luna stepped up to Daybreaker. “Well done sister.”
Daybreaker eyes shift over to Luna. “No that can't be! I only did it to save my Gale!”
Gilda chuckled. “Yeah dweeb you did, but as a bonus saved our sorry rumps in the process, got to say that one heck of a score saving a world, but Purple couldn't match that score.” Gilda snap her talons with a wink.
The flaming alicorn now darted her eyes at each of them. “I-I... DAMN IT! DON'T MAKE ME THE HERO!”
“Why not?” Pom-Pom asked. “Would you rule the land with a iron hoof? Bring forever day to Equestria?” She continued to bombard the alicorn questions. “What would of you done if you were still in control over Celestia in the griffon body?”
Daybreaker tried to think of anything to back it up, but something about her was different to Nightmare Moon, she had no evil thoughts, only grey ones, even it meant crossing a line or many down the line. “You can not fathom such a thing can you?” She turn to Arbiter as Gale let go of her hovering in front. “Your heart is as Princess Celestia's is, you where created not by darkness but out of a rage of a mother that wanted to save her son, your son.” He turn to Gale.
The alicorn sighed heavily lowering her head. “Yes... My heart is filled with that desire, no need to conquer, no need to steal the crown or even keep the sun up, like a Nightmare tried to do with a moon, she was created by jealous, anger and hatred... I was not...”
Luna frowned a bit. “Thank you for bring that up... Daybreaker...”
“What can I say, I say without a filter, and damn how your feelings are hurt by it because it fact, Luna.” Daybreaker grinned. “But hurt feelings are nothing compared to being harmed, I would protect you till my last breath if it came to it, because at the end you are my sister.”
Luna eyes shift to Celestia. “You know how confusing this is to have the same sister as two different creatures, one of a fiery alicorn, another a griffon that I and fellow ponies have to get use to now as their princess.”
Celestia scratched her fur-feathered neck with a gauntlet claw. “This is happening a bit suddenly and facing that is going to be daunting specially with the Grand Galloping Gala...”
“Your worried about those snobs!?” Daybreaker snorted. “I am a stupid hero that no one part from all of you will know! I bucking saved the whole damn world and from this moment GOT no life! You are Celestia! I am NOTHING even I am a hero! I am a mother! How can I do anything now!? What do I do in my life!? I-”
“Daybreaker you are something! You are me in every way that I wouldn't be, you are strong willed to h-”
“I don't want some stupid positive speech from myself Celestia! I don't want your charity! I am stuck with being a c-”
Arbiter cuts in. “Stay with me and help.”
“What!?” Daybreaker turn to Arbiter. “You think I would?”
“I believe you would before the sun rise at first morning light.” Arbiter calmly said. “Do you wish to take on this bet?”
Daybreaker bared her teeth. “Fine I'll go with your stupid game! But no way your prepared for this!”
Arbiter gave a low hum. “Indeed, none of us will be prepared for the repercussions of such a thing too, nothing truly works out when it comes to altering events in time. Even for the best of intentions.”
Daybreaker's eyes narrowed. “I hate your calm dispersion...”
“One of us have to, and since I am outside as Alpha Pom-Pom is, we are not personally and emotionally involved as all of you are, the tension and attempt to de-escalates this just building on it, because you know what Celestia knows as well emotionally too, which the Princess trying to talk sense to you is failing.”
Celestia clenched her talons in the snow, the others part from Pom-Pom not sure what to say, Gale wondering why Daybreaker was so anger in confusion. “Does others at Canterlot no will like pony mum?”
Celestia looked over to Daybreaker. “They will see her like Nightmare Moon, they see her as something that would be a th-”
“Hi!” This caused everyone to jump, scream, squawk and get into a defensive position, Arbiter quickly turning around with his blade engaged to meet a large snowy white with spots of chest fur. “Up here.” Arbiter raise his gaze up to the face looking back down. “Big-Rig sent me to fix your stuff, how about you put that glowy blade away before you poke someone's eyes out Arbiter.”
Arbiter disengaged the blade putting it back on the side of his leg grumbling under his breath.
“Sunflower!” Gale squawked happily flying up to her to get a hug, she hugged him back with a foreleg. “Happy see you!”
Sunflower giggled. “Happy to see you too Gale.” She looked around. “Look like something extreme happened here from the state of the place it only recently happened...”
“Indeed it did, but I believe that can be discussed in warmer conditions.” Arbiter calmly responded. “I gather there a reason he sent you? And I gather your name is Sunflower?”
She stop hugging Gale, he hover by her. “Right... About that, Big-Rig got almost all of his team at some ruins on a joint expedition, didn't go into the details about it, part from being a big find that he prioritising his resources to at the moment.” Sunflower start to explain to him as her eyes now look upon the group. “So I got the call from him to do the job, cause the area of experience required for the job I am the only one left around that he knows and trust to get it done.”
Pom-Pom knew exactly what joint expedition Sunflower spoke of, but her attention was on the massive finch griffon size, trying to work out how she was so big and so silent in her movements.
Arbiter looked at her size. “That maybe true, but your size would be a concern if it wasn't for Big-Rig sending you to me, I gather also from your causal reveal they know of you.”
“Yep, they all know me.” She stopped at Daybreaker. “Not sure about the demon looking Celestia though.”
Daybreaker snarled. “Demon Celestia!? I am Daybreaker you overgrown chicken! And I know you!” She tried to unleash flames at Sunflower for her to cough out smoke from the muzzle. “Curse that Shal-Quz! I-” She coughs a few more times, Gilda chuckled and got a small laugh from the sisters, making Daybreaker growl at them both.
“Shal-Quz? Is that what caused all this damage?”
“Griffon when mum turn Daybreaker fought Shal-Quz, then Shal-Quz use all magic to take mum pony out and gave fiery mum body of own, they same till that moment!” Gale said. “All cause I went future, older me told me this before he turn dust and we change future!” Gale explained.
Daybreaker still looked very anger. “Demon Celestia... DEMON? Me!? Grah!”
Gilda rolled her eyes welcoming all this distraction, the sight of the fuselage against the rocky wall heading up to the peak made it unsettling to her, feelings conflicted and the intense feeling of a lose to Gale's father weighed heavy on her, she wanted all this distractions badly.
Sunflower tried to process what he just said. “Okay... I am going to need more contents here... I am very lost and very confused...”
“They can talk and you can listen while we walk.” Arbiter suggested, he turn to the others. “Please come into my home, you can have refreshments and return to the castle via the internal elevator.”
Celestia narrow her gaze slightly. “Internal Elevator?”
“Of course, there one built in my home down through the heart of this mountain, you really think I'll climb up and down a mountain with ice and snow on the surface with hash weather conditions?” Arbiter said to them without breaking eye contact with a static tone of his voice, the body language showing no intent to deserve the princess, he turned walking to the door pressing his fingers and thumbs on the panel to open the door.
Sunflower followed him inside, Pom-Pom noticed there was no paw prints of any kind in the snow from where the nine hooves tall Finch Griffon stood and walked, even no signs of approach in the snow either. “Is she even real?”
Gilda chuckled. “Oh definitely real dweeb.” Gilda followed with the others through the portal of the door down a sloped corridor, it having bars of purple light in smooth curved walls and ceiling, even on the floor either side of the very footpath they walked down., Gilda paused looking back at the door way back to the plateau.
Gale touched her foreleg causing her to flinch in reaction. “Gilda, you look very sad.”
“It-” She sighed heavily. “I can't keep this up...” She finally gave in and collapsed bursting into tears with talons overs her face.
“Gi-Gilda!?” Gale was alarmed by her suddenly break down, the others gathered around quickly. “Wh-what wrong with Gilda!?”
Celestia lean down lifting Gilda up, she hugged the white griffon tightly crying into her. “She has your memories of the day the Gates of Elysium happened... The day you crashed before you were Gale... When you were Wayne.”
Gale looked spooked by that with a skip in his heart beat. “I-Gilda... Gilda...” Gale slumped on the cool metal flooring.
“The fuselage holds within the World's Grave Memorial, hidden from sight by my means, the shell is camouflaged.” Arbiter said stepping up to them. “As I said before, none of us prepared for what to come with the changes to time, please allow time before you request to see it, I promise you it will not go anywhere.”
Gale nodded silently, Gilda didn't respond as she was now unconscious in the forelegs of Celestia crying herself to a state of unconsciousness. “I believe that would be best, what happened at this moment and continue to happen is very raw and fresh...” Celestia lift Gilda up standing on two paws using her massive wings for support. “Shall we continue?”
Arbiter gave a nod. “Very well, we shall continue.”
Sunflower shivered. “Is there anything I can do to help you all?”
Daybreaker sighed. “Listen to what I got to say...” She use her wing to pick Gale up putting him on her back, he hugged it between the wings with his talons crying into the fur. “And listen well, I am roughly on the edges than these are, so I will not repeat myself or accept interruptions, do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.” Sunflower agreed.
Pom-Pom walked alongside Arbiter as he lead the way for them to follow. “Unprepared indeed.” She whispered to him, he gave a grunt and nod as they made their way down a slightly spiral corridor as Daybreaker tell Sunflower what happened.
As Daybreaker continue to talk to Sunflower they come to another set of large doors, they open automatically to proximity of them. “Welcome to the Arboretum, we have to walk through it to the door that leads to my home.” He point to the windows in the wall of the cavern far side of a forest, fields, river and a steamy waterfall coming out of another cavern wall, pipes on the side leading inside it.
Lighting bright above on the ceiling keeping the underground forest well lit by artificial solar light. “Impressive.” Pom-Pom said looking around from the platform they stood on upon entering, a path beside them lead down into the forest on one of many paths into the Arboretum. “You and Silvite would get along, she has a underground paradise as well.”
Arbiter turn around to them. “I do not know of this Silvite, but if she has such a place similar to my own, I'll gladly exchange notes on such a subject as this place.” His gaze fell upon Celestia and Daybreaker. “How are they?”
“Most likely won't awake now.” Celestia glance over to Gale sleeping on Daybreaker's back, Daybreaker look upon Gilda now on Celestia's back sleeping too.
Daybreaker couldn't help but smirk. “If she wake up now, Gilda will incise that this never happened.”
Luna could easily confirm that. “I believe you are correct, she does like her image to be maintained.” Luna turn around to looking at the Arboretum. “Still there is much to talk about with what to do now.”
Sunflower had heard everything about what happened took it in. “What you all been through is something that going to take time... I do not know what to do or say about everything that happened.” Sunflower sighed heavily. “I am going to do my job and think over this dudes...” She flex her wings. “Arbiter I got the layout of your home, may I go ahead?” She held up her tablet.
“You may.” She took off without them feeling it and fly over the Arboretum. “Impressive... Silent and without presence, now I can see how she was able to be on top of us without me noticing.” Arbiter sounding intrigued of the nine hooves tall Finch Griffon in her abilities, from this he could see more the reason why Big-Rig sent her his way.
The rest walked down the ramps onto the path leading through the forest towards a bridge over a steamy river, as they walked towards it Pom-Pom spoke. “Gilda been on edge since she saw the fuselage of that piece of aeroplane, Gale most likely discovered from her what it really meant to him, tell us what you know of it?”
Arbiter didn't look at them as he walked ahead. “World's Grave Memorial... It sacred.”
“Why hide what truly is there?” Celestia asked.
“I hide it because I do not wish for it to be desecrated, no one would bother going near a hunk of metal mostly buried in the snow would they?”
Daybreaker shook her head. “No they wouldn't unless they really needed to if caught out in the snow, but no one really want to climb to the top of the mountain when they have a city that only a few hundred metres below.”
“Exactly, I built it the memorial, placed the remains of all the RAF pilots and crew in sarcophaguses around it, one stand out more than the rest of a very personal reason.” He said stopping half way across the bridge turning to the waterfall, he walk up to the wooden railing placing both scaly hands on it.
Celestia had a feeling and so did Daybreaker, but Luna beat them both to it. “It's Gale's father before he became Gale, isn't it?”
“Yes Princess Luna it is, his father protected Wayne from the crash, sadly the father's soul left and went on to the great journey beyond life itself... But his sacrifice was not invane...” Arbiter sighed heavily, his mandibles quiver a little.
“You called it the World's Grave... It not just a memorial for Gale's father and these pilots and crew is it?” Celestia asked feeling tense in asking it.
Arbiter look down that the water running under the bridge, the steam raising from it. “It for all life that was lost on that day, humans, animals, plants, bugs, single cell organisms and the world...” Arbiter closed his eyes exhaling heavily. “We of the created to Wayne, but know as Gale now share a memory that is so strong, so powerful... The memory of that moment on the plateau... I stand guard over it... Keeping it safe...”
“I think it a honourable thing, good on you to keeping something sacred safe.” Daybreaker said. “But there will be a day Gale will have to go, you and I know this Celestia...”
Celestia nod slightly. “I know, but not now... Gale's heavy emotions on it tow through Gilda, she barely kept it together as long as she did...” Celestia said with concern looking over to Gale and turning her neck around to Gilda resting on her back.
“It a child's intense memories of moments away from a cosmic storm ripping your whole world apart! Of course it would take a massive toll on Gilda!”
Pom-Pom raise a paw. “It is to Arbiter too, he has Gale's memories of that moment as he said.”
“Right...” Daybreaker scrape the hoof on the bridge. “I suggest you take the lift home Celestia.”
Celestia turn to Daybreaker. “Your-”
“Yes Celestia I am staying, let's move and talk shall we? The sooner you get them home the better.” Daybreaker hint it to Arbiter, he nod and walk over the bridge to his home, and they followed. “You win Arbiter and you knew it didn't you?”
Arbiter nod. “Yes I did, I knew from the way you spoke, the way you react against Celestia and Luna, how you didn't like the label of hero put on you.” Arbiter turn his head slightly looking over to Daybreaker. “You may only been created less than a hour ago, but you have all of Princess Celestia's memories, you know what she knows, what many will frame you as.”
Celestia didn't say anything in response to that as they walked, she knew as Daybreaker spoke in response to what Arbiter said. “Celestia you and I know Arbiter speak the truth, none of the ponies will completely accept me, some may and go so far to create a cult to do harm to you on my behalf.”
Luna's ears flick, she knew this could be true. “Celestia... Daybreaker would be feared as Nightmare Moon is...”
“Unless you count Nightmare Night, where Celestia turned it into a night for young to old dressed up in silly costumes, or even pretty scary ones, all in the name of Nightmare Moon, to be scared on purpose for candy, and to donate some of it to the statue so she can get extra treats.” Daybreaker non-emotional said.
Luna quickly and sharply turn to Celestia. “What!?”
Celestia glared at Daybreaker. “You had to bring that up didn't you?”
“Oh I did didn't I? Isn't that a shame that I got your memories and not the one on the chopping block for it.” Daybreaker giggled.
Luna still giving quite the anger stare at Celestia as they walked. “That remind me of Halloween, a night of the ghouls, ghosts and monsters come out to play, scare each other and say something along the line of Trick or Treat.” Pom-Pom giggled. “It a harmless holiday Princess Luna, it just named after Nightmare Moon, think of it as a honour to degrade a villain to nothing but harmless fun in scaring each other, come to think of it...”
Luna now turn to Pom-Pom. “Think of what?”
“Wouldn't that mean you get all the candy donated to the Nightmare Moon statues?”Since Nightmare Moon was you?” Pom-Pom turn to Celestia with a sly smirk.
Celestia groans. “Buck...”
Luna then smiles. “Oh that is a fair point, I think I shall personal go to one, Ponyville perhaps, and get into the fun of this Nightmare Night. And do a little fun in scares and pranks myself.”
Celestia mutter under her breath. “I am going to have to watch out for her pranks now... Thank you Pom-Pom and Daybreaker...”
“Your welcome!” They said together clapping hoof and paw together laughing as they continue to walk.
Arbiter hummed. “Interesting... I never thought of attending any, maybe I could as well.” The thought cross his mind as they soon came into a clearing of what look like a well kept garden with a path leading under hedge arch ways towards a door, they standing at over ten hooves tall. “This is one of my personal pride and joys.”
“Never took you for a gardener.” Daybreaker said looking around, she stop at a red orchid smelling it. “What kind of orchid is this? It has such a unusual smell to it...”
“I made it myself with cross breeding and trail, it called the Midomia.” Arbiter responded. “Come inside.” He open the large door into his home.
They all walk in to notice the room they walked in was circular after a short corridor, it had a large circular control panel in the middle around a cone like object with projectors on the sides of it to the tip, there was three doors on the ground level, ramps going up to a upper platform that had three more doors, there was a ramp going downwards to the fair side too, the room was generally basic with purple colouring. Lit up in a purple light of bar lighting in walls and ceilings.
“Is this the main hall?” Celestia asked looking around.
Arbiter nod. “It is, and also place of obersation to the world, the systems for it are currently offline.” He walk up to the large control panel with a chair by it attached to a ring that go all around the many panels. “Until Sunflower is completed with the repairs and upgrades this will be offline, not one of my pleasant moments for sure, unknowing what going on around the mountain.”
Daybreaker turn to Arbiter. “Can you take Gale off my back and put him on Luna's.”
“I will.”
“Your staying.” Luna said and Daybreaker nodded.
“That is correct, Shiny will most likely be watching all my steps overwise and I'll live in some stupid cozy room under guard 24/7.” Daybreaker bluntly answered. “I know this, we all know this, I might only came around about a hour ago, yes it saved the day and I am in your body Celestia, but the fact is you have to just spin the story as if Shal-Quz prevented you from returning to normal.”
Celestia looked very surprised. “Are you telling me to take the credit and tell the subjects I am a griffon cause of that final attack? Not that it created you too!? Your the one tha-”
“Celestia, you remember every magic spell, every attack I did do you not?” Celestia was cut off sharply from Daybreaker, the sun griffon nodded in response. “Than it was you who went on the offience to save your sun from Shal-Quz, it was you that kick, punch, blew flames, unleashed Tartarus on her to your subjects.”
“Bu-”
“And they will accept you as the griffon your stuck in, I get to live in a sort of open prison up here and have a lot more freedom, even not known by any of the ponies below, in turn you get to be their hero and liked in your new or old form in time.” Daybreaker said as Arbiter moved Gale to Luna carefully.
“Also the fact you want to go back right away to take care of Gilda and Gale, get them to their beds and keep Gilda's pride in check from being ruined by something mushy as breaking down into tears till she passed out.” Daybreaker grinned. “A win win win don't you think?”
Celestia sighed heavily. “I don't want it.”
“Yeah I know, but you have to, so buck up Princess Celestia.” Daybreaker turn the grin to a smile raising her hoof to Celestia. “You can easily visit with Gale at any time, even bring up Nightingale to see me.”
“I will do that.” Celestia close a talon up and bump it against the hoof shoe, Celestia knew she wasn't going to win this one, but in a way she did. “Arbiter, she right we would like to leave, sorry for skipping on refreshments.”
“You are welcome to come at anytime, my doors will be open to you all.” Arbiter move away from the control panel, walking to the far end door, it opening to a corridor with three more doors down the end. “The lift is-”
“Hey Arbiter, when did Big-Rig last send a Finch to fix this place!? It a bucking mess in here!” Sunflower called out from below.
Arbiter look down at the ramp. “About two years ago, I kept putting off the call, Big-Rig isn't the easiest to talk to for prices when it come to repairs, specially my equipment.”
“Well if you did, the cost wouldn't be as high as it is now dude!”
Arbiter rubbed his fingers and thumbs over the top of his brow. “I will take that into account for next time, is the Gravity Lift operational?”
“Yep! I had a feeling Celestia wanted to get Gale home, also secret safe with me with Gilda! See you all around dudes!” She called up.
“It was a pleasure seeing you again, Sunflower.” Celestia called back.
They followed Arbiter to the far end door, it open up as they stood in front of it, before them was a very large platform with a control panel beside it and on it. “This is the Gravity Lift, it will take you down to the Mountain Side Warehouse District, at Building 117.” Arbiter pull out a key. “This is a spare I keep on me, take it and use it to unlock the door out of the warehouse and to make sure to lock it afterwards.”
“You bought a warehouse to hide the lift!?”
“No Princess Celestia, I bought the Warehouse to run a business, at this hour it will only have storage of equipment and food stores, the lift is hidden through a camouflage such as used on the World's Grave, it will be accessible to all of you, to those that work there it will a solid wall.” Arbiter explained as they all stepped onto the lift.
Pom-Pom looked down. “Is this a glass floor!?”
“It a ploymore infused glass, unless you unleash a intense fire magic that burns as hot as the sun, I doubt you can shatter it.” Arbiter said calmly to them tapping on the control panel. “It set and ready to take you down.”
Daybreaker stood by him. “See you all around.” She waved.
“Indeed.” Luna nodded.
Arbiter press the activation key, the lift start to lower slowly at first and start to pick up speed as it goes down. Daybreaker looked over the edge at the shrinking forms. “Just a platform that goes up and down?”
“Yes, unless your stupid enough to try and lean on the walls that moving up or down from your point of view, no harm should come.” Arbiter turn to leave. “Come, I will show you to your room.” Daybreaker turn away from the shaft and followed Arbiter.
“Do you think they realised Pom-Pom could of used a rift to get them home?” Daybreaker asked.
“You knew and never said?” Arbiter counter asked.
“You knew too. Did you not?”
“I did.”
The lift soon come to a slow and stop at a corridor, Celestia and the others walk to it, they could see the warehouse storage shelves inside, walking out of the corridor Celestia turn to see Luna and Pom-Pom walk through a wall, a semi glow ripple around their bodies as they past through it. “Interesting...” Celestia put her talon on it to pass through, she pulled it out.
Luna looked around using her magic to light up on the warehouse. “Sister, I know this warehouse, isn't this the one that Blueblood keep all his airship construction equipment to cargo?”
“Indeed it is, this is his airship business...” Celestia slowly looked around as they walked towards the side door by the main large doors.
Using the key Celestia unlock the door, they all step out and than the door closed behind, walking towards the castle from the warehouse down the lamp lit streets of a night time Canterlot Pom-Pom realised something. “You know... I could of got us to the castle without taking the lift or coming out the warehouse.” Pom-Pom swish the tail with the magic flame she use for the rift spell.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other blinking a few times as the information just processed in their heads, Pom-Pom opens one in front of them, they didn't say anything walking through it with Gilda and Gale on their backs, Pom-Pom smiled shaking her head and follow them through.
Sitting on a large red chair Gale press his talon claws against each other with one hind leg cross over the other, tail swishing back and forwards over the left arm of the chair, standing either side of it Alpha and Blue. “I want to see my memories of that day Gilda...”
Gilda standing before him felt tense with the atmosphere Gale was creating within the dreamscape. “Cub, you saw what happened to me over it... They are your feelings that overwhelmed me! ME!” She thumped her chest with a fisted talon. “I Gilda, weeping like a hatchling to the point I past out! That is one of the lamest dweebest things I ever done! And you want to go through that!?”
Gale glance to Alpha he nod, than to Blue who also gave a nod before returning to look at Gilda. “I do... I know it going to be almost nightmarish for me, even might make me wake up screaming, but I want to Gilda... I know they there and I can't run away from it and let you suffer with my pain, your my big sister!” He off the big chair stepping up to Gilda in the starry void they stood in.
Gilda looked at each of his guardians. “You two are coming too?”
“I am.” Alpha growled.
“This is as witnessed from your reactions being tensed, overwhelming, we are his support.” Blue calmly said.
Gilda rubbed the bridge of her beak. “Fine... I don't want to do this, but they your memories, I can't deny them from my little brother...” She reach her talon out to him.
Gale took it and a door opened up to the right of them, the teenager felt tense at the sight of it. “Guess we go in together?”
“Of course you dweeb.” Alpha and Blue stood either side of them, they all stepped through the door way together, it closing behind them as they dove into the memory Gilda held within her own memories.
Gale, Gilda, Alpha and Blue found themselves inside the hull of a military cargo plane, it was mostly empty part from many humans in uniform talking to each other, all part from a teenage boy sitting by a window holding a griffon plush close to him staring out to the sky.
Gilda swallowed hard, she was a strong willed griffon that didn't allow herself to be pushed around, but this was pounding her hard since they were on the plateau. “Gale...”
Gale walked up to the teenage human looking at him closely. “His me, yet I do not feel like I am him... It feels like a echo...” Gale turn to Gilda. “I-I don't feel anything, I know this is my memories. But I have no emotional feeling to this, I don't understand.”
Gilda didn't say anything, Blue did so for her. “Master Gale, Mistress Gilda has those feelings part of the memories, even I can sense the intense feelings coming from her.” Blue put his paw on her shoulder.
Gilda shakingly put her talon on his paw. “T-Thanks...”
Alpha looked at one of the humans approaching the human teen.
“Wayne...”
Wayne turn to him. “Yes dad?” The stocky build man with dark brown hair knelt down to him. “Are we almost home dad?”
He shook his head. “No Wayne... The Gates of Elysium is creating waves of energy ahead of it, they interfering with navigation, it hit sooner than we thought it would.”
“What does that mean?” Wayne asked.
“It means we been off course for hours and if-” He tensed up a bit. “If that the case... It means the Gates are moments away from hitting.”
Wayne eyes widen. “Mum! We not going to-”
Suddenly all the lights went out inside the plane, they looked around, a pilot came out of the door from the cockpit. “Brace yourself! We got no power! No control of the plane! We going down!”
Wayne's dad look to all the men and women. “I need you all to do me a personal favour, we know what going to happen, but please help me to make my son at least survive the crash.”
“Why?” One asked.
“Sir that doesn't make any sense!” Another spoke.
“I have a feeling he need to survive.”
“He not usually wrong about that feeling of his.” A third stated. “And has the captain steered us wrong?”
“No.” They agreed.
“Dad! What going on?”
“Your going to survive.” His dad put the hand on the shoulder. “Now get everything that can cushion the impact around my son!”
“Sir!” The said together and aid him grabbing everything and anything.
Wayne try to get out of his seat, but his dad push him back clipping him back in. “Wayne, trust me, you need to live...”
“Dad! Please let me out!” He struggled to break out.
They watched as Wayne was covered in gear from inflatable objects and parachutes opened up, they rolled up into oval shapes placed around the screaming boy, his dad put the oxygen mask over the mouth, gave Wayne a hug whispering into his ear.
Gilda was crying seeing this, the adult humans quickly strapping themselves in bracing for impact. “Gale... You where so anger, sad and confused on why your dad would do this, why would he and his team risk their very lives to keep you alive for a few moments more before the Gates of Elysium hit...” She gave Gale a powerful hug a tears fall.
Gale could get a deep sense of what he was seeing, how Gilda felt, he gave her a hug back.
They appeared at the plateau of the mountain, soon the large plane could be seen falling from the sky fast, it slammed into the plateau hard with the wings being torn apart. The tail end being ripped off with the fuselage tumbling apart with fragments of plane scattering all over the place, the fuselage came to a resting stop against the rock face heading up to the very peak.
Alpha's one eye noticed something off. “We not alone.” He quickly launch himself at the object slamming his hammer down at it.
A bluish white talon caught it, Avatar phases into sight of them. “Quite the eye you got.” She said very calmly to him.
“Avatar?” Gale walked up to her as Alpha moved back growling a bit. “How are you here?”
“In a way I am, also not.” She turn to the fuselage. “Something happened at this moment that didn't before, the tree sensed it too, that why I am here...”
Wayne step out of the fuselage with smoke pour out of it, a cut to his head, semi torn jacket with some cuts to his skin under it, he held the plush tight to himself crying as the cold air hit him, he shivered.
One step has his foot slip through, the ground breaking around him with. “Ahhhh!” Wayne suddenly felt something grab him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up. “Th-ah!” He saw what had grabbed him.
“No bucking way! It's Grover!” Gilda screeched in surprise, the others were equally shocked to seeing the first griffon king of Griffina.
Grover dropped Wayne in a safe area new the ledge. “Yes I am a griffon, yes I am real, yes I can talk hairless ape, and yes I saved your life.” He picked up the plush reaching it out to Wayne. “I believe this is yours.”
Wayne shakeningly took it from the talon. “B-but how? Griffons are myths...”
Grover look at the burning wreckage. “I arrived here via the Gritormia Tower, in such for my cub it lead me here to you, just as you fell through the snow.” He peer down it. “Good thing it did or you would have been died from that fall.” He said bluntly.
Wayne stood up holding the plush close to him. “Y-you need to go back wherever you came from before it too late!”
Grover frowned walking up to Wayne and around him, the teenage human tense as he felt being checked out by a predator. “Why? Your more concerned for me, not for the fact I saved your life cub.”
Wayne look up to the sun. “B-because Earth about to be destroyed... The Gates of Elysium is about to hit...”
“A gate about to hit here?”
“It the name of the space storm that destroyed almost all the solar system so far! It racing right for Earth and the tail edge of it about to hit the sun!” Wayne quickly responded.
Grover looked to the sky at the sun. “Wh-” He saw the sun explode before his eyes, the rupture spread outwards, he watch blue sky disappear behind a rainbow light shockwave replaced by bluish white cloud with lightning shifting through it, the rapid shifting cloud was a marvel in it own. “Sweet Griffax... That the gate!? Did it just rip the sun to pieces!?”
“Now you know you need to go! Go before it too late!”
Grover grab Wayne by the wrist. “Not without you!”
“Bu-”
“No buts! I lost a daughter already! I won't let a cub die from that thing! I will die trying to save you!” Grover said with determination. “Now come with me!” Wayne nod, the griffon picked him up flying towards a what look like a rip in the air, how did the teen not see this.
“Grover trying to save me!? Gilda is this what happened!?”
“No it didn't! THIS never happened!” Gilda highly confused at what they are seeing.
Avatar watch intently, Blue looked fearful. “Master Gale, he not going to enter the breach!”
“What?” Alpha turn to Blue.
Before Gale could say anything the teenager didn't get through the rip, Wayne is thrown back from Grover's grip, he quickly turn in shock. “I don't know how, but I am now remember this happening as if it did happen... King Grover tried to save me... How?”
“Cub!” Grover hit a barrier, he smash the fist against it again and again. “No! NO NO NO!”
Wayne press his hand against the barrier. “I can't get through it...”
“And I can't on this side!” He growled, backing up and ramming it over and over again. “I won't-” He saw Gale and the others, the eyes from the teenage griffon were the same as the hairless ape he tried to save. “Cub... I am sorry...”
“This is bucking insane! How is this even possible!?” Gilda point to the scene playing out before them.
Avatar rubbed the underside of her beak with a thoughtful look. “I am uncertain, this is what I and the tree sensed, why I mentally came to this...”
Alpha narrow his gaze on the memory playing out. “I think Grover noticed us.”
“We not really here.” Gale said waving his talon through the snow. “See...”
“Lord Gale, he looked directly at you for a moment, I saw it.” Alpha stated.
Wayne lower his head against the invisible barrier. “Thank you...” He raise his head with a smile. “Maybe I'll survive?”
“I think you might... Not sure how but I think you will... Find me at the Gritormia Tower...” He press the talon against the barrier.
Wayne press the hand against it on his side near the talon, the rip close up and Wayne fall forward, he suddenly could feel the land start to shake, Wayne saw the land in the distance exploding upwards with rapid flowing whitish blue cloud, lightning discharging with a roaring boom.
Wayne held his plush tight closing his eyes as the Gates of Elysium ripped the Earth to pieces.
The memory vanished before them to return to Dream Cavern near the hot springs, even Avatar was there curious looking around the scenery that sat before her. “Okay... Now can someone EXPLAIN what the heck was that!?”
Gale rubbed his feathered head. “I don't know, but it did happen and yet it didn't...” Gale put his talon under the beak thoughtfully. “Blue how is both versions true?”
“I know as much as you know Master Gale, it is very strange and bizarre.” Blue said with his arms crossed. “I advise asking Mistress Luna this, but I believe there a chance answers won't come.” He now turn his attention to Avatar with a talon hand in the water lifting it, she watching the water drip around and between the talon. “Avatar can this be time related?”
Avatar swish the talon through the water letting the ripples spread out. “It could be a possible answer, but I am uncertain and not aware of events before the birth of the Tree of Elysium.”
“How the buck did you with me after the Sonic Rainboom!?” Gilda demaned.
“Through you, I was able to gain access to the memory at the moment of the Sonic Rainboom, change it to a platform to talk to you, remember you held Wayne on that same cliff edge from that moment.”
Gale turn to Gilda. “You did?” He tilt his head.
Gilda glared at Avatar. “I did...”
Alpha picked up a rock crushing it to pieces. “How did you gain access to a dream reality?”
“When I met with the once future version of Gale, I gained knowledge and in turn used to create a new form of magical crystal with help from the Tree, to allow real time access outside it's cavern.” Avatar step away from the hot springs walking up to them. “As you all are aware, any time I came time froze in place, correct?”
Gilda and Gale nodded.
“The crystal they made not only pulled me to the future, but also allow me to transport Gale to that era too on instructions from his former future self, and to return him back to the present at the plateau.”
She walked around them as Avatar continue to speak with talon hand gestures to her words.
“We decided to recreate the crystal in attempt to access Equestria in Real Time, but the results let me to able to transmit my consciousness to the dream realm instead. That is when we became aware of what was just happening, the timing of it seem some what strange.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, you happen to activate this crystal-” She air quotes. “-right when we access Gale's memory!” She growled at Avatar.
Alpha rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. “Lord Gale, what about this tower Grover spoke of?”
“Gritormia Tower...” Gale recalled it. “Could that be how this all happened?”
“It a possibility such a tower exist, I only know of it from ancient lores created by the griffons.” Avatar stated picking a flower looking at the blue pedals, it shimmering with pure energy. “It could be that such a tower is out of sync with space time, as a possibility.”
“Dweeb... Gritormia Tower I have no idea what it is, the one that might know more about some weird named tower is Greystorm.”
“That is a good place to start looking, he most likely more versed in such matters.” Avatar agreed.
Gale gasped. “His in Canterlot! I'll wake up and go see him now!” He was about to vanish but stop looking to Avatar. “Best to wake you up first.” Gale raise his talon snapping it.
Avatar touching the crystal with one talon hand blinked a few times before removing it. “A curious experience.” She turn to the tree. “I experienced the realm in which you go to when your asleep, it quite a strange sense.”
The avian turn around to the underground lake tree. “Having the subconscious mind drift from the body yet still part of it is something that can not be described.”
The tree chimed in a tone that Avatar knew as confusion, it sensed something and drew Avatar to that something.
Avatar saw she was still holding the flower. “Odd... This is the flower from Dream Cavern, this shouldn't have been possible...” Raising the flower up looking at the magic shimmering off it. “I believe we have made a grave error... A error that could have seriously repercussions...” She stared at the impossible pure flower.
The large bluish white tree made a few chime sounds in response, agreeing to what Avatar had said.
Gale woke up, removing the sheets he quickly leap off the bed to the door only to hit something unexpectingly, he bounce off the object landing on his back, sitting up shaking the head the teen suddenly realised what he hit.
It was impossible and yet standing before him was-
Who or what is standing before him that should be impossible?
A - 3 B - 1
Hint: The letters do have a meaning, this chapter has the meaning to the letters itself, it easy but easy to miss too! If you know what it is take a guess too as you vote! Votes will be counted and updated till close. Vote via comments since poll website still not working, polls stay open till next chapter!
Gilda's eyes snap open to the sound of her door being slammed open, Gilda quickly sat up to see Gale at the door rushing inside to her. “Gale! You almost took the whole door off the hinges!”
Gale grabbed her foreleg. “You need come now!” He pulled.
Gilda pulled back freeing herself. “Cub! I just woke up! That memory of yours that I shared seriously need-”
“Not important!”
“Gale how not telling Celestia her husband was there with you before you was you!?” Gilda pull the sheets off, she climb out of bed standing on all fours stretching her forelegs, wings and hind legs.
Gale turn to the door. “That why!”
Gilda eyes shift to the door, she blinked a few times as what was standing there. “Dweeb are we still asleep!?”
“No! That thing! We not!”
Gilda just gave a exhausted strange look. “Gale did you mess with that book again?”
Gale shook his head. “No I not, woke and ran into him when going to talk to Greystorm!”
Gilda rubbed the bridge of her beak with a talon. “Alright let's figure out what to do and how we drop this on your mum cub.” Gale gulped upon hearing that, he knew what Grover meant to Nighingale that they saw in the memory dream too, two things that he wasn't sure how his mum and sister will react too.
Third thing that came to his mind in that moment was Nightingale sees their mum as a griffon, he could see either she mistook their mum for the Inverse Reality griffon mum, he hoped their mum will quickly make her at ease and explain it better than he came outside of the Dream Realm where his vocabulary is limited.
Nightingale just had her morning shower, sitting at her dressing table looking at the reflection of her self, the almost 800 year old griffon brushing her feathers and fur with a brush, while she did so and stared into her reflection a sense of feeling came over her, a feeling that felt as if she just avoided something catastrophically bad.
The second time this feeing came by when her Inverse Reality mother swayed her to leave before it collapse, looking into the corner of her reflection on the bed sat Gallus reading a comic book, the teen laying on her bed with one hind leg over the other flipping through pages.
“You could of waited for me at the table for breakfast Gallus.”
“I know.” He said without looking at her as Gallus continue to read and look at the pictures of the comic. “Just didn't want too.”
Nightingale knew there was more behind it, but choose not to press on it as she continue to brush her fur and feathers. “What is that comic your reading?”
Gallus semi close it to look a the cover. “Alicorn of Justice, some male Alicorn called Mark Wells that use his magic to bring those that do wrong to justice.” Gallus informed her.
“What are they going to think of next?
“Huh?” Gallus peered around the comic at Nightingale.
Nightingale put the brush down turning around on the seat to face Gallus. “In this and the Inverse Reality there no such thing as a male alicorn.”
“Why?”
“Just never have been.”
“But it possible?”
“Yeah it could, but never happened.”
“Yet it could?”
Nightingale didn't respond right away paused in thought. “You got me there Gallus, it is possible.”
Gallus went back to reading his comic. “Just hurry up with the brushing, I am staving.”
“Sure thing, sire.” She grinned going back to brushing out her feathers and fur, Gallus rolled his eyes in response.
The blue griffon turn a page to have a gold piece of paper fall out onto his cream chest, Gallus put the coming book down beside him sat up and picked up the gold paper. “Congratulations, you are the lucky winner for Manehatten Comic Con, this special ticket only can be found hidden in the first issue of Alicorn of Justice, and is one of a kind. It will give entry for yourself plus seven others of your choosing for all three days of the convention, see you there comic book reader.” After reading it out he saw it was sighed by the author of the work and another, the other signature was the Chairpony of Manehatten Comic Convention.
Nightingale put the brush down getting up from the table, she walked up to the bed seeing it held in the talons of the teen. “Congrats Gallus.”
Gallus continue to stare at the writing on the golden paper ticket. “What is a comic convention?”
“A place where fans of comics, movies, stories and so on gather together in one spot for three days, dress up if they want to, buy unique items themed from comics, meet their favourite writers to actors, just hang out or go to panels.” Nightingale explained to Gallus.
Gallus quickly thrust it at Nightingale. “No thank you! You have it.”
“I can't” She said without touching it. “It magically coded to the one that pick it up first, if I was to touch it I be one of those seven plush guests, but you have to be there for the entry to be valid.”
“Magically coded?”
“Every living thing has a unique magical signature within them, only problem is transfiguration magic, to changelings changing forms to copy a individual can work around it.”
“So... If I knew this changeling whatever it is, they could change into me and use this instead of me?” Gallus wave the ticket.
Nightingale nod. “Yes that correct, only one I know of is Octcovix and she on some important task as the moment for my mum.”
Gallus sighed. “So... Do I have to go?”
“No, but if Gale knew about it I am sure he would love to, even he might even suggest Greystorm or even Geremy to tag along as a family.” Nightingale hinted.
“My uncle and not dad... Yeah I can see that fuzz ball of a pure bleed heart of a griffon doing that.” Gallus rolled his eyes. “Urg... Fine... I will go to this stupid comic con, just to see what it all about.”
“Curious aren't we?” Nightingale grinned.
Gallus grab a pillow throwing into her face, she laughed in response pulling it away from her face after the impact. “Grah! Y-you!” Nightingale laughed even more as Gallus looked flustered.
A knock came at the door followed by Celestia's voice. “Nightingale, it me your mum, could I come in?”
Nightingale turn to the door. “Sure mum, I'm good.”
The door open and what they saw was a large white griffon, Nightingale instantly squawk in surprise to see the griffon she call mum all her life. “Before you ask, no I am not Inverse Reality Celestia, I am this reality one, and two long story short I got into a fight with one of Grogar's creatures while in this form and Shal-Quz locked me into this form.”
Gallus whistled. “Wow, you look exactly as King Grover said you look in his writings, even the figure look alike Gale has, your the first Queen of Griffina.”
“That is one of my titles.” Celestia acknowledge Gallus, she turn to Nightingale. “Why don't we all walk and I can tell you two exactly what happened to me last night, and how my son from a future no more saved us all from Shal-Quz.”
Nightingale walked up to her pressing the talon against the furry chest under the chest plate. “Mum...”
“Nightingale...” Celestia reach a wing around and they hugged.
“I got to hear this.” Gallus got off the bed putting the ticket and comic book in his bag.
Nightingale look up at Celestia as she look down back at her daughter. “Mum I... I would like to hear it.” She managed to say.
“Come.” Celestia gestured to the door as she let go of Nightingale and start to walk.
Gallus stared at the white griffon form as she leave. “Why does she have a feathered flowing mane, tail feathers and brush like your slightly waving tail and feathers?”
“That is our little secret.” Nightingale said and walked out.
“Hey! Tell me!” Gallus chased after them.
Shining Armor sat at the table in the private dining room with Cadance, Luna and Pom-Pom, the kitsune just finished explaining about what happened on the plateau minus the Daybreaker moment. “-Arbiter showed us the way down safely, Celestia and Luna didn't think to ask me to use my rift magic to get them home, only when we were outside the warehouse they realised.” She laughed afterwards.
Luna put a hoof to her head shaking her head. “What of Shal-Quz? She escaped and only her magic can restore Princess Celestia.” Shining Armor said with concern over Shal-Quz.
“Silvite and her team are chasing her down.” Luna lower her hoof and respond. “All we can do is wait.”
“Not something I like...” Shining sighed. “How do we just sit and wait?”
Pom-Pom lift a cup to her muzzle. “We narrowly escaped a dark future, the fact Shal-Quz used up almost all her magic to lock Celestia in a griffon form is a far better outcome, now my sister's team are able to finish the job Celestia started.”
Cadance had been listening to everything Pom-Pom said to Shining Armor's response finally took her turn to speak. “If somepony would act on harming Twilight and in such a way even you pleaded to them, wouldn't you act in rage and fight without hesitation?”
Shining could see himself going all crazy to save them knowing that was the only option on the table. “Yes... I would... I would let go of everything just and right, I would forgo the laws to save them no matter what, even you.” Shining put his hoof on Cadance foreleg.
She smiled warmly in response. “As would I.” They kissed.
Pom-Pom put the cup down after drinking a little of it contents. “I would for my child, my family and my sister, Gale in a way did the same dealing with Zerra and Thunderous.”
“As would I.” Luna added her voice. “Yet I didn't on the plateau, Celestia I never seen in such a fit of rage... Yet I can recall the pain and tears in her eyes as she used the Elements on Nightmare Moon, I could see through her eyes and I held Nightmare back enough for the elements to imprison us on the moon...” Luna said sadly staring down at the table.
“Okay that is seriously deep.” Pom-Pom said with amazement. “Even through all that anger, jealousy, you still loved her deeply and had to do something to save her from your darker half, that moment you gave your sister the chance she needed, that you should be proud of.”
Celestia spoke up standing at the open doors. “I agree, your selfless act even after I ignored your pleas show who was the bigger sister.”
“Celestia...”
Celestia, Nightingale and Gallus walk in, the teen looked around the room, he felt so out of place inside such a fancy room. “Luna, I will never let that happen again, I love you my sister.”
“As do I.” Luna and Celestia smiled.
Celestia leap up on her hind legs rubbing the gauntlet talons together. “Now who up for some pancakes? I am eager to use these talons of mine.” She removed the gauntlets from the talons placing them on the table by all the indigents.
“Aunty you seem happier as a griffon.”
“Well I can't denine that, but I am currently stuck as a griffon and going to make the most of it, you be surprised how life was for me during my time being pregnant with Nightingale.” Celestia started to create the mix in the mixing bowl.
Nightingale sat down at the table with Gallus. “I am curious about that too mum, but after what you did to safe Gale from Shal-Quz, I really am.”
“I'll gladly tell you all about it.” Celestia said feeling happy to do so.
Pom-Pom smiled. “I can't really say about differences in forms.”
“Why not?” Shining asked.
Pom-Pom using her magic change her form into a griffon with twelve tails, than a dragon, pony and finally back to her true form. “Because we can easily shift are forms, Celestia only experience a griffon form, for us it isn't the same.”
Shining was amazed by her changing of appearance. “Your like the changelings.”
“Please!” Pom-Pom wave her paw dismissively. “We change our forms, not mimic another, we do not EVER copy appearance of another, it damn right insulting and against the highest parts of our laws, those that break it lose ALL of their tails part from one, including me.”
“Isn't that a bit harsh?” Cadance asked.
Pom-Pom shook her head. “All alphas before me followed the exact law too, it was after one that used it to get her own way, so much so that the only way we could prevent it happening again is create a law that no one can recede no matter what.”
“And there been no other attempted it?” Celestia asked.
“A few and as punishment they were striped of all but the basic of magic with one tail, even Alphas like me that don't like it have to follow through with it, it a binding magical law.” Pom-Pom answered calmly to them. “If I didn't, who knows what would happen to me or any other kitsune over this law, we really terrified to take a chance in that.”
“What of the statue kitsunes that look alike?” Luna asked.
Pom-Pom giggled. “That isn't a living thing, it just stone and don't you make copy after copy of that anyway?”
“Fair point.” Luna couldn't argue with that statement.
The doors open, Gale and Gilda step in. “Ah there you are my son, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, memory share of fuselage that Gilda have, but we got new problem...” Gale look up to Gilda.
“Yeah one that I can't even understand myself, Princess Luna, can something leave the dream realm?” Gilda asked.
Luna frowned a bit. “Yes, but it would need to terrify a lot of creatures in their sleep to grow strong enough to escape, why?”
Gilda frowned. “Terrify? I think you've going to need to re-exam that one Princess.”
“Oh and why that?”
Gilda turn to the door. “This is why.”
What stepped into view caused Celestia to whisk too hard and mix fly over her face, Nightingale and Gallus stared in alarm, Luna instantly got up with total surprise trying to process what she was seeing, Pom-Pom curiously looked at it, Shining and Cadance wasn't sure what was going on.
The echo of Luna's voice ringing out still rang in the depths of Alpha's mind, his one eye open to stare out from the view of the tower balcony of Cadance's Sanctuary, from here he could watch the castle grounds to keep his lord safe, and to be alone to think over how his world has changed not once, but for a second time for the anthropomorphic wolf.
Lapping his tongue in the muzzle and around the rims of it his eye trailed on movements from guard unicorn and earth pony guards, to the Pegasi flying doing their portals, he took note of their portal routes, even those standing at guard at positions. “This place reminds me too much of the palace and it guard in Gongmen City, even the wolves I stationed after the hostile take over...” He grumbled.
His only eye on the right shift to the sound of chatter from Gale, Gallus, Shining Armor and Greystorm as they were putting on their shirts followed by the jackets and ties. “-with everything that been happening in the last three weeks, I can't say I am surprised by either time travel, Princess Celestia is now a griffon, and the fact Alpha is physically here.” Shining Armor said glancing over to the wolf.
Gallus looked at himself in the mirror. “Do I seriously have to wear this stupid thing?”
“Yes nephew.”
“What about the wolf?” Gallus shot a look over to Alpha responding to his uncle.
Greystorm walked up around him and untie the tie, he redid it for Gallus. “Alpha is Prince Gale's protector in the Dream Realm, as he is in the physical plain that haven't changed, also there nothing for him to wear, we lucky enough to get away calling him a Diamond Dog.”
Alpha snarled a little. “Wolf, I am not that hybrid jackal, not some half breed!”
“It a cover you are going to have to live with Alpha.” Shining Armor responded.
Alpha gave a huff. “I never wanted to leave Lord Gale's dreamscape, I am suppose to be in Dream Cavern both mentally and physically, not outside his mind. Lady Luna is right to be concerned over this as of I.” Alpha recalling that moment.
“Avatar used some crystal to try to exist in real time, but it ended up her subconsciously dreaming instead to join us in the memory dream, I think that what the dweeb did to cause Alpha to be here. But the bigger thing is, King Grover might be alive.”
“Grover/Dad might be ALIVE!?” Celestia and Nightingale screamed out in response.
“A crystal that can use dream magic outside the dream realm in the physical plain!?” Luna screeched in horror. “That is very bad and never should have been created!”
“If I could I would, but Aunties say not safe to try if get Dream Crystal, it could open flood gates.” Gale said with concern. “Alpha sorry...”
Alpha shook his head. “There isn't anything to be sorry for Lord Gale, Avatar caused this with the crystal.”
“Which would of never happened if Gale's future self gave her a taste of living in the current time from a crystal of her own making.” Greystorm stated.
Gallus frowned. “Uncle...” He slowed to a pause. “That still sound weird...” He shook his head. “Anyway Uncle Greystorm how do you even know that is even possible? Only thing we know of it what Gale knew and Alpha told us from what Gale knew.” Gallus said.
Shining Armor finished putting his tie on. “I would of came up with that conclusion myself, she created a crystal to try and appear to use in normal time without freezing things, it most likely would have been a crystal she had made in that once timeline, one where she gain knowledge of.”
Alpha knew what they were saying thanks to his lord. “There must be connection to this with the Grimtormia Tower that Lord Grover is located at, how he came to be in the past.”
“Consequences of changing the future...” Celestia said.
Luna took a hard look at Alpha. “You didn't do anything to break free from the dream plain?”
“No, I was in the Dream Cavern one second, and next Lord Gale running into me Lady Luna, I know of what I am and this isn't right... I wish to return to Dream Cavern. I am not suppose to be here, I know I am a wolf of fiction from a fictional world that Lord Gale remember from his past.”
Greystorm walk into the dining room seeing Alpha and Celestia. “What happened now?”
“Sadly as I said in the dining room shortly after getting told about how you came to be here, how Princess Celestia a griffon to the whole-”
“Get to the point already Uncle...” Gallus grumbled.
Greystorm didn't like Gallus interrupting him, but he will allow it. “What I said at breakfast is that there is only one reference of the Grimtormia Tower, that was in the now sunken island and city of Griferlatias.”
“The same one that tablet was found and the crystal came from, that the third thing to circle back to...” Shining Armor said seeing a pattern forming. “What was the reference?”
Alpha was curious about it too. “That it a structure that can not be found, it has to find you.”
“What?” They all said together, followed by Gallus. “Your serious? How does a tower find you!?”
“Wish I knew...” Greystorm look to the setting sun. “I really wish I could answer that nephew...”
Shining Armor spoke up. “Best not to dell on it at the moment, how about we play some cards while we wait for the gala to start since we all ready to go?” Shining using his magic to bring up a deck of cards.
Gale gave a warm smile. “Yes! I like to play!”
“Sure why not.” Gallus shrugged.
Greystorm smiled. “I'm game.”
Alpha turn away looking back out to the castle grounds not saying a word, the wolf left in deep thought over his new adjusted position serving his young lord, never in a million years he ever thought to be in such a position such as this.
In another room at a different part of the castle Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Nightingale putting on their dresses, doing their manes and feathers in front of a mirror each. Gilda on the other talon had already put on her shirt, jacket and tie on, she was standing by a window watching them take forever.
Gilda was expecting chit-chatting among the four of them, yet there was almost nothing spoken about among them at all, she gathered it was from the events of the breakfast that lead to this silences.
Luna and Celestia got up walking up to the window, they started to summon their magic through horn and talons, they started the process of day into night. “You dweebs seriously need to get over this, the way things been in the last three months you should be use to all this weirdness.”
Nightingale drunk a bit of tea as her talons shook a little with the cup vibrating a bit, the tea swishing around. “E-even we find this tower and da-”
Celestia put her talon over the right foreleg causing the shaking to stop. “We will cross that bridge together when it comes to it okay?”
Nightingale nod. “O-Of course...”
Greystorm swallowed the toast he was chewing on. “The tower was only mentioned in Griferlatias ruins, that was completely destroyed over a few years or so ago when the island went under the sea due to a ancient trap left in it.”
Gilda finished off the last of her pancakes. “So only Grifiax Boreas's home had details on the that Grimtormia Tower?”
“Yes, unless King Grover left anything on how he found the tower.” Greystorm stated.
“How about we just focus on the stupid gala, it tonight right?” Gilda asked.
“It is but-”
“Princess, can you figure out Alpha over there, or even where that tower is before tonight?” Gilda directly asked.
Alpha spoke up. “I wish to know as well, can you figure out if I can get back into my Lord's mind?”
Luna lower her head. “No I haven't, nor I will try to figure out how to find the Tree of Elysium to acquire the Dream Crystal, I only hope that Avatar knows what I am about to say... Never use that crystal again or even offer it to me, it too dangerous. If it can't be destroyed, hide it, bury it, toss it into a void that nothing can even dare to use it ever again!”
Luna using her magic to raise the moon, Celestia using her magic through the talon to lower the sun. “Sister Gilda does have a point, we are experiencing a continuous chain of strange events, yet more to come.”
Celestia lower her talon onto the ground. “Yes that is true, but I am curious how the nobles or even Twilight would react to my new appearance.”
Gilda coughed. “Trollestia.”
Nightingale walked up to them all set for the Grand Galloping Gala. “Mum, you serious didn't tell any of the ponies to pass word out about your sudden change in appearance outside the castle?”
Celestia gave a beaky smirk. “Indeed my little Nightingale, the gala tend to get so boring, why not spice it up from the get go?”
“Now I can see why Gilda keep calling you there, you really are a troll aunty.” Cadance laughed.
Gilda saw that the ice was breaking. “Now this is more like it.” Gilda clapped her talons together rubbing them. “Now how lame you think this gala going to be?”
Cadance and Nightingale looked at each of them. “With mum as a griffon, I, you and the others attending, I say we going to cause some chaos with those that about to attend.” Nightingale said with a smile. “I been to many in the Inverse Reality and they was pretty lame, Inverse mum made me attend every single one of them.” She shot a look at Celestia. “One thing you got in common.”
Celestia shook her head. “This be my first with you Nightingale, but we will make this a yearly thing.” Celestia walk to the door using her magic to open the door. “Shall we?”
Luna's ears twitch. “It seem we got a musical number.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “That what we needed, some random burst into song moment.” Gilda walked by them, the rest follow.
Gallus heard the music and singing. “What the heck is that?” He got up from card game, the rest put the cards down following him outside of the tower sanctuary, they followed the source of the sound.
“That would be a random breaking into song.” Shining answered.
Gale point out to the main entrance of the castle. “There look!”
Alpha narrow his gaze with the one eye to see the ponies singing, his ears twitch to the words spoken. “They saying 'at the gala' and each of the mares are speaking of what they going to do, also about dreams coming true.” He blinked a few times. “Is this normal?”
“Yes.” Greystorm said. “Come let's go-”
Gale points to the Wonderbolts flying with the fireworks going off. “Look it Spitfire!”
“Yep there she is.” Shining chuckled. “Come let's go on in and find Gilda, she your sticking with while wondering around in the Gala afterall.”
“Yes, let's go!” Gale walk to the stairwell with the others all descend down it one by one.
Alpha last to follow them down glance back at the balcony. “I really wished it was Blue and not me...” He grumbled and soon followed them down as the song and music came to a end.
Two pinkish purple magical orbs dance around each other till they explode high in the sky setting off a chain of fireworks just as the musical magical number comes to the end, Spike slides in afterwards on his scaly knees in front of Twilight and her friends as they look around in awe in the castle grounds.
“Yeah this is going to be the best night ever, you know why because we all-”
Spike didn't get to finish as Luna's voice caught all their attention. “Hello Twilight Sparkle, Spike and fellow element bearers.” They turn to Luna, with the princess of the night were Gallus, Shining Armor, Cadance and Greystorm. “It is good to see you all once again.”
They bowed to her, than Twilight went to Cadance. “It good to see you again Cadance!”
“It is good to see you too Twilight!” She warmly said back. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!” They burst into laughter afterwards.
Gallus frowned at the scene played out before him. “That just the weirdest and stupidest thing I ever seen...”
Greystorm also had a odd experience at what he saw. “I have to agree, that is very weird...”
As Twilight talk to her brother with her friends, Cadance spoke to the two griffons. “I use to be her foalsitter, we came up with that little dance and never really grew out of it.”
“Yeah... No.” Gallus blow up his head feathers. “Just don't do it again, like ever.”
Cadance giggled. “No promises.”
Spike pulled on Luna's dress to get her attention. “Is Gale here?”
“My nephew is, he with Gilda and Alpha, where? I can not say, but I have informed the staff to give you highest access to all areas of the Gala to find him.” Luna said back with a smile.
Spike smiled back. “Thank you Princess Luna!” He runs off to find Gale.
Gallus looked around the adults. “I think I'll join the dragon, that pink pony giving me the creeps as she staring at me like that.”
“Sure nephew, enjoy the Gala.”
“If I can with weird or snobby ponies.” Gallus leave to go after Spike.
Shining Armor finish speaking to his sister and her friends. “-and soon Princess Celestia with her daughter Nightingale will be making a announcement, things been crazy in the last 24 hours, can't say what it is at the moment because Princess Celestia wish to address it before the Grand Galloping Gala truly begins.”
“Indeed Captain Armor, we should head to the main fora of the gala, the announcement is due any moment.” Luna stated looked across the hallway of the castle. “Come bearers, what you are about to see is something my sister should of told you in advance, but choose not to...”
“Is it a big surprise?” Pinkie asked.
“Very.” Greystorm said bluntly.
Rainbow whisper to Twilight as they walk. “Isn't this suppose to be our best night ever?”
Twilight whisper back. “It still will be, just that Princess Celestia got some really important to share first, it best we go and see.”
“The way they spoke and the tone, ah think somethin' really bi' happened here recently.” Applejack said seeing the look on Luna's and Greystorm's faces, reading the tone of their voices.
Fluttershy spoke to Rarity. “What do you think Princess Celestia going to announce?”
“I do not have any idea, it seem all the ponies attending do not know either darling.” Rarity taking note of the many ponies walking up to the stage in the main fora for the announcement.
Raven Inkwell stepped up to the microphone. “Welcome to the Grand Galloping Gala, Princess Celestia will be stepping up in a moment, she will be very different in appearance to what you are use to seeing her.”
Many ponies talked to each other about what she just said, Twilight whisper to Shining. “What does she mean by different?”
“You about to see Twily.” Twilight didn't like how Shining Armor avoided the question, but she knew the answer was about to show.
Raven spoke into the microphone. “She will be joined with someone she lost over 799 years ago, someone very dear to her.” She turn to the left. “I present to you Princess Celestia and her daughter Princess Nightingale.” Raven step back.
All eyes turn to see a large white griffon with magical waving colourful furry feathered mane back of head down to neck, with tail feathers with a lion tail between it and flowing magical tail brush tip, wearing the crown, collar plate with talon gauntlets and a light blue dress with white stars on it. The eyes purple pink shift around taking a good look at the crowd in the fora.
Walking beside her was a blackish grey griffon with white head, her head feathers to neck feathers shimmering with flowing colours similar to Celestia's with the tail brush matching the magical flow, she wearing a gold necklace with a purple jewel in it and a gold crown with red orb jewels in it, she has matching light blue dress to Celestia. Her golden yellow eyes shifting around nervously.
Celestia stood before the microphone picking it up with a talon to raise it to her beak. “Hello my little ponies, I know this is a very unexpected sight to see me as a griffon, it wasn't by choose but I don't regret the actions I took to protect my son Gale.”
Many ponies speak to themselves with shock, Rainbow Dash staring in shock. “No way, is that really our Princess and not the inverted reality one?”
“It is her.” Pom-Pom stepped up beside them. “I was the one that turned her into a griffon to meant one of the created.”
Twilight turn in surprise to see her, but her attention was draw on what Pom-Pom just said. “What happened?”
“Princess Celestia about to explain.” Pom-Pom said sitting down, watching and listening to Celestia.
They all still in shock turn their attention back to Celestia. “Last night I requested for my form to be changed into one that I had over 800 years ago for almost a year, some of you may have records about the year of 200-201 CE when I never appeared in public, that was because I made a magical wish to be closer to the one I love.”
She felt tense and Nightingale put her talon on Celestia's foreleg nodding to continue.
“The only one I feel in love with was no other than the first king of Griffina, King Grover my late husband and father of my daughter Nightingale that stand by my side right now, she was taken from me over 799 years ago by forces we didn't even know till recently and defeated, thanks to the help of many.”
Celestia could see many were listening, others whispering.
“I know this is a shock, and a surprise.” She looked around. “I know that some may ask why I can't turn back, the problem is to do with why I had my form changed and went to the peak, up there a being that lived alone and watched for over 4000 years, I was asked to come meet him but, I and two others got jumped by a reality bending creature.”
Many ponies now looked horrified.
“The creature had us caught, defeated in moments, the creature was about to use a orb of magic to take our magic and life force from us, but at that moment my son Gale came and startling the creature by his sudden arrival, he took the orb and smashed it to pieces. In a heartbeat the creature went into rage and without mercy attacked Gale, I pleaded for the creature to stop but it didn't listen and in that moment I allow the griffon instincts with my motherly desire to save my child from this crawl thing unleashed.”
One pony spoke up. “Is that why the sun and moon were in the sky together?”
“Yes it is.” Celestia acknowledge to the pony. “I unleashed everything to make sure that monster wouldn't harm my little Gale, but at the moment of it defeat it did something to me that I couldn't undo, it took my pony form from me and left me stuck as a griffon, this is why transfiguration or transformation magic will not work on me, the risk of using them could end my life.”
Celestia could see many looked now shocked, anger or even unsure from what they were hearing.
“I didn't know when was the right time to reveal this to you my little ponies...” Celestia sighed looking over to Nightingale. “To tell you of getting my daughter back, to my griffish appearance that I am stuck in, so there wasn't a right or wrong answer to this... And I do hope you all still accept me as your princess, Princess Celestia of the Sun, I maybe different on the outside, but I am still that loving, caring princess in the inside.”
Nightingale reach for the microphone, Celestia give it to her. “H-hello... As my mum said, I am Nightingale, daughter of mum and King Grover, I never got to know the real them, never got to know live a life with her, I was taken and put into a world I thought was real, it felt real and all the ponies, griffons and other creatures that look very similar to many of you I knew personally.”
She saw many confused pony faces.
“My little brother Gale, and many others found their way to me, found out the truth of where I was, wasn't as real as I thought it was, that I was a prisoner... They saved me, brought me home, even if that world was created by wish magic and no longer exist, it was still the home I knew for 799 years.”
Nightingale step up to the front of the stage.
“I do hope in time that I can be accepted, I know it may take time, or even never be seen as the daughter to your princess, or even believe mum is Princess Celestia.” She saw some were as she said. “So without further adull, I wish you all have a great evening at the Grand Galloping Gala! Thank you for listening to us speak, enjoy your evening!”
Nightingale put the microphone back in it pole, the musician ponies start to play music, Celestia put a wing over her daughter. “I am proud of you.” Celesita said warmly to her as they got off stage.
“Thank you mum.” Nightingale softly return a smile, stomping of hooves soon followed in cheers to Celestia and her last daughter, the reaction was surprising to Nightingale. “Wow...”
Pom-Pom's tails twitched. “That Shal-Quz should have been named...” She grumbled walking away to mingle with the crowd, many of the ponies now talked to each other breaking away to do their own thing at the Gala.
Twilight turn to Shining Armor. “Shal-Quz?”
“How about we go to Princess Celestia and I'll tell you all about it okay?”
“Okay Shiny.” The other ponies went off in their own directions through out the gala.
Twilight friends also agreed to find out later since Celestia kept them in the loop for the most part, they believe shouldn't have kept the Gala going if anything was seriously wrong at this time, they went off to have their moment at the Grand Galloping Gala.
Gallus and Spike walked towards the VIP cordon, they had seen and heard the what Celestia just said as they were looking around for Gale and Gilda. “Princess Celestia is one scary griffon...”
“If something happen to me, Twilight could go all out too.”
“Right...” Gallus thought about his parents. “Even risking their own lives...” He whispered.
Spike didn't quite hear what he said. “What did you say?”
Gallus saw Gale and Gilda with a yellow pony in a blue and yellow flight suit. “Look we found them!” He point a claw at the table. “They with a pony wearing something I never seen before, what is that?”
“That Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, what she wearing is a flight suit, all of the Wonderbolts wear them during performance.” Spike explained walking up to the cordon. “Hi, Princess Luna said I got access and Gallus with me.” He hint to the blue and cream griffon.
The pony bow his head slightly. “Of course.” He unclipped the red rope, pulling it back to allow them through.
They walked by and he re-clipped it. “That just weird and strange, I don't get it at all.” Gallus said staring at Spitfire and other Wonderbolts at different tables.
“Don't griffons have something like that?” Spike asked.
Gallus shrugged. “Maybe about 150 years ago or so, if we did it went with the rest of Griffina when Guto decided to go power mad after losing a hunk of gold, and attacking the Finch Griffons at Flaputa.”
“Oh that...”
“Yeah that... Grandpa Gruff told me and Nightingale what that feather brain did...” Gallus gave a cold deadpan response. “Moving on.” Gallus changed the subject. “Hey Gilda, Gale.” They walked up to the table.
Gale turn to them. “Spike! Gallus! Happy to see! After mum talk, we only talked, music slow and boring, but we talking, we laughing! It good!”
Spitfire chuckled. “It sure is Gale, it saving my rump from those ponies, and that diamond dog with the one eye looking out for Gale, really creeping them out too, so a win win tonight so far!” She pat Gale on the back with a hoof. “Got to admit hearing how he smashed that orb to save his mum, it was reckless but pretty brave at the same time, with my mum if anything happen to her I would do the exact same thing if it mean saving her life.”
Gilda drunk a bit of her drink. “I was there, I saw the whole thing, never seen that side of Celestia and don't want to see it again.”
“Yeah it crazy! Magic, kicking, clawing, all of it! Mum went all fiery!” Gale said while he did actions with his talons with movement of the forelegs, wings opening with short flaps to shifting them in motion.
“Sound really awesome!” Spike said with glee. “I knew Princess Celestia was strong, but hearing how she fought some creature to protect you and Equestria is epic! Princess Celestia doesn't seem phased she a griffon too! Who would of knew she was married to King Grover! I bet Twilight really freaking out on the inside right this second!”
Gallus nodded. “Got to admit it sound really awesome, wish I saw it myself! And the purple pony having a freak out?”
“Dweeb, Purple was Princess Celestia's former student.” Gallus didn't need to say anything back to Gilda on that remark.
“Same here.” Spitfire raise her glass. “Probably be the most excitement tonight at this table, other than the nobles and ponies wanting their photos with us or asking for the best seats for our performances.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “I already knew this was going to be very lame, thanks for making that super obvious you dweeb!”
“No problem Gilda!” Spitfire laughed, she noticed Soarin coming up with a pie in his muzzle. “If you excuse me, got a flight colleague to talk to.” Spitfire got up to great Soarin.
Gallus sat at the table with Spike. “So... What do we do now?” Gallus asked.
“Celestia has her reasons for inviting all of us here to this lame dweebish party, I bet she knew this was lame to begin with and hoping with us being here it be spiced up a bit.”
Gale thought about it and blurted out. “Trollesetia!”
Many ponies looked at them oddly before going back to talking about day to day stuff, all the way to what Celestia said to them recently.
Suddenly catching the griffons and dragon attention was a cry. “MY PIE!” They watched it fall towards the ground for Rainbow Dash to catch it. “And here comes the fireworks.”
Gale gave her a confused look. “Fireworks inside? That not safe!”
“It a figure of speech Gale...” Gilda groans.
Alpha gave a snorted laugh from where he stood by a column. “Maybe being in the physical plain won't be that bad afterall, I look forward to seeing how this evening unfolds.” He said under his breath.
Blueblood picked a rose with his teeth outside in the Canterlot Gardensand Greystorm walked up to him. “Looking for the perfect rose once again for your neck collar?”
Blueblood turn around to the Mayor of Trottingham, he bit off the steam and put it on his neck collar. “Of course, it always been a tradition of mine to take the most perfect rose possible.”
“As always.” Greystorm sniffed some of the roses. “Pleasant as always.” He said. “Not going to ask about the way I look?”
“The fact you look twenty years younger to last time I saw you?”
“Yes.”
“Greystorm, Aunt Celestia told me to expect this new davish look, results from the pure magic punch from my cousin Gale.” Blueblood start to walk, Greystorm walk beside him. “I may not be directly involved with the in and outs of what been happening in the last few months, but I am kept in the loop.”
Greystorm noticed Rarity was following not to far behind them. “Octicovix doesn't care, and at first I did, but I grew to accept that I am like this, she would have been here, but duty calls.”
“Quite so, on the hunt for Shal-Quz if I am not mistaken.”
“Correct Bluey.”
Blueblood notice his glances to see who he was glancing at. “I see that mare been following since I locked eyes on her, do you know who she is?”
“Rarity Belle, one of the Element Bearers and a very good dress and suit making, the best out of all I ever used, she good at value, very generous, charming, a bit of a chatter box and times, love her work, care about her friends and family. And a bit of a drama queen when things go a bit south, personally effected by words directly at her, also not to be messed with or she will turn the tables on you pretty fast if you take advantage of her kind generosity.” Greystorm informed Blueblood about Rarity.
Blueblood blinked. “How the blazes you know all that?”
“I got to know her through out the last five years when I come to collect my suit at night, she know I have a image to keep and understand that I can't be shown to be too soft but fair, so we agree that I come around when the suit made at specific times when I am hardly seen. Also she makes good tea, Trottingham is known for it tea and if she can make good tea, she good.” Greystorm explained how he knew. “Well have fun.”
Blueblood quickly turn to see Greystorm was gone. “I hate when he does that...” Blueblood muttered as he saw Rarity approach, taking a deep breath the price prepared himself for this encounter best he could. “Just don't be a ass Blueblood and you will be okay...” He whispered to himself.
Fluttershy saw the bird a Meadow Lark, hear a whistle and hummed it back, she followed it deeper into the garden to find a whole heap of the animals Fluttershy wanted to meet, they all were around something snowy grey with black spots and large, suddenly some of them instantly turn to Fluttershy and quickly run off.
Fluttershy put a hoof out. “W-wait!” She cried as they all now ran off in different directions.
The large furry one they were all around turned over to sit up on the hunches, Fluttershy was staring at a very big griffon, flexing it wings slightly without moving any leaves turn the purple eyes upon the timid Pegasus. “Hey, your that Fluttershy Pinkamena spoke of in her letters, nice to finally meet ya dude, I'm Sunflower.” She raise a forepaw giving a short wave.
Fluttershy remembered Pinkie Pie speaking of a massive pen pal she finally got to met. “Oh my, you are really-”
“Big?”
“No of course you are, but I was going to say as Pinkie Pie described you.” Fluttershy walked up to her. “I thought you didn't like to be seen?”
Sunflower lay back down pulling out her tablet flipping a paw tip over it. “Yeah, well Nanny Maple had a ticket for this Gala and since I was in the neighbour hood doing some work for a client, she happen to message me about it this morning of all times and said it was in my bag.” Sunflower put the tablet down to pull out from her bag a small gold ticket. “So... Yeah I'm here and keeping as far from it without not being in it.”
Fluttershy nod as she now stood only a short distance from her. “I noticed all the animals were gathered around you, I didn't mean to spook them like that.”
Sunflower shrugged. “It fine, but also kinda weird.”
“Why do you say that? If it okay for me to ask.”
“It is okay and dude all animals run from me, this is a very FIRST these animals don't.” Sunflower said picking up her tablet. “I haven't got a clue to why they like me.” Sunflower looked up to see one land on her head.
Fluttershy moved a little and the bird got spooked flying away. “It seem I am having the opposite effect, I am usually really good with animals but they seem very scared of me...” She sat down in front of Sunflower. “Pinkie said that you make yourself so light that it feels your not even here.”
Sunflower smirked. “Oh that true all the way, even showed it off it the Crusaders sisters and aunts, they were impressed by my show, it also why all-” She quickly paused seeing the Meadow Lark back on her head again nuzzling itself into her feathered head. “Well most animals flee, I think they don't like that they can't sense my presence.”
“Yet these don't and fear my presence.” Fluttershy took note of it. “I really came to the Grand Galloping Gala to meet them, be my friend.”
Sunflower hummed a little. “Hmm... I might have a idea.”
“Oh?”
Applejack stood behind her apple stand with pride after her first sale of her produce, she now waiting to make another sale of her finest apple foods at the Gala, Luna and Cadance approached the stand. “You must be Applejack, I heard about you from Shining Armor.” Cadance said looking at the apple foods.
“Howdy Princesses, Ah met the unicorn, he and ah couldn't agree on a lick of thin's till young prince managed to strike a deal with mah brother and granny.” She bow her head slightly to both of them. “And howdy to you Princess Luna.”
“Hello dear Applejack.” Luna looked at the food. “Are you offering tasters from your farm at the Gala?”
Applejack gave her a odd look. “No, ah'm sellin' mah produce princess.”
Cadance gave her own odd look. “Applejack, you are aware there are free food and drink hoofed out to the guests do you?”
Applejack blinked as she took in what Cadance just said. “Are ya sayin' that nopony gonna buy mah food?”
“Maybe one or two, but most won't cause they wouldn't have brought any bits to the Gala.” Cadance confirmed.
Applejack took a deep sigh. “Ah didn't know.”
Luna frowned. “Is there not a leaflet about the Gala?”
“Yes aunty there is.” Cadance now turn to Applejack. “You didn't read the leaflet did you?”
“Eenope...” Applejack pulled her hat down over her eyes. “Ah feel like a foal...”
“Well why not just offer them free of charge to the guests, if they really like them, they'll order them from your home of business or wherever they are sold from” Cadance suggested.
“Indeed.” Luna agreed.
Applejack nodded. “ah'll do that, might not get the bits today, but maybe get them later, thank ya.”
They were about to say something when Gabby lands before them. “Applejack Apple?”
“Eeyup?”
“I got a package from Gilda to you.” Gabby pulled it out her bag handing it over to Applejack.
Applejack opened it up. “Scones?” Applejack noticed a letter with a leaflet. “Hey AJ, Dash said ya gonna to try and sell ya stuff at the Gala, ya a dweeb and should of read the leaflet, give out yur food as tasters and give them a try of my scones too, ah bet mah scones are better then ya apple fritters.... Gilda.”
Gabby giggled. “That her way of saying she like your apple products and challenging you against her scones.”
“Funny why of sayin' it.” Applejack muttered. “Well ah guess ah to that then.”
Gabby saluted. “Well my job done, going to the hotel and getting some sleep before my flight home.”
Luna put a hoof up to Gabby. “Why not stay?”
“I don't have one of those fancy tickets, I only got in for delivery.” Gabby hint to the guards hovering near by. “Sorry I can't.”
“Well I say you can.” Luna said and turn to the guards. “Is there a problem with that guards?”
“No princess!” They saluted and flee off.
“Thanks Princess Luna. But I don't have anything fancy!” Gabby gestured to herself.
Cadance smiled. “Oh I can help with that, care to help aunty?”
“Gladly.” Luna smiled back.
Gabby blinked. “Errr... Why are you two looking at me like that?” She nervously backed away from the two princesses.
Applejack wasn't sure to either step in to protect the grey blue griffon or say something, all she could do was watch in stun expression as the two princesses walk Gabby away. “O...kay... Ah'll pretend that never happened and ah'll give out this here food...”
Ponies gave Pinkie Pie annoyed anger looks as she finished singing and hugging tightly two of the ponies, Nightingale could see the sudden sadness from the party pony. “Not the party she thought it be, seen that face many times over.” She said to herself. “Best break the ice to Pinkie Pie.” Nightingale walked up to Pinkie Pie sitting at the table.
“I am at the Grand Galloping Gala~” She sang in a depressed tone resting her muzzle against the table.
Nightingale sat down on the opposite side of the table. “This isn't the kind of party you make back in Ponyville Pinkie Pie.”
Pinkie Pie looked across the table at the griffon. “Oh hi Princess Nightingale, I don't get it...”
“It maybe the grandest party in Equestria, but not the funnest party.” Nightingale said calmly to her. “Before I knew the place I once called home wasn't my world, I attended a lot of these Galas with the Inverse Reality version of mum, we would bet what kind of thing we could get away with ruining the Gala without being caught.”
“Ruining it?” Pinkie blinked. “Why ruin it?”
Nightingale looked around. “You see almost all these ponies around?”
“Yeah?” Pinkie now looked around.
“They all high end types, nobles, CEOs and so fourth, they wouldn't know true fun if it kicked them up the rump.” Nightingale giggled. “They always so serious, never finding time to share in that moment of joy, I know they have things to run, make bits and so on, but sometimes you need to live a little to get a smile, I should know.” She hint to the crown on her head. “I was born into royalty, and knew of my responsibilities, yet I knew how to have fun and the inverse mum taught be a thing or two about pranks.”
Pinkie Pie blinked. “Princess Celestia pranks?” Than she remembered Gilda calling Celestia. “Oooooooo that what Gilda meant!”
Nightingale gave a sly smile. “I got a idea how to really give this party a real jump start to enjoy it.”
“Oooo tell me!”
“Gladly!” Nightingale move a wing over in front of their muzzle and beak.
Twilight and Shining Armor made their way up the stairs to Princess Celestia, she was currently greeting a few ponies to the gala with Pom-Pom standing by her side and saying how good to see them again, they arrived at the top of the steps to Princess Celestia, she warmly smiled at them both. “It so lovely to see my star student and you Captain Armor, I gather you have much to ask about what happened on the peak and my sudden somewhat permanent new appearance?”
“I do Princess, also why didn't you send any letters about it either?” Twilight asked right away.
“I've been somewhat distracted with what had happened to me, also with getting things ready for the gala, I couldn't cancel it at short notice.” Celestia responded calmly as she gesture for them to stand by her.
Shining spoke in response. “I know from what you told me why you did it, but couldn't you have taken a few guards?”
Pom-Pom answers for Celestia. “We were only going up to the peak to talk, there was zero signs of any danger awaiting for us.”
“Indeed, Shal-Quz caught us all by surprise, even with a guard there. Do you think there would have been any different outcome?”
Shining Armor tied to think of a response to it. “No... The way you spoke of her getting the jump on all of you seem to be a trap of her own making, one that we only know after the fact.”
“Exactly.” Celestia said now looking to Twilight. “I know what happened to me may have changed what I look like on the outside, but inside I am the same princess that taught my favourite student for many years.”
Twilight felt relieved to hear it from Celestia directly. “It good to see that Princess, but I feel what been happening in Ponyville for me seem so small...”
“Nonsense Twilight, everything no matter how small you think it is I like to hear.” Celestia said in a motherly tone to Twilight. “Please tell me.”
Twilight felt good to get to stay by Princess Celestia's side to talk about what been going on in Ponyville, Shining chuckled lightly as they got talking. “Well so far so good.”
Pom-Pom put a paw to her forehead. “Any now you've jinxed it...”
Rainbow Dash tries to talk to Soarin through the massive rumblings of chatter going on around her from more ponies gathering, she couldn't even hear herself it was getting so loud, Spitfire did a hoof gesture across her neck a few times.
Rainbow sighed seeing it was fruitless. “I KNOW IT LOUD, TALKING GOING TO BE DIFFICULT!” Spitfire shouted at Rainbow Dash, she could barely hear the captain of the Wonderbolts.
Gallus wasn't feeling so good as the crowd of ponies grew around him, he got bumped by some and the noise on top causing his heart to race, the blue feathers and fur around his face paled slightly. “Ok-okay keep it together Gallus... Keep it together...” Gallus trying to not freak out as the space around him close in on all directions, he had no room to even open his wings up now.
Gale wasn't doing so well either, he was being bombarded with questions, praises and other things he couldn't hear clearly through all the rumbling of voices, the teen covered his ears with Gilda now growling at them with wings open in threatening display, Alpha also now stood before Gale pushing back some of them.
Sunbeam moved moved in with some of the guards to give Gale space from the ponies. “ALRIGHT BACK UP! LEAVE THE YOUNG PRINCE BE!” She ordered loudly at the ponies.
“HOW CA-” Rainbow Dash didn't even get a word in when Spitfire put her against Rainbow's muzzle, she gesture to Gale and Gallus.
“GALLUS IS HAVING A CLAUSTROPHBIC ATTACK! THE PRINCE NOT SO HOT EITHER! WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF HERE!” Spitfire shouted at Rainbow Dash.
“I RECALL THERE A BALCONY OVER THERE!” Rainbow Dash point a hoof, Spitfire nod and quickly go over to Sunbeam, she point to the balcony, the guard nod and gesture to the guards to clear a path, they did so and get them all out, the guards quickly open the doors to the balcony, once they were out, the guards part from Sunbeam all stay inside shutting the doors to keep the crowds away.
Gallus lean over the balcony holding a talon to his chest breathing in and out heavily, sweat rolling down his feathered face, eyes shrunk as Spitfire rubbed his back trying to ease the hyperventilating teenage griffon. Spike, Alpha and Rainbow Dash watched from the balcony closed doors standing in front of them, Sunbeam hovering in the distance watching.
“Easy does it cub, slow deep breaths.” Spitfire said as she continue to rub his back with her hoof.
Gallus' breathing slowing a little. “I-I be alright, I just need air.”
Gale at the same time lean against Gilda feeling a bit better now he was outside, and away from all those ponies that crowded around them.
“Cub you had a claustrophobic attack, your not alright.” Spitfire countered.
Gallus quickly push his wings out to force Spitfire's hoof away, he turn around growling. “I did not!”
Spitfire looked him dead in the eyes. “YES you DID.” Spitfire said sternly to the blue griffon. “I seen it enough times to know one! I had a few squad mates that suffered with it! Rapidfire one of them in fact and that WHY he never come to the Gala and we make sure those that want autographs keep from overcrowding him!”
Gallus tried to show it wasn't, but he could see it wasn't going to work. “FINE! I do! Happy that I admitted it!?”
“Yes, because admitting it is on the way to knowing how to deal with it for future references! If we knew about this before I would of made sure those ponies-” she point to the balcony doors. “Wouldn't have overcrowded around and kept others from knowing, cause I seen what pride and those that wish to act tough can get themselves into!”
Gallus lower his gaze to his paw. “Right...”
Gale spoke up stepping up to them. “Erm... Doing now would erm... erm...”
Alpha speak for Gale. “What Lord Gale is trying to say is that, going back in now to ease it would get them wondering.” Gale nodded.
Spike snap his claws. “I got it! How about Donut Jo's?”
“I like that idea, get away from this dweebish boring garbage of a party, also I don't think Gallus and Gale would like to go back into that Tartarus storm.” Gilda thumb point over her shoulder at the doors. “Dash you have to agree on that one.”
Rainbow rubbed her foreleg over the other. “Well... I did come to it for a reason, but the way it got so loud, chatty and crowded, I don't think anypony I want to talk to can hear me anyway.”
Spitfire smirked. “Well, if the prince want to go, I'll tag along to keep him safe.” She winks at him.
Gale tilt his head wondering why than it clicked in a few seconds afterwards. “Oooooh! I see! Yes I like!”
“Well Spits, how about taking off that flight suit, wearing it will make you stick out like a sour hoof.” Gilda suggested.
Spitfire took it off, she hoof it over to Alpha. “Since you got the bag, how about you stuff this in there?”
Alpha took it. “Very well...” He took it and stuffed the flight suit into the bag.
“So, are we all going?” Gallus asked.
Alpha shrugged. “Wherever Lord Gale goes, I go, part from going into a bathroom before any of you get funny ideas.” Alpha's one eye shift to each of them, they raising claws, talons and hooves up quickly shaking their head. “Spike climb up on my back, I can keep up with them on foot.”
Spike nod and climb up on Alpha's back hugging around his neck. “I'm on.”
“Shall we dweebs?” They all took off from the balcony heading into the city, Alpha leaping off the balcony and follows them.
Rainbow Dash secretly was happy she get to hang out with the Captain of the Wonderbolts away from her team, but she knew the real reason they were going to Donut Jo's were for the two teens benefit from the crowding ponies at the VIP section of the Gala, she was disappointed that it wasn't exactly what she dreamed it would be.
Applejack raise a fritter up with a hoof. “Get ya fritters, come and try them!”
A pony looked at it with disgust, another just walked on by, Applejack step in front of one. “Howdy, ah'm givin' these amazin' treats from mah home, ah wonder if ya like to try one?”
The pony stared at it for a moment. “Why are you offering these out here and not set up on the table with the other food?”
“Ah wanted to keep mah food from bein' not mixed up with them, ah wish to see what ya Canterlot folk think of our home made food, maybe even invest?”
“So it a marketing ploy?”
“Ah'm tryin' to see if ah can expand the fruits of our labour, hard work has it awards ya know.” Applejack said with a smile.
The unicorn looked up at down at her. “So that explains your appearance, you work on the fields.”
“Indeed and proud of mah work there.”
“Well how about you go work there and not try to sell your common food here.” The unicorn snorted and walk away.
Applejack blinked a few times processing what he just said. “Common food!? This is high quality apple baked goods! The best ya ever would try!” The unicorn ignores her continue to walk with his snout raised up high.
Applejack gritted her teeth with annoyance. “What nerve...” Applejack turn to see Rarity and Blueblood. “They wouldn't know good food if it hit them in the face.” Rarity walked up to it with Blueblood. “Hello dear Applejack, how is your evening?”
“Not good...” Applejack turn to Rarity. “I gather ya wouldn't dare try common food from a farm pony that work her tail off too?” Applejack directly said to Blueblood.
Blueblood looked at the display. “Well... This look like food you find in a carnival, I learned from Mayor Greystorm that sometimes the best food is the most simple looking.” Blueblood stated to Applejack. “I will try one of your Apple Fritters.” Applejack quietly gave one to Blueblood.
“Darling I can hear a bit of hesitation in your voice, have you been forcing yourself to be a gentlecolt around me?”
Blueblood let out a heavy sigh. “It been that obvious?”
“Indeed it has, the question is why?” Rarity asked.
He held the fritter on top of his hoof. “Greystorm told me I had to not take advantage of the generosity of mares, and force them away.”
Applejack frowned. “Ya force mares away from ya?”
“Yes I do, it became a habit to be rude and look like a bad prince, this is the first time I told anypony.” Blueblood said with relief in his voice. “It feels like a mountain been lifted.” He took a bite out of the fritter. “Hmm...” He swallowed it after chewing. “It has quality within, if I am not mistaken it Ponyville grown?”
“Eeyup, and yet ah doubt others will try any of this.” She looked around. “Even ya eatin' that ah bet they think ya just playin' nice with me.”
Blueblood finished off the fritter. “You are correct ma'am, many here in the city see you as common folk trying to pretend to be on their level.”
“That a bit harsh...” Rarity frowned.
“Harsh but true, when you have wealth you tend to lose the objectivity of the world works, those born into it see food is bought for you and cooked for you, simple as that.” Blueblood explained to Rarity and Applejack. “Recent arrival of my cousin in law Gale has opened my eyes to this, and now with the truth of Aunty Celestia's daughter revealed it opened up a few more doors to possibilities out there.”
Applejack smiled. “Prince Gale really shaken up a few thin's hmm?”
Blueblood smiled back. “That he did, my aunt never been happier since his arrival and now she glowing with Nightingale is back.”
Greystorm walked up to them. “From the look of those smiles, I say things are improved.”
“A bit, but it doesn't solve the problem of presenting this marvellous food to the others.” Rarity calmly said looking at the food. “Not even a mayor would shift their point of view.”
“No it wouldn't.” Greystorm said with a smile. “Blueblood up to getting your shiny hooves dirty?”
Blueblood looked to his hooves than back at Greystorm. “What are you planning?”
Greystorm put his talon on Blueblood back. “Simple my friend, we going to help Applejack Apple turn this into a flare that even turn their snubby heads.”
Applejack smiled. “Ah think ah can work with that.”
“I wouldn't mind helping you out darling.” Rarity said.
Greystorm sat on his hunches clapping his talons together rubbing them. “Now let's wheel this off and make it into something truly amazing! If it goes south, tough on them and we get to enjoy a really delicious treat! A win win!”
Blueblood lean in to him whispering. “You been watching me and Rarity this whole time haven't you?” Greystorm squawked a little. “Thought so, I and Rarity won't work, but maybe being friends after this may.”
“Darlings are you coming?” Rarity called as Applejack wheel away the cart.
“Yes!” They said together and followed.
Shining Armor watched the line grew up the steps to Princess Celestia, Twilight was trying very hard to talk to the princess as she was to the former student, Pom-Pom put a paw on his foreleg. “It seem that the night isn't going as good as hoped?”
Shining gave a humph. “No it did not, I was hoping with Princess Celestia appearing a griffon some of the ponies won't come up to her for the evening greeting, this will take about a hour or so to clear up...”
“This being my first diplomatic event attending on behalf of the Kitsunes of No-Yantic clan, I have to say this been quite the a informative and interesting Grand Galloping Gala.” She move the paw off Shining. “Everything in fact is interesting.”
“Because your kind been trapped in a pocket reality?” Shining asked.
Pom-Pom nod her head slightly. “Yes that is correct.” Her twelve tails waving around behind her. “I gather you will ask next, 'I have no idea what it be like to live a whole life till now in such a place', correct?” Pom-Pom smirked.
Shining smiled back. “Roughly that.”
A white stallion with blue hooves, mane and tail wearing a suit and tie with a monocle over one eye, beside him was a slider legged white mare with a pink mane, tail and dress. “I must say, you are something to behold Alpha Pom-Pom of the clan No-Yantic.” She could see he had a moustache too. “I am Fancy Pants and this is my wife Fleur De Lis.” They both bow their heads to Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom turn around to the two ponies. “It interesting to see some of the ponies know of who I am, and it a pleasure to meet you both, I gather you plan to see Princess Celestia?”
“Not at all, we see her enough as it is, we are here to meet a leader from a far away land that joined us here at the Grand Galloping Gala, get to know you as it were.” Fancy Pants said with a calm charming tone of voice to Pom-Pom.
“Your fur really have a shine to it, and those tails are really truly something.” Fleur De Lis said watching some of them wave back and forwards with the flames moving in sync. “Those flames are nothing I ever seen before, do they hold some importance or decorative for intimation?”
Pom-Pom flare out her tails in display. “They are my magic in display, us Kitsunes always had these magical flames dancing over our tails from the moment that first spark of magic happens, each colourful flame hold a unique form of magic that I have mastered over the last 743 years of my life.”
“Interesting, it a culture thing for you kitsunes?”
“In a way it is Fancy Pants, if I share some of my culture, care to do the same in return?” Pom-Pom suggested a proposal.
Fancy Pants smiled. “I would gladly like that, shall we walk and talk?”
“We can show you the beauty of the Canterlot Castle gardens during the walk and talk.” Fleur suggested.
Pom-Pom turn to Shining. “Well Captain, I can't refuse a offer like that.”
“Go ahead, I will stay here and see if I can help steam some of the line a bit, allow the Princess some breathing room to talk to my sister.” Shining said back.
“Wish you luck on that one Captain.” Pom-Pom gestured to the two ponies to walk, they do so and she walk off with them.
Shining Armor watch her leave and turn back to Celestia and Twilight, a guard come up to him. “Captain, Prince Gale and a few others including Private Sunbeam and Captain Spitfire left the Gala, I was told that they were heading to Donut Jo's.”
“Why did they leave?” Shining asked.
“Ponies were bombarding the young prince with questions, getting up close and overly praising him, at the same time the young blue griffon had a panic attack, we were ordered to clear a path to the balcony which they got to, we sealed the doors to make sure the ponies didn't bother them, soon after Spike Sparkle suggested Donut Jo's and that where they went.” The guard informed him
“Very well, keep up the good work.” The guard salute and flies off. “Well now I got reason to pull Princess Celestia to the side.” Shining said to himself, he walked up to the steps to climb them and inform Celestia of what he just been told.
Gabby walked onto the fora wearing a light blue dress with white flowers and peddles on it, Luna and Cadance just behind her enter too. “Wow, I can't believe I am here! I've heard about the Grand Galloping Gala from ponies for years! But to stand here too! I never thought it would happen!”
“Well I hope your high spirit will bring that to the Gala Gabby.” Cadance said.
Gabby gave her a confused look. “Huh? What do you mean Princess?”
Luna point a hoof. “Have a look at the tables, on the fora and the musicians.”
Gabby took a good look. “Why are they only talking at tables and on the floor? Why aren't any of them dancing to that music? Isn't that what a fora this big for?” Gabby rubbed her feathered head with the confused look still upon her face.
“This is what the Gala is normally is, maybe with your help and others we can maybe spice things up?” Cadance suggested.
“Ooooooooo I can give it a try!” She grinned. “I really like to try and make new friends!” She giggled.
Suddenly the music change and Pinkie Pie stood on stage in front of the microphone singing into it. “Unless Miss Pie already attempting it.” Luna watched Pinkie Pie singing out. “What is this Pony Pokey?”
They saw Nightingale dancing to it, many ponies just stared at the griffon princess.
“It a fillies and colts song at school I believe.” Cadance stated. “Not sure why Pinkie Pie thought this would get them to shake their green bangs, if I heard correctly.”
Gabby giggled. “I think the song is fun!”
“So does my niece Nightingale from the look of it.” Luna stated
“Young lady!” One mare spoke up. “This is not that kind of party!”
“Ooooo they don't want to party, these ponies WANT to ppaaarrrty!” Pinkie said loudly into the microphone.
“That they do Pinkie pie!” Nightingale grinned she flew up onto the stage. “I got the perfect plan.” She whisper into Pinkie's ear, the pink pony smile grew tenfold.
Gabby tilt her head. “Erm... Princesses, why do I get the feeling things about to get crazy?”
Luna smiled. “Oh definitely.”
Gabby looked at her. “Am I missing something Princess Luna?”
“Definitely and that missing part is all thanks to my dear sister and now to my niece.”
Cadance grew a smile too. “Gabby my aunt invited them here for a reason, like we did for you, look like you are going to bring a big smile if you help Pinkie Pie and Nightingale out.”
“Oh! How!? How!?” Cadance and Luna open their wings up covering Gabby's head and start to whisper to her, a gasp of happiness came from the young adult griffon.
Fluttershy sat close to Sunflower's foreleg, both of them watching on the tablet a documentary on unique creatures of Equss that a set of Finch Griffons did by going places without being noticed by the wild, spending hours, days, weeks or even months to get a few minutes of footage of these unique life forms.
“This is amazing, I never knew of so many wonderful creatures that could exist, even those that are very nervous around beings like us.” Fluttershy said softly to Sunflower.
“Indeed, they see some Pegasi and Thestrals as predators since they do eat fish unlike their other pony counter parts, also griffons seen as such, since we are half cat, stealth can be used.” Sunflower whispered back, she then shift her gaze to the animals near her. “Don't look, but look in the corner of your gaze.” She whispered.
Fluttershy did and just saw in the corner of her vision the animals were gathering again and very close to her but kept their distance, they did lean into Sunflower or sat on top of her body to head. “This the closest I get to being near them isn't it?” Fluttershy whispered as she continue to watch the video.
“Most likely yes, better than them running away and keeping their distance right?”
“Hmm-mmm...” Fluttershy softly hummed.
Somewhere in a different reality of Equis a rift opens up, coming out of it Glacier, Octicovix and Silvite, as the rift closes up they find themselves in a small corridor with pipes, wires, control panels and bulkheads, Glacier whip out her Sub-Sonic device to scan the area and fed the information to the wrist held display.
“It look like we one some sort of ship.” Glacier said as she waited for the data to come through from her scans.
Silvite step up to part of the wall, the symbol on it with griffish writing. “GNSC GROVER, it a military submarine we on, from the look of the icon a griffon one.” Silvite said glancing over her shoulder to Glacier.
“Look like Shal-Quz had a run of bad luck jumping from one reality to another, at least we been able to keep up.” Glacier replied.
Octicovix with caution scouted around the area they were in. “We under water?”
“Most likely.” Silvite replied as she open a hatch up to take a look inside. “This one a crew quarters for four from the look of the bunks in here.” She closed it back up. “Sooner we find Shal-Quz or a rift the better.”
“I can't disagree with you on that one, and your right about this being military, my scans came up with readings of a nuclear reactor, missiles and we definitely underwater, Shal-Quz is here as for about twenty or so griffons from this read up, just can't get a clear lock on them, there some sort of heavy solar interference, as if there is no magnetic shielding on this planet.”
Octicovix blinked in confusion tilting her head. “I know we crossed over about a dozen or so realities chasing Shal-Quz, but what are you talking about?”
Glacier taping her talons the screen display. “For some reason outside this sub and in the water around us there a lot of solar radiation drifting around as we speak, for that to happen the planet would have to had it protective shielding stripped away, hence the magnetic shield and the ozone layer.”
“Other words, it a good thing we inside this tin can under water or we be singing our holy lord or whatever you call the afterlife.” Silvite said bluntly leaning against the bulkhead.
Octicovix shuddered at that thought. “This is a reality I really do not want to stay in, let's find Shal-Quz capture her and go please...”
“We will, soon as G-” she noticed something behind Glacier, Octicovix solid eyes stared unblinking at it too. “Glacier...”
Glacier getting close to clearing up the scans to get a better read out. “I know you want this thing to work, let me just adjust it frequency to cut out the solar radiation and we can avoid the griffons and bag up that rabbit.”
“Well about the first one.”
Glacier raise her eyes from the screen, her talons stop tapping away as she now lock eyes on Silvite. “Right...” She turn around to have a assault rifle aimed at her face. “That all we bloody need, griffons with bloody guns.”
Pom-Pom walked in on the Fora to find the classical musicians gone and a DJ table set up at the stage by Pinkie Pie, she had the head phone press to a ear tuning the music before leaping off as the music plays, the kitsune watched the scene play out, even seeing Nightingale attempting to get ponies to join in.
“This certainly turned into something interesting, I must say.” Fancy Pants stood by her with his wife watching the scene play out. “You seen unphased by this, I gather you been through something like this many times before?”
Pom-Pom smirked. “Oh definitely, I have done stuff like this as well having a son that ALWAYS has a way to try and be very entertaining to bring happiness, sometimes it doesn't work and just get annoying as those ponies look at this second.” Pom-Pom told Fancy Pants as they continue to watch. “How dull is it now?”
“Not very, in fact I find this to be very entertaining, shall we dance Alpha Pom-Pom?” He raise a hoof to her.
Pom-Pom put her paw on his hoof. “Oh definitely.” Fleur De Lis watched with a smile as her husband start to dance, she couldn't help but laugh out silly he looked, but he always had a diplomatic flare that she liked about him over all the other upper class ponies.
Gabby was having the time of her life dancing to the musical beats coming from the DJ station. “I don't know how the pink pony did it, but it AWESOME!”
Nightingale joins her as they danced and laughed. “Most may not like it, but it seem some do.” Luna smiled seeing the chaos now unfolding rapidly.
“Aunty it sure seem like it.” Cadance laughed.
The doors open with Applejack, Rarity, Blueblood and Greystorm walking in with a very tall apple flavour cake, Luna saw Pinkie Pie got back on stage to leap high off it, in that moment all stopped to watch as Pinkie Pie land right on the trolley, causing the cake to be catapulted into the air right towards Gabby and Nightingale.
Both griffons had turned just in time for the cake to land on both of them getting a massive gasp from all the ponies, Gabby however held up a piece with a big smile on her beak and screams out. “FOOD FIGHT!” She tossed the smushed cake in her claw right at Greystorm hitting on in the face.
Blueblood saw him wipe off the cake holding it and looking right at the prince. “No-no! Do-” He got it splatted over his face. “Now this is war Greystorm!” He used his magic picking up more pieces of food and throwing it at the griffon, he dodges and others get hit by the food.
Soon utter chaos consumed the Fora, food was flying everywhere, posh ponies trying not to get covered in food, the Wonderbolts now joined in the fray of throwing food back at others, Celestia, Shining Armor and Twilight walked in to the massive food fight that had exploded.
They watched Luna using her magic to throw food back at some other ponies that threw it at her, she was laughing and having fun. “Erm...” Twilight tried to process what just happened.
“Now this is a PARTY!” Celestia grinned.
Shining Armor laughed. “I can not disagree Princess, shall we?”
“Lead the way captain.” Celestia and Shining Armor enter to join in the food fight.
Twilight's mane frizzled out as her right eye twitched. “Wh-wh-wh-wh-what?”
Twilight couldn't process what was happening, Rarity first looked anger but now laughing as she threw food back at other ponies, even her dress was covered in food, the white mare seem to hardly care now, Applejack tossing back cake from behind a table with Greystorm, Blueblood dodging food, throwing it back at them.
Pom-Pom did a backflip spin landing beside Twilight. “Can't believe what happening? Nor can I! I am having the time of my life at this Gala! Come on Twilight join the fun!” She slapped Twilight in the face with a pie before running off back into the Fora.
Twilight shook her head and narrowed her gaze on Pom-Pom. “Oh it on!” She using her magic to teleport in and chase after Pom-Pom.
At Donut Joe's at a large table Spitfire, Gilda, Gale, Sunbeam, Rainbow Dash and Spike at laughing before going back to eating donuts, or drinking hot chocolate. “Now that something I wish I saw! Dust Devil going boom like that?” Rainbow Dash spread her wings out with one foreleg.
“Hehe it was quite the event.” Spitfire chuckled drinking a little.
“Event, there was dust everywhere!” Gilda laughed.
Gale spread his forelegs out. “Whoosh and I blinked, confused than saw everyone dusty orange!”
Gallus listen to them talking as he sat with Alpha at the counter away from them. “Ever since we arrived here you been sitting up here dunking donuts deep into that drink, what is bothering you cub?” Alpha asked.
Gallus took a bite out of the donut, he chewed and swallowed before answering. “Nothing.”
“Gallus, I know as much as Lord Gale, we were on that dream adventure to Berk, even I got one eye I can easily see your bothered or troubled.” Alpha said quietly to the teen.
Gallus stared at the reflection of his face in the mug while holding it with both talons. “I don't know who I am anymore.” He continue to stare at the reflection. “I would of never admitted to being claustrophobic to anygri-anyone, yet here I admitting it.”
Alpha put his paw hand on Gallus' back. “Before Lord Gale came to China, I served with complete devotion to Shen for over 30 years, yes it a world of fiction but to me it was my life, my world, the actions I took I never questioned.” Alpha remove the paw hand taking his cup drinking a bit of the hot chocolate. “Yet now I question myself, asking at times who I am and now I am real in every sense.”
Gallus drunk a bit of his drink. “How are you going to handle that?”
“As I always done since I devoted my life to serve Lord Gale, face it straight on.” Alpha put the whole donut in his muzzle and chewed on it.
“Huh? I never really thought about doing that.”
Alpha swallowed the donut. “Some can, others can't, each have their own methods on handling changes Gallus, it never simple.” Alpha said turning to Donut Joe. “Get me and the cub another stack of donuts.”
Donut Joe looked at both of them. “Don't ya think ya had enough?”
Alpha gave him a glare. “I said get me and the cub another stack of donuts Donut Joe and extra sprinkles!”
Donut Joe gave both of them a concerned look before he saw who was entering the Café. “Twilight Sparkle! Ha ha, long time no see!”
Everyone turned to see Twilight in front of a large group of ponies, griffons and Kitsune. “Whoa, what the heck happened all of you!?” Spike instantly asked.
“Yeah, it look like you all got hit by food tornado or something!” Rainbow Dash point a hoof at them.
Spitfire saw Soarin among them. “I got to hear this Clipper, care to share?”
Gilda has a sly smile as she could see the mess even all the princesses were in. “Yeah spill!”
After sharing what happened at the Gala to Gilda's side of it as well, part from the claustrophobic fears Gallus has, she decided to let him be the one to reveal it not them with respect, another to Gilda's list of things she would of never done before she became Gale's teacher.
“No way! Princesses got involved in the food fight!?” Rainbow Dash was shocked to hear this. “I REALLY wish I saw that!”
Pom-Pom laughed. “Lucky for you I got photos.” Photos appear beside her and gave them to Rainbow Dash, she went through them laughing at the sight she saw. “Don't give me that look, I never give them out to the presses without the permission.” Pom-Pom notice the quick glances between all the princesses.
“Well it going to get out by word, if we willing to give the photos and add our views, I say go ahead.” Princess Celestia said keeping a warm smile. “I needed to have some fun, specially this.” Celestia picked up a photo showing she splat pie in Luna's face. “This I am keeping.”
Luna saw it. “Oh I keep this one.” Luna showed holding it with her magic doing the same back at Celestia. “Only fair sister.”
“Indeed.” Celestia chuckled lightly getting a laugh from Luna back. “After all what we been through, this was well needed. And if the ponies saying I am being unprincess like or not being a respective ruler, I will basically tell them live in my shoes for the last month I been through.” Celestia stated with a frown. “Also to speak to those ponies that crowded around my son and Gallus, Gale still getting use to large numbers...”
Luna spoke to Celestia. “I know how stressful it is and those ponies will be talked to.”
Pinkie nodded. “I agree! You needed some less stress! How about a holiday?”
“That is a great/bad idea.” Shining disagreed and Cadance agreed, both looked at each other.
“Shiny, please do not be a captain for a second, Aunty Celestia does need time to get away from the crown, be a mother.”
Shining didn't like the idea. “I am-”
Luna interrupt Shining. “If you think it a bad idea captain, why not go with my sister and keep her safe, she can take Gale and Nightingale with her to enjoy a family outing for once as mother and siblings, I and Cadance can run things for a week.” Luna calmly said liking that idea.
Celestia looked around seeing all of them seem to be in agreement. “From the look on all of your faces, I don't have a say do I?”
Twilight spoke up. “Well you do, but Princess I hate to say it, you have been through a lot and need some free time with Gale and Nightingale at least.”
“Coming from my former student, how can I not say no to that?” Celestia smiled warmly to her. “I have to say this had been a very fun and eventful night.”
“Indeed darling.” Rarity agreed.
Blueblood using a napkin to finally wipe his face clean. “I have to agree Aunty Celestia, even I seen the reports that been shared to me, even I would have never done something like this a few months ago, one thing I have to agree Step Cousin Gale has really changed our lives in way we never would of thought.”
Gale tilt his head. “How?”
“Son, you will be amazed how something that enter one's life can change so much for that one and those around her.” Celestia lean down to Gale giving him a warm hug with her forelegs. “Thank you for coming into my life.” She closed hers letting happy tears fall continue to hug him.
Gale hugged her back. “I happy mum, that you mum!”
“I know.”
“Awwwww!” Most said.
Gallus pulled out the golden ticket from his bag. “Urg! I can't believe I am going to do this!”
“Do what?” Spike asked.
Gallus spoke up. “Hey Princess Celestia!”
Celestia pull away from Gale. “Yes Gallus?”
“You, Gale, Nightingale, Gilda, Spike, Uncle Greystorm and you to Gabby.” They all turn to the blue griffon at the counter. “I won this stupid ticket that magical coded to me for Manehatten Comic Con next weekend to take seven others, touch it and you all get in too.”
“Are you sure Gallus?” Nightingale asked.
“YES! Do it before I change my mind! Geez! When a griffon doing something this stupid, don't waste this opportunity!” Gallus growled. “And also since Gale see me as some honourable brother thing, that kind of make you all that in some weird way doesn't it?”
Spike rubbed the back of his head with a claw. “He got a point, way Gale sees each and one of us is like a family member, right?”
“Indeed, also Gallus get to spend some quality time with his biological uncle, right Greystorm?”
“Yes Princess Celestia, you are, also we could spend the week there before the weekend, enjoy a well rested and fun time at Manehatten, there is a lot to do there.” Greystorm agreed and added.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Then take the darn ticket and pass it around already!”
“Yeah like the orange pony said! Take it already!” Gallus wave it to them, in turn each took hold of it and the others watched as it shimmered for moment.
Gale and Spike clapped claw and talon with big smiles giving Gallus a hug, he tried to break free from it shouting at them about it being embarrassing.
Rainbow Dash looked over to Gilda. “Can't believe you are going to a convention, I really tried to get tickets for that.”
“You wanted to go?” Gilda raised a eye brow.
“Yeah I did, just couldn't get the bits in time for a ticket there, they not cheap.” Rainbow Dash sighed.
Gilda put her foreleg around Rainbow Dash. “Dash, I'll make sure to get you something awesome there.”
“Thanks G.”
“What are friends for Dash?”
“You've definitely changed G.”
“Blame the cub.” They laughed.
Spitfire chuckled. “Soarin, don't we have a show on the Saturday of the Comic Con?”
“Yeah we do.” Soarin recalled. “Rapidfire won't be attending though, you know how much he really hates comic cons.”
“I know, don't sweat it.” Spitfire said with a smirk. “Well, it was fun, but I and Soarin got to go, we have responsibilities, being part of the mess made we got to clean it up.” Spitfire got up from the table. “See ya around Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dash clap her hoof against Spitfire's. “Same here Spitfire!”
Soarin followed Spitfire out with them and the others saying their 'byes' to each other.
Rainbow Dash noticed someone was missing among them all. “Hey have anypony seen Fluttershy other than at the beginning of the Gala?”
Blueblood answered that after all of them shook their heads in response. “I do believe I saw a pale yellow Pegasus with a green dress going deep into the garden following a bird.”
“That sound like Fluttershy, she did want to see the animals and become friends with them.” Twilight stated.
Celestia got up from the table. “It be interesting if she did, they are wary of new ponies and other creatures, even the kindest of ones.”
“Really?” Pinkie asked, Celestia nod. “Wow, animals that could be scared of her? Who would of thought?”
Alpha took notice of all the griffons in the room, one that he recalled was also around last night was Sunflower. “Lady Celestia.”
“Yes Alpha?”
“By any chance did any Finch Griffon get a invite to the Gala?”
“Maple did if I am correct, why?”
Alpha got up from the counter. “Can they be given to others?”
“Yes of course, w-” Celestia realised where he was going with it, Luna and Pom-Pom gave that same look. “Well I believe I know what happened to Fluttershy.”
“You do?” Fluttershy's friends said at once.
The group of ponies, griffons, dragon and kitsune walk through the Canterlot Castle garden to come across Fluttershy sitting against Sunflower, the large griffon lay next to the tree. “Sunflower!?” Most of themselves was surprised to see her.
Sunflower holding her device press a paw finger on it, she put it down. “Hi all!” She waved her forepaw at them. “Gala already over?”
“Indeed Sunflower, not that you seem to try and interact with anyone being out here.” Celestia stated.
Sunflower shrugged. “It within the Gala grounds is it not?” Celestia smiled with a nod in response.
Fluttershy got up. “Hello everyone.” She waved her hoof.
“Fluttershy darling, did you get to become friends with the animals?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, they were too scared of me.” She said softly with a smile. “But Sunflower helped me to understand that not all animals are the same, so we sat and watched some nature shows on her tablet, it was interesting seeing how Finch Griffons observe animals all over the lands.”
Sunflower looked up. “Yet the animals like me.” They saw a set of birds sitting on her head. “Seriously dudes?” She groaned.
Rainbow Dash was confused. “Why do they like Sunflower and not Fluttershy?”
“We only can guess it to do with Sunflower's ability to make herself light and feel absent” Fluttershy suggested.
Luna walked up to Sunflower and the birds reacted by flying away in fear. “Yet they react in fear to me.”
Celestia put her wing over Luna. “It just how they are, maybe cause they can't sense Sunflower's presence is why they like her.” She raise her talon up, the birds land on her claw, she nuzzled them as they did back before she gave a flick of the foreleg, they flew soon as she did it. “A few good ponies I know rescued them from all over the lands in Equestria and a bit beyond.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “So you basically got a stupid petting z-” She saw a roo standing only a few feet away from her. “What are ya staring at dweeb?” She wave a talon at it. “Buzz off.” It hopped away. “So Sunny, got your job done?”
Sunflower did a few stretches. “Yep, everything sorted. So with the Gala over and pretty beat, I'm going to be off to set up camp and than head home in the morning.” Sunflower picked up her bag from behind some bushes.
Celestia raise a talon. “With it being late, I believe we can set up all the guest rooms for all of you.”
Rarity's eyes lit up. “Really!?”
“Really.” She turn to Sunbeam. “Can you get the word out to set up the guest rooms for everyone here?”
Sunbeam saluted. “Yes Princess.” She leaves.
“You can come back to my place Twily, Spike.” Shining offered.
“I like that.” Twilight smiled.
Spike nod with a yawn. “Yeah that sound good.”
Sunflower coughed, they all looked at her. “And how exactly do you get a bed big enough for me!?” She gestured to her size.
Celestia gave a devilish smile from her beak, Gale gasped. “Room ready!?”
“Room ready.” Celestia confirmed.
Gale squawked happily flying over to Sunflower grabbing her paw finger with both talons. “Come come! I show!”
Sunflower looked very confused. “Yeah... okay...”
Nightingale put her wing over Gallus. “Glad you went to the Gala?”
“I say 50/50, rather not go EVER again.” Gallus push the wing off walking away.
Nightingale shrugged. “Oh well, guess the Gala not for everyone.” She watched everyone walk back to the castle, Twilight, Spike, Shining Armor and Cadance going their own way after saying goodnight to Twilight's friends.
Celestia step up beside her. “Indeed it isn't. But I say tonight been the best night ever for the Grand Galloping Gala, agreed?”
“Agreed, and mum.”
“Yes?”
“Have a bath.” She flew off laughing, Luna quickly teleporting away knowing what was about to happen.
Celestia blinked. “What?” She than looked over at herself still covered it food from the food fight. “NIGHTINGALE!” Celestia bellowed flying after her daughter.
Tick tick tick...
Held in a semi-shaking talon a pocket watch minute hand moves. “If it wasn't for this, I wouldn't even know what time of day it is, as if it matters.” The defeated tone of voice from a male griffon spoke sitting at a desk surrounded by file cabinets, radio phone and computer on the desk, a ash tray with a burned out cigar.
The griffon wore a navy blue blazer with many pins attached to it, the hat on top of the greyish white feathered head with a symbol of the navy core symbol on it, his golden yellow tired eyes shift to the picture on the wall of himself and the crew of the submarine GNSC GROVER, he with spotting blackish grey marks on the round ears, legs and cynical tail.
The once proud general of the Nuclear Submarine Sixth Fleet nothing more than a skinny weak shadow, he pulled out another cigar from a case by the radio phone and a lighter from it, flicking it to light it up.
Suddenly the intruder alarms go off with the red lights flashing. “More intruders!?” He put out the lighter, he slam the cigar and lighter on the desk. The general open the draw to pull out a revolver, shakingly lift it to drop it on the desk. “Damn it to tartarus...”
“Father you do not have the strength, allow me to intercept them.” The beak open up to show a speaker inside, soon as the words left the beak closed up.
The general turn to the source of the voice standing in a corner a gold coated griffon with clogs shifting around on parts in view, metal paws, wings, talons, beak, feathers and tail, the metal closed irises swirl around to open, the solid yellow eyes gaze fell upon the griffon. “Very well son... Do what is right...” He almost fell to be caught by the gold metal talon.
“Father save your strength.”
“Son, we been without food for three days, there only so much a griffon body can take...” He wheezed as the mechanical griffon put him back onto his seat. “Son... Grant, you only been this thing since that rabbit appeared in the sub a day ago, you have no idea what you can do...”
“Father I am aware what the rabbit did, I still feel through this metal golden skin, feel the cogs click and clack, know who I am and I am the navel officer of this submarine, a officer of Griffonia to serve and protect the griffons of our country.”
The general shakingly put his talon over the gold metal one. “That my boy, even when we all pass, you will always be here beyond us, you are now our legecy.”
“Not if I can help it father, I will do in all the power I been given to save the last of all creatures on Equis, I will General Grav.” The mechanical griffon moved his talon away walking around the desk to turn and face Grav, he give a salute to him.
Grav returns it. “I'll be here waiting, not much else I can do is there?” He chuckled lightly.
“You done more than you know father.” The metal on metal steps echo as the griffon leave the office.
Glacier removed the clips from the rifles and unloaded the last bullet from them, she tossed them to the side. “Now that a lot better.” She turn to Silvite with a claw hand on each of the two griffons, Octicovix turned herself into a bear holding down another with a single paw. “Now I know you set off the alarm and most likely more be on the way sweeties, we going to let you go and we going to have a nice little chit-chat about a certain rabbit that on this tub of yours.”
One of the griffons spoke. “Th-the rabbit? Are you in-”
Silvite sighed making him flench as she let go of both of them, they turned around seeing her cross armed eyes closed shaking the head side to side. “Why is it that we begin with in each and every damn bloody reality we come to?”
“What?” He and the other two griffons looked very confused.
“Here the simple fact, straight to the bloody point, believe it or not, it your choice.” Silvite snorted opening her eyes looking directly at the three. “That rabbit we trying to capture, she in one time wiped out all realities and took every life and magic for her endless greed, because of Gale... And his mother Princess Celestia a griffon protecting her son-”
“Princess Celestia!? A griffon that a-”
Glacier press a few keys and before them a holographic display of the white griffon appear before them, her mane and tail changed before their eyes. She unleashed magic even raising the sun to draw on it magic to engage Shal-Quz. “This happened only a few days ago, this was Princess Celestia a griffon defending her son to the point she let out her inner demons out against Shal-Quz, that form you are seeing is Daybreaker, the Celestia of Nightmare Moon.”
“Holy Tartarus!” They saw the fury and anger in the slitted eyes.
Octicovix turn back to normal. “She escaped after pulling Daybreaker out of Princess Celestia, she crossed into other realities and we followed, this is number 14 I think of different realities we been too.”
“Shal-Quz, the name of the rabbit.” They all turn to the source of the voice, the heavy metal impact steps getting louder by the second. “It seem we have a common enemy, I gather that Princess Celestia isn't truly a griffon, but stuck as one because of Daybreaker is outside her?”
Glacier deactivate the holographic display raising her sub-sonic device at the junction ready to press the button. “Yes, in a weird sense she a bit of both, griffon and alicorn, long story short a wish 800 years ago turn her into a griffon for the love of her life, King Grover the first king of Griffina.”
Silvite glance at Glacier. “I gather telling whoever coming to us is worth spilling that detail?”
“It is if we want their trust.” Glacier said with worry. “Because I don't think we would stand a chance of what is coming around that corner.”
“You would be correct, all remaining 21 griffon souls haven't eaten in three days, yet since I was changed a day ago by the one you call Shal-Quz, I do not need to eat and I have no idea what my body is capable of.”
“Oh I got a feeling what it is sweetie.” The gold metal griffon emerges from the corner. “Because you are a Clockwork Griffon, immune to sonic, and sub-sonic technology. Only gravity, time and a very powerful flame from a silver dragon can stop you, that option would end all of us being in a submarine that protecting us all from the crushing depths of the ocean and the radiation outside.” Glacier lower the device staring at the yellow solid eyes locked on her own.
Silvite and Octicovix didn't say a word, they didn't need to since Glacier seem to reach a level of understanding.
“So sweetie, shall we have a chat with the dear captain and find a way that we all live beyond this dead planet? Or shall we dance and die together?” Glacier hinting to Silvite ready to engage, the griffon sailors still sitting on the metal floor look to the intruders to the metal griffon, a silent stand off seem to be in effect for what seem forever for all of them.
They couldn't see it but Silvite had a strong sense he was smirking at them without the need to.
Grant the clockwork griffon lead Glacier, Silvite and Octicovix down the corridor towards General Grav's office, the silver dragon noticed as they walked a few griffon sailors resting against pipes, some on their beds through open doors breathing with difficulty. Her sapphire blue eyes showed concern for these griffons, the fact Shal-Quz could of easily conquered them was puzzling when it came to turning one of them into a mechanical griffon.
She lean over to Glacier. “Something about her being captured doesn't add up, or the fact that she would waste her reality bending magic on a griffon.” The silver dragon brought forward her concern in a whisper.
Glacier had a bad feeling as well. “She screwing up this big? I think we walking into a trap.”
“And we going to spring it?”
“Oh if it is a trap, definitely.” Glacier smirked, she speaks up to the clockwork griffon. “Sooo... What exactly happened when Shal-Quz arrived?”
Grant metal wings open and close a little. “The black rabbit appeared before me and a few others, in a instant those able raise their weapons and open fired on her in a instant, a shield was created catching all the bullets, than with the wave of the brush held me in the air.”
“She cast magic from it changing me from inside and out into this 'clockwork griffon' as you call me, I broke free as she was aiming to attack another of my fellow brothers and sisters, I strike her down and removed the brush, the brush was placed in the officer while she was held in the brig since yesterday.”
Octicovix responded to what he just said. “Has she tried anything else since?”
“No, only complaining about being hunger, we... every griffon part from me are hunger, we-they haven't eaten in three days since the remaining food became uneatable, rotten to the smell and touch.” Grant answered her question. “Now I have a question for you griffon.”
Glacier brought the question forwards before he could. “Your going to ask about how I knew what you are, correct?”
He gave a nod.
“Long story short, in another lifetime I had a clockwork griffon as a pet for over sixty years till his parts finally gave out, I and my husband found out about clockwork robots being used for deadly means, we put a stop to it and one of those clockworks was a defence bot shaped as a griffon, badly damaged I refused to let it die.”
“So I fixed it up and put it back together and fell in love with him, gave him the name of Tick-Tock for the cogs clicking and tocking like yours do.” Glacier told him how she knew about them.
“Another life time? Clockwork griffon only a robot? I don't understand, how does that make any sense? Your a griffon.”
“Indeed born and grown up in a family.” As she spoke and continue to respond, Glacier seem to shift from walking on fours to standing on two at times to type away on the wristpad.
“That make no sense, you said the griffon Tick-Tock was your pet for sixty years.”
“Yes.” She said in a slightly long mischievous tone.
“How is that possible? Are you saying your something else before being a griffon?”
“Spoilers sweety.” She winked.
“I am confused...”
“I know.”
He saw no surprise from the dragon or changeling, they seem to know and look like none were going to say a word on what Glacier just said, Grant decided to put it to the side for the moment and stop at the open door. “General, I brought our visitors to you. I have also informed them of our food shortage and what happened to me on Shal-Quz arrival to the sub.”
Grav spoke up. “Let them in Lt. Grant.” The metal griffon raise his wing to the door, they walk in and he stood just behind them at the hatch, they saw the griffon looking scared, sweat pouring down his feathers. “I-I'm sorry... She-”
“Shh it okay, you done well.” Emerging from behind him standing up Shal-Quz smile at the four of them, they quickly shifted into a stance, the rabbit put her brush close to the general, he gulped seeing it magic shimmer close to him. “Uh uh uh.” She wave a finger back and forwards. “Unless you like to see the son to see his father be warped by reality.”
“How did you escape!?”
“Oh my little clockwork, I simply store a little of my reality magic in my own hand, one touch the door opened and with all the crew so weak and helpless. It was a simple easy task to wait for them to arrive, and right on time I might add.” She slyly looked over to them all. “Now drop the rifle and the sub-sonic on the ground.”
Glacier pulled it out dropping the device on the floor, Silvite removed her rifle putting it down on the ground too. “I should of knew you would stoop this low!”
“Oh really? You also thought I did a half job on the giffon over there?” She grinned. “Codeword; Delta Sigma 2 2 5 Beta.”
“Arggggh! My head! Wh-wha-” He clench the head screaming in pain.
Shal-Quz watched as the others tried to aid him. “Please the implant I put in him is activating, simply put it the Grant side of him being put in storage and my servant has taken over.” She snap her finger and thumb.
He pushed them all off him, the talon shift into a cannon that fires a pulse of wave magical energy knocking them all into the wall hard, they fall forwards out cold from the pulse wave. “Targets neutralized mistress.”
“Hmmm so formal, nice to see.” She turn to the general. “Grav now sit here and be a nice weak griffon, you all get to live for whatever time left you got, as for me I got some magical nuclear particles to absorb, it time I breach our corner of the multiverse barrier into another, one I been sensing for quite some time.” She casually walked around the table turning to the clockwork griffon. “
“What do you wish for me to do?”
“Stay here keep a eye on these three and the old wind bag of a griffon, make sure he don't play hero.”
“Confirmed.” He raise the cannon up staring at Grav.
“Son it me your father, I-”
“I need you to snap out of it, blah blah blah. It won't work, the program that here.” Shal-Quz put her paw hand against the head. “Is in complete control, your son has been disconnected, think of it as a storage drive and that part being your son is taken out, unless I tell my little clockwork to reconnect, your son is out of commission.” She said coldly to him. “Now I got to run, see ya.” She waved and walked out the hatch closing the door behind her.
Grav slopped back in his seat. “Son...” He could not see any sign of his son in those metal solid yellow eyes now, the blank robotic speech and voice no where show the emotion from his son before what Shal-Quz did to him.
He watched the clockwork griffon move the three against the metal wall, he turn to Grav. “Away from the desk, do not reach for the weapon, radio phone or the computer. And sit beside these three, or I shot you.” The clockwork griffon raise his foreleg pulse wave cannon.
Grav raise his forelegs up. “I have very little strength, it seem you don't have my son's memories.”
The clockwork griffon walked up to the side, the cannon shift back into a talon and grab Grav by the foreleg, he pulled off the chair and shoved down to the others. “Stay.”
Grav sat up leaning against the wall. “As if I got a choice...”
Sometime later the lights flicking cause Glacier to come to with a groan, she slowly sat up holding her head with a talon. “That was rough...” Glacier could hear the tick, tock and clicking sounds, she noticed Silvite with her muzzle bound by a chunk of metal, and another around the mid section holding the arms down and the wings closed.
Octicovix helped her sit up. “Easy there, that pulse wave really knocked us about.” She said to Glacier. “Silvite really fuming.” She glanced over to the silver dragon snort out some smoke as she glared at the clockwork griffon, he just standing by the closed hatch motionlessly staring at all of them.
“Clockwork griffon...” Glacier said directly to him as she sat against the metal wall from support of the changeling. “How did Shal-Quz figure out what a clockwork android was?”
He turned the head to Glacier, the beak open as he respond to her question. “Your book.”
Glacier clenched her right talon into a fist. “She read my diary!?”
“Correct, she did so while you slept, it was simple for Shal-Quz to do. It is how she knew how to get the 'drop' on Celestia, Pom-Pom, Arbiter and Gilda, failure came because of her creator tipped the Pure One.” He answered.
“Well that was direct.” Glacier was surprised to get a answer from him. “Still rather insulted that she used my blue book to figure out how to get the perfect drop.” Glacier growled. “Now tell me this, what is Shal-Quz up to?”
Grav looked at her. “You really think that rabbit would-”
“Shal-Quz is taking all the nuclear fusion and radiation to convert into reality magic, the result would burn out of paintbrush. But she will leave this contained part of the multiverse to another.”
“I stand corrected...”
Glacier showed a smile on her beak. “Shal-Quz put that information in him to tell us, to gloat to say I won and you lost.” Glacier reach into her pocket to pull out a black griffon feather. “Now I know how to stop her and save everyone's lives in the process.” She slowly got up onto her paws.
The clockwork griffon raise the foreleg up, it talon turn into the magic pulse wave cannon aiming at her. “Sit!” He commanded.
Glacier smirked. “You managed to take my Sub-Sonic, but you didn't take this.” She showed the wristpad device, she press a claw tip on it and a steam pipe above him burst.
“Visual sensors comprised!”
“Bet it is you tin can!” Glacier jumped on him, he react trying to throw her off and does so by rotating the other foreleg around to grab her by the talon, Glacier is pinned against the wall with the cannon right to her face.
“Your life will now be expired.”
Silvite growled trying to break free from her bindings, Octicovix tried to stop him to get hit by a wing knocking her over the desk, Grav unable to do anything to help with hardly any energy left in his system. “Can you fire that before the pure magic get into your joints?”
The clockwork griffon shutter eyes close and open. “Wh-Wh-wh-w-w-w-” he felt the cogs tearing up the black feather Glacier managed to push into him. “Unable to process... Un-” He let go of her and the pure magic energy race around the cogs, the beak, eyes, wings and through out the body. “Ahhhhhhhh!”
A huge burst of white blue energy erupt spending through and out of the sub in all directions.
In the Nuclear Reactor Shal-Quz continue to absorb the particles and energy around her, and funnelling it into a rift she was creating from all that magical energy. “A little more and I got enough to punch through to that reality I sensed with the ability to travel to other realities.” Shal-Quz said to herself seeing the plan was working.
The wave of pure magic washed through her. “Pure magic, right on time.” Shal-Quz raise her free paw hand up to a bunch of crystals on the floor, walls and ceiling before the walkway and stairs leading to the metal hatch leading into the reactor room. “Now the show begins.”
The hatch wheel turns and the door opens, stepping through Glacier, Octicovix, Grav and many of his sailors all armed with rifles. “Take her out!” Grav point a shaking claw at Shal-Quz.
They open fire for the bullets to smash into a invisible wall, they squished into it and falling to the ground, the clips emptied and no bullet got through. “Three hours was all I needed for a little boost in my magic, you won't be getting through my barrier before I escape to another multiverse.” Shal-Quz grinned. “Your silver dragon is all tied up, the clockwork now out of commission, you lost.”
Grav growled and roared angerily at her, he glide down the stairs to slam his closed talon against the barrier over and over again. “You cold hearted rodent! When I get through this barrier I will make you pay!” He followed by a war cry squawk.
Glacier used raise her sub-sonic aiming it at the crystals to see the barrier light up. “I can't shatter the crystals.”
Shal-Quz holding the brush continue to aim it at the rift forming. “Oh I know, I took everything into account, that book of yours was a magnet for out of reality it was, my brush could detect it and while I wait for that brat to come, I discovered a lot from it. How you could restart a whole universe with a exploding TARDIS and a Pardorica, how a future version of that brat was able to reset my universe with a simple visit and stopping my victory.”
“And your creator Grogar now want you gone, telling us through his creations that use to work for you, tell us what you did or will do if left unchecked?” Octicovix said looking down from the walkway at the black rabbit.
Shal-Quz looked up at the changeling. “Like how you allowed your mum to lobotomise you from knowing the location of your home because of true love to a griffon?”
Octicovix hissed loudly and fired a bolt of magic at the barrier. “You monster!”
Shal-Quz laughed seeing how she was getting under their skins. “Hehehe, I see I struck a nerve on all of you, only in mere moments I will leave you all to your doom, with only emergency power now in-affect you have days.” She turn to Glacier. “How does it feel River Song? Your second life coming to a end? Isn't it so tragic?”
Glacier anger faded and soon turn to a smile on her beak, she grabbed the railing. “It feels good.” The others also were bracing themselves, but Shal-Quz didn't notice what they were going when her attention was drawn completely on Glacier. “I have to say, it feels good that you beaten me.”
Shal-Quz narrow her gaze on the griffon. “Your lying.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Spoilers.”
Shal-Quz looked very puzzled by this reaction, she step back to the rift. “Well I wish to chit-chat, but I got to go.”
Glacier lean forwards on the railing tapping the claw tip on the railing. “Answer this one question.”
“Nah.”
“Humour me.”
“Okay I will, ask the question, make it your last words.”
Glacier smirked. “What happen when you have a very pissed off Silvite and Grant?”
Shal-Quz eyes widen. “Oh no.”
Above to the left in a corridor Grant the clockwork griffon tap the spot with a gold claw, his beak shift into a smile, the movement of the beak fluid and the gold pupils pulse shine. “Now.”
Silvite gave a dark smile. “With pleasure.” She unleashed her white flame in a stream of fire burning instantly through the floor travelling through pipes, circuits, inner hall panels right towards the Nuclear Reactor room.
Shal-Quz quickly turn around making a run for the rift, a huge burst of white flames shot through the ceiling right in front of her, it burns through the relays causing a massive explosion as the fire continue through to the outer hull blasting through into the water.
The blast throws her backwards right into the reactor, a mighty snap followed. Shal-Quz land on her front groaning in pain as the submarine rock with more explosions echoed through the submarine, water exploding out of the hole. “Are you insane!? Yo-” She raise the brush to find holding over half of it. “No no no no no!” Shal-Quz find the other piece as water floods in knocking her back, she grab the other piece swimming in the rapid raising water.
Glacier looked her in the eyes. “Completely.” Shal-Quz didn't get to say anything as a rift open up behind her dragging her and some water through it, the rift close up instantly.
Grav held on tight seeing the reactor room behind the barrier filled up with water already. “What happened to her!?” He cried out as they feel the sub start to roll and sink, the left wall soon becoming the floor as the direction of gravity shift with the roll.
“Destroying the brush set her back to the default point! She back in our home reality!” Glacier said loudly to him. “Everyone hang on tight! We and the sub about to shift to a reality outside our multiverse!”
“The one Shal-Quz wanted to go to!?” Octicovix shouted out as she held on tight as the roll continue, now the ceiling below them, sparks fly and lights go out, emergency lighting coming on as water burst through more parts of the inner hull.
“Yes! The rift is running wild! It taking all the energy in this submarine now!” Glacier explained.
The submarine continue to rapidly sink and spin out of control deeper and deeper into the depths of the ocean, a large rift forms around it and vanishes in a instant.
Shal-Quz falls out of a rift landing in a pile of trash with the two pieces of her brush, getting out of the pile she stared at the remains, the brush pieces turn to dust in her paws. Clenching her paws into fists Shal-Quz dropped to her knees deflated and defeated. “My brush... My magic... I lost everything...”
A flyer hits her in the face, she pull it off to throw it. But Shal-Quz saw what was on it. “Manehatten Comic-Con...” Shal-Quz stared at the words and the pictures on it. “Hmm...” She turn the flyer into a hawk. “At least I got some reality magic left.” She smirked stroking the head of the hawk. “I want you to fly to the skies, check out this Manehatten Bay Convention Centre. Find out what going on there and if that brat is here.”
The hawk squawked and flew away.
“If by anychance he is here, than I am going to use what left of my magic to make him very sorry.” Shal-Quz grinned darkly standing up on her paw feet and walked down a alleyway.
Inside they felt gravity was the right way up to a massive thud with all the water rushing out of the hole, the griffons and changeling groan as they slowly get up seeing light through the hole, Glacier got up seeing Silvite and Grant come down through the hole above landing in the surface water in front of them, standing on the other side of the barrier.
Silvite walked up to a crystal, she lean down and take a bite out of it, the barrier collapses right away. “Hmm, not bad.” She picked up chunks of it and took a another bite out of it.
Grav stood straight as he could on all fours before his son, he raise the right foreleg to salute Grant. “Well done son.” Grant noticed the others doing it too with smiles on their beaks.
“Thank you father.” He smiled. “I really like this upgrade I got, how did you do it?” Grant asked Glacier as he shift the gold metal tongue against the rough of the beak and the teeth, he still feeling the cogs clicking, tocking and ticking. But felt alive.
She pat him on the shoulder a few times. “Spoilers.” Glacier walked by him to the open hole with sunlight and fresh air coming through it, taking a deep breath she turn her head slightly to them all. “Now let's see where Shal-Quz was trying to escape to shall we?”
Octicovix noticed something casting a shadow, her eyes narrowed to see a griffon walking in, water pushing back, it was wearing a cloak. “Glacier, something coming!”
They all turn to it, guns raised, sub-sonic active, the griffon stood before them and push back the hood, all the griffons and Octicovix collectively gasped, Silvite frowned wondering why they all looked so shocked to see this griffon standing before them.
“About time you've showed up, tell me. How is my daughter?”
Fort Grimfeather was a box-shaped structure that lay nestled within an endless sea of trees with mountains to the distant north and the South Luna Ocean in the other direction. It was about a mile from one wall to another, and dirt paths from the east and west connected to two large wooden doors on opposite sides. Towers at each corner were manned by griffon guards that protected the small township within. Typical of such fortified towns, it contained a market square, shops, offices and so forth.
Not so typical was an open area in the middle of the town that was five hundred feet long by fifty feet wide filled with troughs. Each large trough sat thirty feet apart from each other for a total of 420 feet. A group of griffons and ponies stood on a platform with a cloaked griffon standing in front of them all. A talon pulled out a pocket watch from under the cloak to look at the minute hand.
“My lord... Wasn't it supposed to be here a few hours ago?” asked a pony wearing a forest-green ranger uniform.
“Patience, Trail Blazer. The day is certain, the hour less so.”
A female griffon tapped a talon against the wood impatiently. “Lord Grover, while we are waiting, can you go over what we need to do again? We don't want to make any mistakes here since time is of the essence, is it not?”
“You’re correct, Gillian.” Grover turned around to face all of them. “When the submarine appears, we will have a very limited time to act. Team Leela – you will create the runes around the submarine the moment that it is practical to do so. Team Keeper – you will activate the runes around the fort. That will delay those who will be coming to check out the disturbance by blocking the daggerscale portal they will inevitably use.”
“Got it!” the team leaders said together.
“Team Grover will enter the submarine and find those alive within and get them out of the submarine before we run out of time. I cannot emphasize enough how time-critical this is. The runaway effect of reality magic within it will cause unimaginable damage.”
A unicorn mare spoke up. “We have seen the simulations, sir. From what Keeper Sentinel and Leela showed us, the arrival of the sub and the runes will be like a massive beacon in the dark.”
“I will face any punishment that is deemed since this was a mission I was given by Keeper two years ago, I w—”
He was interrupted by several of those gathered there who all tried to talk at once. “We followed you Lord Grover when we had only day to day lives.” “Only knowing being a con artist and losing it all.” “Never really noticed by anyone.”
Grover looked around at them all, each of them proud and determined.
Gillian smiled. “You gave us all a purpose in life, something to work together to be a force for good that will save so many lives, even if we are not noticed for doing right for the wrong reasons.” She raised her talon up to Grover. “We face this together, Lord Grover.”
He put his talon against hers. “Together.” They cheered, and then the happiness faded in an instant as they felt it. The all turned to face it together.
The air started to feel charged up, the colour around began to shift into a blue tone of light even though the sun was high in the sky. Before them, an object started to form, covering the whole length and width of the troughs.
They all partly shielded their eyes as a submarine, along with a large quantity of water surrounding it, appeared before their eyes. It landed on the troughs with a groan. Water surged into the waiting troughs while the overflow washed past their talons, paws and hooves all over the streets around the heavily damaged vessel. A wave of magical trans-dimensional energy raced outwards in all directions as the normal colours returned.
The cloaked griffon trotted up to the hole in the hull as the water mostly flowed out of it. “Griffons on detail to aid those within standby. Everyone else – you know what to do. Get to work! We’ve got two minutes and fifty-two seconds.”
“Yes sir/my lord/right on it!” they all said at once as he climbed through the hole. Most raced off in different directions preparing everything as planned.
Prince Mark Wells accepted that paperwork was an inevitable part of the job, but sometimes it was more tiresome than others. His wish for a break in the tedium was about to be fulfilled.
Twilight Sparkle teleported into his office without warning, nearly causing the documents that he had been holding in his magic to get ripped to shreds in shock. “Whoa, Sparkles! Aren’t you supposed to be holding Day Court right now?”
“I’ve cancelled it,” replied the purple alicorn. “I just got a ping from the E.W.T.A.D.”
The Early Warning Thaumic Anomaly Detector had been set up by Twilight at the behest of Mark due to all the magical threats that Equestria had endured. Never one to be satisfied with the status quo, he wanted to have time for the empire to mount a defense that wasn’t a last ditch effort as so many had been previously.
“What level?” Mark asked.
“Level One!” Twilight replied earnestly.
The prince gasped. That was a world-threatening event! “What are we standing around here for?” he asked rhetorically as he raced out of the office with his co-ruler on his heels.
Queen Chrysalis was already getting up from her desk when her herdmate emerged. “What is the situation?” she asked, having noted the emotions coming from both the alicorns.
“I’m calling a FRAG alert. You know what to do,” Mark replied as Penumbra, his batpony bodyguard herdmare, grabbed the saddlebags she always kept handy for emergencies.
The changeling queen certainly did because she was integral to the Fast Response Assault Group. Her link to the hive-mind allowed her to send messages to several key members of the group who would in turn alert other non-changeling members. And she could do it at the same time as accompanying the others as they galloped to the portal room.
“Did the EWTAD narrow down the location sufficiently?” Mark asked as the four scattered anypony or other being who happened to be in their path.
“Yes. It was at or near an isolated township called Fort Grimfeather in the Undiscovered West.”
“Doesn’t ring a bell but we should have a daggerscale portal to there. And Chryssy – remind me to do something about getting that area’s name updated. It may be mostly uninhabited but it sure isn’t undiscovered!”
The changeling queen merely rolled her eyes at the non sequitur.
They arrived at the portal room to find the first of the team had already arrived. Most of them were the changeling soldiers, of course, but that was rapidly changing every moment as pegasi, unicorns, griffons, and earth pony Royal Guards joined them. Twilight sought out the daggerscale portal staff suitable for a large number of users and readied it for use.
A flash-bang of teleportation heralded the arrival of another unicorn.
“Starlight! Glad you could make it,” Mark said.
“Thankfully, I wasn’t tied up with Headmare business,” Starlight Glimmer replied. “What’s the situation?”
“Level One magic event. We’re heading there right now. Open the portal, Twilight!”
The alicorn activated the daggerscale and stepped through the hole in space-time. She was immediately followed by Mark Wells, Penumbra, Chrysalis, and Starlight. The rest of the FRAG members came as quickly as they could funnel through the portal.
Mark looked around and saw nothing but trees. “Something is very wrong. This sure isn’t a township.”
Twilight already had her horn lit. “I’m detecting a ward. It has deflected the portal opening roughly half a mile from the target.” She pointed a hoof. “Thataway!”
The alicorn prince frowned. “Someone doesn’t want visitors.” With a magical tweak that had become second nature, the small alicorn stallion transformed into a much larger alicorn mare, a doppelganger of the Solar Princess but for the cutie mark. Now in what she called her Marklestia form, she was a much faster and maneuverable flyer. “All those who can fly, follow me. If you can carry someone, do so. Everyone else, make your best time to join us.” She then leaped into the air and rose above the treetops while lifting Crimson Boulder, her earth pony alternate bodyguard.
Princess Twilight was close behind, and all the changelings, griffons, and pegasi were right on their tails. Starlight Glimmer levitated along with them, easily keeping pace. The fortified town was easy to spot from high up and the group arrowed toward it.
“That anomalous arcane event is growing stronger,” Twilight reported. “However, I don’t sense any overtly hostile magic.”
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Mark reminded her. They had both been duped in the past and they had no intention of repeating their mistakes. She turned to look back at their retinue. “Don’t start anything, but be prepared to defend yourselves. We’re looking for answers rather than a fight.”
Turning back, Mark could now start to see within the fort’s walls. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “What the buck…?”
Glacier kept her Sub-Sonic up at the griffon before them. “Keep your weapons trained on him, this could be a trap or a trick.” The griffons turned their heads toward Grav. He didn't like the idea pointing a weapon at this one of all griffons, but he couldn't take a chance. With a nod to them, they did so. The griffon could see how tense it looked – a silver dragon with white flames seeping out the maw, the changeling horn lit, many griffons with weapons trained on him. “Nightingale... Grovelia... Solarclaw.”
Glacier lowered the Sub-Sonic. “You've got my interest. Continue.”
“Last time I saw her was when she was not even a day old, taken from us by the power of wish magic. For years, I thought she was gone… we thought she was lost forever... I and my wife Celestia. Then, one day when in the vault looking at that gold statue holding the sphere we discovered, I found out my child was alive and trapped within it! Living a lie... A false world.”
“King Grover – so it really is you.” Octicovix canceled out her magic and walked up to the griffon. “But you look—”
He interrupted Octicovix. “Young? Yes, that’s with help from Keeper Sentinel, the master of Grimormia Tower.” He noticed the shocked gasp from Octicovix and Glacier; they knew of the tower's existence! “He didn't like a grumpy old griffon in his halls, so with the power of magic and science, he regenerated my cells and made me young again.”
“He’s good,” Glacier confirmed. He really was Grover for sure. The sailor griffons lowered their weapons. “How are you exactly here?”
Grover’s smile faded. “I wish I could explain but we have talked too long already and we have so little time. How many of your sailors are alive?”
Grav responded. “Twenty-two of us – many still in the hulls unable to move due to lack of food in the last three days, why?”
Grover looked to his pocket watch and closed it up, he turned to the hole and whistled and the griffons rushed inside. “Because we’ve got under two minutes to get all of you out of this submarine.”
Glacier didn't like the tone of voice being used, so she did a scan with the sub-sonic. The readings she got were through the roof. “The reality magic! It’s continuously feeding back on itself! We’ve got a runaway of reality magic building up throughout the submarine!”
“I know. I have a plan. Dragon – you help the griffons to find the crew and get them out fast by any means possible,” Grover commanded.
Silvite gave him a cold stare. “Don't need to command me, cub. I know we’re on the clock, griffons on me!” Silvite jumped through the hole above and the griffons followed her through.
Octicovix helped up the general. “Let's get this lot, Glacier.”
“Right.” Glacier turned to Grant to see him fly up to the hole. “Grant where are you going?”
“Save what is needed. Get my father and the rest out of here,” he said as he entered.
Glacier helped up a griffon with the aid from other griffons. “Let's get them out of here, we’re running out of time!”
The rescue team worked as fast and quick as they could, grabbing the griffon submarine crew throughout the sub corridors. Meanwhile, Grant pulled off the wall the symbol and removed the photo from the office. He did his rounds to pay his respects to the twenty-five crew in the bags that hadn't made it. “Rest in your rightfully earned afterlife in Valhalla, brothers and sisters.” The clockwork griffon closed the hatch. He quickly flew out of the submarine landing at the market square where they had placed the crew.
A griffon shouted out. “That’s all of them! We’re clear!”
“Complete the rune spell!” Grover shouted out, knowing they were only seconds away from critical point of no return.
The ponies wearing ranger green clothing completed the runes on the ground around the submarine. They quickly retreated as the rune magic came to life. They watched it create a solid arcane dome around the submarine.
Glacier’s eyes shifted to the left and right, seeing the submarine glowing and breaking apart piece by piece. Grover looked to his watch, seeing the time tick away, and then back at the remains as they turned to smaller pieces. They broke down to particles of dust and soon were completely gone before their eyes. The runes burned away and the dome collapsed. All that was left was an oval-shaped mark in the ground where the sub and troughs once stood.
In the corner of Grover's left eye, the east gate was open with ponies from the Equestrian Guard staring in shock at what just happened. Even the pegasi of the guard were just hovering there. “Now we face the music...”
Grover turned around to see eclipsing the sun, the form of Celestia.
Glacier’s keen eyes noticed an anomaly. “Am I seeing things? Or does she have a different cutie mark?”
“I see it too, but I think we should be more concerned by the look on her face,” Octicovix whispered.
Silvite punched a fist into her palm with white flames blowing out of her nostrils. “Let's see if she throws the first punch. That’s all I need to act.”
“Don't do anything rash, Silvite,” Glacier said warningly.
Silvite glanced at her. “Don't get your messy feathers in a twist. I'll only act if they act in violence first. That way, I have a right to defend myself and all of you.” Silvite crossed her arms looking right up at the tall alicorn. “Your move,” she whispered.
While Marklestia garnered most of the attention, Twilight Sparkle was right there beside her co-ruler. Both alicorns’ horns were lit and throbbing with barely constrained power. Electric arcs were coming off Mark’s and the clouds above were darkening. Behind them were a changeling queen and a powerful unicorn that were also ready for anything.
The atmosphere was very tense between the griffons and ponies of Fort Grimfeather and the Equestrian Guard plus two alicorns. Whatever happened at this moment could tip either way, sparking a fight or talk. Glacier held her sub-sonic tightly, hoping for parley over the mess they had just stopped from happening moments ago. She knew things would go very bad for them if it came to battle if things truly went south.
Abruptly, the Celestial alicorn transformed into a much smaller green alicorn stallion who nevertheless looked equally pissed off. “Somebody had better have a bucking good explanation for what in Tartarus just happened here!”
As soon as the Celestial form changed to an alicorn stallion demanding what had just happened, Glacier relaxed her hold on the sub-sonic, putting it away. She could see many of the rangers also relaxing their stance, seeing the route taken. Grover, the lord of Fort Grimfeather, stepped forward, looking up at the green alicorn. Trail Blazer and Gillian walked up either side of Grover.
“Simply put, Prince Wells, those of us working together in Fort Grimfeather just saved the world from a runaway reality magical event,” Grover spoke sternly and without fear to the prince.
Gillian spoke next. “We prepared and planned for this to the moment.”
Trail Blazer the head of the Rangers took his turn. “It gave us the time to complete the mission set in motion two years ago by our lord.”
More ponies and griffons gathered around behind them, standing with Grover. “From rescuing those within the submarine that arrived moments ago, to destroying it and the runaway reality magic within. As Gillian said, we planned it, including diverting your daggerscale portals to give us the much-needed time without distraction to stop this world ending event.”
Mark slowly descended to them. “Distractions?! You called us racing here to stop a world-threatening event a distraction!?”
“Yes,” Grover said bluntly to him. “To put it simply, you wouldn't even have known what was happening here. We did. You appearing on top of us and seeing everything happening would have led to you most likely telling us to back away and assess the situation before taking action.”
Trail Blazer took his turn. “Whatever punishments you wish to take on Lord Grover, you will have to place on all of us. We followed him, but we acted together, so we share the blame together to save the lives that never noticed us.”
Twilight and the others landed beside and behind Mark. “What do you mean never noticed you?”
“We are all from different walks of life. Many of us just lived for the day to day moments. Some lost everything and became unnoticed on the streets of the cities. Others had done wrong and, because of their colourful history, no one would take them on, even if they tried to do better,” Gillian stated. “Lord Grover gave us that chance and we built this home together from the ground up. We believed in this griffon.”
Grover looked to his left and right. “A group of nobodies worked together and planned for this moment, became more to the sum of the parts they once were. They live productive eventful lives here and, even after the mission is completed, they have their futures to look forward to.”
Silvite walked up between them all. “Now you say this and that, you should have told us, you should have done this, what ifs and what nots, blah blah blah.” This got all their attention turning to the silver dragon crossed arm.
“The world-ending event has been stopped. We all lived. Wrongs and rights were made here, but at the end we’re safe and how about you get all your bloody sticks out of your bloody butts and get to helping the submarine crew! They currently need help!” She growled and point over to them being tended to by some griffons and ponies.
Mark raised a hoof and opened his muzzle to speak but did not get a word out.
“Sweetie – best to do what Silvite says. She’s far older than all of you put together, and she’s very testy at the moment and has a very valid point.”
Mark turned to the messy-feathered-head griffon that now stood beside the silver dragon. “Right, point taken...” He said in an unsure tone upon hearing this griffon speak. Something about the tone of voice, calling him sweetie and the appearance seem to remind him of someone from somewhere. “Get the team to do a check of the area for any more ruptures or rifts that could possibly form, the rest help tend to those griffons of the submarine crew. Send word back to Canterlot to get a trauma team out here a.s.a.p.”
“I'll get the orders out,” Penumbra responded, taking off.
The ponies and griffons of the township got a nod from Grover. They went off to clean up and to aid the griffon crew. “Now all this tension is out of the way, I’ve got some things to check out myself. Something about this doesn't add up, and I have all the data I acquired from our multiple jumps from reality to reality to go through.” Glacier turned to leave and find a place to do her magic.
Starlight came up to her. “You’re not from your Equis, like the griffon crew. You and the dragon arrived on that submarine didn't you?”
Glacier glanced over to her with a sly smile. “Spoilers.” With that she took off and Silvite put an arm out blocking Starlight from following.
Mark blinked a few times. “No way... She can't be! Seriously she can't!”
Silvite chuckled seeing the reaction from the prince. “Looks like Glacier has got a fan. Colt – just keep out of her way till she’s done. Best not to anger her.” Silvite walked over to Octicovix.
Twilight had her own moment standing before Grover now it sunk in. “You’re King Grover, aren't you? The first king of Griffonstone.”
“That is partly correct.”
“Partly?”
“I am the former king of Griffina from their Equis.” He hinted to Silvite and Octicovix. “I am married to Princess Celestia, have a daughter that I haven't seen since she was less than a day old, taken from us by a zebra into an inverse reality, and spent most of my life running the kingdom and searching for my child. Even though it has been close to eighty years since I have seen my little Nightingale, to her she lived a false world, a fantasy for 799 years. Now I may have a chance to see her... Saving your Equis saved mine, saved my children, my wife, my family.” Grover placed his talon on her side, giving a smile with tears in his eyes.
Twilight didn't say a word as he let go and walked away with Gillian and Trail Blazer, the stallion stopped for a second. “Now you know his truth, his pain.” Trail Blazer continued to walk with Lord Grover.
Mark watched the former king help Grav up, walk him to the hospital with the other twenty griffons that were helped by both the township citizens and FRAG members. “Okay... That was more than I could ever thought I’d see and hear...”
Queen Chrysalis was partly distracted by the sight of the yellow eyed changeling. “He has a lot of pain. You don't even need to sense how he feels to see it. He’s carrying a world of pain on his shoulders.”
Starlight looked around. “We do still need answers for what caused this. That griffon seemed to know what did; the dragon and changeling too. From what I can see, they know each other.”
Chrysalis couldn't sense anything from the changeling; she was completely shut out from Octicovix. “That changeling’s a royal.”
“You’re sure, Sally?”
“Yes. Before she shut me out with a spell, I partly sensed directly at me familiarity, fear, anger and disgust,” Queen Chrysalis answered.
“Towards you?”
“Not directly. I’d say another me if I am to guess.”
Mark rubbed the underside of his snout. “You said she’s a royal changeling; what if she is the daughter of their Chrysalis and had a massive falling out?”
“Most likely is the case but it’s not my problem. She’s not one of my changelings,” Queen Chrysalis said turning away. “If she wishes to compare me to her mother, if that true, then it’s her choice.” The changeling queen walked up the scorched ground. “This is the reason why we are here, this event and the arcane magic that destroyed the very threat that caused the level one alarm in the first place.”
Twilight used her magic to scan over the area. “The spell that was cast had sudden explosive levels of arcane magic. As soon as it appeared, it faded away as if it wasn't even here.” She saw partial remains of a rune marking. “Rune magic... Now that explains a lot.”
“Rune magic?” Starlight took a good look at it too. “That would explain the burst of magic levels and the sudden drop.”
“Care to explain?” Mark asked.
Starlight turned to Twilight to Mark. “Depending on the runes you use, the size of it and so on, they can cast spells without the need of high-level magic users for high-level spells,” Twilight stated.
“Think of it as a short-cut for small to high-level spells without the need for a massive mana pool,” Starlight added. “These were strong, powerful and placed around this area to create an arcane field to destroy everything from magic to physical forms on the level of breaking it down to pieces to dust to this – faint particles left behind.” Starlight looked over the oval scorched area in the middle of the fort.
A tick-tock sound faintly grew till they all turn around to come face to face with the clockwork griffon, Grant. Twilight looked up and down of the griffon before them. “You’re an artificial life form!”
Grant confirmed that as she responded. “I am, but wasn't before Shal-Quz did this to me with reality magic.”
“Shal-Quz? You were flesh and blood?” Mark asked.
Grant walked by them grabbing some of the scorched dirt, letting it fall between his claws. “Yes, I was forcefully changed against my will. I was even forcefully reprogrammed by that rabbit. If it wasn't for Glacier and the feather she shoved into my cogs, I would still be working for Shal-Quz,” he answered, turning around to Mark. “She’s evil and she would have gladly left my father, the crew, my brothers and sisters to slowly die in the submarine just to escape. She has no morals in life. Glacier, with her friends, saved our lives.”
“What can you tell me of them?” Mark hoped for answers about Glacier and the others.
Grant's cogs twist and turn with a click, tick and tock. “They were chasing Shal-Quz across multiple realities. They arrived on our submarine a day after she did. We believed we captured her but it was all a ploy. We had no food for days by the time she arrived, unable to think clearly...”
Starlight was curious about that. “The silver dragon Silvite said your crew haven't eaten for three days; if you were in a ship, why not dock somewhere?”
Grant closed his eyes. “Because there was nowhere to go. Over seven weeks ago, our Equis, our home was destroyed by a... solar event. We were lucky because we were under the water in a nuclear-powered submarine, the flagship of the navy of Griffonia. Most of the world burned and our part suffocated to death. We were the last. We had nothing to look forward to, and now we live with the sun against my skin, this metal shell. I can feel its warmth and yet I feel guilty.” Grant sighed heavily.
“I am not sure what we can say or do for you...” Starlight said.
Grant smiled a bit. “Thank you anyway.” He started to walk away. “I am going to check on my father, General Grav.”
They listened to the pain of his words and were shocked to hear this. “Wh-why tell us?” Twilight spoke in a shaky voice.
He paused in mid step, glancing back at them. “Because this is your world, your home. You deserve to know our pain, our loss, and how Glacier and her friends gave us a life. When they go home, we are going with them for a fresh start and serve the griffon princess Celestia.” He continued to walk away.
Queen Chrysalis frowned. “Did he just say Celestia is a griffon?”
“I think he did and even though it was painful to hear what that griffon said, I am glad he did tell us,” Mark answered. “We know what the stakes were and the threat that caused this level one event. We need to know more about this Shal-Quz and see if she not going to be a continued threat to the Equestrian Empire.”
The tourist ship sailed away from the Statue of Friendship in Manehatten Bay. Gale sat on a seat looking out to the shrinking statue as they headed back to the city shores. Celestia sat down beside him, presenting the photo of them standing at the torch with the city behind them.
“I believe that was a good photo, don't you think son?”
“Yes it is. Standing up by torch was fun! Saw much without flying!” He took the photo seeing himself, Celestia, Nightingale, Gilda, Greystorm, Spike, Gabby and Gallus on it. “Alpha took photo, he no want to be in it.”
“That’s because it’s his choice. Not everyone likes their photos being taken.” She looked over to Alpha standing not too far from them, staring out to sea. “One thing he can join us in is having a Manehatten style pizza, and no buts.” Celestia smirked at the wolf.
Alpha rolled his one eye as his stomach grumbled a bit. “You’re making me hunger, Lady Celestia.”
“Good, but no apple juice for you; not after last night,” Celestia sternly said to him.
Alpha groaned as Gale burst into laughter, recalling what happened. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Not at the slightest, my dear Alpha.”
He sniffed the air, his eye shifted around. “I smell rabbit.”
Gale looked around. “I see no rabbit.”
Celestia also did a check. She got up from the seat, taking a cautionary scan of the deck. “Nor do I.”
“Could be the sea-salt playing around with my sense of smell.” He followed up by a sneeze, Gale hopped off the seat and gave him a tissue. “Thank you, Lord Gale.” He blew his nose and threw the tissue into the bin beside him.
“You welcome!” Gale smiled warmly.
Behind a wall, breathing heavily, Shal-Quz knew she was almost caught out. “Damn that wolf! Getting close to the cub is going to be far more trickier than I hoped.” Shal-Quz used her magic to open a staff only door, closing it behind her. “So, almost a day of trying to get the cub has failed. I will have to go with the convention to try. With so many inside, I will have a better or worse chance.” Shal-Quz pulled out the folded flyer looking at it.
The rabbit folded it back up, putting it in her robe. “Glacier and the others will be back. They most likely have discovered by now what I was trying to do. They will bring a storm with them and this will be my last stand. I am all out of options.”
After the former crew was attended to, given food and drink to help them start the recovery, and most of the FRAG units returned through daggerscale portals, the moment for answers had come with Glacier coming to Silvite and speaking with fury.
“Silvite! That vermin rabbit is far more dangerous than we were led to believe! I need you to get Grover and those ponies and that changeling to come to that building over there right NOW!”
Silvite didn't get to say anything before Glacier flew over to the circular building. “Octicovix – you go get Grover, Gillian and Trail Blazer. I'll get the green alicorn and his cohorts.”
“Alright.” She nodded and, with a buzz of the wings, took off to find Grover.
Silvite saw that Twilight and Starlight were still studying the ground where the sub once was standing for only minutes. She also saw Chrysalis and Penumbra talking to Mark nearby. “At least they made my job easy.” Silvite walked over to them. “Hey! Colt! Get your friends and go to that building over there.” She thumb pointed over her shoulder to it. “Glacier found out something that needs us all over there yesterday.”
“I’m Prince Mark Wells, one of the three rulers of the Equestrian Empire you’re standing on,” Mark snapped at her.
“That sounds like a human name.” Silvite didn't care much for the title at the moment, now towering over him. “You’re formerly a human?” she directly asked.
“Yes, I gather you were?” He suspected looking up at her as she looked down to him.
“I was, around four thousand years ago. Been quite a long time since I was human.”
“You’re over four thousand years old!?”
Penumbra looked amazed. “You don't look over hundred.”
Silvite smirked. “Good to hear, batty.” Penumbra snarled. “Please – that just makes you more adorable than you already are,” Silvite slyly said with arms crossed.
“Ado-adorable!?” the batpony said incredulously.
“Yep.” Silvite chuckled. “Also Mark – that storm display.”
“Yeah?”
“It was lame.”
“Lame!?”
“Yeeeaaah, when you fight a lightning-charged fifty foot dragon for over a thousand years, you tend to not see such displays as yours very threatening. I give it a D for effort.” Silvite uncrossed her arms and wave her claw hand side to side.
“It’s not as if I was trying to harm anypony; it was just a threat,” Mark grumbled.
Chrysalis was curious what this dragon thought of her. “And what of me?”
“Well, I can't really say. The only changeling I know of personally is Octicovix and from what I know of her relationship with changelings is poor, especially with her mother. From what I know of them, they had a big falling-out over her true love and refused to give up the griffon she fell in love with. That led to her having her memories removed of her home and she hasn't seen her mother for the last twenty-odd years,” Silvite explained to Chrysalis.
“She found true love, huh?”
“Yep, a griffon called Greystorm, mayor of Trottingham, and a history nut over griffon history.”
Mark didn't like the sound of family falling out over those that find love. “Sounds all too familiar...”
“It does, not much you can do about it, colt. It’s ancient history. What truly matters for me is I have a kitsune sister and Gale, Celestia's adopted son, to look out for. That’s what is truly important to me. Saving realities and you from that damn monster of a rabbit Shal-Quz was a bonus.” She patted his head a few times with her claw hand. “Well whether you choose to come or not, we’ll be in that circular building.” Silvite turned around, opening her wings and taking off to it.
Penumbra smirked. “I like her.”
“So do I,” Chrysalis agreed.
Mark looked back and forwards at them. “We don't even know that dragon; we just met her!”
“Yet she made a good impression.” Penumbra walked over to Twilight and Starlight. “I'll let them know that Glacier has got something for us about this event.”
Chrysalis added to what Penumbra said. “She did give us some insight. She didn't really need to ask and now I understand why that changeling Octicovix is on edge around me. Also, I liked the way she patted you like a puppy. It was adorable” She laughed as she walked over to the building.
Mark couldn't think of any words right that moment to even say as he was left there flustered.
A little while later, Mark, Twilight, Starlight, and Penumbra were let into the building by two rangers standing guard with a few of their own, a pair of changelings standing to attention. Upon walking inside, they found themselves in a circular chamber with seats around a large open middle area with three stair paths down to it. All along the walls were different pattern runes. Sitting down already were Grover, Gillian and Trail Blazer, Silvite, Octicovix, Grant, and the weak-looking Grav.
Chrysalis sat by herself at one row of seats. They walked over to sit with her and saw Glacier standing on the floor in the middle. “Good to see you've all made it. We’re just waiting for two others to show up,” Glacier said. “I’d like to thank Grover for telling me about the importance of this chamber, and you’re about to see how. Gyro, please activate the runes.” The griffon they saw standing by a rune raised his talon, placing it on the glyph.
The rune lit up. Soon all, the rest of them did too. Before them, appearing out of nowhere, was a small black avian sitting down with a book floating in a magical field in front of her, she had no wings from what they saw, wearing clothing, big expressive eyes with small glasses resting on the bridge of the beak.
The next to appear was an anthropomorphic fox standing about a pony height, wearing a black vest and trousers. He walked up the steps, coming over to Grover. “Grover, I gather it was a success stopping the reality magic overload.”
“It was.”
“Then tell me why I've been contacted and have these strangers here?” He glared at the griffon with hand paws in his pockets.
Mark spoke up. “We were asked to come here, whatever you are!”
The fox ran over to Mark, jumping onto the seat in front of Mark, making the prince power up his magic ready to defend himself. “Please! You cannot hit me with that! I am not even here! The runes are transmitting to two other locations at the exact same time as this one. I am alone in my chamber. All of them are the same geologically speaking in dimensions size and runes.” He waved the hand-paw through Mark showing the fact, unimpressed by Mark's defensive display. “As for who I am, Keeper Sentinel the monitor, guardian, creator and master of Grimormia Tower. Also the one that predicted the arrival of the submarine with the runaway reality magic over two years ago.” He jumped down from the seat and walked back down to the central area.
The avian waved her talon hand. “Unlike Keeper…” He gave a humph sound in response. “…I like to be a bit more friendly, I am Leela and it’s a pleasure to meet so many new faces. Even though we’re not exactly in the same room, it’s good to see into one that I can talk to people other than using a mirror,” Leela said warmly to them all. “And I am the creator of the runes you see around you including the Arcane Dome rune spell you most likely have already seen in action. It took me a few months to get that created especially for a nuclear submarine infused with runaway build-up of reality magic.”
“I’ve got say from what I am seeing and saw so far, even though at first we didn't know what we were facing, it’s a very impressive form of magic,” Twilight responded. “By any chance were your runes used to divert the daggerscale portal?”
Leela stood up, grabbing the book putting under her arm. “They were. It was agreed upon a three to zero vote between all of us, to keep you all away long enough to have Grover and his team complete the mission at hand. There was no ill-intent in it; just timing was everything,” Leela answered, adjusting her glasses a little. “But I assume Glacier Melodyclaw has a reason to bring you all together and contacting us about the recent events.” She turned to the griffon.
Keeper replied with annoyance in his voice, his blue eyes shifting to a slight yellow colour for moments. “I would like to know. I do have maintenance to proceed with after-all! The tower doesn't keep itself in one piece without someone to maintain it since I sent Grover off to their Equis to save their world to save our own!”
Mark was also curious. “If it means getting the answers we want, I’d also like to know.”
Glacier stood up on her paws, wings open for balance. She tapped her claws over the wrist-held device and it created a holographic projection before them all. “I ran through this many times over to make sure I was wrong, hoped I was wrong...” They saw a mark on a massive galactic map shaped like a storm cloud. “This is your Equis in your corner of the multiverse. Here is ours.” It showed another multiverse shaped like a tree with a mark at the middle.
“Why does ours look like Mark's cutie mark, and yours as a tree?” Starlight asked.
“It’s more or less an example, each is huge and growing all the time. Between both is the breach created by the submarine with the reality magic,” Glacier answered and showed the link between the two of them.
Keeper pointed to the middle of the link. “Right there is Grimormia Tower.”
Glacier updated it to show a little stone tower. “You’re from their Equis right?” Twilight curiously asked.
“Yes.”
“Why do you live in another one between both multiverses?” Twilight pressed.
Keeper put his paw hands into the trouser pockets, leaning against a seat. “I don't need to explain to you, purple pony. That’s where I live and no one gets there unless I bring them there. Only one to ever get that treatment is Grover. He did something that really drew my attention; you have not,” Keeper bluntly responded with a flash of red in his eyes before turning blue again.
Twilight gave him a stern look. “That leve-”
“Nope, something that happened in our Equis time about 740 odd years ago, give or take. If I get the time right – it’s hard to keep track when the concept of time isn't really a thing where I live,” Keeper interrupt her. “He did something that really caught my attention. Not what happened today to your perspective. I simply gave him the information about when and where it will happen. Leela gave the rune magic and that's that.”
“Why y-”
Leela raise a talon speaking up. “This isn't getting us anywhere, Keeper. Please refrain from insulting Twilight Sparkle.”
He shrugged. “Not my fault I have hyper-level intelligence.”
Twilight's right eye twitched, Mark put a hoof on her shoulder before she could respond. “He’s trying to get under your fur, Sparkles. Don't rise to his bait.”
Twilight slowly calmed herself. “Right... Got it.” Keeper just shrugged against and turned his attention to the holographic image. “Glacier can you continue please?”
“Of course.” She showed the fourteen markers before Mark's one. “As you can see, all our reality-jumping from one Equis to another was on our side of the pond, but do you see those magical energy levels on each of them?”
Starlight’s eyes widened in an instant seeing it. “No that can't be right!”
“What is it, Starlight?” Mark asked.
Grant now saw it too. “Father... Shal-Quz wasn't just going to leave us to die slowly.”
Grav turned his head. “I don't understand son – what do you see that I don't?”
Chrysalis saw the pattern. “What a clever malevolent thing Shal-Quz is. That is truly evil.”
Twilight felt sick to her stomach, but Mark looked around seeing some were as puzzled as he was, while others seemed to react differently to it.
“Can somebody tell me what you are seeing?!”
Glacier pressed on the display. They watched as Mark's Equis was blown to pieces, then the one linked to it, then another and another. As each exploded, more around it were caught up in a chain-reaction, till it hit the one Gale one, Glacier and the others one. They watched as the explosive reaction wiped out every Equis in their multiverse and travelled back through the corridor into Mark's one causing a complete destruction of two multiverses.
“That what would have happened if Grover and those here in Grimfeather didn't stop the reality magical feedback, and I never saw it till I studied the data. Shal-Quz played us all.”
Leela spoke as she stared at what they were seeing before Glacier shut it down. “All to get back at her maker, our maker...”
Keeper Sentinel closed his eyes sighing heavily. “I never thought a prime creation would be driven that far to do something so evil... And so causal...”
“What?!” Mark's side said all at once in shock upon hearing that word.
Mark quickly flew down to the bird, looking at her directly in the eyes. “You’re one of Grogar's monsters?!”
Leela gazed firmly back. “I was made by him, but my creator is Master Wayne, known today as Gale, the son of Princess Celestia. Long story short – I leaked information to the ponies and griffons that were fighting his monsters.” She sat on the book which floated her to eye level with him.
“It gave Gusty the information she needed to command her troops to distract Grogar for long enough while he was on one of his tours of the mighty kingdom to steal the bell and hide it away. He found out afterwards that it was I who did it and, for my betrayal, I was locked away in a trans-dimensional prison for the rest of my days. The outside is no bigger than a ten foot high cube, but inside, it’s ten miles.”
Starlight used her magic to teleport from where she sat to appear by Mark. “Why not use your rune magic to teleport out?”
Leela looked down, patting the book. “Because I have to stay close to my book at all times, teleporting or creating a portal would mean, for a split second, I and the book would be more than half a mile from it. Bye-bye me and the book.” Leela raised her head, looking over to Starlight. “It and the bell that could destroy me in an instant since I am made from Grogar's bell magic.”
Twilight got up from the seat to join them. “I gather Shal-Quz was also?”
“Yes. So is Anubis the Death Dragon. My specialty is book-keeping. This book holds everything written, painted, carved and printed. Anubis has a crystal holding between his staff. It his weakness; without it, he would age to the point of turning to dust in a week. As for Shal-Quz, without her brush to regulate the reality magic in her, the magic in time will cause her cease to exist,” Leela explained.
Keeper lifted an arm, rubbing the back of his head. “As for me, I am a lesser created. I and others are magically advanced golems made of clay. What gives us our will, life, and such comes from a crystal within us. We call it the life crystal; without it, we would be slabs of rocky hard clay again.” He tapped his chest a few times with a claw tip.
Octicovix felt a bit relieved to hear that. “When we get back, we just need to get to Manehatten and ke—”
“Manehatten?! That’s where Princess Celestia and the others are right this moment!” Leela screeched. “Oh no, no, no! This isn't good! I’ve got to contact Princess Celestia at once!” She jumped off the book, opening it up. “Here we go, mirror contact.” Leela created the runes to have them shift into four black ones. “What is—” She was blasted back and vanished from their sight.
Keeper was startled at what had happened. “Le—”Keeper vanished from their view too.
They all looked around for Leela and Keeper. Penumbra noticed the runes in the room were turning grey one by one. “The runes – something’s happening to them!”
Starlight probed them with a spell. “They’re losing their magic. Something’s draining them.”
Leela reappeared before them on her back. Twilight tried to aid her but her forelegs passed through the bird. Leela sat up, rubbing the back of her head. “That’s not good. I can't get in contact with Celestia. I can't even get in contact with anyone else! Shal-Quz must have created a—” Leela vanished again and then reappeared. “—one in the chamber. I am using what I can to send you this message! Shal-Quz put a spell blocker in place from the runes. Because you are connected to it, it’s affecting all runes where you are—” She vanished again but failed to reappear.
All the runes went grey. Glacier did a scan sweep. “I can't detect any magic coming from any of the runes in the fort! They’ve all gone dark!”
Trail Blazer turn to Grover. “Lord Grover, doesn't that mean…?”
“Yes, it does. The rune spell gate to send us back to Equestria, our Equestria, is non-functional and we’re stuck here.” He put his talons over his head as it lowered it.
Silvite looked around the room rapidly. “You can't be serious!? Are you telling me that rabbit is near Gale and we can't do jack to go after her!? We’re stuck here?!”
Glacier glared at her. “Yes, that’s exactly what that means. If she used the spell I think Shal-Quz used, the runes will remain inactive for around seventy hours.”
“THREE DAYS?!” Silvite roared. “ARGH!” She stormed out of the room.
Octicovix glanced at the door and then to Glacier. She nodded to the changeling to follow and she did.
“She’s going after this Gale, isn't she?” Grav asked.
Glacier sighed in defeat. “Yes. We don't have any means to get home, no way to warn Celestia of the threat to the innocent lives of Manehatten are about to face. I have nothing.” She sat down on the steps dropping the sub-sonic which rolled on the floor away from her.
Mark picked it up with his magic and looked closely at it. It definitely looked like a sonic screwdriver. This confirmed it – she somehow in all the impossibilities was River Song. “Do you really have nothing?” He floated it over to her.
Glacier raised her head, looking at the sub-sonic floating there. “Nothing for the next seventy or so hours. She knew we’d come and delayed our arrival in order to do whatever messed-up thing she’s got in mind over there. And I think she’s going to target Prince Gale at the Manehatten Comic Con. It’s happening this weekend and would explain why Celestia and Gale are there.”
“Sounds like a display of one final act before she faces ultimate defeat.”
“That’s most likely the case, unless you happen to have a way to travel to other dimensions and accurately get us to not only our Equestria, but also to our Manehatten in time?” She took the sub-sonic from his magical grasp.
Mark smiled. “Funny you should mention that. It might be a long shot, but I think we do.”
Glacier raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”
Mark turned to Twilight Sparkle. “Grover said something about a rune gate – what if we bring a mirror portal here with all its equipment and hook it up to the rune gate?”
Twilight tapped the tip of her snout thoughtfully. “Well, even though the magic has been drained from the runes, it should be possible to use the markings as an address beacon point. With the dimensional frequency information that I can glean from Glacier’s device, I think I can make it work.” Twilight lowered the hoof. “But the first time I set up a mirror portal in that fashion took me a week to get it working. However, with all the experience we’ve had since, it should only take a day or so to get it operational.”
Glacier put her talons around Twilight's face. “Oh, sweetie, you and I just became best friends. One thing I like is a challenge, and seeing how this could be a possible chance, I'll take it.” She let go of Twilight’s face and walked by up the steps.
Mark said, “Go ahead, Twilight. Do what you do best. Work your magic and, if you can, get some information on their world.”
“Got it.” She teleported away to catch up with Glacier.
Mark turned to Starlight. “Can you figure out a way to dampen or neutralize Shal-Quz’s reality magic?”
Starlight walked back and forwards as she thought about it. “I sensed residual magic around the scorched ground. It’s like nothing I’ve encountered before and I’m guessing that is reality magic. I'll study it and come up with a spell that could help stop her.”
“Good – go do that.” Starlight nodded and left.
Chrysalis stepped up. “I am going to speak with Octicovix and find out anything on her part to do with their Equestria.”
“Didn't you say that she’s not your problem, Sally?”
“I did. Whatever happened between Octicovix and her mother has nothing to do with me, but this isn't about that. This is about gathering the necessary intelligence that we need, because I can see in your eyes that we’re going after her. I know you too well, husband,” Chrysalis said with a smirk as she turned and left the chamber.
Grover raised his head. “I heard everything. Do you really think it will work?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to say as we’re doing this on the fly and with little information, but I do have an idea how to get Silvite to open up. What she needs is some creatures who can talk on her level and I know the best two dragons for the job.” Mark stepped up to Grover with a hoof held out. “You’ve done your part. Tend to the griffons from that submarine and leave this in our hooves, okay?”
Grover took the hoof and pulled himself up onto his paws and talons. “That is true.” He turned to look at Grav. “He lost an entire world and it’s going to take time for them to recover from that, if ever. We will tend to them and if you do find a way back and a plan to stop her before time is up, count me in.” He put the other talon over the hoof.
“You can count on it, Lord Grover.” Mark placed his other forehoof over the talons, a solemn promise, leader to leader.
They let go and Grover went to Gillian and Trail Blazer. Penumbra walked up beside Mark. “You know how crazy this sounds, right?”
“A lot can go wrong, I know,” Mark said as the chamber cleared out. “Our home was on the knife edge of being completely wiped out, and all for what? Revenge? We can’t afford to ignore it.”
Penumbra had seen that dance many times throughout the conflicts they had. “Doesn't seem to ever change, does it? You always end up battling some egomaniac wanting more power or revenge.”
“I know, Penny, but at least we’re more prepared for it than ever before.”
“That’s true.” Penumbra looked thoughtfully at the alicorn stallion. “I’m curious which dragons you have in mind to talk to Silvite. As you stated, we know little about her, apart from the few displays she has showed so far.”
“Isn’t it obvious? Smolder and Spike.”
Chrysalis walked around Grimfeather. She could see many ponies and griffons still dealing with the clean-up of the town. Some of her changelings were talking to a few of the Trail Blazers rangers by a building that had the same symbol that the rangers had on their uniforms. “—we’re stealthier than we look. Standing here, we stand out, but in the woods, we can blend in pretty well. It comes in handy when dealing with some of the larger wild life in the area,” a male griffon ranger said.
“And keeping the roads clear for trade or visitors is quite the task too. You never know when a tree tiger could pounce,” a unicorn mare ranger chuckled.
“A keen eye for danger – sounds like a—” The changeling paused and turned around to Chrysalis who was standing only a few feet away. “My queen.” He bowed. “Is there something I can do for you?”
Chrysalis looked around. “The yellow-eyed changeling – have you seen her?”
The three of them point in the same direction. “East wall, above the gate.” The changeling answered.
“After parting ways with the silver dragon who flew west, she’s been up there since,” the griffon confirmed.
The unicorn tapped the tip of her muzzle. “Something about her says she’s troubled, but also screams something else.”
The changeling agreed. “I saw that too; it definitely has that strange vibe in it.”
“I'll leave you three to exchange stories. It will be interesting to hear about them later.” Chrysalis walked away and their voices as they begin to talk again grew faint. Nevertheless, she knew her changeling agent would faithfully every last skerrick of intelligence that the locals would blab.
Chrysalis soon saw the arched platform of the fort wall. Standing alone there, looking out to the east, was Octicovix. The queen flew up to it and landed on the hard wooden floor just metres from changeling.
“Leave me be. The last changeling I want to talk to is you,” Octicovix said without even looking back.
Chrysalis stomped her hoof down. “Let me be crystal clear –I am not your mother and I have never had a child like you. I do not give a buck about you personally, but you’ve brought danger to those I do care about. You will get your uncouth emotions under control and cooperate with us against our common enemy.”
“And the penny drops,” Octicovix responded.
The Queen frowned. “What?”
Octicovix turned around with a smug look, causing Chrysalis to raise an eyebrow. The yellow-eyed changeling continued. “I knew from the get-go that you weren't my mother; nowhere near her. The signs were all there from the beginning. You were flying with other creatures, your changelings are in similar armour as ponies and griffons, battle-ready to fight with the two alicorns.”
Chrysalis gave a stoic stare. “I had some suspicions that you were hiding something. It’s a natural thing for a changeling to do when facing the unknown, especially this far for you.”
Octicovix returned a neutral gaze back at the queen. “Really now? Or are you just saying that?”
“You know why I am approaching you. My family and I were in serious danger due to that rabbit from your Equestria. I require that information, nothing more,” Chrysalis said bluntly to Octicovix.
Octicovix buzzed her wings, taking off from the wall and dropping down to the forest, closely followed by Chrysalis. They landed on the ground and walked. “It seems we were both gathering information, I with this world from the limited corner we’re in, and now you demanding the knowledge of what I know of from my home.”
“That seems to be the case, since you seem to be more open. Or are you?”
“Well, I did have a serious falling out with mother, but we came to a somewhat mutual understanding. Although it did hurt a lot when the location of my home was removed from my mind, but it was an acceptable price to live my own life with my husband. She didn't show or say it, but I knew she cared somewhere deep inside. That’s why the spell to remove my memories didn't do any lasting harm to me,” Octicovix said as they walked.
Chrysalis walked alongside her. “I see.”
Octicovix spoke on. “My husband, Greystorm, is mayor of Trottingham. When it comes to playing politics and dealing with meetings with Princess Celestia, we were always three steps ahead of the game. We analyse, gather information and then use that with truths and diversion. It all changed soon after the meeting in the war room under the throne of Princess Celestia.”
“You discovered something more than you thought it was going to lead to?”
“Pretty much, now I will lay it all out for you to hear. It’s going to take a few hours or more – I hope you have the patience for it, Not-Mother.” Octicovix glanced at Chrysalis with a fanged grin, finally dropping all pretence but keeping her damping shield around her from the hive mind.
“Not-Mother?” The queen frowned.
Octicovix shrugged. “It’s a Gale thing. Well, in that he called Silvite his Past-Mum from what she told me. Saying it out loud now, it does sound rather stupid.” Octicovix shook her head.
Chrysalis just stared. “Silvite is a mother?”
“There’s more to it, and all part of the things I’ve got to tell you, Chrysalis. I’ve also got a little something on top to show you for your husband to surprise him with.” Octicovix grinned.
“You’re a completely different changeling with your guard dropped.”
Octicovix turned her right forehoof into a talon doing a side to side motion. “Mostly dropped – I am keeping up my proxy shield. I don't want a hive screaming into my head.” She turned the talon back into a hoof. “Also, I gather your husband has got a plan to get around the rune problem?”
“Noted and yes he does, now talk.”
“Oh, I will. Just got to give you a Sunflower Surprise, and trust me – it’s going to be a very soft crushing way.” Octicovix moved ahead and quickly turned around. She changed form to a nine-hooves-tall snow-white finch griffon with blackish grey spots on the fur and feathers, with soft purple pupils in yellow eyes.
Chrysalis looked up at the huge form. “I am not here to play games you idiot! I want information!” She glared up at the snow-white griffon with the black beak. The finch griffon grabbed the changeling queen, pulling her into a hug. “Gah! Get your stupid paws of me now!”
Octicovix released the hug and turned back to her true form. Chrysalis’ horn was glowing very brightly as she looked furiously at Octicovix. “Huff! That took a lot out of me, she does it so naturally.” Octicovix wasn't fazed by the lit horn. “Now, I showed you that form so that you can give that surprise to your husband. One special from Octicovix the Changeling. And I’ve got to say you look quite red in the face.”
Chrysalis growled, “You little insect!”
“Come now, there’s only us two here. No one has seen us.”
Chrysalis took a good look around but could sense no one. “Gah! Fine! You tell me what I want to know and I might not fry you!”
“Deal.” Octicovix gave her a broad fanged grin.
In Twilight's lab, she and Glacier gathered up the necessary equipment for the mirror portal sitting idly by the wall. Twilight picked up some of the wiring with her magic. “I can't believe we’re dealing with another Grogar problem...”
“Sounds like you have history with Grogar, most likely this world’s one?” Glacier picked up a Tesla Coil. “Oh, these bring back memories.”
“What kind of memories?” Twilight asked.
“Putting together something on the fly, working on something new, sweetie.” Glacier walked over to pick up a view tubes. “Anyway, about Grogar. Our one has been around for over four thousandyears since his defeat on the mountain that fell.”
“Mountain that fell?” Twilight put the smaller coils in the cart.
Glacier put her talon over the edge of the cart. “Canterlot, that mountain it sits on, where I am from, it came from another world. It fell through a rift over four millennia ago and Grogar found it. There he also found Wayne, the last somewhat human.” She pulled out the sub-sonic, scanning the pieces of equipment with it. “Good – this will be useful,” she murmured.
“Canterlot in your Equestria sits on a mountain that came from Earth?” Twilight was surprised. “A somewhat human called Wayne?”
Glacier stopped scanning. “Yes. There’s a lot more to that tale from what I’ve learned. Is there anything in your world called Pure Magic?”
“Not that I know of, unless you’re talking about the rawest form of it,” Twilight responded. “Is that what your Grogar is after?”
“Pretty much, and what was your one after?”
Twilight walked up to the mirror looking at her reflection. “The Bewitching Bell for a start, followed by the plan to conquer this world, and then on to others. He gathered several villains that we had dealt with previously, plus all kind of monsters. I, Mark, and others figured out a way to win. It was a terrible battle that left many lives lost. Going into all the details will take time.”
Glacier stepped up behind her, looking at the reflection. “And as will be my tale, Twilight. It seems we’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot to talk about.” She placed a talon on Twilight's right side above the wing. “Let's get this mirror and the equipment back to Fort Grimfeather. The sooner we plug this stuff into the rune gate, the sooner we can work on creating a connection to our Equestria, specifically Manehatten.”
“Right. We’ve got everything from the looks of it. I feel that the two of us can make this jury-rigged stuff work,” Twilight said in a confident tone.
“I have high hopes.” Glacier turned around, hooking herself up to the cart as Twilight readied a daggerscale portal and picked up the mirror with her magic. “And Twilight.”
“Yes?”
Glacier pulled the cart up to her as she created the portal. “Let's show Shal-Quz what we brainiacs are made of.” she smiled.
Twilight smiled back. “Gladly.” They stepped through the daggerscale portal.
It been about a several hours since the runes had stopped working. Twilight and Glacier were busy setting up everything and working on the mirror portal at the Rune Gate. Neither Chrysalis nor Octicovix had been seen since they had left the arch over the east gate. Things would have been a bit quieter if it wasn't for the rumbles of explosions and blasts of white flames in the west.
Another bigger explosion from the west caused many to turn their heads in that direction. A column of smoke rose followed by a minor shockwave of the boom.
Penumbra frowned. “Mark, I’m telling you, something about this Prince Gale and her has some serious deep connections.”
“From all those blasts and those intense blasts of white flames, I have to agree. However, this isn't something we can deal with – it has to be done on a dragon level,” Mark replied, staring out to the west. “At least she’s venting out in a uninhabitable area and not blowing up forests with wildlife in it.”
The batpony agreed. “True – she’s level-headed enough for that.”
A daggerscale portal opened up behind them. Turning around, they saw Smolder and Spike emerge from it.
Mark smiled. “Good to see you two received the message and got here fast. We have a problem only you two can solve.”
“To have my sessions in court cut short, it must be important,” Smolder stated.
Spike took a look around. “Isn't this Fort Grimfeather? I read it only took about six months for it to spring up in the middle of the Undiscovered West. Not much said about the lord that got this altogether though. He’s a real mystery.”
Mark would have told them who it was but another flash followed by another column of smoke from the west happened just then. “We'll fill you in later about the lord of the fort. At the moment, we’ve got a very upset silver dragon that’s venting a lot of frustration.”
Smolder flew up to take a better look from above the trees. She could just see the rocky landscape ahead was littered with craters. After gleaning what she could, the dragoness landed in front of Mark. “Father, what kind of dragon are we dealing with?”
“A dragon from another dimension,” he told his daughter-in-law. “She and others been cut off from getting home due to a reality-bending rabbit. Long story short, this is what we dealing with…” After a few minutes of explaining, they got the picture.
“Whoa! That’s nuts!” Spike said with shock.
Smolder thought about what Mark said with her arms crossed. “Sounds like Silvite has a really deep connection to this Prince Gale, more than we know right now. It’s a good thing you called us – we'll get to the bottom of it.”
Spike agreed. “You can count on us!” He saluted.
“Good, because I don't think Twilight and her new friend are going to keep their cool for much longer if those explosions keep going,” Mark said. He watched the dragons take off to the rocky fields west of Grimfeather.
Penumbra suddenly felt something was amiss. In an instant, a shadow was cast over her and Mark. They turned around in time to see an immense griffon with paws instead of talons grab them and give them a crushing and overly soft hug. “Ak! Wh—”
“Unpaw me you—”
“Now-now! Is that the way to say to your loving wife?” The snowy white finch griffon grinned.
“Sally?!” Mark squeaked with shock.
Octicovix laughed from where she stood by the hospital before walking into it to help tend to the griffon submarine crew.
“Indeed. I have what I needed and more. Now I can crush you with soft love.”
Mark tried to free himself. “You certainly are! Let us go!”
Chrysalis did so and turned back to normal, a smirk on her face.
“How did you sneak up on us like that!?” Penumbra demanded to know.
Chrysalis chuckled. “Now that would ruin the fun for next time, wouldn't it?”
From the look of it, Mark wasn't about to get a straight answer on that, and now he had something new to watch out for with his mischievous herd mare. “Right,” he grumbled. “I gather you have some details to tell us?”
“Of course, husband.”
Smolder and Spike flew clear of the forests to the rocky smouldering wasteland that Smolder had seen from the distance. They landed near a crater. Smolder knelt down, grabbing a rock. The crust crumbled and molten rock poured out as she lifted it up, draining out through her claws.
“That’s some intense heat.” Spike wiped it forehead. “I know lava is hot, but this place feels way hotter than that.” He took a look around.
Smolder stood up and they walked “It is. For rock to be liquefied like that, she must have one heck of a fiery breath,” Smolder responded as they stepped through soft rock, leaving puddles of molten prints behind. They soon saw a boulder being tossed high into the air, followed by a ball of white flames.
They watched the rock explode into smaller burning pieces with a huge blast. They got pushed back a bit from it, covering their faces with an arm from the intense heat released from it as the small rocks rained down around them.
“Smolder, I’ve never seen a flame do that before!”
“Nor have I, Spike. That’s some fire! Did you see the colour of it?”
“Yeah – it was white,” Spike confirmed what Smolder had seen. “I remember Twilight researching on the different colour of flames, both magical and not. If I remember correctly, a white flame is way hotter than a blue flame.”
“Hot enough to make a dragon sweat,” Smolder agreed. “It would explain the intense residual heat and why the rocks are melting.” Smolder noticed through the waves of heat a flicker of light reflected from the silver scales of Silvite. “I see her, Spike – right over there!” She pointed a claw at Silvite.
They walked towards her, feeling their clawed feet sink a little on the softening rocky ground that slowly was turning molten under their clawed feet.
Silvite caught sight of them approaching and she already gathered that this Spike wasn't the one she had met recently before chasing down Shal-Quz. “I know why you two are here and I’m not in the mood to talk,” Silvite said from atop a large boulder.
“Not a chance, Silvite,” Smolder said firmly. “We came all this way to talk to you and we’re not going anywhere till we know what’s bothering you, and to find out anything that could help father deal with that Shal-Quz.” Smolder put her claw out to Spike for him to wait as she continued to approach the silver dragon, her feet sinking slightly more as if the rocky floor was a skin over the pool of lava. “What you are doing is weak and stupid.”
Silvite shift her gaze over to the orange dragon. “Weak and stupid? You don't even know me, child.”
“Don’t treat me like a hatchling. You may have many centuriess on me, but I'm still an adult and expect to be treated as one!”
“Humph! Whatever, child. Leave me be.”
“So are you so arrogant and set in your ways that you think everycreature is just a child?” Smolder only stood a few feet from her, looking up.
Silvite turned around, her tail swishing in agitation. “I can see what you are doing.”
Smolder raised her claws up. “Tell me what I am doing? Tell me why you think turning this whole area into a molten slab is going to help your pathetic hissy fit. This display says that you’ve got power but when you don't get your own way, you just throw a tantrum!”
Silvite roared in fury. “You want to know why I am doing this?! Why I am so bloody pissed off that I did all this?! I'll tell you missy!” She jumped down, landing with a splash of red-hot lava. She walked up to Smolder only stopping a foot away . “I am unable to do jack! I am bloody stuck on this damn world while a crazy damn rabbit aims to end the life of my former son! I promised to protect him and his mother, Celestia, even my damn sister! I have no idea what Shal-Quz could do next! And I cannot do anything to help! I am so furious about being so goddamn helpless!”
Silvite's ranting and raving burst with an echoing roar. Smolder kept a calm cool look throughout it all, watching the tears start to fall from Silvite's eyes as her pent-up anger was released in words. The silver dragon slowly deflated, panting.
“Feeling better?”
“No... maybe.”
“Feel like wrecking more of this place?”
“No, I don't.” Silvite responded.
Smolder glanced over to Spike with a nod. He walked through the skinned molten pool to them. “You must be really hurting inside, unable to protect those you really care about. I know that feeling all too well from when we faced dangers that could bring harm to Twilight, my family or my friends.” Spike stepped up beside Smolder. “We could be your friends and listen to you; learn what we can about this Shal-Quz.”
“And kick her fluffy butt as well.” Smolder smacked a fist into the palm of her other claw hand.
Silvite scowled at her. “Didn’t I just get through saying that she’s out of reach?”
Spike shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. We’ll soon be hot on her heels.”
Smolder smirked. “If you had stuck around instead of coming here to sulk, you’d have been there for the brainstorming session. We have resources that your world doesn’t.”
That caught the silver dragon’s attention. “What are you talking about?”
“Twilight and this Glacier griffon are working on setting up a mirror portal back in the fort,” Spike told her the news. “You’ll be able to resume your rabbit hunt in about a day.”
Silvite walked away from the massive boulder. “Mirror portal huh?” She stepped over to the edge of the cooling lava to pick up her bag, putting it on over her shoulder. “I guess I was the one being a stupid child after all. Thanks for snapping me out of that, kiddo.”
Smolder stepped out along with Spike. “It isn't as simple as that, Silvite. The hours waiting until the portal is ready will be frustrating, so I’ve got some things in mind to help you really vent.” Smolder cracked her knuckles. “First, we will do a fire breathing competition followed by a claw wrestling.”
Silvite gave her a bemused look. “I'm a titan-class dragon, magically compressed in size by my sister Pom-Pom, which took her four hundred years to pull off, I might add.”
“Titan-class?” Spike asked.
“That’s the name of the class of dragon that’s as big as Thunderous or the current Dragon Lord, Torch,” Silvite explained to Spike. “That kind of size. I used to be that over five hundred years ago until my senses got snapped back after being in a greed-induced growth state for five centuries.”
Smolder frowned. “Erm... The Dragon Lord is—”
Spike quickly grabbed Smolder by the arm, pulling her to him. He murmured, “We know who the Dragon Lord is, but where she’s from it isn't.”
“Ah. You’re right.”
Silvite spoke up. “You know whispering isn't going to help, I heard everything you two just said.” Both instantly stood rigidly as she pointed to her ears. “I’ve got really good hearing.” She stepped over to Smolder. “Still want to do this fire breathing and claw wrestling?”
She grinned. “I am not one to back down from something I said I'll do. Let's see if you really are what you say you are!”
Silvite sighed, shaking her head. “Fine...”
Two minutes later...
As they walked away from the rocky fields, Smolder rubbed her wrists. “I can't believe how easily you beat me.”
“I don't mince words; I was serious about what I am. I know how easily my strength, both physical and flame-wise, can be deadly. That’s why I told myself to be very restrained and why I love helping life such as plants, flowers and trees grow.” She pulled a photo out of her bag. “This is my home that I created.”
Smolder took it and Spike looked at it too. “That’s your home!?” Spike said with surprise. “It’s an underground meadow!”
Silvite chuckled. “I’m proud of the work I put into it. That’s how I learned to be very delicate with my strength.” Silvite breathed out with relief. “But I have to admit that doing those little contests, however short they were, felt cathartic. Sorry if I hurt you, kiddo.”
“It’s Smolder, and naw, it’s fine. I’ve had worse. I still prefer it over dealing with all the blockheads in the Court.” She chuckled. “It was a bit cathartic for me too.”
Silvite looked back. “I feel bad for what I did to that land. I picked it to vent because it was uninhabited. Still, the wildlife could be affected by my stunt.” She sighed. “It will take a few days to cool down before it all solidifies again. Best to let those ranger fellows know to keep any and all away from that area.”
Spike blew some green flames onto a scroll and it burned away. He waved the quill in his other claw. “I’ve already sent a message to Prince Mark Wells. He'll let them know.”
Smolder placed a claw hand on Silvite’s shoulder. “At least you had the guts to admit you did wrong, and also thought of a good place to vent your anger.”
“You could also feel much better by telling us how you got involved and why Prince Gale is so important to you.” Spike suggested.
Silvite looked over to the purple dragon. “Even with wings, there’s something about you, Spike, no matter what Equestria I am in, it seems to just feel right to speak to you.”
Spike smiled proudly. “Guess I’ve got one of those faces!”
“Or you’ve got one of those special kind of spirits that has a diamond heart.” Silvite pulled out a few cups from her bag with a flask. “Well I'm ready to have a good chit-chat and clear the bloody air.”
“Glad to hear it,” Spike said to her.
Silvite spied some boulders. “I know the perfect place to sit and have a conversation while drinking a good cup of tea.” She used some of her fire to warm up a set of boulders. “Care to sit down on these nice heated stools and enjoy a cup of good old-fashioned tea while I tell you what I know?”
Smolder sat down on one. “Don't mind if I do.” Smolder took the cup she was offered. “How did you get a flask and cups in that tiny bag?”
“Bigger on the inside, trans-dimensional magic. I also carry a flask and a few cups always with me; you never know when you’ll be dying for a good cup of tea,” Silvite answered.
Spike sat down on another rock. Silvite poured out some of the brew and give it to the purple dragon. “Thank you, Silvite.”
“No problem, Spike.” Silvite poured herself one, closed the flask up, and put it back in the bag. “So, ask away and I'll answer,” she said to the two dragons as they took a sip of the tea Silvite gave them.
Later that evening as the sun set, in the bar at one of two occupied tables sat Mark Wells with his friends and family. They ate their meals and drank their drinks while they talked about what they had learned and discovered about Shal-Quz, as well as the Equestria they'd be going to soon as the mirror portal was fully set up and functional.
Mark Wells held his drink with the magic, swishing it around a bit. He sighed. “Grogar torturing a child with experiments to acquire Pure Magic...”
“It was something I don't think any of us was expecting to hear,” Twilight said and drank a bit of her refreshment. “But it did lead to a positive outcome even if the morality of it was dark. Grogar was defeated and Wayne transformed from a human caught in limbo between life and death, to a young pure griffon filled with wonders of the world around him.”
Mark put his cup down, picking up a hayburger from his plate. “That’s true Sparkles. It did lead to Celestia adopting him and taking the youngster under her wing.” He took a bite out of the burger, moaning a little in pleasure. Simple foods like this were rarely found in the royal dining room.
Chrysalis chimed in. “It has me curious about how events seemed to play almost the same leading up to Nightmare Moon and the Elements being used on her to free Luna, but at that moment, the young griffon appeared in that world.”
“The Dragonlands played a little different path to our own,” Smolder said. “There was no Dragon Lord called Thunderous, nor a death dragon god Anubis to the dragons, or even this Nowhere place.” She took a bite out of her gem burger.
Penumbra said, “Grogar made a lot of these Created to grab the pure magic from Prince Gale, but it seems that all of them now have either been defeated or turned on him to support the prince. All but Shal-Quz.”
Mark swallowed his food. “Now we have a better understanding of her. Grogar made her to be every way like him, a bit too well from the sound of things. After her main plan went south on top of the mountain above Canterlot, she most likely had blowing up two multiverses as a back-up plan in case the first one fell through.”
Starlight Glimmer added her view on it. “I am impressed by the fact that the Gale from the future brought his past self forward in time to our perspective and changed the course of history to a somewhat better one.”
“I doubt that, considering blowing up our world being that change?” Twilight brought up a point.
“Well, the other one wouldn't have been so bright either. From what we were told it, sound like Shal-Quz wiped out the other Equestrias in fear of one of them becoming too strong. One of them could have been us and we wouldn't even have known it happened,” Starlight countered.
“Fair point. I guess this one was the better of two timelines, making travelling through time to change events a positive outcome for a change.” Twilight exchanged knowing glances with the green alicorn. “Although Mark and I are very familiar with the perils of time traveling to achieve a goal, as you well know.”
Satrlight cringed a little at that reminder.
Twilight continued, “By the way, how is the spell coming along?”
Starlight was grateful for the change of subject. “It’s coming along very well. I think I’ve figured out how to create an englobing shield that not only dampens her magic, but also protects those outside it from stray magical blasts. How’s the mirror portal coming along?”
Twilight looked over to the other table where Glacier and her friends sat at with Grover. “We’re getting there. It’s just going to take a while to figure out how to get the mirror portal to the Manehatten of their world. I am thinking about using one that Glacier been near or touched. So we have a mental imprint on the mirror we can link to as well as a dimensional frequency.”
“Sounds like working with Glacier has it benefits,” Starlight said to Twilight.
“It does,” Twilight agreed. “She and I have been learning a lot from each other. Figuring out how to kludge together a mirror portal with runes and then finding a way to redirect the mirror entrance isn’t simple. There’s a high degree of probability that this will work, but there are still a lot of ifs though. How did it go with Silvite, Spike and Smolder?”
Spike responded to Twilight. “It was quite the experience meeting a dragon like her. I’m glad we got through to Silvite – she really is a nice dragon once you get past the mother's fury of being unable to do anything to help.”
“We managed to break down that fury, but learning about her old home was a bit of bitter thing to swallow.” Smolder sighed a little. “A whole Earth wiped out by this Gates of Elysium over four thousand years ago. The way Silvite spoke of it sounded very much like yours, father.”
“It did,” Mark said, thinking about it. “It’s hard to believe that out there, an Earth was wiped out well before any of us was even born. The chain of events that started from that moment to now is crazy to even wrap your head around.”
Penumbra looked over to Chrysalis. “I am curious about Sunflower's flight magic abilities. It’s boggling to know that a griffon that size is real. How did you manage to pull it off, Chrysalis.”
“By using a great lot of my magic, and I still only managed it for a brief time. I didn't show it to you or Mark, but it was a big strain to hold that large form. I burned much love doing so.” Chrysalis looked over to the green alicorn stallion. “You will need to replenish it tonight in bed, husband.”
Mark rolled his eyes.
The changeling queen continued. “Sunflower, a stupid name for a griffon, is naturally that large and most likely trained her body and internal flight magic all her life to control her large form.”
Mark thought about what Chrysalis said. “A soft hug for a few seconds, I think we can live with that.”
“Exactly, my husband.” She stood up from the table. “Now if you will excuse me, I have to see to my changelings.” Chrysalis walked away from the table.
Smolder got up from the table. “I am going to have a good look around Fort Grimfeather, Father.”
“See you in the morning, Smolder.”
Smolder turned to Spike. ”Care to join me Spike? Without my husband, Gallus, I could do with a bit of company.”
“Sure thing, Smolder! Maybe we can go over to that table and chat with Grover? You can tell Gallus later about how we met the first king!”
“Yeah, Gallus would freak out about that. He won't admit it that he admires and learned any and everything he could about the king.” Smolder and Spike left the table and headed over to the other one.
Twilight got up as Glacier came over. “Ready to get cracking on the mirror portal, sweetie?”
“I am, and might have a few good ideas on connecting to a mirror in Manehatten.” Twilight began to say as she and Glacier left.
Mark, Penumbra, and Starlight were the only three left at the table.
“Starlight – I would like to see that spell of yours,” Mark said.
Starlight stood up from the table. “Gladly, Your Highness. Come with me outside and I'll demonstrate it to you.”
Mark got up with Penumbra and walked with her as a few griffons came over to the table to clear it.
Twilight and Glacier worked throughout the night and into early morning together in a building that housed the rune gate, a stone arch with rune markings for dimensional travel to Glacier's Equestria. Sitting under the arch now sat the mirror fitted with tubes, wires, coils and a custom-made magical converter.
“That’s how you met Prince Gale? At a Cloudsdale restaurant before the Young Fliers Contest?” Twilight asked.
“Pretty much, he wanted to win at a claw game. I gave it a go and after a few tries, won the toy and gave it to him. After that, he dragged me over to my boss, Princess Celestia. Since then, I've been involved in many strange goings-on,” Glacier said while using a spanner to adjust a few bolts on the tubes. “I’ve got to say that Mark had a string of events thrown in his face.”
Twilight laughed. “It sure did, which led one thing to another. Our world seems so much brighter from it though. Sometimes it take only one to start a chain of events off.”
“Amen to that one, sweetie,” Glacier said as Twilight adjusted the frequency of the mirror portal with her magic. “How many Equestrias have you visited? And what are some of them like?” Glacier curiously asked.
“At last count, we have visited 163. Some are virtually indistinguishable from ours except for one critical change. Others are drastically different. There are worlds where we are anthropomorphic ponies, griffons, deer, and so on. Another is mainly populated by Hippogriffs and some of them even have horns. One of the more recent had an earth pony named Baked Bean married to Princess Celestia.”
Glacier did a check on the energy read-outs from her wrist pad. “They sound like interesting worlds. I bet their histories differ too.”
“They do in fact. My favourite so far has an organisation called House Path. It’s based in a nation called Griffonia but it’s headed by an earth pony named Lord Long Path. They’ve had some amazing ideas that we’ve started emulating.”
Glacier smiled in recognition of the alicorn’s exuberance. As the night became early morning, she and Twilight continued to work on the mirror portal, sharing stories between them from Glacier's Equestria to the many other ones that Twilight had visited or knew about out in the vast ocean of the multiverse.
Glacier wiped her forehead. “I think that will about do it. Ready to give it another go, Twilight?”
Twilight took a good look at the mirror portal and everything attached to it to the runes. “We are. The first few times haven't activated the mirror, but I have a good feeling about this one.” Twilight fired a beam of magic into the crystal above the mirror. The energy flowed through the coils into the spinning tubes, the pump and into the runes. They watched the runes come to life with sparks of magic, and then all of them fired a beam of magic each into the mirror's back. The reflective surface rippled moments after.
“Is it supposed to do that?” Glacier asked, never having seen a mirror portal be activated before.
Twilight stepped up to it, pressing her hoof through it and pulled it out. “The way we jury-rigged this portal mirror is different to the others, but from the look of it, our hard work has paid off.”
Glacier stepped up to it beside her. “One way to find out is for me to go through.”
“Wait! Take this crystal with you. It will be your ticket back!” Twilight used her magic to give the crystal to Glacier.
Glacier held it in her talon. “I thought you were going to try and stop me.”
Twilight shook her head. “No. I had a feeling you would do this either way, so that’s why I thought ahead.”
“When in Rome,” Glacier said and walked through it.
“What’s Roam got to do with it?” wondered Twilight as she walked back and forth for what seemed forever, waiting for the griffon return. Minutes turned to almost twenty before the mirror activated and Glacier stepped through, holding a newspaper with Manehatten Comic-Con prominently featured on its front page.
“You’re back! I was so worried! Did you arrive in your world!?”
Glacier handed her the newspaper. “I did, and right inside the convention centre as well. You are definitely my best friend, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight opened the newspaper and got a sight of Griffon Celestia with six other griffons plus a dragon in front of her. Some she recognised but the photo’s caption identified the rest. It read, “The lucky winner of the golden ticket to attend the nineteenth Manehatten Comic Con is Gallus Longclaw. He found it in issue one of ‘Mark Wells, the Alicorn of Justice’. Seven other lucky friends and family of his choosing will get to enjoy the convention with him – Princesses Celestia and Nightingale, Prince Gale, his uncle Greystorm Skyclaw, Gilda and Gabby Clawhowler, and Spike Sparkle will be sharing the experience as special guests at the comic con this weekend.”
After Twilight read that out loud and saw the group photo above the small summary, she had to read one part over again. She chuckled. “Alicorn of Justice!”
“So, Prince Wells is a fictional character in our world. Who would have guessed?” Glacier said with a grin.
Twilight powered down the mirror portal. “I’ve got to share this with Mark and the others right now!” The purple alicorn teleported away.
Glacier was left alone in the building staring at the spot where Twilight had stood. “Not even—”
Twilight reappeared and hugged the griffon. “Thank you for this, Glacier. This will help us big time coming up with a plan! Get Lord Grover and everyone else to that bar place! We’ve got breakfast to eat and plans to make!” She teleported again away.
Glacier blinked a few times. “Okay... I stand corrected.” She turned to the mirror portal and put it on standby. “Well, best to wake the troops. Today we hunt rabbit!”
Celestia stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her red top with a gold outline plants with inner black to them stitched into it. The top folded over and was held by buttons with a black border line of the collar down the overlapping front which was held with a belt around the waist. The sleeves started close to the end of the foreleg and widened at the end loosely with black lining at the end of it, a flower with a stem on each sleeve.
“Captain Armor, are you sure that this would be best suited to me?” she called out through the closed door to the private mares room on the upper floor of the convention centre which was reserved for special guests to use.
Shining Armor was standing by the door in the corridor with guards on either end, keeping a watchful eye. “It's very similar to the traditional warriors of hand to hand combat would wear. Kung Fu, as Alpha calls it. Your combat skills against Shal-Quz made him think this would be best suited for you and bring a smile to Prince Gale.”
Celestia using her talons to tug on it slightly, flexing her wings to keep her stance standing on the paws only, her tail shifting back and forwards adding to the adjustment. “You are aware that that wasn't me; that was Daybreaker.”
“Yes, but you do remember everything she did.” Shining's voice rang out true for Celestia. Daybreaker did use the skills she once learned a long time ago against Shal-Quz on the mountain top plateau.
Celestia turned away from the mirror, clenching her talons into fists. She thrusted a punch outwards, followed by a low, mid, and high thrust kick with the hind leg forwards. She adjusted her body for each rapid shift of movement, placing the paw back down on the ground taking a deep breath. “It feels natural to perform those moves with this body compared to my alicorn one.”
“Most likely due to the fact griffons are biologically half-leonine – the advantage of being part cat, Princess,” Shining responded.
Celestia took a stance she had seen Alpha take while training – left paw back, right paw forward, with one talon clenched back a bit, with the other in front, wings and tail working in tangent. “And part bird.”
“That also,” Shining agreed.
Celestia threw a set of rapid punches and did a few spin kicks, doing a backflip followed by a right paw kick towards the mirror. Unexpectedly, her paw connected with the muzzle of a green stallion, the force sending him flying back at the mirror, disappearing through it with a flash of light and ripple of magic. “Wh-what the buck?!”
Shining Armor used his magic to open the door and rushed into the room. “Princess! What's wrong?!”
Celestia lowered her hind leg down, walking on the paws to the mirror. She poked it with a talon and the ripple and glow responded to the touch. “A magical dimensional portal mirror. I thought there was only one!” Celestia gasped in shock.
“Princess?” Shining stepped up beside her.
“I kicked a stallion that was coming through it!” Celestia said. “I hope he doesn't think I was being hostile!”
Shining's horn glowed. “Get behind me, Princess.” She did and he created a barrier between them and the mirror portal. “If they do, we've got a chance to react and maybe talk it out.”
Celestia looked down at him. “I hope your right—”
The mirror shimmered and cautiously stepping through were a green alicorn with a batpony and a familiar griffon.
“That's going to leave a nasty mark,” complained the alicorn. He opened and closed his muzzle a few times, wiggling the nostril tip of it.
Glacier laughed and addressed Celestia. “Hello, sweetie. Looks like you really hit the prince square on his muzzle. I wish I had seen that after witnessing him flying back into the Rune Gate chamber.”
“As do I," Penumbra said with a chuckle. "We were about to walk in and wham – he came flying back and said that the griffon princess Celestia had kung-fued him.”
Mark shook his head. “I poked my head and neck through and, before I knew it, I had a large white paw smashing into my muzzle. There was no chance to react to that!”
"I gather you're not seriously hurt?"
"No – just a very bruised ego," Mark responded.
Celestia sighed in relief.
Shining Armor didn't say anything as he lowered the shield barrier between them, but he was taking close note of what was going on. "If Glacier is back with these strangers and they're from another reality, that means Shal-Quz must be here," Shining Armor thought to himself as he put the pieces together.
"The others should be coming through in a second," Glacier said, glancing back at the mirror.
Celestia and Shining Armor watched as others arrived through the mirror portal.
Chrysalis, Starlight, Twilight, Silvite, Octicovix and the changelings soon emerged through the mirror, crowding the small room.
“Why do I get the feeling Shal-Quz is here in the city and this convention centre?” Shining asked, briefly boggling over seeing an alicorn version of his sister.
Chrysalis grinned. “I like this Shining Armor – he's already figuring it out.”
“Not hard to... erm... ma'am.” Shining looked at the Queen dubiously. She was a changeling but as tall as Celestia would be if she was an alicorn still. Not that the griffon made her any taller but it did make her a bit more intimidating. “Glacier and her team were sent to hunt her down. The last report had her crossing into a different reality. So, if Glacier is here and brought friends along, it means Shal-Quz not only got away, the threat level is far greater than it was before,” Shining Armor stated.
Twilight was amazed by what this version of her brother said, but she figured that he'd had quite a lot of odd experiences recently, to the point it seemed normal. "That's correct, Shiny, She did and failed. We are here to put a end to that once and for all."
“He's definitely a thinker.” Chrysalis kept her fanged grin.
"We put together a plan to take her magic away from her," Starlight added.
Celestia looked at each of them noticing another came through. “Grover...”
“Celestia, it's erm... been quite some time, hasn't it?”
“It has, I would enjoy this moment seeing you again, but personal matters need to be put to the side while we attend to Shal-Quz.” He nodded, understanding what she meant. Celestia turned her head to Mark. “I gather that you have a plan.”
Mark stepped up to griffon princess, looking up at her. “I do. Let—”
“If you think for one second that I will allow you all to walk in on my Equestria and deal with this while I just sit back, you got another think coming. So...” Celestia lowered her head to him, beak near his muzzle. “Tell me the bucking plan and how we can take care of that rodent before she does something to my son. No bucking buts! Do I make myself clear!?”
“Crystal.”
A hour ago...
The morning sun had risen and there was activity within the changeling units as they prepared for orders from their queen. She, Mark and many others had their breakfast as they went over the new information and the battle plan in the Grim Bar Restaurant.
Starlight used her duplication spell on the newspaper to give each and every one of them a copy of it. They were going through what Twilight discovered after Glacier returned with the Manehatten Times newspaper showing mostly griffons holding up their winning tickets for the shot. “I'm a fictional comic-book character?” Mark said with disbelief. “Out of all the worlds we visited, we end up connecting to one that I am this Alicorn of Justice superhero larger than life character...”
“For all you know, Prince Gale could be a story book character in another, like I am to you and the former Earth of our home reality. The fact we all could be something of fiction in another isn't all that surprising,” Glacier said calmly in response to the prince. “I wouldn't worry about it too much; it just gives you more of a headache trying to understand the dimensional complexity of the multiverse or three.”
Smolder moved her claw hand over the picture of Gallus. “He look so much younger, even younger than when we first met at the School of Friendship, Could this be around three or so years before that?” she asked.
Spike confirms that question with his answer. “That Spike had no wings, so he hadn't been through the molt yet. That doesn't change the fact that Shal-Quz needs to be stopped.”
Octicovix tossed a rolled up piece of paper onto the middle of the table. “That is the layout of the comic-con. I had a leaflet about it before we left to go after Shal-Quz. Luckily, anything I see I remember. It's annoying at times but has mostly benefited me.”
Twilight took it with her magic, looked at it, and then projected the comic-con map for all of them to see while the others continued to eat and listen. “The main stage is in the middle of the comic-con. You have halls for vendors and cosplayers, for stars and panel events, and this one is a food court from the look of it.” Twilight pointed out each with a magic purple marker shifting to each point.
“Also, there's an upper level for private use only. As well as staff members that run the convention centre and the comic-con, there will be high profile individuals up there too. That is where the mirror sits too,” Glacier said.
Penumbra took a good look at the floor plan. “If this is like the Manehatten Bay Convention Centre in our Equestria, this will be a pretty big place and most likely packed close to about 10,000 creatures, mostly ponies,” Penumbra stated.
Mark looked over to her. “We have a Manehatten comic-con here too?”
“Yes. We also have the Daring Do, Wonderbolt and Buckball cons that go on there as well,” Penumbra replied. “I attended a few in the past, not as much lately though.”
“Fair enough.” Mark took a good look. “So when we do find her, how do we direct her to an empty space?”
Spike point to the main stage. “Why not the stage? It's circular, and timing it when there's no event on it will give you the chance to direct her to it. Also, if she freaks out, it could also force her to grandstand on it too.”
Silvite grinned. “It would sound like her, a pattern to the way she behaves. Shal-Quz would want others to know who she is before going out with a bang.” Silvite pulled out a crystal of a kitsune from her bag tossing it over to Spike who caught it. “I claw-carved that myself. That's my sister Pom-Pom, the twelve tail kitsune.”
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because you just came up with the start of a plan we can work with, and I give gifts to those I like.” Silvite pulled out another of an winged kitsune with eight tails, pink in colour, and tossed it over to Smolder. “That's Skip, Pom-Pom's son. It's a gift for yesterday and I think we could become good friends, kiddo.”
Smolder looked at it and back at her. “No biggy. Just doing what a dragon does.”
“I doubt many would stop one from sulking,” Silvite chuckled.
“Nah they wouldn't.” Smolder laughed back a little before suddenly a idea came to mind.
“This Celestia looks very impressive.” Chrysalis spoke, looking at the impressive form of the griffon Celestia. “Hmm... I can see a true predator in those motherly eyes of Celestia,” she said with a lick of her muzzle. “I bet angering her would be a bad day for anyone.”
Grover had a recollection of that, and he shuddered. “You don't know the half of it.”
Smolder hadn't said anything as she was moving a claw finger from one point to another on the table, recalling everything they had been told.
Starlight said, “So we cause her to panic, then direct her to the stage where I cast the spell and Twilight reinforces it with her own magic. Question is – how we do that?”
“And make sure the con-goers are not harmed either,” Mark added.
Smolder spoke up. “Divide and conquer.”
They all turned to her.
“How do we do that, Smolder?” Mark asked.
“Simple, father – Grogar, Zerra and Alicorn Celestia.” She grinned.
Chrysalis saw the plan. “Ooooh, that is so simple and wonderful. We know enough about how that Grogar would react. I could easily pull off a Grogar impression, Octicovix—”
“I can pull of a Zerra, and Mark—” Octicovix added.
Mark continued, “I go Celestial and Shal-Quz would think her spell on Celestia that got her stuck in the form a griffon would be undermined! Seeing all three, Shal-Quz would retreat to the stage if we time it right.”
“And I can cast the spell over the stage with you in it, Prince Wells!” Starlight finished.
Twilight used her magic to show the possible markers of each of them plus the rabbit with the idea in mind. “Mark will have to make sure to keep her busy for the spell to fully take effect – drag it on long enough to lock her magic within.
“I can manage one bunny,” Mark flatly said.
Glacier crossed her forelegs. “She has moves like something out of kung-fu. Shal-Quz is shifty and able to use her magic with that same effect. We caught her out because she never saw the flame Silvite unleashed coming onto the submarine.”
Grant, who had been listening to all this standing away from the table, spoke up. “I would like to be part of this because of what she did to me and almost did to my father, and the crew. However, they are still recovering and I wish to stay and watch over them.”
“That's highly respectful,” Grover responded. “Let Gillian and Trail Blazer know if you need anything for them. They pretty much know how to run this town when I am not around.”
“Thank you, Lord Grover.”
Grover turned his attention to Mark. “I know I won't be able to do much to help, but I've got a feeling that if she sees me, I bet she'll freak out even more.”
Mark looked confused. “Why?”
“Because, now I have seen what she look like thanks to Glacier's device. I saw her once before on the Gritterclaw Mountains over 750 years ago, not long after losing Nightingale. That was the day I found the Voyage-2 Archives and caused a cultural revolution for Griffina. For a brief moment, we met. She seemed rather angry about something and stormed off, muttering about her maker and how much she really hated griffons most out of all creatures.”
Mark now grew somewhat curious. “Voyage-2 Archives?”
“It look like a twisted pile of metal, gold and other things, but one touch from any living thing, you get hit by a wealth of knowledge. No one knew its age, just that nothing could damage it anymore than it is already, and that it was ageless. But also if a pony touched it, they Become extremely smart for a few hours and then they become so dumb, they wouldn't even remember what the day is. They will never retain any new long or short term memories again.”
“Shal-Quz knew this would benefit griffons in a big way and allowed you to just take it?” Glacier said with confusion. “That doesn't make any sense.”
Grover shrugged. “I cannot say why she allowed me to have it. At the time, I thought she never knew about it and just hated griffons. That was before I knew she was really a mad rabbit that would want to wipe out so many to get back at Grogar.”
Twilight stopped her magic projection. “Well, we have a plan, and we can figure out about these Voyager-2 Archives afterwards. Knowing Shal-Quz would recognise you is an added bonus we can use in this plan.”
Silvite added a punchline. “And all it took was us dragons to start the ball rolling.”
Glacier countered. “We brainiacs did make the mirror work and I did step through to get the newspaper, so... Who thinks it was mostly Twilight and her one time only special guest assistant that got the ball rolling?”
Mark rolled his eyes, seeing the egos were growing. “Let's say we all did our part and end it there, shall we? Before our egos get too big?”
Chrysalis then sniped, “So says the Alicorn of Justice who rains down lightning on his foes!”
This got the whole table to burst out laughing in response. Mark turned a light shade of red in the face. Chrysalis had the last word and won.
Celestia laughed a little at seeing Mark's blush. “You could have left that part out, but thank you for sharing that with me. I am interested in seeing this Celestial form.”
Mark used his magic to change into Marklestia. “Impressed?” She asked with a smile.
“Indeed. It feels odd looking at myself without it being me. I would be lying if I said I was disturbed by it though. I already had that experience with Daybreaker.”
“That's understandable to-” Mark froze. “Di-did you just say Daybreaker!?”
Twilight and the others looked alarmed.
Celestia hastened to reassure them. “Don't worry – she has no magic to use and my twin only has one true desire – to protect Gale no matter the cost. That's why I cannot return to being an alicorn. My body is in a state of flux that even the most experienced transfiguration mages wouldn't dare touch me with it. Now, I have an idea in mind. We can talk more about Daybreaker afterwards, okay?”
“That's one heck of a tale I've got to hear,” Mark responded. “What your idea?”
Celestia turned to Shining Armor. “You have the spare with you, do you not?”
Shining Armor used his magic to pop a bag out from his pocket dimension. “Right here, Princess. What do you have in mind?”
Celestia take the bag from Shining and levitated it over to Mark who caught it with her magic. “Do you ever dress up in that form?”
“Yes?” Mark answered opening the bag to look inside it. “You want me to wear this?”
Celestia flatly responded, “Yes I do. If you want to fool her, you've got to wear it.” Celestia turned to Chrysalis. “Queen Chrysalis, could you send one of your changelings to go find Alpha and tell him that Shal-Quz will be forced onto the main stage.”
The queen narrowed her gaze on the griffon princess. “I could, but why should I?”
“Simply put it, he's a wolf with close combat skills and can easily dodge and deflect magical blasts with the mallet he carries,” Celestia responded. “Also he shouldn't really exist and yet he does.”
Chrysalis grinned. “You've got me intrigued, Celestia. Okay, I'll send one of my changelings to inform him.”
“Thank you. He will be a wolf-like diamond dog with one eye open, with a narrow snout, thick black narrow nose and a bushy semi-long tail, and wearing leather to metal armour over most of his body. He will be somewhere near my son, Gale. Last time I heard, they were in the Vendor Hall.”
Chrysalis turned to one of her changelings. “Change your form into a pony and find that wolf.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” The changeling left with Shining Armor telling the guards that it was okay. They let the changeling pass as he changed his form into a stallion.
“By any chance is this the Alpha who I think it is?” Glacier asked.
“Yes,” Celestia said.
“How is that even possible?” Octicovix asked.
Celestia smiled. “Spoilers to be revealed after we have dealt with the matter.”
Glacier groaned and Silvite chuckled. “She got you with your own medicine, Glacier.”
Marklestia lifted the red top out of the bag with her magic. “Why do you have a spare?”
“It was buy one, get one free, and Alpha was the one that picked it out for me to surprise the others that even I can dress up in a costume for a comic-con,” Celestia calmly stated that caused a chill in the air from the words that escaped her beak. “So be a nice pony and put it on, please.”
Mark looked around to see Starlight, Twilight, Chrysalis and Penumbra all just step away from her, leaving the Celestial Alicorn alone to the fate of Celestia's demand.
Gale stood upright on his paws at the vendor table, wearing blue and white chest-plate vest-like armour with a piece strapped around his head, a visor over one eye, and wearing white gloves over his talons. He held up a green alicorn plush. “How much Alicorn of Justice plush?” Gale asked the light blue stallion.
“Twenty bits, young prince.” Gale gave the money to the merchant who smiled and said, “I hope you enjoy the rest of the convention this weekend!”
Gale hugged the plush. “I will! Thank you!” He dropped down on one foreleg and walked over to Gilda. She was wearing a steampunk pirate outfit with a long black trench coat and a tricorn hat. On the belt around her waist were two flintlock foam pistols in holsters. “Look Gilda, new plush!”
She rolled her eyes at the sight of the plush. “As one more added to your collection isn't enough, cub,” Gilda said. She looked over to Gallus who was wearing a silver chest plate with a red cape attached to it, with a silver helmet on his head. He held a foam silver hammer with wavy markings on it with one set of talons. A colt took a photo of him before thanking him and rushing off. “Hey Bluebird, how you doing?” she asked with a smirk.
Gallus turn to her, pushing the helmet up a little with the hammer. “Pretty good. I never thought I'd be having so much fun, even it is crowded.”
“Different type of crowd. These are all enjoying the same thing and minding their own business,” Gilda responded.
Nightingale came over to them, wearing a gold and greyish black chest piece with a foam sword strapped on her back. A foam silver disc was attached to her belt, and she was wearing braces on the upper and lower part of the forelegs. “Looks like your uncle is getting all the attention with that cyberpunk cosplay of his,” She hinted to the grey griffon.
Greystorm was wearing a foam fake metal arm and metal wing attachment. He was also wearing a black trench-coat. Many fillies and colts, but also including several older ponies, were getting their photos taken with him, saying how awesome his cosplay was. Greystorm finally got a moment to join the others. “What do you think?” He gestured to the costume.
“Pretty awesome, uncle. Where did you get that from?” Gallus asked.
“Short notice and a fair number of bits to a friend that make cosplay outfits. It took him working three days straight to get this made in time,” Greystorm replied. “Well worth the bits though.” He wiggled the claw fingers in the foam metal talons at Gallus.
Gabby joined them with a big Spitfire plushy held in both talons. Her outfit was a blue top with a red cape attached to it, with a triangle with a big G on the shirt and cape. “Look what I won, guys! How awesome is the massive plushy! I got the bullseye with every throw!” she giggled.
Gilda shook her head. “Only you could win a plush that big, Gabby!”
“YEP, that I can!” She giggled again.
Shal-Quz walked along with the crowds that neared the group of griffons. She passed them and reached down to the ground to snatch up a blackish-grey feather. She quickly took cover behind a vendor's stall. “Got what I needed.” She held up the feather with a grin. “Pure Griffon feather – no tainted defects like you find in griffons today.”
A slight growl among the loud roaring talk among creatures caught her attention. She slowly shifted her gaze to see the one-eyed wolf looking right at her. The black rabbit quickly moved to mix with the crowds as she tried to lose Alpha.
Suddenly, Shal-Quz found herself face to face with a large ram. “Gro-Grogar?!”
“Shal-Quz – I heard you tried to blow up two multiverses just to get at me. Now I'm here t—”
Shal-Quz's heart started to race as she turned and ran from him. A fearful glance over her shoulder saw the blue goat casually following. The rabbit soon came to a stumbling stop as she now was confronted by Zerra.
“Where do you think you're going, Shal-Quz? You've got no where to run.” He grinned.
Shal-Quz quickly turned to her right to see the blue goat on approach, then turned to her left and boggled. Her yellow eyes couldn't believe what was in their sights; before the black rabbit was Celestia back as an alicorn. “No! No! No! No! This can't be happening! I didn't plan for this! How can she b—” She quickly looked at Grogar again. “Damn it! That goat restored her! Of course he'd be working with her! Enemy of my enemy is my friend!” Shal-Quz snarled. “That does it! Time to take centre stage and show them who's the boss!” She turned and jumped over the zebra, colliding with an orange and red dragon, both falling to the ground. Shal-Quz pushed herself off them as they shouted at her. She didn't care what they said; she was making a run out of the hall, straight for the main stage.
With a big leap, she landed right on the stage. As many ponies and other creatures saw her there, they stopped to look at their leaflets to see if anything was supposed to be scheduled for this time.
The rabbit stood tall to see before her. “Celestia?! You're a griffon!”
“Of course, this is the form you had me stuck in since that fight on the mountain.” Celestia stood at one end of the stage staring at the rabbit. “Your time is up, Shal-Quz.”
“Really now? You're going to fight me here? Get your little ponies hurt?”
“Not just me. I brought a few friends along,” Celestia casually said.
Shal-Quz's gaze caught sight of a green alicorn stallion pulling off a red top and tossing it off stage to Silvite. “A pony cosplaying as the Alicorn of Justice. Really?”
Mark flexed his wings, his horn sparking with magic. “No, I'm the real deal and looking forward to knocking you down for attacking my reality, rabbit.”
Shal-Quz smirked. “Ah, I see. The reality the sub went to was your reality. Fancy that.”
The crowds were gathering and talking among each other. Changelings mixed in with them started saying it was a special promotional surprise event for the release of the new comic-book series of the Alicorn of Justice.
“They're not the only thing you have to deal with, Shal-Quz.”
She quickly turned to see the wolf on the stage with his hammer resting over one shoulder. “You have threatened Lord Gale more than a few times. I shall not let you harm him again.”
“Three on one huh?” She chuckled. “Well how about we get messy.” Shal-Quz aimed a magical energy ball and let it go at the crowd to come in contact with a energy shield that lit up all around the stage. “What the—?”
Celestia smiled. “As you can see, we came prepared for you. Now we can fight without harm coming to others.”
Starlight stood at one side of the stage as Twilight stood at the other. “Only two spell-casters, huh? Well, I hate to break your bubble but you need at least—”
“Three to hold it up.”
The voice that rang out cast a deep chill down Shal-Quz's back. She and the others turned to see Anubis the Death Dragon holding up his staff, glowing with dark-purple magic from the flaming jewel between it. “Hello, Shal-Quz. How has it been?”
Shal-Quz couldn't believe it. She was trapped inside a dome on a massive stage surrounded by a griffon, wolf and an alicorn who all stood ready to fight. “What are you doing here, Anubis!?”
The death dragon casually smiled. “Oh, you're just looking at the author of the Mark Wells: Alicorn of Justice comic-book series, promoting it here at the comic con.” He gave the rabbit a really dark smile.
Silvite facepalmed. “I should have seen it. Sibuna, the author, Anubis spelt backwards!”
“What does that mean for us?” Starlight asked.
“That bloody plan still in effect, child," Anubis said bluntly. "Let them fight without fear of harming others. Together, we three powerful magic casters will be enough to do what is needed.”
Shal-Quz got into a battle stance, shifting one foot paw forwards, the other back a little, magic forming around her hand paws. The stage started to warp around her. “Shall we dance?”
The warped magical field rapidly expanded, hitting all three of them at the same time. Their field of vision was wavy and distorted, making it hard to see anything within the dome shield. Mark suddenly found Shal-Quz practically in his face unleashing a blast of magic. However, he had come prepared for the rabbit's tricks and he protected himself with his wings which were reinforced with a defensive spell taught to him by Shining Armor.
Mark released his wings and unleashed a blast of electrical magic at her. However, almost faster than the eye could follow, Shal-Quz shifted her weight to the side so that the magic blast shot past her. The rabbit then dropped down to swipe a kick under all four of Mark's legs. As he toppled over, Shal-Quz leaped up while forming a mass of diamond around her right paw foot. Her attempt to slam it down on his head was met by talons grabbing it and throwing her away from Mark.
Celestia, with wings flared open, stood in a battle stance next to Mark. She glanced at him as he got up, shaking his head. “Are you alright?”
“Singed but still in the game. I can see what you meant about her swiftness – that reality magic is making it hard to see her movements.” Mark looked around the stage for their quarry.
Celestia looked around too. “She's twisting our senses with that magic of hers. This is on another level to chaos. This is using chaos and order and blending the two.”
“Any way to—” Mark turned, spotting the rabbit coming for Celestia with a flying kick. Celestia blocked it and unleashed a fiery punch, followed by a blocking kick as Shal-Quz deflected the punch. Mark unleashed a forehoof punch followed by a blast of lightning charged magic. She deflected both the punch and the lightning with reality magic around her paws.
Shal-Quz twisted her paws around, forming several crystals which turned into winged beasts that roared. “I would love a good fight, but I'd rather end this now.” She and her crystal creations charged at Celestia and Mark.
Celestia, with the uncanny flexibility of her griffon form, twisted out of the way of one creature's attack, grabbing it in passing. She then spun around and hurled it at Shal-Quz. Meanwhile, Mark grabbed two of the remaining crystal monsters with telekinesis and slammed them into each other, shattering them. He followed it up by blasting superheated magic at the rabbit. Shal-Quz deflected both attacks and leapt forward to slam an energy punch into Mark and Celestia, hurling both back into the barrier.
“Found you, vermin!” Alpha yelled as he slammed his mallet down on the remaining crystal monsters, shattering all of them with one hit. The wolf snarled and swung the war-hammer at Shal-Quz who deflected its course with barriers created by her reality magic.
“You are something else, but it won't help you, wolf.” She aimed a blast at him, but Alpha held his glowing mallet out in front of him. It parted the blast around the wolf and into the barrier behind him.
“Imp–” Shal-Quz started to say before she was struck by the mallet, slamming her away.
The warping broke as Shal-Quz hit the barrier on the other side. She bounced off it, landing on her paw feet with her white outfit smoking from the impact.
“You will fall, rabbit!” Alpha leaped at her, slamming the mallet down.
Once again, she deflected it to grab his armoured chest-plate and, with a foot paw under his stomach, him over her into the barrier. Shal-Quz then jumped up, avoiding another attack by Celestia and Mark. She formed a column of rocks which spun around and opened up, revealing a red glowing crystal that unleashed beams of magic down on all of them. They leaped and dodged the blasts, using shield spells to deflect the red beam shards away from them.
Mark teleported behind her and unleashed a blast of magic which shattered the rabbit to crystal pieces. “What the buck?!” he exclaimed.
“Oh, please! Do you really think I'd fall for that?” came the rabbit's mocking voice.
Celestia shattered the flowing firing crystal and then, seeing Shal-Quz in front of her, punched to shatter that one.
“I control reality. As I attack, the magic levels in me increase. I am getting stronger and more unstable.”
Alpha looked around, seeing many versions of her now around him. He blocked kicks and punches, hitting back and shattering a few of them, even tossing one into many others.
They reformed into more beasts, unleashing magic and attacking back. Mark destroyed many of them with kicks followed by punches and a focused beam of magic. He dodged blasts and tried to change into his celestial form but, to his shock, he couldn't. Shal-Quz caught him off-guard and hit him in the muzzle, throwing him to the ground on his back. She threw another power punch at the downed alicorn only for him to roll out the way.
“I can't change forms!” Mark exclaimed as the rabbit ignored him for a moment to dodge simultaneous assaults from Celestia and Alpha, a blast of her reality magic turning their attacks on each other.
Shal-Quz turned her attention back to Mark and grinned. “Oh, what a shame. Let me help you.” She held out her hands, palm outward, and a shockwave of magic too broad too dodge slammed into the green alicorn. His Celestial form flew out of him and they both hit the barrier with a thud. They looked at each other in shock, each knowing everything the other knew right up until the moment they had split. Now both were Mark and yet weren't.
Mark frowned. “I feel weaker. I think my... our magic has just been halved.”
“I can—” They dodged a blast of hot liquid crystal that instantly turning solid on the ground where they had been a second ago. “We'll deal with this later! Let's focus on what's at hoof!”
“Got it!” Both nodded and fired beams of magic at the rabbit. They may have been of two bodies but still of one mind.
Shal-Quz dodged them, doing backflips and warp-shifting to the right and left. “Come on! Hit—Gaah!”
Celestia slammed her fist into her face. Even as the rabbit staggered back, she turned to hurl a reality-charged beam of ice at Celestia. The Celestial griffon dodged it to punch Shal-Quz in the gut, followed by Marklestia punching with a forehoof to the face. Mark blasted her with an electrical charge, and Alpha hit the rabbit with a roundhouse swing of his mallet, hurling her into the top of the barrier. Shal-Quz had been hit hard and she hurt, but now she was away from their direct attacks and looking down at all of them. She snarled and formed a metal orb that extruded tentacles that went after all of her opponents.
Outside the barrier, the crowd cheered on for Mark Wells – the Alicorn of Justice, Princess Celestia, and Alpha too. They booed when Shal-Quz got the upper hand at times, and they were hugely surprised by the Celestia alicorn that came out of Mark, although with his cutie mark. Nevertheless, they just thought it was all part of the show.
Gilda and the other griffons arrived, hearing about the stage fight. “Sweet Grover! It's Shal-Quz!” Gilda exclaimed with alarm.
Gale and Nightingale watched in horror at seeing the white griffon get grabbed by a tentacle and slammed into the barrier. However, her talons grasped the tentacle and, with a blast of her power, melted it into molten metal. She used her magic to form it into a ball and threw it at Shal-Quz. The rabbit deflected it and created more different colourful crystals, unleashing a flurry of rainbow beams at the four fighters.
Nightingale said, “Why are we just staring? We've got to help mum!” She went to take off but a talon grabbed her. “Get o—” She saw who was holding her back and her eyes widened. “D-dad?!” She squawked in surprise.
They all turned and Gallus gasped, seeing his idol in real life. “K-k-king Grover?”
“Hello, my little Nightingale, it's been far too long. I wish we celebrate meeting again after all my years of searching to save you, but worlds are at stake right now and we can't do much but watch,” Grover said, looking dead seriously into the eyes of Nightingale. “Three magic casters are casting a spell that is affecting Shal-Quz. However, it takes time, so that what they're doing – buying time.” He looked back to the battle happening at the moment.
Greystorm watched. “I can see it – they're fighting hard, but they're holding back too.”
Gabby watched was happening around them. “Why do all the ponies think this is a show?”
“Because it part of the plan to avoid panic,” Octicovix said as emerged in her griffon form. “Hello, Grey.” She smiled.
Greystorm instantly hugged her. “Oh it's so good to see you again, my love. I wish it was—”
“—in better circumstances? Yeah.” She hugged back and then they parted a little to watch the conflict.
Gilda's eyes darted around at each of them. “Alpha's in there, and is that the alicorn Mark Wells? How the buck is a fake alicorn stallion holding up?”
“He no fake, he real,” Gale said looking at the plush and at the green alicorn working with the Celestial form to take on the metal orb using their telekinetic magic to rip it to pieces. “That fake mum has same cutie mark as him. She is him.”
“That dweeb is seriously weird...” Gilda muttered.
A pony stepped up to them. “I sense such pureness from you child. It is intoxicating. How is that even possible?”
Gale tilted his head to look at the green mare with the two tone ginger mane. “You no pony. You feel like Octicovix. You changeling, aren't you?”
Chrysalis was surprised. “How?”
“I get weird feeling, feel strange magic coming off you like Octicovix when she Pistol.” Gale responded, he turned to the shield which was flashing from the massive impacts of magic. “It's going to break.”
Penumbra quickly rushed over to the queen. “We've got a problem! The spell is working but the intensity of the magic being used is weakening the shield fast! Twilight, Starlight and that dragon, Anubis, are struggling to maintain it and keep the spell working at the same—” She paused, seeing the dumbfounded look on Chrysalis' face. “Did you he—”
“Yes I heard, but he knew before you told me,” Chrysalis said, looking at the teenage griffon.
A red dragon came over. “Hey pure griffon!” They all turned toward the red dragon.
Penumbra knew who he was in an instant. “Garble?”
“Yeah, yeah, that's my name. Dad told me to give this to you right this second.” The red dragon held out a piece of paper to Gale. “He said you will know what to do.”
Gale took it. “Erm... Okay?” He took it and opened it up, then looked up to see the dragon join an orange one. They nodded at Gale, then a flash of light caused the onlookers to close their eyes from the battle in the domed shield, and the two dragons were gone.
“That was a younger Smolder too,” Chrysalis stated. “I wonder who the dad is?”
Gale took a look at the note before giving it to Gilda. She read it out. “Remember that feeling when you felt that healed me and reformed my staff. I was once out to claim your magic for Grogar, but now I give you that helpful tip. Go to the casters and focus on that moment of helping and form it into three shining lights.”
Gabby scratched her head. “I'm confused.”
“I don't understand,” Penumbra said. “How does that help us with the shield that's about to pop?”
Silvite stepped up. “Simple. The day Nowhere returned home was the moment Gale turned Thunderous into a twenty-foot tall statue that sits in my garden.” Gale looked up at her, she looked back down at him. “Do it, Gale.”
Gale nodded and flew up, looking around for the casters. He spotted them – one was Twilight Sparkle but with wings. With her was Shining Armor with his guards, trying to help reinforce the shield itself. Another caster was a light purple pony with a dark purple mane with blue highlights, and the final one was Anubis. “Feel – remember moment... I will.” He closed his eyes letting the pure magic flow through his talons.
Shining Armor was using his magic to help boost the shield. Many of his unicorns had attempted but had collapsed on the ground exhausted from overuse of magic, some of them with slightly cracked horns. “Twily! I'm all that's left standing to reinforce the shield! I can't maintain it much longer!”
“We must keep trying! I know we can do it!” Twilight grated out, sweat pouring from her brow. Then she saw whitish-blue light in the corner of her eyes. Turning her head slightly, she saw Gale above them with both talons close together glowing brightly. Many con-goers pointed at the young prince, some cheering as if they thought it was part of the show. “I-is that—?”
“Pure magic. Yes,” Shining said as he saw three orbs form. Then each fired a beam of magic which hit Twilight, Starlight and Anubis. Suddenly, Twilight stood strong her magic surging.
Twilight gasped, feeling the warmth of magic surge through her. “Wh-what the buck is this!? I've never felt this kind of magic before! It feels so pure...”
Starlight spoke up. “I can feel it too. I've never felt anything like this either, but it's giving us everything we need to speed this up!”
“That's exactly what Prince Gale is doing. The cub's magic is amplifying our own!” Anubis confirmed.
Gale finished casting the magic on them. Drained, he fell towards the ground. Penumbra launched herself up to catch the cub, and she glided down to land as the crowd parted for them.
“I do good?” he asked weakly.
“You did real good,” the batpony assured him.
“Yay!” He raised a fist up weakly and she put one of her webbed wings against it.
“Yay indeed,” she chuckled, helping him to sit up and watch.
Chrysalis looked around at her fellow changelings in disguise who had felt the wave of pure magic too. They were alarmed by the overflowing of pure emotional magic that had washed over them. The queen had never felt emotional energy this rich before. ”Keep to your given tasks, don't let this influx of energy go to your heads! We need to finish what we started.”
“Yes my queen!” they all responded.
Both forms of Mark punched Shal-Quz hard in chest before the Celestial one began to glow and fuse back into the green alicorn. He blinked a few times, feeling momentarily disoriented by two perspectives rolling into one. “I'm whole again.” He looked around to see firing crystals start to go black and shatter before they turned to dust and faded away. “They did it!”
Celestia made a sweeping kick to Shal-Quz's gut, sending her flying into one of the crystal monsters, shattering it to pieces. Alpha struck her in the back with his mallet and the rabbit landed in the middle of the stage, reeling from the pain that her magic had failed to save her from this time. Gasping, she looked around to see all her reality creations breaking down and the stage returning to normal. “Wh-what is happening!?” She could feel the magic draining from her fast.
Mark gestured to the dome around them. “This isn't just a shield – we've been leeching away your magic,” he explained as electrical magic discharged from his horn. “You're done.”
Shal-Quz grinned. “Oh, I am far from done. There's still enough reality magic to do this!” She slammed her fist down, causing a black crystal to burst out of the floor. She rose up with it.
Mark's horn stopped glowing as its magic was pulled into the crystal. Celestia found herself unable to fly and cast any magic.
Starlight knew what it was. “Nullcrystal! That's a bucking nullcrystal!” She could feel its drain on the shield but the pure magic from Gale had weakened its effect, so she and the others were able to to maintain the shield.
Shal-Quz noticed but she had to take care of her primary problems first. She formed nullcrystal blades and threw them at Celestia, Mark and Alpha. The wolf dodged it with ease and threw his mallet toward Celestia to deflect the blade while leaping toward Mark. He grabbed the last blade a mere centimetre from the alicorn's muzzle.
“Well, isn't that impressive! You not only dodged your one, but you deflected and stopped the others.” She formed two more in both paw hands. “I'll enjoy cutting you down.”
Mark gulped loudly at seeing how close he had been to getting skewered. “Why do you look so familiar?”
Alpha tossed the blade to the ground. “I am Alpha, once leader of a pack of wolves from China. I served Shen for twenty-plus years. I saw the darkness within and found inner peace. Now I serve Lord Gale to the end as his dream guardian. Once, I was a creation of dreams, but I was dragged into the physical plane because of the actions of this vile rabbit.” He walked towards Shal-Quz as she leaped down and walked toward him, spinning her blades. “I will show her the consequences of making that mistake.”
Mark stared at the back of the wolf as he approached Shal-Quz. “Kick her sorry butt, Alpha,” Mark said with a grim smile.
Alpha glanced back at Mark with his one eye. “I plan to.”
He turned back and ran on all fours right at Shal-Quz. She charged at him to slash, but he slid under the blade, and then did a jump-spin to dodge the second. Alpha landed with his right paw foot in front and left to the back, his right hand paw gestured to Shal-Quz to come at him.
“I will cut you to pieces, you stupid wolf!” The rabbit still had an amazing amount of speed and she slashed, kicked, and did spin flips to try and catch the wolf off-guard.
Alpha deflected, punched and kicked back. Mark and Celestia watched helplessly as not only their magic was drained from them by the crystal but their strength too. As creatures of natural magic, they were vulnerable, but Alpha was embodied by reality magic and unaffected. They couldn't do anything but watch Alpha fight Shal-Quz. However, the wolf was easily countering her moves. Twisting to one side to evade a thrust, he kicked her in the chest and grabbed her wrist twist it to force her to let go of the blade, then grabbed the other arm to slam it into his knee, making her drop the other. Alpha then pushed her back to spin-kick the rabbit with force. Shal-Quz flew back into the crystal hard. She landed on one knee and slowly got up, bleeding from the side of her face that had struck the jagged crystal. She reached up and touched her cheek, seeing the red on the paw hand. “I see that I underestimated you,” she croaked before breaking into a cough. She spat out some blood before snarling, “Well then, let's see if you can do anything about this!”
Shal-Quz formed a magical sphere in her right hand paw about the size of a volleyball. She pulled her arm back and Alpha shifted his stance into one that Mark had seen before. “Inner peace...” He whispered.
“This is a reality bomb,” the rabbit explained with a smirk. “It doesn't need much magic and it's quite lethal. If it hits you, you're dust. If you dodge it, Celestia and the green alicorn are dust. Which of you are going to die?” She broke into a hacking laugh.
“As with all villains, you are the same,” Alpha said with a sigh. “Your ego demands that you win without the need to end it quick. You have to make your victims suffer. You are as weak as they all are. You are all are bottomless pits of stupidity.”
Shal-Quz snarled. “Stupid?! Then let's see if this will be you or them!” She threw the sphere hard at Alpha.
“No, just you.” With a liquid fluidity belying his huge frame, Alpha caught it, sliding back to jump and start spinning around.
Shal-Quz eyes shrunk to pin-pricks. “H-how is that even possible?! Nothing of this reality can touch a reality bomb!”
Alpha smiled. “I am of the dream reality, not of this one. You are the reason I exist in the physical plane.” He came out of the spin to land and once again his arms guided the magic sphere. “As the panda once said... Skadoosh!” Alpha let it go and it flew toward Shal-Quz.
It moved so fast that she was unable to react, but she wasn't its target. It sailed by her, missing her by inches and striking the crystal behind her. She looked back to see the reality bomb engulf it and vaporize the whole thing, the explosion sending her flying onto her back.
With magic restored to Celestia and Mark, they got up and gathered together with Alpha who was still in his launch stance. “You're definitely not Boss Wolf,” Mark stated.
“No, I am Alpha Wolf, guardian to Lord Gale, serving him to my last breath,” Alpha responded with a grin. Mark smiled back.
They watched Shal-Quz slowly getting up, groaning in pain. The rabbit looked at each of them as she stood unsteadily on her feet.
“Outsmart me will you? Play my game and throw it back in my face? I hate you griffons!” she spat.
“It was Alpha who just kicked your butt,” Mark pointed out to her.
“Yes, but he came from a griffon! The pure one!” She snarled, reaching into her sleeve to pull out a feather. “That was all I needed too.” She formed a small reality bomb orb, merging it with the feather.
Celestia spoke out. “Give up, Shal-Quz. You've lost. What is that even going to do? You've got almost no magic left.”
Shal-Quz held it up, an evil smirk on her face. She laughed humorlessly. “Simple. This is something I prepared previously. It's my Hail Mary, my endgame – the ultimate spoilsport. I shatter this and all griffons in every corner of both of your multiverses will turn to dust.” The battered and burned rabbit squeezed her hand paw around the sphere.
Mark's pupils shrunk. If that magic was released, he would lose friends and family, even those that traveled to his Equestria that he knew were griffons and hippogriffs. “All type of griffs will be affected too!” Mark snarled. “You would be so petty that you would wipe out billions of griffs because you lost?! That isn't justice – that is plain insanity!”
“I know!” she growled. “For over four thousand years I had to put those featherbrains down in this reality, over and over again! But they kept coming back and a whole new civilisation sprung up! They are of both chaos and order! They are like humans! They just don't know when to stop fighting and just give up! Even when the latest to come from Grover! I told Grogar that doing this over and over again would result in something escaping the loop of griffon civilisations that I caused to collapse!”
Shal-Quz raised her free hand paw with a closed fist. “Grover found the Holy Grail of griffon kind, those damn Voyager-2 Archives! That piece of junk is what made them grand! And with it came the Finch Griffons. Those soft-paw small griffons were far more intelligent than any griffon came before. They did more things with the archives than any had before! When Zerra did what Grogar wanted him to do to that brat Nightingale, I told him that we had to put a end to griffon kind once and for all!”
She pointed at Celestia. “But no! You filthy griffons became of interest to him! He found your challenging abilities a test against his own! You became his favourite play things! That's when I took my chance with Guto! I saw a way to destroy that kingdom. I created that monster to steal the idol to use it against him! But no, Grogar made sure that it never reached me by blasting that bridge and sending the idol down the abyss!”
Celestia looked very startled by this, as did so many others. “You caused all that?!”
“I found a way around it! I involved the changelings! Queen Chrysalis was a pawn in my greater plan. I used her to get close to the King and created her little throne for her kind to be safe! Got them to believe the ponies needed to be dealt with and start a war! They almost did!”
Chrysalis, Octicovix, and all the changelings turned to the stage to stare directly at Shal-Quz.
“But no! He fell in love with her! And she did with him! They said it wasn't worth it and that their love would feed the changelings. In turn, they helped the griffons out of despair! I had to make sure to break that stupid love between a bug and a griffon! I did so by making it seem he misused the communication orbs on Flaputa! I caused the massacre! I am the one behind that and now I will do it all over again with every living griffon!” She burst into laughter ready to shatter the orb.
Octicovix collapsed upon hearing it but Greystorm caught her. The con-goers thought it was dark but still part of the act, none knowing that it was really true. Glacier had her wrist-pad device on, recording it all.
Chrysalis knew who the father was from that moment. She knew what her counterpart did, freezing the egg of her daughter and only hatching it in the last fifty years or so ago. She had said to herself that she would never get personally involved with the hive matters of other versions of herself, but this one was a blow too low.
Mark calmly walked up to the rabbit. “With what?”
Shal-Quz goggled at him in disbelief. “With what?! With th—” She squeezed her paw hand to find nothing there. She looked up. “Wh-what?!”
“You should have done it first and then boast but, as usual, you villains always have to monolog. It gave Twilight the opportunity to cast a precision portal spell. Your secret weapon is now in a dead dimension where it can't hurt anygriff.” Mark sighed. “What a waste.” He turned to Starlight and nodded. The dome shield came down. “You're finished.”
With a scream of frustrated rage, Shal-Quz hurled her fist at the grim face of her foe. Mark snarled and a bolt of lightning leapt from his horn, striking the rabbit morph squarely in the chest. Shal-Quz's muscles locked up, her fist a couple of inches short of the alicorn's face. A strangled cry of frustration escaped the rabbit's throat as she stood there, frozen in place.
Prince Mark's expression changed into a smug grin. “Like it?” he asked. “It's a special attack I developed with the aid of volunteers. The magic-enhanced lightning paralyses all voluntary muscles for about an hour. You're just a particularly unpleasant statue for the duration.” His expression switched to a sneer as he pushed his muzzle close to hers. “Don't buck with an alicorn, his world or his family.”
Almost all the crowd around them cheered happily with chants to Mark mainly as he brought down the Lightning of JusticeTM to his foe. The only ones that weren't cheering were himself, Celestia, Alpha and everyone else in the team, Gilda, and the others. They all looked bleak at what Shal-Quz had told them.
Now, faced with their victory, they had to figure out what to do with Shal-Quz...
“Captain, there’s a hall not being used at this time, correct?” Celestia asked Shining.
“Yes. Princess. It’s W3-4 hall.” Shining Armor pointed his hoof in that direction.
“Clear a path for us, then get the pegasus and earth pony guards to aid carrying the unicorn guards there,” Celestia ordered.
Celestia picked up Shal-Quz. Pegasi guards move the crowds back, allowing the victors to carry Shal-Quz away. While this happened, Greystorm picked up Octicovix, carrying her to follow them through the back of the crowds. Chrysalis and the changelings aided the guards in getting the unicorn guards carried to safety. Penumbra carried Gale while the others followed.
Soon they were in the hallway. The remaining guards along with some changelings took position on the sky-bridge entrance of the joining halls, and into the hall they entered. Medical guard personnel went to get stretcher beds and set them up for the unicorn guards to be tended to by the medics. Shal-Quz was tied up to a main support pillar, her muzzle bound by Celestia.
Octicovix was placed on one of the spare beds. She was having an explosive release of emotional energy, now saying random words. All Greystorm could do was sit by her bedside, holding her hoof with his talons.
“MY DAD IS WHAT?!” Octicovix screamed, follow by crying. “Mum why did you never tell me!” Then laughter. “Hahaha, dad wasn't a betrayer – mum took all his hahaha emotions hahaha.”
“Oh, Octicovix...” Greystorm’s tears fell, unable to do anything to help her. He was not sure what to do and Chrysalis had never seen this level of mental emotional breakdown from a changeling. The raw confusing release of emotions was even getting to her.
The queen sighed heavily. “I am at a loss. What Shal-Quz did to my counterpart, what she did to her child, and the hive?” She shook her head. “I can sense immense release from the emotional centres of her mind. They are shattered and I am barely holding back her emotional outbursts through the hive-mind.”
Greystorm gently put the hoof down and reached over to a bowl of warm water. Swishing a cloth in it before wringing it out, he placed it on Octicovix’s forehead. “It’s not only that, she affected both types of griffons as well the changeling hive. In a strange way, she did cause something good to come out of it. Octicovix came into my life. But that’s only a small glimmer of light in the overshadowing fact that her father had all his emotions sucked out of him, and to know he was never a betrayer...”
“Shal-Quz struck low even for my own taste,” Chrysalis said. “I never wished to get involved in other Equis’s changeling hive matters, but this one went too far even for me to sit back.” Chrysalis turned to the tied-up rabbit. She showed a grin, muffling it with laughter. “I can tell right now that she wants me to react and do something harsh towards her.”
“How do you even find justice for what she did?” Greystorm asked.
Chrysalis looked over to Mark who was going over to Gale's stretcher bed. “One thing my husband is good at is figuring out the right kind of justice for monsters like Shal-Quz.”
Mark approached Penumbra who was tending to Gale. Celestia hugged the teenage griffon, and he hugged back. “Listen to the nice batpony, Gale. I am going to talk to your dad and sister, okay?” Gale nodded a little hugging the Mark Wells plush now. She kissed the top of his head. “If you need me, holler, okay?”
“Yes, mum.”
Celestia walked over to Grover and Nightingale as Mark arrived.
Gilda looked over to him. “Hey, Sparky.” Mark gave her a questioning look as she called him that name. “What kind of justice do you purpose for a rodent like her?” Gilda inclined her head toward the tied-up rabbit.
Mark replied, “Gilda, I've been going over it with Starlight and Twilight alongside Anubis. From what Silvite told my daughter about his abilities, they’re going through everything Shal-Quz has done. So far it been very grim.”
“Enough to make a death-dragon cry,” Gilda said glancing over to them. “That’s some messed-up stuff that rabbit has done.”
“I'm going to check up on Prince Gale.”
“Penny has been doing a good job on the cub, dweeb. He gave her the trust test and he really likes the care she’s been giving him.” Gilda smiled.
Mark flicked an ear. “Better not say that name in front of Penumbra – she only allows me to call her that.”
Gilda shrugged. “Yeah, she said the same thing. I told her I call most people by nicknames – told her tough luck and move along. I’m not gonna change the way I do things. Princess Celestia knows I call her Trollestia and even if it bothers her, she knows that it’s just how I am,” Gilda responded. “Go see the cub, Sparky.”
Mark rolled his eyes walking over to the stretcher bed. “Hey Penny, how’s he doing?”
Penumbra had given Gale a cup of water which he was drinking slowly. “Still recovering from that use of pure magic. Princess Celestia left me in his care for now, even though you’ve got a wolf and a griffon that are intently watching everything I am doing around Prince Gale.” Penumbra hinted to Alpha and Gilda, then her gaze turned to the blue teen griffon. “And there’s Gallus over there reading a comic, but he also looks very worried for his uncle and aunt, gathering from the glances he does every so often over in Octicovix's direction.”
Mark had a very strange feeling inside in regards to the aunt and uncle. The fact that his adopted son’s counterpart in this Equis had family was one of those new surprises. This very young version of Gallus sitting there, pretending his hardest to look tough in face of hiding his feelings, was very worried for Octicovix. “Octicovix will pull through, and my wife is with Greystorm,” he finally responded to Penumbra.
Mark knelt down to the bedside of Gale. “Hey there, cub! How are you doing?”
“Tired, but happy,” Gale said warmly to the green alicorn. “We have fun after Shal-Quz punished?”
“Yeah, we will.” Mark rubbed his hoof over the feathered head of the teenage griffon. “I want to personally thank you for what you did. If it wasn't for that energy boost to Starlight, Twilight and Anubis, who knows what would have happened.”
Gale put the cup down. “Red dragon gave note from his dad, Anubis.”
Penumbra instantly looked sharply at Gale. “What... did... you... say?”
“Red dragon called Garble – he said note from their dad. It say how I help.”
“Holy buck! That means this world’s Smolder is the daughter of a god.” Penumbra looked right over to Anubis talking with Starlight and Twilight. “Mark?”
Mark had frozen, staring right at Anubis. A look of shock was written on his face. Finding out that his daughter-in-law's counterpart was the daughter of the dragons’ god of the dead was one thing he very much hadn’t been expecting. “Mark... Different worlds different lives.”
“I get it,” Mark managed to say with a hard swallow. “How the heck do I tell my daughter about this? Seriously... How do you even tell her that kind of thing?”
“Not a clue. It’s a whole new one on me coming to an Equis different from any we’ve been to,” Penumbra responded, still trying to work that out herself. “He was created by Grogar's bell right?” Mark nodded. “So how does that work with having—”
Alpha bolted from his spot, landing his hand paw over the muzzle of Penumbra. She was startled by the sudden movement and being gagged. “Do! Not! Finish! That! Sentence!” Alpha snarled with a rumbling growl in his throat, the one eye looking dead into hers.
Mark’s horn lit up but Gilda put her talon on his withers. “Best not – I know exactly what she was about to say and Alpha did what he needed to do as guardian to the cub and protect him from that word.”
Mark cancelled out his magic. “Alright...”
Gale tilted his head. “I confused – what she gonna say?”
“Nothing that concern you, dweeb,” Gilda said to Gale.
“Erm... okay? Is it bad word?”
“Yes, it is,” Alpha said. “Not one for you, Lord Gale, to hear. Not yet.” Alpha said as he released his paw from Penumbra's muzzle. Gallus glanced over to them, snickering, as he knew exactly what she was going to say and seeing Alpha stopped it. “Now I'll tell you two once and only once as a warning – be mindful of what you say around Lord Gale. He doesn't understand certain words and will easily mistake them for something else in meaning. If you don't, I'll have to use some extra force, Prince, guard, or whatever you are.”
Mark felt the energy coming off the wolf. It was very calm and yet had a deadly element to it. “Crystal,” Mark and Penumbra said together.
Alpha gave a humph. “Good.”
Gale noticed something behind Gilda. “Gilda, weird black cube with swishing patterns behind you,” Gale pointed.
Gilda looked behind her to see nothing but crates against the wall. “There nothing there Gale – just a bunch of crates full of props.
Gallus raised his head from the comic book, looking at the crates. “I saw it when we came in. It does give a weird vibe or something from it. I thought it was part of the rest of those props.”
“It does look rather ominous,” Alpha agreed.
Penumbra couldn't see anything there. “I see no cube.”
“Nor do I,” Mark confirmed.
Gale got up from the bed, picking up his bag and putting the plush in it. “It there. It weird looking cube with shifting patterns over surface of it.”
Gilda knew she couldn't see it, but also knew that Gale never lied ever. Alpha, once being part of him, most likely had that connection, and Gallus had that feather from Avatar as one of his primes. This summed up to Gilda that there was cube there, invisible to her, Penumbra and Mark's eyes. “Dweebs, even if we can't see it, Gale has no concept of lying. So, if he says it’s there, it’s there,” Gilda said.
Mark looked at the two teens and Alpha, trying to understand why they saw something that he, Penumbra and Gilda couldn't. “Why can't we see it then?”
“Gale has pure magic. Alpha is from Gale and Gallus has got a prime feather from Avatar of the Tree of Elysium. So I say that’s why they can see something we can't,” Gilda replied, trying her hardest to see it and walk up to the spot.
Gale tilted his head. “You standing through it.”
Gallus gave a very strange look at the sight before him. “Yeah, that just looks weird.”
Alpha frowned. “More like half of her head melded with it.”
“So the thing’s there but it untouchable.” Gilda returned to them.
Gallus put the comic book down and walked up to the object. He looked at the shifting patterns across its surface before placing a talon on it. “Well, it seems solid to me.” He closed his talons into a fist and knocked it a few times.
Mark heard the tapping sound from it. “So, you three can interact with this cube as well as see it?”
“How does that even work?” Penumbra asked, then suddenly came up with a strange idea. “Prince Gale.”
“Yes?” Gale turned to the bat pony.
“Could you use that pure magic, a little of it on us?”
Gale’s eyes lit up. “Oooooooh! Then you maybe see!”
“Exactly!”
Gale put the plush into his bag, leaped up onto his paws, rubbing his talons together. “I try!” Gale focused on the pure magic within and the talons started to glow bluish-white.
Mark looked at the glowing magic forming around the talons. “I don't think I'll get used to seeing a griffon using magic – even Celestia.” Gale poked the tip of Mark’s muzzle with his claw tip. Suddenly, a strange feeling of magic wash over the alicorn. The cube suddenly emerged in his visual range. “Wow, that’s some weird cube.”
Penumbra and Gilda were given the same treatment and saw it too. “Well, dweebs, will you look at that.” Gilda walked up to it, placing a talon against the surface. “It feels solid yet weird.”
Penumbra placed her hoof against it too. “It does, yet the question is why was it hidden from touch and sight from us apart from them?”
“That’s a good question, Penny.” Mark walked around it. “It’s solid all the w—” Mark saw the patterns shift suddenly and move around the sides to one point. “…way around?” Mark saw Gale had gotten close and talon pressing on the surface, the strange white patterns had formed together around it. “It’s reacting to Prince Gale.”
“No buck, Grimlock.” Gilda retorted.
They watched the patterns fully merge around his talon to form a shape of it. Gale moved the talon away to watch the talon print expand till it was about seven feet high. Hinges appeared on one side of the talon print, a doorknob and a latch appeared on the other side.
“A door?” Gallus was as dumbfounded as were the others.
Gale reached to the latch and twisted it to unlock the door. He then put the talon on the doorknob, twisting it to pull the door towards him. It swung open to show them a stone-cobbled path with a red painted wooden arch over it. In the distance, they could see a massive mountain, and far into the sky what look like corners of a wall. “It’s Leela's home,” Gale whispered.
Gilda squawked in surprise. “No bucking way! It’s Leela's prison! This thing is Leela's bucking prison!”
Penumbra and Mark was surprised to hear that. “How did it get here?” Mark asked.
Penumbra walked inside, looking around and up. “This place is huge!” She stepped out and looked on the outside. “I know we’ve used trans-dimensional magic before, but this is a whole new level!”
“It is, but it doesn't answer the question on how it ended up here,” Mark pointed out.
“Well, Leelee can answer that. Hey, Dollface – long time, no see!” They saw a raccoon with a black suit and tie, white shirt, and sunglasses emerging from behind the pillar. He did a click in his muzzle while giving Gilda a finger point with his paws hands.
Gilda growled, moving her talons over her face. “It had to be you, Trash Panda.”
“Hey, Rocky! Is Leela waiting for us?” Gale asked.
“Yep. Got the bullet train all warmed up and ready to go.” Rocky walked up to them, stepping outside of the cube to look around. “Wow! So that’s how small our home is?” He now turned to the dumbfounded ponies. “Hey there! Rocky’s the name! And who is this lovely dark knight?” He raised Penumbra's hoof and kissed it.
Penumbra quickly moved her hoof away. “Penumbra – personal guard to Prince Mark Wells, and if you try to kiss my hoof again, you’ll be bucked.”
“Ooooh, I’d love to see ya try, Penny.”
She threw a punch which hit thin air because he was now sitting on Mark's back.
“Nice try, but ya won't catch me.” He chuckled. “Trust me – many tried.”
Mark tried to use his magic to pull the raccoon off his back only to find the it not grabbing anything. Suddenly, the raccoon was sitting on top of the cube looking down at him. “How did you move so fast?”
“Why should I ruin the magic, Wells?” He leaped down to land in front of the door. “Come now – time’s wasting.” He waved for them to follow, walking in. “Oh!” He turned to Alpha. “It’s good to meet ya, Alpha. I hear good things about how ya doin' a top of a job to keep Gale safe.”
Alpha smirked. “I do what I must.”
“Yep, you do!” He walked down the cobble path.
Penumbra glared at Rocky. “If that raccoon call me that one more time I am going to—”
“Catch air?” Gilda interjected. “Dweeb, he calls me dollface! I hate it a lot but he’s uncatchable. You’re just going to have to put up with the Trash Panda.” Gilda walked into the cube.
“Mark...”
“We’re dealing with something way out of our play book. Best to roll with it for now.”
“What about the others?” Penumbra looked around. “Shouldn't we tell them where we’ve gone?”
Mark looked at each group. “Chrysalis, can you see me?”
Chrysalis looked around. “No, but I sense you across the hall near the crates.”
“We’re at an invisible cube. I doubt Gale will be able to use his magic on all of you to see the cube which seem to be Leela's prison.”
“One of the Prime Created? How?”
“That’s what we’re going inside to find out. Keep an eye on things out here, okay? The only way this cube got here is most likely by Grogar himself.”
“Should we be prepared for trouble?”
“Be on your guard, but I got a feeling he’s not here to fight.”
“You seem sure that is the case.”
“Well he did bring Leela's prison out from wherever it was to the convention centre. Remember that he’s not the one we dealt with in our universe, so his motivations may be different. From what we know about this Grogar, he is the only living thing left to know where the cube was before now and I highly doubt it’s been sitting in this hall all this time.”
“Alright, husband, I will inform the rest.” Chrysalis glared at him. “Keep safe!” she commanded.
“I will.” Mark turned to Penumbra. “I've told Sally where we going. I would like others to be able to see this cube, but I don't want to strain Prince Gale with what magic reserves he has left.”
Penumbra nodded. “Understood.”
Gale grabbed a hoof each, flapping his wings to pull them in. “Come already! We behind!” Gale, to their surprise, pulled them easily through the door. He had strength that they weren't expecting.
Gallus followed them in, leaving the door open. Shal-Quz's eyes bulged at the sight of the cube and it being opened. She kicked her legs around thrusting her body to try to break free of her bindings, and screamed through the muzzle in fear.
Shining Armor, who had been tending to a guard with the help of a changeling, looked at the rabbit. “What the buck has got her so freaked out?”
“No idea,” the changeling answered, “but it’s intense. It feels like your worst nightmare come true type of fear.”
Shining smiled. “Sounds like just what that vermin deserves.”
“Aye.” The changeling smiled back and they went back to tending to Blue Star's cracked horn.
Mark, Gale, Gallus, Penumbra, Gilda and Alpha followed Rocky down the cobble path away from the door. The large wall behind them mimicked a sky and field which partly blended with the landscape against the walls. To the right and left of them was a sea of red and yellow flowers swaying in the gentle breeze of a summer sun day.
Hills and rocky formations could be seen around. In the distance to the right, it looked like it turned into a massive desert. To the left, it led up to a cliff face with a beach below it with waves crashing against it. In front of them was the sight of the massive tall mountain with a thick forest partly up it, sloping out of their view. They even saw a river and lake ahead.
“Seems this pocket world has a little bit of everything in it,” Mark observed. “Quite a pretty prison.”
Rocky led them to a fork of the path. It diverted around a platform to get a better view of the plains and lake ahead before leading to the forest. In front of them was a train station with a sleek narrow tube-like train floating over three thick metal rails. “Mag-lift train,” Mark said with whistle of total surprise at seeing something this technologically advanced inside this cubic land of beauty. Its tracks led right over the plains and lake towards the mountain, hardly impacting the view.
Gilda decided to break the ice and spoke up. “I gather that all of your dweebs know how Leela's prison cube ended up at the convention centre?”
“Grogar, of course,” Gallus bluntly said. “And Rocky.”
“Hmm?” He turned around on the steps to the armoured cosplay blue griffon.
“Is Grogar with Leela?”
“Yep, and naked.”
“I–What?” Mark tried to process what Rocky just said. “Naked?”
Rocky turned to continue walking down the steps to the train platform. “Yep. No harness, no magic orbs, just the big blue guy, hooves, fur, beard and horns.” He pressed a button by one of the doors which door slid forwards and split in two, opening up. “Grogar, believe or not, has been trying to figure out a big speech to finally meet Gale in person. He’s been at it for two days now.”
Penumbra put her hoof in front of Mark to halt him. “Are we seriously going to get on this train and go face Grogar?”
“Yes. The fact that he’s here unarmed means this Grogar is here to talk only. We could get answers and maybe a way to deal a suitable punishment for Shal-Quz.” Mark pushed down the hoof. “Also, it explains why the runes might have lost their magic – the magical phase shift of the cube to hide it from Shal-Quz.”
Gilda tapped the tip of her beak. “Wells, that weirdly make sense.”
Alpha spoke up. “After the talk, we will have to let him go.”
“Why?” Penumbra asked.
“Lord Gale knows why. Since before the events of the mountain and my existence in the physical plain, I have many of Lord Gale's memories. One of them is the moment his future self and Grogar used up the last of their magic and life force. First, it seemed to be a waste but then I noticed something from Gale's point of view that he didn't.”
“And that is?” Gilda asked.
“She held an orb of the moment Past and Future collide. She stopped it from happening by sealing it away, they cracked it open,” Alpha answered. “That future wasn't erased, it was destroyed.”
Mark looked very confused. “How about you explain this on the train ride over to Leela's home? Your lord is already on board the train.” Mark nodded in the direction of the train. They all looked to see Gale waving from one of the windows.
They all walked down and entered the train, the door closing behind them. The train had very nice comfortable red seats, with clear glass barriers between the backs of the seats. There was even a raised level for people to stand on and look out of the clear top above. “Mark, I still think I should have gone back and brought some help.”
“How exactly do we do that? Prince Gale has already used up a lot of his magic as it is. He needs time to recharge. Pushing him too far will cause more than simple magic exhaustion and I won't do that to a child.”
“That a fair point, I wouldn't either. Sorry.”
Mark put a hoof on her side. “It’s okay, Penny – we know how serious it could get with Grogar, but this time I have a hunch that he won’t be a problem for us.”
“I'll go along with it, but I’m not comfortable with it.” Penumbra took a seat.
“If you ever get complacent about such things, then that’s when I’ll truly start worrying,” Mark replied with a smile.
Rocky spoke over the intercom. “Thank you for riding Mag-lift One. Today, your journey time will be three minutes and seventeen seconds. Enjoy your short ride to Mt.Gale Station where it’s only a five minute walk to Leelee's home.” The train hums to life and pulls away from the station, rapidly picking up speed, zooming along the rail.
Mark took the seat beside Penumbra, looking over to Alpha. “Now what is this about the Past and Future collision?”
“It’s a prophecy of events to come. We know roughly what they are, and that Lord Gale and a few others will be there on Flaputa. That’s one of them. The second is the Gates of Elysium and they will strike the floating island in the micro-universe it sits in,” Alpha informed them. “Also, before that day, we have something called “A Day of Chaos’.”
“Why is Grogar so important to it?” Penumbra asked.
Gilda answered that. “Because he already set up shop there. Somehow, that goat ended up finding a way onto it. He’s part of the whole thing. Gale had nightmares about being on it, chased by Grogar's shadow creatures and him towering over the cub to take his magic.”
“That was before the Grogar Echo attacked at the random dream event at the Island of Berk, the home of Vikings and dragons,” Alpha stated.
Mark blinked. “Berk? As in the one with a night-fury called Toothless and his rider Hiccup?”
Gallus frowned. “Yeah, exactly that. How the buck do you know that?”
“It’s in a movie called How to Train your Dragon. Well , movies and a few TV series, but how do you have random dream adventures in a pl—”
Alpha narrowed his gaze at Mark. “I am from one such random adventure. I later discovered my world is a work of fiction and I should have died on that boat by the blades of Shen. Yet I didn't and I lived, as Toothless and Hiccup ended up in Dream Cavern, the home of Lord Gale's subconscious first.”
Gale grinned as he listened to them talk. He had an idea come to mind. “I show!” He jumped down from the seat he was on and came over to Mark and Penumbra. He grabbed one of their hooves in his talons which glowed and then stopped. He let go. “Cool right?”
Penumbra blinked a few times. “Wh-what the buck just happened? I was here, then I was in some underground oasis.”
“Don't forget that L-” Gale coughed. “Diamond dog hybrid called Blue that spoke in our heads,” Mark corrected himself fast.
“Well, good thing you snapped out of it – we’re here,” Rocky said, standing before them wearing a train driver hat. He took it off and tossed it onto a seat.
“How long were we—”
“Daydreaming? I’d say a good five or so minutes,” Gilda said. “The train pulled up and had to wait for Gale to snap you all out of it.”
Mark rubbed his head. “I am so confused right now. That place felt as real as here.”
“It felt more real to me and I miss it,” Alpha grumbled walking out of the train.
“Alpha miss being there, sad he no can return. Aunt Luna say things can come out of dream realms, but things cannot go back to dream realms.” Gale sighed. “We go see Leela, erm... Meet Grogar again? I think... I no remember time when weird pure magic energy from. Know was but no remember, so this first? Or again? I confused...”
Gilda put a wing over Gale. “Don't sweat it, cub. If the goat tries anything, he’s got me to go through first.”
“Okay.” They left the train with Gallus. Mark stepped off with Penumbra looking up at the mountain, seeing the artificial sun.
“Getting to know the young Prince just seems to just keep getting weirder, doesn't it, Penny?”
“It does, but best to keep our guards up though.” They followed the others up a path to the river toward the mountain.
Twilight scanned the spot the cube was located. “Urg! I can't find that blasted cube! All we’ve found is some rune magic that is active and none of our magic can affect it!”
Starlight felt feedback from a rune. “It’s got nullcrystals engraved into it. There’s no way our magic is getting near to them.” Starlight rubbed her horn.
Anubis phased back into existence before them. “It’s definitely Leela's prison cube. I also found a train platform not too far inside. It seems to have just arrived at Mt. Gale according to the station display,” Anubis informed them. “But I do bloody hate these runes though. I can't use my magic to pull you through with me.”
“So the cube is interphasic at the moment and the only ones who can enter are you and…” Twilight looked over to the still panic-stricken rabbit. “…her.”
Anubis turned to the cube. “She’s afraid of our sister, Leela. The little avian isn't violent, so I do not know why she’s so bloody scared of her.”
Chrysalis stepped up to them. “Whatever it is, it’s amusing to see her squirm.” She looked at the empty spot. “Still no luck with getting into the cube?”
“None,” Twilight answered. “The only ones that are able are Anubis and Shal-Quz. Mark and Penumbra are inside and we’re stuck here unable to help if Grogar is in there.”
Anubis tapped his staff on the ground a little. “Erm... Yes about that...” They all turned to him.
The group led by Rocky approached the cottage right against part of the mountain. “We’re here!” Rocky pulled out a key from his pocket, putting it into the lock and turning it. “Welcome to Leelee's home. Follow me to the communication chamber – Leelee and Grogar are in there.” Rocky led them through the hallway to the back of the house where he opened the door for them to enter the room.
For Mark and Penumbra, the chamber looked exactly like the one in Fort Grimfeather. Down at the centre stage was Leela sitting on a seat, drinking a cup of tea, with her book on a seat beside her. In front of her was a large blue goat with two long large curved blue horns on top of his head, white mane, eye brows and tail. Sharp teeth poked upward out of his lower muzzle while his red eyes were focused on a sheet of paper.
“Hello, child, it’s been over four thousand years. I know the last time we were face to face, I was forcing you into the form you are today to st—” He used his cloven forehooves to screw up the paper and throw it behind him. “No, that’s too dramatic and harsh! Come on you, stupid old goat – this is your grand appearance. I can get this right!”
Leela noticed Mark, Gale and the others. She put her hand claw to the tip of her beak and waved them to quietly come over to join her. Oblivious to their presence, Grogar began writing on another sheet of paper using his magic hoof grip to hold a pen.
“Ahem... Child...” he began.
“Gale.”
“Right, G—” Grogar’s head shot up. He dropped the pen on the paper and slowly turned his body around to catch sight on all of them. “Well, this is awkward. My grand approach has just been dashed.” He stood strong. “I gather you are wondering why I brought Leela the Book Keeper's prison out and to the city that doesn't sleep?”
Mark stepped up to him. “I heard what you've done and what you created – something like Shal-Quz that we had to deal with. I gather that’s why you brought it to Manehatten and freed her?”
Leela put the cup down. “That is pretty much the case. Maker Grogar doesn't like owing others that saved his life, especially twice and dealing a crippling blow to Shal-Quz once and for all.” Leela jumped onto her book, floating up to Grogar. “I’ve had him as my guest for the last two days. All he could do was try to think of a grand way to greet you, Master Wayne.”
Grogar glared at Leela. “I could easily put your cube back where it was.”
“Yet you won't because of the realisation of your own mortality at the paws of Shal-Quz,” Leela poked his muzzle.
Grogar wriggled it a little. “Well, yes, that is the case. Meeting the blind future version of myself showed how mistaken I was making that vile rodent. Without my bewitching bell, my magic has been weak ever since. My desire for the pure magic has left me questioning even my own objectives of late.” Grogar looked down at Gale. “It is strange to see you so small, so…”
Gale smiled warmly at him.
“…pure.” Grogar felt uneasy. “I liked you when you were the humaniod pure magical form. This is rather awkward. I wasn't expecting to feel conflicted by staring into those golden brown eyes of yours.” Grogar raised his head. “Two days of preparing and I feel like a fool.” He stepped back a few feet from them. “I am Grogar, father of monsters. This is just but of a truce, I was close to getting your magic Ch—” Gale gave him a stink face. “Gale... I prefer the name Wayne. But this is what happens when you are on the verge of defeat and rushing a spell to transfigure you.”
Gallus frowned. “You are weird. Why go through so much trouble for pure magic?”
“Why? Because it’s a form of magic like no others, you little brat! I will get it one way or the other! Not today, but when the moment comes at the day the Past and Future collides! Today, I free Leela from her prison to repay a debt. She and Anubis will know how to bring judgement to Shal-Quz, since it’s a prime creation matter after all.” Grogar put his hoof down on a rune symbol near him.
Penumbra saw many around him. “Are we going to stop him from leaving?”
“No, let the dork go. We saved his sorry rump and he knows it,” Gilda said with a sly smile on her beak.
Grogar growled a little. “Two days of planning for a short five minute talk. Why did I even do this?” He scratched his hoof against the rune to complete it.
“Grogar – I heard that your future version was able to change. So can you,” Mark said seriously to him. “It isn't too late.”
Grogar snorted. “I know. That’s the thing that scares me the most, Alicorn of Lightning. The child, Gale, managed to pull it off in the other timeline, and I fear he could do it again to me. He saved my life when his future self and mine managed to change events on that mountain and showed me what a vile creation Shal-Quz is. Even those that were made by me, created through the imagination of Gale, saved me. Twice he did and still he could easily forgive me for all the actions I have done. He would willingly give me a clean slate and allow me to be more than I am right now.” Grogar stomped hard on the ground.
The runes became active, glowing around Grogar. The others watched as he was about to be teleported away. Mark frowned. “That’s more than I would do, especially after what happened to the Inverse Reality. The suffering Shal-Quz caused since was because she was made from your personality, yet you’re still after Prince Gale’s pure magic after all this! Can't you even think about it?”
Grogar looked away from Mark. “You make a good point pony.”
His eyes met Gale's and the teen waved his talon. “After Past and Future thing, forgive and move on, okay?” He smiled warmly to the goat.
Grogar swallowed hard. “Maybe...” And he was gone.
“That was brief and weird,” Mark said, staring at the spot once Grogar stood at.
“You can say that again,” Penumbra muttered.
They all looked at the empty spot as the runes faded away completely. “So... Who’s up for some tea to celebrate my freedom?” Leela raised up a teapot to them and Rocky had cups and saucers held in stacks on each hand paw.
Mark turned to her, focusing on immediate problems, planning to deal with what happened with Grogar later. “Maybe later. First, we need your help with a changeling, Octicovix. She recently learned about her father thanks to Shal-Quz mentioning him and telling it was all her doing. Her mother drained him of all his emotions as punishment from what we know about Guto.”
Leela put the teapot down. “Hmm...” Leela picked up her book, using her magic to flip through the pages. “Ah, here it is.” She poked the page with a claw tip. “A royal changeling suffering with emotional trauma. This requires getting her mother... I am going to need Anubis's help for this.” She closed the book up, jumping on it and floating up to the door. “Well, are you lot coming?”
“So... Let me get this straight,” Twilight said. “This Grogar seems conflicted? And he freed Leela…”She looked over to the avian talking to Anubis. “…to repay a debt for saving his life twice and taking care of Shal-Quz?”
“That sums it up, Sparkles. It was brief, but I could tell this one looked scared about being forgiven and knew Prince Gale would.” Mark looked over to Gale who was talking to Celestia, Grover and Nightingale about what happened, with Alpha helping out with the words.
Starlight was about to take a good look at the cube and scan it with her magic which had returned to them. “It’s an impressive magical object. The cube was made to keep things in not out, and I can't even begin to think of the power it must of taken to create that dimensionally transcendental interior.”
“That’s grand and all, but have they come up with anything to help Octicovix and deal with that bloody rabbit?” Glacier joined the conversation. “I sent everything to Maple; she’s on the way here with Sunflower.”
Mark looked at all the entrances. “I wonder how a griffon that big is going to get past a crowd that huge outside of this hall.”
“Good question! How did I do it?” Mark instantly froze with the voice directly behind him. He slowly turned around for his eyes to meet a large foreleg. He slowly looked up to a large griffon looking back down. “Hey, dude! Like I asked, how did I do it?”
Mark tried to say something but only the muttering of an unconnected jumble of words escaped. “Well, it seems someone impressed Sunflower.” Maple emerged from on top of her granddaughter's head. “My name is Maple Clawhowler. I gather your Prince Mark Wells is from the parallel Equestria?” She jumped off Sunflower's head, gliding down to land in front of him.
Mark managed to snap himself out of the shock with a lightning jolt to himself. He regarded the finch griffon standing before him. “Yes... I am, sorry... But how did she get past all that outside?” Mark pointed a hoof to the door.
“One of many of life’s mysteries that you have to solve, Your Highness,” Maple said to him as she flew up to his eye level. “Now, with pleasantries out of the way, it's time.” Maple whistled, getting all their attentions. “Right! This is going to sound really strange and maybe out of line, but this has to happen because, for me, it already has.” She landed back down on the ground.
Glacier knew where this was going. “We’re in a temporal loop event, aren't we?”
“Yes, we are,” Maple responded. She pulled out a piece of paper, looking at it. “Now, Anubis, if you can, temporally shift everyone about two hours ahead apart from me, Sunflower, yourself, Leela, Greystorm, and Octicovix please.”
Anubis looked up to the sky bridge. “See you two in a few hours.” His staff’s purple crystal started to glow brightly, the flaming magic around it intensifying.
Mark raised a hoof. “Wait a—” Suddenly there was a flash and then Anubis, Maple, and those the finch griffon called out seemed to be missing. “—minute?” Mark looked around. “What the buck just happened?”
An orange and a red dragon jumped off the sky bridge, flapping their wings to land on the ground. “Our dad sent us all an hour ahead! That’s what happened, pony.”
Mark looked at the much younger version of Smolder standing before him with her arms crossed, looking rather angry and snorting out some flames. “Your dad is Anubis?” Penumbra asked.
Smolder rolled her eyes. “Yeah, he is. We are the dragonets of the God of Death to all dragons, blah, blah, blah.” She waved a claw hand in a dismissive way.
“So we just time-travelled by a whole hour?” Starlight tried to confirm what just happened.
Garble shrugged. “Yeah. Dad's temporal shift spell moving things an hour or two ahead is way easier for massive numbers than a temporal teleport.”
Chrysalis looked around. “Then where are they?”
Exactly as she said that, Octicovix walks in with Gale, talking with each other. “That fun. I enjoy watching Anubis panel,” the young griffon said.
“Yeah, it was definitely interesting to listen about the Alicorn of Justice. I can't wait to see what…” Octicovix noticed that the room wasn't so empty. “Hey! You’re all back!” She waved a hoof happily at them.
Silvite smirked with her arms crossed. “Good to see you up and about again, Octicovix. I guess whatever happened in the last two hours helped?”
“It sure did!” Gale spoke. “Her mum brought here! She all mean and anger at Anubis—” Octicovix nudged him a little. “Oh, you want say?”
“If you don't mind.” Octicovix smiled. Gale nodded and sat down. “Alright... Long story short – mum was brought here but not the right time one, but she pretty much dealt with Shal-Quz and then helped me out with her magic to snap me right out of the emotional breakdown I was having. As a gift from Anubis, we were given the chance to spend a day with my dad, Guto. His final day and mum found herself fallen in love with him once again. After he passed away, knowing how to feel once again for that last day of his life, we gave him a burial deserved as the king he was known to be before Shal-Quz.”
Octicovix reach into her bag she was carrying and pulled out a framed picture. She passed it to them and they took a look at it to see a very old Guto with Chrysalis and Octicovix in front of a massive tree in the background, with a massive greenhouse dome behind it.
“After we returned, mum was returned to her rightful time and place,” Octicovix said, adjusting her bag a little. “As for Shal-Quz, she’s no longer a threat. Maple had her loaded up on an airship about an hour and a half ago. She’s been taken back to Flaputa-on-Sea where she will live out her days, completely harmless to anyone.”
Chrysalis asked the question on everyone's minds. “What did your mother do?”
“She dumped 210 souls of emotional suffering that Shal-Quz had caused onto the rabbit in one hit. It pretty much destroyed her mentally. Mum was very harsh on punishing her... Even we thought it was a bit extreme, but to mum, this was justice well deserved for all the pain Shal-Quz personally caused her, the agony caused by millisecond of cries of pain she felt from 209 changelings when Flaputa was ripped out of existence.”
“Hmm... Thank you for telling us.”
Octicovix nodded.
Shining Armor came over to them. “All the unicorn guards’ injuries are healed. They’re just suffering exhaustion from overuse of magic now.”
“How is that possible?” Celestia asked.
“Time-released spell Leela set up before she and Anubis left to spend sibling time together,” Gale answered.
Nightingale looked around. “What about Sunflower and Greystorm?”
Octicovix looked back to the way they came in. “Over across the way at E1 hall. They’re at the VIP lounge overlooking the contest stage. Maple managed to book it for all of us to use to watch the Transfiguration contest there.” She turned to Smolder and Garble. “Oh, and you two, Anubis put Prince Mark Wells in charge of both of you, so if you act up around him, your mum will be notified of this little trip.”
Smolder huffed. “Of course dad would pull that on us.”
“We’ve got no choice but to follow around a pony? Seriously?” Garble groaned.
Silvite spoke up. “At least you get to hang out with me.”
Smolder's eyes lit up. “Hanging out with the Lord of Dragons? Oh, that I can live with!”
“Same!”
Mark could easily see the traits of the pre School of Friendship dragon before his Smolder’s life took a different turn. “There’s more to just being a pony, you know?”
“Yeah, whatever you say,” Smolder shrugged.
“The Smolder of my universe is my daughter-in-law,” the alicorn pointed out slyly.
The young dragoness jerked and stared at Mark. “You’re shitting me!”
The prince merely smiled and left her wondering.
Grover rubbed the underside of his beak. “I am curious about that contest.”
Octicovix gasped. “Oh, there was a really bombastic unicorn there, a real show mare.” This got Mark's attention. “Let me show you.” She changed her form into a blue unicorn wearing a cape and hat. She stood up on the hind legs and spoke up. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will display her grand abilities with transfiguration! Behold on stage when Trixie comes up and shows you all how truly powerful Trixie is!” Octicovix turned back to herself standing on all fours.
Gale laughed. “That haha exactly right! Hahah! She funny and grand! I like to watch!” Gale said between fits of laughter.
“I am curious about it too.” Celestia said.
Penumbra looked over to Mark. “I gather you want to see this?”
He grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it, Penny.”
Silvite recalled her sister speaking about a contest. “By any chance is my sister Pom-Pom going to be there?”
Octicovix nodded. “Yes. She arrived not long ago before the panel Anubis held. After that, he and Leela wondered off somewhere in the convention centre to have some brother- sister bonding time.”
“Well, I'm in.” Silvite was going to support her sister. “Pom-Pom, even with or without my support, most likely will win.”
“I say Trixie will!”
“Oh really, Prince Wells?” Silvite looked over to the prince.
“Yes, really!” Mark said back.
Gilda shook her head. “Well, looks like we’re tagging along.”
“Do we have to?” Gallus grumbled.
“If it’s a VIP lounge, there will be free food.”
“When do we go?” Gallus instantly changed his tune, getting a laugh from Gilda.
Smolder whispered to Garble, “They’re so weird.”
“Yeah, they are, Smolder,” Garble agreed. “Do you think dad got us those awards?”
Smolder rolled her eyes. “What do you take dad for? Of course he would have picked up our awards.”
Gabby spoke up. “Where is Spike? I haven't seen him since we got to the comic-con.”
Octivocix answered that for her. “Spike’s with Pom-Pom. He’s assisting her in the contest.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Exactly how is he assisting her?”
“By allowing her to use her magic on him. Duh!” Smolder answered. “How about we stop with all the stupid talking and go already? I bet it’s about to start any minute!”
Gale nod. “Yep! In ten minutes!”
Celestia looked at Chrysalis and she looked back. “We can't abuse the use of the guards to get across the convention centre to see the contest in time, can we?” Celestia asked.
“Getting there quickly is just a bonus, Princess Celestia. They are assigned to keep you safe, are they not?”
“True...”
Shining just spoke up. “For Tartarus’s sake! I'll get the guards to clear the way!”
Smolder chuckled. “Told ya they were weird, Gra-Gra.”
Garble could only groan as Gale repeated, “Gra-Gra?”
The group made their way up a huge tall stairwell. They had managed to cross the convention centre in record time, all thanks to the guards and Chrysalis's changelings, the VIP lounge was just up the wide stairs lined with red carpet.
Mark looked around – the walls had pictures showing each and every contest held in E1 hall. “Talk about posh.”
Penumbra took note of the tall double-doors they came through. “This wasn't just made for those of our size. If I’m to guess, this was designed for the larger type of dragons.”
“Titan classes – it makes sense.” Silvite took a good look at the size of the entrance. “Bet Torch could fit in here.”
Smolder grew somewhat curious about how Silvite just called the Dragon Lord so casually without the title. “Is it true that Dad's staff and the Bloodstone sceptre have no effect on you?”
“It is. That’s why I got that crazy title, Lord of Dragons Silvite, the dragon that cannot be commanded by gods or dragon lord.” Silvite responded. “Stupid title for taking care of a damn tyrant that wanted more and more and more, no matter the cost or harm he brought to others. Stupid idiot cost me my memories because the only way I could hold him back for Nowhere to be sealed away is by greed induced growth.”
Garble heard tales of what it did to dragons if they stay like that for a long time. “H-how long?”
“Five hundred years, give or take. It took a blast of lightning from Thunderous right here…” She pointed to behind her ear, the scar now in display. “…to jolt my mind out of it and, thanks to my sister, I gained from it for the next five hundred years. I was given some magical adjustments to get me down to this perfect size, keeping all the muscle and fire in the process. So you’re seeing a titan-class dragon in a body that shouldn't be possible.” Silvite gave a very fang-filled grin to the two dragonets.
They were in awe of her. “No way! You’re really that strong!?” Smolder looking up and down at her as they walked up the stairs.
“Yes. I had to teach myself to be more delicate around things. That’s how I got into creating my underground paradise I call home.” She pulled out a picture from her bag showing them it.
Garble saw how green it was. “Really? That looks so lame.”
“Yeah, not something I expect to see from a Lord of Dragons, especially that weird set of sphere-shaped buildings.” Smolder didn't look impressed as much as her brother.
Silvite put the photo away. “Sometimes the toughest thing can be the most delicate thing.” Silvite showed them two scales, one red and the other orange, between two claw fingers. “Like how I just plucked these from both of you without you even noticing that I did it.” She gave both scales back to them and they stared at them surprise, now far more respectful of her.
Chrysalis chuckled. “And they learn to never judge something by just the surface.”
Twilight was impressed. “That was quite the lesson she gave them. I never even saw her remove those single scales from either of them. I heard and felt the explosions from her fire blasts, but never knew being so strong could mean you can be so delicate too.”
“It’s a balance between the two. Find it and you have peace,” Alpha commented. “As I did.”
Sunflower's head emerged at the top of the stairwell, waving a forepaw at them. “Hey, you all made it! Totally awesome, dudes!”
“Sunflower!” Gale flew up the steps to her, hovering in front. “Having fun?”
“Oh definitely! And Nanner Maple got me the room that I never thought I’d ever get to stay in either for the next few nights!”
“You seem rather overjoyed about a mere hotel room,” Chrysalis commented in mild surprise.
Sunflower grinned at Chrysalis. “You trying being my size! Everything normal size for you is tiny for me. I have to be sooo careful not to break something, even with my crazy control of my weight with my internal magic. Dude! The hotel room is for fricking huge creatures that fly! It made me look normal size! Everything there is huge to you but to me it feels wonderfully normal! So can you blame me for being overjoyed!?”
Chrysalis gave her a genuine smile. “Clearly not. I could feel that overwhelming joy even without my changeling senses.”
“Yeah! She happy! We all happy! I happy too!” Gale flew around and gave Gilda a mighty hug.
“Awk! Gale! Seriously! Not cool!” Celestia burst into laughter, followed by Grover, Nightingale and Gallus at Gilda's expense. Soon, others joined in the laughter.
Twilight walked in with Starlight and saw everyone’s mood. “Is it me or does everyone seem that much happier with the young prince around?”
“It’s not just you.” Starlight couldn't help but laugh a little. “We needed this after what we’ve been through. I wonder if this happens with everyone that gets to know Prince Gale a little.”
Gilda was still trying to free herself. “It... is...” She sighed giving in as Gale continued to hug her. “Welcome to my world, dweebs.” She gave him a hug back and finally the cub happily let go of her. “And I wouldn't want to change it for the world, even for that embarrassing moment. The cub really can get to your heartstrings – isn't that right, little brother?”
“Yes, big sister!” Gale grinned before he turned to the lounge. “Oooh! Gallus, look at this!” Gallus quickly followed him as Gale charged off to the large window.
Rocky and Alpha were the last to enter. The changeling and Celestia's guard with Shining closed the massive doors behind them. Shining stood guard on the inside to the side with the changeling guard that he got to know while treating Blue Star.
Rocky, with hand paws behind the back of his head, took a good look around as they all did the same. Red carpet was on the floor, with seats looking out to a massive large glass window in front. At the back near two doors with in and out on them to a kitchen was a large table of food with plates beside it. “Not even a few hours out the box and loving this already. The craziness, the pleasure, the enjoyment of interacting with others is awesome!”
Alpha walked up to the glass window and stood by Mark, Celestia, and Nightingale. They all looked at the crowds of mostly ponies taking seats down below. In front was a large semi-circular stage with its curtains drawn. In front of that were three seats by a table in the middle front.
“Quite the sight isn't it?” They looked over to see Greystorm joining them. “My family heavily invested in this convention centre and made sure to have a lounge for the very special guests to watch in safety all the way up here.”
“I gather this is your uncle’s doing?” Celestia asked.
“Yes, Uncle Grimclaw – he owns the Sky High Hotel. If it wasn't for Maple Clawhowler's name and investment, this place wouldn't be as grand as it is. The number of conventions that happen here every few weeks is insane, and all thanks to one little finch griffon before I even knew who she was,” Greystorm answered.
Mark looked around. “I thought the contest was supposed to start by now?”
Greystorm pulled out his pocket watch, opening it up to look at the time. “In a few minutes, the announcer will emerge. They’re still seating the con-goers that got tickets to watch the contest.” Greystorm closed the watch up and put it away. “There are sixteen contestants – one of them is Silvite's sister, Pom-Pom the kitsune, fourteen of them are unicorns, and one zebra.”
“How does a zebra compete against magic users?” Nightingale asked.
“By using potions that they make,” Alpha answered. They looked over at him. “I know because of Lord Gale. He read up about them after hearing about Zecora from Sunflower and the encounter with Zerra.” Alpha looked over to Gale who was talking with Gallus, each sitting on cushions looking out to the stage while eating plates of food.
Mark was interested mainly in seeing this Trixie who had entered, but he was curious about the zebra and kitsune. “I know the abilities of a zebra shaman, but I’ve never seen a kitsune before.”
Silvite joined them, sitting down at a chair, holding a cup of tea. “My sister is a yellow and white kitsune with twelve tails. Each tail has a magical flame that reflects the mastery of a certain magic. You will not be disappointed seeing her.”
“I look forward to it.” Mark took another look at Gale and Gallus. “I see they’re good friends.”
Celestia shook her head. “Not just friends – honorary brothers.”
Penumbra, who sitting on one of the seats nearby, was intrigued by what Celestia said. “Could you fill us in on that?”
Celestia did so. “Gale gives family titles to those that are close to him. Gilda is to him a big sister.”
“Why?”
“Guard Penumbra, if I knew, I would tell you. It’s something Gale hasn't spoken to me or anyone about and I have no intention to push the subject. My son is happy and others seem to be not bothered by the familial titles Gale gives them. Gallus, from what my little Nightingale told me, doesn't want friends. He doesn't need them but he’s accepted being called brother by Gale.”
Gilda chimed in. “As for me, dweebs, I was the first official griffon he met, I got him to say the first word and the leech hugged me like there was no tomorrow. That goofball of a cub really looks up at me as a big sister.” Nightingale smiled with a nod, knowing all too well of that strong bond between them. “Wouldn't change anything that happened; I care for the cub in my own way.”
Mark smiled. “As you said just moments ago.”
Gilda shrugged. “Whatever, dweeb.” Suddenly the lights below started to dim. They watched a grey-coated pony with a white mane and tail wearing headphones with attached microphone walk up onto stage as three elderly unicorns sat down at the seats at the table in front of the stage. “Looks like the show’s about to begin.”
Celestia recognised the unicorns. “Shimmering Stone, Ruby Swirl and Thunderknight - they all were students almost 65 years ago at the School for Gifted Unicorns. They’re the best of the best in transfiguration magic. It is good to see them all again after all this time.”
Twilight was surprised to see them. “They’re the same in our world. I mean experts in transfiguration magic. I read all their books about the different styles: high level casting, flow, rune and potion magic, all forms of transfiguration. To see legends of their skill sets even from up here is amazing!”
“Sounds like the right choices to judge the contest,” Mark commented.
They all watched and waited for what the grey unicorn wearing the headset was about to say.
On stage, the M.C. must have received a cue and he stepped forward while a spotlight was put on him. “Welcome Gentlecolts, fillies, and all other beings! I'll be your host, Heighten, for this amazing contest of transformative and transfigurative magic! We will be amazed, stunned and even shocked at what is going to happen here on this very stage soon!” He walked around looking at the crowds until he saw who was watching from the VIP lounge window.
“We have three amazing judges tonight. Let's hear it for our two mares and stallion, Shimmering Stone, Ruby Swirl and Thunderknight!” The crowds cheered as the three elderly unicorns turned around to wave to the cheering crowd of mostly ponies around them. “Also, it seems we have a very special set of onlookers too! Princess Celestia, Nightingale and Prince Gale with friends and family! Let's give them all a mighty cheer too!” The crowds boomed, everyone turning their heads and stomping their hooves at seeing Celestia was there.
Heighten stepped back a bit. “Now we have sixteen contestants tonight – fourteen unicorns, one zebra and one kitsune. It will be interesting to see which of these will be crowned Transfiguration Champion of the sixth annual Manehatten Transfiguration Contest!” The curtains rose to show all sixteen of them. Mark and his group saw the unicorn Trixie wearing her trademark wizard hat and cape. Beside her was Pom-Pom, Silvite's sister, her twelve tails waving around with the flames following.
Next was a light pink mare with blue highlights through her purple mane and tail, wearing a mask with a black cape covering most of her body. Beside her was a bulky zebra wearing a green vest, carrying a side bag with potions tied up to the straps. Those seemed to be the most conspicuous ones, standing out from the other different colourful unicorns lined up.
“This is how the rounds will go: Rounds one to four will be using a simple plank of wood and turning it into an inanimate object of your choice. There will be two going through from each group. Next will be turning a plank of wood into an animated object in the Quarter Finals, only one from each will proceed to the semi-finals. There, you will turn an apple into an orange and keep its flavour as an apple! And for the final match, this will really put the casters to the test. They will be required to turn their assistant into another creature completely! They will be judged by our judges here for a maximum of thirty points, split to ten between them. The highest scores go through and so on till the winner with the highest score wins the contest!”
Heighten pointed a hoof to a bunch of unicorns standing with orange vests on at the ready. “Do not worry about the risk of a spell going out of control. We have our de-spellers at the ready and also some rune shielding around the edge of the stage, so you con-goers are safe and sound!”
Many sighed in relief.
Trixie noticed that the other contestants had assistants join them – a small purple dragon with the kitsune, a red dragon wearing a mask and cape like the unicorn he stood with, the zebra had a mare with him, and so on. “Erm… sir? Trixie would like to ask for a volunteer to stand with her?”
Heighten turned around to her. “Miss Lulamoon, if you don't have one with you, then you have to forfeit. You can’t just ask for a random pony or creature to come up.”
# # #
“Wow! That’s a shame. We aren’t going to be able to see Trixie perform.” Then Twilight noticed that Mark was missing. “Hey! Where did Mark go?”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Where else?” She pointed a hoof down to the path between the seats.
Penumbra growled and yelled, “Prince Mark Wells! You can't just go down and—”
Greystorm tapped the glass with a claw knuckle. “This room is soundproof. Sound gets in through the speakers.”
“What?! Are you bucking kidding me?!” Penumbra snarled. “When I get my hooves on that stallion—”
# # #
Mark stepped up to the stage. “I'll volunteer for Trixie Lulamoon as her assistant!”
Heighten looked very surprised, and so did Trixie. “Sir, are you sure?”
“Yeah, I'm sure. So, are we good?”
The announcer looked to the judges and each of them nodded. “It seem the judges will let this slide. Come on up… erm...?”
“Mark Wells – I’m in character.” He winked.
“Yes, you are,” Heighten said dryly. “Come on up, Mark Wells, Alicorn of Justice. Stand by Trixie Lulamoon, please.”
Mark did so.
“Thank you, strange pony, Trixie is saved by your act of generosity. She almost got disqualified after all the hard work Trixie put into this.”
“I’m glad to be of help, ma'am.”
Heighten coughed a bit. “Right... Now let's see who’ll be up against whom, shall we?” He turned to the screen which lowered down, showing all the contestants faces. Above each column of four was a number from one to four. The faces start to shuffle randomly around until they stopped with each of them being in their own groups. Pom-Pom was in group one, the zebra in group two, Trixie in group three, and the masked unicorn in group four. “Those of group one for the first round, stay on stage. All the rest move backstage and await your turn!” The twelve left the stage with their assistants.
Pom-Pom looked over to Spike. “Ready to help me, Spike?”
“Ready and able!” He saluted with a smile.
# # #
Twilight pointed her hoof to Spike. “Wow! I can't believe how young he looks. It’s like looking back into the past without being in the past,” she whispered to Starlight.
“I know – it’s so strange,” Starlight responded.
Garble whispered to Smolder. “That red dragon with that masked unicorn – is it me or did he look like me?”
“I saw it too, but let's not jump to conclusions,” Smolder whispered back.
Greystorm and Octicovix looked at each other without a word. They had a feeling who the masked unicorn and dragon were.
# # #
Pom-Pom stepped up to the stage, Spike carrying the plank up to the pedestal. He put the wood down on it and step back. “Thank you, Spike, I'll be turning this piece of wood into a diamond dragon figure of my assistant, Spike.” The blue flame lights up on her tail and the magic is cast upon the wood. Before the eyes of the audience, they watched it turn into a 1:10 scale of Spike reading a comic book while sitting down.
Spike was amazed at the detail. “Whoa that thing looks exactly like me! It’s even purple and green! How awesome is that!?” Spike knelt down to get a better look at it, seeing the detail in the shiny surface.
“Let's see what the judges think, shall we?” Heighten pointed a hoof to them.
Shimmering Stone was the first to speak. “It is truly detailed and almost flawless, I'll give it a 9.5 out of ten.”
Ruby Swirl was next to speak. “I gather you like reading comics?” she asked Spike and he nodded. “For that extra detail, I give it a ten.”
Thunderknight used his magic to pick it up, moving it over to him to have a good look. “I will be giving it a nine out of ten. The detail and personality are flawless but the colours are not. Diamond is clear and without colour, while this is.” He returned it to the stage.
“There you have it! Pom-Pom has a total score of 28.5 out of a possible thirty – a great start!” Heighten said. The audience cheered as Pom-Pom and Spike carried the statue off with them.
Backstage, they heard the unicorn that was next to show their transfiguration skills comment, “I can't believe that stallion took off a point for the colour!”
“They are the experts in the field – getting a 28.5 is a good start,” Pom-Pom said with a smile. “Spike, you can keep that as award for helping me.”
Spike looked at it and back at her. “Y-you’re sure!?”
“Yes, I am.”
Spike hugged her. “Thank you! So... what do you have in mind for the finals?” Spike released the hug. Pom-Pom leaned in and whispered into one of his fine ears. “No way really!?”
“Yes really, but only if we get into the finals.”
“I really hope we do!”
# # #
Silvite snorted. “That stallion wouldn't know style if it hit him in the face.”
“Well he does have a point, diamonds are supposed to be clear, or lightly tinted at most,” Sunflower stated.
Silvite looked over to Sunflower. “I know that, but a whole damn bloody point? Half would have made more sense!”
“Yeah, I can't disagree on that one.”
They watched the others perform.
Starlight, “From the look of the scores from the other two in her group, she won by a least two points, so I don't think you got much to worry about with the final unicorn.”
Penumbra looked at the last one turning a piece of wood into a brick. “Seriously? A plain brick?” They saw the score come up and it was the same score as Pom-Pom’s. “How the buck does that work?”
Chrysalis knew why that unicorn scored high. “Sometimes the most simplistic appearance can be the hardest to pull off, and that unicorn almost did. That’s why he only got that score.”
# # #
After two unicorns did their transfiguration spells on the piece of wood, it was the zebra’s turn. He pulled out two bottles and, with help from his assistant, mixed them into a small vial. “Zerica is my name and I will perform without fail. This plank will soon be a boat in a bottle under sail!”
“Erm... Okay... You may begin.” Heighten gave him the go-ahead.
The vial was thrown at the wood and smashed over it, causing an explosive release of a web of magical strings that covered the wood. They warped and changed the plank into a ship in a bottle. “Well, I'll be damned.” Thunderknight took the ship in bottle with his magic to have a good look. He passed it on to the other unicorns. “Ten?” He asked them.
“Ten,” they repeated and all their cards raised as ten.
“There you have it – a perfect thirty points for Zerica!”
# # #
“Okay, for a zebra with weird potions, that was pretty neat,” Smolder commented.
Octicovix whistled. “Impressive! Not sure how he did it, but it worked.”
Twilight was very impressed. “I knew potions from shamans were amazing, but this on a whole other level.”
Gale tilted his head. “Why have model ship in bottle?”
“I have to agree, it looks just weird,” Gallus said.
Alpha stared. “What a strange thing to do.”
Silvite glanced over to them. “Children! They have no respect for the classics these days,” she whispered to herself with a slight shake of the head.
# # #
Two unicorns in group three performed their transfiguration spells with scores of 23 and 27 so far. Trixie was up next and she stepped up onto stage with Mark. “The Great and Powerful Trixie with her assistant's help will turn this plank of wood into a white tea pot with blue vines and flower markings with flow magic!” Trixie proudly spoke loudly to the crowd. This caught the attention of all the judges.
Trixie pointed to the pedestal. “Now, Assistant, place the blank!”
Mark would have liked to correct her but he knew this eagerness all too well from his Trixie. With a slight bow and refraining from ruffling his wings, he used his horn to put the blank on the pedestal. “Ready when you are, O Great and Powerful Trixie!” he said with a smile.
Trixie's horn lit up and she stood up on her hind legs. Her forelegs moved around, the magic flowing around her and to the plank. Mark watched as waves of magic flew by him and around the wood and gently wrapped around it. That was when a flicker of a glow from a pendant on the clip to her cape caught the corner of his eyes. “Once there was a plank and now there is a teapot!” Trixie finished off her little dance with the plank turning into exactly what she said it would become. “Trixie has turned a piece of wood into a beautiful porcelain!”
Heighten stared at it. “Oh, wow! Now that is amazing! If there are those wondering what happened, flow magic is for mages lacking the magical stamina to use their magic to flow freely to wrap the form of a set object to transfigure it. You just saw with your own eyes how it’s done!”
Ruby Swirl used her magic to pick up the teapot to take a close up look at it. “Sweet Celestia! It’s incredible! Not only your performance but the flow. It really showed how Transfiguration Flow Magic works. I am very impressed.”
“As am I,” Thunderknight agreed.
“I have no words to describe how transfixing it was,” Shimmering Stone said. They all gave a perfect score to Trixie.
Trixie bowed with pride. “Thank you! Thank you! Trixie is glad to entertain and succeed!” With that, she and Mark left the stage, Mark's eyes transfixed on the pendant.
“Could that be a magical artefact? Let's see how the next rounds go to see if my assumption is correct,” Mark thought to himself.
# # #
“That was flow magic? That looked like a sheet of glowing musical sheets.” Penumbra was very confused by the sight of the magic used.
Celestia rubbed the underside of her beak. “Each magical flow for transfiguration differs according to the user that cast it, but something about it felt too perfect.”
Twilight agreed with Celestia. “Princess Celestia, I noticed it too. Something about it feels a little off.”
“Maybe it feels off cause it’s a form of magic you can't perform?” Starlight suggested.
Celestia lowered the talon from her beak. “You have a valid point. High level magic-casters such as us wouldn't be able to perform this form of magic casting, Ruby Swirl is one such who has very low magic stamina but able to cast very advance levels of transfiguration via th—”
“Dweebs – shut up! You’re making something cool into something very, very boring. Stop breaking down the spells that are being cast and watch!” Gilda growled in annoyance.
“Gil—” Celestia felt a pillow hit her on the side of the face, noticing that it was thrown by Gale who was giving her a stick face. Many others were looking at Celestia, Starlight and Twilight with slight annoyance.
Sunflower spoke for them all. “Dude, Gilda is right. Seriously – stop and just watch. If you want to talk about breaking down the magic, do it elsewhere.”
Celestia smiled. “Fair enough.” She leaned down to Twilight. “We'll talk about it in a more private setting.”
“Agreed,” she whispered back.
Chrysalis noticed one of her changelings in unicorn guard form walk in, carrying a take-out box. He went to Gale and gave it to the prince. “Your Highness, here are the snacks from the food court you wanted.” He bowed his head slightly.
“Thank you!” Gale happily gave him a massive hug. After a moment, Gale let go and the changeling had a really goofy look on his face. Gale sat down crossing his hind legs and opened it up. “Ooh, battered cod and chips! Yummy! And good timing!”
The Changeling smiled, humming a little. “Is there anything else can I do for you?”
Gale looked at the food. “I need a knife and for—”
“I’ll get it!” The changeling rushed over to the table to fetch them.
Gale blinked. “Uhhh... Okay?”
Chrysalis already knew he was one of her drones but overflowing with pure emotional energy.
“Is there something wrong?” Grover asked.
“No, my drone just got a huge meal of emotions from the young prince. The best way I can describe it is if you eat too many sweets you get a sugar rush. In the drone's case, he’s overwhelming happy right now and willing to do anything for Gale at the moment,” Chrysalis explained while they watched the drone eagerly give the utensils to the teenage griffon.
“Which is both a good and bad thing.” Grover could see the concern Chrysalis had.
The queen simply nodded. “Indeed. I'll keep a close eye on him so nothing serious happens.”
# # #
“Now for our last contestant for group four, will our mystery mare and her dragon friend score enough to get through to the next round?” Heighten said to the crowd. He raised his hoof to her. “The stage is yours!”
The masked unicorn glanced up to the large curved window of the VIP lounge. She saw Starlight and Garble among the group with Nightingale, Greystorm, Gale and Celestia. “Psst, Crimson we got a problem,” she whispered to the red dragon, inclining her head toward the window.
“It’s a total bummer,” he replied. “Our counterparts are here. What are we gonna do?”
“Can't forfeit – it will attract attention. So I’m going to do what I do best – improvise.” She smirked and he smiled back. “Follow my lead.”
Crimson nodded. “Got it, Star.” He gave a thumbs-up.
The masked unicorn stepped up. “Erm... M-my assistant will put the plank on the pedestal.”
The dragon stepped up, almost stumbling over, getting laughter from the crowd. He quickly corrected himself and put the plank on the pedestal. He looked back at her with a wink as he quickly moved to the side.
The crowd watched as the unicorn zapped the plank and pedestal with a blast of magic. Before their eyes, they molded together into a marble animated dragon dancing with a wooden cane and hat singing, “Hello my honey, hello my darling~”
The crowd watched this high-kick cane-punching animated golem dragon dance. They stared speechless at it. “Tada! One dancing golem dragon!”
Heighten slapped his hoof over his forehead. “Ma'am – that is round two, not round one!”
“Erm... oops?”
“I think it looks good. Star did a grand job. What’s the problem?” Crimson asked.
“The problem isn't how amazing it is, the problem is that it should have been done for round two. This was for inanimate forms. I am going to have to give this a two,” Thunderknight said shaking his head.
“Same,” Ruby Swirl said. “Even if it’s entertaining and quite a feat, you failed to perform the given task, and in doing so, you are only getting a two from me as well.”
Shimmering Stone covered her ears before casting a beam of magic to turn the golem back into a plank and pedestal. “That was the most infuriating song I’ve ever heard in my life! The fact you got an animated transfigured object to sing with emotion is a feat in itself, but you failed the stipulated task and I am giving you a flat one!”
Crimson growled and the crowds were booing at the judges. The masked pony raised a hoof. “It’s okay – I made the mistake. I failed the given task and I will honour the judges’ decisions. I was very nervous, but seeing how you all supported me, I am happy to have entertained you. I am not going to let this bother me or my friend.”
Crimson frowned. “I think the judges are ol–” The unicorn looked at him and he snorted. “Fine. It won't bother me. Can we leave this lame place?”
The unicorn smiled. “Most certainly.” Her horn glowed and both teleported away from the stage.
# # #
Starlight had her jaw hanging. “Wh-what kind of transfiguration was that?!”
“I have no idea! But did you feel the release as I did?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, it was intense! That golem singing and dancing with emotion was amazing!” Starlight said.
Chrysalis added her view on it. “I can say for one thing – it did feel alive and happy, artificial but close to the real thing.”
Twilight looked over to the disguised changeling. “It did. Still kinda fun to watch a singing animated golem, wasn't it?”
“Hmm... I give it a seven out of ten.” Chrysalis casually shrugged.
Garble stared at the spot where the red dragon once stood. “I’m telling you – that dragon was making his voice sound weird intentional, and he was me!”
Smolder glared at her brother. “Garble, stop being stupid. They already told us our counterparts in their world, so stop trying to point out a red dragon for being you because you want to meet your older self to get pointers on your beats ahead of time.”
Garble groaned. “But Smolder, how cool w—”
“No, we’re not cheating and, as they said, we’re the only versions of us we know to be that hatchlings of a god to the Dragonlands. So stop going down that road already, or should I tell dad?”
Garble saw her glare turn to a darkening sisterly smile. “No, no! I'm good.” He waved his clawhands in defence to drop the matter at once.
“Good.” Smolder snorted and turned back to the window. “The next round line-up is about to come up for the last eight.”
Greystorm whispered to Nightingale. “It was the Inverse Reality Starlight Glimmer and Garble, wasn't it?”
“Yeah, and he likes being called Crimson. They must have seen Starlight, Garble and us. I’m glad you pulled a few strings for them and Jeremy to live their lives here in Manehatten, out of the way.”
“Just doing what’s right, Nightingale. Just hope no one else suspects them. They don't want to interfere with a world that’s not their own.” They both returned to watching the performance.
Celestia put a wing over Grover. “Doesn't that bring back memories, Grovey.”
Grover chuckled. “Indeed. Your little magical hiccups when you were with Nightingale.”
“It’s good to remember those times again. Even before that and to have you, Nightingale, Gale, Luna and the rest, it feels so much more whole now.” Celestia turned and lowered her head to nuzzle his beak and he returned it.
“Plpppppt!” They both stopped and turned to Gale blowing a raspberry at them. “No mushy stuff!”
“Yeah, dad, mum... How about do that when your children aren't around?” Nightingale backed up her little brother.
Gilda chuckled. “I agree with them, dweebs.”
Twilight frowned. “I thought it was cute and showed how much they missed each other.”
“Agreed.” Chrysalis and Starlight said together.
Smolder rolled her eyes. “Whatever! Let's just get back to watching. The eight contestants are coming up on stage for the quarter-finals.”
Greystorm and Octicovix disguised in her griffon form looked at each other with a shrug and put a wing over each other to watch the contest proceed to the next round.
# # #
Heighten raised a hoof. “Now that we have our remaining eight, it will get trickier. Each of you will cast your spells one by one on your planks of wood. Each of them will become something animated at no more than three hooves tall. Any higher or of a dangerous nature, you will have points deducted.” He turned around to the remaining eight. “The four with the highest points will move on to the semi-finals.”
“I wish you all the best of luck.” Thunderknight said to all of them. “Zerica – you are up first.”
The contestants bowed their heads and went backstage apart from Zerica.
“Zerica – let's see what kind of zebra potion magic you will pull off in this round!” Heighten stepped back to allow the zebra to do his thing.
Zerica turned to his assistant. “Give me the magical potions red, purple and blue. With those, I shall show what amazing things I can do.”
She took each vial from a small box and gave them to him.
“I’ll show the power of a zebra brew, by blending these mystic concoctions,” the shaman said as he mixed them together before carefully adding a small amount from one of the vials attached to his bag strap. “But only a single drop will do, lest disaster follow my actions.”
He poured the mix into a new vial and tossed it on the plank. The glass shattered and the contents spread over it to change the plank of wood into a wooden little bird. It flapped its wooden wings cheeping and chirping as it hopped about the pedestal. The crowd melted in love at the sight of the cute little wooden bird casually hopping about with no attempt to fly. Zerica put a hoof out to the bird and it hopped on before the zebra bowed to the crowd.
Ruby said, “What a lovely display of using the wood. You transfigured it into a wooden animated bird that seems so lifelike. Well played.”
“Indeed, it’s such a cute little thing,” Shimmering added her own praise.
“What an interesting way to use formulas in an arcane way. I’ve got to say you really know your stuff, Zerica.” Thunderknight said with an approving nod.
The judges presented their scores at 9.5, 9 and 9.
“A strong 27.5 to start – now that’s going to be a tough score to beat!” Heighten said as Zerica and his assistant left the stage with their animated wooden bird.
# # #
“Birdy cool! I like!” Gale said, amazed by the spell Zerica had cast. “But no beat Shadow!”
“Shadow?” Chrysalis asked.
“That would be his pet black phoenix back in the Philomena's greenhouse,” Celestia explained.
Twilight looked over to her. “A black phoenix? I’ve never heard of a phoenix being black. Have you, Starlight?”
“No, I haven't.”
Smolder spoke up. “Hey! That kitsune up with the purple dragon – Spike is it?.”
Silvite nodded. “Yep, and the kitsune is called Pom-Pom. If you know anything about me, you know that kitsunes are tricksters of the Dragonlands.” Garble and Smolder looked at each other then back at the stage. They recalled their dad mentioning about the kitsunes and their shapeshifting abilities along with their magical ones. “Also, they are the only other race that can eat gems.”
“What?!” The two sibling dragons looked very surprised to hear that.
# # #
Pom-Pom and Spike stepped up to the pedestal. “Please put the plank on the pedestal, Spike.”
“Will do!” Spike walked over, putting it down. “What are you going to do this time?”
“How about you give me an idea and I'll do it.” Pom-Pom gave Spike the option.
Spike looked at it and back at her. “R-really?” The kitsune nodded. “Erm...” He snapped his claws, recalling something he saw in Gale's Dream Cavern: one of the little figures in the house around the tree by the waterfall. “I’ve got it! A purple dragon with a gold sail on it forehead, two gold yellow horns and wings, with a gold yellow drill like bit on the end of the tail!”
# # #
Gale quickly stood up on his paws and pressed his talons against the glass, looking very surprised. “Spyro figure! He want Spyro animated figure!”
“Erm… Spyro?” Smolder asked.
Alpha explained to them. “It’s a fictional purple dragon, a little hero to all, standing strong for the weak.”
“This will be interesting to see.” Silvite said.
# # #
Pom-Pom flicked her tail with the blue flame. “Alright, Spike – one little purple dragon figure coming right up!” She cast the flaming magic over it.
The plank started to bounce around and spin rapidly to form into a purple dragon figure. It’s plastic purple eyelids blinked a few times, the purple eyes looking around in confusion. “Wh-whoa! What a rush! So cool!” He flexed a forepaw. “Whoa, this place is huge!” He looked over to Spike. “Hey! My name's Spyro! What’s your name?”
“Erm... Spike.” He waved his claw back. “You’re talking.”
“Yep!” He sat down with a grin. “And yes, I know I am plastic; how cool is that?”
Pom-Pom walked up to the little figure. “It’s one of a few games we salvaged in the Forgotten Ruins. I added personality and free will to this little guy. He wasn't sure of himself or what he is at first, but as you can see, he knows.” Pom-Pom lifted a forepaw to him.
The little plastic dragon hopped onto the forepaw. “Yep! Isn't that awesome!” He stood in a somewhat heroic pose.
Heighten looked over to the judges and back. “Oh, okay... That’s a new one.”
“Not new but not common. You are self-aware, aren't you?” Ruby asked the little dragon.
“Yep! Pom-Pom gave me the basics and let me know I am created from a very lame piece of wood.” He snorted, trying to cause a flame to come out. “Darn, no fire. Oh well.” He shrugged.
“An artificial golem that is self-aware is not so easy to do.” Shimmering Stone said, rubbing a hoof under her chin. “I gather this is a normal thing for kitsunes?”
Pom-Pom moved up to the table, putting the little dragon on it. Spyro walked around on it, looking up at each of them playfully. “It’s a common thing for us to create our own pets with transfiguration magic. This little guy will live as long as his creator.”
Spyro turned around, looking up at her. “Or as long my plastic body lasts.” He stuck out his tongue at her.
This got a set of laughter from the crowd. “Very cheeky little thing, aren't you?” Thunderknight leaned down to the little dragon. “I don't know if this against the rules, but may I keep this little guy? I don't want him to be returned back into a plank – he’s too likeable,” the old stallion asked.
Pom-Pom smiled. “Gladly. Just don't use that for your score. Be honest.” Pom-Pom returned to the stage, standing with Spike.
“Of course.” The stallion put Spyro on his head, the plastic dragon sitting proudly on top of the mane. “Now for our scores.”
“You have a straight 9.5 from all of the judges – well done! You’re on top with 28.5!” Heighten congratulated her. “Now for our final contestant! Trixie the Great and Powerful!”
Trixie stepped up with Mark, walking by Spike and Pom-Pom.
“Nicely done,” Mark said to Pom-Pom. “I know that little guy too.”
“You’ve got good taste in games,” she said back. “Good luck to both of you.”
Trixie smirked. “Trixie does not need luck. She’s got this in the bag!” she boasted.
# # #
“How about one your height, Prince Gale?”
Gale turned to see the changeling guard change forms into Spyro, equal in height to Gale, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Fire included.” He puffed out some flames grinning.
“EPIC!” Gale tackle-hugged him. “Let's play!” Gale flew up and tapped his muzzle. “Tag!” He flew off.
“Not for long!” The changeling shaped as Spyro chased after Gale, flying around above everyone.
Chrysalis facehoofed. “Oh boy...”
“I think it’s rather cute, and they’re having fun, so don't ruin it,” Celestia said, watching them fly around.
Gallus watched and looked over to Greystorm with a pleading look. “Uncle – could I?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Gallus dropped the comic book to join the fun.
Octicovix nudged Greystorm. “Looks like the cub is warming up to you even more.”
“Yeah. I am happy and feel sort of strange at the same time, but in a good way.”
“I know, my husband. I know.” She patted his chest with a talon.
Glacier laughed. “So innocent. So pure.”
# # #
Trixie and Mark stepped up onto the stage. “Assistant plank on pedestal!” Mark did so and stepped back from it.
“What are you going to do?”
Trixie smiled. “I’ve always wanted to create this. I am going to create a clockwork griffon!”
“Wh-What!?”
# # #
Octicovix, Silvite, Glacier, Chrysalis, Starlight and Twilight instantly responded in shock, making the three flyers stop in mid-game of tag. “TRIXIE’S DOING WHAT?!”
# # #
Trixie summoned the flow of magic from her horn. She shifted onto her hind legs, moving the forelegs around in a complex motion for the magic to flow around them as she shifted her hind legs too. Many ponies leaned forward from their seats, watching with awe as the flow headed for the plank. “Shift and flow at the command of Trixie! Bring forth a clockwork griffon!”
Mark noticed the pendant glowing in reaction to her magic. “So it is an artefact. I am going to have to talk to her after this.” He turned to see the plank lifted by the flow and encased by it. The magic waves of flowing magic expanded and as it dropped to the ground as it was transfigured into a silver-plated clockwork griffon.
Its eyes seemed empty and nonresponsive. “Trixie commands you to step forward, turn around, and bow to the judges with wings opened!” The clockwork griffon stepped forward and turned around as commanded. It push its talons forward, shifting its chest toward the ground, lowering its head as cogs meshed and rotated to open its silver in dazzling display.
Ponies stomped and cheered at the sight of the silver mechanical griffon before their eyes. “Whoa, now that is impressive! Look at those cogs shifting; hear that ticking; that is a complex clockwork mechanical griffon! I’ve got to say that is really impressive!” Heighten walked around it, taking a good look at the parts.
The judges had to get up and come over to get a good look themselves.
“Stand and let them inspect you,” Trixie told her creation.
The clockwork griffon stood up on all paws and talons, allowing them to get a good look at it.
“Those wings and claws could be dangerous. I have to say that this is a very impressive form of flow transfiguration magic.” Ruby used her magic to lift some of the plating to get a good look at the inside. “Look at this, Shimmer, Thunderknight. See all those parts working in unison.”
Shimmering took a good look at vital parts. “That must be the heart, those the lungs, and those fluids flowing around tubes to keep those cogs turning. I have seen clockwork creations in my time but this is far more complex.”
Thunderknight turn to Trixie. “I gather you studied clockworks?”
“Yes. Trixie studied under her mentor. He showed her clocks and prints of such a thing that could be created via the flow of magic. Trixie hopes it impressive.”
“It certainly is. Thank you for your answer,” Thunderknight said. He opened a panel upon the head and saw the many small cogs spinning, the lamps for eyes feeding into the tiny cogs. “These small ones are the brain. As you can see, these little rapidly spinning cogs release electrical impulses like a neuron.”
The Spyro figure scratched his plastic head. “How does mine work? I am solid chunks of plastic held together in parts.”
“A mystery in itself, little one.” Thunderknight looking up at the plastic little dragon still sitting on top of his head.
The judges put the panels back on and sat at their table to discuss the griffon among themselves. They parted and showed their scores to Heighten.
Ruby said, “You’re half a point away from Pom-Pom.” Trixie was surprised by this. “I gather you’re wondering why? Well, we had to take points off. Firstly, it’s a full-grown griffon which means it’s bigger than our stipulated limits, and due to the wings, talons and beak, even if they seem harmless, they can be deadly, so we took some off for that, although making an exception to the rules for the level of creativity you put into it.” Ruby gave Trixie a warm smile. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen flow transfiguration magic at work like this. It was refreshingly well done.”
Trixie bowed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie thanks you for your words.” She then walked off stage with Mark.
Heighten addressed the audience. “Now we will take ten minutes before the four semi-finalists come up for the next transfiguration task of turning an apple into an orange while keeping the apple’s flavour intact.”
The crowd started discussing who they thought would win out of the four remaining contestants.
# # #
Celestia turned to Greystorm. “Are there checks for artefacts?”
“Yes, they do a thorough check on all the contestants. Why do you ask?” Greystorm replied.
Twilight silently thought about the clockwork silver griffon that was made by the transfiguration spell. “I saw her pendant glowing in reaction to her magic. That is why I am asking, Greystorm.”
“I saw that too. What is it if it isn't an artefact?” Starlight asked.
Sunflower giggled. “It’s a reaction stone, silly,” the large finch griffon informed them all. “Those things you can buy from the southern Equestrian city Macintosh Central. It’s one of their signature reasons the city even was built. It started off as a small settlement, then they found stones that glowed the same colour as your magic. So they turned them into pendants, torches, chandeliers and so forth. Don't you have that city at the Macintosh Hills?”
Twilight shook her head. “Not that I know of. It’s news to me.”
Sunflower shrugged. “Guess every reality has something different to the other.”
Celestia looked out to the stage. “That means Trixie Lulamoon has a real magical gift. It’s quite impressive to have a skill on that level. Win or lose, I bet my crown Ruby Swirl will talk to her about taking the young mare on as an apprentice.” Celestia warmly smiled.
“You make it sound as if she never had.” Chrysalis got the sense of what Celestia was saying had a meaning under the words.
“Indeed.”
Glacier crossed her forelegs. “It’s something that I didn't expect to see since that poor griffon back in the other Equestria was transfigured on a reality magical level into a clockwork griffon.”
“Really? I would be interested to hear about this, since we’ve got some time before the semis.”
Gale landed by his mum. “Ooh! I like to know!”
“Is it safe for him to know?” Twilight asked.
“I know Earth, my past life went bye-bye. I know dad saved me before I me!”
Grover chuckled rubbing his feathered head. “Gale’s right about that, so I say go ahead.”
Glacier picked up her cup of tea, drinking a little of it. “Now this happened on a reality where Equus was—”
# # #
“Trixie, that pendant is helping you amplify your magic,” Mark assumed as he walked after Trixie into her dresser room provided by the convention.
Trixie turned around, glaring at him. “Are you accusing Trixie of cheating?”
Mark shook his head. “I am not. I am saying that thing is just amplifying that flow magic you are already using. Let me guess – it helps you to focus on it?”
Trixie growled. “Assistant – Trixie does not like your tone!”
His horn glowed and they teleported to an empty corridor somewhere in the convention centre. “Trixie, you can do this without that pendant helping you. I can see that you are really gifted.”
“And who are you to know Trixie?!” she snarled poking him with a hoof.
“Because I know a Trixie of my own back where I come from.” His wings flared open. “I’m from another Equestria.”
Trixie gasped. “Y-you mean that stage fight was REAL?! There was REAL danger?!”
Mark placed a hoof on her side. “Yes. I didn't want to make myself known directly like this, but if I believe in Trixie where I come from, I definitely believe in you. That’s why I chose to be your assistant. And you have something my Trixie doesn't have – this flow magic.”
“Trixie demands proof.”
Mark used his magic to projector an image of his Trixie. “Proof enough?”
Trixie blinked. “Trixie… is an alicorn?”
“My wife earned her wings using her powerful illusion magic in the defence of Equestria. However, she doesn’t have transfiguration flow magic but you do. Why?”
Trixie smiled. “Trixie's mentor and teacher came to Trixie when Trixie was down on her luck. Her home was destroyed and she had been humiliated by an incident with an Ursa Minor in Ponyville. He came and promised to show what was special in Trixie all along. First thought was made, than came truth. He gave Trixie the pendant to help focus and it worked. Maybe Trixie became too reliant on it.” Trixie removed it from her cape.
Mark warmly smiled and teleported them back. “I believe you can do it without it.”
Trixie smiled back. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will! Now Trixie has got to do something first. Wait for Trixie.” She ran off out of the dresser room. Mark decided to follow and saw Trixie enter another room. He peered in through the crack of the door to see Zerica.
“Greetings, student of mine. No doubt, I gather you finally figured it out?” he said with a smile, seeing the performer now standing before him.
Trixie used her magic to pull the pendant off, placing it on his hoof. “Trixie no longer needs it, Trixie can do this without it.”
“As I had told you, and now you see true.” He put the pendant down on the table. “Now, my student, no time to rest, for now you face the final test.” He placed an apple down before her.
Trixie looked at it. “Isn't this the semi-finals test?”
“Indeed, but mine for you: cast the spell and let it flow. Show me that you are ready for your own path to grow.” Zerica gestured to it.
Trixie took a deep breath. “Trixie is ready.” She let the magic flow from her horn around the apple turning it into an orange. “Trixie did it?”
Zerica peered at the skin, taking a sniff of it. “It has an apple’s smell. Let’s test the taste as well.” He split the orange to pull a slice off to take a bite. “Juicy and squishes like an orange would, but tastes exactly like an apple should.” He gave her a piece to eat.
She ate it and gasped. “I did it! Trixie did it! No pendant to help! Assistant was right!”
“Indeed he was, but now we’re done. Your time to face Pom-Pom has come. For us, our paths must diverge from here. I’ve done all I can to make yours clear. Whatever happens next, although you won’t see, know that I shall always be so proud of thee.” Zerica gave her a hug, she returned it.
“You’re forfeiting?”
“That is correct, and the other has too. Just remember what I’m telling you. Pom-Pom is old and wise, even if it does not show. Do not fret if you lose, you’re young and have time to grow.” He smiled. “Now go out there, my student, and prepare for the show.”
Trixie bowed her head. “Trixie will make you proud! Trixie is going to give it all she’s got!” She galloped out of the room.
The zebra eyed the door. “Prince Mark Wells – come on in. I think we should talk.”
Mark hesitated before walking in and closing the door behind him. He watched the bulky zebra put some of the potions together to drink afterwards. “You’re Trixie’s mentor?”
The zebra suddenly shrunk a little and became a bit skinnier. He shook his body. “Yes, and it’s good to get out of that form. Being stuck in that thing for a month was awful, and that bloody rhyming all the time! But this was what the master wanted me to do, so I did.” He grinned at Mark. “I'm Zerra. I hope the name rings a bell, little pony.”
Mark's horn instantly lit up with sparks of lightning. “You’re the one that destroyed the Inverse Reality and kidnapped Nightingale! You work for Grogar!”
“Yes I do and I did.” He poured some tea into a cup and casually drunk a little of it. “Now here’s a question – why am I not afraid of that horn of yours?”
Mark noticed the vials were bubbling, some starting to vibrate. His horn dimmed. “Your potions – they are reacting to my magic. If I was to unleash a blast at you, I could take you out but the results could harm so many other lives here.”
“Correct. Good to see you’ve got a brain, Prince Mark Wells. For me, this all happened a month or so ago, but for you, meeting my master was only a few hours ago for a brief time.”
“You time-travelled. But—”
“But nothing seems to have changed? Well apart from one.” He took a sip of the tea.
Mark eyes widen. “Trixie! You—”
Zerra interrupted again. “I brought out something that was in her already. It took a month to do and a waste of a one-use time travel spell, but Master Grogar and I owed you big for taking care of Shal-Quz, so I did what I believe would fit as a reward to you – help Trixie who isn't your Trixie but still a Trixie.” Zerra chuckled lightly, drinking more of his tea before tossing over the pendant.
Mark caught it with his wing. “The artefact that helped her – why are you giving me this?”
“Oh you poor fool – that’s just a reaction stone. Go on – activate your horn.” Mark does seeing the pendant glow. Zerra continued. “It’s something that this world has that yours does not. Also, don't worry about my assistant. I paid her good and said it was an honour, blah, blah, blah. Now…” He put the cup down and pulled out a bottle from his bag. He tossed it behind him to shatter on the floor. The enchantment that was released formed a portal. “I’ve got one thing left that’s written in stone over there on the table. That’s why you’re not going to stop me from leaving.”
Mark walked over to the table where he saw an envelope. Opening it up, he found a photo. “It’s in Canterlot. That’s me talking to Princess Celestia. Chrysalis, Penumbra, Twilight and Starlight appear to be carrying comic-con gifts and preparing to leave through the mirror portal?” He turned back to the zebra who was stepping backwards into the portal as it started to close.
“Now that the path is set in stone, you don't want to change that path, do you? Now their fates rests in your horn. Turn it around – the photo was taken and printed on the same that it happened. Hahahahaha!” The portal closed up.
Mark slowly turned back to the photo. He turned it around to see the date it was printed on. He looked over to a calendar with a circle around a Saturday pointing an arrow to Monday. “Monday... That’s a few days from now. That bucking zebra! No wonder he’s so hated. Zerra cornered me in a box with one path to take, damn it!” He sighed.
“Assistant! Where are you? Trixie demands that you come here now! Trixie has an amazing plan for finals! Trixie wants your input!”
Mark put the photo away. He needed to test something. A small blast a lightning at a vial only got a bubbling reaction from the others. “He played me even on that. Damn, he’s good.” Mark heard Trixie scream out again, his ears pulled back from the noise. “Coming!” Mark hastened out of the room.
# # #
Heighten stepped up onto stage with the spotlight on him. “We’re back after the short break and there has been a development in the last ten minutes. “We’re moving straight to the finals between Pom-Pom and Trixie Lulamoon, because the other two contestants have pulled out and forfeited.”
# # #
Gale was looking forward to this one. “Finals changing Spike into another creature?”
“I’ve got to see this.” Smolder chuckled.
Chrysalis was curious too. “I am going to bet ten bits that Spike will be turned into a griffon and my husband into a dragon.”
“That’s a bold bet. I'll take you on.” Glacier pulled out a ten bit coin placing it down on the table.
# # #
Pom-Pom and Trixie stepped up on stage with their assistants. “Now, since there are only you two left, you will cast your spells on your assistants at the same time to turn them into the creatures that you have written down and present to the judges.” He gave them both a piece of paper each with a quill.
“Trixie’s got this.” She wrote down the creature she was aiming for.
“Best of luck, young one.” Pom-Pom raised her paw to Trixie. The unicorn wrapped her foreleg around it and they shook, getting a cheer from the crowds. Pom-Pom wrote hers down and they both gave the paper to Heighten.
The presenter passed the two pieces to the judges. They took a look at them and nodded to him. “Now – assistants take your places!”
Spike and Mark walked up to the circles drawn on the stage. They turned to face the two casters. “Good luck, Spike.”
“Same to you!” Spike replied with a nod from both of them.
Pom-Pom's blue magical flame lights up and engulfed Spike with a magical aura around him. Trixie did a little performance as the magic flowed out of her horn toward Mark, surrounding him. The crowds and those at the VIP lounge watched intently as the magic started to change their forms. Unicorn mages stood at the ready to cancel the spells and reverse them.
Spike could feel the changes wash over him. It was painless but odd as his muzzle turned into a creamy green beak. His hand claws turned into longer claws of talons matching the creamy green colour. He saw purple fur replace his scales halfway up the arm that turned into a foreleg. His clawed feet turned into paws, the heels raised off the ground. His legs shifted and changed into digitigrade configuration.
Spike wobbled and fell forwards, landing on his talons. Purple feathered wings emerged from his back, flexing and flapping a few times. His thick tail thinned out to a green fur brush at the end. The green finlike ears turned into pointy purple-furred thick ears with green tips, his spines turned into large feathers in a Mohawk fashion on top of his head. He blinked his green eyes as they slightly changed too.
Mark felt his form change within the field of flowing magic around him. His wings grew in size along with his body. He found himself able to stand on his two hind legs while his forehooves turned into furry hand-paws with three claw-tipped fingers and thumb. His hind hooves turning into three-toed paws, the tail grew out into a muscled solid form with spines sticking out of the green fur to a spade shaped tip. His muzzle narrowed and pushed out a bit more with the flat teeth reforming into sharp ones.
Mark felt his mane shift into spines on top of his head, and ears pointed out a bit more. His eyes slightly shifted but kept their colour although his pupils changed to slits. Mark flexed his arms, feeling the muscles shift and form under the layer of thin fur. Then the magic around him burst away.
# # #
Glacier said, “I guess you were three-quarters right. Spike’s a griffon but Prince Mark… errr... Is he some sort of feathered winged furry dragon?” she asked with confusion in her words.
Chrysalis couldn't take her eyes off that new form. “It is, and it looks both soft and powerful. My husband feels very satisfied with what he has become. Look at him pose and test it out.”
“So... I pay you seven and half bits?”
Chrysalis shook her head. “No. neither of us won or lost. It’s a tie.”
Gabby giggled. “He looks so soft and cuddly! I bet his hugs will be soft and warm!”
“Gabs, I bet my pillows on it,” Rocky agreed.
Twilight stared at Spike with amazement. “That griffon form is amazing, I bet Spike is enjoying the feel of having wings at the moment, a preview of what’s to come.”
“Feathers and differently shaped to dragon wings, pony.” Smolder rolled her eyes. “Those feather dusters won't give him any dragon-like experience, and that green fuzzy dragon is the weirdest dragon I’ve ever seen.”
Gabby shrugged. “I bet they both will be super fuzzy and warm to hug!”
Gale liked what he had seen. The form changes they had watched were something to behold. The teen wondered which of them would give good hugs now. “That fun to watch! They change and they liking it. Who you think win?”
“Not a clue, cub. It could go either way now. This will be too close to call,” Gilda said, wondering herself which one would win this contest.
Starlight was curious about the magic they used. “I’ve got to say watching this contest opened my eyes to many possibilities.”
# # #
Ruby, Shimmer and Thunderknight talked among each other about the two finalist spells and their assistants’ transfigured forms. Spike tested out his wings, flapping them a few times to get some air under the feathers. “Beak with teeth – so weird. These paws and talons, even the wings, I can feel them all and yet I can…” He blew out some green flame. “Cool! I can use my flame still.”
Mark flexed his paw hand, letting the alicorn magic flow around to shimmer around it. “Still got my magic too, and I like the form and this fur. I never thought being some sort of feathered dragon could be so cool! I bet Sally is loving the new look.” He looked up and over to the VIP window at the disguised changeling, giving her a wink.
Spike looked up at it and saw Twilight. “Is that Twilight? But why does she have wings?”
Mark leaned over. “She’s not your Twilight, yo—”
“You’re really an alicorn aren't you? And Twilight is from your reality?” Spike whispered, getting a surprised smile from Mark who saw how much this little drake turned temporary griffon understood. “I know about different realities. Princess Celestia kept us informed. Also, we watched the Inverse Reality collapse before our eyes.”
Spike looked over to Gale who was waving a talon at him. Spike gave a wave back before turning back to Mark. “I am like a big brother to Gale. He really looks up to me. It's kinda weird...” Spike fiddled with his talons. “So... does your Twilight have a Spike too?”
“Yeah, he’s a good dragon just like you. Silvite got to know him and, from what I’ve learned, even from your short interaction, she knows you do good for Prince Gale and sees something special in you.” Mark placed his paw hand on Spike's side.
Spike smiled. “Glad you, Princess Celestia, and Alpha kicked that rabbit’s butt. That was awesome!”
“It sure was,” Mark chuckled.
Chrysalis curiously glanced over to the silver dragon. “Silvite, how powerful are your sister’s transfiguration magical abilities?”
Silvite did a spin, gesturing to herself. “She managed to downsize a titan-class dragon, which took four hundred years to do, I might add.” Silvite was curious about the question now. “Why do you ask?”
“Could we talk in private? There’s something of interest that I wish to discuss.” Chrysalis beckoned Silvite to follow her to the doors.
Silvite followed. “Well, this is going to be interesting to hear.”
Shining Armor and the changeling guard opened the doors, and then they closed them up behind the two as they walked onto the stair well.
Smolder curiously stared at the doors. “I wonder what they’re going to talk about?”
“Maybe it has to do with that strange furry dragon form the pony was turned into?” Garble guessed.
Smolder rubbed the underside of her muzzle also guessing that might be the case.
As time ticked by, Pom-Pom and Trixie sat waiting with their assistants. Heighten walked up and said, “Well, it seems it’s taking a bit longer for the judges to declare a winner than usual. You two really did amazingly well.” He then addressed the assistants. “How does it feel being in those different forms?”
Mark flexed his hand-paw fingers, closing and opening them. “Curiously strange having soft paw-like dragon-like hands. The feathered wings I like, and I still have my magic.” He showed the announcer the magical aura around the paw hand. “I like this form – it’s kinda neat.”
“I’ve still got my fire breath,” Spike said. “Walking on all fours took some getting used to at first, but strangely, I got the hang of the balance and wings fast. Also, it’s weird having a beak. I can feel its toughness as well as the flexibility when I smile.” The dragon turn griffon smiled. “Also, I get to be the first purple furred and feathered griffon with a hint of green.” He showed off his wingspan with the purple shine from the lighting.
“That’s good to hear that you two are enjoying the experience.” He turned to Pom-Pom and Trixie. “As the finalists, how did you two find the contest? How was the experience in front of all these creatures, and even Princesses Celestia and Nightingale, plus Prince Gale?”
Pom-Pom kept a very calm and collected disposition as she gave her answer. “As a fellow leader, I know how to handle myself in front of large crowds. As for my experience so far – I've enjoyed every moment of it and I’ve been glad to compete today. Trixie has proven that even for those who have lived many lifetimes already, it isn't as smooth sailing as it could be. She really kept me on my toes.” Pom-Pom looked over to Trixie with a smile. “It’s been very refreshing.”
Trixie went with a performer’s way of speaking in response to the question after Pom-Pom. “The Great and Powerful Trixie enjoyed the cheering of the crowds. Performing with a form of magic she was shown to have all along, learning to let it flow, and this contest against those, especially Pom-Pom the Kitsune, showed that even Trixie could enjoy it.” Trixie looked over to Pom-Pom now returning the smile. “Trixie's spirit of entertaining has been revitalized! All thanks to the challenge presented by Pom-Pom, and also the assistant who cosplayed as Mark Wells the Alicorn of Justice who gave a helpful hoof. And so, Trixie the Great and Generous awards her assistant the clockwork griffon Trixie created!”
Mark turned to her in shock upon hearing that. “Wh-what?”
“Do not look star-struck, assistant. This is your award – be proud!” Trixie pointed a hoof to the clockwork silver griffon standing just off-stage.
Mark looked over at it. “What am I supposed to do with an animated cog-ticking mechanical griffon?”
Trixie shrugged. “How is Trixie to know? It is yours to do with as you please.”
Mark just stared at her speechless. She had given him what was once a plank, now a silver metal-shelled griffon with the sound of the ticking and cogs clanking.
“Well, it sure is a heck of a gift, and there are no rules saying you can't give away a transfigured item,” Heighten said before he noticed that the judges had finally stopped talking to each other. “It seem the judges have made their minds up. Let's see which of these amazing contestants have won this year’s transfiguration contest!”
Shimmer Stone spoke first among the judges. “We’ve never had a transfiguration contest this close to call before. You both have shown outstanding levels of control over the specialities of your forms of transfiguration magic, from flow to flame. More than any other contestant, you two brought an element of fun to the magic you used. As you can tell, everyone wants you both to win. Sadly, there can only be one final winner, but on an entertainment level, you both are.”
The crowds cheered and applauded them both.
Thunderknight spoke next. “I became a Royal Guard to use my specialities to deal with any threat. I used transfiguration to change my form into something that would bring safety to all I care about and fulfil my duty to Princess Celestia. I've seen a level of fun that I have missed for a long time. You two are outstanding and should be very proud of yourselves. Now, I know a little about kitsunes – is it true your kind have natural magical abilities to shapeshift?”
Pom-Pom glowed as she did a backflip spin to change into a yellow and white unicorn with a spiky pony tail that looked like twelve tails, each with a different shade of colour matching the flames. “Indeed, our kind do. But transfiguration magic on this level of transformation upon others and objects only comes with training and experience. I’ve had roughly 720 years of it.”
Thunderknight smiled. “It shows from your calm and collected form when casting your transfiguration spell at each round. And yet, the results are so close that only half a point separate you two. It’s impressive someone around seven centuries younger could win or lose this by such a small margin.”
“Indeed, Trixie showed that even age and experience doesn't guarantee an easy win, and I like it,” Pom-Pom responded, doing another spin back-jump to revert to her true form.
Ruby Swirl was next to speak. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen anyone that showed that level of control of flow magic, Trixie Lunamoon. From the start, you have impressed me under pressure. You completed each task in a very graceful and entertaining level, using your body with the flow, commanding it to transfigure your target as you willed.”
Trixie bowed. “Trixie thanks you for the praise.”
Ruby continued. “Pom-Pom – the magical flame that formed around the objects and your assistant showed a very unique form of magic that is most likely part of your kind. Since this is the first time I’ve met a kitsune, your magic was a refreshing sight to see. As you know, I do not have the same level of magic stamina as my fellow judges have, yet I showed you I do not need it. Why am I talking about it? Because I get a sense your magical abilities come from each of those flames that dance over each tail. Those are your source of magic, aren’t they?”
“That is correct, Miss Swirl. We kitsunes magical ability comes from the flame and the control from our connections from each of them over our tails. It looks mystic, even spiritual. This is how it is and always will be our form of magic.”
Ruby nodded. “Thank you for sharing that with us. It shows that even those that are not ponies have unique traits of magic. It broadens our horizons.” She looked at each of the judges, and they nodded to her in silent agreement. “Now, it is time to declare our winner for the Sixth Manehatten Comic Con Transfiguration Magical Contest!”
The spotlights shone over Pom-Pom and Trixie as the other lights dimmed down. They now waited for the results to be announced as a drumming sound came from the background. The audience members leaned forward in anticipation.
“This winner is…” Ruby raised her hoof up above her head and dropped it down, pointing to... “Pom-Pom!”
The spotlight landed on Pom-Pom who looked around to see everyone cheering her victory. Mark, too, was clapping his paw hands together. Spike joined Pom-Pom, excited and happy to see her win, both waving to the crowd with confetti falling down over them.
Trixie stepped back to stand beside Mark.
“Is that a smile of putting on a show, or you are happy with yourself?” Mark asked as he continued to clap.
Trixie didn't look over at him. “You know my answer, Prince Mark Wells.”
“That I do.” Mark and Trixie smiled as they looked on at the winner and her assistant being praised by all in front.
Heighten presented Pom-Pom with a trophy upon which the judges had inscribed her name, plus a bag of cash. “Well done, Pom-Pom the kitsune! Here’s your official first-place trophy and the grand prize of one thousand bits! A well-earned reward for the entertainment you have given us. Also, you and your assistant’s photo will be taken to be placed in the Hall of Fame here in Manehatten Comic-Con. Congratulations once again!”
When the crowd finished applauding, the M.C. turned to Trixie. “The runner-up normally receives a prize of five hundred bits and an achievement medal. However, on this occasion, a special bonus has been added.” He nodded to the unicorns to pull the curtains back to show a stage-wagon.
Trixie gasped at the sight of it. “Wh-what?!”
“We heard that your stage-wagon and home was destroyed by an Ursa Minor, so this was brought in as a surprise by your mentor and teacher. Win or lose, you get this as a gift to move on with your life and to perform to many more!”
Trixie’s eyes were watering upon seeing it. Mark knew it was from Zerra but he felt his heartstrings pulled seeing how overwhelming happy Trixie was at seeing her new home. “Trixie was not expecting this! Trixie is soooo surprised!”
“Then let’s add to that surprise.” They looked over to see Ruby stepping up onto the stage. “I wish to help you refine your technique, teach you the traits to bring a full entertaining show with Flow Transfiguration.”
Trixie looked over to Mark who nodded and said, “I say go for it.”
“Okay!” Trixie turned back to Ruby and hugged the old mare. “Thank you! Trixie will make you proud! Trixie will not ruin this moment!”
“I know you won't.” She hugged her back. The crowd continued to cheer loudly as the other judges joined them and began to talk to them about it.
A short time later, Mark and Spike were back to their true forms. They parted ways with Trixie who left with Ruby Swirl to start her new future in performance. They were met by everyone else outside the doors to the VIP lounge. “Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the contest!” Mark said holding a plank of wood with his magic.
“We did! It was fun and very educational,” Twilight said with glee. “When we get home, I am going to study transfiguration and discover anything that hasn't been discovered yet! The endless possibilities of it!”
Spike laughed. “You’re definitely a Twilight.”
She looked down at him slightly. “You know?”
“Yeah, the wings were a big giveaway, but I’ve also seen my fair share of weird things since I got to be Gale's big brother.” Spike got a hug from Gale. “Bet you wanted to hug me when I was a griffon still?”
“Yes! Purple griffon with creamy green beak and talons, green feather tips and tail brush look cool! I did!” Gale released the hug.
Pom-Pom joined them with a mischievous smile on her face. “Then your wish is my command.” She tapped Spike on the head with a paw and he changed forms.
Gale squawked in happiness and hugged Spike again. “Yay! I hug griffon Spike!”
Spike squawked in gasps for air. “Too tight! Can't breathe!”
Gale softened the hug. “Sorry.”
“It’s cool.” Spike laughed and hugged back.
After the hug, Pom-Pom turned Spike back to normal. “Now that was a lot of fun. I noticed everyone is here apart from Silvite and that mare.” She looked around.
Penumbra answered that mystery. “Queen Chrysalis and Silvite went off to get a cup of tea and talk about something to do with you Pom-Pom.”
Pom-Pom looked over to the bat pony. “Do they now? Hmm... Now that’s got my interest.”
Penumbra’s expression turned stern as she walked up to Mark. “Prince Mark Wells! What the buck were you thinking going out like that?! You could have been revealed to the con-goers as the real deal!”
Mark rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof. “Yeah, I didn't really think of that and I may have revealed I was the real deal to Trixie when I believed she may have been using an artefact to cast her spells. However it was only a stone that reacted to magic that was helping her focus.”
Penumbra groaned and shook her head. “And that piece of wood?”
“It was the clockwork griffon. I found out that the flow form of transfiguration magic on animated and form-changing only lasts for about half an hour until the spell wears off,” Mark said looking at the plank. “I know it doesn't look like much, but it was my award from The Great and Powerful Trixie, so I’m keeping it as a memento.”
Penumbra was quietly thankful that the spell only lasted for a short time so the tick-tocking silver clockwork griffon wouldn’t be around.
Starlight was curious about it. “After Chrysalis and Silvite are done talking, I would like to know what they’re up to, but we do need to return home, Prince Mark.”
Sunflower and Gale looked at each other. “Erm... Yeah about that...” Sunflower began.
Mark already knew where the mirror was if the photo was anything to go by. “It's in Canterlot, isn't it?”
The two griffons looked very surprised by him knowing. So did everyone apart from Celestia and Alpha. “How you know that?” Gale asked.
Mark lean down to Gale. “I would have done the same thing in your place, Prince Gale. You’re the one that gave the order to have it moved to a safe place, weren’t you?” The teen merely nodded. “It’s a massive inconvenience on our part, but we did leave it unsecured after-all. We were so focused on dealing with Shal-Quz, none of us thought about the mirror being left unguarded.”
Twilight groaned, rubbing a hoof over her forehead just below the horn. “That was really stupid of us.”
Mark still leaning down next to Gale, glanced over to Twilight. “It’s alright. We had a young prince come to our rescue on that, and I gather your mum gave you lessons on making sure something like a magical artefact that could be dangerous was to be put somewhere safe?”
Gale nod. “Yes, mum did. Me and Maple went through it after Octicovix spoke of it. We talked to adult Smolder. She suggested too to keep it safe!”
“You did good, Prince Gale.” Mark rose up, looking up at Sunflower. “I gather Maple gave you the details to make it easier to tell for Prince Gale's lack of communication skills.”
Sunflower grinned. She pulled out a few sheets of paper from her bag, giving them to Mark. “Sure did, Prince Mark. Nanner Maple pulled a few strings with the owner of the Sky High Hotel which is connected to this convention centre via the hotel sky-bridge over there.” She indicated the walkway in view. “Prince Gale had the mirror shipped back via the airship that transported Shal-Quz to Flaputa-on-Sea. HMS Victory will take a detour back to Canterlot to drop the mirror off to Princess Luna who will be waiting for its arrival. It will be placed nearby the Canterlot Castle docking bay for easy access on Monday when the ship will return to pick all of you up to fly back to Canterlot.”
Mark realised that with the information Sunflower gave, everything seemed to line up as predicted by the zebra Zerra's photo. “I gather the strings pulled for the hotel are hotel rooms for me, Twilight, Starlight, Chrysalis and the changelings we brought over to help against Shal-Quz?”
“Correct, dude. The penthouse level suites to be exact, so only a few doors down from mine,” Sunflower answered. “Also, Nanner Maple said she got a message from a Princess Trixie. It said, ‘Relax and enjoy the comic con, Dowser, and bring back something unique and special for your loving wife. Depending on how good it is will be your punishment for failing to tell Trixie about the emergency before going off-world.’ Or something like that. You’re in for it when you get home, dude!”
Mark swallowed hard. “Heh! I knew I forgot to do something.”
Gale gasped. “Ooh, I forgot. I got photo with her! She found me cute and adorable!” Gale pulled out the photo of him with Trixie and adult Smolder.
“So that’s what I look like when I get older? Huh! Not a bad look.” Smolder looked over Gale's shoulder. “What ya think Gar-Gar?”
Garble groaned. “Seriously, Smolder?” She just gave him a smug expression. He sighed and had a look. “Hmm... Your counterpart looks strong and happy.”
“She does. I don't want to know what it her experiences were. I prefer not to know. My life is my own and I don't want to be overshadowed by some destiny.” Smolder did a few air quotes with her claws.
Anubis and Leela approached with Silvite and Chrysalis. “I gather you got the news, husband?”
“About us being stuck here till Monday, having some R and R?”
Anubis chuckled. “I guess news does travel at warp speed.” He turned to Smolder and Garble. “I got your awards.” He tapped his staff causing boxes to appear before them, each holding the wrapped up gifts. “Also, I’ve got to get you two home before your mum drags me into the lava with my clothing on.”
Smolder opened the box to see her award. “Dad, you seriously got me this!?”
“I cou—”
“Don't! I like it dad!” She closed the lid before anyone could see what she got.
Garble did the same. “Dad, you’re awesome!”
“I know I am. See you two at home on Monday.”
“See you, Dad!” Smolder gave him a hug and so did Garble. They smiled at their father, and he returned them. Smolder turned to Gale. “You’re pretty alright for a griffon, and you too, Bluebird. Maybe someday I'll be soft enough to go along with sappy friend stuff. Till then, see ya around.”
“Same.” Gallus waved and so did Gale. The staff banged on the ground and a whirl of magic surrounded the dragons from the ground. It covered them up and burst apart to show no signs of them.
Penumbra remembered something about his spell. “I gather that was your temporal teleportation spell?”
“Correct. I sent them back to the moment they left, so their mother doesn't notice,” Anubis answered. “Now I managed to book us all a nice table at the Sky High Restaurant and one for you Sunflower.”
Sunflower gave a fist-pump in response. “Yes!”
Celestia checked the time. “Oh buck! The sun! I forgot to lower the sun! It should have been lowered five minutes ago!” She teleported away from everyone.
They all looked up at the curved glass ceiling to see the sun rapidly set and the moon start to rise. “Guess even on vacation, a princess's duty is never done,” Leela said.
“Nope, never,” Mark chuckled. “And when I get home, I’ve got a stack of paperwork to catch up on!”
Celestia appeared before them. “That was close. I’m glad Luna was patient.”
“I’m sure she was fine,” Mark said.
“Well, I hope she and Cadance are managing things alright,” Celestia said with some minor concern.
Mark shook his head, seeing the worry from the griffon princess. “Celestia, have they or even your Twilight contacted you via Spike's fire breath?” Celestia shook her head. “Then no, so don't worry about it and enjoy the rest of the weekend with your family.”
Celestia’s eyes drifted to Grover, Nightingale, and Gale. “Yes, you are correct. I should.”
Leela floated up on her book and spoke to Rocky. “You seem very quiet – it’s not like you.”
“Leelee, I am taking it all in. This is the first day of many to explore a world beyond the box. No words needed to say how cool that is, right?” Rocky said with hand-paws behind his head as he stood in front of the little bird.
Leela smiled. “So true.”
Gabby giggled. “Now let's go get some grub!” She pointed to the sky-bridge path to the hotel. “Onward and upward!”
They all cheered, “Onward and upward!”
Chrysalis stopped the changeling in Spyro form. “Drone – I want you to keep helping Prince Gale. Remain with him whenever possible. I am curious to learn how this pure magic emotion affects us.”
The Spyro-form changeling looked at the disguised queen with some concern. “My queen I am willing to serve for the greater good of the hive, and I feel great and overwhelming joy with this emotional magic in me. But what if it has unwanted effects on me from prolonged exposure? What if I start to think of myself as really this 'Spyro' character I am in the form of?”
“There are always dangers in exploring the unknown. As long as the effects seem positive, I wish for you to continue. I will keep a close watch on your condition and so will your fellow brothers and sisters. If anything goes wrong, we will be there for you. What you are doing is for the betterment of the hive, and perhaps even for Equestria,” Chrysalis reassured the changeling.
He looked over to Gale. The changeling did enjoy being with the young prince and helping him, despite his misgivings. “I'll do it, my queen, but please don't let me go down that rabbit hole.”
“You have my word as your queen. Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing all about your interactions with the prince.” Chrysalis then walked over to join Pom-Pom with Silvite.
Gale came over to the changeling. “You okay?”
“Yeah I am.”
“You no look it. You look worried. If you no want to stay Spyro, you no need to. You made me happy, had fun, you had fun too, no want you hurt,” Gale said sincerely to the changeling.
The Spyro-form changeling smiled warmly. “Thank you, Prince Gale, I kinda like this form. It’s fun and the con-goers seem to really like it too. Also, now can I do this awesome hero pose.” He did it with a grin, getting Gale to laugh. Despite his concerns, the changeling loved it when he made the young griffon happy.
Silvite pulled a tail getting Pom-Pom's attention. “Hey, Pommy! I and Chrysalis got an idea in mind. Care to hear us out?”
Pom-Pom looked at each of them as they walked. “The way you two are looking at me, I’m very curious. Lay it on me, Silvey.” They started talking quietly among each other.
Mark watched them talk and shared a smile from each of them. They laughed and continued to talk. “Why do I get the feeling it’s about me?”
Penumbra shook her head. “It’s always about you. What’s new?”
Mark didn't really have a response to that as they all head out of the convention centre via the sky-bridge.
Throughout the evening, they dined and talked about differences in their worlds. Mark got to know more about how Celestia became a mother to Gale and saw the deep motherly love she had for the teenage griffon. Chrysalis, Silvite, and Pom-Pom sat close to each other, talking about an idea that came to the queen – a plan to put forward for a certain prince. Starlight, Twilight, Octicovix, and Shining Armor discussed all the aspects of the contest. Gale happily enjoyed the dinner, seeing everyone was enjoying their evening too. It felt like a huge family to Gale.
The next day, Sunflower made sure to get a massive group photo of herself and everyone together. The changelings were given cameras to take photos of their Sunday activities. Many photos showed Mark and Chrysalis at stalls and panels, even playing games and having a good time. Few realised how unusually relaxed the changeling queen was. One pic was of Gale being chased by Gilda after getting pie in her face from a pie-eating contest. Grover, Celestia and Nightingale laughing as Gale threw pies at him, Gallus with a talon over his face shaking it. Other photos showed them together with Anubis and Leela, holding a comic book each of issue two signed by the death dragon.
Sunflower's photos of the hotel room showed her room, the furniture, and everything else. She had Gale with her to compare the size to him and those objects. In one, he was laughing as he held up a giant grape. Gabby and Spike were snapped eating carrot dogs, They posed in another photo in front of the Alicorn of Justice statue, Mark looking up at the fictional version of him with them with a strange expression on his face. Another had Sunflower giving Mark a Sunflower Surprise hug while Chrysalis, Starlight, Twilight and everyone in the photo pointed and laughed at Mark's defeat by hugs. A few photos had Gale with the Spyro changeling posing with other con-goers, Gallus in some with the griffons, and plus two dragons in some others. A slightly shocked Chrysalis being hugged by Spyro got laughter from Mark and the others as she tried to not reveal her true form and knock sense into this sugar-rushed changeling.
Twilight and Starlight managed to get to talk to some of the judges that stayed for the convention, getting a few pointers about the transfiguration magic.
All too soon, it was Monday and the HMS Victory landed at the Canterlot Castle docking bay. Mark stepped off just behind the others alongside Celestia. They watched Gale happily bouncing around, talking with Gilda about the week they had.
“I never thought I’d say this, Princess Celestia, but I’m kinda glad in some weird way that Shal-Quz did attack.” Mark looked through the photos in his magical grip, floating beside him along with the gifts for friends and family as well some for himself on the other side.
Celestia glancing at the photos as they walked, the guards saluting as they passed. “Indeed, that is true when looking at the outcome we had. It’s been a very good one and many positives outweighing some of the negatives.” Celestia’s eyes followed Gale, bursting with joy. “It could have so easily gone the other way. I’m just glad it didn't.” Celestia smiled softly. “It has been interesting to get to know you and the others.”
“I understand what you mean – it could have gone so horribly wrong in many ways.” Mark put the photos away among the gifts. “Princess Celestia, with the mirror being stable, we can find time in the future to talk about more meaningful things that will benefit both of us.”
“I know. It is going to be interesting having contact with another Equestria, having a friend and fellow ruler from another universe.” Celestia looked down at him. “These have been interesting days for sure, but for now, we will keep our interaction to more formal settings.”
Mark nodded in understanding. “I get you. Everything that happened was because of Shal-Quz’s threat. It will take time for us to form bridges that could create a beneficial understanding between our two nations.”
Celestia looked over to Grover and Nightingale talking to each other just ahead as they walked towards the mirror portal room, the Lunar Guards in front leading the way under orders from Princess Luna. “Grover will be coming in and out since the mirror is located in Fort Grimfeather, so we will have that connection at least.”
“That’s very true.”
Chrysalis walked with Silvite and Pom-Pom just behind them, with the changelings carrying a few goods from the convention that the queen picked up. “I managed to pull it off without your husband noticing, Queen Chrysalis. It took some work, but I believe this will give you what you want.” Pom-Pom pulled out of her side bag a green crystal statue of Mark's furry dragon form.
Chrysalis took it with her magic. “You are certain this will allow my husband to take on that form?”
Pom-Pom answered, “It will. All he has to do is place a hoof or paw on it, whichever form he’s in, and think of dragon or pony. It will activate the transfiguration sequence and allow him to change from alicorn to furry dragon and back again at will. While there’s no time limit on how long he can stay in that dragon form, limit it to one change back and forth each day. It could become unstable otherwise. Also, no one can use it other than him or those identical to his magical signature.”
Silvite had her arms crossed as they walked. “Pom-Pom knows her stuff and how seriously not to mess around with this kind of magic. Best to keep in mind what she said, Chrysalis.”
Chrysalis put the statue among the gifts for Mark. “I plan to, and thank you for doing this for me.”
Pom-Pom slyly smirked. “We shapeshifters need to stick together, do we not?”
“Indeed we do, Alpha Pom-Pom,” Chrysalis slyly smiled back, both laughing a little.
Pom-Pom noticed one of the changelings looking somewhat unsettled among the drones not carrying anything. “Talking about shapeshifters, it seems the drone that stuck with Gale looks different now. He kept the purple colour of the eyes, a beak, talons and paws, he has head feathers shaped in a Mohawk fashion, gold in colour, and his tail brush and insect wings are a matching gold colour to the dragon.”
Chrysalis nodded. “I had noticed that. I have been observing the effects Gale has had on my drone.”
Silvite saw the glances the changeling gave to Gale – ones of uncertainty and confliction. “Go talk to him, your highness. I believe this may have some bearing on Prince Gale too.”
Chrysalis took their advice, already certain of what had clearly happened to the drone. “I'll do that.” She looked over to the other changelings. “All drones go ahead with Alpha Pom-Pom and Lord of Dragons Silvite.” They did so but Chrysalis raised a hoof and pointed to purple-eyed one. “Except you I wish to speak to you directly.”
The others went ahead he felt a bit startled, but he knew this was coming. “Y-yes, my queen?”
“You have bonded with Prince Gale, haven't you?”
“I-I wish to honour the bond of brotherhood and trust that Prince Gale bestowed upon me... ” He answered with a shaky voice, feeling very nervous answering the queen’s question.
Chrysalis frowned. “Explain!”
The changeling took a second to collect his thoughts. “H-he gave me his plush, and when I gave it back he said that the trust between us is absolute and the time we spent together he enjoyed, so much so he would only call me Spyro even in my new form. And he said as well that I’m his honorary brother and hope to see me again... someday.” He explained to Chrysalis. “My queen... I knew what you wanted me to do, but in a few short days, I earned his trust and called me a br-brother... I never thought something like this could happen! A brotherly bond from the young prince! It has a sense of feeling inside that I’ve never felt before and I don't know what to do, or even understand it.”
Chrysalis's gaze turned to Gale talking to Gilda, Gabby now with them and sharing a laugh. “That cub is really something.” She turned her sights back on the changeling. “It seems that I underestimated what could happen. The bond was a remote possibility despite you not being a Companion Class drone, but for Prince Gale to make you his honorary brother is something I wasn't counting on either. I have heard the story of how he made the Discord of this world his honorary uncle, but now I can safely say it wasn't a tall tale but true. What an incredibly pure soul of a griffon.”
“Wh-what should I do, my queen? I don't know what to do. I have had no preparation for this.”
“Your duty to the hive has now changed. You will be my eyes and ears in this universe. All I require of you will be reports on the status quo which would not appear in official channels.”
The drone blinked. “I would have to stay here on a permanent basis.”
Chrysalis snorted. “Of course! You are now bonded to the young prince, are you not, my dr—” She grinned. “Spyro.”
He blinked. “What?”
“That is what he calls you by, is it not?”
“Yes bu—”
“Then, to honour this unique brotherhood, that shall be your name from this day forth.”
“Ye-yes, my queen.” He bowed his head in respect to her discussion.
Chrysalis noticed the large doors ahead with a few uniquely armoured guards at the door. Something felt very hollow about them and she realised what they were. “Now it seems we’ve arrived at the Mirror Portal room. I will inform Prince Gale that you will be staying behind to stay with him. He’s very much unaware what has happened to you – he just knows that he does not want you to go. He does not know that the bond works both ways and his actions have made you his permanent companion. Go join him now.”
Spyro bowed and joyfully obeyed.
Chrysalis quickly walked up to Celestia and Mark. “Husband, the changeling that has been with Gale has—”
“Bonded,” Mark interjected. “Yes, I noticed his unique appearance.”
Celestia looked at each of them. “Bonded? Care to explain what has happened.”
Chrysalis closed her eyes, taking a short moment to collect her thoughts to explain it to Celestia. “Princess Celestia, some changelings are what we call Companion-Class. They will bond with those that they feel a deep connection to. In doing so, their form may change to ideally suit the needs of both the changeling and the one they bond to. Spyro, as he is called now, has become that by the purity of your son. The trust Gale gave to him and making the changeling an honorary brother created the bond between them. Spyro will be staying here.”
Celestia was very confused and lost. “Are you telling me that this changeling wasn't that kind of class, but because of what my son did without even realising it, he created this Companion-Class bond? Does that mean the term brother is even truer despite it not being by blood?”
“Correct, Princess Celestia.”
Celestia tried to comprehend this. “Queen Chrysalis, I am still somewhat confused by all this, but I think I understand a little why that the changeling now named Spyro is staying. As we have no such thing in my world, could you tell me the implications of this?”
“They are as deep and strong as you might imagine. Some call these bonded pairs soul-mates because they are now inextricably entwined. For the remainder of their lives, each will always consider the needs and desires of their bond partner as much as their own because they are virtually extensions of each other. And while they can be apart for a long time, they will both get more and more miserable without the other’s presence. Not that either will want to be apart, but you cannot forcibly separate them for extended periods without negative psychological problems.”
“This is sounding more and more like a disaster,” Celestia said with a troubled expression.
“Far from it. While I stressed the drawbacks, the benefits far outweigh them. The non-changeling partner always determines the type of bond that forms. While some are best friends, others could be true mates with sexual relationships. However, judging by how your son seeks to create many honorary relatives, Gale must have a deep desire for a large family and, in particular, a big brother. Spyro has now assumed that brotherly role in all but blood. The young prince will always have him by his side whenever he needs Spyro, and the changeling will find fulfilment in being his closest friend, mentor, and protector. Both are the greater for it. As an added benefit, Spyro is a fully trained Royal Guard and more than capable of being Gale’s personal bodyguard.”
Celestia shook her head in wonder. “That sounds pretty amazing. Are you sure that’s the way it will work out? You did say that the changeling was not a Companion-Class drone, after all.”
“The Companion-Class drones are new even to our world, and are a direct result of my mating with Prince Mark. His unique nature changed the DNA of some of my eggs. I believe that Gale’s pure magic has done virtually the same to Spyro. My senses tell me that he’s a Companion now, and I have confidence in my assessment. Rest assured – your son could not be in better hooves.”
The griffon princess nodded in understanding. “I believe you, Chrysalis. I must find myself happy for my son to gain a true brother.” Celestia giggled. “Does that make us in-laws?”
Chrysalis snorted. “We changelings approach relationships differently from ponies and griffons. However, if it makes you happy, you may consider us such.”
Starlight approached them just then. “Those unicorns – they’re golems.”
Mark looked surprised. “They look like normal unicorns to me, apart from the strange-looking armour they wear.”
Celestia knew what they were. “Those four unicorn golems are from my private vault on the other side of the mountain. Luna must have had them moved here to protect the mirror portal room.” Celestia walked up to them and spoke. “Open the doors.”
“Yes, Princess Celestia!” They all saluted in synchronisation and a yellowish-white aura formed around the horns to open the large double doors with the sound of massive locks shifting.
Mark did a double-take. “Private vault?”
“Yes. Now, shall we go in?” was all that Celestia had to say as the large thick enchanted doors groaned and opened slowly. “Luna didn't waste any time, from the look of things.” The room looked empty but they watched Celestia walk through a curtain of magic and disappear from their view. They all looked at each other before following one by one.
Sunflower walked through it last and, as they emerged, saw the mirror portal sitting on a few raised steps. A few solar and lunar guards stood watch and before the mirror portal alongside Princess Luna, Maple Clawhowler, and a white finch griffon with black stripes all over his body. He had a black beak, black tip wings, and was wearing a press hat, a set of large bags over each flank, and a camera hanging around his neck.
The large finch griffon scrunched up her beak instantly at seeing that finch griffon. “Printer Snipclaw, you twat, what in the name of all finch griffons are you doing here?”
He rolled his golden yellow eyes. “Nice to see you too, Sunflower. How about we don’t start a big fight and behave like adults here?” he said with a little bit of venom in his voice. “And as for why I’m here…” He showed the press badge hooked to the camera strap. “I’m here as the official press and photographer for Flaputa Daily, and personally asked by Prime Minster Zipclaw to be here.”
The smug smile really made Sunflower's blood boil.
Maple sighed, seeing this had been inevitable. “Keep your personal bloody bullcrap out of this, both of you. I know how much you hate each other, but we’re not having this now. Do I make myself clear?” she asked in a cold harsh tone.
“Yes ma'am/nanner,” they chorused.
“Good.” Maple turned to Luna. “Sorry about that, Princess Luna. I should have warned you about those two before paw.”
Luna graciously nodded. “It’s quite alright, Maple Clawhowler.” Luna stepped up to the group that had entered. “Welcome home, sister and family.”
Celestia gave her sister a hug which Luna returned. “I hope everything has been alright since I’ve been absent for this past week.”
“It’s been fine, sister; do not fret.” Luna smiled as she let go of the hug. “I did have an interesting conversation with one of the three rulers though. She was quite blunt but very understanding.”
“Trixie was here?” Mark asked with raised eyebrows.” With Twilight and myself in your universe, one triarch must remain on the throne.”
“Nay. I went through after one of her guards gave me an invitation for afternoon tea yesterday. We spent a few hours talking and I returned shortly after. It’s interesting that you and this Twilight Sparkle run that Equestrian Empire with her. It has vastly exceeded our nation and I am impressed with your achievements,” Luna answered. “Now I gather you are curious about the door and the phase shield.”
Twilight spoke up. “I am, and also about the golems outside.”
Maple stepped up to answer that one. “I'm the one who set up the door locks and the phase shield. It’s all finch griffon tech with magic enhancements.” Maple walked over to a machine by a window. “This links to the rods you see embedded in the walls here. They shift this whole place slightly out of phase with everything else. Without permission from the golems outside using their magic, you could force your way through that door but all you would find is an empty room.” Maple patted the machine gently with a forepaw. “One of my best works, I might add.”
“What if you’re already inside it?” Starlight asked.
“You can leave it with ease, but getting in remains a matter of access from the golems,” Maple answered. “Also, we’re designing some magical signature cards for you to use later when you come back through for a visit. For now, they will grant anyone access from orders by Celestia, Luna or myself. It’s not perfect but it’s all we’ve got until I get that system up and running,” Maple explained with glee. “I really like a challenge and this was a fun one to do.”
Printer patted his camera. “I’m here to take some photos and write up a story about this historic moment, as well as at the behest of Prime Minster Zipline himself, the elected leader of our country by virtue of having the largest number of seats in Parliament.”
Mark's thoughts upon hearing this came to the conclusion the finch griffons had a government similar to that of the United Kingdom on Earth. “Five year period before a new election, with by-elections for counties between the main elections?”
Maple smiled. “That is correct, I gather you are aware what we modelled it after?”
“I do,” Mark replied.
“Zipline is into his second term and most likely a third. He is a fair and honest PM and wished he could have been here to personally thank you for what you and everyone here did for our kind or country – bringing the truth to light and putting the true face to the darkest day in our history 199 years ago,” Maple told Mark.
Printer bowed to Mark and Celestia. “I do hope you will allow me to take photos and write this story.”
“I am agreeable to this,” Celestia replied. “And you, Prince Mark?”
“It’s fine by me too.”
“Great!” He started to take some photos of the changelings going through the mirror with some of the convention gifts.
Maple picked up two bags, placing them down before Twilight and Starlight. “These have an X-92 laptop with solar charger and self-sustained relay nodes that you can place every 35-40 miles apart from each other to keep a wireless connection to the Finchnet through the mirror portal.”
Twilight looked at the bags sharply and back at her. “Wh-what!? You’re giving us Finch Griffon technology? Why?!”
“Yeah, what the catch?” Mark asked sceptically.
“It’s the easiest way to connect with our prime minster. He wishes to start talks and hopefully turn to face to face. He will be doing that here in this Canterlot soon, after treaties are created and signed. Then trade and finally opening up our borders to your and this Equestria,” Maple explained. “Also, you’ll be able to study our three hundred years of history through it, our social media platforms, our games, movies and plays, and pretty much everyday run-of-the-mill stuff to us Finch Griffons. You've done a service that we can never repay.”
Mark frowned. “That’s a lot.”
Maple chuckled. “If it makes you feel any better, the laptop is a model that was made 39 years ago. To us, it’s old technology. Also, the government had an emergency session yesterday declaring a vote of 259 to zero that Guto's status as last king of Griffina to be reinstated, and for a statue of him to be made and revealed on the 200th anniversary of the Flaputa Massacre. At the same time, they voted for you to be given this technology to learn about us.” Maple put a forepaw on the side of Mark's face, looking at him gently in the eyes.
“They are unified on this and, thanks to you and the others defeating Shal-Quz and Glacier's recording, the records have been set straight in ways that would have never been done.” Maple removed her forepaw from his face. “If you ever need any help, my contact details are on the laptop already and I'll be just a call away. Also, there’s an instruction manual on how to use the X-92 too.”
Mark nodded to Twilight and Starlight to take the two bags. “Thank you, Maple. We will not misuse this gift that you and your government have so graciously given us. I'd be honoured to be present at the reveal of the statue next year.” He gave Maple a hug and she returned it.
Printer took a photo of that and wrote down some notes. “Don't worry – I'll make sure to say this is a new bond of friendship. I know you pony types like hugs. I’ve seen it enough when I had to wear those daft fake talons when visiting Equestria's towns and cities.”
“Good,” both said together getting an eye roll from the press griff.
Starlight picked up the rest of the gifts. “We’ll go over and wait for you there, Prince Mark.”
The green alicorn nodded and turned to Celestia. “I know this wasn't exactly the way we were supposed to meet, or would meet with the threat of our worlds at a fine tether. But I’m glad that we dealt with the threat together and helped others out more than I would’ve guessed. I hope in time we will formally have talks and see how the friendship between our nations grows.”
“I look forward to that, Prince Mark Wells. We truly have done something grand and we will grow from it.” A photo was taken of them. “I’m sure in time, my son would like to visit your world when things settle down. For now, he has lessons to attend. And as for me – a lot of paperwork, meetings and such. The duties of a princess must continue.”
“As a prince myself, I have tons of paperwork which I have fallen way behind.” Mark and Celestia laughed.
Printer looked at the photo taken. “This is a really good shot.”
“Can I see?” Mark asked. Printer showed it to him. “Could you get a copy printed for me and the princess?”
“Sure I can.” Printer opened up his bag and pressed a button on a machine in it. “You most likely guessed that we Finch Griffons are named after an invention or improvement of technology. Hence, my name is Printer. My father invented this beauty for us press griffons to carry around in case someone wants a copy or two on the spot.” The printing of the two prints finished and he gave them to Mark. “I hope these are up to your expectations.”
Mark took a good look and turned it around to look at the back’s date and print number. “Yes, it most certainly is. Thank you, Printer.”
Printer bowed his head. “It was an honour. I'll be heading out to the peak and talk to the boss via Arbiter’s computer I just hope that Split-jaw is in a good mood today. Last time, he was grumpy as hell!” Printer turned and left the room.
Mark heard two things that made him realise what the press griffon just said. “Nooooo, it couldn't be! Arbiter as in Arbiter with an energy sword?”
Gilda chuckled. “Yep, that’s him. He’s got some weird handle thing that, with a flick, creates a buzzing loud blue sword blade. Pretty weird but cool.”
Mark shook his head. “Okay, I'm done. I’m going home and get to work. I want some boring ordinary time for a while.”
“Husband, that will never happen,” Chrysalis snickered.
Mark groaned. “I hate it when you’re right. Alright, it’s been a pleasure to meet everyone and I hope to see you all again someday soon.”
Gale hugged him tight. “Hope visit soon! Like older Smolder – she nice!”
“We’ll arrange something.” He hugged back. “Be good, Prince Gale. Never change who you are.”
Gale let go. “Nope, never!” Gale grinned.
“Good to hear.” Mark ruffled his feathered head. “Come on Sparkles, Glimmer. Sally’s got something to tell Gale before she goes.” They nodded.
“Bye!” they said and the others said farewell too, watching Mark, Starlight and Twilight walk through the mirror and disappearing through it with all their stuff.
Alpha was curious about the changeling that didn't go. “Queen Chrysalis – has this something to do with the changeling that has been hanging out with Lord Gale from Saturday afternoon until today?”
The queen looked over to the changeling Guard. “It does. Come forward, Spyro.” He did so. “Prince Gale, I have much to tell you about your new brother.” Chrysalis then explained the changes that had been done to Spyro and the bond that had subsequently formed. She tried to keep the words simple enough for the young griffon to comprehend, and it seemed to work.
Gale was taken aback by this information. “I-I did that? I did not know. Did I do wrong?”
“Not at all. This is a good thing for Spyro, even though neither he nor I was prepared for it. What’s done is done, and all we can do is move on. Prince Gale, he moulded himself to be your brother, a companion link that can never be broken. He cannot go back with me.”
Gale’s eyes lit up. “He can stay?”
“Yes he—”
Gale zoomed over to Spyro, giving the griffish changeling a hug, spinning him around with glee.
“Okay... That went better than I thought,” Chrysalis mused.
Silvite shook her head and Celestia smiled as she watched her son and his bond mate. “This seems to be a normal pattern for my son. He’s delighted that Spyro will be staying, and I’m sure Spyro will be too soon enough. I'll arrange a bedroom for him right away. Next to Gale’s, of course.” Celestia turned to Chrysalis. “And just as the doors will remain open for Prince Mark to come over, they also will for you to check on Spyro, Queen Chrysalis.”
“Thank you, Princess Celestia. I will do that.” Chrysalis turned to Spyro who was a bit dizzy from the spinning around. “I'll be visiting to see how you are settling into your new life. Enjoy it, Spyro.”
Spyro gave her a genuine smile. “I will, my queen.” He bowed to her.
Chrysalis walked up to the mirror. “Till next we meet.” She crossed through as everyone said their goodbyes to her.
Leela, holding her book open, said, “It seems this chapter comes to an end and we move on to the next.”
“That we do, dweeb,” Gilda chuckled.
Shining Armor raised a hoof up. “To our next chapter in life – let’s make sure it doesn't get as crazy as it did in the last few weeks!”
“Count me in on that!” Gallus and Gabby said together, raising their talons. Everyone present echoed Shining Armor’s sentiments.
Spyro looked up at Celestia. “Does that mean I should call you mum now?” he asked hesitantly.
Celestia hummed a little. “What do you think, sister?”
Luna grinned. “I think that he must.”
Grover chuckled. “Well, it seems I now have two sons and a daughter. This life has gotten extremely interesting already.”
Rocky leaned against the wall, looking over to Leela. “So... Leelee – are you going to close up this chapter or what? Or are we going to keep chit-chatting until tomorrow?”
Leela laughed at Rocky's comment and closed her book.
The eyelids open and the solid purple eyes stared at the side of the bed to the window as first morning rays enter the room, his guard training had kicked in for him to wake. The changeling-griffon hybrid pushed himself up onto his hunches the sheets falling idolly by him, the eyes fell upon the velvet sheets and slowly move around the room with reality kicking back in.
Raising his talons up flexing the claws and twisting the wrists side to side. “Feel so natural to have theses talons, I know what I became and my life taken a new twist.” Spyro slip over the bed and place the paws down on the marble flooring, he felt the pads press against the cool surface. “Soft and firm protective pawpads.” He said to himself pushing off the bed to land on his talons to stand on all fours.
Spyro walked up to the mirror to get a good look at himself, he seen this new look a few times already but it still felt a little alien. “I gather not all the creatures are aware of changelings, so...” He changed the insect wings into golden feathered ones, the chitin shift into a coat of feathers and fur to his eyes changing with the purple pupils that had the whites around it giving a natural griffish appearance.
He did a small slow swirl looking at the mirror to get a good look at his slightly changed appearance. “Not looking to bad Spyro.” He gave that hero chest push out pose with forelegs press against each other foreclaws spread apart from each other, and wings flared open for the dramatic heroic pose.
“I look as heroic and stunning as the dragon I pretended to be for Gale.” He eased the pose walking up to the window to look out at the sun slowly raising into the sky, Spyro looked around the bed room and within it was a bed he had slept in, a nightstand beside it with a alarm clock ticking gentle away, a dresser with an wardrobe and a door to his own personal bathroom. “Today is a whole new start to my life, I will do you proud my queen and be the big brother that I've become.”
Spyro step into view of the mirror standing proud with a toothy beak smile looking back, a knock came from the double doors. “Coming!” Spyro walked up to it placing a talon on one of the door handle and pulled open the door.
Upon opening the door he was greeted by the armoured one eye wolf. “Morning Lord Spyro.”
“Morning Alpha.” Spyro stepped out of the bedroom. “I gather Gale already gone down for breakfast?”
As Spyro shut the door Alpha answered. “No Lord Gale is at the Phoenix Greenhouse checking up on Shadow, if you like I can show you the way.”
Spyro nod. “I would like that Alpha, lead the way.” Alpha turn and walk, Spyro following just to the side of his good eye's field of vision. “Why are you calling me lord?”
Alpha walked down the stairs with Spyro. “It part of my culture Lord Spyro, those you would call queen, king, prince and princess I will call them either Lord or Lady.”
“As in the culture of a fictional world?”
“Yes, and that world maybe fictional as I should be, but it my history, my true home and my life.”
“Same to my life before the bonding, before I changed.”
“I am glad we are I a understanding on the subject Lord Spyro.” Alpha smiled a little. “The recent events left a lot of new wondrous and dangerous things opened up, we as trained soldiers or guards will have to keep a wary eye.”
Spyro knew that all too well on a personal level, the events that happened recently really opened up so many things, their worlds connected, the Created, Grogar and so much more. “If it wasn't for Shal-Quz and her crazy plan to destroy our worlds I would still be serving close to Queen Chrysalis, but now I serve her with a whole new purpose in life and also a start of a new life for myself here in the world I now call home for the rest of my life.”
The guards open the door to the small gesture Alpha gave them, they stepped outside down the stone flat path to the greenhouse up ahead passing statues, flower beds, bush sculptures and trimmed trees. “Even that is all true, you still can go back for short visits without having negative effects between the two of you.”
“That is true Alpha.” He stopped looking at the two set of doors that lay ahead. “So this is the Phoenix Greenhouse?”
“Correct, it quite warm inside it.” He push the first set of doors open. “Come Lord Gale is within.” He noticed Sunbeam standing inside the greenhouse past the second set of doors, they walk through the first set, closing the doors behind to open the next set to greet Sunbeam. “Private Sunbeam, good morning.”
Sunbream saluted. “Good morning Alpha, Prince Spyro. Prince Gale is at Philomena's nest with both Philomena and the chick Shadow, also Leela and Rocky are with him.” Sunbeam reported to Alpha and Spyro.
“Thank you.” Alpha said and they walked on by down the path to the nest.
Spyro felt the humidity of the greenhouse, the wondrous exotic plant life and the sound of bugs around them. “I seen a few greenhouses back at home, but this is on a whole different level and this is all for Philomena?”
Alpha noticed movement in the trees, it was moved without disturbing the leaves or make a sound. “Yes, Lady Celestia had it built for her pet and long time companion Philomena.”
Spyro noticed the quick shifts of movement of Alpha's eye, he was tracking something. “I never really got to meet a phoenix, this will be a first for me.” He continued to conversation, Alpha got the hint.
They arrived at the clearly where the nest sat still warily watching the surroundings. “Alpha! Spyro! Morning!” Gale waved his talon at them, they saw the teenage griffon with Celestia at a portable magical powered stow cooking pancakes, next to them was Gilda wearing a apron holding a mixing bowl mixing the mix and behind her a portal oven with griffish scones being baked.
A table was being set up by Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, Rocky and Leela. Philomena stood on the rim of her nest watching, the little phoenix Shadow sat on top of Leela's turban as she uses her magic to whisk the plates around with the movement of her talon hand. “Morning Lord Gale... Why are we having breakfast here?” Alpha curiously asked.
Celestia applied the mix to the heated pan. “It was a spur of the moment idea I came up with Alpha.”
“It a weird one, but a cool one.” Gilda said as she put the mix down and checked on the scones cooking. “With all the crazy that happened, something just random was needed.” Gilda closed the lid up and continue to mix. “
Spyro walked up to the cooking stations. “Morning, is there anything I can do?”
Gale shook his head. “Nope, you sit and food come to you first! You get first servings big brother!” Gale said.
“That dweeb means relax and enjoy the morning with a awesome misfit of a family.” Gilda chuckled and she applied the mix to her oven tray, than put the new mix in the lower shelf of the oven.
“I can do that, there something I have noticed.” He took a seat, Alpha watching the trees.
Leela using her magic pour some apple juice into the cup for Spyro, Philomena spoke mentally catching the blackish grey disguised griffon by surprise. “That would be Grover and Nightingale, swift and silent movements, I been watching from here.”
Spyro never knew a phoenix could telepathically speak, he knew they were very smart and cleaver but this was new to him. “I never knew phoenixes could speak with a telepathic voice.”
“You do know now cub.” The phoenix grinned.
Emerging from the trees Grover pushed towards the ground by Nightingale, they hit the ground rolling around for the Griffoness pinning her dad down. “Now dad, do you believe I can handle myself?”
“Clearly I can see that.” Grover said as he lay there looking up at his daughter pinning him down. “Help your old griffon up?”
Nightingale got off him and helped the former king up onto his talons and paws. “I enjoyed that dad, the one I was raised with in the-”
Grover put his talon against her side. “Grovlia... That was your life for 799 years, don't ever let that cloud what we have now, even created by that mad zebra, that was your world, your home.”
Nightingale grabbed the foreleg and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you dad... That exactly what I needed to hear.”
“Happy to help.” He hugged back. “And glad we can have this moment.”
Luna finished setting up and took a seat at the table. “We all are having a special moment at this time, if I was told that today I would not only have a brother in law, nephews and nieces including friends. I would of thought you all were crazy, but look at us now.” Luna looked around as the others took their seats as Gilda, Gale and Celestia continue to finish up with breakfast for everyone.
“One big happy family and friends.” Cadance said warmly looking around the room. “By spring time Shiny and his family be joining our ever growing family.”
Shining Armor put his hoof on hers on top of the table. “And that day I am looking forward to Cadance.”
The breakfast was finished, Celestia using her magic put the plates of pancakes and griffish scones down in front of everyone, she with Gilda and Gale took their seats at the table, Phiomena happily peeking away at her pancake with Shadow. “And it will be held here in Canterlot at the castle, I look forward to presiding over it.”
Rocky already eating a scone swallowed it before speaking about the wedding. “Now that something I would love to attend! The fact we been cooped up in a cube world for all our lives, every day a new day!”
“That it is.” Leela said drinking a bit of her tea. “I wouldn't mind taking a trip to Ponyville with you Princess Celestia.”
Celestia turn to the little anthropomorphic bird. “That during the Running of the Leaves in two days time, I gather you found out because it was written down?”
Leela pat her talon on the book. “Yes, sorry Princess there a lot of things I know that I shouldn't, but it all part of who and what I am.”
“A record keeper.” She tap the claw tip on the beak tip. “How would you like to be the Royal Record Keeper.” Celestia offered.
“Are you hiring me for a job Princess?”
“Yes I am.”
Leela's eyes widen. “I'll take it princess Celestia! I would be honoured to be your Royal Record Keeper!”
Celestia picked up the scone. “I'll have the paper work filled out after breakfast.” She took a bite out of the scone.
Gale tilt his head. “Running of Leaves? Why run with leaves?”
Shining Armor laughed and so did the others. “Gale have you noticed how the leaves are turning orange and the unicorns been pulling them off the branches?” Gale nod. “In Ponyville they have a race through the forested areas specially the Whitetail woods to bring down the leaves, as they gallop the vibrations bring the leaves down.”
Gale looked surprised. “Really? That weird.”
“That is.” Alpha responded. “They just fall on their own where I came from, I gather that the same with the Everfree Forest too?”
Cadance nod. “That correct, that the weird one for us.”
Gilda, Grover and Nightingale looked at each other. “You do know that Griffina the weather has a mind of it own too, we do not control the weather like it is here in Equestria.” Nightingale stated.
“Also don't forget the Griffish Isles, Trottingham doesn't have a weather team, the island has a unstabl-” Gilda pause seeing them staring at her, she goes sightly red in the face and groans. “Urg... I am so becoming a egghead...” She slam her face into the table getting a laugh from everyone.
Spyro as he happily ate his breakfast enjoyed seeing this, it made him feel happy seeing they all joking, chatting away and so on, it was the feeling of being a part of the family. “Mum is griffons from Equis 14 coming today?”
“Indeed they are, this afternoon if I am not mistaken.” Celestia drunk a bit of her tea. “If you like to meet them today, you will have to do well with what you learn today from Gilda and behave.”
Gale nod. “I do well and be good too!”
Gilda shook her head a little. “And he does both so well already.” She muttered.
Alpha's eye shift to a shimmer, he instantly jump out of the seat throwing a punch at it to be caught by a invisible force that soon emerges to the two fingers and two thumbs of Arbiter. “Impressive reflexes, I can see how you managed to deal a crippling blow to Shal-Quz.” He let go of the fist, now turning to Celestia bowing his head slightly to her. “Princess.”
“Arbiter, this is a surprise, what brings you to us this morning?” Celestia put the cup down.
Spyro took in the details of this creation, he recalled how shocked Prince Wells was when he heard about Arbiter, now the changeling-griffon got a good idea why. “What the heck are you?” He directly asked Arbiter.
Arbiter approached as Alpha retook his seat and Gale praised him for his quick actions. “I am what you call a Sangheili, I am a Created from the mind of Creator Gale.” He turn to Celestia. “I am here to invite Creator Gale, the griffons of Equis 14, Princess Nightingale to the Mausoleum of Worlds.”
Gilda had a good idea what that meant. “It a place to respect what is gone isn't it?”
“Correct, those that are gone as in whole worlds of life, Earth, Equis 14 and Inverse Equis.” Arbiter said. “And I apologise for undermining you Princess towards your son Creator Gale.”
Celestia raise a talon. “It alright, this is a unusual and it sound like your doing this for us to remember those that are gone.”
“It was be a service and a honour to do so Princess, so many countless lives had been lost even by natural events that happened in two of the three cases before we knew about it.” Shining turn to Nightingale seeing the look in her eyes as they look conflicted. “Princess Nightingale, even the Inverse Reality was created by Zerra using you on the day of your birth to create it, the world was very much real and you were raised in.”
Nightingale held her cup of tea with both talons wrap around it staring down into the semi dark brown liquid. “Your right I was, even those that I called mum and dad were not my real parents they still raised me to be the griffon I am today.” She rose her gaze to the white stallion. “Thank you Captain Armor for reminding me of that.” Now her eyes set on Arbiter. “I gather the survivors of the Inverse Reality be there too?”
Arbiter brow lowered. “I have sent word to them, if they show up or not is up to them.”
“Of course, I just hope they do arrive.”
“As do I Princess Nightingale.” He step back from the table turning to walk away. “I hope to see you two there tonight at 8pm, friends and family are welcomed too.” Arbiter activate his stealth system and disappear from view as he continue to walk away.
Spyro could feel that Gale liked this, it was closing a page from the past. “Remember, respect and learn from the past and move on, even there been mistakes along the way” Spyro said.
Luna put her wing over him. “Well said nephew, I gather this is the speaking of the heart you and Gale share?”
Gale nod. “Yes, I want that, it feels right! Silvite should be there too!”
“Dweeb she probably will be.” Gilda said before eating her breakfast.
Alpha cut a piece of the pancake and stabbed it with a folk, raising it up to his eye the wolf spoke. “Also to include that the reason we mourning the loses of Equis 14 and have survivors is because of Shal-Quz's actions.”
Grover agreed. “That is true, because of her Glacier, Octicovix and Silvite brought home survivors, her senseless madness allowed us all to win and become whole again.”
“To family.” Leela raise her cup.
“To family!” They said together and continue to eat their breakfast.
Spyro sat on a cushion in a private study watching Gale's lessons in action with Gilda, she was teaching him to speak a little better as well going over some history prospective, Alpha stood near by with Sunbeam keeping guard and watching the lesson too. “Ok cub, look at these words on the board and look at my beak afterwards.”
“Okay.” Gale nod.
Gilda point to each word as she semi-faced him. “Hi... I'm... Gale. Nice... to... meet... you.”
Gale laughed a little. “No I Gale, you Gilda.”
“Gale... I know that.” She groans. “This is for you to learn to speak, like what you just said. It would go as. No I am Gale, and your Gilda.” She twist her talon around a few times and hint for him to say it.
“Oooooh, okay.” Gale understood what she meant. “Okay... I try...” He looked at the words and back at Gilda as she repeats it to him. “Hi I Gale, Nice to meet you.”
Gilda gave a flat out talon waving it side to side. “Urrrr close enough, let's go again.”
Spyro could see the patients from Gilda even through the groans, they seem to be a way to get Gale to pay more attention to what she was saying. He easily misunderstood things still, even in other areas he showed moments of clarity. “Being the dragon I got to really know Gale.” He shift forms into the purple dragon form. “I got to see how pure he is, how easily he could misunderstand things to a form of clarity that says teenager to a child getting to know the world with wondrous eyes.”
Alpha smiled slightly. “That is Lord Gale for you, and the methods of teaching from Lady Gilda is creative.”
“It seem to be a normal thing for me, just been a while since I watched.” Sunbeam said as they watched the teaching.
Spyro jump up onto a couch picking up a book opening it, he hook a hind leg over the other. “This dragon going to chill and read.” He lick the tip of the claw turning the page over to read.
“Hmm... That dragon form is very cheeky and have a more chilled personality.” Alpha rolled his one eye with a sight shake of the head.
Sunbeam could only keep her smile. “It going to be interesting having Spyro around, guess changing forms come with the personality shift?”
“Pretty much, this form I feel more chillax, more cheeky, brave and a tad bit overconfident.” Spyro squeeze two claws close together leaving a gap between them. “This is pretty much new to me as well, I don't know what it will be like for days, weeks, months or even years to come, using this form could be seen as a escape from that and just not be who I just became.”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb, your a changeling, form shifting and such is second nature to you, inside your still you, so dragon, griffon it doesn't matter, what matters is you.”
Gale knew that all too well in the life he has now and continue to have even with the events that had took place. “Yes, inside I me!”
“That you are cub.” Gilda rubbing his talon over his feathered head getting a laugh from him. “Now back to the lesson at claw shall we?”
“Okay Gilda!”
Gilda looked over to the others. “And you three keep it down or get out, I'm teaching here, get me?”
They nod together. “Got it.” They answered
“Good.” Gilda went back to teaching Gale.
Spyro lean up a bit. “I gather get out means tossed out?” He whispered to the others, they nod and watch without much being said as Gale continue his lesson session with Gilda. “Be the way, what is is about Gustave le Grand Icy Delights I hear the Pegasi speak of?”
Alpha walked up to a window waved the dragon over, he put the book down hooped onto all four walking up to it to have a look outside to see the restaurant just outside the bounds of Restaurant Row. “Whoa, that definitely not in Canterlot from the Equestria I am from.” He jump up on to the hind legs only pushing the window open with the foreclaw holding onto the window seal. “It looks busy.”
“It sure is, all it took was for Prince Gale to go there and things really took off, even Princess Celestia ate there which even rose it popularity, now you have stands at conventions and a possible second or third location opening up in Manehatten and Las Pegasus, Hayburger got competition now.” Sunbeam said joining them to look out at the restaurant.
Alpha put his hand paw down on Spyro's back. “And by lunch time you will get to enjoy the wonderful battered fish they make there.”
Spyro recalled the battered fish Gale ate at the convention, it caused his mouth to water a little and licked his muzzle. “Wow I have a sudden craving for it.”
Alpha chuckled. “That would be your brother's doing, your his big brother afterall.”
“That I am.” Spyro warmly said back. “I got a lot to learn here just as much as he does, being a bonded brother is very new and the role I have is going to be a learning curve.”
“Isn't life like that?” Sunbeam brought up a good point as they continue to look out the window at the autumn theme coming throughout the city and beyond.
The lesson session continued for the teenage griffon, Gilda glad to see some improvement to speaking and writing. “Your really getting the hang of it cub, guess even taking a break and chillaxing you were still being taught to speak.”
Gale felt really happy hearing that he has improved. “Soon will speak normal everyone!”
“That you will.” Gilda said proudly to Gale. “It will take time and think about how you were on the day you said your first word.”
Gale thought back to it. “I said Sqilda!”
“Hehe you sure did, I hate that name but it a special point in your life for you Gale.” Gilda raise her talon to him. Gale clapped his talon against it. “Shall we continue? And at lunch time we'll go to Gustaves!”
Mrs Cake holding the tube of whip-cream in her mouth applied it to the cup cakes she be selling today, with gentle careful precision the whip-cream swirled around in perfection. The counter bell rang out a few times getting her attention that a customer was waiting to buy one of the Cake's delightful goods they sold.
“Coming deary!” She picked up the tray with a hoof placing it on her back, Mrs Cake walking backwards push the doors open and turn around to come face to face with a large pink fox with eight tails, each with a flame hovering over them, four yellow and four blue. “Errrr....”
“Hey there, Skip the name, being friends and making everyone happy is my game! Just visiting Ponyville, heard it a interesting place to visit and mum got to meet six manes and a dragon that live here! So I thought with mum coming back home from the comic con in Manehattern I take a trip and meet these manes and the little dragon for myself! So I wondered around looking at the weird orange and brown colour leaves, they also got this weird smell to them too and as I wondered around town and ponies seem to just scream and run back inside for some odd reason I saw this awesome place and KNEW there be awesome treats! And here I am wanting to order some!”
Mrs Cupcake mouth was open slowly closing up as he rambled on till he finished speaking, waving a forepaw around to fluttering his wings swaying his tails around with excitement to the oblivious point of them being scared on him. She would have been too but now felt relaxed in the presence of this strange looking eight tail pink fox with wings called Skip.
“Skip you said your name was?”
“Yep the name mum stamped on me from the day I was c-”
Mrs Cake quickly spoke. “I understand deary, no need to explain.”
Skip looked at the tray of cupcakes she just brought out. “Ah of course, just never really got out much in the last 299 years, being brought up in a pocket universe where it rains 351 days of the 364 days in the year kinda all you know, the other days are weird as heck when there is no clouds. Now that would blow your mind seeing your island home Nowhere endlessly up and around you which is your island but just that you can see how loopy and cut off from the rest of the reality you really were.”
Skip blabbered on about his home to her in a causal way. “That something I couldn't even imagine living in, no sun and endless rain for almost all year around.”
“Well you make what you had, now we got waaaaaaay more to live for! Everykitsune now get to see the sun daily, get rain every so often, smell that fresh air, get to meet our dragon neighbours and so on.”
Mrs Cupcake smiled. “It good to know your getting to enjoy what we take for granted, so what can I do for you today?”
Skip looked around. “Well I got the munches for sugar, I really love sugary treats, mum and others say it bad for me, but they don't have my level of bounce. I neeeeeed sugar to keep going and I am a bottomless pit too when it comes to eating awesome sweets!” Skip licked his muzzle. “And these are all soooo good, yet taking them all be greedy and make others sad, so no to that you know?”
“Indeed, you have a very good heart and I can see that one pony would enjoy your company definitely.”
“Oooo? Who?” He had a idea who it was, but decided to play as if he didn't know still, curious about this interaction..
“Pinkie Pie, she lives and works here.” Mrs Cupcake said. “Though she not exactly here at the moment, how about a cupcake on the house?” Mrs Cupcake took one off the tray and put it down on the counter in front of him.
Skip knew of her but kept the pretence up used his make to pick it up floating over to him. “That awesome! Thank you ma'am!”
“Mrs Cupcake and your very much welcomed.” Mrs Cupcake said keeping her smile as he took the wrapping off and ate the cake with joy as the wings fluttered. Many ponies curiously watched behind the swinging doors watching the interaction.
Skip licked the whip-cream off his muzzle. “That the best cupcake I ever had! I mean making them out of stuff is good and all but doesn't have the same flare as this!” He present a small diamond placing it on the counter. “Can I have three more to take please?”
“Of course.” She took the diamond and presented him a box with the three cupcakes in it and close the lid up. “Have a wonderful day deary.”
Skip used his magic to levitate it beside him. “I will Mrs Cupcake and thank you for your warm and friendly service, I give you a five out of five!” He grinned and turn around to leave humming to himself happily as the ponies quickly parted watching the large kitsune casually walk out.
“Silly me.” He banged the side of his head. “I forgot to ask why the leaves are a strange mix of orange, red and brown colours, also smell really weird too.” Skip turn to one of the mares, cream with blue and purple curly mane and tail, a cutie mark of three wrapped up sweets. “Hey there pony I just met, could you answer that for me?”
She looked around. “It's just autumn, this happens every year.”
“Really now? So what comes after that?”
“Winter followed on by spring than summer and after that it repeats again, it called seasons.”
Skip looked around. “Cooooool! I wonder if we get these seasons now! I wonder if it will get even colder than it is now! I wonder what winter be like! 299 years old coming 300 and I got to say! I am loving this whole new experience!” He danced around on his paws switching to two spinning around her to stop and present one cupcake from his box. “This for you ma'am, thanks for telling me about it! I got to find-” His eyes locked on to Pinkie Pie. “Oooo Pinkie Pie I seeee you!” He ran off.
“What a strange cre-” Sudden he appeared beside her.
“I forgot to say, thanks again and see ya! Friend!” He gave her a hug and flapping his wings took off with the box.
A mint green unicorn stepped up to the cream one. “That fox didn't look all that scary, Bom-Bom.”
Bom-Bom looked to the cupcake on her hoof. “Not at all and Lyra he a Kitsune, multiple tails.”
“Oooooh, your so smart Bom-Bom!” Lyra giggled.
Bom-Bom watched the kitsune fly off to catch up with Pinkie Pie. “First the Gala and now here, this sure got interesting and got me curious.” She whispered and munched on the cupcake. “Hmm, not bad.”
Pinkie Pie joined Rarity and Fluttershy walking up the dirt path to Sweet Apple Acres. “I hear Applejack and Rainbow Dash going head to head with a Iron Pony Contest.” Rarity said to her friends as they walked.
“They are very athletic and competitive, do you think it could get to their heads?” Fluttershy asked.
Pinkie giggled. “It be fine! It will be fun to watch!”
“I am totally glad to pick today of all days to come!”
“Oh you did, it-it-it!” She bounced around to the source of the voice to see no one there. “Huh? Did you girls hear a stallion speak?”
“I sure did darling, I was certain it was directly behind us.” Rarity curiously looked around.
Angel looked up to see a flying fox, he blinked and rubbed his eyes to see if it was just a trick to the eyes, the kitsune put his paw to the muzzle with a wink, also summoning a cupcake as payment. Angel grinned and nod in turn. “Oh my that is rather strange.”
“What so strange about it?” Skip was directly behind them, but as they turn to see a wooden shaped kitsune.
Rarity frowned at the sight of it. “Where in the name of Celestia did that come from?”
“Hmm...” Fluttershy grinned. “I know where it came from, it Skip he pretending to be a wooden statue.” Fluttershy boop it on the muzzle getting it to wiggle.
The kitsune did a back spin turning back to normal getting a laugh from them. “Thank you for your laughter.” He did a bow to them. “It good to see you lovely mares once again.” He raise Rarity's hoof kissing it than Fluttershy's and Pinkie's getting a mix sort of reactions from them. “So what is this about a Iron Pony Contest?” Skip gave the cupcake to Angel, he greedily ate it.
Pinkie Pie bounced around him. “It a super set of cool obstacle courses, two ponies go head to head in 20 of them to prove who is the Iron Pony!” Pinkie Pie excitingly explained to the pink kitsune as she continue to bounce.
“I would love to watch that! Let's get there double time!” He used the tails magic to form a rift before them, it open up to show the contest grounds, Spike pointing a stick at the hole.
“-them?” Spike blinked. “I didn't expect a magic hole or to see Skip with our friends.”
“Nor did I...” Twilight was surprised as they stepped through to approach her, Spike, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Skip what bring you back?”
Skip twist his forepaw around. “Oh just wanted to visit Ponyville for real and kinda also getting on the good side the residents thanks to my one on one chit-chat with Mrs Cake. Saw Pinkie Pie the girls, heard about the contest and here we are.” Skip open the box to eat the last cupcake and make the wrapping with the box vanish into a pocket dimension. “Hmmm... So sugary and good!” He licked his muzzle.
Spike raise his stick to the muzzle. “Okay! Let the games-” Skip zaps the stick turning it into a mircophone as Spike continue to speak. “-begin!” Spike's voice carried, he looked at the microphone and than at Skip giving him a wink. “Awesome!” The other mares cheer part from Twilight frowning slightly at Skip, he giving a grin back at her.
“So the first match is weaving in and out of those barrels to the finish line, if you hit one you get a five second penalty.” Skip said reading it out of a sheet of paper. “Seem rather simple.”
Rarity looked over at Skip and the sheet of paper. “You have the list of all the events? Darling.”
Skip let Rarity take it with her magic. “Yep, I asked Sparkle about each event and she gave me that list.”
Pinkie munched on some popcorn. “Tish goish be goossh.”
Skip raise a paw. “May I have some popcorn?”
“Sure!” Pinkie Pie gives him a bag and he start happily eating the salted caramel coated popcorn.
They watched Applejack do her run weaving in and out of the barrels to clip one to get a five second penalty for, Rainbow dash did her run without hitting any for her to win by a whole four seconds to Applejack's time. “Rainbow Dash wins!”
The next came the bell event, Applejack easily smash through it beating a very stunned looking Rainbow Dash. “No surprise there, Applejack does buck trees with precision.” Rarity calmly stated as more ponies started to gather to watch the games, the stands with the other Apple Family including those of Ponyville started to fill them with Skip, Rarity and Pinkie Pie.
Skip with a paw over his eyes watched it continue to sail high into the sky towards Canterlot. “Hmm... Someone in Canterlot is in for a surprise.”
“Oooo why?” Pinkie asked.
“Because the bar bell heading straight for it, from the telemetry it going to hit somewhere around the castle grounds.” Skip answered.
Rarity looked over to the city on the mountain side. “Beg your pardon Mr Skip, but that seem highly unlikely you could figure that out so easily from where it went.”
Skip used his magic to show a white board and Mathematical equations to them. “Because I did the maths.” He made the board vanish with a swish of the tail.
Pinkie Pie put a foreleg around him. “Now that using your head.” She poke it with the other hoof.
Rarity stared at them blankly. “If that the case darling, why are either of you not worried about it landing on a poor pony?”
“Because it won't.” They said together and point a hoof/paw at each other. “Jinx! Double Jinx! Triple Jinx!”
Rarity groans rubbing her hooves on her temples. “Just what we needed... Another like Pinkie...” She muttered to herself.
“In a way she came before me even I am older, so yeah I am just like her.” Skip grinned.
Pinkie nod. “Yep that sooooo true!”
Rarity eyes shift left and right. “Wh-what? How is that even possible?”
“Because it is.” Skip shrugged.
Rarity wave a hoof. “Nevermind, forget I asked! You are just being Skip like Pinkie being Pinkie.” They clapped paw and hoof together laughing in response. “Let's just go back to watching the contest please...” They nod and watch with Rarity as the third game starts.
The Bronco Buck was the next and Skip saw Spike was the one to be bucked off either their backs, his eyes narrowed watching as Applejack manage to get him off her, he groans on top of a haybay that burst to be Rainbow Dash.
Hers was fast and rougher sending Spike flying into the sky, in a instant reaction Skip's four of his tail flames light up and blast Spike with a beam of magic turning him in a instant from dragon to griffon, the purple griffon was able to react in this form to landing on the scoreboard with paws close together and talons either side hooked into it with wings spread out.
Spike realised the transformation saved him from landing rough on it, he looked over to Skip flying over to him with a big smile. “You okay buddy?”
“I'm sure am! Thanks for turning me into a griffon!” He pushed off the scoreboard flapping the wings. “Skip you saved my rump there!”
“Well I'm happy to help a friend! And mum told me about your griffon form so I focused on that element that was still in you.” Skip poke the chest with his paw. “Now let's get you back on the ground and turn you back into your good handsome dragon self shall we?”
Spike gave a thumbs up. “That be great! Being a griffon cool, but nothing beats being my dragon self!”
“Indeed it don't!” Skip agreed.
Spike lands and Skip turn him back into a dragon. “Thanks again Skip!” Spike rush back to Twilight picking up the mircophone on the way.
Angel Bunny put the card on the scoreboard showing Rainbow won on the back of Fluttershy. “That was a very nice thing you did for Spike, Skip.”
Skip did a bow with a forepaw across his chest with the other push forwards. “All in a friendly help of a day dear Fluttershy.” He stood up and flew back to the stands as Twilight finally declare Rainbow Dash the winner after checking if Spike fine, this made Skip feeling happy she showed concern with Spike.
It came to the Lasso Contest, Spike yet again being the one to be lassoed and looked very unimpressed up it as Applejack showed off. Rainbow Dash was stumbling around with hers, it lead to Rainbow Dash lassoing herself in a tree while Applejack lassoed Spike till Skip turned him into a griffon again using the claws and new strength to shred the bindings. “Yer stop that!” Applejack glared at Skip seeing what he did.
“To even the playing field for my good buddy Spike! Never!” He grinned. “Also you lassoed him, all I did was aid the kiddo by letting him get out of the bindings.” Skip answered and with a flick of the tail turn Rainbow Dash into a griffon too so she can use those talons to free herself before he turn them both back to Dragon and Pony.
Rainbow Dash raise a wing to Skip, he clapped it with his own. “Thanks for the help Skip.”
“No problemo!” Skip said back.
Twilight watched how easily he was able to use transformative magic to change others into different creatures. “That was incredible, after the contest would you be alright coming over to tell me about your amazing magic?”
Skip shrugged. “Sure, I can be a bookworm for a while.” Skip turn a rock into a pair of glasses putting them on top of his muzzle wiggling his eye brows, all the ponies and dragon laughed at his silliness including Pinkie Pie snorting a little too as she fell over backwards kicking her hind legs around in the air holding her chest.
Next up was the ball bouncing contest, Applejack almost in a instant stumbled and failed while Rainbow Dash easily took the ones Apple dropped and easily bounced them on her hooves and head. “Impressive control.”
The Hay Bay Toss came and Applejack squished the contest on that one giving Skip, Pinkie and Rarity a greige with them saying “Ooooooo.”
Hoof Wrestling came next and at first it showed they seem to be even to Rainbow Dash smugly wins. “Awesome Dashy!” Pinkie cheered.
Kick ball came up and Skip was reading a comic book, Rarity frowned seeing him ignoring this next round. “Darling are you not going to see who will kick the furthest?”
He flipped a page over with a paw tip. “No need, Applejack got the stronger kick.”
Rarity looked over to Applejack and Rainbow Dash as they about to kick it. “Hmm... You have a very valid point there Skip.” And Applejack won the round, the score now tied four a piece.
The 11th match up was Push-Ups, the two mares were still neck and neck at five a piece, ponies cheer as the two mares push themselves to win staying equal as it the count past 90. “They really got a lot of stamina, I have no idea which one of them going to win this.” Skip said with excitement.
“I know!” Pinkie agreed. “I want both of them to win!”
“It look like a tie at the rate they struggling to keep going.” Skip noticing they was barely able to hit 98 pushing into 99 as the strain was showing.
Twilight counts the next push up, “99!”
Applejack almost has it at 100 but collaspes, Rainbow Dash started to flap her wings and lift her front hooves off the ground and Twilight was about to count it. “VROOOOM!” All the ponies covered their ears as Skip let off a air horn holding it with his magic giving a very dark look at Rainbow Dash.
He point to Rainbow Dash with a paw. “For using her wings and hooves lift off the ground that is a fail and she loses!” He said firmly.
Rainbow Dash was totally surprised by his response, so was Twilight. “What!? You can't do that!”
“I can and I will! I am Beta of the No-Yantic Clan! I might be childish vulpine that drives my mum nuts at time and love to bring smiles to those around me. But when it comes to competitions I know when a line has been crossed and you Miss Dash have!” He walked up to her.
“And how exactly did I cross this line!?” She stormed up to him and jabbed a hoof at his chest.
Skip point to her sides. “What are those?”
“Wings you stupid fox!”
“And Applejack!?” He point to Applejack as she got up on all four hooves.
“She don't have any-” Rainbow Dash suddenly realised what he just pointed out. “Oh...”
“Yes oh.” Skip turn to Twilight. “I am sorry for stepping over you like that, but it had to be said because you were about to call Rainbow Dash the win for cheating.”
Twilight rubbed the back of her. “I guess we were all caught up in the moment, your right about Rainbow Dash using her wings, it gave her a advantage over Applejack. We didn't think about the laying down some limits in this.” Twilight turn to Applejack. “You won this round Applejack, I have to disqualify Rainbow Dash for using her wings.”
Applejack dusted herself off. “How about we call it a tie, thanks to here Skip Rainbow realise what she did wrong, lesson learned.”
“AJ...” Rainbow shift her front hoof in the dirt seeing Applejack cutting her some slack for the mistake she did.
“Just don't let it happen again, alright sugarcube?”
“Got it!” Rainbow smiled. “Back to the contest?”
“Eeyup!” They clapped hooves together.
Twilight raise her hoof. “It been decided, this round is a tie!
Pinkie Pie looked over a few sheets of paper. “Wow this is worthless now.” She tossed the sheets behind her. “Hey Skip that was a really good thing you did there, and even there was frowns they were turn to smiles again, how did you do that?”
Skip poke her on the muzzle. “That my pink pony friend is something I learned from past mistakes I made myself. Now let's watch the contest shall we?”
“Yeparooan!” Pinkie giggled.
The contest continues and Rainbow Dash being mindful of her wings lead to the final game with 9 games won to Rainbow Dash, nine to Applejack. Twilight stood at the side of the mud pond. “Alright you two this is the final event, give it all you got!” Spike stood on top of her head with a flag in claw hand and waves it.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash start pulling on the rope with their mouths, Rainbow Dash start to slip. “It look like the workhorse going to win this!” Spike commented, Rainbow reacted with flapping her wings but realised what she did, letting go the rope she closed her wings up to slam into the mud knowing that it was already over. “Rainbow Dash loses it and Applejack wins!” Spike declares.
Rainbow Dash sitting in the mud look over to Applejack standing at the edge. “Yeah yeah I know, I used my wings, you try not doing something that part of ya.”
“Ah know that feelin' all too well when it comes to buckin' a tree, it get so sow into that head of yer's that ya do it so naturally.” Applejack lower her hoof to Rainbow.
Rainbow Dash took it and pulled out of the mud. “Your not exactly gloating over beating me AJ. I felt if I was suppose to win by a landslide or in this case a... mud... slide?” Rainbow Dash said slowly at the end. “That sound so cheesy... Gald G not here to hear that lame remark.” She muttered.
Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah got that weird feelin' too. Ah don't know. Just don't feel enough, it as if we missin' somethin' here, yer know?”
“Yeah it odd...” The ponies around them were cheering that Applejack won, but also cheering that Rainbow Dash did awesomely well too.
“That was a great contest! You won Applejack!” Spike beamed.
Applejack shrugged. “Ah guess.”
“You don't seem overly thrilled over it.” Twilight said with wonder.
Rainbow Dash respond to Twilight. “We both feel really odd over it, if Skip didn't interfere like he did, I most likely won those last ten games using my wings, so we kinda a bit bummed out over it.”
Applejack nod. “Took the words right out of mah mouth sugarcube, so even ah won, it doesn't sit right.”
Twilight rub the underside of her muzzle thinking about it. “You have a solid point, it does feel odd.” Twilight looked over to Skip talking with Fluttershy at the scoreboard. “Still I would like to get to know him a little more and his culture.”
“Trust you to go all egghead Twilight.” Rainbow rolled her eyes.
Pinkie Pie popped in. “What about the Running of the Leaves? It a race and you two can figure out who Iron Pony through that for sure, if you don't think this contest was enough!”
They looked at each other. “That sound like a pretty swell idea!” Rainbow grinned. “And you can bind my wings up so I can't fly.”
“Exactly what ah was thinkin' off! Let's do it!” Applejack spat on her hoof and so did Rainbow, they clapped hooves in agreement laughing a little.
Spike sitting on Twilight's back. “That in two days, you could use some of that time with Skip, and we could give him the guest room for a few days!”
“Ooooo good idea Spike! A kitsune as our guest! I can learn about Running of the Leaves, read about running it and even-” Spike shook his head as he zoned off as Twilight start to ramble on about what she could do with his help.
Skip standing at the scoreboard with Fluttershy watched as ponies cheered for both of them even Applejack did win. “Skip you really helped in a big way.”
“Indeedy I did.” He push down some shades over his eyes getting a giggle from Fluttershy.
“Are you coming to the Running of the Leaves?” Fluttershy asked.
Skip did a rapid bouncing steps on the spot with all four paws. “Sure! I can get into the action too! Have a good run get that blood flowing and get to see more of this autumn! Share history and about each other between me and Twily and get to chill out with the little dude Spike!”
Fluttershy smiled. “And you could come over for a cup of tea, if you like.” She shyly said at the end.
“Sure thing Fluttershy, I sure can stop by for some tea, how about five tomorrow evening sounds at your place?”
“Hmmm mmmm.” Fluttershy slyly responded.
“Grand!” Skip turn around holding a remote control with a paw, the other over the button.
“Now we had fun it back to Prince Gale in Canterlot, you will see me again at Running of the Leaves! Todals!”
Gustave Le Grand held a spatula in both talons rapidly shaking as his eyes were transfixed upon WHO not only walked into his restaurant but who was sitting at the table with Prince Gale, Princess Nightingale, Gilda and a black griffon. In all his life he'd never thought the first king of Griffina would be seated at Prince Gale's favourite table...
A hoof tap his shoulder from Pound causing the griffish chief to squawk in alarm fumbling around with the spatula between his talons till he caught it with both of them. “Sacre bleu! Don't zcare me like that!”
“Sorry boss, but you been stock in that spot for five minutes shaking like a tree kicked too hard by a farm pony.” Pound said to Gustave looking over at the table. “I heard from the guards that Princess Celestia's husband from over 800 years ago, King Grover. Is that why your so shaken?”
Gustave Le Grand took a few shaky breaths. “Yes Pound that is the case, that is the first king of Griffina, the griffon that made Griffonstone grand back in it days and zat his throne on a castle built on the Griffina Grand Tree.” He closed the talons tight around the handle of the spatula. “Now he zits in my restaurant Gustave Icy Delights...”
Pound walked around to stand in the way of the view of the former king looking into the eyes of his boss. “Boss, treat him like you treat the prince, the princess and the others, don't treat him more and I am sure you will be fine.”
“H-”
“Yes his the first king, but if what I heard from the guards are true, he no longer king and called Lord Grover now, which means treating him of what he was maybe a insult in itself.” Pound interrupted and calmly said to Gustave. “Now go serve him sir and I will go back downstairs to my post.”
“Gustave Le Grand understands, thank you Pound!” He said with a smile form on his beak the nerves calming. “Le Lord and his family is waiting to be zerved!” He raised a claw up with gusto in his voice, walking up to the table.
Shining Armor and Flash Sentry standing at the stairs keeping press ponies and griffons from going up stairs see Pound come down. “Manage to snap your boss out of it?” Shining asked.
Pound nod. “I have, you two get these pests out of the restaurant and I can start getting paying customers going up again to Fliers Delight.”
Flash saluted. “You can count on us Pound.” He turn to the press ponies and griffons that only want to bother the family. “Back up! Out you all go!”
“You heard him out!” Shining Armor works with Flash and a few other guards to get the press ponies and griffons out of the restaurant.
Pound adjusted his suit and tie, tap the ear piece to make sure it working. “Hopefully that this is the only drama today.” He whispered to himself as he prepared to let paying customers through again.
Grover looked out the window giving him the view of Restaurant Row with the castle just to the left in the background. “This is where you come to often Gale?” He turn to see Gale putting his plush on the table.
“Yes, Gustave Le Grand battered fish and chips best restaurant food!” Gale said with glee, he showed it on a card sitting on their table. “See! Say my name, with it! He asked if okay and I say yay! It best food and like all Griffon and Pegasus know it!” He said proudly to Grover. “Cool right dad?”
Grover felt happy and odd each time Gale said it so candidly to him. “Yes it is Gale, the world I lived on for the last two years, I been to Canterlot and there was no restaurant in this spot.”
Spyro agreed. “That is correct, also Gustave wasn't this successful that I know of, his know from the amazing eclairs he sells at events.” Spyro took a good look around. “I saw the downstairs and than there this upstairs for Pegasi, Griffons and any creature that can eat fish, it amazing!” The blackish grey griffon said.
Gilda chuckled. “It been here for some time from what I heard, but mostly used by the Pegasi guard and since this cub came around, this place is booming and very busy during the evenings, during the day most are working so it a good time to come.” Gilda explained to them. “Nighty are you heading back to Griffonstone this weekend?”
“I am, got a few things to go through with what I found here in Canterlot.” Nightingale answered. “I gather your going home?”
“Yeah got to check up on how things holding up on my Scone sales and such, even working here as a lame awesome teacher, I still work on my cooking skills and show those lameos they got nothing on me.” Gilda grinned pointing to herself with pride.
The mare came up to them in a waiters uniform holding a set of menus under one wing. “Welcome back Gale and Gilda, I see you brought others along today.”
“Yep! Spirit Light I like meet Dad; he name Grover! My other big sister Nightingale! And big brother Spyro!” Gale said with glee presenting the other members of the family.
Spirit looked right over to Grover. “As in the husband of Princess Celestia?”
“Indeed I am, let's say time flowed differently where I been and reunited with my daughter, my wife and now I got a bigger family and proud of each of them.” Grover said with pride. “I hope you and your team don't get too shaken up with my presence, just treat me like you treat Gale and Gilda okay?”
Spirit bow her head slightly. “Of course si-Grover.” She rose her head up with a smile. “We always happy to serve our loyal customers and new customers, would you like to have a look through the menus or go with the Prince Gale's Favourite?”
Grover took the card from the table to have a look at it. “Why not.”
“Same.” Nightingale said.
“Get something that my brother's fav? Sure I'd give it a try.” Spyro said coolily to Spirit.
Gilda chuckled. “Look like it five and give us all your awesome Fizzy Apple Soda Surprise.”
Spirit held the pad wrapped with a wing, using the pencil held in her mouth to write it down, she put the pencil into the pocket the pad under the wing. “I'll bring the drinks out and the food by up in about 10 to 15 minutes.” She bow her head once again. “As always you pay after your meal and hope you enjoy your time at Gustave's Icy Delights.” She smiled and walked away.
Spyro noticed a picture hanging on the wall of Gale, Celestia and Shining Armor with another of Gale and Gilda drinking their sodas with a blue Macaw Griffon. “Is Gustave Le Grand using you to grow his business?”
Gilda laughed. “Not a chance, that dweeb learned that being kind to other types of griffons and in turn word spread like wild fire, soon as work got out that he didn't treat Macaw Griffons like second fiddle ponies came from far and wide including my cousin that dropped by a once from Las Pegasus.” Gilda explained to Spyro.
Grover looked at the photo at the blue griffon. “Macaw Griffon... If I remember correctly they they ones that whistle their words that sound like they say every word with a ssss in it.”
“Yep, Doctor Trace random change from unicorn to macaw, than he get shiny crystal he wear and now change anytime he wish.” Gale said pointing to the photo. “That he as griffon, he work in hospital here in Canterlot, he wife Amber, she a Abyssinian.”
Spyro gave a time out with his talons. “Time out, rewind, he a unicorn that become a griffon, how?”
Gilda grinned. “He was Celestia's student 20 years ago, the dweeb has this strong magical ability to track and trace magic, he can somehow sense spells that cast on someone and Trace found the remains of a high level transfiguration spell from Gale, then he tried to recreate it and-” She push out of forelegs with claws spread out. “-BOOM!” Making some of them jump. “He randomly teleport and transfigured himself with partial pure magic into a Macaw Griffon.”
Gustave approached the table. “Zomehow ztop whistling when he talks.” He bow his head to them slightly taking his chief hat off. “Bonjour and welcome to la Gustave's Icy Delight's, I Gustave Le Grand welcome you back Prince Gale, Griffoness Gilda.” He greeted them. “And welcome Princess Nightingale, the new young black griffon and Lord Grover to this restaurant for the firs time.” He said with gusto with a talon on his chest with his head raised slightly eyes closed, and putting the hat back on his head followed by raising the talon up to the air.
Gilda rolled her eyes. “And a annoying dweeb as always.”
“As you are rude as always Gilda.” He shot back, they gave them each other dirty looks before smiling and laughing a little. “Ahh it good to zee teaching not made you to zoft Gilda.”
Gilda puffed her chest up. “As if you dork, and good to see the food is great as ever, keep up the good work you preach dweeb.” She closer her talon pulling it out to him.
He closed his talon and bumped it against hers. “Who would of thought we be natural and not at each other throats as before?”
“Who said we not?” Gilda grinned.
“Ah so true.” He turn to Grover. “I heard from Pound that the local guard zpoke of la return, it quite the word that zpread around, I can easily zay I am in a bundle of nerves la former first king is at my restaurant zitting at this table no less.”
Grover liked his forwardness. “I saw you shaking like a leaf over there, good to see that pony snapped you out of it and came to greet us.” He put a wing around Gale pulling him close. “My son says good things about this place and one thing I've been told he never lies, so I thought a family meal while Celestia is working through some of the backlogs of meets we come and eat here.”
Gustave twistized his moustache. “Prince Gale is never wrong, la Gustave Le Grand will not pride in how this impossible moment is, but zay it a welcomed one to zerve a legend like yourself, even you do not wish of that. You are Lord Grover.”
“That I am, the legacy will be part of me from this world to the one next door and so on, but what important is that I have a family and that is very important to me that I care and love.” He hugged Gale and reached over ruffling Nightingale's feathers including Spyro's getting push back from them.
“I wish I could zpeak more, but business waits for no griffon.” Gustave bow to them and leaves.
Nightingale watched the griffon head into the kitchen. “He the only griffon I ever seen with a moustache on a beak, I wonder how he got it grow.”
“Seriously? That what bothering you?” Gilda frowned.
“Have you seen another male griffon with one?”
Gilda open her beak and close it thinking about hard. “No I haven't.” Gilda now grew a bit curious about it. “Now you got me wondering about it dweeb!”
Gale tilt his head. “I confused.”
“As am I...” Grover and Spyro said together showing their added confusion as Gilda and Nightingale talk among themselves about Gustave's moustache.
Alpha stood on a roof of one of the restaurants at Restaurant Row watching Gale and the others from behind one of the slatted roofs. “Good to see the family outing going well.” He said to himself keeping a eye on the young prince.
“Being the ever so watchful guardian?” Alpha's ears twitch to the female voice.
Without turning he respond to the source. “Amber... The SCUAS agent, I was wondering when we would meet.” Alpha finally turn around to the anthropomorphic feline raising a paw hand to her.
Amber took it with a firm shake before letting go. “Alpha the wolf from the imaginative mind of Gale, my husband did a check up on you and speak of how perfect you are in physical and internally.”
Alpha recalled that check over. “Trace is a good unicorn, he did a very thoroughly check up on me.” Alpha turn to the restaurant seeing the drinks being served up.
“So why is the big strong wolf hanging out here and not inside?” Amber stepped up to his side taking a look at the griffon family.
“There are guards all around and inside, and there is Pound.”
Amber smirked. “True.” Amber watched Gilda talking to Nightingale and they laughing a little afterwards. “Good to see Kitty look happy.”
Alpha watched the scene too. “It too early for me to make judgement on Lord Gale's happiness since Lord Spyro has became his brother.”
“Talking about those from the Equestria next door, Trace been going through the medical and psychological records of those poor 25 griffons from Equis 14, even though one of them is a clockwork mechanical griffon.”
Alpha's eye shift to Amber. “A world gone by the power of a dying sun so far away.” His eye shift to the blue sky. “Never I would of thought that those stars sparkling in the night sky where many many suns far away from our own.”
Amber looked up too. “It a wondrous and scary thought isn't it?”
“Yes it is.” Alpha lower his head and eye back to Amber as she did too. “There is to be a service tonight at a place called the Mausoleum of Worlds for Earth, Equis 14 and the Inverse Equis.”
Amber put her paw hand on his shoulder. “Trace and I will be there, we might been directly involved in some of the craziness that been going on of lates, but we are still in the loop.”
“Lord Gale will like that Amber.” He put his paw hand on her shoulder in turn, they bow their heads slightly before letting go.
Amber walk to the edge of the roof. “Well I got to get going, it was nice chatting with a fellow anthropomorphic.” She turn around doing a backflip off to land on her feet paws on the ground below, she give a wink and salute before walking away through the startled group of ponies down Restaurant Row.
Alpha smiled. “She different to Tigress and interesting feline.” Alpha went back to keeping a eye on the griffon family at Gustave's Icy Delights.
Gale cut into the battered cooked fish and picked it up with the folk with a few chips, he dunked it in ketchup and happily pull them off the folk with his closed beak, chewing happily. Grover watched his foster son enjoying his meal, Gilda and Nightingale also eating their meals happily, Spyro cut a piece of battered fish, holding it up to his beak took a sniff of the cooked battered fish smell.
“Smells nice.” He took a bite of a bit, chewing his eyes lit up and swallowed. “Wh-what the? This is amazing! How could I never have anything like this before!?” Spyro took the rest off the folk happily munching on it.
Grover did the same and took a small bite of the cooked battered fish, he chewed and swallowed it. “Hmm I never even thought you could cook fish like that, it pretty good.”
Gilda swallowed her food and grinned at the former first king. “So your telling me being in that tower and in his universe for two years you never ate fish like this?”
Spyro finished off another piece with some chips. “Not that I know of, I'll report this amazing fete in food to my Queen, it even taste like it made out of love.” He hummed with a flutter of the wings. “Or is it my griffon taste buds? I have zero idea! And I just enjoying this so much!”
“Could be the connection you have with Gale having some influence in it.” Nightingale suggested.
“It could be.” Spyro tap the folk against his beak lightly before going back to eating.
Nightingale watched Gale eating his fast. “You got a bottomless pit or something?”
Gale swallowed licking his beak. “No I don't think so, just feel I eat fast always.”
Gilda laughed. “Dweeb hehehe this colt always eat as if some griffon going to steal it.”
“From the way his eating it I say that could be the case.” Grover teased.
Gale just shrugged. “I eat fast, I enjoy.” Gale went back to eating getting a laugh from everyone.
Nightingale drunk a bit of her drink before asking Grover a question. “Dad, you do know I am going to continue my research and dive into your past on trying to find me right?”
“I expected you may, go ahead, my past is your past, it will show how much time and effort I made in trying to find you.” He lean over to Nightingale rubbing under her beak with a claw. “In a way because of my search for you I saved your brother without even realising it at the time, so indirectly even because of that blasted Zebra we get to sit together here today.”
“Don't forget that crazy rabbit.” Gilda added.
“Oh we can't forget that crazy rodent even we try.” Nightingale stated. “She and that Zebra would make a good couple...”
Gale thought about it seeing them together. “Yes can see that possible.”
Spyro shuddered. “I hate to think what kind of monstrous team up they could of done if she wasn't all alone for the power act.”
Gilda raise a glass. “Then lets toast to never knowing.”
“Aye.” Grover raised his glass too and so did the others before going back to eating their meals.
A unicorn standing at the counter dividing the kitchen to the restaurant floor watched wiping the same spot over and over again. “Zhally! Get your flank cleaning the WHOLE counter and not the zame zpot!”
The white unicorn with blackish grey mane and tail wearing a waiters uniform blinked. “Huh? Sorry boss... I was zoned out.”
“It look it, sacre bleu... Now get! Le Gustave isn't paying you to ztand around!” He walk off back to cooking for some more hunger pegasi that just ordered their meals.
Shally gets back to work but stop for a second looking over at the five griffons with malice in her eyes for a moment, Gale noticed it glancing over to her to shift her gaze away quickly, the cub curiously tilted his head looking at the white unicorn. “Something the matter cub?”
Gale looked over to Gilda. “Not sure, got weird look for unicorn.”
“Yeah well not all ponies like griffons so they will give you a dirty look or something, it the same with griffons and any other creature, each may not like the other kind, it just something that ins't perfect and trust me.” Gilda tap the tip of his beak. “Perfect isn't good.”
Gale nod. “Yes, nothing truly perfect and understand!” Gale went back to finishing his meal and drinking his drink getting a roll of the eyes from Gilda after he burped.
Inside a large circular chamber with two ways in on either side, a large dome room above held up by massive curved eight marble beams with purple blue lighting over it, oval pod like objects sticking out of the wall ten up and twelve across on each of the two curved walls between the door ways light by white blue light. In the middle a large machine with eight arms spread out glowing and projecting three large holographic planets in mid air.
Arbiter watched the holographic projection of the two Equis and Earth flicker for a moment to overlapping each other. “Are you two certain this will be fixed before they arrive this evening? I rather not have our Creator, his family and the griffons of Equis 14 walk in onto a malfunctioning holographic projector...”
A light orange furry creature with dark orange stripes on the massive ears, arms and tail emerge from under the machine holding a ratchet wearing a blue jeans orange and blue top, brown boot and gloves and googles look slightly upside down at him. “I said I'll get this fixed in time and I keep my word, so keep your pants on will ya?”
Arbiter frowned. “I wear armour, not pants.”
“Yeah I can see...” He rolled his green eyes at the sangheili.
A anthropomorphic tiger wearing jeans and a sleeveless red top with gold flower pattens spoke up from one of the pods sitting on it with a open panel behind her. “My husband knows what his doing, you wouldn't of called us other wise.”
Arbiter looked up at her with a annoying quiver to his mandibles before responding. “Indeed Tigress...” He turn to walk away heading out of the Mausoleum of Worlds. “Our creator will be in for a surprise.”
“What is that suppose to mean?” Tigress called out getting no response. “Do you get what Arbiter talking about?” She looked down at the much confused husband of hers.
He waved the ratchet back and forwards as he responded. “After 4000 years and getting to meet the very being that you came out of his nogging.” He tap the side of the head with the ratchet. “I bet we all in for a surprise.” He toss it in the air spinning around to catch it. “Well we better get back to work Tigress.”
“Sometimes I wonder why we been married for 2999 years Ratchet.”
“And that question will never be solved.” They both smirked at each other and went back to work fixing the holographic systems.
Gustave Le Grand sit back on his chair in the office soon after Grover and the others left, he stared at the polaroid photo held in his talon, it showed them with him outside the restaurant taken together. “Is this what it truly means to be a proud griffon of the past? What is this feeling la Gustave have within my chest? It feels amazing, it feels good... am Gustave Le Grand changing to be more than one self? Sacre bleu...”
The unicorn magical aura around chairs float them down into place before a desk and a box of files beside it, Amber watched her husband at work setting up what look like a amphitheatre for a school, he adjusting the seats to point them towards the desk. Trace pulled out of the files opening them up to take a look at each of them placing them neatly on the desk ready for the griffons of Equis 14.
Amber took one taking a look to see it was General Grav of the Griffia Navy. “A world that was equally magically and technology advance wiped out by a exploding sun far far away, if it wasn't for what I seen and heard in the recent months, I thought I'd be crazy to believe this.” She sat on the desk flipping through the pages.
“It does sound insane when reading it, but sadly it true and I believe talking to all of them at once instead my usual one on one would be a wise idea.” Trace said as he continue to work on setting up the room for the Griffons of Equis 14.
Amber move her hand paw over the photo. “Grav was the best of the best, serving his land with pride and distinction. The fact that Glacier was able to recover all this information on that device of hers is impressive.”
“I don't understand the in and outs of it, but I am glad she was able to. I got to know these griffons in a way that want me to help them more than ever, this session will be one of many to come, it may take months, years to recover, there been too much lose of life in recent months... The Earth 4000 years ago we recently learned about. The Inverse Reality and now this...”
Amber close the file putting it back on top of the rest, she push off the desk walking up to her husband and putting a hand paw under his chin. “Trace two out of the three happened before we knew, the Inverse Reality sadly wasn't going to last and those that survived did because they found a way around the wish magic limitations, just not soon enough for all of Inverse Equis...”
“I know.” Trace raise his head to Amber. “I became a doctor to save lives, heal those inflicted with magic that brought harm, use my unique magic to help them, yet recently I feel like I am only helping to ease the pain of a great lose...”
“I will be here with you for that, and a doctor can not always save lives, not able to always use their amazing magical skills to help them all. We only can do so much.” She kissed him on the muzzle. “Now let's finish up and join the others at the Mirror Portal okay?”
Trace kissed back. “Thank you my love.”
Amber flick his top of the muzzle making it wiggle. “Now that the Trace I married.” She grinned and he smiled back, they got back to work finishing up the room for the griffons at where to arrive.
Soon after they finished setting up the room Amber and Trace arrived at the Mirror Portal room, the golems saluted them. “Welcome Amber and Trace, Princess Celestia is waiting, you may enter.” They said together in a static unemotional voice that felt eerie, the pony golems horns glow and the doors open.
They walk through the door to pass through a magical curtain to see a empty room change into a much more crowded one, in there was all the princesses, Prince Gale and Spyro, Shining Armor, Alpha, Gilda, Sunbeam and a few guards. “I thought, Grover, Glacier and that dragon Silvite was suppose to be here too?” Amber whispered to Trace.
Alpha responded upon hearing her, they both instantly turn to the wolf. “They went through to Prince Wells Equestria to make the final preparations for the twenty-two griffons from Equis-14, and Lord Grover wanted to check on the residents of Fort Grimfeather to see if they are doing okay with him being over here for more than a week.”
“That understandable.” Trace said with a slight nod. “Thank you for filling us in.”
Alpha grunted and glanced over to the mirror portal. “That him saying your welcome.” Amber giggled, Trace smiled and they joined the others looking at the mirror. “So that one mirror is how you cross over to another universe, huh?”
Celestia saw Amber in the corner of vision while looking at the mirror still. “It is, this mirror is magically connected from Prince Wells Equestria.”
A finch griffon emerged from behind the mirror holding a laptop with one foreleg. “Gritter can you hear and see me?”
“Loud, clear and picture perfect ma,am, the connectors to the mirror are looking good and green, it only been two days and things looking well part from the high energy output, it look like the connection through the mirror is taking more juice than we estimated.” Gritter said looking at the screen of Maple with Fort Grimfeather behind her in the background.
“Yeah we getting that here too now, it seem to be a feedback of some electrical energy, it seem that we got some more work to do keep a connection stable without burning out the connectors in the process. Still we got a good start on this and one thing we Finch Griffons thrive on is a challenge.”
Trace stood behind Gritter looking at the screen. “Maple I may have a idea what could be the problem.”
Gritter turn slightly to see Trace. “Doctor Trace I'll gladly hear your ideas, you have a unique abilities to see forms of magic if I am correct.”
“That is correct, I discovered the factor of the pure magic, also accidental merged part of it into me while trying to break down the transfiguration spell that I detected on one of Gale's feathers I had.”
“Yes I know, I've caught up on it, please share with me your idea please, we have no idea how much longer this bloody connection will hold.” Maple went straight to the point.
Trace understood her desire to know. “Understandable Maple, I believe there a thermical magical differences between our two universes, the mirror in a way acts like a buffer to help us to magically adapt to their universe. The energy feedback maybe coursed cause the signal not being adapted and too weak for it to happen.”
Maple rubbed the underside of her beak with a forepaw. “Hmm, that a good theory, we'll look into it with other possibilities Doctor Trace, thank you for bring this to our attention.”
“Happy to help Maple.” Trace noticed a old griffon with a fez. “Is that Gruff Clawhowler I see behind you?”
Gruff approached the screen. “That it is, you think I am going to let my wife travel to another pony country in another universe on her own?”
Gilda spoke up. “Please! That only one of the two reasons you went! Getting to travel to another universe to see how much bits you can get is your second with those dweebish stories of yours.”
“My stories are worth the bits Gilda! I am over 230 years old! What I been through on that day is nothing compared to what you been through! I saw what that damn rabbit do to Flaputa, even I may never knew it was her and blamed King Guto for it for over 200 years. Doesn't change the fact that she hit all of us where it hurt the most! I could have had a far better life with my Maple, be more happier! So shut your beak cub and don't make me come over there and clip you on the head!” He said with a fiery personal voice to Gilda pointing at the screen at times of his speech to her.
Gilda slyly smiled. “So you do have a soft centre under all that crankiness, have fun old timer.” She saluted and disappear from view of the camera.
Gruff was about to say something but Maple put her paw on his foreleg. “The system on the verge of shutdown and Gruff I like the life we had, even it could have been far better, we raised a good son, have a daughter in law and granddaughter that we deeply care about, that what matters more than bits.”
“Arg! Fine your right! I'll get my own back on that cub when we get back!” He walks off grumbling to himself.
Maple smiled warmly. “Gritter we will contact you same time tomorrow, do some localised scans and we will do the same and to the relays that already been set up on this side.”
Gritter nod. “I will Maple, enjoy the trip too and tell us Finch Griffons that didn't get to come everything okay?”
“Oh I will, Sunflower will make sure of that for sure.” Maple waved and reach down below the view of the visual feed for it to end, Gritter ends the link on his end and close the laptop lid.
Gritter turn around to them all. “I will just be over here to the side doing work for Maple, Big Rig will need a update on this too, my boss doesn't like being kept out of the loop. Specially on this.” Gritter walk over to a table near a few guards opening the laptop up again to do work on it and sending data to Big Rig.
“That is fine, thank you Gritter.” Celestia smiled.
Gritter smiled back. “No problem, I will make sure to update Glacier to let you know of our system update to Prince Wells Equestria.” Celestia gracefully nod and the Finch Griffon got back to work.
A female griffon appears through the mirror with Grover and Silvite. “Sweet mercy you do look like a goddess of the griffons...” She stared in awe of Princess Celestia, she never seen a griffon quite like her and it felt opposing and proud to stand before the wife of her lord, she quickly lower her forelegs and bows to Celestia. “Princess... I-”
“Rise young one, it okay I do have that imposing appearance.” Celestia gestured for Gillian to stand. “I heard a few good things about you Gillian and very happy to finally meet a proud griffon that help run Fort Grimfeather.”
Gillian rose and looked up at Celestia. “Lord Grover believed in me and gave me meaning in life, I take pride in the job I have.”
Gilda gave her a wave. “Hey dweeb, you look like that dweeb rich stick in the mud at Griffonstone.”
Gale gasped recalling that. “Yes I remember, she told me see Gruff and slam door in face!”
Gillian looked over at the two of them. “Well that could have been me, but Lord Grover showed me another path in life, being rich isn't anything to be proud of. Bits can't create the keen-ship and friendships I formed with fellow residents of Fort Grimfeather.”
“Good to hear.” Gilda smirked.
Gillian smiled back with a nod, she turn to Grover. “Lord Grover seeing that everything look good here I will let Silvite and Glacier know it good to go for the twenty-two griffons of Equis-14 to come through with them.”
“Please do and I'll be back in a few days okay?” Grover put his talon out to her and she took pulling into each other.
“Take the time you need my lord, you got your family back and that is what is important.” Gillian turn to the others after releasing the embrace with Grover. “Even short, it was a interesting experience visiting another Equestria.” She turn and walked through.
Cadance watched the rippling flash die down. “It interesting to know how different one can be in another world, I wonder how different I am in that one.”
Shining Armor was curious. “Knowing my sisters counterpart is a Alicorn, it be interesting to know about mine too, if he know about me I bet he just as curious as would your counterpart Cadance.”
“That one thing I think both of us could easily agree one.”
Luna recalled her tea with Princess Trixie. “There will be more talks between both Equestrias? Sister.”
“Of course, I got a meeting with Prime Minster Zipline next Monday, he coming to Canterlot to have some talks about trade and maybe a timeline on how both countries can open up to each other.” Celestia said.
Spyro saw the mirror ripple with griffons emerging through it, twenty-one of them flesh and one made of clockwork parts, just behind them Glacier, Silvite, a changeling and Pegasus guard came through standing attention. Grav stepped up to Celestia and bowed to her. “Princess Celestia, wife of Grover the former first king of Griffonstone, I and my crew formerly request asylum in your nation.”
Celestia bow her head down to Grav. “General Grav, I formerly accept your request for asylum for you and your crew the soul survivors of Equis-14, welcome to your new home.”
The changeling guard spoke. “These griffons are now in your charge Princess Celestia, we wish them well in this Equestria.”
“And present the papers for their exchange of legal rights to now stay in this Equestria upon the laws of our empire.” The Pegasus present the papers to Shining Armor, he took them.
Shining Armor holding them with his magic salutes. “You two are relieved and thank you.”
“We are relieved.” They saluted back and turn walking through the mirror portal.
Spyro knew that changeling that had came through, it been only roughly a day so far but it felt strange not preforming the duties that changeling did. “It feels weird not doing that myself or going with Prince Wells and Queen Chrysalis to many worlds.”
“It not been a day, things will be strange at first but you will get use to this new life of yours.” Cadance whispered to him with a wink, he smiled back at her.
Celestia raise a talon to her family and everyone else. “General Grav, I like you to meet my sister Luna, my children Gale, Nightingale and newest member to it Sypro, my niece and nephew Cadance and Blueblood, Captain Shining Armor, Doctor Trace and his wife Amber, Alpha, Gilda and Private Sunbeam personal guard to my son Gale.”
Grav gave a soft nod to each of them. “It a pleasure to meet you all, my name is Grav as you know, this is my son Grant he was transfigured by Shal-Quz into a Clock-Work Grffon, Glacier managed to somehow upgrade his form with a magic feather.”
“Glad it worked.” Glacier stated.
Grant stepped up to them with a short bow. “I know I might look a bit-”
“You look awesome! I see cogs turning, ticking sounds, it so cool!” Gale beamed with delight.
Grant smiled. “Thank you Prince Gale, I think you are cool and cute.”
Gale stood proud. “I am both!” This got a laugh from everyone.
Silivite rubbed her claw hand over his head. “That you are Gale.”
Trace step up to Grant. “It is going to be a curious experience doing a medical check up on you, but I will have Glacier by my side when it comes to it and we will get a greater understanding of your new form.” Trace put his hoof on the metal side surface. “It may take fair amount of time between the sessions we all will go through when they start in a few days after you all settled into your temporary accommodations.”
Grant's mechanical face showed a expression that was grateful for this unicorn willing to help. “Thank you Doctor Trace, I am just as curious about how my internal systems work as you are.”
Grav gestured for the rest of the crew to step forwards. “This is the rest of my crew I like to present Private First Class Gerry Gritclaw, Private Grotto Brickclaw, Lt. Giovanni Talonclaw...”
Celestia opens a door into a bedroom with two single beds, two bed stands, a big wardrobe and adjoining bathroom, she walk in followed by Grav and Grant. “Till we can arrange something in the city for you and the other griffons to call a home, this and the other rooms in the castle are yours and the others to use.” She gestured to the room.
Grav took a good look around placing the bag down in front of a bed. “Thank you Princess Celestia, we are grateful towards you giving us this chance.”
“After what I heard you all been through and seen what Glacier showed me, I couldn't say no to helping you all and I hope that I may request your services as part of the royal navel of Equestria with your fellow crew members, but if any wish not to go their own way in Equestria I won't stop them.” Celestia said softly to him with a warm smile from her beak.
Grav bow his head. “Thank you.”
Celestia bow her head back in respect to Grav, she raised her head and spoke. “I've ordered some food from Gustave's Icy Delights for dinner in a few hours. Battered Fish and Chips, my son's favourite meal from there. It will be served at the private dinning room and you with your crew are welcome to join us.”
“I will pass the word to the crew, thank you for the offer Princess.” Grav said raising from the bow.
Grant put down the large bag. “Princess events that took place gave us a chance of living and telling our tales, including remembering all those that no long with us from our Equis, thank you.”
“I am not sure why you are thanking me...” She said with a slight confused voice and look on her face.
“If it wasn't for the events that took place with Shal-Quz, to you sending Glacier and the others after her through different realities, we wouldn't be standing here talking to you or even I may not had this upgrade to this strange clockwork form that is now my body, a chain of events have a funny way of bring us all together and allowing something impossible as us surviving to survive.”
“When you put it that way, your welcome Grant, I have a few things to sort with some mayors from a few towns, I bid you two well and hope to see you two and the others at the table, I have something to say that will interest the lot of you.” Celestia turn and walks to the door.
Grav gave a curious expression. “Why not now?”
Celestia glance over her shoulder with a smirk. “Hope to see you and the others there General Grav.” Celestia walk out without another word avoiding to answer the question on purpose, she using her magic to close the door behind her.
Grav four legs start to wobbly as he shakingly walk up to the bed and flop onto it with a relieved sigh escaping his beak letting the tension leave his body. “When I heard Princess Celestia was a griffon in this Equis, I didn't expect her to be THAT kind of griffon... fierce, beautiful and scary as she look at sound, that calm polite voice sent a chill of fear down my spine to the very tip of my tail...”
Grant sat down on his bed on the side to look at his father. “These eyes of mine were able to see the pure muscle under that fur and feathers as the princess walked, the level of it is a true paradigm of griffon kind.”
Grav rolled over to sit up on the bed looking across to Grant. “You know the tale how I met Princess Celestia from our former world on the day Griffonia and Equestia were celebrating a successful peace treaty, the Alicorn was just as fierce as this one is and she was a pony, this is alicorn and griffon mix into one with the body and strength of a true apex predator.” Grav shivered a little thinking of that white griffon the co-ruler of Equestria.
Grant could feel the tension in his own clockwork body, he could feel warmth feeling up through parts around his outer shell. “Real weight with words of kindness and add a griffon form that is majestic, we have a ruler I feel unworthy to even serve under...”
Grav lay back with forelegs spread out. “I wasn't expecting this feeling, I never thought I see how the Princess of the Sun would look as a griffon, the others will be just as jelly as I feel at the moment...”
“Most likely father...” Grant looked over to the window seeing a partial reflection of his golden metal form with some of the ticking cogs shifting. “We been given a chance to live, share our stories, tell of our past and our home, become part of the greater whole of Equestria, serve a griffon that raise the sun and make her proud to take us into her Royal Navy.”
Grav didn't respond.
Grant looked over to see him asleep. “Rest well father, I will wake you before dinner so you can freshen up and get into dress uniform.” Grant reach over to his bag pulling out the General dress uniform. “I am glad that I recovered this for you father. This will bring pride and honour to all that past on Equis-14, our former home.” Grant smiled looking at the white uniform with pride welling up from within his mechanical heart.
Cadance noticed movement at the Observatory Tower her private get away room with the magical telescope, flying up to it she found Spyro and Gale in there, the black griffon looking through the lens. “This thing has insane magnification! I am looking at Ponyville seeing ponies doing their day to day business as if I am right there!” Spyro moved his eye away from it.
“Yes, it me Gilda use to see Fluttershy tell big dragon off! It funny!” Gale laughed a little recalling that experience.
“She did that? Wow that pretty brave and cool!” Spyro said back.
Cadance lands before them. “It is.”
“Princess Ca-”
“Cadance or cousin Spyro, since your Gale's big brother now you can just call me that.” Cadance interrupt with a soft smile.
Spyro rubbed the back of his neck. “That going to take some getting use to P-Cadance, here I am now family with many that I would be serving for back in my Equestria, the Queen, you, Prince Wells, Princess Trixie and so on, it just feels a bit off even calling Celestia mum...” Spyro showed uncertain and sounded it too, suddenly the mood changed as he turn instantly towards the floor of a part of the castle.
Gale noticed the instant change. “What is it?” Gale asked.
Spyro's eyes shift left to right of the windows he was looking at. “I am sensing really confusing strong emotions from the twenty-two griffons, that including that clockwork one.”
Cadance walked up beside him looking at the windows he was looking at. “Look like Aunty Celestia had a impact on the griffons, she personally saw to them settling into their temporary rooms.”
Shining Armor walked up behind them. “Princess Celestia does have muscles rippling through those fore and hind legs as she walk, those wings also show strength too.”
They all turn around to him. “Does my husband to be have a crush on my aunt?” Cadance tensed.
Shining Armor didn't even react to it. “Nice try Cadance.”
“Shoot.” She scrap her hoof on the floor with a pretend defeating tone in her voice.
“I am the captain of the guard, I work with mares and stallions who tone their bodies and minds daily, even this body is mostly muscle from all the work I do.” Shining Armor stood proud.
Gale walked up to him taking a good look seeing the muscle tension. “You like mum, I see muscle shift when she walk, mum know she stronger than before and fight with Shal-Quz twice showed it.”
“Guess with that kindness added to that factor, no wonder Spyro sensing heighten mix emotions down there.”
“GALE WHERE THE BUCK ARE YOU!? WE GOT ANOTHER LESSON TO GO THROUGH BEFORE DINNER YOU DWEEB! GET YOUR BUCKING TAIL OUT OF THAT TOWER AND BACK TO THE STUDY DOUBLE TIME!”
Gale's ears pinned down from the screaming. “Talking about heighten! I got to go!” Gale quickly takes off flying out of the tower and down to one of the open windows to the wall ways.
Spyro watched his brother disappear. “How did Gilda know we were here? I, he and no one told her where we would be.”
Shining Armor rubbed one his ears with a hoof. “Let's just say Gilda knows Gale well enough and leave it at that.”
“Bu-”
“Come Spyro let's walk to the study, we can talk on the way.” Cadance smiled.
“B-”
“Now do you want to get on Gilda's bad side?” Spyro thought about it and shook his head. “Now let's go shall we?” He nod and Cadance look over to Shining. “Coming?”
Shining Armor took a look through the telescope seeing his sister reading on the balcony about marathon running. “I'll catch up, something caught my eye.” Cadance didn't need to ask what he saw, she smiled with a nod and gesture Spyro to follow her down the stairs as Shining Armor continue to watch his sister. “Is Twily going to compete in the Running of the Leaves?”
Stepping out of a train onto the Canterlot Train Station a unicorn, griffon and dragon onto the platform as the final rays of the sun disappear on the horizon. Two guards approach them with Princess Nightingale. “It good to see you all made it my friends.” She greets them happy to see Geremy, Starlight and Crimson had made it on time to meet with the others at the warehouse.
Starlight and Crimson raced over to Nightingale as she did to them, they clashed with a group hug finally getting to meet each other again after the escape of the shattered Inverse Universe. “Nightingale, it good to see you again.” Crimson said with glee.
“Yeah it been annoying not able to get near you while keeping a low profile.” Starlight said feeling happy to hug the almost 800 year old princess.
Nightingale nuzzled both of them rubbing her checks against their sides of the face. “I know, I and mum did all we could to keep you off the grid. When I saw you two at the stage I was worried that was all blown.” She said and finally let go of the embrace.
Starlight shook her head. “We figured out a way to get out of that mess on the stage, it was fun to compete and would of liked to see how far we would of gotten, but when I saw our counterparts we had to act.”
Geremy was curious about what happened at the convention. “How come you were with Starlight Glimmer from this-”
Nightingale interrupted. “Not from our universe, in fact not from our corner of the multiverse, she come from the reality Prince Mark Wells came from.” Nightingale answered getting a collective shocked reaction from the Inverse Reality trio.
Starlight used her magic to do a time out sign with pinkish glowing claws in front of her. “Whoa whoa whoa! Did you say what I just heard!? That Starlight was from ANOTHER reality!?”
“Is that Garble from that reality too!?” Crimson asked.
Nightingale shook her head. “No from this one, he also the son of Anubis the dragons God of Death.”
“N-no way! Seriously!?” Crimson's jaw dropped knowing Smolder he saw with Garble was also a child of an god.
Geremy was taking it all in with wide eyes. “Ooookay... That a lot to take in...”
Nightingale wave a talon for them to follow. “I'll summarise it and tell you the short story as we go meet up with mum and the others at my cousin Blueblood's Blueskies Cargo Company Warehouse.”
“Does these guards know?” Starlight dispel the glowing magical claws hinting to the two.
“Lt. Stormfront and Lt. Whirlwind Shield? Yeah they do, they part of Bluestar's squad.” She continue to walk with the guards following her close behind. “Come on time-a-wasting.”
They looked at each other and nod collecting their things and follow Princess Nightingale towards the cliff side to the mountain peak. “How many universes do you think are out there?” Crimson whisper to Starlight.
She whispers back. “If I am to guess, infinite.” Crimson just whistled in response to that number.
Geremy took note that the streets were clear on the way to the warehouse with a few guards keeping a eye on said streets on roofs or on paths leading into other streets, they noticed the large white griffon with the regal gear on among quite a lot of griffons, pony princesses, Gale, a wolf and the captain of the guard.
Celestia walked up to them to greet the Inverse Reality survivors. “I am glad that you three could make it with such short notice, and apologise how disturbing my appearance must be to you all knowing I look exactly like your Princess Celestia from the Inverse Reality.” Celestia softly spoken to them.
Starlight stepped up to Celestia bowing her head slightly. “We been given a short story of what been going on Princess and thank you for taking into account our own feelings, also I like to give my condolence to the Griffons of Equis-14, it seem that each of us seem to have lost a world we once lived on.”
Grav put a wing across his chest and bow his head to Starlight. “Thank you and our condolences for what happened to the Inverse Reality.” Geremy, Crimson, Gale and Silvite bow their heads down too with the griffons of Equis-14.
Grover's head tilt upwards slightly at the sight of the peak high above and the plateau. “Almost five years it been since I was there before this mountain fell upon our world over 4000 years ago...” The former king whispered thinking back to that moment on Earth when he tried to save the human child that would become Gale the young teenage griffon that is his adoptive son.
Leela was about to say something to the former first king of Griffina but the sound of the large doors starting to part and move to the sides caught all their attention. They watched the doors slowly slide open, standing before them Prince Blueblood and Arbiter, behind them Luna's eyes locked upon a large airship in mid-construction with the primary internal hull mostly completed.
Alpha and Gale's attention where drawn on the two creatures with Blueblood and Arbiter, mainly the tiger, Celestia and a few others realised who she was too that were at the dream watching the Random Dream Adventure Gale and Discord had. “T-Tigress!?” Gale squawked in surprise.
Tigress put a fist into the open palm of her other paw hand bowing to Gale. “Creator, it a honour to finally meet you.”
“Hey there, so your our creator huh? Thought you be old-gah.” Tigress elbows him in the gut, he holds it bending down dropping on his knees. “Ow! What was that for Tigress!?” Ratchet whizzed.
Tigress snarled glaring at her husband. “Ratchet be respectful! His our Creator!”
Gale walked up to them, Arbiter and Blueblood part ways for the teen to approach them. “Created were created by my memories, imagination, but you are you, no want to be seen as something more than I am. You two lived very long lives, you two think for self like Arbiter, Grogar made you two like Arbiter to take magic in me for him. But you refuse, you choose to live a life, be more than what Grogar wanted you.” Gale stood up on his paws, helping Ratchet to his feet and smiled as he spoke to them.
Tigress turn to Arbiter showing surprise in her eyes. “You said we would be in for a surprise...”
“Yes I did, Creator Gale is the title we gave, but he not as you would expect and see why we choose our paths, our lives and our dreams. It is why you choose to wed Ratchet 2999 years ago and why you two are still married to this day.”
Tigress smiled. “Show off.” Tigress turn to Gale. “Creator Gale, thank you for your wise words and you stand correct we did choose because your heart gave it to us.” She place her paw hand on his foreleg. “Thank you.”
Gale put his own talon on her arm. “You welcome!” Gale said happily..
Leela holding the book under her arm stood before Ratchet and Tigress. “Hello to both of you, I'm Leela the Royal Book Keeper for Princess Celestia, also a fellow Created a prime.”
“Whoa no way! Your the one that was sealed away! It awesome to meet you!” Ratchet put his hand out to her, she took it with her talon hand shaking it.
“Pleasure to meet you too Ratchet, with the way you look I say your either a mechanic, tinker or a inventor, or all and above.” Leela said as she let go from the shake looking up at him as he look back down at her.
Ratchet put one hand on the side of his hip the other behind his head rubbing it. “Colour me impressed, you got it in one. I do all of that and more, Tigress got a knack for it too.”
Tigress rolled her eyes. “When you lived as long as we have you get bored with just doing one thing and don't forget I taught you how to kick butt.” Tigress smirked at Ratchet.
Gilda watched them all talk. “When you think we hit the peak of weirdness, we up it another level...” Gilda shook her head.
Alpha admittingly felt strange seeing another Tigress. “I doubt there is a peak at the rate we going...” Alpha grumbled.
Grant eyes scanned them. “Father what exactly do we do?”
“We wait, let them talk, it interesting to listen to their tales and we get to know more about these Created too.” Grav calmly said as he watched and listened with fascination.
Luna was more curious about the airship. “Nephew that airship... Is it-”
“Yes Aunt Luna it is, that is the HMS Nightflower, Big Rig gave me the basic blueprints after you paid the forwarding commission down payments, I will be getting more supplies in front Flaputa-on-Sea to continue the build and should be ready for it maiden voyage in 4 to 6 weeks.” Blueblood informed Luna about the airship that was being constructed.
Arbiter speaks up. “Please follow me to the elevator, we will head up to the Mausoleum of Worlds.”
“Lead the way Arbiter.” Celestia gestures, the rest collectively nod and follow him to the back of the warehouse where the wall slides open to reveal a large circular platform elevator, they all get on and the door closes up, soon as it does the lift starts to go up.
The doors to the Mausoleum open and the group lead by Arbiter walk inside to see the large hologrpahic projection in the middle of the soft purple and blue lit up circular room with another entrance ahead of them, around the walls were oval pod like objects sticking out the walls, marble pillars supporting the dome roof high above.
Spyro took in everything since they entered the elevator to walking through Arbiter's home into the Mausoleum, this was a whole another level of architectural engineering to technology, it was light years ahead of anything he had seen in any of the other Equestrian worlds or even Earth.
“Impressive isn't it? Arbiter managed to pull this off almost by his lonesome, soon as ponies started building Canterlot he contacted a few of them and together dug out a shaft and built that elevator we were in.” Ratchet calmly said to the stunned black griffon with the golden wings spread out wide showing how shocked he was.
Spyro saw Grav, Grant and the other submarine crew griffons step towards the projection and bow their heads almost at the same time, some had tears falling. He could feel the intense sorrow coming off them all and looked to the Equis that was holographically hanging in the air, it was much like his and this one but with differences, there was a lot of satellites including a space station.
Grav turn around to all. “The Interspecies Space Station was the pride of all races, after a long bitter war between all the nations a peace was made. As a sign of that peace we built a space station for all, even figuring out how to create artificial gravity by spinning parts of the station creating a gravity field through out it. My father, Grant's grandpa Grocar was the master mind behind it... Seeing this makes us sad but also happy that the memories of our world carry on even after we all are gone, Glacier thank you for saving our history and allowing it to shine here.”
“Sweetie, one thing I learned from a long life, history must be told in all it colourfulness, even some of it is bleak. If you make it all rosy and shiny, nothing really is learned.” Glacier stated.
“That true and you with Silvite and Octicovix.” Grant said back.
Silvite stared at the Earth and Moon. “It feels as it was only yesterday...” She sighed with a puff of smoke out of the muzzle.
Nightingale, Geremy, Starlight and Crimson walked up to the hologram of Inverse Equis. “If only we knew what we were making would break the rule of wish magic... We-” Starlight begins but Nightingale place a talon on her back, she look over to the princess. “Princess Nightingale?”
“What we now known isn't what we knew before, we can't change what happened... The same applies to what Shal-Quz did, what Grogar did, Anubis and so on, messing with events that had been could end with a real heap of mess, the fact we had a one off to stop Shal-Quz's victory in the first place is something we can not careless think it would work for all of us... Even with all these worlds and lives lost... Saving so many could lead to many more dying...”
Crimson snorted out some flames crossing his arms growling slightly. “I hate to say it, but Princess Nightingale is right... I would love to go back at save my sister from being erased, but that would lead to that zebra looking at us more and we may never built the shield or the project being kickstarted the way it did.”
Geremy eyes watered with tears falling. “Hard it is to swallow, we can't take what happened once to happen again, we can't mess with it, Gallus even he not my son and going back I could have him would lead to the project never happening, even Gallus here not knowing he had a uncle and I had a brother, Smolder and Garble being children of a dragon god or even knowing there is other Starlights in this endless universe.”
“Your right, we can't...” Starlight looked at each of them. “Knowing that we have somewhere to go to remember them, a memory, we can move on and live the lives Princess Celestia given us.” She smiled lifting a hoof up to them. “We together and that counts for everyone of the Inverse Equis.”
They each place a claw and talons on the hoof. “Together.” They said back.
Nightingale move her talon away turning around to everyone with the Inverse Survivors standing behind her. “The Inverse Reality, Inverse Equis was my home for 799 years, we know it was created by massive amounts of wish magic from me on the day of my birth. It was a world that seem almost perfect in every way, even Zerra created it with the wish magic it was home for a long time.”
Starlight spoke next. “We were losing families, loved ones and friends because of that zebra before we even knew who he was. What came from it was a bond from many to solve what was happening to stop it and in turn lead to us living to tell our tale today, live beyond the limits of wish magic be our own family to live our lives.”
Crimson put a fist to his scaly chest. “I became a dragon of science, magic and technology, grew beyond it to make sure I did this to remember my sister Smolder, renaming myself from Garble to Crimson, the red and the orange a staple in memory to my older sister. I stand in a world both of them live as the children of a god to the dragons, they get to be together and I am glad I get to see it and tell you all this.”
Geremy put his talon on his arm and Crimson took a step back with a smile to Geremy to speak next. “Gallus showed us that beacon, showed us a way to save us all and if we had a little bit more time we would of. Even we live and breathe we gave what we made to Princess Celestia to use to protect Equestria, Griffina and other lands when we could not, today we stand in the shadow of memories of our home.” He looked up at the holographic globe of their world with a smile on his beak, the others looked up at it each smiling too with tears falling.
Gale sat on his rump looking at each of the worlds. “It long time ago, but it feels weird...”
“I know dweeb... over 4000 years past since Earth been gone, for them it far more recent, you will feel different to them.” Gilda sat beside him putting wing over the teen.
Gale press his head against her side. “Glad you first griffon meet, you help lots Gilda, you amazing big sister.”
“That I am cub.” Gilda said looking at the image of Earth, she noticed Grover under it looking right up at the sphere. “Hmm...”
Celestia walked up beside her husband. “You were on Earth moments before it was destroyed...”
Grover staring up without looking at Celestia respond to his wife. “I was... I saved the child from falling through the ice and snow before I knew he was to be my son, I have no idea why Keeper's gate brought me there still, even that fox can't figure it out.” Grover turn to Celestia with tears falling. “It was suppose to send me to Nightingale, to save the child I knew was ours, somehow it did.” His watery eyes gazed upon Gale. “If I didn't end up at that moment, we wouldn't have this moemnt...”
“I know...” Celestia reach out to the former first king and he embraced her with a strong hug weeping into her feather fur chest, she lean down crying softly back. “Thank you Grover for saving our son... Thank you for saving us all...”
Grant saluted to Grover, the other griffons did too. “Lord Grover, former first king of Griffina, your actions lead to Glacier, Silvite and Octicovix to our submarine chasing Shal-Quz, your one action set off a chain of events so many years beyond we breathed, thank you Lord Grover.”
The other griffons said together. “Thank you!”
Gale tackle hugged him. “You awesome dad! Save me before I Gale! I came Gale cause Grogar transformative magic, but you act made it possible.”
Grover hugged him back with the immense feeling of pride. “I am glad to have unforeseeable saved you my son...”
Alpha walked around with Arbiter and Tigress watching the mix reactions. “There a lot of strong emotions here...” Alpha said feeling it himself. “I am thinking about that moment I did all that... work for Shen... The burteiness of it, how callous I was... For 20 years I served him with my pack, than Lord Gale and Discord arrived, that moment changed my life and allow me to see the inner peace I sneaked.” Alpha spoke as his eye focused on the teenage griffon with Gilda.
Tigress with her paw hands in the jean pockets walked casually by him. “I know of what I am and where I came from in the fictional world of Kung Fu Panda, I may never know what you been through or what the Tigress you met would think of you today. All I can say the actions you took may never been truly forgiven but if those are willing to give you a second chance, and you found it by serving Creator Gale, I say stick to it and use that inner peace of yours to give those that wish harm to him a good hard kicking.” She pulled out a paw hand from the jean pocket and softly punch his shoulder.
Alpha chuckled a little. “I know, thanks for reminding me of that Tigress.”
Arbiter flex and clench his scaly hand. “I know not of a fight, I lived many a life times here alone, while the other Created went to a new home that choose to not harm their Creator, I choose not and sometimes I regret it but now I do not, seeing this moment that all can share moments that truly mean a lot to them is worth every moment.”
“Can't disagree on that, it a very good thing you did Arbiter.” Alpha said.
“It weren't so easy.” Arbiter simply replied.
Shining Armor stood with Cadance to the side with Luna. “I have to say that this Mausoleum of Worlds is amazing, from the look of the projector I gather it was made for Earth first than what happened to the Inverse Reality and now Equis 14.”
“I concur with you Captain Armor, this place will be open for all of them to reflect on the worlds they once called home, it hard to see so much sorrow but there will be light of them and we will help.” Luna calmly said.
Cadance lean against Shining. “I think it a wonderful thing, a memorial site such as this is something they all needed, a rooted place to speak to their loved ones that are past.”
“I completely agree Cadance.” Shining responded.
Daybreaker stood behind them looking at everyone. “Just what we all needed a sob fest...”
They turn around to her. “That a bit cold.” Shining gave her a anger look.
“Woo oh me.” Daybreaker said with dramatic lift of a fore leg of the head. “Please.” She stomp it down. “I don't have the same mushy feelings like Luna or Celestia has, my feelings of desire to protect my little Gale no matter what the cost, after what I heard about Shal-Quz and it was me not Celestia there, that bunny would be a pile of ash.” Daybreaker turn around walking to the door. “I don't even know why I came...” She grumbled.
Luna answered that very question. “Because of your son.”
Daybreaker stopped and turn around to Luna. “You are correct dear sister, but-” She noticed Spyro, a strange sense of feeling washed over her. “So that the bonded changeling that became Gale's older brother, curious...” She walked over to him.
Shining looked confused. “What just happened?”
“No idea...” Cadance answered and Luna looked as lost as they watched the nightmare version of Celestia walk up to Spyro. “Should we stop her?” Cadance asked.
“No, we will watch with caution.” Luna stated and they nod in response.
Spyro felt a strange sense of emotions coming from to his left, turning his head the eyes met a flaming orange plate, orange white fur, slowly rasing his eyes to meet the slitted deep orange burning eyes of the Alicorn Daybreaker, he could see the flaming mane sloped down the side of her neck showing hardly any excess magic like Celestia and Luna has to flow. “Your the second mum Gale spoke of, Daybreaker...”
Daybreaker gave a fanged smile before laughing. “Yes hehe I am.” She heftly chuckled. “Your the new son I heard about from Arbiter, the changeling that bonded with my son Gale.” She lean down to get a good look at him. “Yes I can sense it, that same intense desire to protect my children Gale first, than Nightingale and now you... Even not blood I have that urge to make sure no harm comes to you no matter the cost.”
“What of dad?”
Daybreaker quickly turn her gaze to Grover with Celestia. “Nicely played.” She raise her head and put her hoof on his head ruffling the feathers. “Family is important to me, but my children are more so.” She said bluntly moving the hoof away from his head. “I wasn't created for power, I was created for the soul protection of my children. That now include you Spyro and I can see that you have experience behind you, be that protector to your family Spyro and I'll be content to the arboretum, now if you excuses me, this place got too much tears as it is and I prefer to not sob like a idiot.”
Spyro watch her walk by and head to the doors using the little magic she can to open them with a chime, the doors slide open rapidly. “Mum, sometimes to cry is to be strong.”
Daybreaker stopped at the edge of the door way, glancing over at him a few tears do fall, a sly smile showed afterwards. “Brief as it is, I would like to see you again son, see all my children without being here, these tears are between us and I will diene crying if you tell anyone.”
Spyro gave a smile back. “Completely mum.” She turn and leaves with the doors closing. “Prince Wells or Queen Chrysalis never going to believe me when I tell them of this...”
Shining Armor, Luna or Cadance didn't see the last exchange. “I wonder what just happened.” Luna asked.
“No way to tell, the walls blocked our view of angle...” Shining said.
“Something good I think.” Cadance smiled.
Arbiter see Blueblood is alone and stepped up beside him. “You are aware that now so many know of this place, keeping a lid on it will be harder and the other Equestria rulers will be made aware now.”
“Yes.”
“Yet you seem so calm, why?”
“Prince Blueblood when I made the move to have Gilda bring Princess Celestia to the plateau, I knew things will change and the events of Shal-Quz brought more to light, the Created will request Creator Gale to come to their home now. Events been set in motion we can not stop only steer.”
“Were it not so easy, huh?” Blueblood looked up at Arbiter.
Arbiter glance down at Blueblood. “Indeed Prince Blueblood, indeed...”
After that they stood in silence watching those moan, share stories of their once homes and even laugh about some of their tales, in Arbiter could smile he was be smiling ear to ear seeing how they all were interacting with each other.
Under the light of the full moon over the plateau above the city of Canterlot, Grover walked through the soft powdered snow the paw and talons sinking slightly through each step, he stood at one participial spot feeling the cold brisk wing blow through his feathers and fur glancing up at the full moon at the starry clear night sky.
Grover's head lowers to between his talons in the snow, he lift the right one then start to dig a little till his claws came into contact with a metal surface. “Here I am, the spot where it all begun.” Grover shift some more of the snow to see the very crevice that the human boy fell into was sealed up by similar metals he seen inside.
Grover ruffled his wings. “Now I know if I didn't come to that moment, I didn't save my son before he was...” He looked up to the moon once again. “Could I have not married Celestia? Never had a daughter with her? Never found the tower to save her? So many what ifs from this one very spot...” He continue to stare at the metal floor as the snow drifts to cover it up and his talons partly, the continuous thoughts of the ifs that would of came by one action that could of so easily gone south.
The soft crunch of snow from something walking through it broke Grover out of the chain of thoughts, he turned the head to the source to see with surprise the pony height anthropomorphic fox wearing the black vest and trousers walking towards him, the feet paws sinking slightly with each step towards Grover hand paws in the trouser pockets. “Grimormia Tower always had a way of knowing what your heart truly desired Grover, first I was surprised and now I am not as I stand on this mountain.”
Grover turn completely around. “Keeper... Your away from Grimormia Tower!”
The fox blue eyes flash yellow for a moment before a roll of the eye came as he causally walked towards Grover. “Please... If Leela can get out of her box, I can from my tower for a short time.” He stopped a few feet from Grover pulling a hand paw out of the trouser pocket patting it against the side of the former kings face. “See, I am very real.”
“That you are.” Grover said back. “Why now?”
“Why not.” Keeper said with a shrug putting his hand paw back in the pocket looking up at the full moon shining bright. “Over 4000 years parts you from this moment you stand on Grover, the moment you tried to save our Creator's life.” Keeper lower his gaze to the first king griffon. “All those years ago you sparked my interest and now I can see clearly why, you are truly a heart of gold griffon that care more about his family than wealth itself.”
Grover's thoughts drift to his wife, children and family, seeing them all in his mind eye. “I really do see my family worth more than anything in the world. Thank you for bring that up Keeper Sentinel.”
Keeper smiled. “All in a days work Grover.” He pulled his paw hands out of the pockets, kneeing down he pushed the snow away to see the metal floor. “I see Arbiter made sure to seal up all those nasty holes under the snow, this one really means something to you Grover and if memory serves me. We on the very spot you saved Creator Gale when he was Wayne, the only Equisian that stood on the mountain when it was part of Earth.”
Grover sat on his flank looking down at the metal floor. “The young strong willed griffon Gilda spoke of that never happening in the original memory, how can this moment exist if it didn't in the first place? How did it become a moment when the hairless ape Wayne was going to fall to his death?”
Keeper had put both paw hands against the cold metal surface, the paw pads pressed hard on it. “Hmm... Something doesn't add up.”
Grover watched as Keeper's eyes flash green than white followed by purple. “Keeper what is it?”
Keeper's eyes return to a normal blue, he slowly raised his paw hands from the metal. “Grimormia Tower detected it, that why you were brought there for your child before he was.” Keeper turn to Grover. “Something altered the flow of time by a minor fraction at this very spot, caused a crevice to form right under the snow at this exact location over 4000 years ago, the magic is still present.”
Grover recalled what Celestia had told him what happened up on the plateau. “Keeper this is the very location Shal-Quz was about to take the life force and magic from Celestia, Pom-Pom, Arbiter and Gilda, Gale interfered with that after returning from that future where Shal-Quz did win.” Grover told the short version of events on this very location.
Keeper raise his paw hands off the metal surface and snap the fingers of his right paw hand, three sentinel bots appeared and scanned the area. “The change of events could lead to a ripple effect back to that moment, shifting time ever so lightly, if that is the case my sentinels should discover it in-”
They finished the scans already and gave him the results sending the information to his tablet in the back pocket of his trousers, Keeper took it out and tapped away with the index fingers of both hand paws. “Well?”
“1.24 percent shift in time, the temporal energy released from this spot rippled backwards through time, that fills in more pieces that Grimormia Tower sent you to Pre-Creator Wayne, your action saving him from the crevice saved your son, daughter and family. It seems that my tower became somewhat aware.” Keeper said putting the handheld tablet back in his back pocket standing up dusting the snow off the fronts of his trousers.
Grover noticed the slight surprise in Keeper's voice upon discovering that the tower had awareness. “Didn't you say that it lead me to Wayne many times over?”
Keeper turn around with his tail shifting back and forwards slightly with a flick. “Yes I did, the tower isn't exactly like any towers in any world, you know that I created a complex program within it for the sentinels to maintain the superstructure.” Keeper step climb up the side of the snow piled around the hole showing the metal shell over the crevice. “It also connects to the will, thoughts and desires of our hearts, it how the gates work on fulfilling yours for saving your child.”
“Could the tower becoming aware discovered that we all were endanger too? That if I didn't save Wayne the son to be, I wouldn't have married Celestia and Nightingale would not be born? You and the other Created never existed? Meaning Grimormia Tower would never be made by you Keeper?”
Keeper didn't make eye contact as he walk by Grover towards the plateau edge as he was spoken to, the fox stood at the edge with Grover now standing beside him both looking down at Canterlot's lit up quiet streets with one part showing flashing colourful lights and the fate sound of music coming from it.
“For over five years I never saw it, if the tower did come aware and alive. Why didn't it tell me?”
“Maybe it did in subtle ways that you didn't see, maybe it knew you would discover that the very system that runs within the walls of Grimormia Tower was sentient.”
Keeper rubbed the underside of his muzzle in a thoughtful manner. “The chaos of temporal and reality magic at the exact moment that lead to the crevice being formed back on Earth caused a jolt to it that wasn't expected.” Keeper moved the paw hand away with it open out in front towards the sky now raising his head slightly to look at the flickering stars. “Changing events and preventing Shal-Quz's victory, her jumping through out 14 different Equis realities before being forced back and the others in the submarine being punched through to Mark Wells reality, it could be that or anything at this matter. The possibilities of how is endless and what the results are at this moment isn't.”
“What will you do now?” Grover asked.
“Do nothing, I will accept the tower sentiently alive now and move on from there, maybe we could talk, maybe we won't. It just makes things that bit more interesting.” He gave a sly smirk to Grover turning around to come face to face with Leela sitting on her book hovering just a few feet away from him. “Hello Leela, finally we meet face to face other than rune imaging.” He said very casually to her with one hand paw in the trouser pocket with the other up and semi open out towards the small avian.
Leela reached up to the semi open hand paw poking a pad on one of the fingers feeling it against the tip of her talon. “You really here... You really left your tower...” Leela put her talon hand against his bigger paw hand making sure it was real.
Keeper slowly closed his hand around Leela's. “Indeed I, you shouldn't be surprised after all you left your box.”
“But that because I was a prisoner of it! The fact Grogar freed me to repay a debt he owned Master Wayne! But you created that pocket dimension to get away from everything to create without limits, you made that choice when you created the Prototower near the Crystal Empire!”
Grover suddenly understood at that very moment why Keeper brought him to Grimormia Tower. “I was about to reveal Prototower! It was the key to finding Grimormia Tower without being brought there by you Keeper!”
Keeper kept calm over them sounding very surprised by his appearance and the realisation of what Grover was unearthing at the end of his old appearance life. “Correct Grover and Leela the chain of events set in motion because of Shal-Quz is the reason I was able to predict the arrival of the Submarine and send Grover to counter it by a added bonus giving a life to so many that wouldn't get that chance in life, it was a win win win and win all around for us three.” He slowly smiled as he spoke removing the other hand paw out of the pocket to cup it over the other holding her talon hand.
Leela saw a genuine smile from the anthropomorphic fox. “You crafty sly fox. You knew the runes would be blocked by Grogar phasing out the box that held me prisoner within that caused my rune spells to shut down through out the two multiverses! I bet you amplified it!”
Keeper let go of her hand and poke the beak with a finger claw tip. “Correct my smart little sweet birdy, a gamble that paid off.”
Grover shook his head. “You really are something Keeper. If Prince Wells get wind of this, he isn't going to be happy that you played him and us all like a chess piece.”
Keeper put his hand paws back in the trouser pockets. “Not if, when.”
They blinked. “Huh?” They said in confusion from what he casually just said to them.
His blue eyes shift to the left. “And Spyro being a rock is just lame, seriously look out of place over there.” Leela and Grover turn to a large rock Keeper was looking at. “Not going to respond and pretend I don't see you hmm?” He pulled out the right hand paw and snap finger and paw.
The three sentinels fly over to it and scans it to show the rock had a strong magical field around it, the rock shifts in a flash of blue wave of magic to the griffon changeling hybrid blinking his solid purple eyes a few times with surprise. “How long did you know?”
Keeper twist his paw hand around causally. “From the moment you saw me at the Mausoleum of Worlds, I wanted you to know everything to pass on to your Queen and you know why?”
“Because this Prototower you just mentioned is only in this world and uncovering it is near impossible unless your dad.” Spyro said flatly walking up to them with half open eyes irritated by the causal arrogance this fox gave him through words and feelings irradiating from him. “Which makes getting to you at Grimormia Tower highly unlikely by other means.”
Keeper give a gleeful snap of the finger and thumb. “Correctomondo my buggy friend, you got it all in one and pass on this message to your Queen too, I'll be personally dropping by to piss them all off in well... Whenever I feel like it, so expect me whenever okay?”
Leela slap her forehead. “You really like to irritate others don't you?”
“Mmmah.” Keeper shrugged. “It part of my charm Leela.” He walked up to her and gave the avian a hug, he let go seeing her blink a few times trying to process what just happened. Keeper put his arm over her back and calmly looking over to Spyro. “I know it been about a day since it all blew over and more to come, I am not going to be some rude fox and drop in tomorrow, it be more around a month or so from now. Also I maybe, just maybe.” He raise the free hand paw almost pressing his finger and thumb together in front of one eye. “Princess Twilight Sparkle to my tower for her impressive fleets of creating those mirror portals.”
Grover chuckled lightly. “For Keeper to say that, he is really impressed with her.”
Spyro didn't find what Keeper said positive, the arrogance and self-centred emotional energy coming off the fox irritated the changeling hybrid a lot. “How can anyone put up with that self-loathing attitude you have? You are so arrogant and think everything works around you.”
Keeper gave a double point with a click of the tongue before responding. “And that what you call a false emotion, I am giving you exactly what you want to sense from me, I keep my feelings deep in here and here.” He tap the head than chest. “I make sure you feeling sensing bugs keep out of my true feelings, now you know another truth from me.” He grinned. “Or is it?”
Spyro stared at him. “You are really irritating.”
Keeper walked up to him and twist around to put a arm around the back of the neck. “Oh I am Spyro, as I said, it part of my charm. I decided to be this, I choose to live in a universe that sits between two multiverses observing their world.” Spyro felt very uncomfortable the way Keeper entered his personal space and giving him this embrace. “Now look ahead.”
Keeper snap his free hand paw finger and thumb, the sentinels flew in front and created a image window of the view from one of the windows of Grimormia Tower, Spyro's solid purple eyes stared at the breath taking view. “Oh Sweet Hive Mother... i-is that the two mutliverses!?”
What Spyro saw was a darkness down between two massive stellar masses from either side showing stars, multiple galaxies that look alike and others that were shining brighter than others, it never ended it was continuous as far as the eyes could perceive. In each of them two stand out more than the others. “You see those two brightest ones in the stellar void?” Spyro nod slowly staring at the image Keeper was showing him. “That are the Prime Realities, yours and ours.” With another snap the image vanishes.
Spyro swallowed hard. “Wh-why s-”
“Why show you?” He nod again. “Because even I seem to be a total ass, I am bloody not. I am a crafty sly fox that like to play the game specially with those he likes.” Keeper poke the beak of Spyro letting go of the embrace and whistling to himself as he walks away with the sentinels floating around him going invisible.
Spyro slowly turn his head to Grover. “I am so confused...”
“He likes doing that, you'll either get use to it or not. Just like marmite.”
“What marmite?”
“A very horrible spread that should never exist.” Grover laughed.
“Why are you laughing about it then?” Spyro frowned.
Grover put his wing over Spyro. “Son, it like Keeper, you either like him or hate him, there no in-between just like marmite.”
Keeper stop whistling and glanced over his shoulder. “Are you two coming or what? I like to get some zzzs and I hear the beds in Canterlot Castle are THE best! And since I am off tower till after the Running of the Leaves the day after tomorrow, I am not letting this slip.”
Spyro kept his frown with a slightly raised right eye brow. “I can see what you mean dad...” Spyro muttered. Grover laughed again and they followed the fox into the tunnel with the large doors closing up behind them.
Not to far from them within the illusion of the plane wreckage stood a monument of the cargo plane fully intact on a pillar, around it was the sarcophagus of the RAF crew that died in the crash moments before the Gates of Elysium destroyed Earth.
Silvite on her knees sat in front of one of them with a dog tag attached to it resting on the palm of a claw hand, with watery sapphire blue eyes staring at it as droplets of tears splash on it. “I-I never thought I would do this my love... Never thought in another life I be here to say my final farewells, to say how brave you were to save our son.”
Not to far from her sitting at a table with flower beds of red and yellow roses in a horseshoe shape around Luna, Starlight and Grant, Arbiter stood by them watching her moan and speak to the sarcophagi of her husband from the life once had over 4000 years ago.
Arbiter gets a alert from a device he pulled it out of the slot on his armoured wrist pad, pressing on it to show footage of Grover, Spyro and Keeper Sentinel, Arbiter's eyes showed surprise seeing the anthropomorphic fox has left his throne Grimormia Tower. Leela emerged through the invisible barrier, Arbiter noticed her floating over to them on her book. “I am surprised to see the vulpine in my tunnel, never thought I see the day he would leave Grimormia Tower.” Arbiter put the device back into his armoured wrist pad.
“Well he heading to Canterlot Castle, he heard a lot of things about the beds in the guest rooms and want to see for himself to get a good night rest.” Leela told Arbiter, he put the hand to his head shaking it. “Yeah... My thoughts exactly.
Luna sighed getting up from the table. “Best for me to go and inform the guards of this fox... We entering a era of not just ponies, there is more griffons living within our kingdom, kitsunes visiting the towns and cities, the Created made of different races and more.” Luna look deep into Arbiter's eyes. “Since I been aware of your kind I been able to obverse the dreamscape and find them, I even know of Sanctuary Tower and Creative Forest.” Luna's horn glows and she teleports away.
Arbiter's mandibles shifted with annoying grunt. “Princess Luna is far more resourceful than I believed, dream walking is beyond our unique abilities, strengths, talents and magic... I feel this is a vi-”
“Shut up and think about it you spit-jaw twat.” Arbiter turn around as Silvite got up onto her claw feet putting her bag back on. “You and I been around for over 4000 years, there always been one creature or another that can access the dreamscape, Luna was around over 1000 years ago and most likely was aware of your dreams when you slept all the way back than, she don't enter another dreams unless they having nightmares to a extreme level.”
Grant agreed. “Silvite is correct, even in our reality Princess Luna never violated another dreams and if she did enter only to ease their nightmares without them knowing she did, in direct cases she would speak to them directly and promise to never reveal what they dreamed of or dreaming afterwards.”
“Same.” Starlight confirmed as Silvite walked up to them. “Only way she know directly if someone of the Created had nightmares and told her directly in the dreamscape.”
Arbiter looked at each of them processing what they just all said, he than put his hand over the eyes groaning with the mandibles quivering. “Tarkison... That Dragonic recently called a week ago saying he had a visit from the most beautiful pony in the dreamy heavens that chased his nightmares away.”
Arbiter sat down at the time with both hands over his head leaning his body down and continue to speak. “The very nightmares he had for over 1000 years and would call me every month to share his fears about the day he would finally meet our Creator for the first time.”
“Tarkison... Tarkison... That name ring a bell.” Silvite tap the claw tip on her muzzle. “Red and white wingless dragon standing seven plus feet tall with white mane, big bat like ears, big emitional looking eyes with black markings on the chest and tail, wearing a leather black jacket with white fluffy parts around the top?”
“Correct... Being the mother of the human Wayne before he became Creator Gale the Pure Griffon, you would know.” Arbiter rose his head from the hands looking over to her. “While awake he calm, emotionless and very protective of the Created of Creative Forest, but asleep his a emotional mess.”
Starlight frowned. “What makes him different to the other Created and why would he have over 1000 years of nightmares about finally meeting Prince Gale?”
Grant figured it out and answered. “He isn't created by memories of games, cartoons, comics, books, TV or movies. Tarkison is a original character designed Prince Gale when he was Wayne Pre-GoE event.”
Starlight could see how that would effect someone if they were never part of a fictional landscape other than the mind of their own creator. “Just like me.” They turn to Leela before Starlight was able to utter a word. “My form is a template from a game, from a character but I am not that bird. I am original as much as Shal-Quz was to Maker Grogar her maker and creator.” Leela jump off her book to stand on the table holding the book under her arm.
“How many are like you and Tarkison?” Starlight had to ask.
“I, Tarkison and Keeper Sentinel, he may look similar to a fox from a movie but his personality, mind, clothing and abilities are far beyond that character template. You most likely noticed his eyes shift colour Grant, he has mental abilities that link to computers, that how he can control those sentinels with a snap of the paw. He doesn't need to do that but it his way of being a show off.” Leela answered and explained a bit more of Keeper the anthropomorphic fox.
Silvite knelt down to a rose that look wilted, with a touch of a claw it rose up and look very lively. “Gale always wanted to have a fox that was super smart and care about others, even have telepathic abilities to access computers, he based the frame off a sly fox called Nick Wilde from movie called Zootropalis.”
“Interesting.” Grant said and turn his attention to the flower. “How did you do that?”
Silvite got up turning around to him and glance to the rose. “The rose?” He nods. “Dragons have a magical ability inside them, when they get older and larger they gain a few unique magical traits, one of them is helping plants to grow, it just something none of the older dragons like to admit they can do.” She raise her claw hands up with two fingers up on each. “It not dragoney enough and it puny.” Silvite air-quoted.
“Have to be tough and strong with being mean?”
“Yep pretty much.” Silvite rolled her eyes. “I am done here and said my good byes to my husband from the pervious life. Michelle's life is now a memory I will always carry with pride and carry on to be there for Gale when trouble comes knocking.” Silvite walk towards the cloaking barrier to have Luna appear before her. “How the guards take it?”
Luna gave a snort of annoyance. “They seem Alpha Pom-Pom, a bipedal small vulpine will be the least weird thing they seen. It just annoying to have to inform the guards to let him through and direct him to a suite, my sister said for the Created to be given rooms to sleep because of their connection to my nephew.” Luna looked over to the left of Silvite at Arbiter. “But if your kind come in numbers to take advantage of my sister's generosity I will put my hoof down.”
“Noted. And I will inform them to not take liberties.” Arbiter agreed. “Though I believe for Keeper this will be a bit of a kick in his arrogance though.”
“My nephew.”
“Correct, Creator Gale to us is someone we would never over step our boundaries on, we will talk with wisdom to teach him, but would not dare speak ill of him.” Arbiter explained. “It one of the weaknesses to the Lessor Created to the Prime Created, the primes could freely speak to Creator Gale as they wish, as you notice with us we tread on thin ice around him.”
Silvite cross her arms. “Interesting to know that, but you would speak ill of him to protect him from harm, that one of the loop holes behind it.” Arbiter didn't respond just grunted. “I take that as a yes. I'm going to get some sleep, goodnight.” She walked by Luna and through the cloaking field.
Leela followed her but stopped at the threshold of the barrier. “She would do the same to keep him safe, even it would upset him the way of saying cub or child move now. It going to be interesting to see how the others react, sadly I would never be able to see Creative Forest since I can't travel more than half a mile from my book.” She walk out holding the book under her arm.
“I gather this Creative Forest is located somewhere outside of normal means of travel?” Starlight asked.
“Correct... Only a Transphase-gate can get you there safely, it in part of Equis that very difficult to get to by ground, water or air.” Arbiter leaves soon after telling her.
Starlight was curious about it. “Me, Crimson and Geremy should be getting on the last train out, but I am very curious about this Creative Forest and the Created.”
Grant nod. “I agree, it got my interest.”
“I only seen it because of one troubled strange red wingless dragon with a white mane that I aided in his nightmares, it does spark my curiosity.” Luna agreed.
Keeper blinked a few times finding himself in the middle of a forest, he slowly turn around in a circle taking a good look around the surroundings. The fox was trying to process how he even gotten into a forest in the first place when he doesn't remember even walking into one, Keeper saw what look like a natural looking path and walk down it cautional looking around for dangers, his ears shifting to the sounds around him.
“Welcome Keeper Sentinel.”
The sound came in Keeper's mind, he became very alert and snap his finger and thumb, no sentinels appeared. “What the...” He snap it again and again. “Come on that never failed be-” Keeper couldn't sense his machines presence, slowly he backed up looking around with panic till the back and back of the head hit something solid. “Let me guess your behind me.” He didn't bother moving arms limp by his sides hunched over with eyes half open with annoyance as his ears drop down.
“Correct Keeper Sentinel, come with me Master Gale is waiting.”
The being moved around and past him, the fox saw a strange looking jackal with spikes on the wrists and chest, furry like shorts with four thick dreads, he raise a hand with a finger pointing at Blue. “As in the Gale that was formally known as Wayne, and were I and the other Created came out of his imagination and mindscape, made by Grogar through it and brought to life?”
“Yes that Master Gale. You are in Dream Cavern in his dreamscape.” Blue turn his head and narrow his gaze on the three to four feet tall fox. “Come.”
Keeper's muzzle hung open with shock fallen upon him for a moment, he quickly close his muzzle and shook his head quickly running for a little to slow to a walk behind the jackal hybrid diamond dog. “Let me get this straight, I am sleep right this moment and the Creator brought me here to chat?”
“To talk yes, and other matters which I can not disclose.” Blue answered.
They stepped out of the forest near the river, Keeper whistled seeing the crystal hanging on the ceiling of the underground cavern they stood in. “Dream Cavern huh? I can see why that name sticks and works. Quite the place Gale made, just like a child he is.”
Blue glanced at him. “Yes a child, but more than the sum of those parts.”
Keeper shrugged. “Sure whatever you say doggy, take me to your master and let's get this over with. First I felt scared and now I just don't see what so important about this cub other than we came out of his head, we had over 4000 years plus, some more than others like myself to grow beyond him.” Keeper said with arrogance in his voice.
Blue was about to say something but Gale spoke upon landing from flying down to them. “Blue go chill at the hot springs I got this.”
Blue nod a little to him. “As you wish Master Gale, just call and I'll be there in a instant.”
“Thank you.” Gale smiled warmly and Blue leaves jumping up onto a branch, he soon vanished from view jumping to another and another. “Hi Keeper Sentinel! It awesome to meet you finally! Even here in my Dream Cavern!”
Keeper crossed his arms tapping his foot paw looking very unimpressed. “Yeah it good to meet you too... I gather the Created came out of that head of yours.” He uncross a hand paw and poke the forehead of Gale a few times. “But that all you are, we grown beyond you, lived while you skipped 4000 years and your memories being scrambled like a egg.” Keeper said with the hand paw moving around and his expression showing little to no interest in Gale.
Gale didn't seem phased by it walking around him to stand to the right with a wing open place across the back of the shoulders of Keeper. “Than let me show you that I might be more than you can handle.” Gale grinned.
“Sure, don't blame me if I fall asleep over it.” Keeper sarcasticly said back as he walked with Gale.
The teenage griffon smiled. “I'll take that bet on!”
Morning
Keeper's eyes snap with him screaming out, he fell off the bed with the sheets wrapped around him with a heavy thud, the guards quickly rushing inside the bedroom. “Sir are you okay!?” One asked instantly.
Keeper pulled himself free with the sheets falling from him breathing heavily holding a hand paw to his furry chest. “H-Holy cow I am never underestimating that cub ever again!” He then noticed the guards and look down at himself seeing the lack of clothing, he remember going to bed without them and took count none of the guards reacting.
“Sir are you okay?” The guard repeated.
“Yeah I think so.” He took a few more deep breaths. “Why are you not freaking out?” Releasing most of his furry body down to his knees were in full display to the guards.
They frowned with confusion. “Sir, I don't understand what you mean, you were the one screaming out just a second ago and we raced in here because of your distress.” The second guard asked being a mare to the stallion counterpart that asked if Keeper was alright at first.
Keeper gestured to himself. “I mean with me being naked! Just fur and no clothing at all!”
The mare tilt her head slightly. “Urrr what sir?”
Keeper pick up his shirt and trousers showing them. “You know! Not wearing these!”
The stallion guard decide to humour him and answer. “You are aware even with this armour on we are mostly naked part from our natural fur covering our body sir. Ponies, griffons, dragons and that kitsune with other creatures don't usually wear anything.”
Keeper looked at each of them and himself, he just tossed them both behind him on the floor by the mirror. “Okay your right, it does seem like a stupid think to say.”
The mare guard thought it be best for them to come up with a way to end this very bizarra conservation with the fox. “If your okay we will be outside waiting to take you to the Private Dining Room to have breakfast with the Princess Celestia and the others that may attend.”
Keeper waved his paw hand. “Sure I'm fine, thanks for checking on me, I'll be out in a moment.”
They bow their heads slightly. “Just doing our jobs sir.” The mare said and they leave the room closing the door behind them.
The stallion whispers to the mare after closing the doors. “That was... weird...” He notice Shining Armor rounding the corner. “Crap the captain, stand attention.” She nod and they stood attention by the doors as Shining Armor appear around the corner, he walk by them doing his rounds and they saluting to him as he did to them.
Soon as he left out of sight their tensions dropped and sighed in relief.
Keeper pulled his feet paws free from the sheets walking up to a mirror picking up his trousers and shirt, he stood in front of it with them held up and than move them away. “Huh? Don't care about being naked and just in your fur?” He questioned. “Sure why not.” He took the hand held tablet out of the back pocket of the trousers tossing the clothing onto the bed. “Might make me look near identical to that fox what my template was made from, but what the heck?”
He snap the finger and thumb for a sentinel to appear lowering down to him with a compartment opening up pulling out of it a cross chest strap bag. Keeper put the device in it and put it over his head and one arm letting it rest against his side, the sentinel picked up his shirt and trousers putting them into the compartment before closing up to fade out of sight into stealth mode.
The door open and Keeper step out looking to his right than left at the guards. “All set to go for breakfast and meet the prince for real.” They gestured him to follow and he did. “Oh and one advice, never underestimate the cub Gale.”
They didn't respond but gave each other questionable looks over the sanity of the anthropomorphic fox they were leading to the Private Dining Room.
Sitting at a empty table the anthropomorphic fox Keeper Sentinel held a half empty glass of strawberry shake with one paw hand, the other holding the hand held tablet swiping the thumb down and across on the screen. “Hmmmm...” Keeper brow lowered staring at the image of the two multiverses seen from a point of his Grimormia Tower, he tip the glass to his open maw letting the pink smooth liquid flow into it.
Keeper finished off the shake licking his muzzle and put the glass down. Keeper for a unknown time worked on his hand held tablet, going through projects and results of recent events to do with Shal-Quz almost five days ago. Keeper looked at the image of the rabbit. “I am glad my gamble paid off, Grover really is something and impressive, even annoying at times I liked his pressence at the tower for those five years.”
“Sir, we need to finish cleaning, everypony part from you have left, we can not finish until you leave. Could you please leave the dining room?” He turn to the mare standing before him wearing cleaning gear on.
“Sure, sorry for keeping you waiting.” He got off the seat landing on his feet paws walking out of the room putting the hand held tablet away placing his hand paws behind his back against each other. “Through out the breakfast all I said was thank you and yes please and bye, I usually have a witty remark or saying something in a sly way to annoy the heck of the others.”
Keeper stopped walking as he looked at a transparent reflection of his red and creamy slender body form with short legs, semi long arms, bushy tail with paws, tail and ear tips with darker reddish brown fur colour. He rose the right paw hand to his eyes staring at the paw pads on the palms and fingers ending with claws at each of his three fingers and thumb, he flex and felt the rubbing of pads and moved the paw hand to his chest pressing it against the creamy fur.
The warmth of his slightly larger than normal red crystal the life force of him pulsing with magical energy through out his body, it was gave him life, what made him externally and internally a anthropomorphic fox with all the organs of one including the tiny hairs of his fur across his body. “We all had a set program in our minds, acquire pure magic from our Creator. Grogar when he made us to activate 10 years after his defeat he didn't take into account the years we would live, the time we would learn and grow.”
Keeper move his hand paw away from the chest moving it behind his back against the other paw hand as he causally walks down the hall. “Why am I thinking back to the day my Life Crystals became activate?” He lower his head slightly looking down over the muzzle at the red carpet between the black and white chequered tiled flooring, his feet paws dragging slightly with each step.
“Those early years I was focused on the mission, planning and figuring out when the child would even return, I managed to figure it out roughly with simple Mathematica equations. I could of easily took the magic and gave it to Grogar, that was before I was this fluffy furry red good looking fox with Arbiter through those early centuries.” He rose his head up turning to a hall mirror looking directly at his reflection coming to a dead stop.
“After that day I wasn't the same, I became something more... something else, I could feel, smell, taste, eat and dream.” He half chuckled. “Have the smell of wet fur, stick like no tomorrow to needing a well needed bath... that was the moment I saw the endless possibilities. The moment I saw what the child meant for us Created...”
Keeper took a few steps to the mirror pressing his right paw hand pads against the reflective surface. “Two became one, brain dead fox and a light bulb with intelligence like no other, two Life Crystals fused into one.” Keeper lower his head and press the forehead against the surface closing his eyes. “Why am I thinking about my early days all the sudden?” He lightly bash his head against mirror groaning.
“That child...” Image of Gale happily making pancakes with Celestia came to his thoughts. “I highly under estimated how effective he would be, we were created from his imagination and memories afterall.” The moment he recalled the memoires, consciousness and soul taken out from a metal floating orb with the Life Crystal fuse into a fox by Arbiter using rune magic he acquired from Leela via contact through a mirror.
He opened his blue eyes letting the colour shift green for a second before returning to blue. “I became a fusion of two created... I am the only Created that has two Life Crystals fused into one pulsing through my veins..”
Hoof steps directly behind came to a stop, Keeper raise his head to look into the reflection to see the Captain of the Guard Shining Armor standing slightly over him in armour. “So the bug queen is right about you, your a thinker and you already started to figure this foxy fox out.” He stood with paw hands against his furry sides. “Am I correct or am I correct?” He raise one hand paw up with a gesture for Shining to speak.
“Your sly snarky remarks not going to wash over me Keeper Sentinel; and yes you are correct.” Shining said calmly looking at the fox in the eyes through the mirror reflection. “Before you stepped a paw off your tower I been going through the minuet details during the convention at Manehatten. Learning little about you from Leela and Rocky, including those from the other Equis.”
Keeper kept his sly smile getting that spark in his eye and the bushy tail swishing back and forwards a little. “You have sparked my interest Cap, just like Grover there something there that I haven't seen or felt in a long time, maybe it the cub Prince Gale having a effect on me from our dreamy encounter.”
Shining Armor kept a calm static form as Keeper spoke to him with interest. “Your lack of interaction at breakfast also told me that Prince Gale approached you last night or within the dreamscape.” Shining recall the screaming in the morning. “I will go with the latter which I believe you screamed yourself awake.”
“Correct, he had a impact on me that I never thought possible, never even saw it coming and it wasn't he who scared me awake, it was myself.” He move the hand paw over his head scratching the fur slightly with the claws. “A moment of clarity that I haven't felt in millennia and left me thinking about my personal past in ways I never thought possible.”
Keeper pull out his hand held device tapping away on the screen. “Your sister's counter part also had that spark, I was a little insulting to her and I don't care about how rude I am to others.” Keeper turn the device around showing Shining Armor in the reflection of Twilight activating a mirror. “As it stands at this time she is the only one close enough to finding Grimormia, that I would put a stop to in a instant like when Grover almost deactivated the phase cloak of Prototower.”
Keeper turn the device back around tapping away at it again with his thumbs. “And then there is you, not anywhere close to their level of intelligence.” Shining Armor listened to Keeper about to speak when Keeper raise a hand paw up with a finger raised. “But you have a different type of intelligence that showed the ability to piece together things from the most minuet details as you said.”
Keeper finally turn around looking up at Shining Armor. “You were able to figure me out and approach, your a thinker that really got my tail wagging with excitement.” Keeper put the hand held device away again. “Now let's see you show me what you got after everything I just said Cap.” He slyly smiled with arms crossed.
“You said Grimormia, no tower on the end, you did more than create a tower didn't you? You created a world in that micro-universe didn't you?”
Keeper jumped grabbing Shining with both hand paws on the sides of his face and kissed the muzzled square on it, he land on his feet paws with Shining spitting and wiping his muzzle with his forehoof. “Spot on Cap! You amazing unicorn! I love it! You really got me fired up! I can't believe how long it been since I felt like-” He dance around on the spot speaking with excitement till he saw the captain still reacting to the kiss. “Cap, are you done?.”
Shining finished rubbing his muzzle and glared at the fox. “You kissed me on my muzzle you stupid fox! And all you can say is 'are you done!?' Never I repeat NEVER do that again! Got me?!”
“Got it Cap.” He saluted.
Shining Armor rubbed his forehead under the horn with a hoof letting out a sigh. “Now can you answer one question?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I saw you when you first arrived with clothing on, also overheard Tigress and her husband Ratchet talk about your lack of decency not wearing anything at the table. Even it doesn't bother anyone here in the castle why did you choose to not wear your clothes?” Shining honestly curious about Keeper's change in attire. “Before you answer I gather before this moment you always wear trousers and a top, correct?”
Keeper waved for the Captain to follow as he causally walks away from the mirror, the hoof steps of Shining close to his right. “I woke up screaming as you assume already, I always slept naked in turns of no night gear like some do when wearing clothes. When the guards came in I was expecting them to tell me to cover up or something along that line than asking if I am okay and act in confusion to my statement of the lack of clothing.”
They walked up stairs to another level of the castle as he spoke. “So after they left I stared at myself holding up my clothes in front of me, that when I thought if they not bothered with me just in my natural fur, than why should I be in front of all of you. Prince Gale wasn't bothered at the sight even the wolf Alpha giving that one eye hard stare didn't seem to be phased by it, I knew Tigress and Ratchet would be.”
“Yet you weren't bothered by what they said, you are bothered though in some degree cause it something you done for well beyond my life time.”
“Cap your correct, I feel as if I need to quickly use my tail to cover up my lower areas and quickly put on my clothes, Leela and Rocks wasn't even phased and that eased my tension a bit more alongside the fact the three princesses just acted if seeing a naked fox is normal. Soon as Princess Luna mentioned the kitsunes and that pretty much erased by fears of covering myself up, if kitsunes can go without clothes, so can I since we are both vulpines after-all.”
Shining Armor came out with a witty jokey remark to what Keeper just said. “And it only took you over 4000 years to figure that out.”
Keeper came to a dead stop tapping his right foot paw on the red carpet with hand paws on his sides. “I am a complete idiot, how could I not even see that?” Shining Armor felt he needed to apologise from the tone of voice Keeper gave but the fox's laughter caught him by surprise.
Shining watched Keeper continue to laugh with a hand paw over his head now turning around to him. “I haha got the haha joke you cheeky unicorn hahaha.” He put the other hand paw over his chest bending down continue to laught. “Haha I haven't haha laughed haha this much in hahaha ages.”
Shining Armor couldn't help but smile as this anthropomorphic red fox laugh now on his knees with a hand paw on the carpet with the other punching it. “I am glad you saw the joke in it, I wasn't aiming to call you a idiot.”
Keeper slowly push himself to sit on his knees looking up at Shining waving one hand while using the other to wipe the tears away. “It hehe okay Cap, you really got me there and happy that I was called that even unintentionally by you. It kinda feels nice that I got out played for a change.” He push back to sit on his backside with his legs crossed and hand paws on his legs. “I am really impressed.”
Shining kept the smile but gave the fox a slight shake of the head. “I got a feeling your playing favouritism to me over other Shining Armors you seen from your tower because I am the home universe variant.”
“Fair point, but not exactly, you just got that spark about you that I like, no one got me to laugh that hard and that saying a lot from even me.” Keeper place his paw hand on his chest. “Now I gather your curious about on my beginnings.”
Shining Armor walk up to a window looking out at it to see Gale flying around with Spitfire, Gilda watching with Alpha and Sunbeam. “I am a bit curious, specially the brain dead fox part you mentioned.”
Keeper got up on his feet paws walking up to the window seeing Gale being given some flight lessons from Spitfire. “What I am about to say will be the first time I ever told anyone this, only two other knows this because he the reason for who I am, but won't think much of it.”
“Arbiter and Leela correct?”
“Yes, the split-jaw and our beloved book keeper.” Keeper answered. “When we all were activated and came to life, only one of us didn't wake and just slept out of Creator Gale's Created.” Keeper pull out his hand held tablet to bring up the picture showing it to Shining, it was a red fox with a green shirt, blue trousers and a blue tie on sleeping. “Nicholas was his name, sadly when his clay golem form was made with the life crystal the body form only was carried over from Prince Gale's mind, he was a living golem with no memories, no motor skills, nothing. Just a living furry fox form.”
Shining could hear the hint of sadness in his voice when speaking about it. “How many in total end up like him?”
“Six, one of Prince Gale's Created and five of Grogar's Created.” Keeper answered. “Before I became Keeper Nicholas Sentinel I was this.” Keeper showed a image of a floating orb like object with one big blue eye. “Guilty Spark who I original was, with Arbiter in my early days we stuck together and worked together even he won't or refuse to acknowledge it.” He gave a soft chuckle.
He put his arms up on the window side pressing his lower muzzle against the resting arms continue to watch Gale.
“We kept the body safe, hoping one day that the fox would wake up.”
“It never happened did it?”
“Nope it didn't we waited for close to 300 years and during that time we came up with a idea how to transfer my consciousness, soul and memories into the fox using a very rare form of ore we had very little of to create a magical artefact, rune spells with the aid of technology to merge my life crystal with his. The machine was destroyed in the process as well the artefact and I was created, a very clever sly fox and put on new attire and became who I am today, I built Prototower in the Frozen North then moved on to creating a micro-universe which I build Grimormia and the tower.”
Shining Armor was astonished by what he was just told by Keeper. “That is incredible and that would mean your Life Crystal is one of a kind as you are, that how you continue to grow, expand beyond any scope that anyone could even dream of.”
Keeper haven't moved from his resting position staring out the window. “Thanks to the fusion of artificial intelligence on one side and the biological anthropomorphic fox I became, the sense of feeling the ground on my paw pads, the sense of smell; hearing the world with these amazing fox ears, seeing through these eyes, eating and drinking as well the power to sleep, with dreams of immense imagination to come up with so many ideas that I would never been able to as that light bulb.”
The sense of passion and pride came through in Keeper's words, Shining couldn't help feel that too, they continue to watch Gale train with Spitfire. “That some origin you got there... Nick”
Keeper grinned. “I see what ya doing there... Sparkle and yeah that my lame ass origin story.”
Shining Armor smiled back and pressed on with the floating machine. “What happened to that light blub?”
“It turn to clay and I have it sitting on a shelf in my bedroom.”
“A reminder of your origins?”
“Yep and a reminder that even you are over 4000 years old, there more to learn and grow even with all the smarts.” Keeper chuckled as he continue to watch Gale fly around a few trees the orange brown leaves being pulled off from the flyby.
Shining Armor step back from the window. “I got my rounds to do, take care Nick.” Keeper pull his right hand free from under the muzzle waving it in response. “Oh one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“I recall being told where you live in the tower there no real concept of time.” This made Keeper slowly raise his head up and turn his body around slowly to face the captain walking away. “Which means your just as old as Anubis or even older, even so no matter how long lived you, the Princesses or anyone else that fall into that category. There still room to learn from us youngsters or you will get stuck in the past.”
Shining Armor disappeared around the corner and out of view, Keeper fell back against the wall with arms resting on the window seal. “Damn, Cap really got me there and saw through my half truths again.” Keeper reach into his bag pulling out a silver coin looking at it held in his padded finger and thumb. “Look like this old fox still got a thing or two to learn.”
Keeper shift it to his thumb and flick it into the air, he watched it sail upwards and come down to hit the carpet bouncing a few times till it started to roll. The coin rolled back to his feet paws coming to a stop without falling on either side.
“Neither heads or tails and came right back to me.” He reach down picking it up with a smile holding it up to his eyes once again.
“Well now that was unexpected, what are the chances of that?”
The pink kitsune using his making rearranged the seats with some lighting and a table by each seat, with a set of note pads and pencils too, Skip made sure to put them in the right angle near the wooden gold unicorn head carving on the round wooden table with book holders on. He step back and rubbed the underside of the muzzle than readjusted the seats again with the lighting.
“Nah that won't do, I need zas to get the right effect and it just need to be that perfect for me, Twily and Spiky.” Keeper use his magic to turn a small trig on a pile of them he brought with him into a few pillows placing them on the seat. “Now that perfect~” He sang happily using a small rift portal to send away the rest of the trigs.
The front door open with Twilight and Spike walking in. “-morrow is the Running of the Leaves, I am really looking forward to it Spike.”
“Yeah Pinkie Pie even said I can commentate with her in the Hot Air-balloon! I am really looking forw-” Spike pauses staring at the set up Skip put up. “Twilight...”
Twilight turn to what Spike was pointing to. “Wh-what the name in Celestia is all this!? Skip why is this in the library!?”
Skip pat a paw on one of the seats. “You wanted to know more about me and the Kitsunes didn't ya? So I put together this for it, cool right?”
Twilight saw the note pads and pencils, the tables, seats and walked around them with the lamps over to give the perfect lighting for a interview. “You went to all this trouble to set up this for me to learn about you?”
Skip grinned waving his eight tails around. “I had fun having tea with Fluttershy, flying around with Rainbow Dash, cooking with Pinkie Pie, making some cool suits with Rarity for me to wear and helped clear a lot of rotten apples from Applejack's tree! It was a lot of fun! Now it our time!” He jumped up pushing down sunglasses that were not on his head a second ago. “Oh and still got to hang out with Spiky.” He push the shades down slightly to show a part of his eye to Spike winking.
Spike gave a thumbs up. “I look forward to it Skip!”
Skip point his paw to the chairs. “Come on and sit down, time to chit-chat Twily!”
Spike sat down on his seat and Twilight jump up onto hers. “Could you call me Twilight please.”
Skip tilt his head. “Why? Did I say something offensive?”
Twilight shook her head. “No you haven't. It just something my big brother calls me, hearing it from someone else feels weird and off.”
Skip shrugged. “Ah I see Twilight, that makes a lot of sense, it a sister brother bond you share.” Skip pull out from behind him holding up a wallet to open it up and show pictures of him and a punch of kitsunes. “I got six brothers and sisters, we each have our own little names. So I completely understand where your coming from.” He flick it to close the wallet up and put it behind him vanishing from their view.
“Younger or older?” Twilight asked.
“That something we don't talk about outside our kind, sorry I can't answer that.” Skip mood changed to a sombre one.
Twilight could sense the tension in his voice. “I gather it a tight nit family thing?”
“Yeah it is, even I am 299 years old and don't give a care to my age, there are others that do and asking a kitsune their age is a massive insult to them.”
“How come?”
Skip wave his eight tails. “It to do with our tails mainly, the more tails you have the longer you live and even we know that we do not know exactly why that happened. So instead of looking at how long we will live for, we look at the lives we have and live them to the fullest.” He fluffed his wings a little. “But I am allow to tell you the rough length of life each Kitsune could have depending on the number of tails though.”
“I gather this is connected to the magic levels on each tail gives?” Twilight asked.
Skip nod as she start to write it down on the pad. “Depending on a Kitsune number of tails depend on the level of magic and life span, two tails a Kitsune life scan is somewhere around 80 to 110 years of age, three tails is around 100 to 130 years. That when things get crazy with age average shooting up to 180 to 230 years for four tails, five close to 300 years and six onwards unknown.”
Twilight paused writing down the ages per tail. “Are you saying that those with six tails onwards you have no idea how long they live for? How come?”
“Because all that have six tails and more are still very much alive and young, we have zero idea why those with that many tails and more stay young and healthy, no matter whatever we eat even the most fattest diet you could think of, we don't put any of it on, seriously I ate about ten times my own weight one time at one sitting and I never put any weight on! It nuts!” Skip pat his stomach area with a forepaw.
Twilight and Spike looked surprised. “Wait what?”
Skip chuckled. “Instead our flames get huge in brightness! They get so bright and we get so energized that we come beacons, when I ate all that food, for a few weeks my gasses flames above my tails were so bright I was grounded in my bedroom till the brightness died down. Never again I would go that bright!” He laughed.
Twilight wrote it down and drew a diagram. “Weird... Could it be that your bodies remove the excess food that not needed in your body through the flames? Burning it all off?”
“That is a theory we came up with, but if so why only those with six tails and not with five or less? They put on weight and it shows on their bodies.” Skip brought up a point to the theory.
Spike scratch his scaly head with a claw. “That is odd, that doesn't even make any sense at all, there no logic in that.”
“Agreed, what should work for one should work for the other, not limit it to those who have six or more tails, that is a curious thing that I would like to investigate, maybe it could do with how the Kitsunes came to be.” Twilight said writing it down to make note also to investigate it.
Spike thought about what Twilight said and raise his claw. “You want to ask Skip the next question?” He nod. “Go ahead.”
“Skip I know we want to learn much about your kind as possibly can, if you don't feel comfortable to answer it, don't force yourself.”
“I like where this is going, shoot the question.”
“Why is your clan and the land of Nowhere in myths and legends books as Tricksters?”
Skip knew why Spike had said what he said, this was a subject that shadowed the Kitsune race and even they keep their past known. “We all taught this in class and it something we believe in strongly, it not really something we like either.” Skip raise his paw to stop them from speaking. “I know it a uncomfortable thing for us and I will tell you two what we know. Our kind always been around, there are kitsunes out there that are pretty much animals, they use their transformative abilities to keep hidden, it part of our nature too.”
Twilight writes it down. “So your clan the only kitsunes that are sapient?”
“Yes, something or someone magically changed my kind in their early days, they also found high level of amusement to tease, plan tricks and annoy the heck out of the dragons. They found Nowhere and set up shop there to cause maximum chaos with the dragons.”
“That explains what Princess Luna said about the dragons Twilight! They feel threaten by the Kitsunes and wouldn't dare go against them knowing all too well their magic is highly effective against the dragons!” Spike recalled what Luna had told them all at Applejack's home.
“Exactly, but that changed when Thunderous the Dragon Lord over 1000 years ago emerged, he had force the dragons to fight us endlessly, it was a war between the Dragons and the Kitsunes in the Dragonlands, no one was winning and both sides were losing lives... It was brutal from what the history books told us, it took a special kind of dragon a silver dragon giving up everything she had to knock the Bloodstone Spectre away from him.”
Twilight writing it down look up from the page at Skip. “That was when Anubis used his magic to seal Nowhere in that pocket universe, 500 years of fighting between Thunderous and Silvite she regain her senses, when Silvite became sisters to your mother Pom-Pom.”
Skip nod lifting up a chocolate milkshake with both forepaws slurping it out of a strew. “Yep.” He said with the strew in his muzzle. “I was born into the raining pocket universe and lived with no idea what the sun be like till a few weeks ago, my aunt is one of a kind dragon and showed we tricksters can be more than enemies to our neighbours, we can be their friends and do small harmless pranks to them once in a while.” He pulled the muzzle away from the strew putting the glass down on the table beside him.
Twilight tap the edge of the pencil against the side of the notepad. “Still leaves unanswered questions on who or what allow the Kitsunes of the No-Yanic Clan to become big magical kitsunes that even eat gems like dragons do.”
“That is true, we love gems as much as a dragon does, they sooooo tasty.” He licked his muzzle thinking of the gems he could chow down. “Hmmm... Rubies...” He said dreamily with drool coming out of his muzzle a little.
Spike quickly got off his chair running out of the room and coming back with one ruby in his claw. “One ruby coming up!” He toss it at Skip.
Skip quickly sit up on his hind legs with forepaws hanging in front and caught the ruby in his muzzle, happily chewing on it with the crunching sounds of happiness from him. “Does that make your kind close to the dragons if you can eat and digest gems too?”
Skip put his forepaws down on the seat as Spike sat back on his. “That a good question, I never really thought about that, we do have a tail flame that specialises in effecting dragons only.” He wave four of his tails.
“I gather the more tails of one type of unique magic, the more stronger it is?”
“How easy it is to change me into a griffon?”
“Yes and yes, also I use my silliness to get a paw on Thunderous when Silvite wasn't around. My tranformative and dragon effective magic helped keep my home out of harms way, I was the one that designed the awesome paint job that gave the effect of a forest where our home sat on near the lake from the sky to about 30 degrees angle.” Skip brought forwards to them a whiteboard showing a ariel photo of the forest. “Can you see my home in this?”
Twilight and Spike took a good look at the photo. “No I can't see it.” Twilight responded. “You camouflaged your home so well, what about the kitsunes? They all different colours aren't they?”
Spike took a closer look. “The camouflage is magical, isn't it? They look like the forest from the eyes above correct?”
Skip smiled. “Correct, it one of my biggest pranks!” He laughed. “I hehe fool everyone that fly over hehe!” He tap the tip of his muzzle. “There was that airship with the Finch Griffon Big Rig that beat my camouflage, I need to figure out how he did that so I can improve my magic.” Skip said with praise to Big Rig. “I am excited to see that someone can get the upper paw on me and show I still need to improve.”
“At least it was a friendly and not someone wanting to do harm.” Twilight stated.
“True so true.” He said with a t-shirt on saying 'Big Rig Rocks'
Spike and Twilight stared at the shirt. “When did you put that on?” Spike asked.
Skip flick his tails. “Like the ones you two are wearing?” They look down to see they were wearing white t-shirts with Skip on it flying with balloons around him.
Spike pulled on it slightly to get a good look. “How the heck did this get on me!?”
“Keep the eye on the tails of an Trickster!” Skip grinned.
Twilight giggled. “We got pranked.”
“You sure did.” He said with a laugh, they laughed too. “When a kitsune is in a pranky mood, keep a eye on the tails, our magic flames with change patterns the moment we cast a spell.” Skip showed them when he did it on them removing the shirts. “Not noticeable if you are not sharp with the eyes right?”
“Yeah I noticed, that is something.” Spike was amazed by the skill of the magic casting Skip had and able to do it without them even noticing him pull it off.
Twilight wrote down the experience they just had with the pranky nature of the Kitsunes from Skip, she came to her next question in mind. “What can you tell us about your clan and the settlement?”
“The clan currently runs on a hierarchy of who has the most tails as the Alpha or in your terms Princess, that would be Pom-Pom my mum. She as you seen has 12 tails and with that come quite the amount of magical power behind her mum is very respected by the other kitsunes too.” Skip explain their hierarchy system to Twilight.
Spike brought up a moment he recalled in Applejack's home. “Not you since she had to punish you by biting your ear and dragging you away.”
Skip laughed nervously with a paw rubbing his ear. “Hehe, yeah I'm her son and push the boundaries to a degree, but I know when to stop and learn how to easily escape her grasp.” They blinked to find him not at the seat but on his hind legs leaning on the Twilight's chair from behind.
Twilight looked up at him as he look down grinning. “I have no idea how you just did that and will not try to even figure that out, but on the subject at hoof. When she was away Spike told me that you were the temporary Alpha till her return and when you two where here, a kitsune called Lucky Seven was temporary Alpha.”
Skip rolled his eyes leaping over the seat to shift around and land back on his seat perfectly, he sat down and with a twist of the forepaw to make it a bit more clearer to Twilight. “The system I explained, that put me as Beta cause of my eight tails, the other with the next most is Lucky Seven with seven tails, yippy for me.”
“But the system works right? You know how to rule in her stead?” Spike asked.
He sloped his head down. “It does and lame for me, I am a random kinda vulpine. I love to be hip-hop happy kit and bring joy, laughter and smiles. I know how to be serious to do the job and that temp Alpha for mum, it just soooooo boring and I can't keep up with all the meetings, the paper work and formal events!” He raise both forelegs up with tails spread out and stretched out. “I have no idea even after all these years mum balance it all!”
Twilight giggled. “I wonder how Princess Celestia balance things too.” Skip lower his forepaws back in front and curiously looked at the purple unicorn. “She was my personal teacher, run a school for gifted unicorns and able to rule at the same time. Though she been at it for around 1000 years give it take.”
“True, mum be around for over 700 years and lead the clan for close to that.” He chuckled. “Guess my mum and your princess are somewhat alike, I heard Gilda calls her Trollelestia.”
Twilight's right eye twitched at that work. “Yeeesss... How about back to the topic of leadership. I gather you have somesort of council too?” “Yep, the Delta Council, mainly made up of five and six tail kitsunes, there a few of two to four tails kitsunes that been part of it too, their own point of views bring what it means of the meaning of life not the length of life, they work and review our laws and such.”
Twilight writes it down getting a bit more details on how system of their settlement, it was showing to be almost like a kingdom made of many towns and cities. “That amazing, is there more then just one settlement?”
“You have the prime settlement Mystic KI, than you have Silverlight the small village that made up of kitsune farmers that live in the underground home of Aunt Silvy, than you have the inner mountain Deepkeeper.” He shuddered with a bit of fear. “They are just plain creeper, can't say much about them though, not without permission from my mum or Aunty Silvy.”
“That okay, we will move on to the history of culture.”
Skip lean back against his chair tapping the tip of his muzzle. “Hmmm...” He move the paw away rubbing it against the other foreleg as he spoke. “The culture of the kitsunes over 1000 years ago was that of tricking the dragons, stealing their gems for themselves and using magic to create chaos among the dragons. Disappearing into the fires, during that time from what I learned our kind where vulpines of chaos and cared only for our kind and little for those around. The Dragons feared our kind for the abilities we homed.”
“When Thunderous became Dragon Lord the cultural trickster way became threatened by his rein of terror he brought. Silvite before her greed endued rage to fight him changed the way No-Yantic Clan saw itself, taking a new path to settle in Nowhere and take on the roles of the Greedless Dragons once took, they helped a dragon for the first time putting aside their cultural trickster ways when they realised it was their fault.”
“Is this when Anubis pulled Nowhere to a pocket dimension?”
“Yes the way things were after Nowhere ended up in the pocket universe it was the toughest, in a culture wise the kitsunes from what mum told me about this had to live in cover of the trees of the Marshlands of Nowhere, No-Yantic Marshes, it kinda why we have two names for the clan, Kit-Yantic and No-Yantic.”
“Hiding from Thunderous and Silvite right?”
“That correct Spike, they had to eat a lot of Marsh Weeds, find ways to attempt to a endless raining lit up nighttime landscape.”
“lit up nighttime landscape?” Twilight asked.
Skip used his magic to block out the windows making it dark, then it lit up without any source of light. “This what it was like, it was semi dark but you can see distances, light sources made it easier to see but it was this and what I grew up in.”
“This is sooo creepy...” Spike shuddered. “Can stop it please.”
Skip does as Spike asked. “Sorry, but it was the best way to show you than explain it.”
Twilight wrote it down. “It a interesting thing to learn about how your kind grew up in, I hope you all adapt to the day and night circles.”
“We will, it will take time but we will.” Skip smiled. “Now about the early culture of our kind in the pocket universe... As you know we eat gems like dragons, because of how little they had they restricted the amount each kitsune could eat and slowly built tree huts to protect them from the elements as well stay out of sight of the dragons.”
“That sound really like a bad time for your kind, the Kitsunes to live day to day and just survive...” Twilight said feeling bad for the kitsunes. “Reminds me of the three pony tribes in a tale we tell, maybe it really happened and they suffered with hunger for many moons...”
Spike hugged his tail. “I hope we all never have things end up that bad... It sounds scary...”
“It happened slowly for the ponies Spike, for the Kitsunes it most likely was sudden, harsh and they had to act fast to find a way to survive giving up on their pervious cultural ways.”
Skip nod. “That was correct, this time around we were prepared because of Anubis giving us a heads up, we had a year to get ready for the shift from endless rain to the rising of the sun and to the first night, it was really something for us.”
“How did they fix things to create the culture you have today?” Spike asked.
Skip smiled warmly to that question. “Things started to loop up when mum was born, she had six tails at the day of her birth, no Kitsune had no more than four tails and started off with one tail at the beginning of their lives.”
“What happened next after Pom-Pom was born?” Twilight got interested to hear how they started changing things from surviving to the one they have today.
“The elders decided to focus everything on mum and the other kits, gamble on giving them a brighter future, train, support and give them a childhood they never had.”
Spike looked surprised. “They gambled everything on Alpha Pom-Pom to save the clan?”
Skip nod lightly and answers Spike's question. “The elders knew they had to change, remove the old ways and create new ones, scavenge the Forgotten Ruins use magic and technology to create a culture that would be far better their own. Create a system that when mum came of age she would lead the new generation to teach our past, learn from our mistakes and improve upon them to grow.”
Twilight looked at her notes and going through them. “It look like the new cultural reform of the Kitsunes worked out, changing the system paved ways to allow your kind to grow in a harsh environment, the fact Alpha Pom-Pom as well helped Silvite when she regain her senses to magically reducing her size over small magical treatments is a impressive feat in itself.”
The pink kitsune felt happy talking to Twilight Sparkle about this, he was right on the money with her. “That is very true Twilight Sparkle, todays culture kinda similar to many I seen so far. We have homes, markets, town halls, lakeside fishing, movies, picnics, farming, some trouble with those that break the laws and so on. Just a extra push for pranking which a norm for us.”
Spike had to admit what Skip said and what they learned from Princess Luna sound very much like it. “I would like to see Mystic KI, sound like a lot of fun!”
“I don't see why not. You, Twilight and her friends could come over for a few days, share about seasons like this autumn! I love the all the colours on the leaves! They so rustic!” Skip point his paw out the window at the sight of trees in view showing the orange and brown colour leaves. “I even looking forward to seeing winter too! It going to be interesting for sure.”
Twilight's eyes lit up upon hearing he would allow them to visit his home, even learning about their changing seasons. “I would love to go, I am sure my friends would too! But we would need to arrange it for all of us to be covered though. And I would love to teach you about our seasons too!”
“Sweet! Well that's that for the interview.” He jump off the chair. “I had fun telling you a bit about us, I know what I said is small to the whole and hope it something.”
“It more than enough, all these notes will take time to go over and getting any books from your home when we visit will help more!” Twilight beamed. “I am glad we did this too!”
“Goody! Now it Skip and Spike time! Come on little guy, let's do something you want to do!”
Spike jump down from his seat. “Cool! Come on I got a few ideas in mind!” He ran over to the door opening it up.
Skip walk to the door and turn to Twilight. “See you around Twilight and I will talk to mum about you all visiting.” He leaves and close the door.
Twilight looked at the seats and tables. “I'll have to sort this out later, these notes are amazing. I look forward to going over them and seeing if there anything I can add to them. Learning about the Kitsunes is something I never thou-” She pause seeing a title of a book was out of place, she pulled it out looking at the binding title. “That odd, this should be over...” She saw more titles were out of place and in the wrong order. “...there?”
Twilight looked around the whole room her right eye twitching at the sight she soon came to realise they were all shuffled around, her horn glowing brightly, her purple fur around the face turning very red.
In the royal carriage of the train heading to Ponyville Celestia was going through some paper work, the royal white griffon picking up the reports that was given to Raven Inkwell before the departure from Canterlot, the unicorn sat at a desk near by going through some herself from requests to signing off on projects that been given the green light and needed Celestia's final approval via signature.
Celestia move a claw over the lines of the report. “Look like the removal of the leaves from all the trees been completed and cleared up to be turned into compost for farmers at Spring.” Celestia pleased with how smoothly the summer to autumn transition took place. “It good to see the change of seasons has been successful with all that been happening recently.”
Raven continue to shuffle through papers reading through and putting them into order of piles respond. “Princess the usual events that took place in the last few months have been unnerving to say the least, even with your change in outer appearance of a griffon, your husband and daughter's return you are still our princess inside.”
“That I am and thank you.” Celestia lift up a piece of paper. “Hmm... it seems there a petition from about a third of the noble houses in Canterlot for a evaluation over my sound and mind since my unexpected transformation.” Celestia rubbed the bridge of her break groaning a little. “I had a feeling this would come up, but I am still who I am...”
Raven raise her head up from reading a project that only need Celestia's approval. “That is true Princess Celestia, I believe it completely.” She raise a hoof stopping Celestia from talking. “But I do have to admit you are quite a bit more intimidating now, and that could play factor into them bring fourth a failed petition because they don't have the back bone to try and argue their cases now in fear of your new outward appearance.”
Celestia frowned putting the paper down. “So they know I am still me and all it has to do is my outer appearance? Because I am a six to seven hoof tall griffon?”
“The way you say it Princess, it does sound rather silly.” Raven smiled.
“Indeed, let's get back to work and sort out much of this backlog as much as we can before we arrive in Ponyville shall we?” Celestia smiled back.
“At once Princess Celestia.” Both of them lower their heads and continue to go through the papers.
Gilda laying on a couch going through Gale's schoolwork with a quill in one talon and the papers in the other resting on a cushion press against her hind legs. “The noble pansies just don't like the fact their system been uplifted by everything that happened and changed in the last 3 months.”
Celestia lower the paper down deep in thought about what Gilda just said to them, she turn to Gilda. “Care to explain what you mean by their system?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Dweeb it right in your face, they HAD only had you and Candy to deal with.” She put the quill down on the table with the papers sitting up raising her talon up closed, she raise a claw up with each point. “One they have to deal with Luna and Grover too now, two you have children, three you've created connects to other kingdoms such as Finch Griffons of Flaupta-on-Sea whatever their country is called. And four your a griffon and beat the crap out of Shal-Quz twice showing you are very capable leader in a crises.”
Celestia listen to each of the brief reasons and Gilda was right on the mark, she clearly saw all of it happening before them. Everything that took place has uprooted a lot of things that roughly stayed the same and slowly progressed, it had got them all freaked out because they were facing the unknown as all were. “It seem you have brought up four very valid points Gilda, this is a interesting perspective you presented to me. I never thought I hear that from your beak.”
Gilda scrunched up her beak glaring at Celestia. “I blame you for that Trollestia!” She point at her.
“And yet you wouldn't change what I did that day, would you?”
Gilda growled and grabbed the papers with the quill going back to sitting on the couch moving the pillow back over her hind legs to continue working without another word only grumbling to herself, Celestia smugly smiled seeing she got the upper talon on Gilda and goes back to her paper work. “Another day at that office as Princess Celestia's assistant.” Raven whispered to herself.
Sitting at a table near one of the windows of the carriage Keeper, Rocky and Gale played a game of cards being watched by Leela, Alpha, Spyro and the guard. Keeper took a card and than put one from the hand into the discard pile. “Finally, one step closer to victory, who would of thought getting a set of threes and fours would be so challenging, exciting and frustrating all at once? I never in my extremely long life ever thought about a game like this.”
Rocky took a card from the discard pile adding it to his hand and looking at which to discard. “I play this all the time with Leelee, got kinda boring when there only two of you and the outcome was 50/50 at best, Keeps. And it not the only change I like from this game too, it seem those clothes of yours were really too tight on ya.” He chuckled.
“Hada hada ha, whatever you say Rocks, my clothes been the same size all my existence, just took a set of event to show me that I needed to get out of my tower for a few days. And didn't you keep continously steal endless pillows from your Creator for the fun of it?”” Keeper sniped back as Rocky put a card on the discard pile.
“Ouch you got me.” He playfully put a hand paw on his chest and faced plated getting a laugh from Gale and Keeper.
Gale took a card from the deck looking through his hand. “I happy we all happy, it fun playing cards.” Gale happily said as Rocky sat back up. “Oh and I win!” Gale put the card face down on the discard pile revealing his hand, Jack, Queen and King of Hearts in one set and four sevens in the other.
Keeper put his hand down showing he only needed a seven to complete his five, six and eight of shades, Rocky showing he had only needed a seven of clubs to complete his. “Damn, he blocked us completely, that cheeky cub.” Keeper chuckled.
Rocky put the cards onto the deck. “And I thought we were suppose to be the sly and cunning ones.”
Keeper put Gale's and his own cards back into the deck with the discard pile, he started to reshuffle the deck. “I say we go again and see which of us trio of sly creatures come out on top this time around.” Keeper gave a sly smirk.
Gale squawked happily. “Yes let's play again! Win or lose we have fun! That important!”
“Here here!” Keeper and Rocky agreed.
Leela sip her tea from the table she sat at watching them play. “That went right over Master Wayne's head, he into it so much that the fun is the true importance of the game to him.” Leela sip a bit more tea.
Spyro had a talon press against the side of his face with the elbow on the table, the other held a quill on top of a paper writing away staring at what he wrote and sketched so far adding to it. “I don't understand...”
“What do you not understand?” Alpha asked turning his attention to what on the paper.
“Tigress... Arbiter... Ratchet... Keeper... they all golems with life crystals powering them and yet I can sense their emotions, feel as I am looking at a living breathing life no distinction from you, I or anyone...” Spyro put the quill down tapping on the sketch of a golem guard of the Mirror Portal room. “Yet the golems with life crystals guarding the phase barrier into the room where the Mirror Portal is I sense they are not real, how is it one feels off and hollow, the other feels real and alive...”
Leela move the cup away from her beak putting it down on the saucer. “Unlike the golems that guard the portal, Keeper and the Created have a essence, a soul with personalities that became part of each life crystal because of Master Wayne.” Leela put a talon against her chest. “I and Anubis. We were made by Grogar through his bell's magic, created from the imagination and memories of Master Wayne. Rocky was made from my own imagination from a piece of rock and he drives me crazy half of the time.”
Alpha flex his hand closing and opening it. “Lord Spyro I am of dreams, my form my body is of a reality fictionally played out from the mind of Lord Gale. That world, that life became mine and not Boss Wolf, I am Alpha Wolf.” Alpha eye turn to the window of the land moving past as the train head to Ponyville. “We are the sum of our parts Lord Spyro, life is unique in every way. I learned that from being here, you are in yourself a unique changeling that your bond on a brotherly level to Lord Gale, are you not?”
Spyro looked at his notes and sketches. “Sum of our parts in uniqueness of life itself...” Spyro looked at each of them sensing the waves of emotions emigrating in waves of positive energy. “I never even thought about that, thank you Leela, Alpha... you two gave me a lot to think about.” They nod with a smile and turn back to watching Gale, Rocky and Keeper playing the card game as the train continue it journey to Ponyville.
Walking through a somewhat empty Ponyville felt eerie, Gale's head was moving to the left and right with eyes shifting around trying to spot a single pony. “Where ponies?”
Celestia open her wing putting it over him. “They are the Running of the leaves event outside the town, most will be there and the likelihood of running into a pony will be slim at best in town.”
Gilda ruffled her wings. “Still creepy, it feels like a ghost town...”
Raven using her magic present the papers to Celestia. “The Running of the leaves in Ponyville Princess, they will run through Whitetail woods near by and circle the town near Sweet Apple Acres to come to the start line and finish.”
Celestia took it with a talon walking on her three remaining legs looking through it. “It will bring down the most leaves from the forests.”
“Running bring down leaves, they fall because of hooves, Earth Pony tradition right?” Gale recalled reading about Ponyville and how it deal with seasonal changes. “Pegasi bring winter and than something call Winter Wrap Up with spring come.”
Keeper hands resting against the back of his head.
“Gallop and the earth shall shake Upon the skies the Pegasi shall come The snow shall fall upon the hooves of all Upon spring winter shall be wrapped up.”
Rocky gave Keeper a very odd look. “Where the heck did that come from Keeps?”
Keeper tap the side of his head with a claw tip of his finger. “Can't I be a poet? Random poems are part of our Creator after all, well mine and Leela's.” He gave a fanged grin to Rocky. “Not so sure about you Rocks.”
Rocky through his sunglasses blinked a few times. “What!? I can do a poem! Watch-” Leela slap him on the back of the head with her talon hand. “OW! Leelee what was that for?”
“Your playing into his paws! Rocky when you and Keeper go at it, you always lose.”
Rocky rubbed his head. “Yeah ya right Leelee, I was playing into his paws.” Rocky smirked. “You know I can't do poems, ya sly crafty fox.”
“That I did.” Keeper chuckled.
Alpha rolled his eye with a grunt. “Alpha I do believe Keeper Sentinel needs a cooling down, he seem to be on fire.” Celestia's words caught the wolf attention, in the corner of his eye the object in the word was in sight.
Keeper bowed to Celestia. “That I am, and I got mo-yip!” He suddenly grabbed the the tail by Alpha and he pull the bag off him. “Hey that my bag you stupid wolf give it back or I will call on the sentinels on you!”
Alpha press his muzzle against Keeper's. “You really need to chill, how about some water?”
“The river behind us you stupid mutt there no... body...” He slowed to see a very pink fountain with a pony standing on top of it with one hind leg, the other out stretch with a foreleg and the other holding up a heart with water coming out of it. “I soooo asked for thaaaaaat!” They all watched the fox sail across the air to slam into the fountain water.
SPLASH!
They watched with laughter as he climbed out of the fountain spitting out some water. “You definitely did haha you dweeb! Hahahaha!” Gilda holding her gut with a talon laughing hard.
Keeper shook off the water from his body, kicking a hind leg out than the other, flicking his hand paws. “I sure did ask for that!” He smiled. “And I loved it! What a rush!” Keeper jump down and walked up to Alpha with an raised hand hinting to have the bag returned. “Can you give me back my bag please?”
“Since you asked nicely you may.” Alpha gave it back to him and pat his head. “That a good fox.” He walk on to the start line location outside of Ponyville.
Keeper just sloped over a little in dismay. “Well I got played big time...”
Gale gave him a hug. “Better?”
Keeper returns it. “Much my Creator, thank you Prince Gale.”
“Happy to help!” Gale hummed and follows Alpha.
Keeper put his bag back on over the shoulder across the chest resting against his side once more. “Now I have ZERO regrets leaving the tower!” He give a zero mark with his hand paw and walk on after Gale humming happily to himself.
“That dweeb seriously is weird...” Gilda muttered.
“That Keeper for you.” Leela sighed. “We better get going.”
“Of course.” Celestia nod and they all walk on across town to the event starting and finishing location.
Cheering and stomping could be heard from the stands by either side of the tracks, Keeper had his arms crossed looking up at a leafless tree. “Well you don't see that everyday.” Before him and the others hanging from a tree tied up was the pink vulpine Skip, his tails covered up with cloth bags and muzzled tied up too.
Skip gave the best smile possible through it seeing them looking up at him with confusion all but one, Celestia who had a very stoic unpleasant look upon her face and Gilda could see serious this about to get. “Dweebs this just got deep, don't say anything.” Gale was about to ask but Gilda shook her head, he slowly look over to Celestia not understanding why he couldn't speak at the moment and the rest silently watch.
They guards tensed up as Celestia start to use her talons to cut the bindings using her magic alongside it to keep Skip in place. “I seen this look in many diplomatic meetings through windows of words and art through out the pages of history...” Leela thought as they watched Skip was completely freed, the bindings around the muzzle freed and the bags removed from each of the tails.
“Beta Skip who of my ponies tied you to the tree?” Celestia demanded with a slow rumble of a growl coming from her throat through the beak.
Skip shook himself and ruffled his wings. “I smelt the most amazing sugary treats coming to the event, than boom I got pranked.” He laughed. “I mean it was cleaver and really awesome! I never saw it coming!”
Celestia rub the bring of her beak with a talon groaning. “This is serious Beta Skip, prank or not this is a serious diplomatic incident.”
Skip tilt his head with an puzzled expression. “Diplo what? Care to explain this one for me, I never heard of this word before.”
Celestia looked very surprised. “It where an official visitor from another lands visit our kingdom and vis versus to see how our lands are compared to their own. Some are ones that speak to a official of their lands on discussing trade, tourism, military joint operations, sharing of ideas, technology and magic, even someday becoming allies that the two might become a greater whole and so on.”
Skip lift a hind leg scratching his right ear with the paw. “Sounds boring, I rather have fun.”
“Urg... Your missing the point!” Celestia slap her forehead with the talon now.
“I am?” Skip asked.
“Yes...”
“I don't sound like any of what you said anyway Princess, I just came to visit the ponies I met for a short time before.” Skip said with the warm smile still on his muzzle. “I've had fun with so many of the ponies spending some time with them off and on, getting to know what they are like! They all awesomely friendly here!”
Celestia groans. “Your mother knew of this, why did you not?”
“Well she said if I was to prank someone, do it in a way that not harmful and damaging, if you rearranged objects, make sure to put them back where they were on shelves and I did when I pranked Twilight Sparkle in the library while we were talking. I saw how upset she was over it and I apologised, and I said I look forward to seeing what she would come up with to get her own back on me.” Skip was so causal over what he said showing that beaming happiness about him.
Gilda was walking around with Alpha they had found pieces of rope and wheel hooks. “We found traces of what seem a very well made prank, it seem that Twilight Sparkle was the one behind this.” Alpha said showing a single mane strand.
“And hearing what the doopy dweeb just said and what we found, it safe to say it was her getting him back by accepting his challenge.” Gilda chuckled a little. “Purple got him good.”
Celestia looked at them both and before she could say something Keeper spoke up. “Leela can clarify this Princess, trust me she got the Kitsune traditions nailed.”
Leela open her book up to pull out a few runes to display it in Griffish. “It says here when a Kitsune pranks someone and offer them a challenge, and answer said challenge by following with their own prank as pay back the one that pranked will not have any actions taken upon them even minor physical harm is caused.”
Celestia looked at it carefully and more of the details to it. “What about the diplomatic statues?”
“It still applies but since Beta Skip seem joyful over being pranked back and the chances of him pressing charges against Twilight Sparkle are neil Princess Celestia, you can have a word to her about it but nothing else can be done by Equestria laws.” Leela closed up her book.
Celestia knew that all too well. “Your correct Leela...” She knew her talons were tied on this matter.
Skip turn to Leela. “Birdy with the strange book, I love the prank I am not going to press any wrong doing to Twilight! She really worked hard on this! I give her a all eight tails out of eight and... looooooove it~!”
Celestia took a deep sigh. “It seems this matter is closed than.”
Gale was utterly confused. “What just happened? Mum mad, than annoyed, confused and unhappy than content? I lost...”
Spyro smiled putting his wing over his little brother. “Laws and such getting all criss crossed from two different cultures, it gets confusion.”
“Like Pegasi control weather in Equestria and no allow in Griffina?”
“Yeah kinda like that.”
“Oh Twi did bad, but bad not so bad because other no say it not bad?”
Keeper chuckled. “Somewhat correct somewhat Prince Gale.”
They heard mass amount of hooves passing by. “Dweebs how about we talk about wrong and rights later, that sound like the first runners just crossed the line, we missed the beginning and gonna miss the end at this right.”
Celestia took a deep breath in and out. “Very well, we will deal with it later.” Celestia wave a wing for them all to follow.
“It never dull is it Leelee?” Rocky laughed.
“Not at all Rocky.” Leela shook her head softly as they all joined the crowd of ponies to see Twilight gallop through the finish line followed by a group of other ponies.
Spyro had took note which place Twilight came as they watched. “Mum, Twilight finished in fifth, the other racers coming through now, many look really tied.”
“I can see that, it seem Twilight took the pasting herself out and spiriting at the end approach.” Celestia said back.
Skip looked around. “I wonder where Rainbow Dash and Applejack are, I would have been certain they would be in the lead of the pack.”
Keeper put his hands behind the back of his head. “Most likely so caught up in trying to beat each other while horsing around they are dead last.”
“You seem quite certain of it.”
“Don't need to be Princess, I can hear them.” He point to the edge of the forest, they all could see Rainbow Dash and Applejack racing in, Applejack biting Rainbow Dash tail pulling her back, then Rainbow Dash return the favour. Applejack tries again this time biting off the ropes around Rainbow mind section.
Gilda pinch the bridge of her beak rubbing it with her talon. “Oh boy, this is gonna be lame for Dash...”
Rainbow Dash look back at Applejack. “That's it! All bets are off!” She took the air.
Gale points. “That against rules right?”
“Indeed, but watch and you will learn something here.” Celestia responded and Gale watched as his mum suggested.
“Oh no ya don't!” Applejack leaps into the air after Rainbow Dash crashing into her and they started to fight with each other as they roll in a dust cloud towards the finish line, all on-goers watch in dismay.
Skip curiously watched this unfold. “Ponies have a strange way of racing...”
“That they do...” Alpha grumbled.
The hot air balloon drift over with Pinkie and Spike in it. “It's Applejack, it's Rainbow Dash, it's Applejack, it's Rainbow Dash!” She bag the side of the basket as she commentated.
The two ponies fighting crossed the finish line to come to an crashing end, Rainbow Dash all battered, mane, fur and feathers messed up got up and cheered. “I won!”
Applejack also in a sorry state declared her victory. “No ah won!”
Rainbow Dash countered. “I won!” They glared at each other.
Spike spoke up through the mircophone. “No you tied!”
They said together. “What!?” Followed by Rainbow Dash. “For first?”
Pinkie answered. “No for last!”
They looked shocked. “Last!?” Applejack gasped.
Rainbow Dash asked. “W-who won?”
Twilight approached them. “You!?” They said together with surprise.
Twilight stood with pride. “Oh no, but I did get fifth place, which is rather good since I never run a race before.”
Applejack still shocked to see and hear that Twilight got fifth spoke. “How is that even possible?”
“You ran so slow and look at the scenery.” Rainbow Dash said still trying to get her head around the fact Twilight beat them.
“Exactly. I paced myself just like my book said, than at the end with the other ponies worn out I spirted for the finish line.” Twilight explained to them.
Gilda chuckled. “You were right on the money Princess Celestia, no way I will ever make a bet against you.” Gilda gave a thumbs up to her.
Celestia returned it. “This is my queue.” She winked and start to walk up to them.
“-right Twilight, our behaviour was just terrible.” Applejack admited defeat.
“We weren't very good sports.” Rainbow Dash twist her fore hoof around in a circle pattern on the ground.
The ponies gasp and bow instantly to the royal white griffon as she spoke. “Sounds to me a important lesson was learned.”
Twilight, Rainbow and Applejack gasped. “Princess Celestia!?”
Applejack asked. “Wh-what are ya doin' here?”
“Fall is one of my favourite time of the seasons-”
Gale and Gilda gave each other odd looks. “Doesn't mum mean Autumn?” He whispered.
“Yeah the dweeb isn't falling.”
Leela answered that. “In Equestria in called Fall, in Griffina it called Autumn.”
“Sounds stupid, have it fall.” Gilda said and shook her head. “Yuck no thanks, that dweebish. Autumn sounds cooler.”
“Agreed!” Alpha, Gale, Keeper, Skip and Rocky said together.
They all approached the three racers with Celestia. “Ah'm sorry ya had to see us be such poor sports. Princess.”
Celestia gave a small laugh. “It's alright Applejack. Anyone can get swept excitement of competition.”
Twilight spoke next as the others gathered around Celestia. “It's important to remember that's the friendship more important than the competition.”
Gilda gave a snorted laugh. “Yeah no Purple, Griffons thrive in competition and our friendships come from that mostly.” She than point at Rainbow. “Dash you look terrible and didn't think you go all griffon on your friend!” She laughed.
Rainbow shook her head. “I didn't! We just got swept up in the moment G!”
“Just joshing ya Dash.” Gilda laughed.
Twilight groans. “Gilda your ruining a moment here!”
“Please it just all sappy sappiness, it still got across.” Gilda dismissed it. “Plus your in somewhat hot water with Celestia anyway.”
Twilight looked confused. “What does she mean by that Princess?”
“I'll get to that in a second.” Celestia said and look to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Now unfortunately because of you two tricking each other instead of shaking down the leaves, many of the lovely trees in Equestria are still covered.”
Gilda coughed into her talon. “Trollestria strikes again.” That result got a hefty laugh from Keeper and Rocky, a glare from Twilight who just heard her.
“Why Princess, ah believe me and Rainbow can shake them down lickety split.” Applejack turn to Rainbow Dash. “What ya say friend? Want go for another run?”
“I like to stretch my legs.” Rainbow responded.
Gale raise his talon. “Can I run took mum?”
Spyro crack some muscles in his legs. “I'm game.”
“A chance to show Dash who better, I'm in.” Gilda grins and Rainbow Dash smiled back.
“Your on G!”
Rocky from a black shirt, trousers, blazer now worn blue shorts and white vest with a red head band on did a few runs on the spot. “Oooo this is going to be sooo much fun!”
Leela laughed. “Have fun Rocky.”
“Plan to Leelee!” He winked behind his shades. “Ready to eat my dust Dollface?”
“You be eating mine Trash-panda!” Gilda growled.
Skip turn a leaf into a starting gun airing it up. “Get set go!” He said rapidly firing it, they all ran off down the track. He blew the end of the muzzle and made it turn back into a leaf letting the wind take it from his paw.
Twilight now was paying attention to Celestia, the griffon looked somewhat unhappy. “Have I done something wrong Princess?”
“No, but I did find Alpha Pom-Pom's son in a tree tied up by something you created.” Celestia said firmly. “Beta Skip said it was your counter prank to what he did to the library.” The balloon lands, Spike and Pinkie approach but don't so anything. “It a bit of a touchy moment, things could easily go wrong...”
Twilight Sparkle was a little lost. “Skip returned the library to normal after hanging out with Spike, he gave me a book about Kitsune's methods of does and don'ts of pranking each other and offered me a challenge.” She explained.
Leela curiously now turn her attention to Skip. “I recall that something no Kitsune of the No-Yantic clan gives to outside their clan, why did you break that tradition?”
Skip sat on his flank proding his forepaw tips against each other. “I have mum's magically ability of foresight, I hate it.” His tone turn annoyed and anger. “I hate having something past down from my mum cause of genetics! I don't want to see things happen before they happen! So I push that back as far I can, but it builds up and comes out every so often and it happen to do so before the race.”
“Well this just got a bit more complicated...” Celestia mutters.
Twilight quickly turn to him. “Y-you used me to get out of this!?”
Skip shook his head. “No not at all, in fact you saved me from ruining the Running of the Leaves, I was to compete in it and every damn vision I saw of myself running it ends with me having some accident that made the event come to a instant end.”
Keeper, Celestia and Leela started to put all the pieces together. “I see, you knew Twilight would accept the challenge to get you back. By gifting her something that you'd never would do.” Celestia begins to say.
Keeper takes over. “You found a way for her to outwit you and have the event happen, that way you gained a friend. That some trick cub.” Keeper chuckled.
“Says the one tail fox that lives alone in a tower outside the universe annnnnnd 29,101 years old today I might add.” Skip grinned.
Keeper's right eye twitched heavy upon hearing that. “Wh-what!? How the blazes you know that!? Are you serious with the age!?”
“Sorry muzzle sealed from this tricky fox.” Skip smirked and turn to Twilight “I hope you understand...”
“How am I sure your not making this up Skip!?”
“This is how.” Skip tap her forehead with a paw, it glows for a second and she saw what he saw through foresight.
Twilight blinked a few times with surprise. “You made sure that something that would never happen, happen... You escaped a moment that would of brought harm to you and caused the Running of the Leaves to be stopped... Th-thank you Skip...”
“No problem, just can't do that again or your pretty big mind of yours be scrambled.” He pat her head gentle with a heart warming smile than brings up the prank she pulled. “You are sooo awesome with that prank! I never saw it coming!”
Twilight giggled. “Well it was kinda fun to do, hope it wasn't too far.”
“Nah it fine! Come on let me tell you about some of my pranks that your princess would never dreamed of doing!” He put a tail around her walking away with Twilight, she looked startled by what he whispered to her.
Pinkie rushed after them with Spike. “Hey wait for us! Let us hear this!”
“Yeah!” Spike shouted.
Celestia watched them walk away with many of the ponies heading home. “Should I be worried?”
“Nah you'd be fine. I expect that you will figure out the prank if it comes and return it in spades.” Keeper waved his hand dismissively. “This my chance to slip away, that damn vulpine just hit me with a reality check... 29,101 years old... Seriously am I that old? And he knew about Grimormia Tower? Something about that Skip really throwing some really weird vibes that I don't like...”
Leela curiously watched them walking away. “I do wonder what they have in mind, how do you out prank the prankster princess?”
“Who knows. I did set up a lot of pranks back in the old castle through the organ” Celestia smiled.
Leela tap her book. “Oh I know.”
They stood together waiting for Rainbow, Gale and the others return to the start/finish line. “Though I am glad to see Twilight made a new friend even with my fears of what happened now gone.”
“It just one of those spontaneous moments that felt would lead to a diplomatic misunderstanding became something more.” Leela sat down on a seat she summoned, making a large pillow appear for Celestia to sit on. “Who do you think will win?”
Celestia thought about it. “I would like my sons to win.”
“Rocky hands down.” Leela said calmly.
“What about you Keep-” Celestia turn to see Keeper wasn't there. “-er... Huh? Where did that fox go?”
Keeper lay on his back on the grass enjoying the feel of the sun listening to the water flowing over a waterfall nearby, the humming from the sentinels floating him keeping the Timberwolves at bay as they circled around snarling with green semi glowing liquid dripping from the wooden maws with green yellow glowing eyes locked on Keeper..
“I ran the numbers three times in my head on the way here and that kitsune was dead on...” He said to himself thinking about it and his age, Skip really hit him in the Life Crystal heart when he realised that was his age. “Today all the rest of Gale's Created celebrate their awakening at Creative Forest, been too long since I thought about Awaken Day...”
Keeper move his right hand from under his head to reach down to his bag pulling out the handheld device, he tapping on it with the thumb pad. “Still keeping to my zero regrets coming out here, never would of knew about my true age and it was my birthday of all days.” He half chuckled a little scrolling through files on the device till he found the calendar link tapping on it to open the link up. “Need to make sure to remind myself of today so I never forget it again.”
Keeper close the link down looking at his reflection with a sly smile upon his muzzle. “What a sly fox, Skip knew exactly what he was doing when he said that, how that Kitsune knew about Grimormia Tower and my birthday isn't important, it the way he presented it.” Keeper swipe the thumb pad across to the picture link of a basic looking tower icon, he pressed it.
The link opens up to display a large circular control room with sentinels flying around or working at the stations they assigned to, a holographic image of a large planet with towering pillars attached to it connected to many rings that lead to one central point that connected to a larger tower all attached around the world.
One side show the rings with beams of light blasting down on the planet giving light, the other side the rings dark with only the lights of the surface of it lit up, the daylight slowly being rotated around. “Grimmy can you hear me?”
A holographic set of rings appear spinning around a glowing star shimming out with sparks of light randomly over it surface. “Yes Keeper Sentinel, I hope you are having an enjoyable vacation.” A soft female voice responded the flicking spikes of light pulsed in and outwards as the words were spoken by Grimmy.
Keeper a small snort of a laugh. “Having the time of my 29,101 years of my life you little bugger, when were you going to tell me you'd became more than the sum of your parts?”
Keeper than mouths when Grimmy says exactly. “Now and you knew that because your mimicking my response by mouthing it Keeper Sentinel.”
“We are good as each other Grimmy, I figured it out talking to Shining Armor captain of the guard of Canterlot here in this Equestria, my home world Equis. I gather you can dream and have subconscious thoughts too?” Keeper said with amused tone than casual asked. “And before you answer, it from all that data you been gathering from millions or even trillions of different Equises from both universes and some right?”
Grimmy responded as casual as he was. “That is correct Keeper Sentinel, seeing and collecting data allow me to grow to ways I never foreseen, I wasn't sure if I was a AI or something else, I can feel the rings, the tower and Grimormia itself. It a very con-flexing experience... But I now know you are my creator and gave me the chance to grow, you never put limits on the computer AI I was based on. And I thank you for it.”
Keeper kept his smile. “Your very much welcome Grimmy, and thank you for keeping me in the dark so I can have this moment with you now. I really needed this moment as you did, keep up the good work and I'll be home soon.”
“I look forward to your return home and to hear all about your trip while we work to maintain Grimormia Tower, because-”
“The work is never done.” They said together and laughed.
“Keeper Sentinel before you go, I came across a project of yours...”
Keeper sat up instantly now holding the device with both hands staring at the screen. “You found Project Angel didn't you?”
Grimmy was silent for a moment before responding. “Yes, it been scanning for many forms of genetic make up for 17,928 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, 5 days across two multiverses... why are you searching for animals made up of these genetics?”
Keeper sighed heavily. “I have zero regrets of what happened and what I done... but I wish I could of found them...” Keeper lower his head and lift the device to press it against his forehead closing his eyes. “Before I made you...” He pull the device away looking at the screen again. “I created Project Angel to save as many animal life from Earth at the exact moment it was destroyed and the collider exploded alongside the tears in reality...”
Grimmy analysed the data of Project Angel. “You felt... alone, you calculated, timed and picked the exactly location where it would meet all requirements for animals to save, not only that turn them into an anthropomorphic forms similar to your own with the ability to change back to their own feral forms at will.”
“Correct, with help from Leela's rune magic I discovered a way to reverse engineer the transfiguration spell Grogar created, not only I wanted to save the animals I wanted to give them something... more.”
Keeper closed his eyes recalling that horrible moment the animals were saved but never made it to Grimormia Tower due to a reality blast that hit the tower hard, almost every system being damaged or destroyed in the resulting blast wave. “It took me 92 years, 2 months and 1 week to stabilize the tower, that was when I started on making your basic AI program and search for them...”
Keeper look around at all the Timberwolves circling around keeping their distance still. “That was when I started Project Reseed that lead to the creation of the planet Grimormia and sent sentinels flying into many realities to scan and collect biological data to bring life to the planet...”
“You used that to scan for these animals to find them.”
“Yes Grimmy...”
“Why haven't you scanned Prime Equis of the Gale Multiverse?”
“Because of Prototower... it makes scanning Prime Equis in any point of time after it construction impossible... so if this is the Equis they ended up on I have no idea what era they could of landed in, that why I continue my search through out the multiverse just encase they there.”
“A noble goal Keeper Sentinel, I will redouble it efforts and may try to find a way around the refracting effects of Prototower is causing from visual and spectrum scans.”
Keeper smiled a little. “Thank you Grimmy, see you soon.”
“I look forward to your return home Keeper Sentinel, be well.” The connection closes down and Keeper close down the link, he put the device back in his bag.
Keeper noticed the Timberwolves gathered together and ran away in a pack. “About time they got the message...” He gets up dusting off his fur to hear a twig snap, turning his head to have a white fuzzy fist smack square at the end of the muzzle.
Keeper stumble backwards to land on his backside holding the end of his muzzle whimpering in pain, and move the hands away to see blood on the paw pads and fur. Blood dripping from his black nose and he wiggled it feeling the blood running down his fur on the muzzle dripping off onto his lower torso area.
The sentinels went into defence mode moving to defend him from the sudden attacker, but Keeper raise his bloody hand up halting them. “Stand down sentinels, it one of them... it a Project Angel animal...” The sentinels stand down and float there staring at the three foot tall white rabbit still in the same stance from the punch he just gave to Keeper.
The fist lowers, standing before Keeper was a anthropomorphic bunny standing on two semi long feet paws, long legs with a similar torso shape to Keeper's semi long arms with a slightly longer broader muzzle of a bunny, two long ears standing up right giving him a extra foot in height with them up.
His red eyes stare into the blue eyes of Keeper and with a deep strong voice he spoke with fury, anger and hurt. “Your the reason I am like this!? You did this to me!? Why you damn fox!? What make you think I wanted this!? I live a double life hiding this form Mistress Fluttershy! I am a freak and now I know who did this! Your the reason ass of a fox! I can't be a simple bunny! Simple Angel Bunny Fluttershy knows me... as...” He realise he'd said too much when Keeper looked surprised and suddenly realising something about what was just said by Angel.
Keeper's vision was blurring out, his head swaying a little as he slowly stood up stumbling towards Angel with tears falling as blood drip from the black wet nose. Angel could see he looked bad from the stumbling about, a paw hand placed on his shoulder with a genuine smile of happiness from the fox and the eyes showing happiness. “I found you... maybe find the rest...”
Angel grew anger. “Get off me.” He pushed Keeper off, he lands on the ground unable to stand now.
“I am surprised... and happy to see one of you.... never thought it be Angel Bunny... it a amazing surprise...” He now stares at the blood on his fingers paw pads for the moment and kept the goofy smile when looking back at Angel.
“Why are you happy with what you did to me and other animals?” Angel demanded to know.
“Because I gave you all a second chance... I don't care I am monster to you or any of them, I did what I did and my only regret... I wasn't there at the beginning... Angel.” Angel felt a ping of guilt his gut upon hearing it.
Angel look to his right hand paw with marks of blood on it from the punch he gave Keeper. “Bucking damn it... now I feel guilty punching you fox...”
Keeper didn't take much notice when he noticed the blood on his fingers paw pads not turning to clay. “I am really bleeding... hehe...he.” He held out the blood covered hand paws and toppled to his side passing out, the sentinels scan him to see if Keeper is fine and found his vitals are a bit worrying but alive with no risk of death.
They turn to the bunny scanning him, afterwards they float there staring at him as if they were awaiting for orders.
Angel knelt down to the unconscious form of Keeper feeling a sense of deep regret in his heart. “I really screwed this one up... there no way out of this mess with Mistress Fluttershy.” Angel's ears droop.
Angel Bunny looked at each of the sentinels. “Wouldn't mind giving me a paw to help me get him to the cottage will ya?”
Fluttershy holding the tea pot with her right wing tip it to pour tea into a cup held by a armoured claw hand with purple pulsing steam of magic flowing through it. A bird sitting on the armour shoulder pad of the Death Dragon Anubis, he glanced at the bird chirping and ruffling it wings and adjusting itself on the armour plate.
“Thank you Fluttershy.” He took a sip and sighed in content. “As always you out do yourself with this amazing cup of tea.”
Fluttershy giggled. “Your very much welcomed Anubis, I enjoy these Wednesday teas we been having.” Fluttershy sat down on the sofa couch pour some tea for herself. “How are your children doing?” She drunk a bit of the tea.
Anubis held the cup with both hands. “They doing fine, the little adventure and getting to hang out for a little with their dad outside of the Dragonlands was what they needed.” Anubis said with a soft smile. “I still can't confront my wife and tell her they helped play a part in saving not only our multiverse but anothers too, I be grilled to no tomorrow...”
“It be best to tell her sooner than later Anubis, or will be far worse.”
“I know... my life isn't the rosiest one Fluttershy.” He sighed a little. “We all almost lost it all to Shal-Quz... I couldn't believe she go that fair and yet she did... now all left of her is a former shell living out the rest of the days in a house off the coast near Flaputa-on-Sea...”
Fluttershy could see the pain in his purple glowing eyes. “She was your sister who did very bad things, Shal-Quz is gone but you have Leela still.”
Anubis smiled a little. “That very true, thank you for listening to this 22,000 plus old dragon. It feels good to talk to someone about it and glad you listened.”
“What are friends for Anubis.”
“Indeed, a month ago our first encounter was between your door.” He chuckled a little looking over to it.
Fluttershy laughed too. “I was so scared of you that I thought my heart would jump out of my throat, now thinking back to it there was nothing to be scared of about you.” Fluttershy said warmly to Anubis. “Too many more Wednesday teas.” She raise her cup.
“Here here.” Anubis raise his and drinks a bit of his tea. “Be the way, where is that bloody little demon of a bunny of yours?”
Fluttershy giggled. “Oh Anubis, he just out and about today.”
“Your not worried since your near the Everfree Forest?”
“Not at all Anubis, I know the forest is really scary but for some reason all the creatures keep their distance from my cottage, so Angel is perfectly safe and know not to go inside.” Fluttershy said calmly to Anubis.
Anubis shrugged. “Fair enough, at least he not trying to kick me this time, he gets a bit testy.”
Fluttershy couldn't disagree. “True, he will just have to get use to our Wednesday afternoon tea.”
The door suddenly swing open, they both turn to see a three foot white bunny with help from sentinels drag a fox in. “Fluttershy, I did something really bad...”
Anubis saw the blood dripping from Keeper's nose onto the wooden surface, it wasn't turning to clay and that when the Death Dragon dropped his cup with shock... Fluttershy was very startled and shocked seeing this was Angel Bunny just from the eyes. “I-is that you Angel?”
“Y-yes it me... please help the fox...” Anubis snap out of shock getting up picking up Keeper and taking him to the sofa couch laying him down on it, he used magic to scan around the muzzle.
“Is he going to be okay?” Fluttershy asked.
Anubis finished using his magic to exam the area of the muzzle. “His got a fracture around the upper jaw around his nose, I can heal with my magic.” He looked to the blood on his claws and at Keeper. “How is this possible?” He whispered.
“Wh-what happened to you and what did you do?” Fluttershy now turn her attention to Angel.
Angel Bunny sat in front of Fluttershy on a stall finishing explaining what happened to her as well about his ability to shift from cute small feral bunny to a bunny that just stood a little shorter to Fluttershy. “-that when I brought the fox here with help from these sentinels.” He gestured to the flying machines hovering around near the ceiling. “I really messed up...”
Fluttershy sitting at the single seater couch looked disappointed, near by on his knees Anubis was using his magic to heal the injuries caused by Angel Bunny to Keeper. The fox laid on the sofa couch still unconscious. “Oh Angel Bunny... you really did mess up, but I am glad you came forward and told us... you could of told me about this anthropomorphic form of yours...”
Angel lower his gaze to the twiddling fingers and thumbs. “I know, the day you found me burned and bruised I felt happy being with you.” Anubis listen to the white rabbit. “I found out a few months later about my ability to change into this... an-”
“And you would of never told her about it if you didn't punch Keeper Sentinel in front of his sentinels, you knew the game was up the moment they and Keeper realised what you were.” Anubis interrupted Angel as he continue to heal Keeper's muzzle. “You either tell Fluttershy yourself or Keeper and the sentinels would; your mess up is being caught out by the wrong individual and you have a heart that why you didn't leave him and the sentinels in the Everfree Forest.”
Fluttershy had to ask. “Is that true Angel Bunny? You only telling me because there was no third path?” She said so softly to Angel.
Angel felt even more guilty now, the sickening feeling in his gut doubled. “Y-yes... Anubis is correct I would of kept this from you still, I was left in a impossible position and choose to reveal it myself, also I was afraid to show and tell you because of the connection we created, the bound we share...”
Fluttershy could see the deep guilty look upon his face, Angel looked very ashamed at the truth presented to her. “Animals spoke of a white blur that fought off many Everfree creatures, please tell me it wasn't you...” Fluttershy suddenly recalled what animals said and felt slightly horrified if it was Angel, her Angel Bunny fighting dangerous creatures of the Everfree Forest.
“I have... it been my second life behind the cute little bunny... the creatures I kept at bay from your home, protecting you and the other animals. I care about you all...” Angel admitted he did and explained why he did it.
Fluttershy got up from the chair taking a deep breath. “Anubis can you clean up Mr Sentinel, I am taking Angel up for a much needed bath and talk privately if that okay.”
Anubis nod. “Yes it fine Fluttershy, the bunny is covered in fox blood after all...” He shivered a little. “It feels a bit unsightly and the fact it Keeper's even confuses the bloody heck out of me... it shouldn't be possible yet here we are...” Anubis got up. “May I use some cloths in the kitchen with a warm bowl of water?”
“You may.” Fluttershy said softly back to Anubis. “Now Angel upstairs.” She point up to them.
Angel jump off the stall walking by her up the stairs. “Sh-”
“No your staying as you are mister!”
The look she was giving Angel said Fluttershy wasn't going to budge. “Yes Fluttershy...” He walked up the stairs followed by Fluttershy as Anubis walk into the kitchen to start cleaning up the blood from Keeper's fur and paw pads.
Angel sat in the bath with Fluttershy holding the shower head with a wing rising it over his body, the bunny was heavily turning red in colour around his face feeling very embarrassed being washed in this manner while in this form and not his feral one. “After I finish cleaning you I expect you do this all your own next time around, got me?”
“Y-yes Fluttershy...” He covered his lower part of the body with his hand paws. “I feel humiliated...”
Fluttershy rubbing the soap into his fur to get rid of the blood. “Good, this will teach you a very valuable lesson Angel Bunny.”
Angel couldn't make eye contact with her as the pale yellow Pegasus continue giving him a good clean. “Received loud and clear...” Angel swallowed hard. “What happens now?”
“Things will change between us Angel Bunny, but you can still live here if you want to and you will make up for your mistakes too; specially after what you did to poor Mr Sentinel...”
“I should of just screamed at him first... shouldn't of I?”
“Indeed you should have, but you didn't and used your fist first. We have to deal with your actions now Angel.” Fluttershy said softly to him as she continue to clean him. “Angel you act very different to the way you are since I known you, are you really Angel Bunny?”
Angel lift his left hand up waving her to get close and than whispers into her ear, she instantly turn bright redin the face backing up a bit with a loud 'EPP' almost dropping the shower. “Proof enough?” Angel glance at her with a frown.
Fluttershy nod rapidly. “Y-y-yes... you will never tell that to anypony!” She point a hoof at him.
“I wouldn't dream of it, that would further damage the bound of friendship I hold deal even I never acted or really shown it...” Angel turn back to looking down at his feet paws placing his hand paw over the other again over the lower part of his torso.
“Now I think of it I do act like a jerk, self-centred and arrogant... in this form, I don't know how I really act because the time I spend like this when dealing with the Everfree creatures kicking their sorry butts and making sure they don't come near you, the cottage or the animals.”
Fluttershy was a bit curious on how he dealt with them being still a head shorter than her standing on all fours. “I don't like the idea of knowing my Angel Bunny been living a double life by fighting those creatures, but I do wonder how you did it being so small compared to most.”
Angel lift the right hand allowing Fluttershy to was the blood off it. “I use your therapy pressure point techniques you use on Harry, with my nimbleness I am able to do non-lethal combat that leads them to retreating and becoming fearful of me.” Angel explained to Fluttershy.
Fluttershy stopped scrubbing upon hearing Angel used her own techniques on Timberwolves and other creatures. “Y-you have empathy for life... even I don't like my techniques being used for fighting, I am glad you used it to not seriously harm them.”
“Not in my feral form, I am more like a-”
“Demon bunny as Anubis calls you?”
“Yeah that...” He smiled a little.
Fluttershy thought about it more now, she recalling how he explained turning from feral small to this form punching Keeper in the muzzle hard in fit of rage. “Wh-what if when you are in your feral form it compresses your mind where thoughts, emotions are causing a heavy mental headache because it all squished and overly processing in such a small state?”
Angel frown a bit thinking of the transformation process of feral and anthropomorphic. “I am not sure that how it works, but I never have tested that Mistress Fluttershy... that a interesting theory.”
“Than we do a test, you don't turn back for a few weeks, you will stay as you are to see how it works out.”
“I can work with that Fluttershy-”
“Good to hear.” Fluttershy said and wash off the soap from his body, he nod and she turn off the shower. “Your done Angel Bunny.” She put the shower head down and pick up the tower giving it to him.
Angel took it to dry himself off, as he did Angel eyes a spot under the sink. “Fluttershy, could you lift the tile directly below the sink, there a small hole under it where I keep something I wear when in this form.”
Fluttershy walked up to it and lift the tile up to see a red sleeveless jacket, blackish grey shorts with a tail hole for Angel's fluffy tail, fingerless red gloves, blackish grey footwear with open fronts and red goggles neatly piled together. “This explains where small pieces of my stuff been going over a few years ago, you took them to make these didn't you?”
Angel finish drying himself off being a bit fluffed up, he put the towel around the waist and got out of the bath tub to take a brush to brush-out the puffiness. “I did... sorry.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “It's okay, I am really impressed and once you get dressed your going to say sorry for what you did to Keeper when he wakes, okay?”
“Okay...” He stared at his reflection to Fluttershy behind him. “I should of told you about this a long time ago... shouldn't of kept this from you... sorry...”
“I accept it Angel Bunny, and there is always consequential actions to mistakes we all make. This will take time to mend things between us, but this is a good first step Angel.”
“Yes they are...” Angel knew this bathing Fluttershy did give him was a kindness in the mean actions she took upon herself on him to show she still care deeply about her Angel Bunny, he had a lot to make up for...
Fluttershy gave the pile of clothing to Angel. “I'll be downstairs making you a cup of tea, and Angel...” She softly smiled putting her hoof softly against Angel's face. “Prince Gale also from Earth, so you have that in common with someone else.” She move the hoof away and leave.
Angel put clothing down on the closed toilet seat picking up the the jacket looking at it and putting on the jacket leaving it open taking a look at himself in the mirror. “Earth... wasn't that blown up a lo...ng... time... ago...”
His ears droop feeling another guilty punch into his stomach making it twist in knots, Angel just came to realise that Keeper really did save his cotton tail butt and he now regrets punching him in the muzzle even more. “I really want to just go small... but I can't run away from this...” He sighed heavily picking up the shorts. “Time to face the music...”
Angel open the door with the clothing on, he adjusted the fingerless gloves a little and lean down to adjust the feet paw wears, his ears twitch and turn to the direction of speaking coming from down stairs. “-easy does it Mr Sentinel, nice and slow okay?”
Angel walked up to the banisters grabbing it and leaning over to see Fluttershy helping Keeper to sit up on the sofa couch. “You have no arguments from...” He groans in pain a little. “me... Miss Shy.” He lean back a bit on the sofa couch. “How does getting hit in my nose... cause my... muscles to feel so sore?”
Fluttershy shift a pillow behind him. “Call me Fluttershy and Angel's punch caused a nerval overload throughout your body, it what also caused you to go a bit loopy too before passing out.”
Anubis walked into view from the kitchen carrying a tray of cups and a tea pot. “Loopy is one way of saying it.” Keeper said as Anubis put the tray down on the table. “Not how I pictured also meeting Anubis... for the first time too.”
“Same here Keeper... seeing your blood on Angel and you was disturbing, surprising, scary and confusing...” Anubis pull some tea into a cup and give it to Keeper.
As Anubis pours a cup for Fluttershy Keeper responds. “It something that will take time to process... understand... and find out how it happened...” He drunk a bit of the tea shifting his body slightly against the pillow to get comfortable. “For now... this very sore Created just... going to enjoy this lovely much needed cupper...”
Anubis would like to press on how something that should be a magical clay construct powered by a Life Crystal to what he was now, but one thing he could press on that came to mind. “Couldn't disagree with you there Keeper Sentinel.” He poured his own tea and sat down on the single seater couch. “Have you even been hurt to this level in any time of your life?”
“One time when the Reality Wave hit the tower... I was really badly banged up as many parts of Grimormia Tower was blowing up around me as I worked through that pain to save those from Project Angel.” Keeper thought back to that day. “62.19% of the tower was seriously damaged, I used up almost everything I had in power wise to make sure those lives I saved wouldn't end up in the void between realities.”
“You redirected them to a Equis, but till today you never knew they were here on our own Equis.” Fluttershy said getting a somewhat idea what Keeper did. “You was willing to give up your tower, your life to save them.”
Keeper slightly smiled. “Yes... I would do it all over again to protect lives... over mine... and when I was last hurt... where I bleed out it... turn to clay and I... healed quickly... this is different... I am healing and feel it this time... feel the Life Crystal in me at work...”
Fluttershy was a little lost. “You can self heal? Then Anubis didn't need to heal you with his magic?”
“It helped speed the process up... this time it different... I haven't been this painful since than... keeping the maintenance up and upgrading the tower... tending to a world I created... helps avoid unnecessary pain like this...” Keeper still in pain feeling it a bit troubling to speak without showing the pain in his voice.
Anubis saw in the corner of his eye Angel standing on top of the stairs at the banisters listening and watching. “Interesting outfit the white demon bunny is wearing, it really suits him.” Anubis drunk a bit of his tea before speaking to Keeper. “Your not as Leela described you as. Keeper you are a very confusing fox...”
“You shouldn't speak anymore, drink you tea and rest some more...” Fluttershy strongly suggested.
Angel decided to come down the stairs moving his left hand paw along the banisters as he took each step down. “You wouldn't be in this level of pain if it wasn't for me punching you in the muzzle, I hit you right in the perfect spot to spend a shockwave of nerve pain throughout your body. At the time I did it to cause you the most suffering possible for what I believe you did to me as some crawl experiment, but now I see I was very much mistaken...”
Fluttershy gave him a glare that made Angel stumble backwards to land on his backside on the stairs steps looking fearful of that look she gave. “Those nerve techniques are not for this kind of level of abuse! This will take hours to clear from his system!”
Keeper grinned giving the white rabbit a odd sense of feeling about the look he got with the sly grinning smile, Fluttershy saw it and her glare to Angel soften to a confused one. “Using timing... and transfiguration magic from our own maker... it was the only way I could prevent a...” He growls in pain holding his chest with the free hand almost dropping the cup with the other, Fluttershy quickly took the cup but got a look to not say anything, she really wanted to but saw the look in his blue eyes to flash purple for a second.
“What was that look he gave me, it felt as if for a second I knew what he wanted to do...” Fluttershy thought with surprise and concern in her facial expression.
Keeper continue to speak. “A repeat of Prince Gale... it took years to put it together... the Reality Wave... I didn't see coming... no warning... just hit... so I did all I had to... to... save you and the others in transit, even you... you and the others hate me for what... what I did... to you all...”
Anubis knew exactly what he meant. “Before Prince Gale became who he is now... the homosapien pure magical held form between life and death. You used Grogar's own spell he used on the cub using your own tower as the artefact, you cleaver sly fox...”
Fluttershy raise her hoof, they turn to her. “What a Reality Wave?”
“I am curious about it too Fluttershy... it is the reason I now know that brought me here.” Angel said as he got up walking up to the table and pick up the tea pot to pour himself his own tea into a cup.
Keeper took a moment to collect himself from the pain wreaking through his muscles. “The Reality Wave came from both ours... and Mark Well's multiverses destruction... yet it didn't happen but did too.”
“Huh?” Fluttershy and Angel gave Keeper a confused look.
Anubis decided to clarify what Keeper said. “Where Grimormia Tower sits in a micro universe between the two multiverses of this one and the one next door, it sits as a relay point for dimensional travel between the two and where time isn't really a concept there, even it has a flow of time to those that are there you see past, present and future all at once.”
Anubis use his magic to pull his staff over, taking it and shows the destruction to them in a formatted display. “Shal-Quz plan would of lead to this, but it didn't thanks to Keeper and Grover. But also because of the concept of time doesn't apply to that micro-universe the destruction did happen even it didn't.” They still looked lost. “Think of it as a bloody preview to a movie and then they change it when it comes out, is that more bloody simple enough to you!?” He growls in frustration.
Fluttershy nod. “It does, so even the movie had something different to the preview, it still exist right?”
“Correct and that same applied to the Reality Wave that hit Grimormia Tower almost 18,000 year ago.” Anubis finally glad it got across to them.
“There was no warning of it coming... when I was proceeding with Project Angel... it hit...”
Angel sat down on the sofa beside Keeper. “Thank you for telling me this and sorry for what I did to you...” He stared down at his reflection in the tea.
Keeper put his hand paw on Angel's arm. “All is forgiven... the pain and knowing my blood is blood is an... an discovery I wasn't expecting... this will be something interesting to look into...”
Angel didn't know what to say to this fox, he was willing to forgive just like that. “I-wh-why?”
“Because I don't care if... if I am hated, I care about what I did to save... you and the other creatures...”
“The big question how many?”
Keeper took a moment to think of it. “I don't know... it could be ten or... or way more in the millions, there... there no way of knowing... Every system was critically damaged in the Reality wave... took over 82 years to repair the tower... by than any data would be lost...” Keeper sighed knowing it wasn't what they liked to hear, that why he did the search in the first place.
Anubis knew this next part none wanted to hear. “Knowing this, you will have to inform Princess Celestia of this discovery, there no way around this. But there is silver lining.” He looked over to Angel. “Prince Gale would be very happy to get to know there is another former Earthling is here.”
Angel felt strange even thinking about that. “That will wait till the effects of what Angel caused Keeper wears off, they can wait.” Fluttershy said sternly to them. “For now let's enjoy our tea, let Keeper listen to us talk and he can try to relax.”
Keeper gave a thumbs up to that idea. “As for you Angel Bunny, after all this. We going to have a very long chat about you using my nerve muscle massage techniques responsibly. Your actions had serious consequences!”
Fluttershy stared right at him, this gave him a very cold chill down his spine. “Y-yes Fluttershy...”
Alpha stood by a window inside a small house in Ponyville, he watched ponies closing up shop and going home as the final rays of the sun disappear behind the hills, the moon slowly raising up soon afterwards. The wolf turn away from the window looking at the plain cream colour wall paper room, with a fireplace lit up, three sofas and bear shelves.
Alpha pick up two folded up sheets unfolding them, he walk over to one sofa with a sleeping purple dragon with gold horns, wings and drill tail on his belly stretched out with a forepaw hang over the other under his chin. “Rest well Lord Spyro.” Alpha put the first sheets over him, Spyro stirring a little.
The wolf walk over to the other one placing the second sheet over the teenage yellow, cream and black griffon. “Sleep well Lord Gale... you two had a fun time running.” He look over to the crack of the door open into the dining room, his ears flick a little hearing a mix of voices talking. “Sound's tense in there... at least Lord Gale and Spyro already were asleep when that news was dropped on us...”
As Celestia finish lowering the sun she watched Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Gilda, Leela and Anubis talking over each other about what they discovered from Fluttershy, Keeper and Angel. Celestia was mentally glad that Applejack had took Spike back to the Golden Oak Library for Twilight for the little purple dragon to sleep, Skip and Pinkie Pie were somewhere in Ponyville talking a thousand words a second to the solar griffon's best guest.
Celestia walk back to the long table, she could see Rocky sleeping soundly on top of a cupboard shelf with every pillow of her Ponyville home under, around and over him. Celestia calmly sat down on her chair, picking up her cup of tea sipping a bit of it with her beak watching and listening to each of the five still talking, one trying to get a word over the other.
The white griffon finally raise her gold gauntlet talon up placing the cup down, they soon go silent from the very motion, Fluttershy, Keeper and Angel turn to her too. “We all know that this is sudden and surprising that there are creatures that had, have and yet to arrive from Earth with transfiguration magical abilities. And also the fact Keeper who should be a enhance form of Golem that is well beyond our abilities to create isn't one any more, you five been arguing over this for close to a hour and none of you made any head ways...”
They all about to speak to her when her raised talon close up to show her index claw still up, before a word left their muzzles and beak they all closed up. “Fluttershy had to deal with this sudden shocking news first hoof, Angel is under her care still and rightfully will punish him for harming Keeper Sentinel. Yes his not quite the bunny we all thought he was, but you can not blame the fact he was at the time very confused, anger and scared about the discovery of what he really was and did act a bit rash.”
“What about the other creatures out there? If they find out and might act with worse than a punch to the muzzle.” Twilight point out to her Celestia.
“True, that why we will work on finding out who they are first and try to control the release of information to them slowly and not suddenly, that way they can adjust to the news.” Celestia answered as she did some claw gestures with her talons at the same time.
Gilda took her turn to speak. “How the heck do we tell the cub about this? You know what Gale might do discovering about this... also I can't lie to him about it and no matter what Dash says it doesn't sit right with my gut...”
“Seriously G, you did it like a far amount of time, heck I did.”
“That when we were younger Dash, this is more serious. Lying about this to Gale would damage his trust he has for me and to you too.” Gilda points out to Rainbow.
Rainbow Dash sighed. “Point taken... still don't think we should tell him...”
Celestia knew the conundrum they were in over the matter. “I will tell him in the morning over breakfast, this won't fall on any of you. I understand the stress of keeping that trust and bound you created Gilda, I seen it over the course of time.”
Anubis had his arms crossed sitting back on the seat, his bladed tail swishing around a bit. “That only a trivia matter, the problem is the creatures from Earth, Leela I know your ticked off with Keeper since we are now aware he knew of your location for a very long time.” Anubis turn to Leela as she was going through her book now.
“Take into account that at the time I was a loyal subject to Grogar to acquire Prince Gale's pure magic moving back and fourth through time, mending and melding it to lead him to Nowhere trapped in the pocket universe.”
“Which I put them there using a key set of events at the Dragonlands over the the tyrant Dragon Lord Thunderous and Silvite clash. I meddled with time in ways that I should be thrown in a dungeon for the rest of my days and yet here I am not because Prince Gale gave me my life back...”
Rainbow recalled the staff shattering. “Your staff...” She look over to it resting on the wall. “You would of aged and in a week turn to dust...”
“That is correct. Prince Gale saved my life and I am indebted to him in ways that I can never fully repay him for, it also the reason why Grogar brought the cube out of hiding and freed Leela from it.” Anubis said watching Leela still going through page after page of her book.
Twilight fixated on it now, watching countless pages go by. “Leela did you hear any of this and are you looking into anything about the creatures?”
Leela kept focused on the pages going through them fast. “I am and I listened to everything that just been said, I understand what Keeper Sentinel had to do, but he could of told me and not have me find out in the last hour.”
Keeper snarled a bit. “Leela he was in your cube many times before Prototower was built! I wasn't going to take a chance he was there when we kept in contact via the Rune Contact Chamber! So I decided it upon my self on it, acted alone, self-centred and push everyone away with my whips of words! I don't care how you feel about my actions, because I am who I am!”
“And what would that be Keeper!? You don't even know what you are now! Since you've came here you've changed!”
“I know!”
“Why did you come out of your tower now!?”
“Because you showed me that I can come out of my Tower! I can change the way I've been! I had enough of pushing everyone away! Yes I am a damn hyper intelligent fox that did things that no one else would think possible! But I live, maintain and work my tail off on a daily bases on my home! I never stopped even when Grover was there! I would berate him! Call him a dumb griffon in many colourful ways! Even when we came up with the plan to stop the Reality Explosion between two Multiverses I made him feel second fiddle to me!” Keeper snapped back at Leela slamming his hands on the table to pointing at her.
“Keeper restrain yourself!” Celestia squawked with a warning towards his outburst.
“Sorry Princess...” Keeper's ears fold back as he slowly sits back down leaning on it with his head lowered staring at his legs and paw feet.
Celestia now turn to Leela. “As for you Leela.” This sharp tone cause the avian to flinch from it. “This is very new raw news for you too, knowing he knew about your prison location is something that would even anger anyone, but didn't you and Anubis tell me that once he was against you and checked on you time and again for Grogar. Am I correct?”
Leela was backed into a corner upon the words spoken by Celestia, no one would dare to say anything as this was directed between the two Created. “Yes you are correct, I was wrong to attack Keeper in such a manner...”
“Now shake and apologise to each other.” Celestia said.
They stood up on their seats leaning over the table and shook talon and paw hand. “Sorry.” They said together, letting go they sat back down.
Fluttershy smiled warmly. “If you two like to talk it out, I be willing to allow you two to come around my home and do over a lovely cup of tea.”
Both of their eyes lit up up hearing this. “Deal!” They said instantly and Leela adds on top. “How does Fridays sound?”
“I look forward to it.” Fluttershy giggled.
Gilda looked at them with a odd raised brow expression. “Is it me or do you dweebs love tea a bit too much?”
Anubis chuckled lightly. “You can blame your little brother for that one Gilda, it a mental imprint that part of all the Created of their Creator. You will find even Arbiter likes tea...” He raise a hand with one finger up, the next raised. “Apple juice, lemon ice and pancakes.”
Celestia now recalls the different creates of tea exported from different parts of Equestria to outside from different parts of Equis too. “So that who the tea imports belong too.” She whispered with a smile and knew those was her son's favourites too.
Angel breathed some relief. “What about these creatures from Earth, anyway of finding them out Leela?”
“Other than you, not so easy. You kept a very tight lid on your transfiguration magical abilities, I gather they all did as well in one way or the other. I will have to go through 4000 years plus of information stored in my book, I am going to have to create a new spell to find these key words and the word 'Earth' alone is referenced 16 trillion, 901 billion, 102 million. 1-”
Rainbow Dash interrupted her. “I get it Earth is written, drawn and whatever too many times and narrowing it down is going to be tricky! Just get to that point please! This is egghead level stuff!” Rainbow Dash said with annoyance.
Leela nod in response to Rainbow Dash's request. “Including transfiguration your looking at too many references, I will do what I can and do my best.”
Twilight thought of a idea to narrow it down. “What about human or homosapien?”
“Tried that already, there are 91,291 references crossing 4000 years.”
“That a lot... it only recently I heard and know about humans, how come I never heard or read up about these?” Twilight asked.
“Because all of it is from the Finch Griffons, ruins and a fairy tale entire in a bunch of Equestria dictionaries part from new entries recently.” Leela stated. “Add in transfiguration it narrows down to 1,209 than add Earth you narrow it down to Princess Celestia's personal entries in her diary which I will not disclose. I might find something from the Finch Griffons continuous historical studies into the human race too.” Leela close up her book. “For the ruins over the last 3,850 years of history it mostly found in Griffon civilisations that come and gone, none referenced anything to do with transfiguration but mention Earth with crud drawings of it.”
Gilda sat back. “What you are saying Leela, this is going to take a very long time to figure out anything like Angel here is from Earth?”
“Indeed, it will take time and patients, Equis has a lot of history that most likely none of you knew about, much of Equestria's own history was lost during the Chaos Wars with Discord.”
Twilight swallowed hard. “I-I rea-really would like to see that, but your book as you said...”
“True, but as the Royal Book keeper for Princess Celestia, I can find a way to bring back some of that lost history, there are spells that can do it. But it will take a far bit of time and my magic and the books to create the rune spells to patternise it into a solid form for which you can read.”
Celestia enters the conversation. “That will be done after other matters are addressed first, as Royal Book keeper your first task will be finding other creatures past and present here on Equis. Take your time and do it in the working hours we agreed upon, not when you are off the books as they were, you need to enjoy yourself a bit too and have a life.” Celestia said directly to Leela.
Leela pat her book. “I hear you loud and clear Princess.”
A knock on the door and they turn to see Alpha standing there. “Lady Celestia, I may have a good suggestion to finding out clues to your questions you seek, the griffon Greystorm he has a uncanny ability to discovering things within artefacts.”
Celestia thought about what Alpha just said. “That is true, he the reason we found out about Gale's Pure Magic, Griffax Boreas and his message from the past to me. The discovery of the Finch Griffons on the hunt for the artefact Voyager Two archives with help from a group of ponies.”
“Correct, this is what lead to you getting your daughter back too, also how they helped your sister Lady Luna get to the Kitsune's homeland Nowhere to lower your sun and raise the moon.” Alpha calmly answered.
Celestia hummed a little. “It seem that Greystorm and the Finch Griffons have done things to help us in ways that couldn't have been done alone or even discovered... also the Created have a part in this too.” She turn to Anubis, Leela and Keeper. “Each of you helped us to discover something we did not know, even that strange avian called Avatar helped us in ways we couldn't even imagine.”
Alpha chuckled a little. “Indeed and I take imagine quiet literal when it comes to me, Avatar would of never done what she did if it wasn't for the shifting of the sands of time.” Alpha look to the window seeing a star slowly moving across in the night sky. “The best option to finding anything human would be the Finch Griffons, they have very close times to their history and maybe able to find out if any humans have or are on Equis.”
Keeper knew they had a Satellite system. “Alpha you are a genies! How the heck did we not bloody see it!”
Alpha smirked. “Sometimes high level intelligences easily over look things fox.”
“Ouch and yes your right.” Keeper accepted the blunt truth from Alpha.
Leela looked at her own book. “Wait... I have information on their current 150-200 years, what the heck going on!?” She quickly open it up taking a good look through the pages.
Celestia could see the surprise in the little avian big eyes as she continue to look through the pages at a rapid rate. “Your correct, you did say you've had little to no information on Finch Griffons when we came to your cube because of the recall spell you implanted in my son.” Celestia was equally surprised. “What changed?”
Keeper chuckled. “It like the satellite system we recently know about that high above the planet they have, they used technology, science and magic to keep themselves hidden. It like my tower, you can't find it without being a expert in transdimensional travel which Mark Wells Twilight Sparkle is from years of experience to my Prototower which Grover found through his decades of research in hope to finding Nightingale.” Keeper crossed his arms calmly said with eyes closed feeling very impressed by the level of smarts these Finch Griffons really had.
“So they simply turned off whatever kept them hidden?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Dash you just answered your own question you dweeb.” Gilda slap her forehead with a talon.
“Oh yeah I did...” Rainbow Dash laughed rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.
Twilight simply rolled her eyes with a shake of the head. “Now that they have lowered this barrier, what does this do for us now?”
“Nothing.” Anubis spoke and they turn to him. “Simply put it they allow access to their written works, blueprints, photos and such to Leela, this is a test of trust and one you shouldn't take lightly, it will be best to do nothing and wait till the meeting with Princess Celestia and Prime Minster Zipline on Monday.”
Celestia had to agree with the Death Dragon. “He has a very valid point, Maple also be returning from Mark Wells universe on that day too with her husband Gruff Clawhowler. It would be best to leave that matter to the side for now Leela; and do not present anything you seen in it to me till my meeting with Prime Minster Zipline is concluded.”
Leela close her book back up. “Understood Princess Celestia, I will make sure to keep this information sealed till you deem necessary to look into it.”
Twilight sighed. “That a shame, getting to know what they are and who they are would be a interesting read, but you are all right on the matter at hoof, I seen the level of technology melded with magic they have, it way beyond my understanding.” Twilight agreed. “For now I will do some research into the books we have here in Ponyville, see if anything comes up from it even I highly doubt it would.”
“As will I with the Canterlot libraries.” Leela pat her book.
“I do hope we find others like Angel Bunny, it would make him feel less alone that way and even make friends with them.” Fluttershy was optimistic at the idea of it.
Angel could picture meeting others like himself, but also maybe end up in some brawl or do something stupid from rage like he did with Keeper. “I would like that, but we would have to tread carefully and do it better than I did with Keeper...”
Gilda put her talons behind her head. “You can also pass a message on with Spyro too, isn't that queen of his suppose to be checking up on him on Monday and Maple coming back from doing that techno stuff with something about conversion of magic balance whatever it was.” Gilda said.
Alpha's eye turn to Keeper, he was typing away on his device with his thumbs. “What are you doing Keeper Sentinel?”
“I am informing Grimmy that I am staying a bit longer than expected, also to have sentinels to scan for the genetic markers similar to Prince Gale, Angel and Silvite. They can do it without being seen, I know it will be looking for a needle in a planet size hay-stake, but it one of the things I can do.” He finished message and sends it. “Done.”
Anubis gets up walking over to his staff picking it up. “I will see if anything unusual came to the Dragonlands, I tend to criss cross through my time line anyway and I and my other selves through out time know to keep away from each other at different points in time.”
Twilight dared to ask. “How many of you in different points in time are there?”
Anubis ignores the question turning to Fluttershy bowing his head. “I bit you a good day Fluttershy and see you again next Wednesday for tea?”
Fluttershy giggled. “Of course Anubis, I look forward to it.” She got up and give him a hug, he returns it before presenting to her a gem stone. “Oh my is this the Ambernite you were talking about?” She release the hug and took the orange looking gem stone with her hooves.
“Indeed it was, I hope it help you with your little animal problem.” Anubis step back. “I bit you all a good day too.” with a tap his staff on the ground for the clouding magic to move around him and vanish within it.
Twilight snorted. “That dragon ignored my question!”
Gilda chuckled. “Purple, that dragon doesn't answer questions about stuff like that.”
“Bu-but-”
“It best to leave it be Twilight Sparkle, Anubis pretty much gave his answer.” Celestia said calmly to her former student.
Twilight sighed. “Alright Princess I'll drop it for now, I am going to go home to let Applejack get home and put Spike to bed.” Twilight got up from the table.
Rainbow yawned. “Well I got to get some shut eye, the weather team got a lot of work for the next few weeks clearing up the leaves before winter comes.”
“Well don't be a stranger Dash.”
“Same to you G.” They hoof and claw fist bump each other
Twilight stood by Rainbow. “Good night everyone.” They return their goodnights to them and Rainbow Dash leaves with Twilight Sparkle.
Fluttershy gets up with Angel. “Angel and I will be going home now, I hope we find more like Angel and hope we find out anything about these creatures from Earth.”
Angel turn to Keeper as he got up from his seat, they stood face to face with Keeper being a little taller than him. The fox out his hand out to Angel. “See you around Angel, and I'd make sure for ya to visit the tower some day.”
Angel put his hand over Keeper's they shook. “I look forward to it, I most likely will be stuck in doors for a few weeks after my stunt.”
“You'll survive Demon Bunny.” Keeper grinned.
“Whatever ya say KS.” Angel grinned back and they let go.
They said their goodnights and leave as well leaving only Gilda, Celestia, Leela, Alpha and Keeper who were still up. “It seem that we all should get some rest, there a bath room upstairs and enough rooms for all of you.” Celestia said warmly to them.
Alpha turn to walk back into the living room. “I will be in the living room with Lord Gale and Spyro.” He gave a wave walking inside the room.
Celestia got up. “Shall I see you to your rooms?”
Leela nod. “I would like that.” She picked up her book. “Thank you Princess Celestia.”
Keeper stretched his arms with a big yawn. “Sound like a plan... after what I been through I can do with some sleep...”
Gilda walked by them heading up the stairs. “I'll find my own room dweebs, and I call dibs on first bath! Night!”
Celestia shook her head and gestured to the stairs. “Care for I to show you to your rooms for tonight?” They nod and followed her up the stairs.
Alpha watched them all walk up the stairs, he look out the window seeing the night guards doing their rounds. Alpha checked on the brothers seeing they were okay, he sat down on the arm chair pushing back for the leg rest raising up and the seat pushed back, with a leg crossed over the other he pick up a book on the table side to read the Daring Do book.
A cyan blue dragon with two white horns behind two fin like ears, another two in the middle of top of the head jetting back, spine white spikes down to the tail with a hook blade dark blue tip on the tail end sleep soundly on her hoard pile of gold within a cavern like room. The room had stone shelves with books that were three times the size of books in Equestria, a set of magically enchanted gem torches hanged on the walls dimly lit.
Suddenly a flash of light flicker on the eye lids of the ten hoof tall dragon, she slowly open her eyes yawning with a wide open muzzle displaying her sharp teeth, smacking the muzzle a few times the tired half open purple eyes shimmer a little of magical glow. “Damn it Smolder... Garble... can't I get some damn sleep...” She rose up onto her legs cracking her shoulders, flexing the wings walking over to a heavy duty metal door, she grab the handle and slide it across walking down the large corridor with pictures hanging on the wall of her, Anubis and their children.
The large cyan dragon crack her knuckles against each claw hand puffing out some blue flames from her muzzle. “They better not damage the gold crafted furniture again, it takes ages to mould it just... right” Her eyes sudden was wide open upon seeing Anubis sitting at the single seater staring into the fireplace. “Anubis!? What the bloody bucking Tartarus are you doing here!?”
Anubis didn't answer his glowing purple eyes staring at the flickering flacks of the flames dancing at the tips of the fire, embers drifting through it up the stone stack out of the lair vent. “Anubis get your tail out of my chair right now and get out of here before a dragon knows you are here! We agreed that you wouldn't come to my lair for the sack of our children and not letting those fire breathing wind bags know they are the children of their god of the damn dead!” She stomped her claw foot down hard cracking the ground from the force.
Anubis closed his eyes a few tears streamed down the purple-grey scaly face, this still didn't lower the rage from the cyan dragon. She stormed over to him with wings flared out and with a closed fist she throws a heavy punch right at the side of his head, it was caught by his glowing cracked scale claw hand without him even opening his eyes. “The Dragon's Song calls to me... Smogiar...”
Smogiar snorted with a puff of flame as he let go of her claw, she shook is a few times feeling how fierce he caught her punch. “I love you, but you know that I don't care about your stupid God Bu-”
Anubis interrupts. “It's Gark.”
Instantly the fury left the face and eyes of the cyan dragon, she step back with shock now written on her scaly face. “What!? That impossible, he not even a real dragon!”
“I know...” He lean forwards pressing closed claw hands against the underside of his muzzle staring once again in the flames. “Yet I can hear it, you may never know of the Dragon Song but you may feel something in your scales, something off or a very odd cold feeling that starting to grow...”
Smogiar turn her head away, this being enough for a answer to Anubis. “You knew he wouldn't live as long as we would.”
Anubis sighed. “I know, I was expecting a random call or something, not this...”
She walked up to the chair and put her hand on his armoured shoulder. “When did you start hearing it?”
“Six hours ago after leaving Princess Celestia's estate in Ponyville.” Anubis said reaching over his chest with his armoured hand placing it on top of Smogiar's. “I tracked it down after five hours of searching and realised who it was, soon as I did I came here...”
Smogiar frowned. “Why were you in ponies ruler's estate?”
Anubis turn his head slightly. “It about the creatures of Earth, I told them I would look into it in the Dragonlands, but we both know I knew more than I was letting on to them.”
“You do... the fact he one of them...”
“Indeed...” He sighed. “Too much weight on my shoulders...”
“How long does he have?”
“The day after his birthday... there is nothing I can do to prevent this. Out of all the songs I heard through out my long life, this is one I never expected...”
Smogiar mood suddenly change. “Now...” she grabbed him by one of his small side horns hard pulling on it. “Stop with the bucking tears you daft dragon!”
“Ow Smogiar! Stop!” He grabbed her claw hand to try and break free from her iron grip.
She tugged harder. “Not a chance! Your the Death Dragon! Be that dragon! Cry in the lands of ponies! Not in the Dragonlands! My mate in the Dragonlands need to look tough! So what you kept information from the ponies princess! You always keep things in the dark of the depths of lava!”
Anubis roared in fury unleashing a burst of magic knocking Smogiar back a few steps. “I'll show you tough Smogiar!” He grab the gold seater knocking it over with the table to create room.
Smogiar cracked her knuckles and toss to the side the sofa with a smirk. “Then show me you wingless prick!”
Anubis blow out of some purple flames from his muzzle. “You've asked for this!” He charges at her and grab her by the horn slamming her into the wall, she quickly turn around and punch him in the chest.
They kicked and punched each other, attempting to hit each other with their tails too with the blades piecing the rocky surfaces missing each other as they moved swiftly. The blade tails clashing with sparks flying from the cling and clang impacts of them. Anubis finally unleashing purple magical flames from his moan, she unleashed her own blue flame into his causing a explosion that rocked the place covering it with smoke.
“Feeling better my mate?” She wiped away a trickily of blood from her above her right eye.
Anubis wiped his muzzle with his arm. “Much my love.” They smiled at each other.
“Dad what the heck are you doing here?” Smolder's tired voice came, the adults turn to their teenage daughter rubbing her eyes not phased to seeing the gold sofa, table and single seater toppled over from their fight.
Anubis and Smogiar gave each other a look that gave a signal, they turn to Smolder. “I didn't know who to turn to when this song came...”
“Another dragon dying of old age? So that a excuses to break your and mum's own Prime One rule?” Smolder now crossed her arms yawning a bit. “And did you two have to fight at this time of night? I know you two have a tough love thing, but not this time of night.” She grumbled.
Smogiar look down at Anubis and over to Smolder. “It Gark, the song is his.”
Smolder's tired expression changed from tired to startled. “What? You can't be serious! Uncle Gark just about to hit 130, that seriously young for a dragon.”
Anubis sighed. “That because he not exactly a dragon, he came to us as such. But his something else...”
Smolder sighed rubbing her forehead. “That explains why he wasn't all dragon like...”
“Well th-”
“I am not surprised dad, you keep a lot of things from us, it all part of the stupid Death Dragon crud you have, even in the pony lands you have a different stick, so does mum, I don't get you two at all...” Smolder grumbled.
Smogiar snorted. “It called playing your hand right daughter, something you will need to learn.”
“Whatever.” Smolder snorted out some flames and pressed on why her uncle has a Dragon Song. “If he not a real dragon how come you can hear the Dragon's Song?”
“I do not know...” Anubis grabbed his staff. “I should go, you two are right, being here will bring too much attention, I will figure this out... I'll-”
Smogiar reach out and pull the staff out of his hand. “Not in that sorry state you are.”
“Mum dragons can sense when the damn God of the Dead is near! That why we never had him around the lair and why we go to him at that Inverted Tower to see him, those idiot cult group of dragons know enough to keep their lame brain mouths shut and keep dad hidden with the freakish dragon magic!”
Smogiar gave a very creepy fanged grin on the right side of her muzzle, Smolder saw that glow from her purple eyes and knew her mum just got a idea from what she just said. “Wake your brother up, we going to stay over your father's place till this is over, he needs our support.”
Smolder shook her head, she wasn't going to spend days in some cavern cult town and a tower going deep down and under a large deep pool of lava. “No way mum! I am not staying in some place with those wacko dragons, even it our uncle this is dad's own problems and can deal with-”
“SMOLDER GRANITE DEATHWING WAKE YOUR BLOODY BROTHER UP AND GET READY TO LEAVE! YOU WILL HELP YOUR FATHER OR SO HELP ME I WILL SMASH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR TEA SET!” Smogiar roared at Smolder pointing the staff at the teen with it pulsing with magic, her eyes glowing intensely.
Smolder's face turn a shade of blue in a instant. “N-n-no everything but that! I-I'll get Gar-Gar up right away!” Smolder quickly ran off.
Smogiar snorted some flames. “If it means staying near some cult dragons helping out my mate, so be it.”
Anubis take the staff off her. “Thank you my love, but please reframe using my staff for meagre things such as blowing up our daughters tea set.”
“Says the Death Dragon that took our children on a trip to the pony city Manehatten and got them involved with a reality bending rabbit.” Smogiar turn around glaring at Anubis, he gulped. “You really think I am that stupid not to figure it out my mate?” He shook his head, she reach over with a claw hand giving him a soft tap on the side of his face.
Anubis knew he was in deep water. “H-”
“How did I figure it out? Oh something about a teleportation crystal sending me to the...” She grabbed his horns on the back of his head with both hands. “FROZEN NORTH AND TAKING ME A WHOLE DAY OF FLYING TO GET HOME!” She pull him down towards her knee smashing his muzzle against it hard, she let go causing him to stumble back for her to do a full 360 jump kick right into his chest sending the Death Dragon flying across the living room smashing into the wall hard.
Anubis implanted into the wall grinned with a bit of blood drizzling down the corner of his muzzle. “Opps?”
"Opps my tail, sometimes that brain of your is so far up that tail of yours you forget about the smaller things!" Smogiar walked up to him and put her claw hand under his muzzle leaning down. “You knew exactly what you were doing at that pony town, and your lucky I love you to only smash your sorry wingless butt into the wall.” She press her muzzle against his kissing him.
He returned the kiss before saying. “And you can keep kicking this sorry wingless dragons tail anytime, because he will gladly fight back to prove why we are mates.”
Smogiar flick his tip of the muzzle. “That you always have my love. Now you supported us for all this time, it time to return the favour for you and your friend Gark. He a weird not dragon but a good one that been part of the Deathwing's for decades.”
“I needed that my love, thank you for being the tough, mean and caring mate you always been.” He freed his armoured claw from the wall rubbing it gentle against the scaly face.
Smogiar said back. “It called tough love sweetie.” They kissed.
Garble and Smolder had just seen this take place. “Mum seriously? Couldn't you two do that somewhere more private?” Smolder rolled her eyes.
Garble holding his muzzle. “I think I just threw up in my mouth...”
Smogiar grabbed Anubis's claw and pulled him out of the wall, with some magic he removed the damage from it showing no sign of being smashed into it and put out the fire. “You'll understand when you meet a tough mean hunky caring dragon for yourself my children.”
Both teens shuddered. “Mum!” Both shouted at the same time, this got the adults laughing in the demise of their children.
Smolder growled. “Take us to the stupid tower already so we can get some damn shut eye already! And not see anymore of this embarrassing mushy stuff...”
“Yeah and keep all that tough mushy stuff out of it too! We barely awake dude!” Garble said with annoyance.
“I rather had my tea set smashed than see this...” Smolder grumbled.
“Do your thing my mate.” Smogiar punch her mate in the arm.
The Death Dragon punch back in her arm. “As your wish my m-”
“Just get on with it already!” Garble and Smolder shouted.
Their parents laughed and Anubis tap his staff on the ground with the cloudy magic forming around each of them and soon they were gone from their lair, the entrance vanishes from view melding in the rocky side of the landscape.
Spyro looked around startled to find himself in a forest, last thing he remembered was going to sleep and suddenly he was in this forest. He raised the claw paw up above his head from the bright light coming through the trees, he saw a rocky crystallised ceiling above the trees and realised he still has a dragon paw and in his dragon form.
Spyro try to shift back to the changeling griffon hybrid but nothing happened, he was still on all four claw paws. “What going on? Why can't I change back?”
“Your asleep and this is the form you slept in, while in Dream Cavern that the form it reflects you in.” Spyro quickly turn to the source of the telepathic voice, it felt different to the usual changeling channel of telepathic speak.
“Your in the trees just in front of me a few branches away, I can sense you.” Spyro was glad he could telepathically speak back to the being. “And Dream Cavern? That means I am as you said asleep and I did go asleep in my dragon form.”
Blue jump out of the trees landing before him with a stern look through his red eyes into the purple ones of the purple dragon. “Indeed, you learn fast. Since this is your first visit to Master Gale's realm you will find your magical and natural abilities as a changeling unusable due to safety security that been put in place since the Toothless and Hiccup accidental incursion.”
Spyro flex his wings closing them up to his sides. “That explains a few things and understandable, just strange to be somewhere else in a dream, this feels as if I would retrain every moment of what I am experiencing at the moment.”
“You would.” They turn to see Keeper wearing his shirt and trousers walking up to them holding a glass of apple juice with a strew sticking out of it and the other end at the corner of his moan. “You went to sleep before me, so the fact we arrived at the same time says that relativity of time doesn't apply here, so a minute, hours or days here is only merely six to eight hours of sleep.”
They watch him drink some of the juice afterwards. “Indeed what Keeper Sentinel says is true, come Master Gale awaits in the Dream Randomiser Chamber behind the waterfall.” Blue turn and start to walk, the dragon and fox follow close behind the jackal diamond dog hybrid.
They step out of the forest walking along the rocky embankment towards the pool of water with the waterfall flowing into it, high above the large group of crystals creating the light and heat in the cavern. “This must be the place Prince Wells spoke of about Blue, I can see why he was confused and impressed by this place...” Spyro whistled.
“It took Master Gale a few nights to find a way to bring you through to here, as you can dream you seem to dream different to other beings.” Blue calmly said to Spyro.
“Didn't even know that was a thing...”
“Nor did Master Gale, you and him have a strong bond that was created, this form of dream sharing differs to that bond.” Blue explained.
They saw a armoured clothed wingless dragon standing by the pool with his arms crossed. “Blue the Dream Guardian, care to explain why I am doing here?”
“Master Gale wish for you to join Spyro, Keeper and himself on a dream adventure, there been some modifications from last two times.” Blue said and raise his right hand paw up, the path emerges from the water and the waterfall parts to show the entrance.
Anubis's purple fiery eyes shift to the entrance. “I am having a rough complex problems at the moment, I do not have time for dream adventures Dream Guardian...”
Blue smirked. “Time? You say? There nothing but time here, unless you wish for it to be over in seconds, that by your choice.”
Anubis snort out some purple black flames. “Your just as bad as Blaze, that fiery tailed orange dragon knows how to twist words.”
Blue just get his smile. “I am not, only stating how the Dream Realm works, your ability to travel back and forwards through time make you elude to the fact the Realm of Dreams work on a similar effect but only forwards in time. Sometimes Master Gale spend weeks here in just eight hours in the waking realm, he been working hard on his Dream Randomiser and I have to put the breaks on it for him to not over tax himself.” Blue calmly explained to Anubis.
Anubis crossed his arms. “It seem you are correct, but that doesn't mean I wi-”
Keeper stepped up to them. “Why not solve this with a contest? A battle between you and Blue. Isn't that the most dragon thing to do?”
“I can agree to those terms and if I win you go on a Dream Adventure, if I lose you get to go.”
Anubis snorted. “Fine by me, I am Anubis the Death Dragon and I won't turn down a fight!”
Alpha stepped up behind Keeper and Spyro. “You are aware that Keeper Sentinel has a sly way about how he word things aren't you?”
Spyro frowned. “Are you saying Anubis had already lost?”
“Yes, as I am asleep and here as a dream form, once I was here physically too, I kept many gifts from here as I trained with Blue and he is powered by the imagination of Lord Gale.”
Keeper quickly turn and look up at him. “Prince Gale's imagination is incredible vast! How do you think Grogar was able to make so many of us after he lost his bell! The cub when he was in that between form of magic had no moral coils of what was right and wrong when we were created!”
Spyro looked very confused. “How powerful can dream up creatures be?”
Alpha smirked. “You recalled how the null crystal didn't effect me as I saved Lady Celestia and Lord Wells?”
“Yeah I did, you even were able to catch that Reality Bomb and destroyed the null crystal.” Spyro gulped slowly turning to Blue forming a aura staff spinning it around and got into battle stance. “Your saying Blue even stronger than you!?”
“Yes.” Alpha crossed his arms. “Watch and see.” They stood by him awaiting for the fight to start.
“Awww bloody crap...” Anubis raise his armoured claw hand out with his staff appearing. “Look like I stepped right into the fire... but it doesn't matter I don't back down from a challenge.” He stood ready. “Let's see what a Dream Guardian is made of!”
Blue smiled. “Gladly!”
Anubis jumps right at him unleashing a beam of magic, Blue deflect the beam with his staff and before Anubis try to find out where Blue went, Blue was right in his face with the palm of the hand paw against his chest, he look down at it seeing it glowing brightly. When he look back at the face of Blue's, the sly smile from the jackal diamond dog was all he knew it was already game over in one move. “Checkmate.” Blue unleashed a force of energy sending Anubis flying across the pond sailing past them all through the waterfall.
“W-what power...” Spyro had sweat roll down his scaly face seeing how easily Anubis was defeated.
Keeper yawned a little with hands on the back of his head. “Saw that coming.”
“Only because you also bit more than you could chew fox.” Blue calmly walk by a now right eye twitching fox with deep blue streaks across his forehead showing fear as the red eyes quickly glance into his blue ones.
“Look like Blue went a tad overboard on that attack, Lord Gale most likely wondering why Anubis crashed into the wall inside the DRC.” Alpha walked across the bridge that rose up from the pond and into the tunnel that was revealed from the parted waterfall.
Keeper swallowed hard as they followed the wolf into the tunnel.
They all walked into the chamber to see a dazed dragon lying on his back with smoke raising from many parts of his body, Gale looking very confused holding a tube with a glowing orb inside it with bio-neural wires attached to it connected to the top and bottom of the tube metal casing. “Anubis, why did you have to get into a fight with Blue?”
Blue noticed the display showing the pond. “You watched and listened didn't you Master Gale?”
“I did.” Gale's talon glows and Anubis was healed instantly, he sat up looking over to Gale. “Anubis the fight is void, you either choose to come along or just go back to your own dreamscape, you alone only make that choose.”
Anubis lower his head closing his eyes. “I choose to fight and-”
“Traditions of cultures don't exist here in Dream Cavern and as I am the one that created it and runs the place, it void end of story.” Gale cross his arms. “Now make your bloody choice! Go or stay! I don't care about your personal issues! I brought you here for a dream adventure! If you want to bloody be a twat about it then I'll go get my sister Gilda or even Nightingale! I don't do this lightly!”
Anubis was taken back by how the teenage griffon acted, he felt like something more older then a teen here, it was unnerving for him. “I-I'll join you and the others on this Dream Adventure Creator Gale...” Anubis open his eyes standing up.
Gale smiled. “Good, now let's move on shall we?” They nod.
Spyro lean over to Keeper. “My little brother really something...”
“Your little bother isn't to be tested here in Dream Cavern, I made that mistake a few nights ago...” Keeper whispered back to Spyro. “Though I am very curious about this machine, it creates random dream adventures from what we heard.”
“Being in a sharing dream is a new one already for me, this dream adventure I don't understand...” Spyro said curiously looking around the chamber. “How exactly do a dream adventure happen?”
Gale fly up to the top of the dome wall into roof at the blacken opening in the top. “This fires a beam that takes us to a dream adventure, last two times been a bit of a mess, first was blind and that where Alpha came from.”
“Indeed, shall we tell them Lord Gale?”
Gale was eager for that idea. “Sure! Before we do let me put this in.” Gale inserts the tube into the console and close it up. “Right... the first dream adventure where Alpha came from went like this...”
Spyro, Keeper and Anubis heard about the Kung Fu Dream Reality and the Berk Dragon Dream Reality, they were amazed by the events that took place from the two Dream Adventures. “So this Echo Grogar tried to steal your Pure Magic within the dreamscape by bring a black dragon called Toothless and a human called Hiccup.” Anubis said looking at the images that were on display around the chamber.
“Spike, Alpha and Blue managed to wipe out his army of golem monsters...” Spyro whistled. “Talk about strong team work.”
“I gather this third instalment isn't going to be as crazy as these two?” Keeper asked as he took a good look at the systems in the chamber.
“Yes I did some changes, I know your super smart Keeper, what do ya think of my Dream Randomiser?” Gale answered and asked.
Keeper close the panel up. “It amazing, the fact this technology is all fictional and works in a way that shows functionality, it reminds me of my Gate Chamber where you have different door ways into different Equiss, Earths and other worlds in each reality at different points in time. Just this is a dream gate.”
Spyro looked at the one image of Gale, Discord, Po and the Furies five. “Other words your super impressed right?”
“Right Spyro.”
Gale stood up on his hind legs, his claw tips of the talons tapping away on the display console. “I made it this time that everyone here can press one symbol each, then it randomises those symbols into a pattern. That will than show the beginning of the adventure with introduction details for each of us and background of it too, the adventure will change and progress from that moment and we have no idea how it will end.”
Blue took a good look at the symbols all around them on the domed walls to ceiling. “Impressive Master Gale, this is a vast improvement to before, learning from each adventure have really helped you.”
“It did Blue.” Gale smiled. “It took tones of dream realm time to get it working, but today is the day we put it to the test!” Gale activate a holographic display in front of everyone with the symbols floating around. “Since there is six of us here, we have six symbols to pick from.” Gale turn to Keeper. “Keeper you pick first, than Spyro, Alpha, Blue, me and finally Anubis.”
Keeper looked around at each of the symbols floating around. “Hmm...” He rubbed the underside of the muzzle than he move the hand away and tap one of the symbols. “This one.” Spyro picked his then Alpha picked one, followed by Blue, Gale and Anubis picking the last one.
The system randomised the symbols in order and the symbol displays are changed to a few images appear before them with a text showing what the Dream Adventure beginning will be. “Interesting.” Keeper curious looked at each of the images and the information.
Anubis walked around it. “So this is the kind of adventure we doing in a shared dream? I don't see the appeal of this at all.”
“Don't judge a book by it cover and short description.” Blue warned.
Spyro turn to Gale. “Is Alpha and Blue joining us too?”
Gale shook his head. “No they will stay here and keep a eye on thing while we gone, even it could be minutes for them while we gone, it better safe than sorry.”
“Have fun.” Alpha lean against the wall.
“We will!” Gale said with delight. “Now we know what we getting into at the start of the adventure, let's see how this plays out! I am soooo excited!” Gale flapping his wings with excitement. “Everyone on the platform and Blue press start it up when we all on!”
“Will do Master Gale, enjoy your adventure.” Blue waits for Anubis, Keeper and Spyro to join Gale on the platform, when they do he activates the system, a beam of light shines over them and they were gone. “Now Alpha, I wish to know what it felt to be in the real world, you've been avoiding the subject and Master Gale managed to help you.”
Alpha's ears lower. “Damn it... you know why I avoid bring it up, also you know what Lord Gale knows!”
“I do but I wish to know either way from your own personal view. Please tell me.”
“Fine...” Alpha muttered.
Chapter 107.25: An Interstellar Adventure Part One
Chapter 107.25: An Interstellar Adventure Part One
“Space, the great unknown; only now we going to know it a little better. Harry?” The large screen lights up showing stars of the Milky Way Galaxy with grids appearing across it.
The view of them standing at the console change to a screen been watched by Keeper Sentinel and Gale Solarclaw in a part of the jefferies tube, a cable attached to a open panel. “Wow that look so cool Keeper, what exactly are they doing?”
“From the look of things finding a quicker way home around Krenim space, by the look of things it will take about four years off their journey time back to the Alpha Quadrant.” Keeper said coping the data from the Astrometrics lab to his pad. “The fact we were suppose to investigate the temporal disturbances that happened in this area of space lead to us finding humans was a added bonus on our part.”
Gale curiously watched all in the lab clapping their hands part from two, Seven and Harry Kim. “Now... how the hell does it work?” Janeway asked getting some short laughs from some of them.
Seven pressing the keys on the lcars control panel. “Astrometric sensors measure the radiative flux of up to three billion stars simultaneously. The computer then calculates our position relative to the centre of the galaxy.”
Harry Kim than continue explaining it to the others after Seven. “This mappy technology is ten times more accurate than what we've been using.” Harry turn to Seven. “Seven, will you do the honours?” Seven tap away and bring up their route around Krenim Space. “We've plotted a new course home.”
“By my estimation this trajectory will eliminate fours years from your journey.” Seven said.
Neelix put his arm around her. “Our journey. Nice work, Seven.”
Keeper end the visual and audio display pulling the cable out closing the panel up. “It is interesting how this dream adventure been going so far.” Keeper put the pad into his bag, they start to walk down the tube to the door hatch.
“The mission briefing about the Krenim temporal events that were happening for half a year, dad being a admiral of the Creatures Federation Alliance and that I was put into this team because I was in some sort of come to age griffon tradition on the planet Gaia.” Gale said as they approach the hatch, Keeper tap his finger on a few keys of the touch keypad and the hatch opens up.
Keeper jump down from the tube, Gale hoop down. “A crew 29 we come to see the time weapon ship explode with a temporal shockwave resetting the events to day one part from us and those of the CFA.” Keeper said walking over to the ladder hatch pressing the keypad to open the hatch up to the ladder below. “That when Admiral Grover changed our objective with the discovery of USS Voyager and humans, Directive Omega 001.”
“And here we are!” A red finch griffon with yellow feather head, wing tips, tail brush and beak pop her head up through the hatch giving them a jump scare.
“Antimatter!” They both shouted at her.
She giggled. “Sorry about that guys, I and Tempo are done with Engineering Captain Keeper.” She saluted and climb back down allowing the others to climb down to the next deck of the jefferies tube to meet up with a light blue and white hippogriff with dark blue head feathers and pony like tail, white beak, talons and hooves. They each wearing a strapped bag with ranked badges attached to them.
Keeper dust himself off. “We will head back down to deck 14 jefferies tube section 29 back to Deep Dive Explorer, the other team on Deck Two should be done soon, also Lt. Skyclaw is the virus on their internal sensors still working it magic?” He told them where they going next and asked the hippogriff.
Tempo respond to Keeper's question. “We are hidden by their sensors but not visually, if we didn't know their schedules when they are in the jefferies tubes we could have had a run in on them by random chance. Captain they won't know we here unless we do it by mistake, accident, bad timing or just go with First Contact Protocol, which ever come first.”
“It not perfect though, for a second the sensors do pick up on our life signs before erasing that data and we becoming hidden from it again.” Antimatter added. “Though we should be fine.”
Gale open up the next hatch. “Why do we have to do all this observing stuff if humans are our first directive?”
“Because humans at myths and the fact they aren't so much makes it a serious matter, we do not know if they can be trusted or even at a technological level for first contact, till CFA Command says other wise we do what we are asked and collect the data and observe.” Keeper said as they walked down the tube.
Antimatter tap the tip of her beak. “Wonder how the dragons are doing?”
Tempo rolled her eyes. “You sent them to observe interactions at a mess hall where they sit, eat, chat, laugh and work... what do you think? Lt. Commander...”
Keeper turn his head slightly to them walking behind. “Anubis must be driving them nuts as well, their god of the dead doing basic work.” Keeper said.
“Only one dragon going to be driven nuts over it and happen to by our pilot, the best in the fleet too. Even she got one heck of a supernova of a temper.” Antimatter said shaking her head a little.
Gale tilt his head. “She does? I never seen it.”
In the jefferies tube of Deck Two a cyan dragon with turquoise underbelly sat cross legged holding a pad wired up to a open panel, she was watching through a audio and visual link to the Voyager systems of the Mess Hall. “Eat and talk, work and eat, just eat... stare out into space or just reading something on a pad.” She said sarcastically with a roll of her red eyes.
Spyro sat in front of another open panel holding a device running scans on the bio neurological gel packs. “It is called a Mess Hall Commander Ember.” Spyro said.
“And we watching their interactions to get the impression on how humans and the humanoid races are. I get we doing that part...” Ember looked over to Spyro. “Ensign Spyro, what is Anubis doing exactly over there?” Ember now look past the purple dragon to the wingless armoured clothed robed dragon sitting at a console working on it, he using his own scanning device over it too.
Spyro glance over to Anubis before continuing his work. “Something to do with the temporal event we witnessed and the appearance of USS Voyager as the shockwave pasted in front and around us. I think he called it a Temporal Echo or something.”
“Like shadow of something formally was?” Ember questioned.
“No idea... temporal paradoxes and anything to do with time events go right over my head...” Spyro said. “All I know we have defences to protect against it in both ships and our whole space...”
Anubis continue to work on his pad and without looking at them he respond to their conversation. “Temporal Echoes are high levels of temporal, tachyon and chroniton particles, those from the original timeline before the shockwave remain for a brief time but hidden to most sensors, unless you know what your looking for.”
Ember frown slightly. “So your saying that this level 12 shockwave even it happened three days ago where it wiped out a whole year and reset the clock it still present?”
“Exactly, I have discovered it and found a audio communication just before the explosion, it taken days but I finally found what I am looking for.” Anubis downloads the information to his device.
Spyro went over to him seeing what he was downloading from. “This is a secondary communication unit directly connected to the bridge, you could of tripped some sort of sensors up there Anubis...”
Anubis close up his device. “I know, but it was worth the risk. I got a few audio files that were fading away rapidly, now I have it I can reconstruct the final moments and may find out what happened to the time weapon ship.”
“Still don't get how you got the audio logs from this ship when it just appeared.” Ember said with confusion.
“It didn't appear.” Anubis raise a finger. “It was here all along as the timeline was altered.”
Ember gave him a very confused look. “That doesn't even make any sense...”
Anubis chuckled lightly. “Temporal events hardly do Ember.”
Ember put the pad down crossing her arms. “And the fact your our god of the dead and a dragon literately the definition of out of phase of time itself.”
“Indeed I am... Indeed.”
Spyro went back to work on the gel pack. “This been one very weird dream so far...” He muttered under his breath.
Anubis whispers back to him. “I advise keeping that to ourselves when we alone, not in present of a character to the dream adventure.”
Ember shook her head. “You two lame brains like to talk about your own personal things, do it when we not on the clock.”
“Yes... ma'am.” They said together and Anubis aids Spyro with his work.
Ember glance up. “I wonder if those feather brains and the captain think I would flip out on my god working on very simple tasks as this?”
“I do not know Commander, we on the clock to get the final scans in.” Anubis said bluntly to her.
Ember snorted out some blue flames. “Ass...” She said out loud on purpose and went back to observing the Mess Hall seeing Neelix had returned to the galley. “Let's see what the chef makes today...”
A blackish grey kitsune with nine tails, eight had blue flames while the ninth had a red flame, she wear a yellow and blue top with a strap across it with a rank marker on it, her one red eye stared at the one entrance into this section of tube the other with a scar line through it closed with lightly colour fur making the scar clear to be seen stood on the bridge of the Deep Dive Explorer.
She stood before the captains chair in a dome room on a platform, consoles behind with chairs, two on the sides between a total of three doors, one behind two from the side. In front of the chair a curved console that was the helm, all around was a panels creating a holographic display of the outside of the ship in a three dimensional format. A fox and hippogriff with red and blue tops with a rank strap across the chests sat at the operations and security station, a dragon wearing a green and blue top with a gold rank strap across her chest at the helm.
The white fox at operations spoke up. “Commander Clawshadow, Captain Keeper's team alpha returned with team beta, delta and gamma from their observations and data collection.” He said pressing holographic display with his fingers seeing the reports come in. “Charley and Epsilon still on board Voyager finishing up theirs.”
“Thank you ensign.” Di'Sai Clawshadow responded in a stoic tone staring at the view of space from the underside angle of Voyager above, their ship attached to a section of it near jefferies tube 29 alpha deck 14. “Status on systems ensign...”
“Cloaking still activate and green, docking port and hull clamps still engaged and strong, extended warp field still strong. Also the Camo Virus that keeping the teams on board off their internal systems still working as a charm, weapons and shields on standby with emergency transporters for the teams if things go south ready and able.” The white fox answered giving the report on the system status to Commander Clawshadow.
The behind the captain chair opens up to a corridor with adjoining corridors down it with the captain walking onto the bridge, all stood to attention. “Captain on the bridge.” Di'Sai said.
Keeper raise his hand up. “At ease.” They did and went back to work on their stations, he walk around the back railing platform behind the captain chair. “Commander, how things on this end?”
She look to the holodisplay view of Voyager above them. “Quiet captain, systems are green. Nothing new to report, I gather things been more interesting on the human vessel the USS Voyager?”
“Indeed it has, Tempo and Antimatter going through the data we collected so far, Gale is talking to his dad at the Hyper Communication Terminal.” He sat down on the captain's chair, Keeper open up the panel tapping away on the key pad to bring up the visual display. “When Commander Ember's team return, and their data gone through. There will be a meeting at the situation room for senior staff at twenty-one hundred Voyager time.”
Di'Sai nod. “That good to hear sir, but are you sure it be okay for Gale to talk to his father the admiral via the HCT? Voyager may pick up on the communication signal.” Di'Sai said with some concern.
Keeper kept a calm collected look upon him. “They haven't detected our message communications or the last HCT, so I don't think we have anything to worry about commander, anyway Lt. Renny with Gale keeping a eye in case they do.”
Di'Sai could see the logic in what he said, they have been sending transmissions and none of it been detected so far. “Very well sir... I am going to go and do my rounds, give the duty shifts for the next few days for my security team before the meeting.”
“Of course, see you there commander.”
“See you there captain.” She walk around the chair and semi raised platform walking out the middle door.
“This is some dream adventure...” Keeper smiled.
The white fox's white ears with black tips twitch. “Captain?”
“Just something saying out loud ensign, we getting to do something that we only dreamed of.” Keeper raise his head upwards looking at the large ship of Voyager their ship was attached to.
The young ensign look up too. “Your right about that one captain.” He went back to work.
Keeper sighed slopping in the chair a little rubbing his forehead. “Almost ruined it Keeper... keep that to yourself and those that know this is a dream...” He whispered to himself glad to get out of that mess he almost got himself into.
In a small room on the Deep Dive Explorer Gale stood before a holographic form of his father Grover ranked admiral of Fleet Command, behind Gale working at a console keeping a eye on the systems and making sure the transmission not being intercepted was a pale green and cream dinosaur with yellow, blue and red top on the muzzle, stood on three long toes with thick claws on each, two fingers and thumbs with claws on the tips of them with a think long tail to balance on the digitigrade legs wearing a blue and yellow uniform top.
“Connection is stable and secure. Admiral.” His black pupils shift in the orange of their eyes.
“Thank you Lt. Renny, you Rainbow Faces know no bounds when it come to your intergalactic skills.” Admiral Grover said with a smile on his beak.
The Rainbow Face gave a short nod. “Thank you admiral, we find challenges in our work and keeping this transmission hidden is such a continuous challenge.”
Grover turn his attention to Gale. “Son I hear your doing well, you've been working hard for Captain Sentinel, and from the look of things you are being a amazing griffon on his right of passage to joining the CFA as each and every griffon have done when they turn twelve, I am proud of you.” The older one said to the younger one.
“Thank you dad! I am having fun as well, Spyro say you need to recharge in-between shifts! And using the Hologrid been awesome too!” The young one smiled warmly. “I do look forward to being more than a cadet of the Creatures Federation Alliance!”
“That you are Gale, you will make the Solarclaws proud and your mum too... so what can you tell be about the humans and the observation for First Contact?”
“There not just humans, there all sort of creatures, one of them had these cool ridges on her forehead, another had pointy ears, the other had all these spots and a human with cyborg implants on her too! We watched them activate this Astrometrics Lab and seem to be trying to get home, but they look so far away from home!”
“Yes I got some of the reports from Sentinel before your message and the call, it is interesting that we were investigating level 12 temporal shockwaves coming from this area of space to find a starship with humans on it.”
“Weird thing is dad, they just appeared out of nowhere! I mean the Krenim time weapon ship that caused all of it exploded and than a new Krenim ship with Voyager appeared from the wave! It was really weird! What the chances that a time weapon ship blowing up creating one final temporal wave would have humans appear right in front of us!”
“It was seem strange Gale, through out several of our worlds history over 4000 years ago and beyond there was myths and legends about humans before it just seem to all stop, the fact also we seem to find out where they from and this ship being far from it is bring up a lot of questions to be answered... that why the mission of investigating the temporal shockwave changed to Directive Omega 001 and observation procedures began for first contact even they are not as advance as we are.” Gale's dad said to Gale.
“Because our Directive Alpha-Omega is to not interact with creatures that are less developed as our own even they are using engines that can travel faster than the speed of light like Warp Drive that we stopped using over 200 years ago, right dad?”
“Correct my little griffon.” He chuckled. “Now with the new details we've gotten and if all things go to plan, in five or six days time Captain Sentinel will decloak the Deep Dive Explorer and begin first contact procedures with the USS Voyager, and for whatever reason it doesn't go to exactly to plan, we will try to proceed either way with the ship first and than think about the Untied Federation of Planets and Earth with a ambassador first contact fleet of six ships.”
“Yeah I hope it works on dad!.”
The dino like being speaks up. “Admiral Grover, sorry to interrupt but we got about 30 seconds of alignment left before we lose connection till three days from now.”
“Thank you Lt. Renny for the heads up.” The dino nod. “Take care son.”
“I will dad! Tell mum I love her!”
“Hehe, I will son, take care of your older brother okay?”
“Will do dad! Bye!” They wave their talons and the holographic admiral vanishes.
2100 came and the gathering of the Deep Dive Explorer senior crew at the briefing room at the front of the ship, a window viewing the stars and just above in view the underside hull of Voyager's saucer section. Keeper, Tempo, Antimatter, Di'Sai, Anubis, Ember, Spyro and Renny sitting around a diamond shape table.
Keeper sat on the flat side top of the diamond shape table with his padded fingers and thumbs press against each other. “I am glad to see everyone was able to make it here on the development of first contact with the Untied Federation of Planets starship USS Voyager, in the last three days we been observing and gathering data from not only humans but other humanoid races on board.”
The fox move his hands apart and picked up a pad on the table pressing it and than the console in front of him the main display opposite to him on the wall lights up. “During this time our Temporal Specialist Anubis as been working on finding out what exactly happened the moments before our arrival and it seem today he discovered it.” Keeper raise his right hand to the Death Dragon sitting to his right. “This is your discovery, you should be the one to show them what you found.”
Anubis gave a short bow of the head. “Thank you Captain Sentinel.” He got up from the table walking around to the large display holding a pad, pressing on it he brings up a view of a very wrecked damaged bridge with a massive hole where the viewscreen should be. “This was taken from display beta 012 at the science console near the walk way to deck two and tuber lift 2, from this we seeing Voyager heavily damaged and on the verge of destruction.”
“That the weapon time ship we saw, how come we don't see Voyager there?” Ember asked.
Anubis brought up a audio file. “This is why we didn't see a heavily damaged Voyager, it the last few audio recordings that remained from the Temporal Echo, it took me days at different sections of the ship's jefferies tubes to get this.” He press a key on the pad to play it for them all to hear.
Tuvok: All our ships been disabled captain, do you have weapons?
Janeway: Negative, torpedo launchers are down, I am setting a collision course.(Sounds of the ship shaking about with explosions from consoles, Janeway tapping away at a console.) Janeway to the fleet, take your temporal ships offline.
Tuvok: Captain we won't be protected.
Janeway: Exactly! If that ship is destroyed, all of history might be restored... this is one year I like to forget... (few seconds past) Times...Up...
They looked at each other from what they just heard, Antimatter spoke. “A big gamble but it seem to have paid off, it incredible that you were able to find that image and this last communication between Captain Janeway and Commander Tuvok.” She pick up her own pad looking at the data given from Anubis. “Still... for it to be so dire that the captain would end her own life, even though now it never happened...”
Di'Sai was looking at the senior crew roster of the USS Voyager stopping at Seven of Nine, she looked up the given birth name, her only eye fixed on it. “The fact we saw it happen and with all the temporal shockwaves that effected time through out the galaxy... all but us and our space was temporarily reset by a whole year.” Ember said.
Di'Sai raise her eye from the crew roster. “It does raise some interesting questions on what we found out through what Anubis discovered and what we found on the ship so far, I do believe they are quite resourceful and would discover us before the remaining five days are up.”
Tempo agrees as she respond to what Di'Sai said. “I been doing a few checks of events that taken place on the ship since it first arrived thanks to this Caretaker Array, one of them is to do with the Voth.”
Renny instantly gave an alarmed look. “The Voth!? They encountered the damn think headed Voth!?”
Keeper raise his paw hand. “I know the Rainbow Face and the Voth don't see eye to eye as well the opinions on mammals.”
“That a understatement, we pride ourselves with working with our genetic cousins unlike them, because of it we ended up in a stupid war that cost us our world and forced us to run. We were lucky to find your kind all those centuries ago Captain.” Renny said with a bit of venom in his voice over the Voth. “Even we haven't heard or seen them for that long we still hold a deep personal grudge against them.”
Antimatter cross her forelegs. “I am not overstrike on them either, but it seem that Voyager did cross a science vessel trying to find the humans because of 47 genetic markers, the city ship from the look of things made this Gegen denounce his Origin Theory even the evidence was in their faces...”
Spyro pick up his pad with the forepaw looking at the data of it. “We have access to their database on genetics, how many of these markers are part of any of the races in the CFA?”
“Interesting question.” Tempo said. “I will look it up and inform you all on what I find out.”
Keeper bring up the next subject at hand. “Now Anubis, other than temporal, what is your personal opinion on Voyager with first contact?”
“I been looking at everything and it seem that we either do it soon or it gets messy with them discovering us, if they were able to discover a phase cloak personal device made by the Voth, who know how long we will keep their sensors fooled, specially with this astrometrics lab of theirs.” Anubis brought up some very valid points.
Di'Sai bring up a suggestion. “I would suggest speeding up the process, we got the key data and viewed them for many days now, I believe we could start the process.”
Spyro nod. “I think we can too.”
Di'Sai walk down the corridor after the meeting to turn in for the night, she noticed the hologrid was active as the kitsune walk by. “Ah crap I forgot to close down the program!” She turn walking up to the console reaching a forepaw up to it, the tactile response from the pads respond to the command. “The training program is running and there someone in there...” She use the tactile to open the doors.
The doors slide up, she walk into a cavern seeing large veins of Bloodstone Crystals shimming through the rocks, walking in she saw a yellow with cream underbelly to under muzzle, with black tip tails and ears with orange quiff on top of the head fighting dragons unleashing blasts of whitish blue magical fire from the muzzle to using magic from the seven tails. “Gale?”
The yellow young kitsune turn in alarm to see Di'Sai. “Computer freeze program!” The dragon freeze in mid air. “Di'Sai I-”
She raise a forepaw up silencing him. “It my fault.”
Gale walked up to her. “Your fault?”
“Transfiguration is part of our nature when it comes to our magic.”
“I know, it just cool that I get to experience being a kitsune! It fun using my pure magic through kitsune magic!” Gale said waving his seven tails around with bluish white flames dancing around above them shimmering with aura around the flickering floating flames.
The adult kitsune walked around Gale taking a good look with her left eye examining him visually and through her magical senses too. “There is fun and there is control Gale. You have a great deal of magic with very little control, this pure magic I heard you had but this is the first time I seen it in action.”
Gale watched her walk around him. “So using it here wasn't a good idea?”
“You could of easily blew a hole in the grid if you had a surge or fully lost control of your magic, trust me I been there a long time ago in another life and those you allowed to wield magic.” Di'Sai sincerely said to the teenager. “I could give you a few basic lessons and you can control to grow from there by expanding upon them.”
Gale thought about it. “I would like that Di'Sai! I know learning things take time, it can't happen over night.”
“Correct.” She looked around. “Computer remove the dragons.” The dragons vanished. “Computer, create two four by four metres safety mats.” Two blue mats appear before them, she walked onto one of them. “I am going to show you what I do with my time while I am in here.” She push up onto her hind paws, lift one of them up pressing her forepaws together in front with her nine tails freely waving around behind her.
Gale was surprised how easily she stood on one hind paw, she was standing straight calmly breathing in and out. “Whoa... you make that so easy!”
Di'Sai Clawshadow closed her eye continue to focus on her centre. “Balance of chaos and order isn't perfect, but if you can get close to it you find a centre and can balance even when your body screams this is not how it should work.” Di'Sai calmly said to Gale. “Now you try but use your forelegs and tails to aid your balance. And you will most likely fall over or even feel great deal of pain, do not push yourself, paste yourself.”
Gale walked onto his mat feeling the soft synthetic material under the weight of each paw shift slightly. “Your able to balance like that even on this kind of mat?”
“Indeed.”
Gale attempted to stand on his hind paws alone but waved his forelegs around wildly trying to keep balance on two of them to Di'Sai's one, he stumbled falling on his back with a grunt. “Okay, that really tough without my wings.” Gale attempted again and fell this time on his front, Di'Sai watched him fail over and over again. “Wow your really good Di'Sai.” Gale sat up looking over at her still standing calmly on the one hind paw.
Di'Sai lower the other hind paw back down leaning forwards to stand on all four paws. “That is one of many techniques of balance I can show you, this one will be more a steady flow of movement through our bodies, with a lift of a forepaw to a shift of the foreleg to hind leg, shifting your balance in motion.”
Gale got up. “Oooh cool!” Di'Sai start to show him raising a foreleg shifting it with moving her hind legs slightly, shift push herself up with tails moving alongside the movement of her upper torso, standing on the hind legs shifting the stance moving her forelegs as she step forwards slightly, she shift backwards a bit too with a slide of one hind paw.
“Now you try to follow my motions, use your tails as one with your body weight through your upper torso, shift your hind legs in small motions.”
“Okay. I will try Di'Sai!”
Seven of nine working at the Astrometrics Lab got a strange reading. “Curious...” She noticed odd readings on the sensors below Voyager. “Computer, explain this unusual reading near deck 14 outer hull.”
“There is no unusual reading detected close to the outer hull.”
Seven shift her head slightly. “Computer, the readings is right-” The readings had vanished. “-here...” Seven checked the sensor log to notice it was altered, she tap the badge. “Captain Janeway, this is Seven of Nine.”
“Seven this better be important, it one in the morning and you just woke me up...”
“I believe it is, I detected something unusual under Voyager near deck 14 outer hull, the computer didn't detect it even it was on display and when I checked the sensor logs they were altered.” Seven said sternly to the captain.
“Are you telling me something or someone is hidding something near Voyager?”
“That is what I believe captain, we recently dealt with a alien race that had two ships attached to our hull while they did tests on the crew and were able to keep all records of the ships from our sensors.” Seven of Nine stated recalling the event that took place about an month ago.
“Get to work finding out what going on if possible I'll be at Astrometrics in a moment, there is no way in hell we having a repeat of that! If that is the case. Janeway out.”
Seven decided to widen her search through out the ship to see if there is any other changes to the logs and systems.
Chapter 107.50: An Interstellar Adventure Part two
Chapter 107.50: An Interstellar Adventure Part two
Keeper slept soundly in his quarters, around his bed was tables of equipment and pads with blueprints on them, a console with a large display against a wall with a chair, a picture of Grimoria and Grimoria Tower hanging on the wall, a sky line window above it with a view of space and the underside of Voyager. “Bridge to Captain Sentinel.”
Keeper opened is eyes yawning and sitting up pulling the covers off himself, he twist around with his legs hanging over the feet resting on the carpet of his quarters, a grey cream colour to catch the walls and ceiling. “Yes Ensign Victor...”
The white fox responds. “I am sorry for waking you this early, but there a situation forming on Voyager.”
“What kind of situation?” He asked pressing a finger on the display pad on a side table to turn the lights on.
“In the last two hours Voyager been intensifying it scans in the area about our ship and now opening up a hail on all channels directed at us.”
Keeper got up. “They must be aware that their sensors keep getting wiped out and altered, trying to figure a way to fix the problem.” Keeper walk over to his wardrobe pressing the keypad attach to it with the door sliding open to display his uniforms and casual clothing. “After failing that they must of moved on to trying to contact us or prepare for anything that could go wrong, I wouldn't be surprised there crew stationed on deck 14 now.”
“Shall I alert the crew to their stations?”
“Please do, I will be up on the bridge in a twenty minutes. Sentinel out.” The comm channel closes. “Computer where is Gale right this moment?” He asked putting on his uniform.
“Gale Solarclaw is on the Hologrid with Commander Di'Sai.”
“Commander Di'Sai.”
“Yes captain?”
“keep a eye on Gale, I am about to communicate with Captain Janeway.”
“I will captain, he will be safe here on the hologrid with me.”
“Good to hear, Sentinel out.”
Keeper walked up to the console sitting down on the chair in front of it, touching key he listen to the opening hail. “This is Captain Janeway to whomever you are, we know about the virus installed into our systems and know you are docked on our ship via a emergency airlock on deck 14 connecting to the jefferies tubes. I will give you this one chance to respond before we declare this as a invasion, I will give you ten minutes to respond.”
“Any response from our opening hail?” Janeway looked over to Ensign Kim.
Kim shook his head. “Not yet.”
Chakotay looking at the display arm rest console. “We got a few more minutes, hopefully they will respond.”
“Same here, but I got a feeling that they might.”
Kim see that they do get one. “Captain we getting a response.”
“On screen.” Before Janeway and the others on the bridge was a red fox looking back at them, he wearing uniform with a rank on the strap across the chest.
The fox speaks to the silent confused bridge crew. “I am Captain Keeper Sentinel of the Deep Dive Explorer I wish for no hostilities between our two ships. And I gather that why you gave us that warning too since we have been observing your ship for the last four days.”
Janeway got up from her chair walking to the helm just behind Tom Paris. “That a colourful way of saying spying.”
“Says the Federation captain that has her Federation spies on civilizations that just gained warp drive before first contact, we are the same with warp capable races, alliances and federations. So we both up a creek without a paddle on that one Captain Janeway.”
Janeway raise a hand. “Hold on a second, are you telling me this is preparing for first contact with us?”
“Correct, but you were far more resourceful then we thought you would be.”
“Well it seem we did. But I do have a odd question to ask...”
“I look like a red fox from your world Earth, correct?”
“Yes, I gather you just learnt about Earth recently?”
“Indeed we did through your non-critical databases. We do call ourselves fox or foxes for short, but the full name is Foxterras from the planet Terra, but I am of many races on board this vessel, like yours we have a Federation of our own called the Creatures Federation Alliance made up of 61 creatures and hundreds of worlds.”
Chakotay got up from his seat. “What kind of creatures?”
“Griffons, kitsunes, Rainbow Faces, Hippogriffs, dragons and so on, since we had a look at your cultural database, it only fair you do too. We will decloak and allow you on board our ship.”
“How can we tell this is not some elaborate trap? And the creatures you spoke of are in our database and mythological.”
Keeper rubbed the back of his head. “That a interesting question Commander, and you could think we distorting the screen too...” He tap the tip of his muzzle on the black nose. “Hmm... what to do what to do...”
Tuvok spoke up. “If you and a few others willing to come aboard our ship and allow the Doctor to check you over, it may prove who and what you are as well the crew.”
“That would be logical.”
“So, are you willing to come over with a few of your crew? You will be under guard though.” Janeway said and warned.
“Of course, we won't. Unless you count our natural claws as such.”
Janeway turn to Tuvok. “Tuvok, you and I will greet them with Seven and a few security officers.”
“Aye captain.”
Janeway turn to Chakotay. “You have the bridge.”
“Aye.”
Janeway turn to the viewscreen. “See you in a few minutes.”
He nods. “I look forward to it and prepare to get some neck pains, some of us are not exactly no more taller than 3 to 4 feet tall.” He closes the channel.
“Captain the ship decloaking.” Kim reported.
“On screen.” Janeway ordered and saw it with the rest of the bridge crew, a sleek silvery white ship with two nacelles attached the rare half of the ship, it was about a third the size of voyager in length and height was about a quarter to the federation starship.
Tom instantly gave a frown upon seeing it. “That a starship?”
Seven notice black markings on the top of the hull. “H.M.S Deep Dive Explorer – NX-179210.”
Janeway and the others looked surprised. “It in English...”
“Indeed it is.” Seven answered.
Janeway walk around to the turbo lift. “Let's hope this is first contact, be prepared for anything.” Seven and Tuvok nod and they enter the turbo lift.
Keeper was walking on all fours up a rocky slope to a large cavern with red crystals shimmering through cracks in the rocks like veins, he felt eight tails waving behind him as he approached the open up cavern. “What just happened there must be one of those time skips between events, such as what happened in the tube, I don't remember climbing down so many ladders or walking through the jefferies tubes.” He whispered to himself recapping on events.
“Now I am experiencing what it like to be a kitsune, it feels soooo weird walking on all fours, my hands now forepaws, the muscles, the form feels off with my balance...” He muttered under his breath.
“That because Foxterrains of Terra only walk on two, they don't even walk on the ball of their hind paws, they walk on their heels.” He turn to see Di'Sai standing on one hind paw with the other raised into her lower torso slightly, forepaws press against each other and her one eye closed. “Captain, I offered you to come and experience what it like to be our kind many times, it is strange to see you here now.” Her eye open looking directly at him.
Keeper raise a forepaw up pointing at her. “I've came now because one you didn't answer your comm badge and two we moving into first contact, they about to discover us. So we either sit back and wait to let them get more paranoid or we press forwards and let it just wash over us in a instant.”
Di'Sai move her forepaws apart dropping forwards onto all fours. “I was in deep meditation Captain, I do apologise.” She turn to the yellow and cream kitsune curled up sleeping soundly. “Also I kept it down to not disturb the cub, waking up a griffon doesn't tend to end well for one.”
Keeper walked up to Gale putting a forepaw on his side giving it a soft shake. “Gale wake up.”
Gale opened his eyes yawning a bit. “Keeper? You look bigger.”
“That because I am a kitsune at the moment in this Hologrid environment.” He turn to Di'Sai. “Also Gale not like other griffons.”
“Dually noted.” Di'Sai responded. “Shall I report to the bridge captain?”
“No meet us at the Transporter Room.” She nod and walk away, soon the sound of the doors opening and close came.
Keeper speaks out. “Computer end program.” The environment changes to a gridded four sided diamond pattern large walled dome room with a door in front of them, both Gale and Keeper turn back to their true forms, Keeper getting up on his feet dusting his hands off against each other.
Gale return to his griffon form ruffling his wings a few times. “What do you think of the dream adventure so far Keeper?”
Keeper gestured to the door, they walk to it. “I think it been a very interesting and fun experience, one dream I will not forget.” He chuckled. “Also I believe the events of this adventure are unfolding, this Voyager and it crew even fictional put my wits to the test.”
“So what going on? We going to make first contact now?”
“Correct, we beaming over to Voyager and allow them to do some tests on us to see we are who and what we really are.” They left the hologrid.
Gale tilt his head. “Ooooo cool!
Keeper should his head. “Cool indeed Gale.” They walk to the Transporter Room meeting up with Di'Sai there, a whitish grey hippogriff at the controls look at each of them. “Transport us to Transporter Room Two on Voyager when you got a signal from them.”
“Aye captain.” She responded.
Di'Sai looked at him. “Care to explain captain?”
“We about to make first contact and they wish to run some medical tests to see who and what we are.” Keeper answered.
“Allowing them to take the lead, interesting concept captain, I will be prepared for anything that can go wrong.”
“I know you will be, I am counting on it.”
“We have a signal from Transporter Room 2 captain.” The hippogriff said.
He nod to the hippogriff. “Send us over.”
The female grey hippogriff nod and press on the display console. “Aye Captain.” And they transport over to Voyager.
Tuvok, Seven and Janeway with two security officers enter the transporter room. “Tell them we ready.”
“Aye captain.” Said the women at the transporter controls. “They received the transmission and three of them will be beaming over from their vessel.”
They stood ready and watch a curtain of bluish white light appear over three of the transporter pads, as it quickly appeared it fades to reveal all three creatures wearing uniform tops similar patterns but only one of them wearing something on the lower half being the yellow, cream and black griffon, and the blackish grey kitsune with purple fur like hair spiked on top of the head with tail tips.
Another thing that caught their attention instantly was the nine flames that were floating above each time of the kitsune, eight blue and one red, also they noticed the griffon and kitsune stood on all fours and were not humanoid, the kitsune towered over the two as well with her being around Tuvok's height while standing on all fours.
“Captain Janeway.” Keeper broke the silent staring from the humans, Vulcan and former Borg, he step off the pad up to them raising his hand up to Janeway.
Janeway look down at the 3ft 4'' tall anthropomorphic fox, she reach down to shake his hand feeling the fur and paw pads as well the claw tips press gently against her skin as they closed hands and shook. “Captain Sentinel welcome aboard to Voyager legitimately.”
They let go of each other hands, Keeper step back and put his hand out to the kitsune than the girffon. “Thank you, this is Commander Di'Sai head of security and tactical officer, she a kitsune one of our closest cousins in the vulpine family tree.” She nod respectively. “And this is Gale Solarclaw, his a cadet to the CFA.”
Gale waved his talon happily. “Nice to meet you!”
Janeway couldn't help but smile. “Nice to meet you too Gale.” Then she gestured to Tuvok and seven. “This is Commander Tuvok my head of security and tactical officer, and this is Seven of Nine former Borg and head of Astrometrics.” They nod in response.
The creatures step off the transporter pad. “I believe we should be heading to your sickbay?”
“Of course, please follow us.” Janeway said
“Oh by the way Captain Janeway, this may interest you. It the primary reason we were out here in the first place, let's just say time and events you never did was the key to making our meeting possible.” Keeper pull out from his bag a isolinear chip giving it to her. “We have a expert in temporal paradoxes that are unrivalled and let's say this will spark your interest.”
Janeway takes it. “Temporal paradox you say?” She lead them out of the transporter room.
Janeway and Tuvok stood in the Doctor's office waiting for him to finish up with his tests on all three creatures, Janeway had the computer turn around at the Doctor's desk they listened to the audio clips including images of a seriously damaged bridge with a hole in the front of the bridge, showing Janeway at the captain chair and what seem to be her aiming the ship to the time ship.
Next was a visual recording from the Deep Dive Explorer witnessing the destruction of the kremin time weapon ship, Seven been examining the recordings and image in detail at the wall console while watching it. “I can confirm these audio logs and the visual image including the destruction of the time weapon ship took place almost 254 days from now, it is as Commander Di'Sai said, time had been reset for the universe by almost a year.” Seven confirmed the data.
Janeway stared at the image of herself burned, scared, battered and tired. “I wonder what this Katherine went through with her crew in this year that was erased...”
“It is quite intriguing that this expert they spoke of was able to find this Temporal Echo as they call it in our systems.” Tuvok said with a curious raised brow. “The fact you ordered this version of myself to turn off the temporal shields in hope for resetting the timeline was both a curious and gutsy move you pulled.”
Janeway stood up straight. “It was and it worked.”
Seven responded about it in the form of why the Deep Dive Explorer came to this sector of space. “From what we been told, they quickly finished the construction of this prototype starship because of it unique faster than light engine would only work with this type of vessel, it was the only way they could get this far out from their space to find out what was causing all those temporal shockwaves.”
“A federation of creatures that found a way to protect their space and ships from temporal events and changes to the time line is incredible that it almost fantasy like.” Janeway said crossing her arms looking through the window at the kitsune laying on her stomach with forepaws over the edge of the bio-bed, hind legs under her body, her tails waving with the flames moving equally to the tails.
“Indeed, yet the fantasy seem very real, their Directive Omega 001 was designed for first contact with humans, even in their cultures your kind were a myth.” Tuvok said to Janeway. “I do however wonder how flames seem to just float directly above each of those nine tails.”
“It does make you wonder.” Janeway smiled. “It feels magical and mysteries.”
Seven turn around to them. “Myths are usual facts within, the fact that both humans, many of these aliens in their federation have a mythos of each other means somewhere down the line both most likely have met.”
Janeway lean against the desk keeping her arms crossed. “It seems like it Seven.”
Doctor walk into the office from the bio-bed after finishing his tests on Di'Sai. “Well Doctor, what the prognoses?”
Doctor walk up to the large screen display, Seven stepping to the side as he tap away on it with his fingers. “Answers and questions captain, I can say for sure they are very much real and say that I discovered something that I never thought possible.” He display Keeper's biometric data to them. “Captain Sentinel is a what he call himself a Foxterra, but his a android in a Foxterra body.”
They all looked at the visual data. “His a what?”
“A android mind in an flesh and blood body like all of you, his brain and his heart are the only two key things to show he isn't truly a biologically life form on the inside.” He showed the brain activity and it was firing electrical neonatological signals rapidly. “Captain his brain activity is 60 times greater than any one I have scanned or been scanned in the federation, his heart is some sort of synthetic crystal, without taking samples knowing exactly what it is, the crystal is releasing some form of energy through out every part of his body as well pumping blood through out his body.”
Tuvok raise a brow. “Fascinating. Are you telling me his own kind created him?”
“That what he tells me, and I can't see at this time why he would be lying about it. He can pretty much do what any sentient life form can do, he can dream, sleep, eat, drink and everything else. Captain Sentinel from what he told me has created a life for himself worked up the ranks and became a captain through years of service.”
Janeway stepped up taking a good look. “A android in living biological body?”
“Correct.” Doctor confirms it.
Seven curiously looked at all the data the Doctor provided. “Captain Sentinel is a unique form of life...”
Doctor tap at his pad than at the display to bring up Di'Sai bio-metric data. “The kitsune Commander Di'Sai, she was a interesting one as well, she as we see is a quadrupedal being. Each of her tails are fully functional and commanded either by her mind or mood.”
“To have control of walking on all fours, moving her head and breathing alongside nine extra limbs show she has impressive mental abilities.”
“Or Commander Di'Sai just naturally does it with ease because her biologically evoluation allowed it Mr Tuvok.” Doctor countered. “But on the note of the flames... they part of her and vis-versus. She called it magic and I told her there was no such thing, the purple flames over her tails intensified and her eyes glowed too with a strange aura that even my equipment couldn't detect. She was able to lift up all my tools with what I can say was telekinetic abilities, but I saw no increase activity in the mind to suggest that.”
Janeway raise a hand up. “A form of energy that we can't detect. But magic? That little hard to believe.”
Doctor looked unsure. “I don't know captain, these are creatures of myth are they not?”
“True Doctor... we are dealing with unknowns here... what of Gale Solarclaw?” Janeway asked.
Doctor activate the console data on Gale. “Just like Torres captain he a hybrid of two races, but this seem to be a evolutional trait, how long I can't say without more data. The body made up of both avian and feline parts, it seem that the origins are mostly aprized of feline, the forelegs are mainly that of a talon of an avian but the inner claw is able to rotate forwards to act as a thumb.”
"Interesting, his kind evolved to be able to walk on all fours as well able to use those forelimbs as if they are hands." Janeway said looking at the details on the thumb joints.
Doctor shows the beak. “He has teeth in the beak, incisors, canines and molars.”
“That sound awfully like human teeth.”
“In a way Captain, you see here, his incisors are more sharpy curved to match the beak, the canines just behind that and then the molars near the back of the beak. I never seen a beak with gums inside cartilage, it even got muscles in it too and able to flex to show a smile to bearing of the teeth as it were.” Doctor explained. “Also with wings start just above the shoulder joint and not sure how exactly he able to fly with them because of the body mass and bone density he has.”
Tuvok spoke in regrading the cub. “We have witnessed him flying with ease when walking in the corridor, maybe it something that we can not detect is the reason for his ability of flight.”
“It could be, without going deeper I can not say, the brain scan came back with very high level of rem patterns, it seem he is actively dreaming while awake and sleep, Gale told me he always had it and wouldn't change a thing about it, he love to imagine things and a child his age should have a active creative mind, if he was human.” He turn from Tuvok to Janeway. “Other than that they are what they say they are and in good health too Captain.”
“Thank you Doctor.” Janeway walk out of the office with Tuvok and Seven, she nod to the security officers, they nod and leave the sickbay, she turn to Keeper as he jump down from the bio-bed and the others do so as well. “Everything checked out, even I do not like the fact you were on my ship observing us and accessing non-critical systems I can safely say the Federation has done the same when it came to first contact with another race or in this case a Federation Alliance of creatures.”
Gale's ear twitched. “Wasn't that one of the lame names they thought of when founding the CFA?”
“Indeed it was.” Keeper chuckled lightly. “Creatures Federation Alliance sounded far better as a space fairing civilization.” Keeper stood before Captain Janeway with his hand raised up to her looking up as she look down. “Shall we do this again as the beginnings of first contact between our two space fairing civilizations? Captain Janeway”
Janeway lean down to shake his hand in turn again. “I believe we can Captain Sentinel. It will be interesting to get to know your culture as you to our own without all the sneaking around.”
“Touché Captain Janeway, touché.”
“Captain's Subblemental; (As the captain speak the Deep Dive Explorer undock from the emergency airlock to redock on the primary airlock on the side of Voyager's saucer section.) For the last two days both the crews of Voyager and Deep Dive Explorer have gotten to know each other, we each been exchanging culture data and star charts learning about one and another.
From what we've learnt so far the Creatures Federation Alliance was forged over 700 years ago by a group of seven worlds soon spanning out to many more worlds, their federation may not be as vast as the Untied Federation of Planets but they do have a rich cultural history which we only scratching the surface of.
Tonight I, Chakotay, Tom Paris and Neelix be dinning on board the Deep Dive Explorer getting a taste of their freshly prepared meals similar to what we have from Neelix, the crew been speaking highly of the food they been having while on board the Deep Dive Explorer, he as all of us are keen to see what their head Chief Noodles the Finchgriff have prepared for this private dinner between us, Captain Keeper Sentinel, Gale Solarclaw,his brother Ensign Spyro Solarclaw and Anubis Deathclaw.
In side the dining room Gale, Spyro, Keeper and Anubis sat at a table in a semi grew large circular room with a clear dome roof showing space above, around the walls stood planted pots of flowers and plants, a door to the galley sat between two of the Mother in-law tongue plants on stands, pictures of their worlds sat on the walls alongside mega structures, stations and well known ships in the CFA.
Spyro drinking a bit of the shake before him mixed with strawberries and girded gems, he pulled the muzzle away from the strew tip. “I got to admit Gale this is been one heck of a dream adventure so far, it feels as if we acting in a play but in a three dimensional environment within our dreams.”
“I have to admit it is impressive.” Anubis said sitting back on his chair with arms crossed. “It funny how these humans that know of their past talk about me as if I am that god of the dead.” Anubis chuckled lightly.
Keeper looking at the feeds showing Janeway, Chakotay, Neelix and Tom walking on board being escorted by Commander Ember to the Private Senior Officer Dining Room. “This has brought forward many ideas that I could work on back at Grimormia Tower, it also how those that invent do so as well, the power of imagination alongside the power of dreaming.”
Gale nod. “Yep that right, this is the only way I get to have random dreaming stuff too, this the third one I am having and sharing it again with others-” Gale paused for a second. “Well part from the second one because that was all that Grogar Echo doing, but before that we had fun with the Dragon Riders!”
“This time in space.” Spyro smiled.
“Yep! And with all of you!” Gale said happily. “I think Captain Janeway and the others about to arrive.” Gale point to the holographic screen.
Keeper wave his hand paw closing the screen down. “Best get into character.” They nod and got up as the larger doors open with Ember walking in standing to the side letting the guests in from Voyager.
“Presenting Captain Katherine Janeway, Commander Chakotay, Lt Tom Paris and ambassador Neelix.” They all walked in.
Keeper put a hand out to the empty chairs. “Please take a seat anywhere you like.”
They all walked in taking in the view of the dining room as well the large dome roof above them seeing the stars and partly of Voyager to the side. “Are we on Deck one?” Neelix asked
“We are, this ship has over five decks in total, Deck One section one through ten is the private dining room for senior officers.” Keeper answered as they took their seats at the table, Keeper and the others took their seats too.
Keeper nod to Ember. “Thank you Ember for escorting them here.”
“No problem at all Keeper, enjoy your evening.” she nod back and turn to leave.
Chakotay turn to her. “Aren't you staying?”
Ember looked around seeing them all in some form of formal wear. “I am not the chit-chatty kind of dragon, I am the more in your face kinda action kinda dragon.”
Anubis chuckled lightly. “That you are Ember, yet you also as in your exact words. 'I am far more intelligent then these idiot brutes of a dragons Anubis, even I know you have a special connection to all dragon kind I don't give two bits a damn about it.' Am I right, is that exactly what you said?”
Ember snorted out some flames in annoyance. “Damn you Anubis.”
“I can't get anymore damned as I am already Ember.” Anubis wittily said back with a fanged grin.
Ember growls. “I am so going to kick your sorry butt in that Klingon Martial Arts program Paris gave me you ass of the dead!” She point right at him.
“Challenge excepted.” Anubis said back calmly getting up and walking over to her, she up to him.
The Voyager crew not sure what to say and do as these two dragons seem to size each other up and than close a claw hand up on both their right sides, they raise their arms pulling back, they throw a punch that the fists meet each other with a forceful impact followed by them grabbing each other claw hands and pulling in grinning at each other. “Now enjoy your lame ass dinner old timer.” She push off and leave with the doors closing behind.
Anubis walk back to the table sitting down. “Was that something of a dragon cultural thing we just witnessed?” Neelix asked.
“It kinda was, let's say things are going to get fiery in the Hologrid later on.” Anubis said calmly picking up his glass taking a sip of his drink.
“Sound like Tom picked a program you dragons really like.” Janeway said with a smile.
“Not all dragons.” Anubis added. “Similar to other races you find those that don't like to fight and try to advoid it for a more peaceful manner, such as Spyro, he will train his abilities and grow, but the means for fighting another is self-defence only, you have the titan classes that just have no interest in it at all.”
“Titan classes?” Chakotay asked.
Gale spoke up to answer that. “They are twenty feet tall to your measurements! They huge very huge 300 plus year old dragons! Dragons stop growing around 250-300 years of age!”
They looked at each other with surprise. “So your young?”
Anubis chuckled. “Wish I was, unlike the other dragonkind I am wingless and out of phase of normal time in a way I can step back and forwards through time as normal as it to breathe.” Anubis explained to them. “I am well over 22,000 years old.”
“Your really that old?” Janeway asked.
“Yes, I could of easily ended up existence a long time ago, but that would be dishonourable and cowardly, so because of my unique background I became a symbol of a god to all Dragonkind, their god of the dead and I have no connect to this Egyptian god your database has. I am a Death Dragon not a jackal.”
Keeper crack a smile at that. “I be funny seeing you in that outfit.” A pair of hippogriffs walk around the table filling up the glasses with juice.
Anubis rolled his glowing eyes. “Maybe some day Keeper, maybe. I am far too old to get embarrassed such a silly thing.”
Tom spoke up. “I am glad I got the lucky draw from the senior crew to be here, it fun hearing and seeing all this. I mean you all seem to speak so causal to each other.”
“Off time we do and here even it a somewhat formal dinner, let's just remove the ranks, enjoy a good meal, get to know each other and be more ourselves.” Keeper said picking up his glass, the others do so in turn.
“And let this be the beginning of a wonderful friendship between the Creatures Federation Alliance and the Untied Federation of Planets.” Janeway added.
“Here here!” They cheered.
A orange finchgriff with black stripes and a white under body and under feather wings with a black beak wearing a white chief cook walk up to the table with eight menus held under one wing. “Good evening to all creatures of two federations, I will be your master chief of the evening, these two lovely twins of a hippogriffs will be your servers.”
She give the menus to the two hippogriffs in formal black shirt CFA uniform tops took them. “I am Noodles Claw'Sai, please feel free to take a good look and pick your three courses, I hope you enjoy whatever you ask me to make. I look forward to hearing how you think of all of it when your done, good or bad, it always helps me to learn from the experience.” She said cheerfully to them.
“We most certainly will as I am a cook myself, I look forward for you to trying some of my own.” Neelix said proudly back to her.
“I look forward to it.” She bow her head and leave as the white with blue mane and tail hippogriffs serve the menus out to them all.
Gale took his menu opening it up. “It chow time!” Gale said cheerfully with glee getting a hefty laugh from everyone at the table.
Chapter 107.75: An Interstellar Adventure Part three
Chapter 107.75: An Interstellar Adventure Part three
As they went through the menus they were given; Janeway, Chakotay and Tom noticed something about many of the starters, mains and desserts, they were dishes that were and still being served on Earth today. They was quite surprised to see them and shared a look at each other before turning to Keeper almost at the same time with a curious looks falling upon him that he noticed.
Keeper lower his menu. “Is something wrong Captain?”
“Not at all, only the fact that many of these dishes are from Earth, I thought you were giving a taste of your cultures, not ours.” Janeway said in a unamused tone putting the menu down.
Keeper gave her a confused look. “We didn't get that far into looking into Earth Culture, we got distracted when there was references of our races in your database from the mythos side of the coin as humans are or was mythological as we were to you.” He looked over to Neelix. “The only food we know of is what Neelix served in your Mess Hall in the last three days.”
Janeway point to one of the mains. “Grout Freckle, served with cabbage, sausage and potatoes.”
“Tomato and Basil soup served with bread.” Tom adds. “Classic Prawn Cocktail; juicy prawns cerved with crisp shredded lettuce, tomato and cucumber, tossed with Mayo sauce.” Tom point to another. “Golden Potato Dippers; Topped with cheese and spring onion served with a choose of ketchup, BBQ or hot sauce.”
Chakotay point to a mains item. “Fish and chips; classic battered cooked in vegetable oil with potato skin chips or this one. Full rack of pork ribs; falling off the-”
Gale interrupts him. “They are classic griffish dishes from Gala Chakotay, my fav is Fish and Chips! That been going around for almost 700 years! The Griffina Great Kingdom created it before the Grand World War that almost ended all of griffon kind and turn Gala into a wasteland.” Gale explained to them.
Spyro adds his own remarks to this. “The meats, chicken and fish are kept in a stasis freezer, we farm our food in the Airponics Farm on Deck 4 section 10 to 49, the freshly picked veg, fruit, corn and lettuce is processed and cleaned up before being stored in the chiller to keep fresh longer, your sensors must of picked up on the high level of plant life on deck 4.”
Janeway did recall that in the report. “We did, just didn't realise it was a farm.”
“Farm and leisure area, there fields, trees and a pond there with a gazebo there too.” Anubis stated. “It quite relaxing place to go to after staring at bulkheads, consoles and such in an starship.” Anubis took a sip of his drink.
Tom put the menu down. “How is it possible you have beef, chicken and fish that exactly like that found on Earth?”
Keeper shrugs. “Wish I could answer that Mr Paris, there no conclusion data to explain that, our home world located twenty-two thousand light-years from here on the edge of the galaxy what you call the Delta Quadrant.” Keeper look to the menu. “Why don't we order what we going to eat before Noodles get impatient with us and call up from the kitchen demanding on why it taking so long for us to order something.”
“I have to agree, one thing a chief hates is waiting forever for a order.” Neelix agreed. “Also I already picked out what I wanted.” He wave over a hippogriff. “I'll have the Tomato and Basil soup for starters, than I will have this Fish and Chips, it seem to be the little fella's favourite and for dessert I will try this hot brownie with vanilla icecream. And for the drink I'll have this Orange Juice.”
The hippogriff tap on her pad the details for Neelix. “Thank you Mr Neelix, once the others ordered we will serve your drinks and starters will be ready shortly after that.”
“I look forward to it erm...”
“My name is Seahook and my brother over there is Hooksea.” She bow her head and walk over to Gale to get his order, while her brother work on getting Keeper, Spyro and Anubis's orders while the three humans decide theirs, Chakotay going for a vegetarian option.
Neelix warmly smiled. “It good to meet you Seahook, thank you for being our servers tonight.”
Seahook showed a smile on her beak. “It a pleasure to do so, getting to meet you and the human crewmates is a honour Mr Neelix.”
“What is this curious dream which my nephew created? A ship that sails the stars...” Luna observes from a by-standing prospective. She noticed a Finch Griffon with a human like being with ridges on the forehead walking by, Luna follows them.
B'Elanna on Deck 3 near the rear of the Deep Dive Explorer followed the finch griffon Antimatter to their Engineering, as they walked through the curved corridors she saw very little of their crew. “For a ship third of Voyager's size I sure haven't seen much of your crew Antimatter.”
“Three of them are tending to the Airponics Farm on Deck 4, you have three of my team in Engineering, four on the bridge, two running the kitchen, two serving the meals to Captain Keeper, Ensign Spyro, Gale and Anubis with four of your fellow crew members which one of them is Captain Janeway, about half of the crew are resting while the others tending to the needs of your crew on board our ship or exploring yours.”
Antimatter explanation explaining why so little of her fellow crewmates were seen by B'Elanna made the Voyager Chief Engineer feel a bit guilty. “Right crew of Twenty-nine... sorry.”
“For what? I was only explaining why you weren't seeing so many of my fellow crewmates Lt. Torres.” Antimatter looked up to her with a small smile from her beak. “Your about to see the only one of two prototype engines that this ship was specially built for.”
B'Elanna couldn't help but smile back at this half pint of a furball, for something that only reach almost waist height while standing on all four paws this engineer had that spark about her. “Two you say? If this engine can get you across space from your space to here in under six months over 22,000 light-years, why not improve upon it to build more?”
Antimatter and B'Elanna approached the door. “We Finchgriffs and the Rainbow Faces love to invent and improve upon those that already made, but there are limits to what you can improve upon and sadly the Compression Drive was one of them, we only had enough of this type of rare ore and crystals to create two workable prototype engines. If we could find more of it than we gladly will do so.”
The door opens to a control room with a large reaction chamber before them, working at upper and lower stations were a griffon, finchgriff and a dragon, B'Elanna walk by them to stand at a observation platform seeing a large white crystal with dark forms of energy moving around in shapes of rings, around them are nine large pylons containing the reaction and releasing the energy into collectors all around the outer wall of the chamber.
“Impressed?”
“More than that, that crystal is reacting with dark matter in a way that releasing huge amounts of energy, you enter a layer of subspace that dark matter exists doesn't it? That why this ship was designed the way it was! Your travelling through a compression of space between subspace and normal space!” B'Elanna said with amazement.
The orange dragon with two horns behind her head one broken, red spines on top of her down the back of the neck with a tail spade matching the spines lean over from her console looking to the Klingon. “Someone that speaks the lingo and understands the engine itself without looking at data, now that my kind of engineer! Name's Smogger, Lt. Smogger.”
B'Elanna turn and look up at her. “Lt. B'Elanna Torres, chief engineer of Voyager. I gather those pylons keep the dark matter and the crystal where they are, and using the gravity from the dark matter you also manage to create a spin from those ring formations. I bet that you even have suits that would hold against that immense gravity too so you can repair those pylons, which comes to the question.”
Luna stared at the large crystal with the rings of dark matter energy spinning around it creating a reaction of energy. “This dream, this unusual reaction between the crystal of light and the matter of dark creates a energy that used to not only power this ship that sails the stars, but also travel so fast the distance between stars are almost meaningless. Also I see Doctor Trace and gather this is not him but a reputational dream version of such as one of these engineers.” Luna continue to obverse them.
“I am Ensign Trace Whistleclaw. What are those pylons made of? That your question correct?” The male dark blue griffon said with a very long curved beak, B'Elanna noticed the odd colour feathers on the head and wing tips with the shape of the beak she would guess he a cross of a feline and a parrot avian race.
“It is, also I can't help notice you look like part parrot.”
He chuckled. “Macaw to be more accurate and I wear this device on my uniform to make you understand me, translation devices do not work well with the whistling in our vocalisation of words.” Whistleclaw point to the device attach to his uniform.
“I gather that would give everyone a headache.” She said bluntly crossing her arms. “Now about the pylons?”
He snap his index and thumb claws. “Of course, getting a tad off topic there. The pylons are made of a unison extremely dense ore, we fused it with many elements of metals to create something that wouldn't even bend close to the edge of a black hole and yes we made a probe to test that out.”
B'Elanna on cross her arms looking quite stunned. “Okay that is really impressive, I got to admit seeing this and learning about your drive core is nothing I was prepared for. Why show me something highly experimental?”
A yellow finchgriff with red feathers spoke up. “We looked at the history of your starship, your warp drive is a type nine, at the time it was brand new and never been put into a starship before your own, also we all talked and agreed that you should come and see our engine after we seen yours.” He said tapping away at the console he sat in front. “I am Lt Matter, Antimatter's twin.”
“And for the record I am the oldest by two minutes.” Antimatter said with a smirk getting a eye roll from her brother.
“Don't forget the whacky one of us.” He muttered getting a glare from Antimatter.
B'Elanna look at each of them. “I can see you two definitely are twins the way you are acting.” She turn to the view of the engine. “Now tell me something, is this engineering transdimensional?” They all looked at each other with surprise upon hearing her say those words. “It is isn't it?”
Smogger laughed slapping her on the back getting a anger and annoyed look from the half-Klingon. “Your right! Haha! It not much but we can make rooms about 17% larger than they should be!”
“Not many notice, you have a keen eye Lt Torres.” Antimatter was impressed. “How do you know about transdimensional engineering? We didn't find any records about it on Voyager's database.”
B'Elanna walk up to the observation platform looking at the engine core. “It a classified log to do with a ship from a different era of time, it was found by the Untied Earth vessel Enterprise NX-01, the tactical officer Malcolm Reed and the chief engineer Charles Tucker the 3rd. They discovered by chance the ship was vastly larger on the inside then it was on the outside, it always fasciated me and till now there been nothing like it since.”
Ensign Trace grew curious about it. “We can only expand a room dimensions within the walls, that level of transdimensional technology beyond us. I do wonder how it possible creating something that vastly larger than it should be within the confines of the room or ship.”
B'Elanna walk back to their stations. “Got to say, this trip got interesting.”
“And it will continue too.” Matter bring up on the screen what happen to the ship when it engages the drive core, the ship vanishes into a strange greenish brown glow.
B'Elanna eyes widen at the screen that played out before her. “What the hell was that?” Antimatter was satisfied that she was going to spend a lot of time with them getting to know their engine as well get to know Voyager's Chief Engineer.
“It has been interesting seeing events play out beyond those that are really sleep, now let's see what my nephew is up to at this very moment.” Luna lit up her horn to sense their presence. “Ahhh there you are Gale.”
Tom pull the spoon away from his mouth enjoying the taste and fill of the tomato soup. “Now this is what you call tomato soup! It delicious!”
Keeper finished eating his dessert, he gave Tom a odd look. “That is your third helpings of the soup Mr Paris... is there a story behind this?”
Tom wave his empty spoon and point it out towards Keeper. “Definitely, long story short when I first came on board Voyager we had a massive food repudiator in the Mess Hull and that thing couldn't even make plain tomato soup, since then I haven't touch the stuff and now your chef Noodles really nailed it and fired up my taste buds in this most awesome and amazing tomato soup I ever had!”
Janeway gave a smile and shrug. “Can't argue with that logic, can we?”
“Nope!” Gale said instantly getting a laugh from everyone around the table.
Neelix finished the last of his sundae. “I for one say that the chef did a great job and I enjoyed every last one I had.” Neelix turn to Noodle standing by the door to the galley. “Thank you for making all this amazing food for us.”
She bow her head slightly and raised it. “Thank you, I am honoured that you all enjoyed the meals I and my team prepared today for you. I wish I could stay a bit longer but we got breakfast to prep and clean up before we get some sleep.”
Keeper nod. “Thank you Noodle.” Noodle leaves.
Chakotay put down his glass. “I believe both federations have a chance of finding a form of peace, yet I do wonder how do you plan on getting to Earth starting the process of forming trades, alliances and such? Finding us was by chance.”
Spyro tap the tip of his muzzle. “A good question Commander, we only have two ships that can travel long distances. Our form of faster than light went a different path to most other races, we don't have warp or transwarp forms of technology.”
“Why not?” Tom asked.
Keeper pressing his hands against each other resting it on the table. “Because of our temporal shielding through out our space, it lead to a side effect through out it with subspace being ruptured till you leave it and about 10 light years out. Our form of faster than light is Darkmatter Jump drives.”
Janeway looked very surprised, so did the others. “You harnessed the use of dark matter?”
“Indeed we did, it jumps a ship into high level of speeds for about 15 seconds, depending home much power you put into it depend on the distance, so we use capture gates that we set a course to and Darkmater Jump to.” Keeper explained. “Early days of use left some ships coming out of the short jump into planets, suns, asteroid and even other unexpecting ships.”
Tom cringed. “Yanks that is nasty method of travel.”
Anubis cross his arms. “It was, but warp travel became impossible after we had to deal with the first few temporal waves that hit our space over 200 years ago.
Gale raise his talon, Keeper nod to him. “That was when we created the temporal shield grid to protect all of CFA space from changes in the timeline!”
“Correct.” Anubis said.
Luna watched. “It as if I am watching a play, this is different to the other dream adventures.”
“In turn that led to the Dark Matter Jump Drive being invented, and in turn we created-” Gale gasped. “What if we create four gates! We could make a jump gate to each gate for instant travel over great distances! We could use this ship and the sister ship to go to those points to create a midway station than to the sector near Untied Federation of Planets space!” Gale said suddenly coming up with the idea.
Keeper thought about it. “That could work, we could create a network of Darkmatter Gates that would allow the jump to link to them through each gate instant of ship randomly in a section of space jumping to the gate. It would take some work, but it could be done in theory... a gate to gate jump never been done and only two ships have been created with a drive core that doesn't do jumps.” Keeper got up walking back and forwards speaking about the possibles tapping the underside of his muzzle to moving his hands in motion.
Janeway raise her hands up. “Hold on a second, what are you two talking about?”
“Well when we return home, we may find a way to create a galactic crossing gateway between us and Earth. This is only a theory and idea at the moment, but the way Gale presented sound like we could do it, it could take years to pull off, but if all goes well we could create a two way system across 50,000 plus light-years that would take mere hours.”
Chakotay, Neelix, Tom and Janeway looked at each other with surprise. “Where would this midway station be exactly? If you able to do what your thinking of.” Chakotay dared to ask.
“Somewhere close to about 10 to 20,000 light-years from this point closer to Earth would be the logical choose of placement.” Spyro said. “But that if we even get a approval to experiment on two gates in this manner first, let alone the council agreeing to this. First contact with you was a moment of luck, there was no real plan on it at all.” Spyro explained.
“That is true, but think of it this way, they have a reason to do so, Earth.” Neelix said with a smile.
Keeper smirked. “That is true we do have that in hand, it will be something to present to CFA council and Fleet Command when we get home in a few months.”
“Well it something that could give us hope.” Janeway said. “This dinner turned into something very interesting and beaming with some hope.”
“It sure sound it.” Gale said proudly. “I am happy to come up with the idea!”
Janeway smiled. “Sometimes ideas start off something big in ways we never known, thank you cadet for giving hope for a strong connection between our two federations and the races within.” She raise her glass. “Too Cadet Gale and hope we form a very strong bound with our mythologically cousins.” They raise their glasses in turn.
Luna smiled seeing this. “And of course something like that happens that give the young griffon praise for a idea, it a ideal dream. I am curious what kind of twist will be installed.”
The next day came, Antimatter, Keeper and Gale with Di'Sai in Astrometrics with Seven Captain Janeway, B'Elanna and Tuvok go over the communicational upgrade to Voyager's systems to keep in touch with Deep Space Explorer and CFA. “This upgrades could be installed to Voyager, it will take time to do so, but we could possibly look forward to keeping in contact.” Seven hand over pad to Janeway.
The captain goes over the specs and upgrades they could do to Voyager. “I say go ahead, how long do you think it will take to do the necessary upgrades, B'Elanna?” Janeway give the pad to the chief engineer.
B'Elanna tap away on the pad. “A few weeks to a month at best, they use a form of matter and dark matter reactions to create the pulse. We will have to reinforce the deflector dish to withstand the dense gravity waves released, also to make sure it doesn't effect the surrounding space around us.”
Keeper turn to Antimatter. “You think we can give them a start before we head back home?”
“I believe so, it will be basic but it should be a good start if we give them a type two Graviton Unit that would aid in suppressing graviton pulses and strengthen the deflector dish too.” Antimatter answered.
“We would have to go through it to see if we can use it with our technology, but we appreciate the help anyway.” B'Elanna said.
Tuvok spoke next. “Di'Sai gave us some specs for upgrading our shields to protect us from temporal events.”
Di'Sai respond in turn. “Captain Keeper and I believed after what happened with the Krenim it would be best to give you these much needed upgrades to protect yourself.” She turn to Tuvok. “Before we depart by the end of the day I will work with you Commander Tuvok to show how to use the current systems to create the temporal shielding through Voyager's shield grid.”
Gale sitting at a console tap his claw tips away on it looking at the display as he create a simulation of modifying a Darkmatter Gate, the other talon press against the side of his face elbow on the side looking slightly bored. “You four got a lot of work to do, I say go ahead and get started, what do you say Captain Janeway?” Keeper said.
“I agree, go to it.”
“Aye captain.” They said together and leave Astrometrics.
Seven glance over to Gale with a raised eye brow, she was curious about what was displayed. “Cadet Gale may stay with me, if that is acceptable with both of you Captain Janeway and Captain Keeper.”
“I don't see a problem, do you captain?”
“No I don't captain.” Keeper replied to Janeway. “I believe we got time for a tour of each other bridges.” He raise a hand to the door, Janeway smiled and walk out with Keeper following her out the door.
Luna stood on the higher platform by the large curved display watching Seven now alone with Gale walk up to the station he sat at. “Nephew Gale looks bored, is this part of the dream adventure?”
Blue step up beside her. “I believe it is.” He telepathically spoke to her.
Luna turn to him. “Is something wrong?”
“No I grew a bit curious and Alpha is keeping a eye on things outside.”
Seven stood over Gale's right side looking at the display. “Curious, you are using chroniton particles with darkmatter to envelop a ship carrying them through a layer of tachyons between space and subspace connecting to another ring with neutrino emissions with pulses of graviton fluxes between the two. If this design works this would create a unique form of wormhole that created and collapsed after each transfer of a ship from one gate to another creating a journey time of few minutes between two points.”
Gale raise his head turning to Seven. “Do you think it could work?”
Seven lean over tapping away on console. “It ambitious, we will need to refine the design within a prospective that wouldn't require a lot of power to create such a link between the two, you have to take account of distance too and both gates need to communicate at real time to create such a stable link.”
“So it a good start, but need more work?”
“Correct, shall we continue and solve this transgalactic problem we discovered? We may not solve it today, but we may create a start in doing so. And improve upon this ambitious design you have created Cadet Gale.” She said in a monological tone to Gale, he knew she sounded some what impressed and seem a little surprised a teen was able to create something so ambitious in design.
Gale glanced over to Luna's and Blue's direction. “I am glad that they found my observation choice of entering the dream adventure, wonder what Aunt Luna is thinking about this adventure over the last two. Wonder if I can get Blue involved in this adventure.” While thinking to himself Gale sudden came up with a fun idea how to get Blue involved, this look from Gale caught their attention.
Luna lean over to Blue. “That look says he knows we here and just thought of something crazy to get you involved.”
“I believe your right... how... I do not know...”Blue responded telepathically.
Anubis stood at one of the most outer corridors of Voyager near a window staring out to space, he was lost in deep troubling thoughts when Harry Kim came up to him standing beside the seven foot tall wingless dragon looking out the window as well. “Quite the view isn't it?”
“Indeed is it.” Anubis responded to the small talk.
“Was last nights meal good?”
“It was, we had much to talk about and enjoy our meals.” Anubis turn his head slightly and down to the ensign. “Is there something I can do for you?”
Harry turn his head slightly and up in turn to Anubis. “Those that come here and stare out at the mass of stars usually have deep thoughts that troubling them, I gather you do?”
Anubis turn to staring back out to space. “Very observed Harry Kim.”
“Sooooo what on your mind?”
“A lot...”
“Care to share?”
“I turned the humans into myth and legends on all the core planets that share history about the mythos of the human race, they once existed over 4000 years ago in another dimension, wiped out with Earth by a spacial storm and I carry a lie that is slowly catching up on me...”
Harry was taken back by what Anubis just said. “I had a theory that how our myths seem to have a common theme, it could be the same for us in our history.”
Anubis lower his head breathing out heavily before responding to Kim. “It could be Harry Kim, but there one thing I carry more recent that is now really catching up on me...”
“But you outlived everything in your area of space, not everyone going to continue to believe humans were real till now at least...” He slows down realising what Anubis meant. “I see, with the rediscovery of humans what you kept to yourself could resurface and even it been 4000 years of countless life times. They won't take that into account will they?”
“Indeed young one... it a bloody headache carrying so much on my shoulders in ways that I can not even begin to explain and for you to understand.” Anubis said. “Only my family and those I hold very close to my heart knows my burden...”
Harry had to admit this was a strange conversation that seem to be reflecting more for Anubis and confusing the young ensign. “I might not know where your going with this Anubis, but I am willing to listen.”
Anubis smiled a little. “Thank you Harry Kim, how about we go to your mess and get a bloody good cup of tea? And I bleed my bloody problems to you Harry Kim?”
“Sure. I'll show you the way.”
“Or we can just take a shortcut.”
“What kind of shortcut?”
Anubis raise his unarmoured hand with a staff appearing in his grip. “Step up beside me and stand still.” Harry did so. “Now here we go.” He bang his staff down a few times and a whirling cloud of blackish purple.
Next thing Harry knew he was standing by the door of the mess with Anubis, all eyes on them. “What the heck was that!?” He step back from Anubis.
“I have the ability to teleport not only in space but time, we are a few seconds before we teleported, check the visual on deck six section 17.” Anubis point to the display over the replicator.
Harry walk by everyone and checks to see himself standing beside Anubis and vanishing in the purple black cloud. “Your saying with temporally teleported without technology!?”
“Correct, it a form of magic that part of me and me alone.” He raise the armoured claw hand up with the magical shimmering from it making the staff vanish. “I can tell you all about it if you wish.”
Harry was a bit nervous and taken back by this surprising ability Anubis had. “Alright... you wanted tea correct?”
“Indeed.”
Harry turn to a silent stunned Neelix. “Neelix can you brow up some of your herbal Talaxian tea?”
“Yes sure...” Neelix quickly snap out of it going to grab a pot from a cabinet.
Anubis takes a seat by the corner near the window gesturing to the empty spot. “Ready to listen Harry Kim?”
Harry takes a seat. “I am.”
A purple foreclaw rest on the pool table with the other holding the pool que with the tip moving back and forwards gentle near the white ball, with a thrust it knocked into a solid colour with foreclaws both on table and holding the pool que lifted.
Tom Paris watched Spyro knock two solids into the pockets. “How the heck are you doing that?”
“Winning? I just know how to adapt to games, after losing two straight games from you I managed to pick up on the odd angle of the pool table and your style of play. I observe and learn from what I see.” Spyro said calmly to Tom. “Also I like this pub, it feels so rustic.” Spyro looked around standing on his hind legs using the que as some support to hold his upper body up right. Spyro knock another ball it bounce off the sides.
Tom walked around to take his turn. “That kinda creepy and cool, also I had a look into you Spyro and you know what I found?” Tom get a stripe in and misses the next pocket with the next shot.
“I am to you a fictional character based on a 20th century to early 21st century game?” Spyro said taking his shot.
Tom went to take his shot. “And I am getting my butt wiped by said fictional character that is very much real and a ensign no less.”
“That you are Tom.” Spyro pocketed another few balls coming to the black one. “This purple dragon wins by a corner!” He shots and pockets the black. “That game.” He grinned.
Tom laughed. “It sure is Spyro.” Tom put the que down walking over to a table, Spyro joins him at the table with a few glasses of beer at the table for them to drink at. “I heard your brothers with the cadet, how is that even possible?”
“We brothers by a unique bond that personal between us and not by blood. So I can't say anymore than that.” He took the mug with a forepaw and drunk a bit of it. “And no our father didn't pull any strings, it standard practice to have siblings look out for their younger brother or sister as they go through the right of passage to becoming adults for griffons even I am not one myself.” Spyro explained to Tom Paris.
“Wouldn't that create a conflict of interest?”
“Sometimes it could.” Spyro shrugged. “It a way that been working for the most part for ages, we made minor changes over the years to improve upon it, but mainly it just what we have.” He drunk a bit more of his beer.
Tom drinks some of his. “It strange hearing something so mature come from Spyro.”
Spyro frowned. “So I am older than my fictional counterpart, doesn't mean I know how to have fun.” Spyro gave a fanged sly smile. “Do any of your programs have combat?”
Tom grinned too. “Matter of fact we do, what have you got in mind?”
Spyro finished off his beer getting out of his seat removing his uniform shirt with strap putting them on the side standing on all fours puffing out some flames from his muzzle. “Give you the Spyro experience.”
Tom smiled raising a finger. “I got the exact program we can use! Computer arch.” The arch appears and he goes to it. “Perfect, ready to roast some monsters?”
“Give it all you got Paris!” Spyro puffed out some more flames from his nostrils.
Naomi Wildman stared up slightly at what seem empty space to all walking by her, but to this very young girl she was looking right into Blue's eyes. “Hi! Who are you?”
Blue swallowed hard. “Erm... Blue...”
She warmly smiled. “I am Naomi Wildman! I'm meeting mum at Holodeck 1 for a adventure with Flotter, like to come?” She raise her hand up to him.
Blue slowly reach out his paw to her hand and she took it without hesitation. “I believe I have time...”
The double door to the Deck 2 Mess Hull of Voyager slides open, Naomi Wildman walks in with her mum Samantha. “Ah Samantha, Naomi it good to see you.” Neelix welcomed them walking out of the galley to greet them. “How was your adventure with Flotter Naomi?” He knelt down to her warmly asked his god-child.
Naomi gave him a hug, he returned it. “I had a lot of fun! Blue even joined us and we played hide and seek! He was really good at it both!”
“Blue? Is that a new character?” Neelix asked.
“No he right behind us.” She let go and point behind Samantha. “He Gale's Guardian Protector.”
Neelix saw nothing behind them. “There nothing there sweetie.”
Samantha looked confused. “His there Neelix, he a jackal diamond dog.”
Neelix narrow his gaze. “I don't see anything...”
“I am hidden from most by the power of my aura, let me.” Neelix first was startled by hearing a voice in his head till Blue appeared before his eyes and the crew in the Mess Hull, they were all surprised by the sight of this strange creature. “I am Blue the Jackal Diamond Dog, protector of Master Gale Solarclaw. It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Neelix.” He bow his head slightly with a hand paw across the upper part of his chest above the chest spike with eyes closed.
Neelix holding his hand over his chest leaning against the counter with shock. “Yo-you really gave me a scare...”
Blue raise his head. “It wasn't my intention to do so.” He moved the paw hand away reaching out and up slightly to Neelix. “I believe this is how humans greet one another for the first time, unless I am mistake.”
Neelix push off the counter reaching his hand out to grab the paw hand shaking it. “It is, why am I hearing you speak but your mouth not moving?”
Blue smirked realising his paw hand from Neelix. “I speak through a method of telepathy, my verbal language is untranslatable.” Blue answered. “Your hearing me in your mind, all of you are.” Blue walked up to a table taking a seat, Naomi joined him. “Mrs Wildman and her daughter Naomi Wildman asked if I would join them for a meal, I accepted and curious about your cooking Mr Neelix.”
Neelix smiled. “I am not one for turning away someone that need something to eat, I'll gladly make you three up something in a jiffy.” He went into the galley to prepare something for them all.
“Neelix makes really good food, your going to like it Blue!” Naomi said with glee.
Blue closed his eyes sniffing the air. “A curious smell indeed, I will give it a try young Naomi Wildman.” He opened his eyes looking over to the young girl. “And I am glad to have enjoy our games in the holodeck, even the Flotter hologram tested my patients...”
Samantha laughed a little. “Not everyone likes Flotter, but at least you and Naomi had fun at least.”
“True.”
Lt. Renny stood before the controls in the small room while Janeway and Keeper stood in front of a platform. “Connection will be established in a few minutes Captain Sentinel, we will have a link with Admiral Grover for about four minutes and seventeen seconds for this cycle.” Lt. Renny reported to Keeper Sentinel.
Keeper pulled on his shirt adjusting his trousers a little. “Understood Lt. Renny, activate.” The Rainbow Face nod and press the touch panel to activate the link.
Before them stood a holographic real time projection of Admiral Grover standing on his hind legs with forelegs behind his back under his resting wings. “Captain Janeway; it a pleasure to meet you face to face so to speak, I am Admiral Grover Solarclaw of the Creatures of Federation Alliance.”
Janeway step forwards a little. “It a pleasure to meet you too Admiral, talking across 22,000 plus light years is quite the felt.”
“It is with it limitations, it all experimental as well the Deep Dive Explorer and it new drive core.” He pull a foreleg around raising his talon. “I've got some good news from the last transmission from you Captain Sentinel, you can share the transmission, sensor technology and the data with Captain Janeway and Voyager.”
Keeper smiled. “That is good news Admiral, that would help them find a quicker way home. Also on a side note recently your son Gale and a crew member of Voyager Seven of Nine been working on a idea how to create a gate network that would allow us to travel to Earth in mere hours.” Keeper informed the admiral too of the surprising news coming from early reports.”
Admiral Grover rubbed the underside of his beak for a second before moving the talon away gesturing to Janeway. “If that would be the case and when Deep Dive Explorer returns to CFA space, we could be helping you get home in a few years time.”
Janeway felt happy hearing that. “It would mean a lot for us Admiral, but I will keep that optimise on the side. Things can go easily wrong and best not to put all our eggs in one basket.”
“Wise words captain, we will keep you up to date on this, even exchange of knowledges to help make it a reality. I am happy that we got to talk about this and know there a chance our two federations could have a real connection between the two.” Grover said warmly to Janeway.
“And we may meet face to face for real.” Janeway raise her hand he placing the talon near with the holographic form phasing slightly through her hand. “Also we can shake talon to hand for real.”
“I would like that.” He smiled back. “I think this will be a warm new beginning for the two federations, I hope that your fellow federation are just like you for the most part. It most likely we will have some rock heads that are not so open and wish to take all safety before trade, travel, alliances and so on, it will take a lot of time.” Grover said moving his talon away from her hand.
Janeway shrugged. “It all part of the political part of any space ferrying civilizational. It will take time and if you are able to help us get home sooner it may play in your favour.”
Grover chuckled. “You have a very strong valid point, I will present that to the council for sure and may sway some. But for now we have this moment and it history in the making.”
Keeper step back to stand by the controls Renny stood at. “Lt. Renny what do you think is our chances of an alliance?”
Renny looked over to Janeway and Grover talking still. “I give it a 89% chance of success captain, and I have high hopes it will.”
“That kind of praise from a Rainbow Face? I'll gladly take it.” Keeper said as they continued to watch the human and griffon talk.
Gale sat with hind legs crossed in from of a Kadis-Kot board playing against Seven of Nine sitting on the floor of Cargo Bay two, Seven just moved her green piece. “Green grid 14-4.” Seven place the green piece on the board.
Gale moved another piece from one part of the board onto it. “Kadis-kot! I win!” Gale cheered.
Seven curiously looked at the board. “As it seem, you seem to pick on this curious game faster than I did. I saw the error of my move that caused my defeat now.” Seven said with some irrational in her voice.
Gale started to take the pieces off the board. “I just got lucky and it was our first game too.” Gale said to Seven. “I really enjoyed this game, you don't seem tense either even you lost.”
“Indeed, when you found this Kadis-Kot game in the database and wanted to give a go, I was apprehensive at first. But I found this experience to be worth while, thank you Gale.” Seven acknowledged she somewhat found the game enjoyable in her own words.
Gale putting the pieces back into the box. “The last four days been cool, I had a great time getting to know those I met on Voyager! Specially you! We worked on something that could mean we get to meet more humans from the Untied Federation of Planets in time! Even you could visit our space if it works! You would love Gala! Specially the capital Griffonstone!” Gale gasped quickly putting the remaining pieces away and searching through his bag.
Seven picked up the board with the box of pieces. “I have to admit meeting many different beings upon the Deep Dive Explorer have been intriguing, you specially have caught my attention Gale Solarclaw. Your young with intelligence, imagination and open to new ideas, even playing this game you showed creative strategy against me to win.” Seven placed the Kadis-kot board on top of the work console side.
Gale pulled out his pad and give it to her. “That picture on there is of the city Griffonstone, it the pride of the Griffons!”
Seven took a look at the picture seeing a city built around a large tree, sitting on it large branches to the centre top of it was buildings and what look like a large palace. “It is a unusual city, not one I have seen before or the Borg in that matter. Your kind and the other races of the CFA never encountered the Borg since till four days ago I was unaware of all of you myself.” Seven said giving the pad back to Gale, he put it back in his bag.
Gale tap the tip of his beak. “Till I looked at the database on Voyager about the Borg, I didn't even know about them.” Gale move the claw away from his beak. “I think it might have something to do with the unstable subspace around all of our space, transwarp wouldn't work like warp. So Borg wouldn't be able to get far into that area of space, if they attempted it would take about seven years or so to get to the nearest star system that is populated.”
“The Borg wouldn't waste resources into trying to enter a area of space that could take that long to reach a populated world at sub-light speeds.” Seven said typing on the display console looking to the display screen. “The outer rim expanse it is called by many races the Borg assimilated near the area of space, no ship with warp or transwarp ever was able to travel faster than light within it.”
Gale turn to the alcoves seeing Blue leaning against the side of one. “Oh hi Blue! Are you having fun?”
“It has been Master Gale.”
Seven looked over to her alcove seeing Blue. “State your purpose.” She pulled out a phaser from under the console aiming it at him.
Blue calmly walked up to Gale standing by him. “I am Blue, a Jackal Diamond Dog, I serve to protect Master Gale as his Guardian Protector. I've just finished having lunch in the Mess Hull and came down here and been observing in the shadows.”
Seven lower her phaser putting it back under the console. “You speak with telepathy, I gather you are unable to speak verbally or the translator can not translate your language.”
“That is correct, my form of speech is untranslatable. So I have to relay on speaking through telepathy, it a pleasure to meet you Seven of Nine.” Blue raise his hand paw up to her.
Seven walked up and took the hand paw shaking it. “You have spikes on the tops of your hands including no-” Blue smirked and the inner paw shift to act as a thumb. “-thumb... you are a curious unknown creature.”
Blue move his hand paw away resetting his paw finger back into place flexing all three. “That I am.” Blue turn to Gale. “Master Gale, in a few hours we will be heading back to CFA space, as for Voyager continuing it journey home. I came to tell you personally and to escort you back to the Deep Dive Explorer safely.”
Gale smiled. “Thank you Blue.” Gale turn to Seven. “Look like it time for me to go, hope we meet again Seven! I really like doing designing work we did and that game we played!”
Seven gave a slight smile. “It been quite eventful and I've enjoyed our time, thank you Gale.” He raise his talon up to her in a closed fist, she did the same and he bumped it against hers.
“Till next time Seven!” Gale waved and leaves with Blue.
Seven looked over to the Kadis-Kot board. “Till next time... Gale Solarclaw.”
“Captain's Subblemental; The last four days have been very eventful for both my crew and the crew of the Deep Dive Explorer, sadly we have to part ways and continue our journey home while they had back to their own home too. We shared history, culture, data and technology with each other, both crews got to know each other and learn a fair few things on a personal level.
Who would of thought a set of temporal events would lead to this very encounter?
As we set off home and say farewell to them, we hope some day in the future we will get to meet the creatures of the Creature Federation Alliance. I can safely say this first contact with these amazing creatures went far better than anyone would of expected from the early days of meeting them.
Till we meet again Captain Keeper Sentinel, till next time my new furry foxy friend...
The two senior crews of both ships stood face to face by the airlock to Deep Dive Explorer, Ensign Victor the white fox hands over a box like object to Keeper as Ensign Kim hands over one to Captain Janeway. “As we part ways Captain Janeway the stars will align for us to meet once more.” He hands over the box like device to Tuvok.
“We made friends that we must say farewell for now, in the stars as they align we will meet once more.” Janeway smiled and hands over their box like device to Di'Sai, she takes it with her telekinetic magic.
Keeper put his hand out to Janeway. “The chances of two cultures sharing similar mythos is extremely rare, I am glad it did happen Captain Katherine Janeway.”
Janeway put her hand against his closing their hands around each other and shook. “I am glad that the odds were in our favour Captain Keeper Sentinel. The technology and data you provided will aid us getting home sooner, and keep in touch with you I hope.”
“As do I.”
The Doctor took a holophoto of the moment.
The Deep Dive Explorer undocks from Voyager it start to glow a greenish yellow colour before disappearing before the bridge crew eyes of Voyager, Janeway sits down with Chakotay beside her. “I got a feeling we will be seeing them again.”
Chakotay smiled. “I think we will, Katharine.”
Janeway smiled back and turn to the helm. “Tom set a course to the Alpha Quadrant at warp seven.”
“Aye captain.”
“Engage.”
Voyager nacelles raise and the ship goes to warp.
Alpha turn to a bright glow from the ceiling, a beam blasts down at the centre of the chamber and it dies down to reveal Gale, Anubis, Spyro, Keeper and Blue. “Lord Gale, I hope you enjoyed your dream adventure.”
Gale grinned. “I sure did! It was fun!”
Anubis cross his arms. “I got to say it was a bloody interesting dream adventure.”
“From it I got so many ideas fired up.” Keeper grinned. “Thank you for inspiring me Gale.”
Gale gave a thumbs up. “Happy to help Keeper!”
Spyro rubbed his head. “This is going to be one heck of a story when I tell Queen Chrysalis this.” He put a wing over Gale's back giving his brother a hug. “But I did enjoy it a lot! I had fun!”
Blue put his hand paw on Gale's shoulder. “Master Gale, this adventure was a fun one.”
Gale cheered. “Yay everyone happy! Well time to wake up! It morning and I want mum's awesome pancakes!” He clapped his talons together.
Blue watched them all vanish before his eyes. “Just like that they are awake.” Blue chucked lightly walking over to the console, he pulls out the chip from it and place it in a box for safety. “Master Gale would certainly return to this adventure.” He put the case with the others giving it a title and date. “Hope you have a wonderful day Master Gale.” Blue said to himself walking out of the chamber.
Blue just watched Gale and the others wake up, he finish putting the Dream Randomiser into stand by mode and putting the chip containing the adventure safely away, the Jackal Diamond Dog leave through the tunnel and out of the parted waterfall walking to the building around the large tree.
Blue open the door and walk inside closing it behind him, he walk up the round steps to the upper level to a door about one third around the corridor on the first floor. He open it to show a bathroom and pause turning around to look at- “Curious I can not see you. But I can feel your presence, is this what Master Gale call breaking the fourth wall? If you don't mind I rather have a shower without being watched.” Blue closes the door.
0800
Blue open the bedroom door staring at the wall to the right. “You really wish to know what I get up to when Master Gale is awake don't you? Very well you may, but you may find this moment boring since I am going to get some sleep.” Blue undo his bandanna and place it on the table side, he walk up to the bed pulling the covers over a bit before slipping into it.
Blue pull them over and before his close his eyes speak once more. “I gather you are wondering how come my spikes don't rip this fabric, Master Gale created them to be spike proof and comfy to sleep under. He is a very thoughtful master... come back at 1400 hours when I wake.” Blue yawns turning over to his side pulling a blue griffon plush close to him and close his eyes to get some sleep.
1400
The alarm on the bed stand goes off and the thick hand paw lift out of the bed sheets, it slams down on top of the alarm stopping the bird chirping sounds from it. Blue sits up yawning and stretching his arms out. “Time for some breakfast...” Blue pull himself out of bed put the plushy back on top of his pillow, make the bed, put the bandanna on and leave the room walking downstairs.
Blue crack open two eggs and mix them up in a cup, pour out 400 grams of flour in a bowl and add watching to it with the egg mix to mix it all up in the bowl till it a strong mix. Blue put a pan over a lit up stow and put a little oil into it. Once heated Blue pour some of the mix into the pan to start cooking his pancakes, while that going he turn on the kettle and put some hot chocolate mix in a cup with some milk.
Blue glance to his left. “You are a strange bunch, watching me make breakfast from the ground up, if that is what you will even I can not see you and only faintly sense your presence, be as it will.” Blue take a spatula putting it under the pancake flipping it over in the pan.
Soon Blue finished making about four pancakes alongside his cup of hot chocolate, sitting down at a table be put some sugar over it with some chocolate sauce, than he start to eat his breakfast and drink his hot chocolate.
1430
Blue stand before a large screen with two consoles attached to it, he walk over to one pressing his paw fingers over each key going through defences in Dream Cavern to alert systems, Blue goes through each and every system making sure they running at peak efficiency to make sure Master Gale's home in the dreamscape is protected.
1530
Blue stand before a well of water looking into it reflection to see Gale's daily activities so far in the day, he watched Gale have breakfast, say his farewells to the ponies and dragon of Ponyville before parting on the train to Canterlot.
The teen sitting in one of the carriages rooms doing his studies with Gilda watching over him, Spyro with Alpha sitting near by reading books and talking to each other. The next thing shows the train arriving at the station greeted by Luna and asking to have a one on one with Gale. “I had a feeling Mistress Luna would want to talk to Master Gale, it most likely to do with the fact he doing a lot of dream sharing with others of late...” Blue telepathically said with arms crossed watching closely to the screens play out.
1600
Blue sits cross legged on a large rock in the middle of the hot spring with both hand paws close to each other, his dreadlocks raised as a bluish white energy form between the hand paws. “As I mediate my mind, will and imagination. I always thought of what ifs and could bes, but at the end the path I am set on at this time is the right one...” Blue closed his eyes.
“I still don't completely understand your reason for observing my activities, it is baffling.” Blue continue to focus on his mediation. “I will be doing this close to a hour and an half, after that I am having lunch. I have enjoyed this company from you otherworldly visitors.” Blue smiled a little.
1730
Blue sitting at the table eating his lunch tuna with tomato slices and lettuce in it with a cup of tea beside the plate, he happily munching away on the sandwich.
1800
Blue stood in the middle of the rectangle battle field, he formed two bluish white staffs in each hand paw, spinning them around he than trash them forwards, swing one around and use the other to do a block motion. Blue do a high kick to a hop and thrust kick before his spin around on the spot doing a rock house kick.
Blue remove one staff and form a energy ball in that free hand paw, he throws it and using his aura to shift it and come at him, with a rapid slash of the staff the sphere is sliced in half flying past him either side before exploding.
Blue continue to train doing punches to forming claws from his wrist spikes slashing through rocks to turn them into nice sliced piles, he follow it up with a few punches and kicks. “If you are wondering, I train daily to keep my mind and body focused when a new threat comes to Dream Cavern.”
1930
Blue finish putting chess pieces down on a chessboard, he pours some fruit-juice in two cups placing them down beside the chessboard before sitting down in front of the white pieces. Appearing on the other side is the blue small strange cat being with a large head, big eyes, tiny forearms and long feet paws at the end of his short legs. “Whrisp.”
“Blue.” Whrisp said with a warm happy smile. “Ready to get your tail beaten!?”
“You lost your last four games we played, also I believe it should be time to tell Master Gale that you been living in Dream Cavern.” Blue pick up a pawn moving it two spaces up.
Whrisp raise his forepaw up with it glowing, the knight lift up and land over the paws to the left of the paw in front of it before it was moved. “I know, I know... if it wasn't for you Blue, I would by fading out of existences!”
“I am surprised you haven't found your kind... what happened to them?” Blue moves a bishop.
Whrisp shrugs. “I do not know, the Shade Void in which connects between dreams and reality was abandon, I can come and go between reality which is the waking world and this dream realm still through it. But 4000 years did go by in a breeze.” Shade move a end pawn piece up.
Blue tap the middle finger of his hand paw on the table thinking of his next move. “Still I believe it be wise to let my master know, I lost the first game of chess and that why I haven't revealed you to him yet, but I am connected to Master Gale and by midnight he will be aware of you.” Blue calmly said to Whrisp as he moved the queen out.
Whrisp smiled picking up another pawn to move it forwards two spaces. “Then it seem that time ran out for me haven't it? His realm allow me to live, so in turn I have to stop being a coward and reveal myself.”
Blue move the queen up taking out the pawn near the king. “Checkmate.” Blue calmly said crossing his arms.
Whrisp blinked. “Wait what?” He looked at the board. “That was only your fourth move! Ho-” He saw it. “Whoa okay... now that got me good! Damn you beat me!”
Blue slyly smiled. “Indeed and when Master Gale comes when he sleeps you will reveal yourself.” Blue poke his muzzle and than reset the pieces.
Whrisp wiggles it rubbing his small paw hand on the muzzle. “Well time had ran out.” He laughed. “Alright! Time for round two Blue! This time this small floating blue cat going to win!”
“Maybe.” Blue grinned and so did Whrisp as they started another round of chess, Blue glance to his left. “Now you have a rough idea what my idea is like during the day when Master Gale awake.”
Whrisp tilt his head to the left. “Who are you talking to?”
“The readers, now shall we play?” Whrisp blinked again looking around in total confusion before without a word nod to start the game.
“Yeah sure... maybe you should lay off the chocolate...”
2134
Gale appears in Dream Cavern with Blue standing before him. “Master Gale, I hope your day been well.”
“It has been Blue! I've really getting the hang of writing, just not the spelling and grammar stuff.” Gale rubbed his head. “I know some of the stuff I say might not seem to be right as well writing it down, I just can't get a hang of this grammar and some of the words are hard to spell too.”
Blue put his hand paw on Gale's side. “Master Gale, we all have our limits, we can push forwards to go beyond them, but it will take time. You showed great improvement over the last three and half months.”
Gale grinned. “I have, haven't I?” Blue nods, Gale sees Whrisp peeking from behind a tree. “Finally choose to show yourself huh?”
Whrisp float out of hiding coming up to Gale. “You knew I was hiding in Dream Cavern?”
Gale raise a claw. “My defences didn't activate did it?”
Whrisp blinked. “No it-” He turn to Blue. “You KNEW didn't ya!?”
“I suspected but didn't ask.” Blue calmly responded.
“I was waiting for you to do it in your own time Whrisp, what happened?”
Whrisp tap the little paw fingers against each other. “Well... can we walk and I'll tell you?”
Gale nod. “Sure! And I can tell ya about my afternoon with Aunty Luna!”
Blue watched them leave. “Alpha shall we start our patrol?”
Alpha walk up to Blue with the mallet handle resting on his shoulder. “As always Blue, and why do I get the feeling we being watched?”
“Because we always are, this is Master Gale's Dream Cavern after all.”
“Fair point...” Alpha muttered.
0030
Blue and Alpha sat at the table eating yorkshire pudding with mash, peas, carrots, sausage with a cup of apple juice to the side of the plate. “So that what happened this afternoon. I expected as much from the amount of dream sharing Master Gale been doing.”
Alpha sip a bit of the juice and cut into the sausage with the knife and folk. “Yes, she warned of problems that could arise from it as well the Dream Adventures.”
“Never thought that there could be a chance those we know, knew or those we do not could become part of the adventure unwilling and unaware...” Blue telepathically said as he ate his meal.
Alpha looked over to a sheet of paper on the notice board. “Still going by your day to day schedule are you?”
“I am, it keep me busy and sharp, also I had what you call a fourth wall breaking moment and had readers watched what I do today.”
Alpha blinked. “What?”
Blue picked up his cup showing the apple juice in it. “Think of us as this juice, inside and unaware of what happening in the contanment of this glass, now you can see it right?” Alpha nods. “Now that juice become aware of you looking at it, that what you call breaking the fourth wall, interaction that shouldn't be possible between us and those that view us as characters in a story.” Blue drunk a bit of his juice.
Alpha rubbed his forehead. “So your saying someone is seeing us characters in some made up story?”
“Yes. Does that bother you?”
Alpha rolled his one eye. “I am a fictional character from a fictional world already, I been pulled out of the dream realm and have a physical form. In fact to Lord Gale's point of view, I broke the fourth wall more than once.”
Blue smiled. “That is a very cleaver prospective Alpha.”
“I have my moments.” Alpha chuckled.
Blue pause in motion, so did Alpha and the alarm goes off, they get up and rush outside with the whole place lit up red.
Warning, there has been a breach in Dream Cavern, suspect has been contained in Containment 001, Dream Cavern as been sealed and Princess Luna has been notified.
Luna appears before the two. “I just got word, there a dream walker here!”
Gale quickly rushes up with Whrisp. “Aunty Luna! Your not going to believe who it is the defences caught!”
Whrisp spin around in mid air. “It was crazy she appeared before us through a weird metal airlock door than pulled away to this containment! I mean that one awesome and scary looking one eye black kitsune!”
“That impossible/that impossible!” Blue and Luna said at the same time.
“No it not, I will show you!” Gale snap his talons and they all appear at the containment cell. “See it her! It Di'Sai!”
The kitsune calmly sitting without the uniform with the same scar over the eye and nine long tails waving back and forwards behind with the floating flames flowing with each tail. “Hello Prince Gale, it good to finally meet you without the pretence of that dream adventure I was put through, but got to say it was refreshing to enjoy something for once than observing dreams from a far of the outside world.”
Luna's horn abazed. “Your a fictional character! How-”
“I am far from fictional Princess Luna, I kept myself hidden in the Dream Realm from you and all, it the only way I can see outside from where I stand guard as duty to the Kitsunes of Nowhere. Suddenly I find myself seeing their dreams once more and curiously I poked into some to see that your nephew is responsible for it.”
“That doesn't explain why you entered his Dream Cavern in such a manner! Answer me kitsune!”
Di'Sai raise a paw upward, a image appear above it. “I came because of the dream adventure, I found out what this thing that be stuck in my ceiling for the last 87 years is in the Frozen North. And I believe it of interest to Prince Gale, also you might need those Finch Griffons with their fancy satellites to find it.”
Blue instantly knew what it was, so did Gale. “It the-”
The train from Ponyville arrives at Canterlot coming to a slow halt at the platform that Princess Luna with some of her guards stood waiting at, the carriage doors open and ponies streamed out of them in masses till only a selective few were left. Celestia, Raven, Leela, Alpha, Keeper, Rocky, Spyro, Gilda and Gale with the guards stood on the platform before her.
Luna walked up to them. “Welcome home sister, nephews and everyone else, hope your trip to Ponyville for the Running of the Leaves was eventful.”
Celestia warmly showed a smile on her beak. “we all did sister, how are things since I been away?”
Luna lift a forehoof up rotating it around. “As normal as it can get with the nobles Celestia.”
Celestia than turn to a curious expression. “This is a oddity for you to come and greet us at the station Luna.”
“That because I am here to have some social time with Nephew Gale alone, Alpha may join but no one else.”
“This about his use of dream magic isn't it?” Celestia said.
“Correct.” Luna turn to Gale. “And no your not in trouble before you jump to conclusions.”
Gale walked up to her with Alpha. “What happening Aunty?”
“That for us to talk about alone and you to tell later.” Luna open her wing up. “Come please.” Gale nods and she turn to Celestia. “See you and the others at the castle.”
Celestia smiled. “Have a good time sister and my son.” They and Alpha walk away, Spyro try to follow but stopped by Celestia. “Let them be Spyro, for Luna to come here I think it more than just the dream adventure you all had last night.”
Spyro continue to watch them leave. “Okay mum...”
Gilda nudge him. “Don't worry dweeb, we get to have some free time and got a idea to not only cheer you up, but get something awesome of your little brother.”
Spyro gave a curious look, he could sense she was serious and caring, this was a strange Gilda to him. “What do you have in mind?” She put a wing over the blackish grey griffon walking away talking to him with a smile forming on his beak.
“Gilda came a long way since we first met, still got that rough edges about her that keep who she is at heart.” Celestia whispered with a warm smile on her beak.
Keeper turn to Leela and Rocky. “I believe we be heading up to Arbiter's home to start our efforts to try and find some more of those from Project Angel.” Keeper said looking up to Celestia.
“That would be a good idea Princess Celestia, with help gaining access to the Finchnet, digital information can not be stored within the pages of my book. So cross referencing that with my book we can narrow down the possible locations and numbers of each and every creature that were saved in Project Angel.” Leela explained the positive side of going down that road.
Celestia couldn't disagree with that plan, she had a feeling with Keeper sticking around this might happen. “I had a strong feeling that you would suggest going to Arbiter's home, but you may not be able to gain access if he says no.”
“Point taken Celly, as the old saying goes, if you don't ask you don't know or get.” Rocky snap his finger and thumb. “Aren't I right?”
Celestia smiled. “Indeed you are, keep me up to date and make sure to return for much needed rest and meals, working around the clock will not do you any good.” Celestia open her wings up.
They nod. “Understood.” Keeper and Leela said together.
Celestia turn to the pony. “Raven I hope you don't mind me carrying you back.”
Raven's glasses fell slightly with her right eye twitching. “Yo-you don't mean me riding on your back does it!?”
“Well there that or I hold you by the barrel of your body with my talons.” Celestia raise one gauntlet one. “I rather fly than take a carriage back and the guard already know what I am going to do.” She hint to the Earth and Unicorn ponies already left, the Pegasi royal guard hovering at the ready in a formation.
Raven swallowed. “I-I'll take that back option...”
Keeper watch Raven holding on to dear life as Celestia took off with the guard flying close formation around her back to the castle. “Well that happened.” Keeper turn and start to walk to the warehouses, Rocky and Leela followed him
Gale and Alpha followed Luna along the river side into the field on the outskirts of the city towards the waterfall. “Where exactly are you taking us Lady Luna?” Alpha asked.
Luna glance over her right side. “To a some what remote area on the edge of the city, I believe you know why.”
“Indeed, you wish to speak about Lord Gale's Dream Magic am I correct?”
“My Dream Magic? I do wrong?”
“Yes and no, nephew. It a more complicated situation that doesn't fit in something that is wrong, just a area of unknown that even I am starting to tread into myself.” Luna look around with a nod, the guards taking place around the area keeping the ground and sky clear near the stone bridge near the end of the waterfall with a view of ponyville in the distance.
Gale and Alpha didn't say anything as they followed Luna onto the bridge. “When it comes to new forms of any kind of magic, there is no way of knowing what kind of restrictions you need to put into place until something happens either good or bad.”
Luna turn around leaning down to Gale resting a forehoof under his beak. “The recently ability to create a preset dream adventure with roles is such a magical gift I was very surprised in, you have a very creative imagination my dear nephew and no wonder how easily you picked up on my book about dream magic my sister gave you.”
Gale tilt his head slightly rolling his underside of the beak slightly to the edge of her hoof, she shifting it slightly. “Dream Adventure I made, new magic and could be maybe good, bad or maybe between?”
“Indeed, we dream walkers can not randomly dream like others, we create a realm of our own to rest the mind from reality. You have gone one step further and created a dream landscape within the Dream Realm, it allow you and those that come with you to remember a very semi realistic dream, they will remember it as if they were awake, many only vaguely remember and yours allow them to truly remember it.”
Alpha could understand the problem. “That could lead those you bring to wanting more and more if you do it too much, correct?”
Luna nods moving her hoof away turning to the view of the landscape beyond Canterlot. “That is a possible outcome of this effect, I can not tell. But I did notice a lot of creatures from Hippogriffs, Griffons, Dragons, Kitsunes, foxes and odd looking reptile races in it. This also may have a chance dragging those dreaming around into it too with these creatures being the real deal in the real world outside being asleep.”
Gale pushed up onto his hind legs resting his talons on the stone bridge wall looking out to land far and below. “That could happen? New Dream Adventure could do that?”
“Maybe, there is so much we do not know about your Dream Adventure and there was that one time Grogar the Echo used it too.” Luna pointed out. “I gather you made sure that wouldn't happen again?”
“Yes.” Gale nod. “Echo was bad goat, I made sure it won't work other than me, you or Blue.” Gale answered.
Alpha lean back against the other bridge wall with arms crossed. “Lady Luna, he was there laying in wait for Lord Gale within his mind-scape from over 4,000 years ago before he was a griffon.”
“Whrisp unwilling helper to, he been living in Dream Cavern hiding from me.” Gale added.
Luna and Alpha looked over at Gale. “Yes I have noticed.” Alpha had seen the blue floating cat with small forelegs and big hind legs and huge long tail floating around.
“Indeed, I believe he been wary and unsure how to approach on living there, I do not sure sense any illtent from him now.” Luna said. “I do wonder why Whrisp had return and not joined his fellow kind the Shades.”
Gale shrugged. “Don't know, waiting for him to come and tell.”
Luna pulled Gale in with her wing to give him a hug. “Nephew you are always thoughtful of others.” She tap the beak tip with a hoof.
Gale hugged back. “I always like making others happy!”
“Sometimes it good to make yourself happy too, Lord Gale.” Alpha added.
Luna agreed. “You are correct Alpha, in a way Gale does in playing a dream adventure, even now...” She look down to Gale, he looked up. “You are happy with being very thoughtful to others including us, you knew I was watching your dream adventure and gleeful for me to observe even have Blue play a small part of it.”
Gale had that pure look of happiness that Luna liked to see from this teenage griffon. “Yes it was fun and happy all had fun, even you aunty watching had fun! We all had fun!”
Alpha gave a short nod. “You all did Lord Gale, it will be interesting to learn more about the risks of using dream magic to bring others to Dream Cavern, the book only goes so far. Am I correct Lady Luna?”
“That you are Alpha, this is why we spending this time alone.” Luna brought out the book from under her wing. “You and I little griffon are going to go through a afternoon of lessons about Dream Walking, what we do to the effects we can cause to others both positive and negative ways.” Luna allow Gale to get some space to pull out his note book and pencil, he placed his plush beside him. “Ready for my lesson my dear nephew?”
Gale nod. “Ready aunty!”
Gale swallowed hard hearing what his aunty was saying about Dream Walkers had the ability to access memories of those that dreamt. “I can see your reaction to what I just showed and told you nephew, but do not worry you will not do such a thing until you grow up a bit more when you choose to be a Dream Walker that help those suffering from terrible nightmares.”
“Aunty I no need to be Dream Walker if no want to?” Gale asked.
“Of course, you only connect to those you know and tell them about your dream sharing, if you choose not to be a Dream Walker. But it best to know about this still and part of your ability to enter dreams of even those you know.”
Alpha adds. “You ask them if they wish to dream share at Dream Cavern too.”
Gale nod. “That true, learn that after Spike, I took serious what mum say.”
“And you still will take what said to heart.” Luna said. “Now nightmares of a heighten nature could cause the psyche to be effected of said dreamer, dealing with it by allowing them to face their nightmares or dissolving it for a more peaceful one is two of three methods, the third you come to them directly to resolve it and tell them it a dream.” Luna stated the three options of dealing with a nightmare showing a display of it with visual magic to Gale.
“I am curious about access memories, that what shook up Lord Gale in the first place upon this lesson on the Dream Walkers abilities.” Alpha said and Gale swallowed a little feeling that part disturbed him. “I gather there a limit of how much memoires you could access within the dreamscape?”
Luna responses to Alpha's question and quell Gale's fear. “Normally the memories you access are those that are connected to the nightmares, they seem to have a strong bond and relevance to the troubles they are facing in the dreamscape.”
“One example I can give is that a foal is having a birthday and they only see a small picture of the bigger piece, to them their older sibling is stealing the attention and making you silly on your birthday, while to the bigger picture the older sibling trying to save your birthday party and telling them it was your idea.”
Gale seem to get a idea on what Luna was saying. “So... memory access is on heighten nature of psyche? It allow to resolve nightmare?”
“Indeed, also sometimes it share a connection to something deep in the past that resurfaced, I can project a what if scenario of their ill-intention actions, allowing them to have a nightmare but resolve the mistake they made before it becomes harmful to said pony.” Luna point out a time nightmares are needed to be given.
Gale tilt his head a little blinking with confusion. “Otherwords, not all nightmares are bad, there a small few that are good for a scary reason.” Alpha summarised it to Gale.
Gale thought about it. “Good and bad dreams are grey area, good dream could be bad sometimes so can bad dreams right?”
Luna liked how Gale saw the world even in dreams, he seem to always see something from a bigger picture in a basic way. “Yes my nephew that is correct, sometimes having too many good dreams will lead one to believing nothing can go wrong, there must be a balance at times. One good example is myself over 1000 years ago, I believed my night was being overshadowed by my sisters day, I grew jealous and changed believing what I was doing were the right course of action and to bring the light of the moon forever to all.”
Gale tilt his head. “But wouldn't one side always been in the sun since world wrong and mum and you aunty move the sun and moon around world?”
Luna shook her head. “It would, but a powerful spell would shield the sun's light from reaching the world, not it heat. Nightmare's spell was to do such a thing.”
Alpha was surprised to hear this. “Magic could do that!?”
“Indeed, as magic could bring you from a dreamscape to reality.”
Alpha turn away. “Right... that sound unbelievable and yet I am unbelievable... magic seem to ignore balance... that why there is laws and some spells locked away.” Alpha shift his one eye over to Luna again.
“Correct, that why I am going over dream magic with my nephew. Show that even new magic needs boundaries, what boundaries? I do not know yet.” Luna answered.
Gale tap the tip of his beak. “Do we write down what I done so far? That way we learn and put rules in place for other Dream Walkers and Dream Makers to follow to keep others that dream safe?”
Luna nod. “That is correct, shall we continue?”
“Yes please.” Gale ready to listen to his aunty.
Luna turn the page on her book on Dream Magic, she been teaching him secretly within the dreamscape with minor dictions here and there, now she was doing directly outside it sitting on the bridge with her nephew Gale. This had a feeling of pride that welled up in Luna as she taught him the details within the pages of Dream Magic, the lessons she had to learn from the does and don't from many lifetimes ago passing it on to the teenage griffon.
Luna hoped someday maybe he would become a Dream Walker to protect those of nightmares, he was a rare find among many she seen. He had the ability to dream walk awake or asleep with the imagination staying alight in ways she never dreamed of, even Dream Walking during the night become tiring for her and that why she need to sleep during the day most of the time.
Gale, Luna and Alpha sat on a bench in the Canterlot Gardens with the view of Discord's statue before them, they all eating Gale's favourite meal battered fish and chips from Gustave's restaurant. “Now my nephew you have some basics of what could happen in the dreamscape and how it effect others when they awake.” Luna lift up the cup drinking some milkshake through the strew.
Gale swallowed some fish and chips he was chewing on. “Yes aunty, I make sure not to do horrible things like that.” Gale pick up his shake drinking a bit of it. “When you think Uncle Discord be free? Aunty Luna.”
Luna shuddered a little at the thought of it. “I am unsure nephew Gale.”
“Maybe my magic can free him?”
“Or it could harm him, you have no way of regulating your magic still Lord Gale.” Alpha quickly countered the idea. “It would be wise to find a way to stabilise it release, since Pure Magic is new, many normal methods of magic control may not apply.”
Luna agreed. “I have to agree with Alpha on that one Gale, we will find that balance for you, it has done wonders so far that helped in situations. Maybe asking Leela for aid, she seem to have used your pure magic to get you to her in the first place did it not?”
Gale looked up at Luna. “It did! Good idea, when she no busy with new work with mum, maybe Leela can help!”
“I agree, Lady Luna that is something even I overlooked, thank you.”
Luna smiled warmly. “I am happy to help my nephew in any way I can. Shall we continue to enjoy our meals before it get cold?”
“Yes!” Gale went back to eating.
Alpha picked up a piece of fish with a wooden take away folk. “That I whole heartily agree on.”
Gale looked over at the statue. “When your free Uncle Discord, we will do this too!” Gale thought with happiness.
“The International Space Station!?” Keeper got up from the console he was working at finding out any sign of creatures that may arrived from Earth via Project Angel on the Finchnet. “Are you telling me Project Angel saved a WHOLE space station from Earth!?”
Luna standing beside Arbiter respond to their shock from news she just gave Keeper and Leela. “That is correct, it believed to have crashed in the Frozen North around 87 years ago from the information acquired in Dream Cavern last night.” Gale, Spyro, Gilda and Alpha sat on seats near at a table listening.
Leela standing on a table with her book open in front of her flip through some pages. “I am confirm in the Pom-Pom's family tree that is a Di'Sai and she was born if the dates are correct 1,079 years ago.” Leela showed them a magical holo display on the family tree scroll. “So we can confirm she real, but as for the International Space Station, only references I have are from the Finch Griffons archives that recently revealed themselves to me.”
Keeper walked up to Luna looking up at her as she look down at him. “I find it strange that one day after we had that dream adventure Di'Sai suddenly appears out of the blue and says 'Hi I invade your dream realm to tell you that because you drew me into a Dream Adventure I happen to have a space station sticking out of my ceiling!' how strange is that to you Princess Luna?”
“It does seem strange that this seemingly all happened in the last 48 hours.” Luna had to agree.
Arbiter walked around the two of them raising a hand moving it with expression to his words spoken next. “What seem to be a rapid change of events may have been building before hand, the way we preserve this news determines your next move, does it not?”
Gale spoke up. “Di'Sai is Pom-Pom great nanny? And why she in Frozen North and not in land Nowhere?”
“The cub's questions got a point dweebs, how about we forget about the human space station and focus on any information in that book of yours Bookbird about Di'Sai.” Gilda agreed to Gale's questions to be answered in her own colourful words.
Leela gave Gilda a very blank stare. “Bookbird... really?”
Gilda wasn't phased by the look from the small avian. “Your a overly huge egghead, you have a book that you can find almost anything you looking for and remember it all, and third your a small flightless weird looking bird. So I gave you a lame nickname, live with it.”
Leela push her glasses up slightly. “Your odd logic has logic Gilda, in a way the lame nickname has merit in it. I'll live with what you call me.” Leela now turn her attention to her book flipping through the pages. “Let's see... Di'Sai.... Di'Sai...” She stop turning the pages. “I got something and...”
They saw concern in her facial expressions. “What did you find?” Luna asked.
“A war... a Dragon War with the details in this is quite violate, brutal and stuff that I won't even say out loud around Master Wayne...” Leela swallowed hard. “Let me streamline this into something less dark that still keep the facts straight...” Leela move her glowing talon hands over the pages.
Luna thought about what Leela found. “I do recall there was something happening in the Dragonlands, I and my sister were trying to retake Equestria from Discord during that time. But the ponies of bordering towns did speak of dragons fighting each other, since it seem to be a internal affair between dragons and we were dealing with our own issues there was no investigation into it.”
Leela confirm what Luna said. “That can be confirmed and also it seem there was a sighting of Discord written about by one of these ponies.” She bring up the small entry on a scroll in ponish. “I quote from the pony that wrote this...”
“I saw him not only once but twice, the Lord of Chaos Discord went into the Dragon Lands with a army of chaotic looking creatures and than days later he teleported near our home burned and beaten. I am sure he looked right at me before snapping his lion paw and vanishing before my and my families eyes, something happened to him in the Dragonlands.
What it was I don't know... and don't want to know...”
“That dweeb got his butt handed to him?” Gilda was surprised to hear this.
Leela nod. “He did, Anubis wrote quite a full report on what happened watching the conflict on the sidelines and watching himself in the conflict.” Leela said.
Arbiter frowned. “That dragon with his time travel magic...”
“I do recall Anubis saying that he criss crossed through a lot of his own timeline without interacting with himself.” Keeper said looking over to the right of the console.
“Indeed he has... still not comfortable that you and he has this ability...”
“Mine is to do with before the construction of Prototower and other universes including Prince Wells own multiverse, this world after the construction of the tower I can't access anything on a temporal level, so I have self imposed limits...”
Arbiter grumbled.
“Anbuis was the one that sent Nowhere into that pocket universe while Silvite was fighting Thunderous in her greed growth state during the last days of the Dragonlands Civilwar.” Leela brought up a valid point. “I believe that Anubis was ordered to do so and Thunderous ordered by Grogar to give up the Bloodstone Spectre.”
Gale looked puzzled. “I get idea that is true, but what about Di'Sai? How she fit into this?”
Leela pulled out some runes showing a diagram of a pieces to a battlefield map. “From what I just read up it seem that Silvite with dragons loyal to her and the kitsunes were defending something over here.” She point to the map. “Thunderous was throwing everything he could at them till Discord came into the fray, from the look of what Anubis wrote.”
Leela next show them Discord and his chaos forces moving in on the battlefield. “Discord made a deal with Silvite, his forces directly engaged Thunderous blindsiding the dragon, with that distraction Di'Sai with five of Silvite's most trusted dragons took whatever they were defending and flew north.”
Luna stared dumbfoundered at what she just heard. “Wh-what!?” She said with a shirked. “Discord while controlling Equestria choose to HELP Silvite!? What madness is this!?”
“It what happened...” Leela calmly said showing the scrolls images to Luna via magical runes.
Luna went through them and still couldn't believe what she was seeing. “That was the moment I and my sister found the Elements of Harmony! The reason we were able to sneak pass him because he wasn't even there! But in the Dragonlands aiding Silvite against Thunderous! This doesn't even make sense at all!”
Gilda chuckled. “Sometimes making sense is just lame you dweeb. Discord from what I know of doesn't make any lick of sense at all, he choose to wake up and stay in his statue form didn't he?”
Luna's right eye twitched. “Wh...” Luna composed herself. “Di'Sai and five dragons took something of great importance, what was it?”
Leela flip through the pages. “I do not know, there nothing here Princess Luna... the information even from Anubis's scrolls while observing the war between Silvite's dragons and Thunderous's dragons is vague.” Leela return to the battlefield map she still had floating above the book in view of everyone. “Whatever it was, the threat of Thunderous getting it seem to show that it had to be taken away and out of reach of him.”
“A game changer.” Arbiter said looking at the battlefield map. “Silvite, her dragons and the kitsunes of the clan Kit-Yantic or No-Yantic were defending this area with purpose. I believe they made Thunderous believe he was winning, but it was a trap. Even with Discord's defeat came defeat to the Dragon Lord Thunderous, it changed the war completely from that day because of what Di'Sai and Silvite's five dragons did.”
Keeper lean back on his chair peering over to the right of the console. “Not everyone going to believe this information from a magical book from a magical avian, we need solid proof not only that Di'Sai did head north, the family tree scroll is still around and that a space station from Earth did crash land on top of where she been hiding with these dragons for over 1000 years with whatever this game changer was.”
Leela close her book up with a sigh pushing her glasses up a little on her beak. “I hate to admit this, but Keeper is correct. I doubt they would move a whole satellite over information that magically stored in my book even it does store everything written, draw and carved which could been misinformation too and lies, such as newspapers twisting events into a narrative that brings in more paper sales.”
Gale scratch the side of his face. “Could we send team with winter stuff and take look?”
“It possible Lord Gale they could, but I gather the Frozen is vast and dangerous.” Alpha said.
Luna nod. “It is, but my sister says there are Yaks that live up there in a settlement called Yakyakistan, maybe we could request help from them or seen anything that crashed there.” Luna informed them about some inhabitants up there.
Arbiter activate his wrist pad device. “It a good start, I believe there a Created that been there and may have information that we can use.”
“Look like we got a plan on that side, we just need to figure out the Finch Griffon side of help.” Keeper said.
“If it was that easy Keeper Sentinel.”
A tent sat over looking at rocky terrain about six miles north-east of Griffonstone with the cities tree sticking out of the horizon to the south-west. Stepping out of it was Glacier holding a mug with tea in it with steam blowing away from the top of it from the brisk autumn winds. “Let's see what today brings...” She took a sip of the tea.
“In as finding the object in these mithril deposit fields?” Dr Caballeron walked up to her from the left. “Than no such luck...”
Glacier drunk a bit more of her tea. “It out here, just going to take time. The mithril deposits it why it making it hard to find, the signal has been amplified by a factor of 29.1%, we proven that with our own communication with Sunflower back at Flaputa Five Greenhouse.” She put the cup down on a table near by with a map pinned down by rocks.
Caballeron walk around to the otherside of the table placing a hoof down on spots of the map. “These are the areas we have searched so far and found nothing so far part from the heavy deposits of mithril.”
Glacier ran claw tip over the map stopping at a point. “And your team are here right now?”
“Yes.” He confirmed.
Glacier took a look over the areas they did look already. “They know to keep a eye out for something odd looking right?”
Dr. Caballeron rolled his eyes. “Yes, you have told us it may have something covering it to keep it hidden from plan sight, this is why my team been taking time at each sight.”
“I am only asking Doc... don't need to get your tail in the twist, you are getting well funded for this even it takes a long time. Sunflower and Greystorm highly recommanded you to me.” She shot a look at him making the stallion swallow hard and pull on his spotty neck scarf.
“Right they are too hehe, shall we continue to hunt; yes?”
Glacier chuckled. “Sweetie we shall.” She pat the side of his face a few times before picking up a piece of mithril. “Do you know why the griffons never mined here?”
Dr. Caballeron was curious about the question presented now, he knew what typical griffons were like. “They seek wealth, gems and coin, in Griffonstone to even find out something crashed here 87 years ago took a lot of bits.”
“Indeed information good for the right bits and you know the griffons aren't lying over it, even I and a few others are different to them including the Finch Griffons as a whole.” Glacier said. “Now how much does it cost for mithril enhancements like armour, artefacts and so on?”
“Alot of money I can tell you that Glacier, I gather these deposits would make that worthless?”
Glacier still holding the piece of ore gave a toothy beak grin before responding. “Correct, this has a purity of 92.1% and if all the deposits are that high grade, the mithril market would crash by only a few kilos of this stuff.” She tossed it over to Caballeron.
He caught it with his forehooves and looked at the piece of ore. “Incredible, something so pure can be used to help so many is so worthless to the griffons and other creatures. Only because this little piece could make ten times more enhancements than what they got at the moment.”
“Correct, but that about to change with the high interest of the area by the Finch Griffons of the Untied Griffish Kingdom, soon as Sunflower tells Prime Minster Zipline about this area. He is the one that allow her access to classified data including the destruction of Luna 4 probe 87 years ago that lead us to here in the first place days ago.” Glacier said.
Caballeron stared at the ore. “Finch Griffons are a odd but liked type of griffons.”
“That they are.” Glacier drunk her tea.
Withers the grey Earth Pony with black mane and tail, purple and black neck collar with shades on galloped up to the camp site. “Dr. Caballeron! Glacier! We found it! We found the metal capsule thing!”
They both quickly ran up to him. “Show us right away yo- Withers!” Caballeron almost called him a fool but corrected himself quickly in front of Glacier.
“Great work! Lead the way!” Glacier said quickly.
“Right away! Follow me!” He turned and galloped back into the rocky terrain and they followed.
After about ten minutes of travelling over the terrain they met up with the other two ponies of Dr. Caballeron's team Biff and Rogue who stood over a ravine, what Dr. Caballeron and Glacier saw a cone like metal object sitting against heavy amounts of mithril deposits with a parachute caught up and tore against the rocks showing wear and tear over the last 87 years.
Biff turn to the messy feathered head griffon. “This thing really fell from space?”
“It did from a space station in fact.” Glacier sit down reaching into her pocket to pull out the sub-sonic.
Rouge stared at it. “If I didn't see it with my own eyes I would think this whole trip was a prank...”
“It really something...” Wither said.
“That it is and if what we know is true, this is from a world once lived... we staring at something that once was from a civilisation and on per our agreement to keep this to ourselves.” Dr. Caballeron said sternly. “Got it?”
“Got it boss.” They said together.
“After seeing the technology the Finch Griffons have, this is a surprise to see yet not so much. No?” Caballeron glance to Glacier.
“Indeed, to them this is out of date technology.” Glacier calmly said as she does the scans.
Caballeron looked up to the sky so did the others. “You think they have a Space Station way up there?”
“Wouldn't surprise me if they did.” Glacier continue to scan with her sub-sonic and checked her wristpad screen to see the data.
Rouge had to ask about something that bothered him. “With all this advance tech, why is it now they seem to be more noticeable?”
Glacier glanced over to him. “Because you the doc with Greystorm and his wife Octicovix set the ball rolling, a change of events led to all this happening, the Untied Griffish Kingdom finally started to emerge from the shadows and what we seeing is only the surface, what under it is truly amazing and scary to those that were not expecting griffons to be on this level of progress to the rest of Equis. There will be friction for sure.”
Biff didn't know to either feel proud or scared about knowing all this. “Boss couldn't we just stick to ruins and dealing with Daring Do?”
“And miss this? Are you insane!? We been recognized by the crown itself! We in a position we never been, working for Greystorm and seem to open doors which never been in the past, you want to go back to that?” Caballeron said with fury in his eyes, showing how he liked where he is at the moment.
They look at each other and thought about the many times Daring Do showed up at ruins, since they worked for Greystorm luck been on their side for months, they been asked by many to her survey ruins and it been good money for them on a plus side. “No boss.” They turned and answered at the same time.
“Good, let see what Glacier has found, yes?” They nod and wait for Glacier to complete the scans.
Glacier did and checked the information and data fed into her wristpad. “Yep that explains the bouncing around of the signal all over the place, that emergency beacon is being fed energy from the mithril from the look of it.”
Withers looked around the land. “So the deposits created the big echoes in areas we searched at before hoof?”
“In a way it did.” Glacier said. “Amazing that it seemingly only showing signs of weather damage to the skin of it, those things were made to survive.” Glacier explained how the broadcast was all over the place and still functioning after all this time, she was impressed by the engineering work of the capsule too seeing that 87 years of weather only done little damage to the surface of the ISS escape capsule.
Caballeron took a look around. “From the look of the terrain it would take us a good hour to get around to that side of the ravine.”
Glacier put her sub-sonic away and open her wings. “I'll take a quick look.” Wither grabbed her just before she was about to take off when a powerful updraft came from below. “Thank you, you saved my tail Sweetie.”
“No problem we felt the strong winds around this area, it seem to be connected to the Abysmal Abyss just west from here.” Withers stated.
“It look like it, we will head back to camp and pack it up, we will set up on the other side and-”
“Ask for my help to save you time and cross over in two shades of a lambs tail dude.” A voice came from behind and above them.
They all turned around and looked up to meet the large whitish grey with black spots and beak griffon head of Sunflower. “Can you please tell us when your coming!” Caballeron said with a hint of fright in his voice.
“Nah that boring Pansy.” Sunflower waved her forepaw dismissing it, she walked up to the edge over them, she casting a shadow as they wear close to her underside chest between the forelegs now. “Now that is a find, a real Soyuz capsule from Earth's International Space Station.” She then whistled in a impressed tune.
Glacier walked to the edge and looked right up at Sunflower. “The big question is how did it arrive from Earth?”
Sunflower turn her head downwards looking back at Glacier. “That a good question, and I have the answer in this.” She pulled out of the bag showing a bent, twisted and burned looking sphere with a diamond in the middle also distorted with lines engraved on the surface into the middle which look like a data storage unit made out of diamond within.
Using her talons and claws Glacier descend to the escape capsule from the ravine, Withers, Rogue and Biff having harnesses on to keep Glacier secure, while Sunflower hovers near the capsule using her flight magic to divert the wind sheers. Glacier, Sunflower and Dr. Caballeron wearing head sets to keep in contact with each other clearly as Glacier investigate the inside of the capsule when she reaches it.
Glacier levels out with the Escape Capsule, she push off the ravine wall to land on top with a metallic clang from the talons. “I'm on, you can ease up on the safety rope.” Dr Caballeron wave his hoof in response and tells them to ease up. “Now let's see... if I remember correctly there should be a panel near the door around here...”
Sunflower watch Glacier walk over near the door that was mostly on it side from how the capsule sat in the ravine wedged into many large mithril deposits. “Your near it Glacier, just a bit to the left. There you got it!” Sunflower directed the messy feathered head griffon to it. “Just be careful releasing it, do it too fast and the hatch will spring open.”
Glacier gives a thumbs up before opening the panel and grabbing the leaver, she pulls it anticlockwise slowly hearing the hissing and groaning before the hatch is released with it popping open slightly. “There, now lets see what inside.” Glacier pull the hatch open and peer inside. “One negative thing about being a griffon...”
“That is?” Caballeron asked.
“We all in some ways claustrophobic... small spaces are not our thing...”
Sunflower giggled. “Everything small space to me Glacy, and I believe Gale isn't bothered either.”
Glacier glanced over at her and flipped her a middle claw at her before climbing inside, Sunflower laughed at that response and Caberallon was slightly confused by the response Glacier gave. “Griffons are strange... yes?”
“Yep we are!” Sunflower giggled.
Glacier grumbled under her breath and pushed herself through the tight spaces to find the control panel and two seats. “I found the source of the emergency beacon, there a bit of mithril wired into it, basic but genius at the same time using it magical elements as a battery source.” Glacier checked the on board computer.
“It been broadcasting for a little over 87 years, so that means the International Space Station did survive the destruction of Earth somehow and ended up here over 4000 years after it destruction.” Glacier said as she continue to look through the data that was on the Escape Capsule.
Sunflower was excited by the find. “This is epic! We can confirm it was the space station that destroyed Luna Four probe 87 years ago! When Prime Minster Zipline arrives on Prime Alpha One we can get this capsule loaded up on it!”
Glacier look through one of the port windows at Sunflower. “The PM coming huh?” Sunflower nod seeing her too. “I gather they fixed the problem they were having with the stealth spell crystals that allow to keep it out of sight and sound with a refraction of 0.01%”
Sunflower blinked. “You KNEW about that!? How!?”
Glacier grinned. “Spoilers sweetie.” Sunflower glared at her, Glacier's tail hit something behind her, she turn to see it was a piece of paper. “Hmm... what this?” She picked it up. “Dear whom ever find this letter, if your reading this it means you can understand English or your a griffon and it in Griffish on this strange mythological world we find ourselves on...” Glacier pauses.
Caberallon spoke. “Is that a letter from these humans? Yes.”
“Yes it is! Dude that is so awesome! They left a letter for us to-” Sunflower paused. “Wait a second! Did it just say Griffish and griffon!?”
“Yes it did... and it seem they not only survived but they were altered... Sunflower you told me that back up memory core from Grimormia Tower correct?”
“Yep.”
“And you looked into it right?”
“Yeah I did dude, it heavily corrupted but it seem that Keeper Sentinel created something called Project Angel, it to save lives of creatures split second after impact from the Gates of Elysium.” Sunflower said. “Not sure how he did it or what it did to those it saved, but I think it didn't go to plan because of two reality shockwaves hit his tower at the same time, before the connection to the memory core was severed there was insane amount of damage to the tower and Keeper redirected all he saved to another universe unknowingly to this one.”
Glacier continue to read the letter as she respond. “Which meant he added the ability to transfigure into the mix somehow, this letter shows the three humans at that power since they took on griffon forms and n-” Glacier eyes locked on one name. “YOU GOT TO BE BUCKING KINDING ME! HIM!? OF ALL GRIFFONS IT HAD TO BE HIM!? BUCKING BULL-”
Skip hummed happily creating the icing for the cake that was baking in the oven near by with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike, Angel sitting on a stall at the kitchen table top near the door into the restaurant area watched them create the icing for the cake, it was carrot filled sponge cake his favourite kind.
Angel twiddling his fingers and thumbs against each other tapping his right foot paw on the leg beam of the stall. “Carrot cake for my Angel Bunny almost ready.” Fluttershy hummed.
Pinkie giggled. “It is! It really smells so yummy! I hope he will share!”
Angel swallowed with his ears twitching to them talk. “I will, it good to be kind.”
“That it is Angel.” Fluttershy said happily to the anthropomorphic bunny.
“It really fun making this cake too!”
“That it is Spike!” Skip clap his forepaw against Spike's hand. “Here Angel have a taste.” Skip used his magic to pick up a spoon with icing on it and float it over to the bunny.
Angel took it with his hand paw and ate the icing. “Whoa this is good!”
Pinkie put her foreleg around Skip. “Your cooking skills are really awesome Skip!”
Skip grinned. “I like to bake! It so much fun to do and seeing the cheerful looks on everyone faces at the end!”
“Yep! That right-o-rooney!”
Spike suddenly put the tube down and the bowl, he held the hands over the muzzle before turning to burp out some flames that turned into a scroll landing in those hands. “It a letter from Princess Celestia.” He open it up and turn it around to Skip. “It for you Skip.”
Skip using his tail magic to take it and start reading it to himself, the surprise and confusion rose as he continue to read the letter, everyone became a bit concerned seeing his reaction to it. “Skip?” Fluttershy broke the silence.
He rolled up the letter. “I'm sorry to dash off like this, but I got to get home and tell mum this right away...” Skip turn to Spike. “That letter sending magic of yours, can it be sent to anyone?”
Spike thought about it. “I think so, why do you ask?”
“I need you to forward this to Dragon Lord Torch right away.” Skip gave him the letter. “Can you do that for me buddy?”
Spike held it in front of him. “I will give it a go!” Spike focused on the name and breathed out his fire over it, the scroll burned into magical ash before flying off. “It on the way.”
Skip gave him a hug. “Thank you Spike, now I got to go, finish up with the cake, gather all your friends and go to Canterlot, we be there in a few days at best, and take Angel with you it about Earth.” Skip with that create a rift and leap through it.
They all left confused. “About Earth?” Angel asked. “Does that mean they found more creatures from Earth?”
“It could be.” Spike rubbed the underside of his muzzle. “Doesn't explain why Skip had to go to his mum, wonder what the letter said.”
“We will find out silly when we go see Twilight and get our friends together, Skip gave me a copy of the letter. I bet it going to be super seriously important too!” Pinkie said.
“I think it is...” Fluttershy agreed not going to question when or how Skip gave Pinkie a copy of the letter.
“Let's finish the cake and find Twilight.” Pinkie point to the oven. “The cake is done! All it need is Carrot flavour icing!”
“I'll help.” Angel jump off the stall to give them a helpful paw.
The large double doors open to Princess Celestia's Throne Room, walking into the throne room Maple and Gruff Clawhowler made their way towards the steps to the throne that Princess Celestia sat on, Shining Armor stood beside the throne with Princess Cadance and Celestia holding a folder with one talon reading the report within it.
Celestia close up the folder handing it over to Shining Armor, he levitate it next to him. “Welcome back Maple and Gruff.”
“Thank you Princess Celestia, it been a long month for us both.” Maple said.
Gruff rolled his eyes. “It was insufferable, first it was fine talking about our history compared to theirs but it got tiring to the point I didn't care about bits.” He press a talon to his chest. “Me not wanting bits is tartarus falling to pieces!”
Maple kick her right hind foot under Gruff's right hindleg causing him to stumble and fall on his flank. “Please! You enjoyed the exchange, that why you didn't want the bits. You gained more than what you needed cash, you gained knowledge and gave knowledge in turn. Don't try the old graunching Grandpa Gruff in front of your queen you twat.”
Gruff growled. “I did not!”
“Really? Lying in front of Grover's wife of all griffons?”
Gruff looked up quickly at the curious look Celestia was giving, at this angle the sun was shining through the glass behind her giving a era look. “Fiiiine! You win you daft adorable maple in the summer...” He straighten the frez out a bit on his head. “Maple right your highness I did enjoy the exchange, I got to know things about those griffons in exchange about our griffons, even events were similar there a clear differences between us by miles.”
“For one I gather there is no Finch Griffons that you know of, two there no Untied Griffish Kingdom, and three the many raise and falls of multiple griffon kingdoms over the last 4000 years, am I correct?” Celestia said so ever calmly to the two of them.
Maple nod. “Your correct Princess Celestia, we have Voyager 2 and Shal-Quz to thank for that muddy history of our kind.” Maple noticed a fox tail for a second behind the throne itself. “Keeper Sentinel I got a bone to pick with you and that damn Grimormia Tower of yours.”
The anthropomorphic fox causally stepped into view with hand paws in his trouser pockets. “As in the thermochemical magic between the two mirrors across two multiverses using my tower as a relay point that in turn created a temporal indifferences that knocked the alignment of the mirrors out of sync with each other because they tried to connect at different points in time from each other since my tower sits in a bubble universe that time doesn't flow similar to this and Mark's Prime Universes that I just learned about three hours ago thanks to the intel Princess Twilight Sparkle sent over via the X-92 Laptop.” He said in one complete non stop sentence without coming up to breath.
Cadance gave him a look. “Keeper do you really need to do that?”
“Yes to make my point and to stop paws, claws, hooves and whatever you like to point at me to blame me for.” Keeper remove his handpaws from the pockets standing by the throne. “Even I was aware of the events to play out with the connection being created, and planned it out in stages for over 200 years doesn't mean I knew everything that could happen after the fact.” He gesturing with his hands as he spoke walking down each step to Maple and Gruff.
Maple took what he just said into account, her frown soften a bit. “I see... the mirror connection wasn't look into depth and only skin deep, you had no idea till recently that your tower would throw off the temporal alignment of our mirrors.”
Keeper stopped a bit above Maple on a step. “Correct, no one tried that part from me, well me in connections from my tower to point A to Z or beyond and back. Not a relay point between two points, Chaotic Non-liner Time only exist in my microverse afterall.”
Shining Armor spoke up. “What does that even mean?”
“A seed falls into the ground, that in turn turn into a sprout and soon turn into a tree, then it dies many centuries later, that liner time.” Keeper turn around looking up at the captain. “Now with my tower time flows similar to liner time, but to the rest of the two multiverses from Grimormia Tower the flow of time in those universes are chaotic, the future move to the past, past move to the future, present move to the past and future.”
Shining Armor was completely lost with what Keeper was saying, it got very confusing for the Captain of the Guard. “You lost me...”
Keeper waved it off. “Most get lost in the spaghetti mess of time, you don't know which end goes where till you pull it out and make a bigger mess.”
Gruff thought about what he just said. “You know where Flaputa is don't you?”
“Yes and no, I looked into it and let's say it phasing in and out of everywhere, it in every corner of space, time and dimensions all at the same time in a microverse of it own, that why no one can reach it until Grogar did, how he managed it even I am at a loss and that a lot for me to say to own up to something even this cleaver sly fox can't even do alone.” Keeper said to Gruff.
Maple smirked. “Yet Octicovix was able to connect to it briefly by switching places while in Pistol's form with Pistol himself.”
Keeper blinked. “Wait what? Seriously!?”
“Yes.”
Celestia spoke up. “I understand that this sparked your interest Keeper Sentinel, please leave this for another time, we-”
Arbiter appears before her behind the two Finch Griffons kneeing down bowing his head slightly with his hand press down on the red carpet. “Princess Celestia, I do apologise for this intrusion.”
Maple and Gruff spun around looking in shock to see this split jaw armoured creature before them. “What in the name of Griffax is that thing!?” Gruff instantly said.
“Another Created...” Maple said.
Celestia raise her talon up stopping the guards in their tracks as they moved in on Arbiter. “This is Arbiter, he lives high inside this mountain, and I believe there is a very good reason for this sudden appearance like this.” Celestia gesture for him to stand and he does so.
Gruff hufted. “You have some nerve appearing like that creature!”
Arbiter ignored him and pull out a pad from his waist-side pouch pocket. “I received word from Glacier from her exhibition near Griffonstone as well Sunflower reviving near information from 87 years ago, this is the proof you needed that the Space Station in-fact did crash in the Frozen North.”
“Thank you for bring this to us Arbiter.” Celestia use her magic from her talon tips to take the pad from him floating it over to Keeper, he took it. “Since it was Project Angel that caused this, please summarise it.”
Keeper looked through the information on the pad. “This gives us a time when it appeared near the Moon to a escape pod being launched just before the space station entered Equis atmosphere a-” He stared at part he stopped at. “No way! You got to be bloody kidding me! Him!? HIM!?”
Celestia frowned. “Keeper, what got you worked up?”
“Have a damn look.” He turn and shows the part he stopped at.
Celestia's eyes widen, so did Shining and Cadance. “What the buck!?” They all said at once.
Maple got a message from her phone, she pulled it out to see it was from Sunflower and the content on the message startled her. “Erm... Gruff...” She shows it to him.
Gruff stared for a few seconds till he finally shouted in surprise. “WHAT!?”
Silvite stood on the walk way towards the roof stair door watching six kitsunes finish working on two massive black metal doors, they were engraved in silver of Silvite on either door attached to the roof and the floor with sliding gears to move them into the walls either side. “Why did I agree to have me plastered on both sides of those massive sliding doors? And why did I agree to allow the main entrance to be uncovered?” Silvite asked no one grumbling as she place her hands on the railing glaring at the doors.
One of the kitsunes a white blue one flew up to the walk way, her wings vanished upon landing and walk up to the silver dragon. “The doors are set up and fully functioning, this device will allow you to open and close it at your leasure.” She using her magic to give Silvite a small handheld device. “Also there is a manual control down at your desk on the observation platform for your intractions with the Titan Class Dragons Silvite.”
Silvite held it up. “Thanks Snowflake, still rather keep those oversized pea brains out of my lair.” Silvite put it into her bag.
Snowflake looked right over to the doors. “I know what you mean, Nowhere haven't really had this many dragons in a long time. Luckily none of them dared to try anything stupid on the land while they step a claw on it, they really don't want to piss you off.”
“Good that they know their place.” Silvite said with a smirk. “Thanks again for you and your team for setting this up, you all are welcomed to drop by anytime when I am about for a cupper.”
“Your tea simply the best Silvite, none of us going to refuse that offer, but we won't abuse it either.” Snowy smiled back. “Now just sign here and we be on our way.” Snowy gives her a clipboard and pen.
Silvite took it and took a good look at the details on it. “You can abuse it all you like Snowy, I rather have you furballs here any time than deal with those dragons, only ones I like is Torch, Ember, Spike, Anubis and his family. They rest are annoying grooving twats wanting browny points from their Lord of Dragons Silvite.” Silvite said signing the paper work and giving it back to Snowying.
Snowy laughed. “I can't disagree, see ya around.” Snowying made her wings appear and fly off the walk way, she wave a paw to the others they nod and took off after her to the ceiling entrance.
Silvite stared at the main doors. “If dragons come to bother me over and over again for some daft advice I will show them my fist as advice.” She open her wings flying off the walk way to the observation platform, upon landing on it she took a good look at the area the Titan Class Dragons would stand in. “At least it keep those dragons out of my main lair and won't crush my meadow in the progress.”
The area in front of her was the old large tunnel now turned into sitting area for Titan Class Dragons, her observation platform high enough to be at eye level with them while sitting, on the desk was the manual controls for the doors and draws built in. She pulled one open to see empty file slot dividers. “I hate being Lord of Dragons...” She closed the door up. “Next time I will tell Anubis to go stuff it... or should of done it in the bloody damn first place.” Silvite sat down on the chair rubbing her temple a few times.
A loud knock came from the metal doors ringing out down the tunnel. “Already!? Seriously!?” She growled, Silvite turn the switch to open and pulled the leaver back for the large doors to groan before sliding open either way.
To her surprise as the doors open the first to use it was no other than Dragon Lord Torch and hovering beside him was his daughter Ember. “LORD OF DRAGONS SILVITE, MAY WE ENTER YOUR LAIR?”
“You may.” Silvite answered soon as the doors finished opening up.
Torch walked inside looking around as he approached the observation platform, behind her he could see her true lair a green meadow with crystal clear lake water and trees with a strange set of orb like objects stuck together with walkways between them, he took note of the columns with the stairs going around to walk ways between them leading to a entrance on the ceiling. “I AM HONOURED FOR YOU ALLOWING US IN YOUR LAIR LORD OF DRAGONS.”
He bowed to her, Ember just rolled her eyes as she flew down to land before the silver dragon sitting at the desk. “You look like a idiot sitting behind that thing.”
Silvite chuckled seeing the shock from Torch when Ember said that. “I do in fact.” Silvite smirked. “But it something that needed, now smile for the camera you two.”
“Camera/CAMERA?” They said in confusion and two flashes caught them by surprise turning their gaze to a object hanging just above Silvite.
Silvite saw the pictures print on the desk, she took them taking a good look. “Well the shoe fits of being a idiot, you two sure look it in these.” She showed them to the dragons before putting them away in her desk.
“YOU WILL DE-”
“I will what?” Silvite gave him a stern look.
“N-NOTHING...” Torch instantly retracted.
Ember snorted. “Whatever, can we get on with being here already dad...”
“RIGHT...” Torch gesture to Ember. “WE CAME TO SEE YOU ABOUT THIS, SHORT TIME AGO WE GOT THIS LETTER SENT TO US BY SKIP BY MEANS OF MAGIC.”
Ember pull the scroll out from under her wing giving it to Silvite. “It about you and the war with the tyrant Dragon Lord Thunderous.” Silvite open it up taking a look at the details.
“I wish I could be surprised by this...” The silver dragon said putting the letter down. “But I'm not, there a huge gap in memories from my life before the induced Greed Growth I was prolonged to for 500 years, I have more memories of my life before a dragon and the last 500 years than the missing 3,500 years plus between it.”
“IS THERE ANY MEMORIES AT ALL ABOUT THE WAR?”
Silvite stood up from the desk walking in front of it and start to walk left to right of them pasting with a claw hand around the underside of the front of her muzzle. “What about this Kitsune Di'Sai?” Ember asked.
Silvite continue to paste back and forwards thinking hard closing her eyes focusing on it. “I can see pieces but it very jumbled, the name, the war and something called the Rosetta Life Diamond... I can recall one of the dragons helping to get the diamond and her out of there, I really boiled over and roared at him even going so far to punch him hard enough to knock that platinum scaled dragon on his ass.”
“You know his name?”
“Bahamut my mate, my husband, he was also carrying something very dear to us...” Silvite recalled what it was. “Our egg... I was to be a mother...” Silvite growled instantly grabbing a large boulder and throwing it towards Torch, he had no time to react as it sailed only inches from his face and past him, the Dragon Lord slowly turn to see it smashed to pieces against the large doors that were closed behind them. “Damn it to damn hell and back! Now this is turned personal! I need to BLOODY FIND THAT CRASH SITE IN THE FROZEN NORTH!”
Torch swallowed hard seeing the fury. “E-EMBER MY DAUGHTER WILL HELP YOU...”
“She defintitlly will.” Silvite turn to Ember. “Missy in two days we going to Canterlot, I need time to think this through and not creator that damn city in the process with what I bloody just remembered, so don't be late!” She pulled the leaver opening the large doors.
Ember growled. “Why should I go!? Ta-”
Silvite now stood over her, Ember looked up. “That is a damn order from the Lord of Dragons! Princess Ember! DO! I! MAKE! MY! SELF! CLEAR!?”
Ember fell on her tail yelping in pain with fear in her red eyes. “Y-yes my lord...”
“GOOD NOW GET OUT OF MY BLOODY LAIR!!!!” She roared unleashing a white fire ball that sails past both of them exploding outside the lair the heat felt from it caused them to flee.
The doors closed behind them and Torch breathed in relief. “THAT WENT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD.”
Ember hovering near his face blinked. “She almost fired us alive dad!”
“I KNOW, ISN'T SHE REALLY SOMETHING?”
“After all that you praising her!? She scary as heck! I couldn't even move my eyes from her gaze! And that command she gave me! I can't disobay it! I felt the power of the Bloodstone wash over me when she said it but in even more intense!”
“THAT WHY SHE IS THE LORD OF DRAGONS AND WHY I FEEL SCARED TO DEATH BEING AROUND HER...” Torch open his wings. “COME EMBER, YOU MUST PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP TO THE PONY LANDS.” Ember didn't say anything back and followed her father away from Nowhere into the sky for their short flight back home.
Silvite heard the door open above. “Whoever it is, g-” She turn to see it was Pom-Pom.
The twelve tail kitsune had a very serious look upon her face. “Sis we need to talk... Skip just told me about Di'Sai my Great Great Grandmother...”
Silvite rubbed her forehead. “And I just learned I did have a egg over 1000 years ago... come let's have some tea and talk this out...”
“Gladly Silvy.”
Prince Mark Wells sitting at his desk going through the paper work, he managed to catch up with much of it and with the safe return of Maple and Gruff Clawhowler, including the stable connection of the mirror back after the whole temporally differential event was dealt with.
Suddenly the X-92 laptop started to make a musical sound. “I gather that Maple...” Mark lift the screen up with his magic to see it was a call, but it was from Prime Minster Zipline. “The Finch Griffon Prime Minster calling me?” He tap the key with his magic to answer the call.
On the screen sitting at a desk was a orange and white fur finch griffon with black stripes wearing a blazer, shirt and tie with forepaws fingers overlying each other resting on the desk. “Prince Mark Wells of the Equestria Empire, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I can't thank you enough for what you did for me and my fellow citizens with the whole Sha'Quz ordeal, the truth being revealed about our former king Guto.”
“Hello Prime Minster Zipline, it good to meet you too and the truth wasn't exactly something that we were expecting when dealing with that rabbit, but I am glad that it did come out and help bring light to what really happened over almost 200 years ago for your kind.” Mark said back with a smile, than his mood changed a little. “I gather this isn't exactly what you called me about is it?”
Zipline nods. “I have to say it isn't... things that happened in the last week has really sparked a few interesting things, Sunflower and Glacier recently discovered something that none of us saw coming. 87 years ago a probe by the name Luna 4 was lost by something hitting it, we couldn't tell what it was and what happened afterwards, but recent events unearthed it.”
Mark lean closer to the laptop screen. “Exactly what did they unearth that you be calling me about it?”
“It a escape module from the International Space Station from Earth, it landed near Griffonstone 87 years ago and from new details sent to us by Arbiter on the wishes of Princess Celestia we discovered that the space station crashed somewhere in the Frozen North, but the interesting thing is that three humans were in that capsule and one of them is still alive, in fact he be 130 years old in four days time.” Zipline explained to Mark Wells.
“That interesting to hear, but that doesn't answer my question.”
“The humans had the ability to change their forms, they took on griffon forms. One of them became a famous author of a seven book series that well read and liked for over 50 years, the author of this book is Gark Wellsclaw or his human name being Mark Wells...”
Mark pupils shrunk upon hearing that name. “Wh-what!? Your serious!?”
“I am, in two days time we will have a situation station prepared in the War Room in Canterlot to discuss about your counterpart and the space station in the Frozen North, from what I learned there a kitsune and five dragons up there still alive and breathing beneath the space station.” Zipline said calmly to Mark. “It seem that we be meeting in person sooner than we thought.”
Mark sat back in his chair. “I can't believe it... I have a counterpart in that Multiverse...”
“Believe it, I having the letter sent to you right away, go ahead and read it. It in his claw writing afterall and I believe your Changeling wife Chrysalis is already there checking up on Spyro is she not?”
Mark nod. “She is... I will look over the letter and thank you for bring this news to me...”
“I thought I be the one to break the news to you Prince Wells, see you soon.”
“See you soon Prime Minster Zipline...” The call ends and the file appears in the message box, he opens it up to see a photo of the letter and start to read it.
Gale sat in the library looking at the stack of seven books before him. “Gilda you read theses?”
“I have dweeb, most griffons my age have once or twice they a good read.”
“Gark is Mark right?”
“Yep and not even sure how to fear about hearing that just a hour ago...” Gilda muttered.
Gale tilt his head. “He lived as griffon for almost all life in Equestira, so he griffon still is he not?”
Gilda rolled her eyes. “Yes dweeb you made a solid point, get to reading and see how awesome those books are. You will see why so many griffons and ponies like reading that series of lame books. I hear ponies in school go through a time going through some of the books as part of their Ponish to Griffish course.”
“It in Ponish and Griffish?”
“Yeah it is, the scribbles below the Griffish letters and ponish, it one of the big reasons Griffons and Ponies understand each others written language, who knows what it would have been like if that dork wasn't around.”
Gale pick up the first book putting it in front of him opening it up. “Sky Griffon Book One: The Darkness Arrives...” Gale read the title and begin reading the book.
Chrysalis stood with Spyro not to far from them. “You dream adventure to the stars and now my husband real counterpart is not only fell from space but a author of a well liked book series that stood the test of time in the last 50 plus years... this world seem to have a endless sense of surprise...”
The doors to the Equestrian War Room under the Throne Room open up by the golem ponies, Gale walk in with his mother, Gilda and Alpha seeing the large round table with the large crystal hanging over it. At tables on the upper level Finch Griffons work with Kitsunes to put together technological equipment, they were attached to the three dimension map table of Equestria while others pull in cables from outside.
Gale curious watched them working. “Princess are you telling me this place was a situation room for war with my kind?” Gilda asked taking in the sights.
Celestia nod. “It is Gilda, before we knew Sha'Quz was behind it, we was almost at a all out war with Griffina, but it never surfaced and soon this place was left to collect dust for a few centuries.” Celestia walk over to Maple who was under the map table setting up the Finch Net Satellites to the magic map. “Maple how is the upgrades coming along?”
Maple pulled herself out from under the table. “Everything is plugged in below Princess, got to say for Griffax, this is damn impressive. That crystal rendering real time information without the need of technology to the whole of Equestria, this upgrade will give you a real time view of pretty much the whole world via a few of our satellites.”
Shining Armor stepped up. “I am concerned that many other countries if they know of this feel we becoming too powerful for their own liking, we peaceful but even peaceful nations could change in a instant Princess.” Shining said his concerns about all the work the Finch Griffons were doing. “We got dragons of the Dragon Lands, the Prime Minster of the United Griffish Kingdom, Kitsunes of No-Yantic Clan of Nowhere, Princess Nightingale representing Griffonstone and Prince Wells of the Equis next door coming shortly, this will benefit everyone at the time.”
“Dweeb afterwards there be strong questions about the use of all this and how the UGK is so advanced and only now we learning of it, it going to be a stupid political buck storm, even I came see that.” Gilda said in her own colourful way. “
Celestia took in what both of them said. “Can't argue with you there Captain Armor... recent events gave the Finch Griffons a push to open up. In turn almost anyone that encounter them would wish for their technology, this is a joint venture to find the space station, find dragons and a kitsune that are there too and also find Gark Wellsclaw.”
Celestia turn to Maple. “Once this is done I have already requested for all this technology to be removed from this room afterwards and given back to your country, we not ready to use it and may end up misusing it.”
“That understandable Princess Celestia, it seem the reason why Prime Minster Zipline allowed all this to be set up in the first place, we will however leave some minor upgrades to the map and a few Finch Griffons like Gritter who been maintaining the mirror portal.” Maple said as she walk over to a laptop at the table, sitting on the chair she tap away on it. “Hope that acceptable.”
“I believe it will be.” Celestia smiled. “I do look forward to meeting Prime Minster Zipline in griffon.”
Gale walked around the circular room with Alpha. “A room of war repurposed into a room of joint operation of situation, locating this made object that fell from the heavens above to finding dragons, kitsunes and a griffon. Shen would never be able to do this, I am glad that I followed you Lord Gale.”
“I am too.” Gale said to Alpha. “You think dragons, griffons and ponies will get along after this?”
Alpha one eye looked around as the final equipment are set up. “It too early to say Lord Gale, but it a promising start though.”
Gale look to the map. “It good start yes.” Gale agreed. “Spyro should be here soon, he with his mum waiting for others at mirror room. Silvite, Torch daughter Ember coming, so is big sister and Pom-Pom. What you think might happen today?” Gale took a good look around. “You think we may find answers or start to?”
“With what Keeper did with Project Angel, who knows Lord Gale.” Alpha looked over at the fox at one of the higher level tables working on one of the computers with Arbiter. “I heard the Created may bring their leader to this meeting too.”
“Really?” Gale asked.
Alpha nod. “It what I heard from some of the guards, not sure if it rumour or fact, but we will see soon enough.”
Gale sat down at a empty table. “You think if they come, they be happy to see me like others?”
“Lord Gale if they are as welcoming to meet their creator such as Tigress and Ratchet were, I say there a chance.” Alpha eye moved to Arbiter working with Keeper Sentinel, then turn to the sound of the doors opening again to reveal Twilight Sparkle, her friends, Spike and Angel Bunny. “Spike and Angel Bunny with the ponies are here Lord Gale.”
Gale turn to the doors waving to Angel and Spike. “Angel! Spike!” He called out cheerfully to them, they waved back and approached him, Gale had a lot to tell them and was happy to do so under the watchful eye of Alpha.
Gale, Spike and Angel finish sharing about everything that happened a few days ago, they sat on cushions facing each other. “That makes so much more sense now...” Angel said.
“That explain why Skip had to leave like that.” Spike looked over to Twilight and her friends talking to Celestia, in turn the princess filling it what she kept from them for a few days. “I forwarded a message to a Dragon Lord Torch, do you think he went to Silvite about it?”
“Silvite is attending with the Dragon Lord's daughter Princess Ember.” Alpha informed them. “A dragon came yesterday with a message to Princess Celestia about it.”
Gale recalled seeing the lime green dragon that passed on a scroll to his mum. “I saw too, was busy with school work with Gilda to not ask at time, forgot to ask afterwards.”
Spike curious looked over to the griffon talking with Rainbow Dash. “You don't go to a school with others your age?”
“No, Mum say Gilda best to teach and one on one mean I get more understanding, learn faster and she like big sister too when not teaching. I happy with that.” Gale was happy with the learning he being given so far.
Angel's eyes shift over to Fluttershy. “I learned from Fluttershy without her even knowing it when I was keeping this from her.” Angel look down to his hand paws flexing them. “I do feel a lot better being more open about my anthro form.” Angel smiled.
“Sometimes mistakes are good mistakes.” Gale and they laughed.
Shining Armor emerge from the entrance to the War Chamber below the throne room to be greeted by Spitfire and two of her Wonderbolt teammates, they saluted to him as he did to them. “Happy to say a air corridor been formed and a no flying zone been made around the landing platform.”
“Good to hear Captain Spitfire, we got a stealth airship of some kind arriving shortly carrying the Untied Griffish Kingdom leader Prime Minster Zipline, including Glacier, Sunflower, their team and one capsule.” Shining Armor said lowering his foreleg down.
Spitfire hoof over details that was past to her team. “Also these dragons just arrived too, Silvite the Lord of Dragons and the daughter of Dragon Lord Torch; Princess Ember.”
“It be good to see that silver dragon again, she and her team managed to prevent our world from ending by the paws of Shal-Quz.” Shining Armor said. “Alpha Pom-Pom and her son Skip should be arriving with them.”
Soarin nod. “That correct Captain Armor, they are being escorted to the castle as we speak.”
“That good, now Greystorm and his wife alongside Big Rig should be also arriving too, Princess Luna is meeting with our other guest with his personal guard, make sure to keep things safe in the skies Captain Spitfire.” Shining saluted.
“Will do Captain Armor.” She saluted back. “Move out team, we got a lot of sky to cover.” The saluted too and all leave the throne room.
Shining Armor looked over to the two guards with a frown. “Queen Chrysalis, Spyro I know you are waiting for Prince Mark Wells and Penumbra to show up, could you not pose as my guards and go down and wait for them there please.”
A burst of magical flames wash over them to turn back into their normal forms. “You continue to impress me Shiny, how ever did you know how to spot us?” She teased.
“One you wasn't even trying to keep yourselves unnoticed, there is suppose to be no guards in this room, two you most likely knew of this and I been putting up more methods of detecting changelings infiltrating the castle, Octicovix will find it more tricker to get past my new defences I put in place.” Captain Armor calmly said.
“Still you fail to even notice that I did.” All three turn to Shining right to see the yellow solid eye changeling standing next to him grinning. “That six zero captain, good try though it was a real challenge this time, and my husband already on the way down.” She winked and walked off down the stairs.
Shining right eye twitched. “H-how-wh-what-when!?” He stuttered in shock.
Spyro was highly confused. “I didn't even notice she was even in the room till that second...”
Chrysalis smiled. “My counterpart's daughter is a rare kind when it comes to infiltration, only a few back home can pull off a tactic that well and it seem she enjoy testing Shining Armor's patients.”
Shining watched Octicovix walk down the stairs. “I will figure out how to beat her at this game, even it a single win. I won't give up Octicovix! You hear me!?” He shook his forehoof at her.
“I look forward to it, till then don't give up and you will get it! And I look forward to that day!” Octicovix called back giving a short wave as she continue to walk.
Chrysalis smiled. “I got a feeling when it comes to his wedding day, my counterpart will not be able to fool him so easily, it would be interesting to see if that really happens.” She whispered to Spyro
“I think it might.” Spyro answered.
Shining Armor walked over to them with a invite appearing next to him with a soft pop when his horn lit up. “I almost forgot, here a invite for you, your husband and some of your changelings to come to my wedding Queen Chrysalis, from my understanding you need love to feed yourself and others of your kind. So what better than a wedding?”
Chrysalis slowly took it with her magic surprised by this. “Your serious aren't you?”
“Of course, both I and Cadance agreed that it would benefit you greatly, since you and your husband played a part in saving both our worlds, this is our way of saying thanks. And also to add Spyro going to be there, so why not his mum, tt not till Spring so you got about four or five months to prepare.” He smiled.
“Thank you?”
“Your welcome, well back to work, I got word that Alpha Pom-Pom going to help get that capsule and Sunflower down into the Situation Room with one of her rift portal spells, no way neither of them going to fit down that stair case.” Shining Armor trots over to the door opening it up and leaving.
Spyro stared at the door. “That was surprising...”
Chrysalis looked at the invite. “It is Spyro, we will talk about this more later, for now the focus is on this space station and my husband counterpart; Gark Wellsclaw.” Chrysalis put the invite away.
“Why are we waiting here?” Ember asked with frustration learning against a wall with arms crossed on the castle airdock platform.
Silvite standing with Pom-Pom answered. “We waiting for Glacier, Sunflower and the others to arrive.” Silvite narrowed her gaze. “We are guests here so behave yourself.”
Ember snorted out some flames turning her head away. “Fine...”
Silvite rubbed the bridge of her muzzle. “Kids...” She muttered. “Be the way Pomy, where your son?” Silvite turn her attention from youngster to another.
“Skip?” She point a forepaw at the castle point of entry for the airship dock platform. “He with Princess Luna waiting for Prince Wells arrival.”
“He interested in knowing the prince and seeing the mirror portal in action isn't he?”
“Yep.”
Shining Armor at that moment the doors open walking up to them, the guards standing at the doors salute as he walked by them towards the two dragons and kitsune. “Hello Shining Armor, how is Gale doing? Is he keeping up with his schooling from Glida?”
“Hello Silvite, Prince Gale doing well, he spent the last two days catching up with most he missed with everything that happened recently and the vacation in Manehatten.” Shining Armor replied approaching her, he stopped in front looking up as she look down.
Silvite grinned. “Looking down at you like this make you look like a cuddly pony that I just want to hug to death.”
Shining rolled his eyes. “And you in turn look intimidating, but a good dragon at heart.”
Ember watched the exchange. “That true I am exactly both as you are somewhat intimidating from that adorable cuteness, keep up the good work little pony.” She pat him on the head. “With all that out of the way I am here for the Dragon Lands and personal reasons.”
“Which is?” Shining had allow her to pat his head since he knew she was trying to push his buttons.
“One the kitsune Di'Sai, my sisters Great Great Grandmother and two one of the dragons I seem to send away during the Dragon Civil War was not only my mate but also carrying our egg to safety.”
Shining Armor was surprised to hear what she just said “You are married and have a child!?”
Silvite crossed her arms. “Pretty much, with the artefact the Rosetta Life Diamond the dragons diamond, my mate, my sisters grandmother and my child, it seem that the crashed space station was the icing on the cake of all this bloody crap.”
Shining rubbed the back of his neck with a forehoof. “I can see how this is personal for all of you in some degree... soon as Prime Minster Zipline, Glacier, Sunflower and the others with the capsule arrive we can head down there via the rift portal provided by your sister Alpha Pom-Pom.”
“One that I will gladly create with ease, I been silent through all this chit-chat so far and knowing my great great grandmother alive is somewhat a surprise. Hopefully this meeting get us somewhere to start off and get to finding Triple G Di'Sai.”
Shining was about to question it but he got the idea what it meant. “Yeah I can see why you want things to move quickly.”
Ember glance over to the platform edge seeing a slight distortion. “Silvite something here.” They all turn to the direction Ember looking at.
“I did hear they coming in under cloak, this must be what you saw. Prime Alpha One.” Shining said.
Ember push off the wall seeing something open up and lower to show the inside of a large hull area of a craft, they saw Glacier, Dr Caballeron and his team, Sunflower holding the escape capsule with her forelegs standing on the hind legs giving serious more height to the already huge Finch Griffon, standing in front of them with two guards was the orange and white black striped finch griffon wearing a suit.
“That a Finch Griffon? She half the height of my dad!” Ember was shocked at the size of Sunflower.
Silvite calmly walked up to the ramp as it touch down and the group onboard start to disembark from it. “I am Silvite Lord of Dragons, pleasure to meet you Prime Minster Zipline.” She knelt down raising her claw hand out to him.
Zipline walked up to her and put his forepaw into the hand, they shook. “It a pleasure to meet you face to face, I seen you in the visual reports as well reading about you. I can't thank you enough for what you did.”
“No problem, it was to save Gale and the world was a bonus.”
“As it should be, saving the world is near impossible, saving one life isn't and if you save the world it is indeed a bonus as well discovering the truth about King Guto.” Zipline freed his forepaw from her hand. “Now how about we continue our meet and greets inside the chamber before Sunflower pops, even with her strength and amazing level of flight magic, the capsule does weigh a fair amount.”
Sunflower slightly growls. “Fair amount!? This bloody thing weighs a few tones dude! Can we get in already! Or I might unload my real weight with this right now and see how the ramp hold that much weight in one go!”
Zipline turn sharply at her. “You really would do that?”
“Try me Prime Minster.” Sunflower glared.
Glacier chuckled. “Never a dull moment with Sunflower around, Pom-Pom if you do the honours?”
Pom-Pom nod. “Gladly.” She creates a massive rift before everyone.
Zipline tap a ear piece in is right ear. “Once we through the rift take Prime Alpha One to Landing Zone Alpha.”
“Aye Prime Minster.” Said the pilot.
They all start walking through the rift, Ember watched Sunflower enter it. “Any more surprises Lord of Dragons?”
“Plenty.” Silvite grinned and walk through the rift, Ember sighed and followed her through.
A light gold Pegasus watching near by quickly join the ranks as they cross through wearing a disguse behind Cablleron and his team, Shining Armor one of the last few to walk through glance over to Glacier as they were the last to cross through with Pom-Pom. “Look like the plan worked.” Pom-Pom said.
“That we do sweetie.”
Shining looked at each of them. “Hope you know what you two are doing, on purposely allowing someone to sneak in isn't something I am keen on.”
Glacier put her talon on his side. “Trust me, this will be a benefit on our part.”
“When you say that I feel I shouldn't.” Shining muttered walking through the rift.
“That you shouldn't Blue Hooves.” Glacier walked through after him.
Pom-Pom turn to see the ramp close up on the craft. “When fiction becomes reality and reality becomes fiction, what a world.” She walk through the rift closing up behind her.
The Mirror Portal activates with Prince Mark Wells and Penumbra emerging through it to be met by Princess Luna. “Prince Wells, Penumbra welcome back to our Equestria.”
Mark step up to her with a hoof raised to her. “It good to be back without a crazy bunny ending the multiverse to draw us over.”
Luna raise her hoof pressing it against his before placing them back down. “Indeed, this time around it more on a curious nature of a actual counterpart and not a fictional comic book character.”
A unicorn statue behind Mark and Penumbra mimicking Luna mouthing her words, Penumbra quickly turn for it to freeze up instantly giving Gritter the Finch Griffon a snicker. “Penny, what is it?”
“Not sure, for a second I thought I felt a presence behind us.” She curiously look around.
Mark looked at the unicorn statue. “Sally, show yourself.”
The statue laughed. “WRONG!” It fluidly does a back flip with a glowing burst of light turn into a eight tail pink kitsune with wings. “Come on take another stab and guess who I!” He did a rapid bouncing steps on the spot with eagerness. “And don't spoil the game Princess! If you do that we never friends again got me!”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Fine young kitsune I won't.”
“Princess you know this weird winged kitsune?” Penumbra asked.
“Yes and I won't say who, best to play along and get it over with, even he 299 years old.” Luna said waving a hoof to him.
Mark sighed. “Princess we here because of the discovery of my counterpart, not to play games with a pink kitsune.”
The pink kitsune gave a fanged grin. “Really huh? No time for fun? No time to just turn that frown upside down? No time to PARTY huh? Huh? HUH!?”
Mark blinked. “Why do I get a Pinkie vibe off him?”
“I got that feeling to Mark...”
“Oooo he does have it.”
“He does Pinkie P-” Mark quickly turn to the pink pony sitting by him eating popcorn. “-Pie?”
“Yeporuny it me! Good guess!” She giggled. “Now come on get those mouths a working a guess already! Or we never get to the war room from the time we almost went to war with the griffons almost 200 years ago caused by the evil bunny Shal-Quz tricking everyone thinking it was King Guto but in fact King Guto feel so deeply in love with a changeling queen and in turn gave life to Octicovix that in turn had to leave her mum for true love which came into the heart of Greystorm who a griffon that mayor of Trottingham on Griffish Isle that also banished from Griffina because of a family fuend in turn that-”
Luna used her magic to close Pinkie's muzzle. “Please leave the explanation for another time Pinkie Pie.”
“Mmmmmkay.” Pinkie mumbled with a few nods before Luna let go of her muzzle with the magical hold.
Penumbra approached Pinkie Pie. “I do have one question for Pinkie Pie first.”
The kitsune shrugged. “Sure go ahead, I can wait~”
“Are you this worlds Pinkie Pie?”
“Well duh! Of course I am! What kind of question is that?” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Now shall we-”
“Skip to the point.” The kitsune chuckled. “Oppsee I ruined the game before it begun!”
“Awwww that too bad.” Pinkie whines. “Whelp that his name Skip, Beta of the No-Yantic Kitsunes, eldest son of Alpha of the Kitsunes Pom-Pom and my Best Kitsune Friend Forever! BKFF for short hehe.” Pinkie presented Skip to them. “Skip open a rift portal so we can skip the walking.” She giggled.
Skip laughed. “Alrighty! One Kitsune speciality Rift Portal coming right up to the Equestrian War Room!” Skip's eight tail flames glow brightly and a rift portal opens up before them. “Wallar! One instant travel provided by Skip the number one party Kitsune of Nowhere! See you all there!” He hopped into the rift.
Pinkie salutes. “Nice to meet you both! See you there!” She bounce inside the rift.
The bluish white portal that seemingly look like a tear in the skin of reality sat before them. “Is that your version to our Daggerscale portals?”
“Not ours, theirs. All I know it their method of long distance travel, it very safe to travel through. I used it a few times before.” Luna said calmly after what they encountered with Pinkie and Skip. “Beta Skip been spending time in Ponyville for a week or so, he became good friends with many of the ponies there.” Luna step up to it.
Mark walked up to the rift portal. “Did he say Equestrian War Room?”
Luna could see the surprise on his face and the concern in his voice. “It was to deal with the griffons almost 200 years ago, and we all know who was the cause of that.” Luna stepped through the rift portal.
Gritter sitting at his desk near the Mirror Portal spoke up. “It was where my kind was almost wiped out, a very dark page in Finch Griffon history Prince Wells, glad you and the others put our history straight.” Gritter raise a finger up on his forepaw. “Also your wife Queen Chryalis is in the Throne Room above it, you may want to let her know you skipped past the stairs.”
“I am glad to be of help dealing with that crazy bunny.” Mark smiled. “That would mean I have to walk up the stairs to let her know and come back down with her...” Mark sighed and walk through the rift portal, Penumbra followed him afterwards with the rift portal closing up behind them.
“Or you could of asked one of the guards to do it for you, since your one of the leaders of your Equestria.” Gritter said to the empty space where the portal was opened at.
A short time later everyone that was called to be there in the former Equestrian War Room had arrived, standing before the dragons, ponies, griffons, Changelings and ktisunes Princess Celestia, Keeper and Maple at the map table. Standing at a opened up area with the escape capsule was Sunflower watching from there as Celestia start to talk to all of them.
“We are all here for two main reasons, the space station and what is there in the Frozen north on how it connects to Kitsunes and Dragons from the past events towards personal reasons, how Project Angel which Keeper created helped reveal this by a sequel of chance events a few days ago.” Celestia said addressing mainly the dragons and kitsunes in the room.
“Second we addressing one of the survivors from the space station itself, landing in the Soyuz escape capsule near Griffonstone, these three humans had the magical ability to transfigure thanks to Project Angel, they became griffons and merged into the population around 87 years ago, we believe there is one still alive but close to being 130 years old in a few days. This last human is Prince Mark Wells counterpart from our universe going by the name of Gark Wellsclaw, most of us will know him as the griffon that crated the most read and well liked book series in Equestria and neighbour countries.”
Many of them talked to each other about what they were hearing.
Celestia raise her talon and they quiet down. “We will begin coming up with a plan to approach both within reason and safety of all parties, there a lot to go through and it may take hours with all the information we be able to gather and with your help fill in the missing blanks.” Celestia looked around the room at each of them.
“We will achieve our goals in meeting a counterpart, finding the space station in the Frozen North that connected to many prizes to many of you in this room both personal and historical. A find to the Finch Griffons of the Untied Griffish Kingdom that is historical, the diamond returned to the dragons to take back to the Dragon Lands, finding a husband and their child, thr great grand children reunited with their great grandmother.”
Celestia place both her talons on the map table. “Now we begin.”
Mark finished eating his hayburger, happily eating with the other leaders of their nations Princess Celestia, Luna, Nightingale, Silvite the Lord of Dragons, Alpha Pom-Pom of No-Yantic clan and Prime Minster Zipline. They had a table to themselves while the others ate in different locations through out the chamber, Gale was eating and wondering around the large circular map table.
Zipline drunk a bit of his tea and lower the cup to talk to Mark. “Prince Wells, Maple's debrief from her monthly stay showed that you've on the final stages of making direct contact with the humans on Earth.”
“We are, she was able to help with the minor details of the plans while Twilight figured out how to reconnect with the mirror here.” Mark responded. “Twilight still can't seem to figure out why it happened, she doesn't think it had anything to do with Keeper's tower between our two multiverses.”
“Gritter's report said the same thing, even Big Rig agreed that something else must of caused it, but we can't really tell what it is. So for now we have to go with the theory that Keeper's domain being our of sync with our universes on a temporary plain was the reason for it.” Zipline said and drunk a bit more of his tea.
Mark drunk a bit of his drink. “Either way we got to meet face to face because of the discovery of my own counterpart from this Equis,” Mark looked around the chamber stopping to see the fox Keeper Sentinel leaning back against a chair with legs crossed over and feet paws on the table, one hand resting against the back of his head and the other picking up chips from the plate resting on his lap.
Zipline noticed Mark was staring at the anthropomorphic fox. “I am aware of your last encounter with Mr Sentinel, but as you know now he is the reason this world has a Mark Wells, Project Angel gave him a life of Gark Wellsclaw”
“That is true Prime Minster, something about the way he acts get right under my fur.” Mark responded.
Luna looked over to Mark. “He has a unusual effect on many, even I find the way he acts at times a bit testy at best.”
Celestia pipped in. “He is 29,101 years old Prince Wells, Luna...”
“How is he that old and still looking that young?” Mark asked.
“He is a created.” Silvite rolled her eyes. “They have no limit to how long that live while that life crystal is activity inside them, they most likely will never look any different in age, and most are over 4000 years old.”
“Fair point, could Project Angel be the reason he like the way his is?” Mark couldn't disagree with Silvite and asked about how Keeper acts around others.
Celestia answers that very question. “Little over 17,000 years ago to Keeper's perspective, Grimormia Tower took heavy damage during the moment Keeper activated Project Angel, he had to send them to a Equis to save them.” Celestia picked up a chip holding it up to her beak. “Keeper spent most of it looking for them only to find out they were all on the very world he came to exist on over 4000 years ago.” She took a bite out of the chip,
Silvite looked over to the white anthropomorphic bunny gone over to the map table talking to Gale, the teenage griffon responding to him. “Gark, Angel Bunny and other animals with transfiguration abilities to boot.” The silver dragon causally said before biting into her gem burger.
“My counterpart with abilities similar to a changeling without being one, wonder if he used it other than the griffon form he took after crashing in the capsule outside Griffon-” Mark paused thinking about the comic book, he recalled who was the author of it and the larger than life character. “-stone... Gark became a dragon as well, not only that he created a connection with Anubis.”
Pom-Pom had noticed Leela going through her book, runes floating around her at a table, the little avian looked really anger, Rocky failing to calm her down getting a mouthful from Leela. He quickly raising the hand paws waving them backing away from her as she jabbed a hand talon claw at him. “I believe Leela has just made that discovery herself, that raccoon tried and failed to calm her down, she squawking mad with her brother Anubis.”
“How did she not know?” Luna asked.
Zipline had a rough idea what it was. “Like our written documents, including records that are achieved in paper encase of computer core failure on a scale that could wipe it data, we have systems disabled now but kept any that could access paper, drawings, statues and so fourth with magic.”
Celestia recalled the moment Leela able to access the kingdom of the Finch Griffons written works. “You lowered the magical dampening shields a few days ago, Leela's suddenly gained 150-200 years wealth of information from your kingdom.”
Mark using his magic picked up a few chips with the folk. “And you think Anubis did the same?” Mark ate the chips after asking the question.
“That Death Dragon most likely wanted to keep his close connections to Gark a secret, and created spells within everything to keep it away from Leela.” The way Luna presented why Anubis did it seem to got them wondering about his bond with Gark.
Nightingale looking through one of the comic books carefully looked at each page. “Aunty Luna I believe he used rune magic through out the comic book, each page holds a rune symbol within it art work.” Nightingale turn the book around showing it to them, pointing to each rune. “I in the Inverse Universe where it was my home for 799 years of my life also used this very rune spell in many of my own personal dairies.”
Celestia looked at the runes carefully. “Ah yes I recognize these runes, they are used through out in my private vault.” Celestia turn to Leela. “Leela has no idea these runes exist?”
“Most likely she can't see them, a spell that hides itself from her.” Chrysalis walk up to them with Penumbra and Shining Armor. “This worlds Grogar most likely created it, got lost in time till somepony or griff discovered it over the few thousand years. And adapted by many through out time, unaware of whom created it long ago.”
Celestia rub her talon under the beak. “It is possible that many spells that were made could have been created by Grogar during his time experimenting with my son...” Celestia watched Gale, Spike and Angel talking to each other at the map table, they curiously looking at the three dimensional rendering of the Frozen North. “The transfiguration spell that made my son what he is the moment of arriving at Canterlot the moment of Nightmare Moon being removed from you Luna, it used by all those of Project Angel.”
Shining Armor stepped up to speak. “We had a witness in the hospital confirm this, a nurse saw Gark transform into a pony before disappearing into the crowds outside it, soon after his son in law and great grand daughter both emerged with Doctor Trace searching for him.”
“Mark's counterpart was submitted to the hospital only a few hours after the mirror portals temporally misaligned.” Penumbra added. “I think there a connection between him and the mirror, just not sure what it is exactly.”
Keeper Sentinel's ears twitch, he didn't look at them but Mark felt as if something was near him, the alicorn quickly turn to come face to face with a sentinel hovering before him coming out of stealth. “Keeper have you been listening to everything we been saying!?” He quickly turn around at the fox causally eating his chips.
Keeper push off from the table and got off the chair putting the plate down, he scoops up the last of the chips and walk over to them eating the last of his food as he approached. “I have and been analysing everything, that including the damaged memory core from Grimornia Tower Sunflower gracefully gave to me.” Keeper does a finger motion for the sentinel to fly back to his side and vanish from view.
“And what have you discovered?” Chrysalis asked.
“Creator Gale, Angel Bunny and Spike all discovered the location of Prototower via the map, at this very moment the tower is partly viable because of the refraction of the sun's rays, that became part of the piece of this puzzle, second is the mirror portal and third is Mark's counterpart from our world with connections to Anubis.” Keeper stopped in front of Mark with both hand paws in his trouser pockets. “So your highness, would you like that hit you so wanted back in the rune communication chamber? I am open and willing to let you hit me with your famous lightning blast spell.”
Mark's horn sparked with electrical magical discharges. “You try to get under my fur everytime we met so far, why?”
Keeper kept a serious look on his expression. “I gave you the chance Mark Wells because I know I have got under your fu-” Keeper pause his pupils flicking different colours, suddenly he looked very shocked and confused. “-that can't be possible.” Keeper quickly turn to the map rushing over to it hoping over the levels of tables to reach the map. “Sentinels link Grimornia Tower with the crystal and the Finch Griffons systems!”
Everyone in the chamber took notice of this reaction. “What going on?” Penumbra demanded to know.
Keeper took a keyboard away from one of the finch griffons working near the map, he started tapping away on it fast. “My tower was hit by two reality waves over 17,000 years ago at the moment I activated Project Angel, because of that event I had to redirect the portal exit to a whole new point which happened to be here at different points in time.”
“We know that cause of me.” Angel gestured to himself. “And we heard about it before.”
“Yet it WHERE it came from that matters!” Keeper said as he worked on the keyboard.
Sunflower was about to act but Maple out a forepaw up. “Wait, I got a feeling something about me and Gruff being stuck in the Prince's universe is connected to it.”
“How?”
Glacier started to clue in on it. “No it can't be that, surely it can't!”
Gale tilt his head. “Is it the Shal-Quz Victory Timeline?”
“It is! The two reality waves that hit my tower came from that very timeline when Shal-Quz not only destroyed the Tree of Elysium, but the key building block to your universe too Mark Wells!” Keeper said sharply.
Chrysalis look upon her husband. “Mark that would mean-”
“Our universe was destroyed in that timeline, which mean for once changing the future by changing the past events was a better option...” Mark confirmed his deep gut feeling as well the others. “Fox, what happened to our world?”
Keeper looked over to him directly in the eyes. “Your world would have been the only one standing in the multiverse, she most likely went there and tore it to pieces of the fun of it, playing with you and the others like play things, and if the data I got from one of my sentinels from that timeline is correct, you were the only survivor and kept as a broken toy to that black rabbit...”
Mark's sighed. “So Twilight was right...”
“Right about what?” Twilight asked.
“My Twilight found something odd about the misalignment, something from that timeline came to our timeline...”
“You don't think it Shal-Quz?” Fluttershy shuddered to think of that rabbit returning.
Penumbra knew who it was. “Gark! If Anubis died in that timeline he most likely would of gave his magic up to someone close! It had to be Gark!”
“Yeah... my-”
“Our counterpart!” They all turn looking up to see Daring Do come down and land before them in a hero stance.
“Da-Daring Do!?” Most said with surprise.
“Not exactly, that isn't her, the mane colours are reveresed.” Dr Caballeron spoke walking up to her. “Also she would never do such a grandiose entrance like this one did.” The earth pony with a flick of the foreleg knock the hat off this 'Daring Do'. “Now who are you?”
With a smirk the pegasus transform into a light green griffon with cream underside of the neck to under the torso, brown head feathers and tail tip. “Gark Wellsclaw, formal Mark Wells 87 years ago at your survive and good to finally meet you my other universal self!” He gave a toothy beak smile to Mark.
“Oooo that a twist!” Skip and Pinkie said together and point at each other. “Jinx! Double Jinx!”
Mark was surprised by the sudden arrival through out what was happening, now this dropped on him. “You where here the WHOLE time!?”
“Pretty much, Daring Do is all tied up in the capsule over there.” He hints to the space capsule.
Sunflower looked through the window of the door to see her. “Well buck me silly, she is in here.” Sunflower turn to Gark. “How the heck did you manage that?”
The griffon walked around them, they all watching his movements. “Come with experience with shapeshifting and-” He felt a dark gaze fell upon him by Celestia, he swallowed hard seeing that look. “-and used it to get information at time to time.”
Celestia using her magic to hold him in place. “If you really are him, why do you look like you are in your twenties and not 129 years old about to turn 130!?”
Gark kept his smile. “Well that was because of whatever happened to that mirror, it effected me in rapidly reversing my age, Doctor Trace managed to slow it right down, but I am still getting younger and it going to kill me by the day after tomorrow, so my birthday be my very last full day at living, quite the way to go out huh? Looking dashingly handsomely young?”
Celestia frowned. “You really think I can believe that?”
A teleportation pop caught their attention, Trace with Amber, a elderly thestral and a charco black unicorn with light green mane and tail stood before them all. “Finally found you dad!” The elderly male thestral snapped at the green griffon.
“Hey Pens, nothing to worry about, just found out why your good ol' dad look this young.” He winked.
Penumbra looked at the old thestral. “Is that short for-”
“Penumous, I am a former royal guard and don't give a damn what going on in wherever we are, we been chasing around my dad for the last few days with help from the fraud investigator Amber and Doctor Trace.”
“Everytime we got close to finding him, he slipped by us again!” The mare growled. “Great Grandfather Gark, do you know how worried everyone was when you ran out of the hospital like that!?”
Gark looked around. “I guess a lot?”
Mark steps in. “Can we slow down for a moment, we in the middle of trying to well find-” He hint to Gark. “-him and the space station he came crashing down in 87 years ago.”
The unicorn stared at Mark for a moment. “Why do you look like GG Gark but as a-” She look to the wings and horn. “-Alicorn?”
“I and him and kinda the same but different, I am from the universe next door. And you are?”
“Eclipse Wellsclaw... I serve the in royal guard...” She turn to Celestia. “Princess what exactly have we teleported into and how much trouble is my Great Grandfather is in this time?”
The elderly Thestral grumbled. “Alot...”
“Indeed he is.” Luna said. “One for impersonating a Pegasus, two breaking into a meeting among leaders of many nations-”
“You allowed in cause you thought I was the tied up adventurer up there.” He hint to the capsule.
Luna's cold gaze fell upon him. “Not the point, you also had the pull doctor chase you around which means you know about the mirror portal, about my nephew and so much more, which mean you violated a lot of rules because you shapeshifted into guards too.”
“Hehe maybe one or two.”
“Sally can you believe this is my counterpart?”
“Mark he said his going to die in two days, if you were him and heard about what happened in the convention, would you not do the same in his claws?” Chrysalis causally pointed out to Mark Wells.
The prince open his muzzle than close it, he tried to find a way to counter it but nothing came to mind. “You got a point... I may have acted the same way, specially if rapid deaging would be the reason that my life come to a end...”
“What a strange handsome way to go, it not something I would like...” Rarity shuddered.
“Me too Rarity... it feels so unnvervin'” Applejack said.
Zipline stepped up. “It does make things easier, difficult and interesting at the same time, got to say this is unexpected, but interesting.”
Slivite shrugged. “It happened, we just have to press forward.”
Rainbow Dash looked around. “Well what else can go wr-”
Gilda quickly grabbed her beak and Alpha pinned her to the floor. “NEVER SAY THAT!?” They said together.
Rainbow managed to speak. “What? It can't can it?”
Suddenly the doors open and Sunbeam rushes in. “Princess Celestia! We got a huge problem!”
“What is it?”
“Anubis with a blue dragon are fighting a Death Dragon outside Canterlot!”
The wolf and griffon glared at Rainbow Dash still holding her down. “Hehe, I guess it can?”
Keeper standing at the map table looking at the screen before him. “Prototower has been reactivated... Chorosystems have been shut down for a week.”
“What does that mean?” Spyro asked.
“It means that death dragon only came from the Victory Timeline.”
“And that death dragon must be Gark right?” Spike suggested.
Keeper sighed putting the keyboard down. “Yes it does... but he did more than brought himself over from that timeline...”
Gale watch the fox press his hand paws down on the table lower his head. “How many more?”
