Scootaloo fails to learn how to fly and in a blind panic to not disappoint her idol, she runs away.
Scootaloo wants to try to impress Rainbow Dash by showing her how much she has learned on her own. Things do not go as planned, and in the end, Scootaloo runs away into the Everfree. After being found, unconscious and seriously injured, by Gilda, her savior decides to take her to the Gryphon Empire, where things go from bad to worse.
*This story is to be read as if "Sleepless in Ponyville" never happened.
"Where is she, where is she?" said the young, orange filly, as she blazed trough Ponyville on her trademarked scooter. She eyed the sky and looked for the only rainbow maned pegasus she knew of. This was going to be the day she finally impressed her, the day that Rainbow Dash would take her under her wing and teach everything she knew. Scootaloo just couldn't wait, she had even gotten up extra early just to make sure she was ready in time.
"My roses!"
"Look out!"
"Watch my cabbages!"
Oblivious to those that cried around her, she spotted her target. High above the "Books & Branches" library was Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, they were both upon a cloud and deep in discussion. Or at least Dash had been nodding ever now and then to Twilight’s stream of magical jargon. As focused the two were though, a loud bang rang out as Scootaloo slammed to a halt into the library's sign, and in doing so she had successfully gained the attention of the two as well as every other pony in the vicinity.
"Whoa, Scoots, you alright?!" Dash yelled with concern and flew down to her. Twilight followed in flash of purple light and appeared next to Scootaloo. She went to help the filly up only to be knocked out of the way as Scootaloo charged under her.
"Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash, I finally found you!" Scootaloo screamed at Dash, much to her displeasure, as well as those that gather around her crash site.
"Why are you yelling, squirt?" Dash replied with only the slightest bit of agitation. She hovered over the filly to help Twilight up, only for Twilight to be pushed aside by Scootaloo.
"Rainbow Dash, I need to show you something awesome! Can you please, please, please meet me in the fields near the Everfree at dusk?!" the spirited filly asked.
Dash glanced at Twilight, who was now upside-down. "Um, sure, I don't see why not. We should be done by then, right Twilight?"
Twilight rolled over and had finally gotten on her hooves. "Actually, you can go now if you need to Dash. I'm certain I can finish modifying this Cloud Walking spell on my own." she twinkled with confidence.
"NO! It has be at dusk!" Scootaloo protested, a little too loudly, and stomped a hoof to emphasize. "It's super important, I won't be ready until dusk."
"Okay, okay, dusk it is." Dash said with a little more impatience than she meant.
"Thank you so much, I Pinkie Promise you will not be disappointed!" Scootaloo beamed at her and quickly performed the motions. "I'll go check and double check to make sure everything is ready, so please be there at dusk."
"Squirt, calm down. I heard you the first time, I'll be there." Dash rolled her eyes at the filly's exuberance. When she looked back Scootaloo was already gone.
-----------------
Off like a rocket, Scootaloo had propelled herself towards her destination. It was perfect for what she wanted to show Dash, and that being her greatest achievement. It wasn't a cutie mark but it was something just as amazing. She had finally done it, she could fly! Or at least hover, but hovering was enough considering the area of her demonstration. There are plenty of hills in that area and, along with a ramp Apple Bloom built for her, she should have no problems with actually flying.
"I really need to thank Apple Bloom for that ramp" Scootaloo said out loud as she sped along "but I'll have to do that tomorrow. I hope her and Sweetie Belle understand, this is something I want to do on my own. I just know Rainbow Dash will take me under her wing if I show her how awesome I can be!"
Scootaloo arrived at the field with the ramp, she slowed to a stop and walked her scooter to the little sign she had made. It marked the position of where she needed to start her descent in order to gain enough altitude to test her theory. Luckily, she didn't have much to worry about if she didn't make it the first couple of times, the ramp was lined up with a small pond that would surely catch her if she messed up. "Have to thank Sweetie Belle as well, she did demand Apple Bloom build the ramp in front of that pond. I know I won't need it, I'll totally ace it the first time."
After she had checked that the ramp was still in a sturdy condition, she made her decision. She got on her scooter, started to flap her wings as fast as she could, and off she went. She raced down the hill, grass and flowers kicking up as she went. She hit the ramp at speeds that she loved and let go of her scooter as she launched into the air. "I knew it! I'm flying!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, only to be knock off balance by a downdraft right into the pond.
Scootaloo broke the surface and swam to the edge, she stood in disbelief "Shoot, stupid wind, I totally had that! I'll get it this time."
So she tried again, and again, until dusk loomed right around the corner.
-----------------
"No way, No Way, No Bucking Way!! This isn't happening, what in Tartarus is wrong with me! I've been able to do this for a week! Why won't this work now!" the disheveled, soaking wet Scootaloo cried out.
Panic, all she knew was panic. It was less then an hour from dusk, Dash would be there any minute, and not once was she able to fly, or hover, or even glide for that matter. Panic consumed her entire being, she didn't just promise her number one idol, she "Pinkie Promised" her. She can't break a "Pinkie Promise", she heard what happens when you do, and she never wants to go though that.
"What do I do? I’m going to let down Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie as well, Pinkie's her best friend. Rainbow Dash will hate me, I know she will, what do I do?!"
That's when she saw Dash in the distance, she was lazily floating out of Ponyville on a cloud. This was also when everything in Scootaloo’s mind shattered and she blindly ran toward the Everfree.
*Just a warning, this chapter is going to be a bit graphic*
Run. The only thought that ripped though her mind, was to run. She couldn’t take it, she didn’t want to see it, the very idea that she would disappoint Rainbow Dash was the worse feeling see could ever think up. She ran and ran, deeper and deeper, through the thickets, over the streams, her entire being was set to escape. It came to an end with a single misstep, a small root, just like the many she had evaded before, caught her hoof in just the right way. She tumbling to halt right into a thorn bush and for a while all she did was wail, not even minding the hooks that were catching in her skin.
After a time she pulled herself out, only to drop a distance from where she fell. Bleeding, covered in mud and sap, she lay there for hours, with only her tears for comfort. When the tears ran out, she stood and finally took in her surroundings, all she could see was near pitch black forest. Left and right, forwards and back, nothing but thick canopy and congested wilds that did nothing but add to the darkness, and in all this she could only utter a single phrase.
“Where am I?” she choked out, everything she had hoped this day would be was in ruins. She couldn't go back now, even if she wanted to, she was lost. Scootaloo pondered what she should do now, she didn't know how to survive in a creepy forest.
In the end, with no other choice left, she made a decision, she picked a direction and headed off. Starting off slow, she made her way, wiggling through bushes and climbing over roots that seem to be getting bigger by the second. All the while the calls of unknown creatures stalked her every move. A chirp from up above, a growl from the bushes to her left, a snort that was far too close for comfort, the further she went the more encompassing the noises grew. When the sound of a cracking branch rang out, she saw them, the one thing she was always told to look out for near the forests. Timber wolves, an entire pack of them, they snarled and hissed, their wooden bodies creaking and snapping. When one howled, she ran, she ran as fast as her torn up little legs could carry her.
Leaving a trail of broken screams, she barreled through the forest, spilling blood, sweat, and piddle for the wolves to follow. More than ever before did she feel the need to flee, the thought that she would be ripped apart and used for fertilizer to make more wolves was unfathomable. She cursed Sweetie Belle’s name for ever looking into those horrible mutts.
“Help! Somepony help me!” she spat out between ragged breaths. Her muscle burned, her wings felt like they would fall off, but she couldn’t stop, they were right behind her, she could hear them snapping at her flanks. She couldn't die, she mustn’t die, she has to live, she needed to beg for forgiveness from Rainbow Dash, from Pinkie Pie, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and anyone else she might have offended.
Finally the trees started thinning, a clearing maybe, she pushed herself harder. She practically soared out of the forest, only for her stomach to lurch at the sight before her. A cliff, a drop hundreds of hooves high, one thought dominated every signal in her brain. “I’m going to die.”
She turned as her pursuers entered the glade, they tried to circle her, to pin her between them and her proverbial rock. She edged herself closer and closer to the ledge, debating with herself on what would be less painful. Except the ledge choose for her, with a blood curdling scream she fell and slammed into the cliffside on her way to the darkness below.
-----------------
Waking with a startled gasp, Gilda stood at the ready in her makeshift nest, “What was that?” she nearly squawked as she inspected her ‘house’. Grunting with irritation, she moved to check the cave she has been living in for the past two years. While not her real home, it worked quite well for what she needed, that being a roof over her head and some walls for security. Along with a decent hunting ground of small, furry animals nearby and a plethora of wild fruits and vegetables growing both in and out of the cave, she made a perfect little predator paradise for herself. Now if only a sky bound male would come "trade" with her then everything would be complete.
She rolled hers eyes at her nesting urges while she made her way to the entrance of her home, only to find a bloodied, orange pulp had been left a few paces from the cave mouth. “Oh Come On! If it’s that stupid manticore again I’m gonna gut him! I’m Not Interested” she screeched in protest, only to be startled once again when the pulp started to inhale loudly.
“Oh feathers, this thing's still alive?” slowly, she reached and grasped the mass, she turned it over to find that was a filly, a young one at that. “By Gryphon! What’s a pony doing way out here near the border? What kind of dweeb would leave their fledgling out on their own in the Everfree?”
With indecision in her eyes, she carefully started to pick the filly up, only to drop her. “No, it’s not my problem, I got my own issues to deal with.” Slowly she turned around and began her walk back to her cave, but stopped halfway when something caught her ear, “Huh?”
Barely above a murmur, she heard the most pitiful of sounds,
“Sorry”
“So sorry, Dash”
Gilda stared at the filly, “No, it’s some other Dash, can’t be Rainbow.” she grumbled but her indecision only grew. “Feathers!” she ran over to the broken filly with haste, she gathered her up and flew straight to her nest. After she laid her down gently, she rushed around her cave and gathered a few supplies, along with a bucket of water. She proceeded to wash the blood, mud, and whatever else off of the filly’s body with a soft rag.
“Her eye's all smashed in. Nasty, I think I'm gonna to have to dig that out.” Gilda commented in disgust. With a claw, she quickly ripped out the remnants of the filly’s right eye, which made her to scream out in pain. “Quit your crying, I’m helpin' you! I hope.”
Gilda cleaned the rag as much as she could, then delicately wiped the socket of any remaining debris. She pulled some alcohol, gauze, and tape from her supplies, and used her beak as a pair of cutters. She soaked one side of the gauze with alcohol then applied it to the socket, whereupon she taped it in place. “Stop Screaming!"
"I really should have payed more attention in "First Aid" at flight school, I know I feathered that up.”
Finished with the eye, she checked the rest of the filly’s body. “Her foreleg is all bent out of whack, there’s a chuck of ear missin', she better not be bleedin' inside too.”
Gilda grabbed a couple of bones from her waste pile, she forced the filly’s right foreleg back in place, and used the animal bones and gauze as a splint. She moved on to the ear and taped the last of her gauze to it, she then dealt with all the minor cuts and scratches that are covering her body.
"Crap, she isn't yellin' anymore, is that bad? She's still breathin'." she noticed after a few minutes of silence. "Whatever, I'll just get her comfortable"
Gilda piled up the dried grass and soft sticks that made up her nest, she then slowly picked up the filly and set her upon the pile. She turned and grabbed the bucket of now filthy water, she flew outside to dump it and refilled it from the shallow pond she has been using as a source of water.
She returned with the fresh water and grabbed a small bowl. "Drink this and don't choke." she filled the bowl with water and then pushed the lip of it into the filly's mouth. "I said don't choke stupid!"
The filly sputtered and coughed on the water, but ended up drinking most of it. Gilda set the bowl down, she grabbed her blanket and covered the filly up "You better know Dash, I'll drop you where I found you if you don't."
The filly simply coughs in response.
-----------------
...A Few Days Later...
"Why does everything hurt?" the groggy, grumpy, and slightly grotesque Scootaloo whispered. She moved to stand but yelped out when her foreleg exploded in pain causing her to drop.
"What are you doing, you dweeb! Don't move that leg."
Scootaloo followed the voice and screamed again at what stood before her. A griffon, a creature she had learned about in school but had never seen. Just like she had heard, it really did have the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, but she never thought that it would be so large or that it's beak would look so deadly. "Stay back!" she commanded, she tried to scramble away only for her leg to burst into agony again.
"I just told you stop movin'! Knock it off and stay put!" the clearly furious griffon screeched at her.
"Please don't eat me, I taste terrible." Scootaloo croaked out between sobs.
"Would you shut up! I'm not gonna eat you, numbskull! I saved your feathering life!" the brutal griffon squawked at her.
Scootaloo continued to sob until the griffon moved away. It exhaled harshly "Calm Down. My name is Gilda, I found you outside my house. You were pretty messed up, I had to use most of my stuff fix you up."
"You live in a cave?" Scootaloo sniveled. "Why's a griffon living in a cave?"
"That's what's important to you?" Gilda eyed in perplexity, "Don't tell me you knocked your head when you fell. That's all I need, a brain damaged filly."
"Fell?" Scootaloo enquired suspiciously "Fell from where?"
"Where am I anyway?"
"Why's my eye hurt so much?"
"What's wrong with my leg?"
"Who are you?"
"Did you foalnap me?"
"SHUT UP!"
Scootaloo was back to blubbering, Gilda dropped her head into her palm. For a while the only sounds were that of a crying filly and an irritated griffon who muttered to herself.
"Okay, okay, it's gonna be alright. Stop your crying, you're okay now." Gilda cooed at the filly while brushing her mane.
Scootaloo snorted, "Who, who are you?"
"My name is Gilda, what's yours squirt?" Gilda asked with a hint of serenity.
"Scootaloo. I'm Scootaloo"
"Nice to meet you, Scootaloo."
They sat in silence for a time, both of them contemplated about what to say next. "So are you hungry? You've been out for almost three days, so you gotta be hungry, I have some fruits you might like."
"Yeah, I'm Starving! Oh, Do you have any apples?" Scootaloo perked up at the mention of food, she tried to stand once more, but, luckily, was stopped by Gilda.
"You're gonna to have to wait before you can start moving around like that. Your leg's still messed up and..." Gilda trailed off, she wasn't entirely sure on how to inform the filly about her eye. "Anyway, let me go get those fruits, they're not apples but I guess the look tasty."
"Did something happen to my eye? Why's it all bandaged up?" Scootaloo asked, a little more perceptive than Gilda expected her to be. She ignored the questions and flapped over to a table that had a small bowl of fruit on it. She grabbed a branch of purple berries from the mix and returned to Scootaloo.
"Eat for now, we can deal with that later." Gilda said while she handed the branch of purple berries to her.
Scootaloo grasped the branch with her teeth and set in down. She methodically took a few berries into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Gilda was vexed by the silence, she could feel it build up in the filly.
"Will I see out of my eye again?" Scootaloo asked.
"Look, I don't really know how to talk about that. Let's just worry about it later, alright?" Gilda answered a little too quickly.
"I can take it, I'm a tough filly." Scootaloo insisted.
"We can talk about it later, Now Eat!" Gilda responded sternly.
"Just Tell Me!" Scootaloo snapped.
"YES! I had to rip your feathering eye out! I didn't know what else to do! Is that what you wanted to hear?!" Gilda spat at her vehemently. She screeched loudly in a primal tongue, reared back, and slammed a fist onto the rockwall next to her nest. She stormed off only to come back a minute later, where she found the filly unconscious.
"Now what? Hey, come on, wake up!" she shook the filly roughly, "Wake Up!"
Scootaloo's meal came up instead, all over Gilda's arm, "Oh, Sick, she puked in my nest!"
-----------------
"What was I thinking! I'm not this stupid, I should have just left her there!" Gilda flew above the trees with a rather swollen looking Scootaloo tied to her back. "I can't believe I'm doing this, and for some pony I don't even know"
"I don't wanna go back yet." Gilda fumed, she flapped harder to gain more speed. "Stupid berries, how could I know she was allergic to them!"
She groaned and pushed herself harder. She could see them now, the mountains that made up the natural fortifications of the griffon capitol. She also noticed the small squadron of griffons that flew in her direction, they only made her displeasure grow. They circled her once, then came up on ether side of her. The current lead, represented by his rose-tipped feathers, screeched at her. She returned the call, and the squad fell in behind her, showing that they accept her dominance as a violet-tipped.
"Hail Gryphon! Violet Grizelda has finally returned, inform the Black at once! His glorious daughter has returned!" The rose-tipped extolled.
"Belay that order! Get this pony to a medical station, Now! She's had some kind of allergic reaction from these berries." she handed over Scootaloo and the berries to the lead, "I'll go report to the emperor, you follow my orders or so help me, you'll be white again."
"At once, my liege" the rose-tipped accedes, motioning to his squad of reds as they fly off towards the nearest hospital.
Grizelda changed her course and headed to the emperor's tower, her father's tower, better known as the Gilded Spire. The very heart of the Gryphon Empire.
The Gilded Spire. There was something wrong with that name. It wasn’t covered in gold leaf, gold paint, or even plated in gold, it was intricately carved from a massive seam of gold that had been found in the mountains where the capitol now stands. It shined like a beacon in the setting sun, a long reflection spread across the western portion of the city which made it appear as if it was ablaze. It was a sight many were beheld by.
Grizelda always thought it looked tacky. She circled the tower a number of times in an attempt to strengthen her resolve. She realized how pointless it was but continued on, she knew he was watching, she knew he was cursing her name. She remembered how furious he was with her when she left to go find Rainbow Dash, how the whole idea that she was friends with a “rainbowed” pony was borderline blasphemy.
“Blind old hawk, like Dash has any control over how she was born, how much of a dweeb can he be.” Grizelda said with a grumble, she glanced at the crystal panes that surrounded his throne room. She growled, she hated this feeling, she knew she didn’t have any other choice. She huffed one last time and made her way to the throne room's perch, she landed with a flourish and marched inside. The interior of the tower was just as glorious as it was on the outside. Windows that were carved from massive crystals, columns that were jeweled from top to bottom, floor tiles checkered in shades of gold, and even the runners had gold and jewels interwoven into them. Everything within sparkled and gleamed, there wasn‘t much that it could be compared to. Grizelda thought it was even tackier on the inside.
“Grizelda. I was wondering when my wayward Violet would return.” She cringed, he was still mad. There he sat upon his golden dais, where he looked down on her with nothing but scorn. His eyes were like burning golden orbs that had been split with onyx. His black beak and feathers glimmered with other worldly lights. One would think him to be imitating Luna, especially since he was nearly the size of her. If only that were true, maybe then he would be nicer. Unfortunately that isn’t the case, all but one of the emperors and empresses over the ages had earned that color, it’s something bestowed upon the rulers of the empire by Gryphon himself.
Grizelda bowed. “My Lord, I apologize for my absence, I meant to return sooner bu-”
“I don't want to hear your excuses! I know you‘ve been wallowing in the mud for these past two years, and now you return to me with nothing to show for it!”
He leapt from his dais and landed before her, he violently grabbed her by the throat. “And what is this I hear of you bringing back some pony. Is she some hidden away daughter of yours? Is she from that “rainbow” you ran off to?”
“No sire! I merely found her in the forest! I swear it!” Grizelda grabbed hold of his talons and tried to pull herself free.
“Than why didn‘t you leave her there? Let that pony know what the real world is like! Where she isn‘t protected by that sun flinger!” the Emperor squeezed tighter.
“Father, Please Forgive Me! I took pity on her, it was a moment of weakness!” Grizelda's legs kicked back and forth looking for ground.
“Emmerich! Put our daughter down this instant!”
“I- Irma!” he dropped Grizelda roughly.
Grizelda looked at where the voice had come from. There, in an archway to her right, stood a griffon nearly as large as the emperor. The majority of her feathers were a bold orange and her eyes shined like sapphires. She walked with a royal gait and came to a stop in front of Grizelda, she offered her talons. “Are you alright, my chick”
“I- I‘m okay, mother.” Grizelda took hold of her mother’s talons and pulled herself up.
“Why must you always take her side! She‘s the one who left. She’s the one who abandoned the flock. She put us all at risk for some pony!” the emperor yelled.
Irma's wings flared in anger. “Emmerich, she is your daughter not just your Violet, it would pay you to remember that.”
“But she left, and for so long. It was bad enough I had to send her to that pony school, but then she went back! It’s been two years and nothing! She didn‘t even send her own father a letter!” Emmerich paced in front of his dais.
Irma walked to him, held his face close and wrapped her wings around him. “My darling, please calm down. She has returned now and that's what matters.”
“Father, I truly am sorry. I never meant to worry you.” Grizelda bowed her head in shame. “Please father, forgive me.”
“Leave me, I need to think.” Emmerich had returned to his dais, his back turned away from his mate and daughter.
Irma returned to her Grizelda “Come my chick, let us go check on that pony you brought back.” she whispered to her.
Grizelda took one last look at her father and turned away.
-----------------
Scootaloo opened her eye and screamed for the second time that day. A griffon’s head was above her, it’s face only a hooves reach from her own. It's grey eyes focused so intently, one would think it’s trying to bore a hole into her head. She flinched as it reared back and braced herself.
“MAMA! The pony‘s awake!” the griffon yelled.
“Chick, why are you screeching? Jac, get off of her!” the griffon atop Scootaloo flew off towards the voice. She looked on as a larger griffon walked through an open doorway and made it’s way over to her. The griffon had feathers that were speckled with azure, which was different from the smaller griffon, who’s feathers were all white. Her dull emerald eyes settled on Scootaloo. “Little pony, how are you feeling? You had quite a close call.”
“What? Where am I? Where‘s Gilda?”
“Ah, calm down little pony.” the larger griffon patted Scootaloo’s head. “My name is Lucinde, you can call me Lu, and this is my chick, Jac.”
“Hi!” the smaller griffon waved at her.
"Hush chick." Lu turned her attention back to Scootaloo. “You‘re in my clinic, do you remember your name?”
"My name's Scootaloo." she looked around the room. "What about Gilda? Where is she?”
“Gilda?” Lu gave her a strange look, but then appeared to make a connection. “You mean the honored Violet who found you, Miss Grizelda should be with the Emperor. I‘m sure she‘ll check on you later.”
“Huh, no, not Gri-whats-her-face. Gilda! I want to know where Gilda is.”
“That‘s what I said little Orange, Miss Grizelda is Gilda‘s real name.” Lu smiled at her.
Scootaloo could only rub her head with her face scrunched in confusion.
“Mama, I think this pony‘s stupid.” Jac said.
“I‘m not stupid, you’re stupid!”
Jac hopped up on the bed and squawked at her.
“Enough!” Lu yelled and snatched the small griffon off the bed by his scruff. “Jac, go to your room!”
“But Mama-”
“Now!” Jac quickly flew out of the room to get away from his mother’s ire. Lu huffed and shook her head. “Sorry, that chick just doesn’t know when to hush up. Are you alright?”
Scootaloo fumed for a bit, but decided to let it go for now. “Yeah.”
“I'd hate to do this, especially since you just woke up, but I need to look at that eye of yours.”
“That’s right, my eye! What’s wrong with it?!” Scootaloo asked. “Gilda said something about it, but I can’t really... ”
She had trailed off, a hoof held on to her head. “Ow, my head.”
“Oh dear.” Lu rubbed the back of her neck, ruffling her feathers. Her back leg started to tap a quick and irregular rhythm. “It’s like this… your eye is, well… gone. Or at least that’s what it looks like”
Scootaloo’s left eye went wide. “Gone? What do you mean gone?! It can't be gone!”
“Stay calm little pony. I’m not really sure how you lost it, but it’s going to be alright.” Lu said. “I was more concerned over your reaction than anything else.”
“But, but my eye.” Tears had started to well up in her left eye, Scootaloo raised a hoof and wiped them away. “No, I- I’m a tough filly, It’s just a stupid eye.”
Lu noticed her bandages were still dry. “May I look at it?”
Scootaloo nodded. Lu walked over to her desk, she picked up a small steaming kettle and tipped it over a waiting cup, a sickly-green liquid poured into it. She filled it just below the brim, and set the pot back on the desk. She then uncorked a jar on her desk, took hold of the small scoop inside and pulled it out. it was filled with muted red powder which she poured into the tea and stirred with the scoop. She set the scoop down, picked up the cup and brought it over to Scootaloo. “Here drink this. You’ll take a nice little nap while I check on your eye.”
Scootaloo took the cup between her hooves, she hesitated as she watched the now greenish-brown liquid swirl around, but gulped it down in the end.
Scootaloo wrinkled her nose. “Yuck! That‘s bitter.”
“The best things in life normally are.” Lu took the cup from Scootaloo.
“Wha-” is all Scootaloo said before her head hit the pillow.
“Well, let‘s see how that eye looks.” She returned to her desk and set the cup down, then opened the top drawer. She pulled out large blue case and set it on the desk, opened it and looked over her medical supplies then grabbed a few pouches and a runed twig. She returned to Scootaloo and set the pouches down next to her, brought the twig above her head and began a low thrum.
-----------------
Grizelda and her mother had left the throne room and found that the Rose from early had been waiting for them. He informed them of his name, Ilario, and that he would escort them to the facility the pony was at. Irma thanked him for his enthusiasm and promised him a nice bonus for not asking any questions, then glanced at her daughter and cleared her throat. Grizelda huffed, but thanked him and apologized for being curt with him earlier. Ilario bowed low and tried to be as humble as possible telling them how much of an honor it was to serve the Emperor’s mate and daughter. Grizelda rolled her eyes.
The trip was short, after leaving from one of the many perches the Spire had, Ilario led them to a small azure nesting pillar in the administration district. The city was strange like that, Grizelda pondered, being split up into three sections like it was. Even after two years nothing had changed, all the districts were exactly the way she had last seen them. Everything in neat little circles of four, tallest to shortest, all in order. It was nothing like the pony lands, where one could build how they please. Everything was rigid, everything was planned, everything was boring, if not colorful. All the colors started from the Spire and changed like a wave to the mountain wall.
The Administration District, where all of the government offices were located, was a lot like a wave with its bluish-green to deep blue hues.
The Artisan District, where one could find all the markets, banks, and craftsbirds, started with orange and worked it’s way into green.
The Martial District, where all military training and tinkering was done, which also included her private pillar, began as violet and changed to red.
It would be rather psychedelic if there weren’t massive black granite walls separating each district and wave. It just ended up looking like some giant color wheel one would find in a classroom for a hatchling.
“Grizelda, have you been listening?” Irma asked for the second time.
“What? Oh, of course mother, you were saying.” Grizelda glanced around quickly. They were in a clinic now, Ilario must have left as she didn’t see him anymore. An Azure stood in front of them.
Irma frowned at her daughter. “I wasn‘t saying anything. The kind doctor here was graciously telling us of your pony‘s condition.”
“Oh, sorry.” Grizelda said. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble…”
The doctor nodded and bowed. “Of course, My Violet. My name is Lucinde, I’m the Azure who nests this pillar.” Lu motions for them to follow.
”My Violet’s pony is in very good condition. The berries that My Violet provided were immensely helpful. I cannot thank you enough.” Lu constantly bowed and fawned over the fact that, not only was the Emperor’s daughter and Violet in her clinic, but also the Emperor’s Orange and only mate. “The various cuts and scraps are healing up nicely and her ear is as well, though it is missing a chunk, it shouldn‘t affect her hearing.”
“Her leg is doing fine as well, and now that I've replaced the splint, it should heal up by the end of the week. As for her eye though, who ever tried to patched that up needs to go to basic training again. It looked like some fool Red ripped it out and jammed a dirty rag in there. It was nearly infected, but I was able to ward it off.” Lu shook her head. “Is there something wrong My Violet?”
“Very well My Violet. I was able to implant an inscribed chalcedony in place of her eye, so she won‘t have any issues with depth perception. It also gives her a mild awareness of her right side, that'll keep her from running into things. She should be waking up soon, if you wish to see her.” Lu stopped in front of a door with the number six in it.
“What color is the chalcedony?” Irma asked.
“Lavender, Your Ladyship. It‘s nearly the same color as her left eye.” Lu smiled a smile that didn‘t quite reach her eyes.
“Oh, that‘s wonderful. We‘ll definitely need to have an eye patch made to accent that, she simply must show that jewel off.” Irma was oblivious to Lu‘s disposition.
“Mother! She’s not a pet!” Grizelda said loudly.
“Oh hush, I’m trying to stay optimistic here, the poor dear lost an eye. You really need to stop being such a grouch.” Irma glared at her daughter.
“W-would you like to see her now?” Lu smiled a little harder hoping it would defuse the situation.
“Of course.” Irma walked past Lu, opened the door and entered the room, but suddenly gasped loudly.
“Mother, what is it.” Grizelda rushed into to the room.
“She’s so tiny!” Irma was already next to the bed, she had Scootaloo in a tight hug.
“Mother!”
“Your Ladyship, p-please put her down!”
This is when Scootaloo decided to wake up and found herself, yet again, face to face with another griffon. This is also when she decided enough was enough, and shoved her working foreleg into Irma’s face, as hard as she could.
The silence was deafening.
-----------------
“I can‘t believe you punched my mother.” Gilda said for the umpteenth time.
“I said I was sorry!” Scootaloo said for the umpteenth time as well.
They had left the clinic a few hours ago, with Scootaloo asleep on Gilda's back, and were currently inside Gilda‘s pillar. It could only be described as a pillar inside of a pillar, with many bedrooms, studies, and dining rooms that lined the outer ‘pillar‘, while the inner ’pillar’ had the kitchens, bathrooms, and servants quarters. Even though Both ‘pillar’s’ had numerous walkways that were linked with bridges and stairwells, everything was spaced a wingspan apart so there was plenty of room for flying. Almost all of the pillar’s sections were also connected instead of just being set on top of one another, which made a drop that could easily kill any creature clumsily enough to fall.
Gilda was surprised and displeased at it's state though, It had been redecorated to be as gaudy as possible while she was away, she’d have to remember to ‘thank’ her mother for that. She shook that thought away for a moment and returned to the matter at claw, when was the Emperor going to summon them. She knew it was coming, he would want to see the ‘pony’ that she brought back, and more then likely pass some kind of judgment on her.
Gilda looked at Scootaloo, she lay on a cushion inside her study, she had a plate of greens in front of her but all she did was poke at it. Gilda wasn’t entirely sure about this situation, but there was one thing that nagged at her. What connection does she have with Rainbow Dash and why did she ask for forgiveness. She could just ask, but for some reason, she couldn’t find the words.
“Oh, right, that. Yeah, that‘s my real name.” Gilda shifted to get more comfortable
“So, why did you... say it was Gilda?”
“Because I don‘t like my name.” Gilda started to get annoyed.
“Oh.” Scootaloo bit her lip, she wasn’t sure what she said to anger her host.
Gilda rolled eyes. “Go ahead and ask.”
“Why was that doctor calling you ‘My Violet‘?”
"You don‘t know anything do you?” Gilda frowned. “Of course. Okay, wait here, I need to grab some things.”
Gilda got up and made her way out of the study and took flight. She hoped everything was still where she left it, she thought with irritation. She glanced around and took in her rank gained home. It was massive when one considered that she shared it with no other griffon.
She landed on the level above, and braced herself as she entered her bedroom. She let out the breath she had held on to when she found her room just the way she had left it. It was a rather simple design, which is what she liked, nothing more then a bed, a table with some cushions, and a few shelves for knick-knacks and books. She made her way to a shelf that had items from her youth on it, she picked up four different colored feathers, one white, one red, one rose, and one magenta. She looked at them to find that they were still in the same condition as when they were pulled out and smiled at the memories.
Gilda pushed those memories aside for now and returned to Scootaloo. She had finally finished her meal and had moved to one of the bay windows. Her head rested against it while she watched the nightlife below.
“Okay, I grabbed some stuff that’ll help you understand these colors a bit better.” Gilda announced.
Scootaloo pulled her attention away from the window and looked at the feathers in Gilda’s talons. “It‘s just a bunch of feathers.”
Gilda frowned. “Obviously. They‘ll help though.”
Scootaloo limped over and looked at them. "How?"
Gilda tried to hold back her impatience. “This is my first color, the day I joined the military academy, they stained my feathers red. This is my second color, the day I became an instructor, my feathers were mottled rose. This is my third color, the day I became a dean, my feathers were changed to magenta."
She brought a talon to the tuft of feathers above her eyes. “And when I became an adviser to the Emperor, my feathers were shaded to violet.”
Scootaloo just stared at her.
Gilda cleared her throat.
“The colors tell us what we mean to the flock.”
"Our Whites are the children, they are the design."
“Our Reds, Greens, and Blues are the ignorant, they learn the design.”
“Our Roses, Azures, and Chartreuses are the learned, they teach the design.”
“Our Magentas, Cyans, and Yellows are the worthy, they refine the design.”
“Our Violets, Springs, and Oranges are the ascended, they appraise the design.”
“Our Black is the leader, they create the design.”
“These are the guidelines Gryphon set before us, they will keep the flock united.”
Gilda smiled again, proud that she remembered the proverb her instructors had taught her
“So, you're 'ascended'? What's that mean?” Scootaloo asked.
Gilda nodded. “Well, since I’m a Viole-"
There was a knock at the door, Gilda swallowed. “I‘ll go get that.”
Gilda walked over to the study’s entrance and opened the door. Irma stood on the other side. “It‘s time, the Emperor wishes to she her.”
-----------------
They arrived at the Spire a few minutes later and had been waiting in the throne room for what seemed like forever, but Scootaloo couldn’t stop looking around. She had never seen this much gold in her life, everything seemed to sparkle and shine. She finally noticed Gilda and wondered why she was fidgeting so much, they were just going to meet her father, right?
“What‘s taking him so long?” Gilda said, she paced while watching the doors to her father's personal area.
“My chick, calm down, he’ll be here when he‘s ready.” Irma was laying one of the many cushions that were spread around the throne room. She fiddled with it’s tassels.
“Then why did he send for us two hours ago?!”
“Grizelda, come, lay with me.” Irma patted the cushion next to her. Gilda huffed, but conceded and sat down on the cushion, Irma wrapped a wing around her. "I am certain everything will work out. Your father isn't heartless, you know that."
Scootaloo continued to feel awkward about this whole situation. None of it really made sense to her, and she felt like she wasn’t going home anytime soon. She missed her parents, her friends, Rainbow Dash, she even missed school. How could she miss school, it was so boring, but it was better than this. She could feel them again, her tears, but only on her left cheek. She couldn’t stop them this time though, no matter how much she wiped them away, all she could think about was how much wanted to go home.
The sound of a door opening interrupted her thoughts, she looked up, but what stepped through made her tremble with fear. A massive griffon, bigger than all the others she’d seen so far, had entered the room. He walked over to the dais that was in the center of the room and took a seat. Gilda and Irma both stood and bowed, while Scootaloo just stared, she wanted to run but her legs wouldn’t move. Even if she could run, she realized, she wouldn’t get very far with her leg still broken.
“So Grizelda, this is the pony you brought back from your little vacation. She’s puny.” The Emperor’s voice felt like a freight train had just blazed past her. He got up and moved towards her, she could feel his footsteps reverberate through the floor. “She’s pathetic, look at her, I‘m surprised she hasn‘t piddled all over my floor.”
He stopped in front of her and brought his head down low. “Pony, tell me your name.”
Scootaloo just stared at him, he scoffed. “Can you not speak? Is she mute?”
“Her name is Scootaloo, father.” Gilda said.
“Scootaloo. What a terrible name.” He looked at her and brought a talon up to her right eye, she tried to close it but her eyelid would move. “Your name is now Lavender.” He said while he tapped the jewel.
“Lavender, you owe my daughter a life debt. From this point forward, you will obey her every command. She is your master and you are her slave, do you understand?”
Gilda stood and moved next to Scootaloo. “Father no, You can‘t do this!”
The Emperor looked at his daughter. “I have made my decision! She is your responsibility now. If you do not wish to follow my orders then you can face banishment to the Badlands and she will be executed.”
"Emmerich, please reconsider, she's just chick." Irma said.
"No, I will not be persuaded this time. My decision is final, do you understand me Violet."
Gilda glared at him but after a time she nodded. “I will do as you say. My Lord.”
“W- What? What‘s a slave? What‘s he talking about?” Scootaloo had finally spoken up, she couldn’t understand what he was talking about. Life debt? Slave? These were all foreign concepts to her.
The Emperor looked at Scootaloo with disgust. “Oh, it can talk. Since you‘re apparently too uneducated to understand, I will make it simple. You are going to serve my daughter for the rest of your life or you will die.”
He turned and walked to his dais. “Leave me, I‘m done with you.”
Gilda sighed, she walked over to Scootaloo and picked her up. “Come on, it‘s going to be okay.”
Scootaloo just stared blankly at the floor.
-----------------
...Three Years Later...
Lavender sat in front of a mirror, brushing her mane. She went over her schedule once more while she made herself presentable. She would be doing the grocery shopping today, and in turn, would be representing Her Violet. She couldn’t leave a bad impression, she made that mistake once and didn’t want to let that to it happen again.
When her long indigo mane was unruly no more, she set her hoof brush down and grabbed her eye patch. It was frilly little thing that Irma insisted she wore, it was made to showed off the chalcedony that had become her new eye. She thought it was silly though, it’s not like she could close that eye, she hadn‘t been able to ever since that jewel had been implanted. She huffed her thoughts away and put it on. She got up and stretched lightly, her body shuddered as her joints popped into place. She made her way out of her room, it was important that she woke her Violet up on time, there was important meeting with the Emperor this morning, and all of his advisers had to be there.
She climbed a flight of stairs, crossed a bridge and entered the master bedroom. Everything was a mess again, even though she just cleaned it up yesterday, but that was fine. She enjoyed serving Her Violet, she was always nice to her, Lavender just didn’t understand why so many griffons couldn’t see that.
Her Violet had kicked her blankets off and was spread out in a rather compromising position. Lavender giggled, she was the only one who ever saw her like that, it made her think about what those badmouthing griffons would say if they saw this.
Lavender walked over to the bed. “My Violet, it‘s time to wake up, you have an important meeting you need to get ready for.”
Grizelda stirred, slowly waking up. “Scootaloo, I thought I told you not to call me that.”
“Oh right, I keep forgetting. Miss ‘Gilda‘, it’s time get up.” Lavender said with a smile.
Gilda sighed. “Okay, I’m up, is breakfast ready?”
“Breakfast was ready an hour ago, but the chefs made your favorite before they returned to the Spire.” Lavender picked the blankets up off the floor, folded them and set them neatly at the foot of the bed. “I suggest you hurry though, don‘t want it to get cold.”
“Duck sounds good this morning.” Gilda said, her stomach rumbled. “I keep telling you, you don‘t have to do that.”
Lavender had started to pick up the various items and trash off the floor, she simply nodded at Gilda‘s comment though.
Gilda sighed, she really couldn’t believe how much Scootaloo had changed. She had gotten tall and a little lanky, but had a sophisticated air about her. That was Irma’s doing though, she had turned Scootaloo into a little lady by the end of her first year here. She had become an obedient little chick, she always cleaned up after others and made sure everyone else was happy. Even the Emperor had commented on how much she had improved since the first time he saw her.
After Gilda had worked out the kinks in her back, they made their way to the main dining room around the bend. Gilda sat down on one the cushions at the long, low table while Scootaloo retrieved her breakfast. She ate while Scootaloo told her what her day be like. After the meeting with the Emperor, she would have to inspect one of the academies in the Military District’s second ring. She would then have to attend a marking ceremony for the new batch of Roses. And then meet with her Magentas, and so on, and so forth. That’s what her days were like now, they were nothing but boredom, day in, day out.
“Do you have any questions, Miss Gilda?” Scootaloo said.
“Uh, no, sounds good.”
Gilda finished her meal in silence.
-----------------
Gilda arrived at the Emperor’s meeting room early, thanks to Scootaloo. She noticed that a number of high ranking griffons were already there, speaking in hushed tones, most seemed concerned about this meeting. It was rather sudden, she thought, the summons had come yesterday evening. It had stated that a mandatory meeting of all advisers would be held the next morning. It couldn’t be about the annual reports, they just did that last month. Something must of happened, why else would Her Emperor call for all of them, but she didn’t know what could be important enough.
The doors opened and last of the advisers entered, Irma among them, along with the Emperor. They all took their seats, the Emperor looked them all over and cleared his throat.
“Gryphon’s tomb has been found.”
They sat in shocked silence for a moment before all the advisers started talking at once. Gilda could believe it, she thought it was only a legend. Gryphon’s tomb had been lost for over twenty-five hundred years, but now she’s told it’s been found, it was unbelievable.
“Quiet!” The Emperor yelled and the room went silent.
“I know it sounds preposterous, I thought as much when it was first brought to my attention, but with the report I received from Orange Bastian yesterday verifies it to be true.” He gestured towards the said adviser. “If you would explain your findings to the rest, Orange.”
“Of course, My Lord” Bastian stood with a small packets of papers in his talons, he started to pass them out while speaking. “About a month ago, in a mining outpost near the southern nest of Ospreyba, a team of inspectors noticed something odd when they were checking the structural integrity of a new gem mine. In one of the deeper shafts, there looked to be runes carved into the rock that had nothing to do with the usual strengthening of mine walls.”
“Upon investigating, this team found, what looked to be a lock of some kind. This is when they sent word and I, being in the area, went to check their findings. What I found confirmed it was indeed a lock and at that point I proceeded to translate the runes. Most were warnings to anyone not being worthy enough to enter.”
“However, it was the last set of runes though, that made the connection to Gryphon‘s tomb. These runes named this place, “The Prismatic Mausoleum”. There is no doubt in my mind that this is where Gryphon was laid to rest.”
Gilda looked over the report a few more times, but she couldn’t find anything wrong, it even went in to details of his translations. She looked up to see the Emperor stand.
“I called this meeting to make my decision on who will go and open this tomb." He had walked around the table and now stood beside her. "Violet Grizelda, I want you to be the one to enter it.”
“What?” Gilda was stunned, why her, all the other Violets had more experience than her, this didn’t make any sense.
He placed his talons on her shoulder. “Grizelda, I know you never really cared about your lineage but you are a descendent of Gryphon. The one who enters this tomb must be worthy and who more worthy than of Gryphon’s own blood.”
Gilda’s eye twitched, to say the least, this was news to her.