9 - Grounded By The Griffon

We left the shady forest for an open gravel path I recognised well – we'd hit the local reservoir. A memorial bench sat to my right. I headed over to it, noticing that there wasn't much room. Lyra and Bon-Bon had both taken a seat, with Lyra sitting in her human-like fashion and Bon-Bon lounging lazily. A slight gap was open between them, and there I could see the little brass memorial plaque. I could remember the name on it well – Donny Smith, 1965-2007, so I didn't bother to look. As I turned, it flashed in the sunlight. Wait...that didn't look natural... I quivered a little, approaching it. I read the contents of the hoof-sized sign once more.

Harmony, 2010-2013.

"Guys, can you shuffle aside a little?" I asked quietly. "Something's not right here..."

"It's just a bench," sighed Bon-Bon.

"No, seriously! It's...different." I leaned in for a second look, as Bon-Bon stepped primly off the bench. Lyra kept her seat. "Princess, come and look!"

Not knowing which one I meant (which, I'll admit, was intentional), all three of the alicorns trotted over to look. "Everyone's name where I live has two parts, but we're all referred to by the first part." I continued my explanation, using my own name as an example. "This bench used to read 'Donny Smith', but now...I'm scared..."

Celestia rested a comforting hoof on my shoulder. "Don't fear anything, hero. It's Discord. He's present, perhaps among us. Don't be afraid. You have the power to defeat him. Let's continue."

Soon enough, the open path ended, and we were back on a shady dirt track. Little hills that looked ideal for BMXing regularly appeared. "This looks like a fun place to kick it up a notch." I picked up speed, and soon the ground flew past me in a way I'd never seen before. Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash joined me in a rapid race over the hills. Wow, my hind legs sure are capable, I smirked as I flew through the air.

"No wings, Dash," laughed Applejack confidently as the two tied for first. The wind screwed up Pinkie's mane more than usual as she sung, happily bouncing along at her own pace. I used one hill to take off into the air, gliding with my long wings. Flight was something man had dreamed of, but it was something pegasi knew all too well. It was a gift to finally be one...

Slam! The ground hit me like a thick wooden board. My knees felt full of pain; I assumed I'd tripped over a hill in flight. "Thanks, Discord," sneered a low female voice. It was mocking me, whatever it was. "You know, wherever that guy's concerned, your name is mud," she laughed. I touched my face lightly with my hoof; it returned brown. I felt disgusting. I raised my head, looking around – I'd just landed in a soggy, squelching pit of mud. I also noticed something else brown floating above me.

I panned further up. Dirty yellow talons, pristine crystal feathers, kestrel-brown plumage, mocking eyes and a golden beak...Gilda, Rainbow's ex-flying-partner hung above me, arms crossed in a dominant posture. "Looks like you, punk, are about to be griffon some pain!"

"You don't even know me..." I sighed.

"Let's cut the intros and get to it," Gilda snarled.

"Nah...I'm usually that type of guy, but today I don't feel like it," I spoke, trying to inject some defiance into my voice. "My name's Game Changer. It's the last one you'll hear."

Gilda smirked at me, as if to say, "You've got guts – that I'm gonna rip out before we're done!"

My anger increased. "I don't think that the party was good enough compensation for what you said and did to Pinkie. She's awesome," I said, "and what you're doing is off-the-scale negative. So, if you don't want to be served some pain – and nope, I'm not making you French bread – I suggest you leave."

"You looked like you had potential, but now you sound like my dad," she sighed. "Idiot... You'll be twice as idiotic once I'm done with you. Oh wait," she continued in a singsong voice, "you won't be, because you'll be dead and gone!"