The Travelling Argument

"Come on Willow, let's get sleeping beauty here into a coat closet or something," said Sky.

Willow attempted to lift the unicorn onto her back. "Ugh... Why is she so heavy?" She decides to simply drag her by the hooves instead.

"Thanks for the assist, Master... that manticore was tough," said Evening in her sleep.

"D'aww, she's sleeping like a little psychotic angel!" said Sky with a cute smile.

"And for now she's our angel. Do you see anywhere we can hide?" asked Willow.

Sky looked ran down the hall a few meters. "Hey look, there's a closet. Let's shove her in there."

"Good, I think I hear someone coming." Willow pulled Evening to the closet and shoved her in, quickly closing the door. She dropped to the floor as her muscles gave out.

"Dang it Willow! Come on, get up! Remember the plan! We've gotta sneak in and get those bakers out!"

Willow grumbled. "You didn't have to carry her all the way to the closet," She fished a potion out of her pack and took a quick drink. Her strength quickly came back and she managed to stand back up. "Okay, did you see where they were being kept?"

"Yeah, I think I know the way. Now remember where we parked our warrior!"

"Then lead the way, I'm ready to get out of this crazy place." Willow looked back at the closet, making sure to memorize the location in her head.

"Evening's gonna be ticked when she wakes up."

"She nearly got us killed," said Willow angrily. "Right now I don't particularly care if her feelings are hurt because we finished her mission after knocking her out."

"Okay, but if she goes all kill-crazy, it was all my idea, got it? Now come on, let's get 'em!" Sky ran over to the Talon's door and peered through the keyhole.

"Do you see them, Sky?"

"Well, the room seems to be empty, and there aren't any guards... but the Talons are supposed to be in there! I can't imagine where they'd be unless-" Sky froze and slowly looked behind her. "-they... were... right behind us. Heh heh... hi."

Two black winged griffins towered over the two. "Oh, what do we have here? Two little pegasi, away from their home. Do you know what we do to ponies like you?" The griffin circled around the two, revealing a small cage with Maboo trapped inside.

"Heheh, sorry guys. The Talons caught me a little too quickly," said Maboo.

"I'm sure you did your best, Maboo," said Willow.

Sky kept an eye on the griffin. "Do you invite them in for a cup of tea and some cake?"

"Get a load of this one, she thinks-" The griffin looked at his third partner who was lazily reading in the corner. "Stop reading and get your head in the game!"

"Huh, what? I wasn't paying attention," said the third griffin.

"Open your ears, mate! They said they wanted you to beat them up!" yelled Sky. "Well, what're you waiting for? Get to it!"

"Hmm?" The third griffin put down her book and saw the ponies for the first time. "Oh, is it time to play? Can I have the healer one? She looks like a fighter."

Willow backed away in fear. "Sisters protect me, sisters protect me!"

"No, you bird brain! They said they wanted you to beat THEM up! They were talking about what a jerk you are with your beak in that book!" said Sky.

The griffin chuckled. "Well, that's cute. You don't know who I am, do you? You hear that guys?"

"Sky... she's the leader," said Willow.

"Oh, look at the brains on that one. Maybe I'll just keep you, after I clip your wings, of course," the leader looked at her guards. "You two can have the other one."

The first two griffins stalked closer to Sky Runner.

"Welp, I'm boned. Okay, here's the plan. Willow, you talk to that one, and I'll... I'll... buck it." Sky shot one of her darts, landing a hit on the first griffin. She smacked her flank with her hoof tauntingly and dashed down the corridor with the second griffin giving chase.

"Sky, get back here and-" Willow noticed the leader staring at her. "Um... can I interest you in some literature on the Two Sisters, and how they can help you live a better life?"

"That the religion that follows the two Princesses? I've read three different versions of your text. Have a problem with splitters, do you?"

Willow swallowed her fear. "Like you wouldn't believe! How hard is it to follow two Alicorns and learn from their examples?"

"But that can be said of a lot of things. Take my Talons. Do you think they started out the way they are today?"

"You mean to tell me it wasn't always a group of warlords?"

"Heck no. My great grandfather started all of it as a refuge after that war between Luna and the griffons. A war that ponies started, I'd like to point out. It's just in the last ten years it's gotten out of claw. My sister ran the Talons like we were some hardcore killers, and some of the older ones still think they are. I just keep them in check."

"What about the stories about you breaking a pegasus's wings and tossing them over the side of the keep?"

"It happened twice, and my grandfather banished the griffon that did it. I don't know why that story persists. I'm tryi-"

"WIIIIILLOW! SAAAAAAVE MEEEEE!" Sky Runner came charging down the hall again.

"Sky Runner, we are having a discussion here," scolded Willow.

Sky skid to a halt. "You know, you COULD take my imminent brutalizing a bit more seriously."

The pursuing griffin caught up and quickly tackled Sky, the two of them tumbled out of sight down the corridor. "No, NO! NOT THE WINGS! NOT THE WIIIIIIIIIIIINGS!"

"Sky?" Willow looked back at the leader. "I'm sorry, I need to make sure that my friend is okay. Maybe we can continue this discussion later," she charged down the hall after Sky. "LET GO OF MY FRIEND!"

Sky was sprawled out on the floor next to the griffin. "Ow... ow... ow... help... he did... bad things."

Willow looked at the griffin with fury and fire in her eyes. "How dare you... how would you like it if I did the same to you?"

"You wouldn't, you are a pony of faith," the griffin looked into Willows eyes and began to have second thoughts. "You haven't seen the last on me!" The griffin ran off down another hallway and disappeared.

"Griffins... griffins hurt," said Sky, shaking on the floor.

"Sky! I'm so sorry I was late. Good thing I have extra healing supplies," Willow pulled her saddlebag aside and began rummaging through her supplies.

"You... you can't ungriffin me," cried Sky.

Willow looked over her friend. "Sky, where does it hurt? I can't ungriffin you, but I can help the physical pain first. The emotional pain will come with time, but right now I need you to be strong for me."

"So many talons... by Luna... the smell." Sky continued to whimper.

"Sisters... I.. I... will kill him. I will break every bone in his feathered little body, heal him, and do it all over again!"

"Please... help me... bones broken... wings... not getting any better."

"Of course!" Willow began pulling out equipment and bandages. "This will hurt a lot, though. Do you want something for that? It will put you out harder than Evening though."

"Yes please," squeaked Sky.

"Drink this," Willow gave Sky a small vial while she prepared a syringe.

Sky drank it all in one gulp. "That's... that's the stuff." Her body went limp and she began humming a song.

"You'll be just fine, Sky. Just stay still so that the potion can do its work." Willow jabbed the needle into Sky's flank and begins prepping another.

Sky jolted and quickly slumped back into place. "Whoa! Hang on lady... buy me dinner first."

"You're still awake?! Does it still hurt?" asked Willow. Soft pops and snaps could be heard as Sky's bones and muscles mended.

"Yes... yes it does... ow ow ow ow OW!" Sky yelped. "I think... I'm a little better. No need for another syringe, thanks!"

Willow looked at Sky in amazement. "You have quite the metabolism, Sky. Most ponies would be out cold with the sedative I gave you. The good news is that you should be right as rain in a few minutes. But please try not to use your wings for at least another week."

Sky gave a sheepish smile. "I may have jabbed myself with my own sleep darts accidentally from time to time... I guess I probably built up a kind of resistance to it. And don't you remember? Permanently busted wing? Don't worry, I think I'm going to be able to live with it. And hey... uh... thanks, Willow."

"I may have fixed some of the damage to that injury... I told you I joined my Order in order to help a friend with a similar injury, didn't I?"

Sky shrugged. "Maybe, but I doubt you could have fixed much. What happened to my wings was... bad. Like, really bad."

"Well, like I said, it needs time to heal properly. Too much movement could impair that process. If I had more time, I would splint them down but-" Willow stopped herself and thought a moment. "Time? How long do your sleeping darts usually last?"

"Well, the last victim should be waking up from it about... uh oh. We should probably hide."

The two pegasus's found some furniture in the hall and tried hiding behind it all, staying as still as possible.

"Wait, Evening has a high tolerance too. She's probably going to wake up as soon as the other griffins," said Willow.

"I know. Who do you think I'm hiding from?" asked Sky.

"Oh, that makes sense."

"You don't suppose she's gonna be too mad at me, do you Willow? Like, she wouldn't hurt me... or if she did, she wouldn't break anything important... right?"

Inside the closet.

Evening gasped. "Where am I?!" She found a dart in her side and floated it to see. "This looks like one of Sky's darts... why... why. The Talons must have gotten her! Those cowards! I hope they are alright."

A muffled voice came from outside the closet. "Hey, somepony get me outta this cage! Evening! GET ME OUT!" It was Maboo.

"You realize I'm still here, don't you?" asked the remaining griffin.

"Quiet, I'm trying to escape!"

Sky Runner came around the corner. "Psst. Hey bird-brain!" She reared her legs and gave a heavy buck to the griffin's head, knocking him out cold. "Hey Maboo! Having fun?"

Maboo frowned. "No. First I get captured and put in a cage, second, Evening can't hear me. Did you put some kind of deafening poison in those darts? And are you gonna let me out already or not?"

"Well that depends, doesn't it? I mean, Evening can't hear you, so I guess you're relying solely on my sense of charity, and I ain't a charitable pony! Well... maybe I am... just a little... fine," Sky picked the lock to Maboo's cage and let her out. "Now, what do we say?"

"I don't know, what should we say? I say we should say "Hey, maybe we should get outta here before the Griffons raze this place to the ground." But that's just me. Oh, and thanks for knocking out that griffin, he was beginning to get a bit creepy."

Sky frowned. "Yeah, I'd hate to have someone really creepy running around everywhere. Where are you from, anyway?"

"I'm from the great city of Manehatten," answered Maboo. "I was born and raised there, but I don't remember much after that.

A few months ago I was hit on the head and knocked out, I only got a glimpse of who hit me, but I believe I saw a griffin. Since then I've lost my memories of who I used to be, so I dedicated myself to learning who had hit me and stolen my memories. I traced what evidence was left to this place, where I infiltrated through some sort of underground passage. That's when I met you."

Willow had caught up to Sky by now. "That's terrible! I'm so sorry you lost your memories."

"Well heck, we're just here to pick up some bakers, but you know something? It might be useful to have another infiltrator about! Do you want us to help you find out who stole your memories?" asked Sky.

"Actually, I think you knocked out the griffin who stole my memories. Oh well! I'll get my memories back some day. I'll join you on this quest for bakers, I could use a good meal soon anyway!"

Sky grinned as wide as she could. "Well, sure! I guess he ain't remembering anything when he wakes up either!"

The closet burst open and Evening rushed out. "Sky Runner! Willow Leaf! You're safe!"

"It's quite all right! We're totally okay! How are you?" asked Sky.

Evening rubbed her head. "I feel like I was clubbed by somepony, but other than that fine. Were we able to rescue the bakers?"

"About that Evening... I don't think there were any bakers here," said Willow.

"You mean we came all of this way for nothing? How do you know?" asked Sky.

"I got a chance to speak to the leader, she said there haven't been dedicated bakers here since her Grandfather ran the Talons," explained Willow. "I'm sorry."

Evening frowned. "Then why was I sent here? My master would never do something like this, she is too kind."

"Evening, what DID your master say exactly?" asked Sky.

"She just said to go to the Keep at Habictheim and seek the bakers," a tear escaped Evening's eye. "You don't think she sent me here to get rid of me, do you?"

Sky put a comforting hoof on Evening. "Don't worry Evening. If she did, we'll get our own bakers. Just wait and see!"

"Evening, do you want to go back? It seems like an awful place to grow up. Can't you just disappear?" asked Willow.

"I do want to see more of the outside, but I can't leave. It's home, and the brothers and sisters are my family. It's all I've ever known," answered Evening. "I know that if I prove myself to Master, then she will let me go on more missions and see the world."

"Hey Evening, I've got a better idea," said Sky. "What if you go on adventures with Willow, Maboo and me instead? We can go on our own awesome adventures and see the world together! Plus I bet Willow can help to teach you to calm down a little!"

"You would have me? After everything?"

"Of course we'll have you! I don't even know you but you seem to be really nice and an awesome warrior!" said Maboo.

"The whole "running in and smacking everything" shtick is probably gonna need toning down a bit, but hey, I've always got your back! How about you, Willow?" asked Sky.

"Sky is right, you need to work on your temper," said Willow. "But I would be happy to have you along, it's always nice to have somepony to talk to."

Evening blushed. "I don't know what to say... thank you."

Sky looked down the corridor nervously. "So... I hate to interrupt such a nice moment, but I bet those griffins will be waking up about now! So we'd probably better get running!"

"Run? Why?"

"This is one of the things we're talking about, Evening!" said Willow. "Move!"

The three of them charged down the corridor as they heard more guards coming their way, leaving Maboo behind.

"Wait for me!" Maboo popped a smoke bomb and charged after them.

"Maboo? How long have you been there?" asked Evening as they continued running from the guards.

"I've been here for at least the past ten minutes, Sky let me out of my cage," answerd Maboo. "Where are we going?"

"I'm learning how to run away. It's harder than I thought it would be," Evening caught up to Willow and Sky. "So, uh... even if we get away, it's all down sheer cliffs. What are we supposed to do?"

"Erm... Willow, do you reckon we could carry her and Maboo down between us?" asked Sky.

"If you take Maboo, we might be able to make it. But your wing isn't healed yet. It could wind up worse than it was before," answered Willow.

"Alright, I've got an idea, but you're not gonna like it. At least, Evening and Maboo aren't going to like it."

"What do you mean?" asked Evening.

"Turn right here and follow me!" said Sky. She lead the group through another series of hallways and staircases, climbing higher and higher. "Remember how off the battlements there was that sheer drop right down the mountain into a lake?"

"Yes. Wait... I... I can't swim," said Evening.

"It should be fine as long as one of us makes it down quickly enough. If we do this, I want you to promise to take it easy, Sky," said Willow.

"I'll be fine!" assured Sky. "Just watch your own flanks, okay?"

"If you say so."

"Good enough for me! Come on guys! Let's do something stupid!"