The Great Gryphon Adventure

Gilda was wide-eyed as she gasped long, ragged breaths. She couldn't do this, she wouldn't. She looked apologetically up to Jacob whom barely caught the expression before she started to sob uncontrollably and dash off into the forest. Applejack stopped in her tracks and turned around. She had only gone a few feet when she realized no one was following her when she heard the sobbing. The pony looked quizzically at the dust trail, then at Jacob. "Well ar' you gonna at least come?"

Jacob stood there in silence. He watched Gilda disappear into the forest and felt the urge to follow her. She had come to depend on him and Jacob realized that unintentionally he had forced a dark subject upon her that required more determination on her part to get through then what she had. In his mission to meet the locals, he had made a fool of the only friend he had in this land. He lowered his head in a sigh, looking at Applejack. "I'm sorry, I have to go after her." He started to turn to jog but stopped, looking back at the cowpony. "I'm sure I'll be back for proper introductions, but until then it was nice to meet you."

With that he held his weapon tight and started a military jog. Applejack watched dumbfounded at the scene and rolled her eyes. It wasn't like she cared any for that griffon anyway. Still, as she looked hard at Jacob, she couldn't get over a growing feeling that maybe Gilda had changed. That thing, or whatever it was, had befriended her and while it wasn't readily apparent, Applejack did detect something different. For one, the usually mean-spirited griffon had apologized.

"Oh horseapples!" she said as she hit the ground with her hooves. She felt pity for the griffon, the last feeling she wanted to feel! Grumbling to herself she decided to go to only one pony, Twilight Sparkle, and tell of her second meeting with Gilda. Maybe she would know what to properly do and explain what in tarnation was the thing the griffon was with.

• • •

The night fell on a seemingly uneventful day in the capital of Anagonia. The moon was partially hidden by clouds as it glowed, a remnant of earlier storms that had passed through. Buildings dotted here and there, the surrounding area looking more like a small city compared to what should be the center of an entire nation. It was a prime example of the belief of the people of Anagonia about tending and caring for what they had for future generations would ensure their survival as a whole. This example shown in almost every part of their everyday life.

One part of Anagonian society, however, was held higher in regard, second only to their continuity as a nation and people. It was expressed not only in their founding documents but also in the way they entrusted their very survival. To be a soldier in the Confederacy meant that you became not only a protector of a nation, but a protector of the People as well. It was a grueling task for any citizen, foreign or natural-born, to break away the mask of society and understand the oaths and protections they were entrusted with when joining any branch of the Confederate Military. They literally were the holders of the torch and the bringers of any new governance the people decreed. So much so that next to the trust every citizen gave to their family and friends, a soldier's was known never to be forsaken.

So it was that on this night at the edge of the seemingly inconspicuous city that Regus Maxim stayed up to study the events that happened a day ago. Normally such matters involving the disappearance of a brother in arms was left to the military branch they resided in. Not this one. It had gained so much national attention that even scientists called to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events were baffled. What was more strange was that during that day three other disappearances had occurred, all in the same manner and all having outstanding witnesses of good character to back the reports.

It was then only natural for Regus as Chief General of the Confederacy's Armed Forces to personally investigate. He had the responsibility to report to the President as Chief of the Department of National Defense and as such these disappearances had to quickly be explained as either an act by a foreign nation or group or something else. The "something else" was, at this point, the only conclusion he had to go on.

The Confederacy was enjoying a long peacetime with both its many allies and trading partners across the planet. Its navies patrolled known trading lanes alongside those of other foreign powers, ensuring the continued economic safety of all involved. Its military was constantly called upon not for war but for humanitarian efforts. The Confederate Military had adjusted from a force to protect its citizens alone to that of providing relief for billions upon billions across the globe. Its morale had never been higher and its sense of purpose never clearer.

With all this in mind, it baffled Regus why anyone would go AWOL as first suggested before the eyewitness reports came in. It just didn't make sense. All four soldiers were high-ranking and entrusted with the task of leading armies. One general in particular was already deep in the task of leading a humanitarian relief task force in an allied nation. They had no history, no reason, no motive to defect or do anything but their jobs. At least that is what the extensive bios of each individual indicated.

It was true that at times, soldiers did leave the service without notice. In such cases their rights protected them, but they were still called to answer for their actions through a proper tribunal of their peers and commanding officers. Some just didn't have the nerve to continue under the stress of their specified job descriptions. Many others had plenty of mundane and serious reasons why. But these four were not new recruits as almost ninety-nine percent of the cases were. Only once had a high-ranking officer left the service without notice. It was only classified as AWOL because of the events surrounding it, later decided to be understandable to a tribunal.

In his office in the Joint Command Center of the Armed Forces of the Confederacy, Regus could only push himself away from his computer screen and lean back in his chair with a groan. His hands met his face, sliding down it in a distraught fashion. He had been party to first contact with people from other worlds, had led an entire military armada in a war, had fought hard for people all over the globe he would never know, but never before had he faced the daunting task before him. He had to explain why so suddenly four people, all who had classified access and who were outstanding leaders in the Military, suddenly and unexplainable disappeared in a blinding flash of light and thunder. The only entities he knew who had anything remote to such technology had no use for kidnapping humans, who were most definitely useless to their causes.

So the only explanation he could ascertain from all the evidence gathered was that the something else he dreaded so much was indeed the solution. Something else, someone else, had to have purposely gathered these fine soldiers for some purpose. He could only guess the motive or purpose behind it, but in his gut he felt it wasn't good. It couldn't be.

He heard a knock at his door and sat up in his chair. At first he didn't recognize the person standing in the open door way. The computer he had been staring at for hours hadn't done his sight any justice. "Come in," he said in a weary and tired voice.

As the person came into view he stood at attention, giving a quick salute. "Mister President," Regus greeted. "I wasn't expecting you until the morning."

Kromulus Regulus returned the salute and waved the Chief General down. He came and sat at the chair on the other side of Regus' desk. The Chief General sat just as Kromulus did, the President giving a tired yawn. "I do apologize for the lack of notice," Kromulus said just as tiredly.

"If you were anyone else I'd have you reprimanded," Regus joked with a smirk. "Want some coffee?"

"No thanks," Kromulus replied waving the offer off with his hand. "I didn't come for formal conversation this time, unfortunately, just an update. It seems that two more reports of the same type of strange disappearance have been documented, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to go ahead with our meeting." He noticed the puzzled look on the Chief General's face, then added, "You didn't know?"

Regus shook his head. "No sir. I only know of the first four." He gawked. "Two more?!"

Kromulus nodded. "That is correct. I was just notified by the Chancellor of Yohannes of two high-ranking Generals literally gone. Hundreds of witnesses saw it."

"Was it at a base?" Regus asked.

"No," Kromulus shook his head. "They were giving an afternoon speech earlier today about the values of humanitarian aid at a forum in Imperius. It's all over the internet now."

"Jesus Christ," said Regus as he shook his head. "What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know," Kromulus admitted, "but I don't like it. I think the only person who can answer that is dead right now."

They both had a somber look. They spoke of Oscar Vladinchi, one of the founding fathers of the Confederacy. He had died recently during Anagonia's first meeting with an otherworldly civilization. The events surrounding his death was entirely personal so it didn't dampen the end result of peace.

Regus rubbed his forehead. "I honestly don't have any answers," he said softly. "It's like something is reaching through time and space and teleporting them away."

"Its the only explanation I've got too," Kromulus said. "All witness statements describe the same exact thing. The person first throws up, then vanishes in a loud boom of light. Everytime it's described, there is a resulting shock wave."

"What can we do about it?" Regus looked on helplessly at Kromulus. The President stared for a moment, then shook his head. Regus grumbled in frustration. "So what, am I really supposed to believe tha-"

Before he could finish he watched in horror as the President leaned forward and threw up on the floor. Regus quickly stood and ran around the desk, but was thrusted back by an unknown force. He fell back on the ground, about to stand up when Kromulus stared at him. His body was turning a bright blue. "Shit!" was all Kromulus got out before he disappeared just as suddenly as the other six. The resulting explosion sent Regus against the wall and knocked him out.

In an instant Anagonia was turned on its head. The President of the Confederate States was now among the growing list of people who vanished without explanation.

• • •

Stars glittered around a lone figure. Somewhere between here and there in the cosmos he claimed to himself a sanctuary. From this point in the universe he could observe the life of his subjects and relish in the worship they offered him. Such was the gifts of being a god, but he never claimed to be such. The solar winds from a nearby star washed across his celestial cloak revealing a skeletal frame. Red eyes stared out into the unknown from what appeared to be two eye sockets of a human skull. For eons he had contemplated and initiated revelations and changes that would guide the people he so loved from this very spot. Now was no different, except this time it dealt with an entity from a different universe.

The start of his observance of this individual had happened by accident. In this universe, Melkos Unchanos was merely at the top of the pantheon of gods worshiped in Anagonia. His main tasks were merely to be present and to allow the people of Anagonia to explore their potential. To guide them should they seek his council and to usher in new ages when the time called. In all this time his most important task, that of protecting his realm from other gods and entities, had only ever been invoked twice. Each time was with something from this universe. Until now.

He felt the hand reaching between the threads of time and space from the multiverse when the first victim was taken. Melkos knew the man by heart. He was the son of the current leader of his people and he in his waking dreams had followed his career with a keen interest. He fancied the name Jacob Stein in public and kept hidden his true last name. Regulus. Such prestige and honor this name had that Melkos was already placing into motion events that would thrust Jacob into becoming the hero of Anagonia, just as many had before him. All those plans were suddenly changed when something else had gripped Jacob from his watchful eye.

The Dark God had tried to see what future these events were to hold, but to no avail. Everything had changed with his disappearance. Millions of timelines were in jeopardy of never being properly fulfilled. His task as overseer and protector was in danger of being undone. The only respite that he had was that whatever was taking his people had not sensed his presence. He could feel this being, the malice it had and the darkness it held within itself. He could tell that whatever purpose was being brought to bare was for some other evil deed he could see.

What angered him the most about these clear violations of his realm was not the fact his people were being taken, but the fact that whatever it was had no clear purpose for the damage it was doing to the timeline in this universe. Clearly whomever was doing this was ignorant of the knowledge of balance, of keeping things in order. Such was the conclusion that Melkos came to that the purpose was to bring disorder to someplace else. Normally he would stray from interfering in such petty things, but now he had unwillingly been forced to get involved. To put in danger the father of the first victim of these events for no other real purpose than to restore the balance of his realm.

He let out an eternal sigh that sent gentle ripples through the space around him. The ethereal celestial cloak gathering around his form to hide and protect its creator. His red eyes dimmed as they too were hidden, gazing down below to the realm he had come to love and call his own. He knew they would be in turmoil for a time until balance was restored. In this he honestly regretted what he had done and what he would have to do to.

In his mind he reached out to the portal between dimensions to once again view the entity that interested him the most at the moment. She was a fantastic creature, forged in another universe dedicated to harmony and balance. Something his realm lacked in the physical, but this realm seemed to have plenty of. Through time itself he reached, imagining a future where she could belong. For in that world he could tell she was lost. Such souls seemed to cry out to him and Melkos was none too hesitant to respond in some manner. To her, sadly, he couldn't simply create events marking his knowledge of the misery she went through nor attempt to cure the sadness in her heart.

Melkos Unchanos, the Chief God of the Drekamythian Pantheon, had to find another way. For the first time in all his existence as both a central part of Anagonian time line and now a background manifestation of order, he was reaching into another realm for another soul that did not belong to him. His faithful servants were appearing left and right in her realm and it was his responsibility to bring them back. The only way to achieve this was through her.

So he reached out in the dream-state she was in. Calling her name. Calling to her, not caring if that ignorant entity that started this mess found out his existence.

• • •

Gilda, a voice called in the distant part of her dreams.

The griffon had flown far from Sweet Apple Acres and was now hiding in a cave in the mountains. Her quiet sobs of pain and loss, of remembering what she had and being unable to atone for the damage she had done to not only herself but her past lover had drifted her into sleep. Normally Gilda would dream nothing else but that rainbow image of the one she cared dearly for. But when she had, in her anger, ruined all that her dreams went into the realms of sadness and despair.

Gilda, the same voice called again. It wasn't hers, she knew. It sounded old and wise. She opened her eyes, but to her surprise she was standing in tall green grass that waved with a gentle spring breeze. Her mind didn't recognize this land. It was so foreign, so distant to anything she could ever view in her world that it border lined on pure fantasy. Her head turned to a distant oak tree on a hill, a figure standing there. Her eyes widened, somehow knowing this was the one who had called to her.

Don't be afraid, the figure said as clearly as if standing in front of her. Come to me. We must speak of many things.

Her natural reaction was to run. She found she had no desire to go along with it. Instead, almost against her will, her limbs moved and she slowly trekked along a path between the tall grass. It tickled through her feathers and fur, almost as if reassuring her she was safe here. She took in a deep breath, feeling the life-giving oxygen course through her body and strengthening her entire being. She closed her eyes, simply enjoying the blissful experience, never wanting it to end. It was so peaceful here. None of her troubles could harm her.

When she opened her eyes she sat just a few feet from the strange being. She blinked, looking the figure up and down. It was hidden behind what appeared to be a cloak of some type of substance. She could only relate it to water because of how it flowed seamlessly across the figures form. When she reached the top of the figure, she saw a human face smiling down at her. She gasped.

"Jacob?!" She said in surprise.

The figure shook his head. "No, I am not Jacob." He said more clearly. "I only appear to you this way because it is a form you recognize. You are not ready to see what I truly am."

At these words she looked confused. Not Jacob, but appearing as Jacob? All at once her fear returned and she cowered, her wings coming forward to try to hide her face. What was this place? She felt a burning truth enter her mind that she didn't belong here. She was about to sprint and run away when she felt the most soothing touch on her left wing. Her body relaxed and she slowly sat on her hunches. The human surrounded by a cloak of water was sitting across from her, lowering the hand that had calmed her mind and soul.

"All will be answered, I promise." He smiled, "But first you must know why you are here."

"It's because of Jacob, isn't it?" she said with certainty. There was no doubt in her statement.

He nodded. "Yes. It is. And because of him I came to notice you."

She gawked, her beak open. Notice her? All at once a startling revelation came together. This wasn't a dream. This was a vision! She had heard of these types of things from some Unicorns. They had spoken openly to her when she was a young griffon. When she was first learning of the importance of Princess Celestia and how she had created the world. How she balanced the world and kept things in motion.

Her eyes widened and the truth hit her. Like a sledgehammer. This wasn't a human. This wasn't even Jacob. This was another Creator! Even as she looked over the figure again, the truth swept over her like a flood. Her feathers puffed and fur stood straight. Her body shivered. Whoever this was he wasn't from here and didn't belong. Something deep inside her genetic being told her this. This man, this Creator, was from somewhere else entirely. Somewhere so far distant that not even in a million lifetimes should she live it would she ever encounter him.

Her expression softened and she nearly fainted. The fact that her mind had suddenly known all this caused her have a serious headache. How or even why she even knew it to be true was a complete mystery, but deep in her heart she knew it to be. The man reached down again and pressed a hand to her feathered head. Gently he stroked down the side of it, her eyes returning to his.

"I can see in your thoughts that you know everything," he said as he smiled. "That is good. I am sorry that I had to violate your world's balance just to be here, but I promise you no damage shall come to you or anyone else. My presence here shall be limited only to this. If only because you have become important in my eyes and to the future of my people."

"Why me?" she could only ask as she blinked. Her emotions had calmed with his touch, her mind clearing from the pain. Still the truth struck shock in her, but no longer was she afraid. "I'm just a big bully." Tears started in her eyes as she closed them. "I've lost everything because of that."

"Perhaps," the man said with a soft whisper, "but depending on your future choices you could have so much more."

"All I wanted was her," Gilda admitted as the entire memory of her relationship with Rainbow Dash flashed through her mind. "Without her, I'm nothing... I don't have a purpose to live anymore."

The new knowledge did not go unnoticed to the man. He simply continued his gentle petting across her head. "I know," he said calmly, "but those choices were made and the consequences of it were done. That is something I cannot and will not attempt to change. The future, however, is now unwritten. What you choose from this point on will determine who you will become and, if you so choose, save the world that Jacob was torn from."

Her eyes opened and she blinked. Save? Her, a hero?! In all of Equestria such a thought was foreign to her. Before she only knew of how to cause pain, of how to get things she wanted through brutish force. The memory of her childhood and the pain of her parents was the main reason she had grew into that hateful griffon. The only respite from such terrible things had been that beautiful pegasus. Even if they had only dated, only loved for a short while, it had given her peace. It was the main reason why her jealousy of Rainbow Dash had caused her to lash out at her new friends. She wanted her for herself alone. Sadly the world was not so forgiving to her as it never seemed to be. Tears started to fall as she sobbed softly.

The man understood more now. Her entire life story was freely given to him through the touch he had with her. He felt her pain, her sorrow. Saw how her father had beaten her to become better, tortured her because she had been weak. Saw how her mother had denied her the love she so needed at that age, saw how each had literally thrown her away to the Academy. He saw how the love she experienced with another entity of her world had given her peace. Saw how her unrelenting emotions had caused her eventual downfall. He also saw the last few minutes she had planned for her life.

His eyes widened. He understood everything now. It was so obvious. Suicide was an unknown thing to these creatures of this world. He literally felt it in the very fabric of Gilda's bones. That action alone of wanting to take her own existence out of pure misery and depression had given way to everything that happened after. The beast that came at her was the start. Through her dark emotions she had allowed a very hateful entity in her world to manipulate the very fabric of dimensions to summon that beast just to see Gilda's end. How her eventual cries for salvation before her doom had grabbed Jacob Regulus from his place in Melkos' realm into hers to save her.

The man then saw his enemy. The one who had thereafter started wreaking havoc in his realm to bring the doom of Equestria through that one opening. It wasn't her fault that she had allowed this eternal being of darkness a pathway to Anagonia. Her innate desire for salvation had done that, a noble and worthwhile desire indeed. But this dark being had used the opening for deeds unknown and was starting to gather a plan. This plan was to tear the lands of Equestria in two by any means necessary through these actions. Softly the man tried to reach out to feel the presence of his people here using Gilda as a base. To his dismay he only felt Kromulus and Jacob. The others were not present in this land or hidden so well he couldn't feel them.

His eyes softened as he realized her head was now resting on his hand. Her tears from years and years of sadness had been shed. Her eyes were weakly staring up into his. He smiled, sending shivers down the griffons spine. "Feel better?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. In that moment of quiet release everything about her had changed. She knew it would forever. She had come to accept his words of wisdom as fact and was determined to forge a destiny not based on her past, but on the hope of a brighter future. The man could sense this as he gently stroked her feathered cheek. "Thank you for saving me," Gilda said.

"You can thank Jacob for that, and yourself," the man chuckled. "Not I. If not for your desire to live at your final moments, none of this would have come to pass. I am humbled to have been able to bring you the salvation you so desired, but I cannot take credit for it." He tilted his head slightly. "Do you understand my words?"

The touch went both ways. She gave a nod that she did. In this moment of innocent intimacy between a Creator and creation, all thoughts were shared. She gently rose from his hand and lay on all fours, staring at him with pleading eyes. Through the bond that had been forged by the man's assistance, they could still see into each other's purpose and thoughts. So it was that the man shook his head, receiving a sad look from the griffon.

"Not yet," he said in a somber tone. "As much as I desire to see you happy, I cannot unwillingly sacrifice the happiness and future of those I protect for one soul. The needs of the many, as has been said, outweigh the needs of the few. For me to bring you to my realm, I must first ensure that this realm is placed back into balance." He sighed and looked up. "I already feel the watchful eye of your realm's Creator on me. She knows of our communion here. However while she is patient and understand, she is expecting me to assist her to fix this." He looked back at Gilda. "To accomplish this restoration of balance in her lands and mine, I cannot do what I must do alone."

His wisdom helped her understand the significance of the problem. "You can't manifest here and fix problems yourself, just as Princess Celestia does. It isn't your realm, so you need someone to do it for you." She sighed, looking down. It took all but a moment to commit herself to the quest ahead. "I will be that tool you need to wield," she said offering herself freely. "But on one condition."

The man nodded. "And that is?"

"That you will give me the chance to seek the love of the one I want to be with," she said with a serious expression.

The man widened his eyes. Who she thought was not who he expected. There were still some things anyone party to a bond could not tell. "That will be difficult, even for me," the man admitted. "Through this desire alone I can see that death will follow your every move."

Gilda remained unblinking. "All I ask is for your help. This is my one chance at happiness. If I die, let me die knowing I have found peace."

The man sighed then stood, looking down at the eyes that followed his every move and expression. He smiled kindly. "Death is not party to fate. Whom dies may be the least you expect."

In an instant everything was gone. The bond she shared with the Creator ended and she could feel him far from her. It gave her pain, but she knew what she had to do now. She had given her word and would not back down. She awaited the land of the living, knowing the task ahead would be difficult.

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