The Great Gryphon Adventure

To say that Jacob felt out of place was an understatement. He fought to kept his professional composure. At first it was from the shocked glances from the other ponies. Then it was from suddenly being in the proximity of a very romantic encounter. He wasn't sure whether to go inside to get out of the way of the deep display of affection or simply state there like an idiot and pretend nothing was happening. He decided the latter. Standing there like an idiot and holding his weapon at a harmless angle and trying to avoid looking down.

He his eyes met the wide-eyed stares of those inside, then he looked away. This had to be the most uncomfortable moment of his life. He prayed that something, anything would save him from this. He closed his eyes and just started thinking happy thoughts. Yea, happy thoughts. Like two lesbian women giving a passionate kiss to ea-

Damnit!, he exclaimed in his thoughts and cursed his male mind. No one was obviously going to stop the display. It had only been a few seconds, but to him it felt like an eternity. He spoke, "Um... ladies... I'm standing right here."

Big mistake. He realized how foolish he was the moment the rainbow-maned pegasus instantly shot an angry expression at him. Her eyes literally pierced his soul. It was like looking into a woman who didn't give a damn what anyone thought about her and was about to unleash a fury surpassing even that of mother nature. Slowly, cautiously, he tried to step away. The moment he started to move the pegasus pony was in his face, snout against his face and eyes never leaving his.

"And just WHO are YOU?!" the pegasus demanded.

He shot a glance down at Gilda for help but realized it was futile. The griffon's eyes were glazed over as she mumble incoherently in a happy, daydreaming tone. Looking back into the accusing eyes (of what he was being accused he couldn't tell), he gulped. "I-I'm Jacob," he stammered quite unlike himself. He realized he was actually afraid of this pegasus. His natural male mind didn't object to that, instead having to fight to run. "I... uh... saved her life," he said without thinking.

For a few moments the pegasus continued her glare. Then she backed up, Jacob realizing she was hovering to match his height. She crossed her front hooves together across her chest as she snorted. "Well," she said looking him up and down, "I'm Rainbow Dash. I guess I owe you one."

Owe her one? Wait a minute, he said realizing who she was. Of course! Why didn't he connect the dots before! This was Gilda's past love, the one she had told him about. It all made sense! Now that she had made up, obviously the feelings Rainbow Dash had had for her came forth. Whatever happened before their break up had to be pretty bad for a joyous outcome like this. Jacob couldn't help but smirk.

He regretted doing that to. As he smirked, Rainbow shot him another power feminine 'I'm-about-to-fuck-up-your-world-if-you-don't-stop' glare. He did stop, going back to his expression he had previously. Whatever it was made her snort and seem satisfied. She waved him off with one hoof. "Now go away," she said in a demanding tone.

"W-what?" Jacob stammered again. Where was he going to go?

She growled and flew at him. He felt an incredible force knock into his chest as he was flung back. He watched as the door slammed shut in front of him, instinctively rolling his body to the side to avoid a back injury. As he hit the ground he groaned. Holding his head he went prone, one knee on the ground while one leg was bent. He held his head and realized he was inside the tree building. The other ponies in the room, he realized to his horror, were all staring at him. He whimpered silently.

Killed by vicious PMS-ridden pony creatures, he thought sarcastically to himself. Sounds like number seven hundred and sixty on A Thousand Ways to Die.

The expected ripping-apart-of-limbs scene he envisioned in his mind didn't take place. Instead he felt something poke his cheek. He blinked, looking to his side to see two wide and curious eyes of some kind of pink monster looking at him. He froze. It was the same pony who had introduced the duo to Rainbow Dash and the others. The only one to not to look with a baffled stare. The only one to give a sadistic-looking smile.

Jacob whimpered again silently. "Mommy?" he said silently expecting the worse.

The pink pony suddenly fell on its back and laughed while rolling on the floor. Jacob eventually realized he wasn't going to die. He also realized that he was laughing weakly with the pony's laugh. His mind was breaking. If he was a pony, his eyes would have derped to either side. God what was this world doing to him?!

She shot up, pointing a hoof at herself. "I'm not your mommy, silly willy poo! I'm Pinkie Pie!" She giggled and then looked him up and down with an inquisitive stare. "Yep, definitely not a pony! So what are you, you strangey-wangey-pangey?"

His mind calmed and a professional thought pattern took over again. He cleared his throat, absently looking to the door to make sure that damn pegasus wasn't there. Seeing she wasn't, he looked back to Pinkie Pie. Just like first contact, he reminded to himself. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and relaxed. Just like first contact without being torn to pieces, he assured himself. A slight nervous twitch inflicted his eyebrow being reminded of Rainbow Dash's stare as it crossed his minds eye.

Standing tall, he placed a hand on his chest. "I am a human. I'm not from Equestria."

"Well obvi-" started Pinkie Pie but whom was cut off by another pony. He looked over to the remaining four who had recovered from their dumbfounded looks to see a purple unicorn speak.

"Not from Equestria? I knew it!" said Twilight Sparkle. She giggled insanely at the fact that her research wasn't in vain, it was just no one knew of Jacob's kind! She looked to either side, seeing her friends give her an odd look. She cleared her throat. "Sorry."

"What an odd creature you are," said the beautiful-looking pony with a white coat. She walked towards Jacob and circled him in a manner that reminded Jacob of some kind of inspector in the modeling industry. "You don't have hooves," she said looking at his hands as Jacob moved his fingers. "You walk on two legs instead of four. And your outfit is just... just... a crime against all fashion!"

"What," Jacob said blankly. "This isn-" but he was cut off.

"Oh by Celestia, your kind most have no sense of attire whatsoever!" She seemed to grow angry. "How could anypony allow such outfits!" She used her hoof to poke at his BDU pants which Jacob found rather unsettling because it felt like she gripped him with a hoof. "I will not be in the pres-"

"RARITY," came a unified voice of Twilight and Applejack.

Rarity looked at them, then put her head in the air in a smug fashion. "Hmph," she let out before maintaining the posture and going back to her friends. She was replaced by Pinkie Pie bouncing circles around him.

"He's not a crime against fashion, silly filly!" said Pinkie more to Rarity than anyone. Then she stopped and with a serious expression looked at Jacob's face, "He's a warrior. That's what his kind wears to battle." She gave a slight grin, as if her knowledge expanded beyond all known reason. "But what do I know, I'm just a silly filly myself!"

Without another word she hummed a tune and bounced happily to the door. Opening it Jacob caught a glimpse of the outside. Where Rainbow and Gilda were before, they weren't now. The door closed and he was left in the presence of the other two ponies. He swore that a third was there, but he couldn't find where the pony was. He raised a hand and waved. "Hi," he said in greeting to them, then looked at Applejack and added, "again."

Applejack gave a smirk. "Well dun tha' beat all." She chuckled. "I'ma mighty sorrah fo' how I acted when we first met, Jacob. I'm Applejack and I thin' behin' meh is Fluttershy." She moved to the side, revealing the pony that was missing from before. She was cowering and looking for another place to hide. Then she locked eyes with Jacob for a moment before meeping and hiding behind Twilight. The purple unicorn just rolled her eyes.

"Anywah, I best be off." She started for the door. Stopping only when she was beside Jacob, punching him on his thigh with her hoof in a friendly fashion. "Mighty fine of ya to do wha' ya did for Gilda, thar."

Jacob nodded in understanding. Applejack waved to Twilight who eeped as Fluttershy dashed after Applejack and left the room just as the farmpony opened the door. Chuckling Applejack followed, closing the door behind her. Only Twilight and Jacob were left. This had not gone all according to a formal plan of introductions. Everything was just... random. And that pink pony. How had she known who and what he was? He sighed, looking at the purple unicorn.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle," Twilight greeted. "I'm sorry about all that. I can see you're as surprised as I am about how all that happened." She giggled. "Don't worry about Gilda. I'm sure she is fine with Rainbow Dash. They have a lot to catch up on."

Having almost all his questions answered in that moment he adjusted the way he stood, relaxing a bit in his stance. He nodded. "I figured they did. She told me a lot about her previous experiences." His body shivered which didn't go unnoticed by Twilight. "Just the way Rainbow looked at me, ugh."

Twilight laughed, "She's always like that." Then she stopped, thinking. "Well not like that," she corrected herself, "but from what we had all talked about earlier together I guess it's understandable."

Jacob could only nod his head.

"So is this your home?" Jacob asked looking around. "Looks kind of nice."

"Mmhmm," confirmed Twilight. "I live here with Spike." Before Jacob could ask who that was, she answered the unspoken question. "He's my assistant and a baby dragon." She pointed up a level where he was still, surprisingly, sound asleep despite the night's events. "So anyway, it's late and I have a spare bedroom upstairs. I only get to use it during sleep-overs or when one of my friends needs a place to rest." She smiled.

Taken aback by the offer, he smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

"No problem!" Twilight said happily. She stood on all fours, yawning. "In the morning, if you don't mind, I'll ask you some questions. I have a few letters to write and I'm sure Princess Celestia would love to hear about you."

Not knowing who that was or the importance other than the sound of royalty, Jacob nodded. "Alright." He looked up the staircase and started his way to his the spare bedroom. He started to look at Twilight whom, once again, answered his spoken question. "It's the room to the left. Good night Jacob."

He chuckled to himself. In a few moments he was in the room. The bed wasn't as long as he needed, but he wasn't one to complain. An offer of a bed was an offer that he wasn't going to refuse. Taking off all his gear he prepared for bed. Thinking of just how simple it was to suddenly become formal with the ponies. It was a shock how little he had spoken through the entire ordeal. This really was a different world.

His dreams resembled his thoughts on the oddity of this land as he fell into a slumber.

• • •

Zecora woke with a start. She gasped for a long-awaited breath, her equine chest rising. She exhaled, blinking finally as her eyes focused. The first thing she noticed was that her surroundings had changed. Instead of laying on the dirt floor of her hut, she lay on grass. Tall grass, she corrected her thoughts. She felt a tingle along her hide as a breeze went across the grass, making it wave like the ocean. In that moment she closed her eyes, taking in the breeze. Just breathing.

It didn't take long for her to realize that she wasn't alone. As she breathed, mouth closed and through her nostrils, she picked up a scent. It wasn't from a pony. It wasn't from anything she knew. The only thing that calmed her was that it wasn't the scent of that predator wolf that had killed her.

She immediately went to all fours. "I'm dead."

It wasn't an observation, it was a matter of fact. At least she thought she was. The last thing she remembered was feeling her neck snap and the feeling of immense pain as her insides were ripped apart. She was thankful that her death was swift and not dragged out. Before she could think further, her eyes focused clearly again. She gasped at what she saw.

Zecora was standing on a hill. All around her was the largest expanse of grassland she had ever seen. Her head turned as she took in the sights. To one side of the land was the most beautiful mountain ranges, each capped with a blanket of snow. The sky was shaded purple, which complimented the peaks she saw. On the other side was an ocean. A red star was raising creating an incredible play of colors across the water and the morning horizon.

This had to be the paradise her people spoke songs of. She was struck in awe by the beauty.

The strange scent came past her senses again. This time stronger. It smelt of of burning incense. Probably of frankincense and dragon's blood. It was, to her, extremely calming. She slowly turned around to look behind her. At the other end of the hill she was on was a figure similar to Halkan. She hadn't noticed it when she was taking in her surroundings. She sniffed the air. The smell was definitely coming from this figure.

Any fear she had of approaching was quickly washed away by the feeling that she was somewhere safe. The fact that she knew she was dead added to that. In death, nothing could hurt you. She slowly trotted over to the figure. Observing the figure as it became clearer to her vision. It was definitely a human just like Halkan. Except that smell. Halkan smelt different, almost like a giant ape from her homeland, but less pungent. This human only smelt of incense.

The human was a male, if Halkan was any indication to sex of his species. He seemed younger, youthful, except his hair was silver. It was cut perfectly like a pony who had a street-style fashion. She had seen a few. The serious city working types. She also noted that he sat with one arm on a raised knee, the other leg stretched out as his free hand seemed to play with a few blades of grass. He made no indication that he noticed Zecora as she approached him. She lay on her belly, all legs tucked under her. From this range the smell of incense was overwhelming.

Perhaps the human didn't notice her? It didn't matter. She was too busy enjoying that unique smell. The zebra pony closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off with a clear mind. She felt safe here. Nothing could harm her. When she finally opened her eyes, the human was looking at her. His eyes had a golden iris surrounding a slitted pupil. It looked almost like a dragon's.

She blinked; the human blinked too. He smiled and she smiled. "Hello Zecora," the man-thing said. She tilted her head, curious as to how he knew her. Perhaps he was the deity of this land? The thought passed quickly.

"You smell of sacred incense," Zecora said as she righted her head. "Why is this?"

The man chuckled. "My kind has always smelled like this," he answered. "I see you were enjoying it."

Zecora nodded. "I usually meditated with these incenses." She noticed the man's eyes were changing color. They were turning the darkest shade of violet she had ever seen. "Who... what are you?" She asked amazed at the sight.

"I am known by many names, but the most common is Melkos." His eyes changed color again. This time they settled on a crimson red. "This is how I truly look. Others see me as a creature of death. More see me as a god." He smirked at that, shaking his head. "How truly little they know of me." Melkos tilted his head, "As to what I am, my people are known as Drekamythian."

Her eyes widened. She remembered the words that Halkan recited through memory to her from the scroll. So this was the man that had sent him to her? Odd. She figured the entity would seem more... divine in a sense. This figure here, if he was not lying to her, seemed so simple. Something didn't seem right. "What is your real name?" she pressed.

The man gave a wide smile to this question. It had been so long, so very long since someone had asked him that. It was quite refreshing. He didn't let her wait long for the answer. "My real name is John Ha'Goth."

That name seemed so familiar to her. She didn't know why nor could she place it, but it seemed so simple for someone with a grand plan. The way Halkan had described the letter and his feelings about it, this being before her was someone greater. It was all so very... mundane.

The next question was the obvious one. "Why are you playing God with Halkan?"

"Halkan?" John seemed oblivious to the name. Then he smiled. "You mean Kromulus." He chuckled, "I suppose you could call what I am doing as 'playing God'. In reality I'm just keeping the balance. It has to be done to maintain the path of the land where he comes from."

A keeper of balance. She lowered her head, eyes gazing down as she was deep in thought. He wasn't a god, but wasn't a normal human like Halkan, or Kromulus as John seemed to call him. She had so many questions at this point. All of them were equally worthy of being asked, but one stuck out. It was also obvious to ask. Why her? If he was the keeper of balance from the land were Kromulus came from, why was she so important? She felt an energy close to her mind, looking back up to see John still looking at her. He was smiling wider.

"Why me?" she finally asked.

"Good question," John said. "I honestly don't have a clue. I didn't even notice you were around me until you sat next to me." He tilted his head, "So I have to ask you a question. It's the same one you asked." He smirked. "Why me?"

"I -" she started, but stopped. Zecora was at a lost for words. He hadn't brought her here? By his own admission he hadn't. This was obviously his place. She looked around again. It suddenly dawned on her that this wasn't paradise. This was a place that belonged to John. From the looks of it, it probably was a place for him to meditate.

So why had she come here? Why John? She looked back at John, shaking her head. "I don't know," she admitted. "One moment I was being torn to shreds by a wolf, the next here. I thought I was dead and this was my paradise."

"Gilda thought the same thing," John said. "It's funny how many people assume that when they come here. Usually I bring them." He laughed. "I actually thought you were a manifestation of my mind when I first saw you!" He went back to smiling. "First time for everything I suppose."

"So if I'm not dead," she said while blinking, "then that means I will wake up living again?"

"I didn't say that," John said as a tinge of sadness fell over Zecora. "Perhaps you are dead. Perhaps due to my proximity to you, you followed me here." He chuckled. "I did try to warn you."

Zecora blinked. So that energy was from him! She sighed. "At least you tried."

"But," he said, pointing up beside them, "I think she can help you."

Both John and Zecora turned to look at a proud alicorn. Zecora recognized her as Princess Celestia. She noticed that Celestia looked irritated. Her eyes softened when she saw Zecora, but looked harsh when she looked to John. The princess stood her ground as John stood, giving a formal bow of recognition. Celestia returned it with a bow of her head. They seemed to know each other, at least that's what Zecora assumed by the display.

"Welcome to my humble abode," John said in greeting to the alicorn. "I am known as Melkos Unchanos and I do apologize for not seeking your permission before trespassing."

"I am welcome and I forgive," responded Celestia. Her stern gaze softened. It was as if some formal protocol had been followed and she was now satisfied. "To what honor or deed have you come?"

John seemed to have a confused expression. "You are not aware?"

"Aware of what?" Celestia said with a slight hint of irritation in her voice.

"Amazing," said John. He then bowed again. "I apologize for being rude, Princess. I would not have dared entered had I known you were not aware of your world's trespassing on my realm."

"My world?" Celestia scoffed. "Why in harmony would I seek other worlds to trespass? Do you take me for a tyrant?"

"Not at all, m'lady," John said respectfully. "I simply imply the obvious." He noted her glare and then added, "The obvious being that which I have seen."

Celestia seemed to ponder his words. Zecora noted that unlike her usually wavy mane, here it seemed to falter and rest like any normal pony. It seemed so odd to her to see the literal creator of Equestria to not seem so deity-looking. After a moment the zebra spoke, breaking the silence.

"Forgive my intrusion on this conversation," she said. The two rulers looked at her. John was smiling while Celestia looked at the Zebra with a questioning expression. Zecora took a deep breath to calm herself. She was literally in the presence of two divinities. To anyone else it would no doubt be unnerving. To her, it simply left her in awe. "I think that I may have an answer to your problem."

Celestia and John shared a look, then Celestia nodded to Zecora. "Go on."

Zecora cleared her through. "What you seek may be lost to you, but to me I have already experienced it." The wolf came to mind again. The energy it had had been familiar at the time, but she couldn't place it then. It was only now that she had connected the dots. "I was attacked by a wolf. It wasn't any normal wolf, though. I would have had a chance to defend myself if it was." She looked directly at Celestia. "It resembles the energy I sense from the moon."

Celestia's eyes widened. John noticed. "You know of what she speaks?" He asked.

"Indeed I do," she said looking to John. "However the only creature having such a signature is not a threat to anyone anymore." She looked down. "At least I had thought. However if the creature is who I believe it is, I would have easily detected its intentions long before anything had happened." She gasped. "No... it couldn't be."

John raised an eyebrow. Celestia closed her eyes, concentrating on something. When she opened them her eyes were fearful. She looked to John. "Luna is safe at my castle, I can feel her there. The only other thing in existence that resembles her in any way is Nightmare Moon."

He chuckled at the lack of explanation. "I'm sorry, Princess Celestia, but while I do have gift of knowledge for my realm I lack it in yours."

"Of course, I apologize." She looked to Zecora, then back at John. "Nightmare Moon was, or is as is the case, an entity thriving on negativity. If what I believe is correct, the energy that was her has survived and manifested into something more twisted. Even with the Elements of Harmony, those spirits of pure good, I doubt anything can be done to stop her this time."

John laughed. Celestia seemed insulted, but maintained her elegant posture. "Everything has a beginning and end, Princess," John said. "Even us, you know this." He smirked as he looked at Zecora. "Perhaps my actions while 'playing God' may pay off?"

Zecora could only smile. She knew what he spoke of. Halkan. "Perhaps," she said.

With a confused look, John proceeded to tell Celestia everything he knew. Zecora filled in the gaps about Halkan, or Kromulus as his real name was known. She still preferred the name she gave him. In this situation, it fit his purpose. The three then formulated a plan. It was dangerous, risky and downright in violation of all that kept the universe in working motion. However they had little choice but to agree with it. After a short debrief on what each would be responsible of doing, Celestia worked with John to help Zecora return to her world. As they spoke words too ancient for any pony or human to recount in a thousand lifetimes, Zecora fell into a deep sleep. Her form disappeared completely from the paradise leaving the two creators alone.

"Just remember your end of the bargain," Celestia said. "If the balance is to be restored, she will be our only hope for making everything return to normal." John nodded, completely understanding. Celestia smiled. "Perhaps at the end we shall have time to share our methods of guidance?"

"That is something I will look forward to," John said with a smile.

Celestia turned and took the sky. In a few seconds she was gone too. John was left to look towards the ocean. The sun of his old homeworld having risen partially into the sky. They had thought of all the choices and consequences of choices. There was little else they could do but enact the plan and hope all worked according to it. It would all rest on one seemingly insignificant being.

They weren't speaking of Zecora.