High Crown, the capital of the Gryphon Kingdom, sat upon the hills that overlooked the plains beneath with just as much radiance as the Equestrian city of Canterlot. However, it also had the overlying feeling of dominance. It's walls where high and thick and were swarming with soldiers. Their telescopic eyes scanning the horizon for any threat that would come their way. The fortifying towers were another feature that gave no small impression to any passerby the military might of the Gryphon nation. Inside the walls, thrived a large and consuming city. It's many building of big business and markets lined the streets, all made of stone, coupled with the many taverns and clubs that dotted the utopia, made one newly arrived individual feel like he was back home. Well, he would have felt that way had he not been vomiting.

Maximus' legs quaked under him as he supported himself on his knees and heaved small shots of stomach bile. When he had been sent through the portal, something had happened to him. He started to feel queasy at first along with his shoulder blades being in a large amount of pain, but then began to experience a sense of nausea like no other. Then the vomiting came. He heaved one last time, but then found himself face planting into his own puddle of stomach juice. His muscles were gelatin and his bones were non-existent. He just laid there still until he could make the room stop spinning.

By the time Maximus found the ability to prop himself up on his arms, he found a pair of grey flats staring at him. He looked up to find that there was an older lady starring down at him with her arms crossed under her chest. She gave the eyes of a disappointed training instructor that the Roman knew all too well.

"Well, isn't this a familiar sight." the old woman passively stated. "A drunk man stumbling into my library and making a mess on the floor. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk."

Maximus tried to speak, but only blew foul smelling air from his mouth. He tried to speak again, and this time found his voice. "Ma'am, I am not drunk. I assure you."

"Oh, really then?" the condescending tone mixed with her foot tapping made it clear she was thoroughly annoyed. "Then explain to
me why it is that you are lying there in your own bile?"

"It's a long story." Maximus claimed. "But the short version is that when I was looking at a book, I felt nauseous and then all of this happened."

The librarian moved her brown eyes right and found a book on early Equestrian Alliance History laying on the floor next to him with the pages faced down. She looked back to the rising soldier and gave a snort. "I see." she raised her eyebrow in curiosity when she saw that he was wearing a red tunic and had a rope for a belt that carried a small pouch. She could tell by the way he dressed that he was either a beggar or a soldier of some kind. "Just who are you, and where did you stumble from?"

When he regained his feet and was able to look into the eyes of the librarian. That is when he looked down about two feet. "I am Maximus of Rome." he said in a proud but subtle manner.

"Well, Maximus," the book keeper said. "I am Alyson Dubois, the head librarian of High Crown's own Gold Feather Library. And although I appreciate people using my books for reference, I do so become enraged when they make a mess of my floor." She balanced on her tip toes to get on a better level with the obviously taller man. She pointed a bony finger into Maximus' chest. "And if you continue to make a mess of my library I will fly back over to my desk and get my mace so I beat you over the head with it! Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am." Maximus stammered.

"Good!" she said with a frown. "Now go get my brush and bucket from the closet on the far wall of the library and clean up your mess!"

With a flip of her wings the old woman was heading back to her desk, and Maximus, in fear of offending the book keeper further, made his way to get the brush and bucket with haste. He made sure to remember which aisle he was in, for if this sort of thing happened more than once, he may well be having to clean up other people's bile alongside his own.
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The last strands of golden hair on the horizon of the Gryphon capitol began to fall back on the shoulders of the sun. The guards on the wall changed their shift in the same ceremonious fashion since the erection of the wall. The rest of the city's life was starting to die down in some areas, while in others became more lively. Taverns and entertainment halls sprang to life as their life's blood rushed in to the beating hearts of the establishments.

The evening was in full swing when Maximus returned the third volume of Equestrian Alliance History to its shelf. It had been an interesting first day for him. Cleaning up puke, and reading three books in a day. The language that they spoke in this realm seemed to be no different than the Latin spoken by the Romans. He was able to learn just how Equestria was made, and the bitter rivalry between the newly founded nation and the inhabitants that once roamed in mass there known as the Alicorns. It seemed that at the end of verbal debates, not the ends of swords, did the Alicorns become the rulers of Equestria. Then he found that illnesses that the native Alicorns contracted from a curse wiped all but two out. In volume three, Maximus learned that the Gryphons were learned about far into their reign on their own territory while an Equestrian was exploring the high seas. And along with that, he learned how the Kingdom grew into what could be easily mistaken for an empire. So much had been learned today, but as Maximus looked at the row and a half of volumes on history, he was reminded of how much knowledge he still had yet to absorb.

The soldier's thoughts were interrupted by a loud bell. He figured that that meant it was time for the hall of knowledge to close. He headed toward the librarian's desk and figured the exiting door should be there too.

Maximus stopped when he saw the librarian struggling with some heavy tomes. He decided that he wasn't going to let that be without reprisal. He went over to the frail woman and picked up the stack she was carrying.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" the lady snapped.

"Helping you." Maximus stated.

"I don't need any of your help!" the Gryphon woman pointed a proud finger the soldier's way, but was soon crashing to her side when a large, sharp pain racked her shoulder. She cooed softly as she rubbed her sore muscles.

"Please," Maximus pressed. "Allow me to carry these for you. I can handle the weight."

With a reluctant curse under her breath, the proud librarian pointed tiredly over to a shelf on the far side of the library. "There's an empty spot on the shelf for all those books. Put them up there."

Maximus nodded slightly and went about his task. When he got there, he had expected to find the shelf on ground level, while all the while, it was actually at the top of the case. Six stories up sat a blank space on the shelf for the books to call home. He looked for a ladder, but found nothing to help.

"What are you waiting for?" the librarian shouted. "You have two good wings. Use them."

It took Maximus a bit, but after a second or three his brain was able to comprehend what it is that he just heard. He looked to his back and he found that he did in fact have a pair of eagle's wings folded neatly against his back. They looked and felt like they would have been there all along. At first he was confused, and then he was terrified, but then calm. Then confused again. The soldier tried to ponder what it is that he was going to do? He didn't know how these things worked. Then, Maximus did the only thing he could do. He mustered his courage and resolve. If he had this gift he was going to use it. The soldier concentrated on the appendages on his back, and found that the muscles within them obeyed his commands. Maximus flapped his wings softly. It was enough to lift them up off the ground. He was jerky at first, but with the concentration on the rhythm of his wing beats, much like when he was taught with his sword handling, he rose quickly to the correct shelf and he placed the tomes in their correct spot.

Maximus, upon completing his task, flew back to the librarian who was putting some sort of salve on her shoulder. Mimicking the eagle that he met while in the realm of paradise, he softly landed on his sandaled feet. The book keeper gave a look of distaste towards the soldier as he landed.

"What took you so long?" she bellowed.

"I guess I'm just that tired." Maximus said innocently.

"Well," the old woman said. "then go get some rest. Don't be a fool." She pointed a bony finger to the door.

Maximus twitched a leg muscle to leave, but stopped when something had crossed his mind. "Before I leave, I would just like to apologize." Maximus saw that his words made the librarian freeze, so he knew he had her attention. "It was wrong of me to make such mess in your building. I should have had better fortitude and went outside. I am truly sorry for what I did. It was shameful."

The Gryphon female just sat there. Her eyes fixed on the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Her shoulder rubbing had ceased, and her breath became shallow. "I forgive you." she said with a choke.

"Thank you, ma'am." Without another word, Maximus took off toward the door. He didn't get to ten steps before he heard the old woman's voice again.

"Wait!" She cried. Maximus spun on his heels to acknowledge her. "Where are you staying tonight?"

"I am going to look for an inn." Maximus stated. "I could probably find a good room somewhere."

"I don't think you'll have any such luck." the librarian stated. "The Gryphon Kingdom is holding their military games in two weeks and this season is the ripe time for all types of gladiators to prove their mettle at the Coliseum. Every room from here to the seventh hill is all taken, and will more than likely be reserved for another month."

"I'll manage somehow." Maximus shrugged. "I am no stranger to rough living."

"And you are no stranger here." the old Gryphon said. "I will not allow you to go out and sleep in the cold night." The librarian finished her sentence by flying over her desk and setting herself at eye level with Maximus. "You will come and stay with me." Her tone was final, and left no hint of any room for argument. So, naturally, the winged Roman followed her out the door and into the lantern lit streets of High Crown.
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Walking down from the steps was hard enough, but now stepping out onto the stone-laid streets and witnessing all that was before him, it was almost too much for Maximus. Miss Dubois took note of the man's wide eyes and gapping mouth.

"What's wrong?" Alyson chuckled. "Never seen the Gryphon city at night?"

"No." Maximus choked after a long minute. "I have been here before. I've seen all of this already."

"Then what's the matter?" The librarian pressed. "If you've already seen it, then what's the big deal?"

Maximus' voice became low and solemn. "I had seen such beauty in my homeland. A place that I miss dearly. This place is just like home."

She didn't realize it at first, but Alyson could swear that she saw sadness in this man's expression. Perhaps it was his drooped eyes, or maybe the frown his face had. Maybe it was the fact that his shoulders hung low. She was never really good at telling how people felt, but then again, one didn't have to be when it was this obvious. "How long have you been away from your homeland?" the gryphon decided to press.

It took Maximus a while to answer. "Too long, and the worst of it is, I'll never be able to return there."

As his words dug deeper into the elderly woman's heart, she began to feel a large tug in her chest. "I'm sorry." Alyson said. "I didn't know that was the case." She continued to stare at Maximus for a while as he soaked in all of what resembled Rome. The librarian put a hand on his shoulder. "It's late." she bade. "Come. My house is not far from here." She took a few steps, but then doubled over in pain and clutched her hip. She howled as the pain shot directly down her leg and across her groin.

Maximus snapped out of his reminiscence and was at the woman's side before she could blink. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

The gryphon female gave a grimace as she clutched her side. "My damn hip is acting up again!"

Maximus wasn't a doctor, but he knew from spending his time with Trajan in his advanced age, he knew that this was the result of age. "Do you think you can walk?" the Roman asked.

"I think so." Alyson planted a foot and tried to rise, but found the task was much to difficult. Especially when she was assaulted with another wave of pain.

"Allow me." Maximus slid his arms under Miss Dubois' shoulder blades and legs and with little effort, rose with her in his arms.

The elderly woman let out a peep as she felt herself being lifted from the ground. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"I am helping you." Maximus smiled. "Now, which way is your home?"

The proud gryphon woman crossed her slender arms under her chest and pouted. She could get herself home under her own power. That is, if it wasn't for the pain in her hip. She hissed at the young man, but she saw the smile that was spread across his face and knew that she might as well except the help if he would so choose to lend it out. She pointed down the street toward her dwelling.

"The next time you touch me without asking will be the time that you lose your left eyeball." Alyson Dubois was nothing if not true to her ways.

Author's Note

Enjoy!