Mark of Baen

Baen lay on his back fast asleep in the guest room provided for him by Cadance and Shining.  As he slept, his comrades for the morning were littered around the guest room.  Cheerilee snoring softly with a night mask on, Vinyl sprawled on the floor with her right hindhoof twitching occasionally.  Flash was laying on his side snorting occasionally on his inhale, his armor long since gone.  Shining however was sleeping in the royal chambers.  But unbeknownst to Baen’s allies, the barbarian was having an odd dream.

*

Baen glanced around at the landscape surrounding him, he recognized it well.  The world he now stood in was the exact same one he had glimpsed when he and Twilight had arrived in the Crystal Empire for a simple visit and at her mild request he had touched the mirror with his old magic.  And just like the previous time, his senses were altered and he couldn’t perceive the world properly.  He had attempted to listen, but the sounds were still garbled.  The colors and sights were unperceivable, and the barbarian could only gaze around.  He had to admit it was mildly intriguing and frustrating.

“Why do all the weird things happen to me,” he chuckled, “now I know how Twilight and her friends feel.”

Baen shrugged to himself and started trotting through the area.  But something else struck him as odd.  Even though he was not aware of his surroundings, it was as if some sort of inner compass was guiding him.  As to where, he did not know.  For many minutes he walked, and he began to notice something very interesting.  The space around him was lazily coming slightly into focus the further he went.  After a few more minutes of his seemingly aimless travel, he halted himself and gazed down.  It was not of his own volition, more like something compelled him to look.  At his hoof’s he perceive the grass, if only slightly, it was a lush green but the green itself almost seemed muffled still.  Whatever force was at work seemed to be withholding all the details from the young warrior.  But what drew his eyes more was what was at the edge of where he stood.  A massive inky blackness was before him, light drips were heard along with the occasional splashes that sounded like the ever slight vibrations of a sweet chime.

“What…,” he then realized the splashes were approaching him.

“My knight, it’s time to awake,” an all too familiar voice that was soft and melodic spoke, “Our time is approaching soon.”

Baen looked up and beheld the same clear and pristine water blue eyes he had seen before.  But this time, he could make out something else.  The very vague outline of a pony that was the exact size of Celestia.

*

Baen’s eyes snapped open as he sat straight up and looked around, and everypony else stared at him in mild surprise.

“Whoa,” Vinyl said, “you have a nightmare or something?”

Baen shook his head and gave his left temple a rub, “No….I don’t know what it was.”

Cheerilee tapped her chin, “Well some superstitions say strange dreams can either be visions of things to come or they might try to tell you something.”

Baen shrugged, “Well who knows.  I’ve never been that good at interpreting my own dreams.”

A few knocks followed by the door opening revealed Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, who had a large pack slung on his back.  Underneath the pack was a familiar bundle that drew Baen’s eyes.

“You’re bringing your sword?”

Shining nodded, “You never know, plus,” he gestured to Baen, “You carry your ax everywhere with you.”

Baen hugged the ax for a moment, but then quickly put it on his back as the group stifled snickers.

Baen glanced at Cadance as she nodded, “It’s docked and waiting for you, I’ll see you all off.”

The group then departed toward the airship, but elsewhere, a certain princess was troubled.

*

Luna paced frantically about her study, scribbling notes, and possibilities, even scenarios.  But even then, it made no sense.

“How can this be,” Luna mumbled, “It’s a magical impossibility of the highest caliber.”

A series of knocks made the youngest alicorn nod and turn toward the door, “Enter.”

The door opened to reveal a slightly concerned Celestia, “Luna, what troubles you?”

Luna narrowed her eyes at the accursed problems before her before turning toward her sister with a weary look.

“Sister,” Luna stated in a controlled tone, “You know that I excel in dream magic and dream walking correct?”

Celestia nodded and allowed her sister to continue as the youngest alicorn paced, “As you know Tia, I have made it my duty to keep watch on Sir Baen’s sleeping state and intercept any possible memories that manifest as nightmares in the event something might shed light on past and now recent circumstance.”

“Of course,” Celestia answered, “but why bring it up?”

Luna looked to the side, “….Something or someone, is preventing me from entering his mind.”

Celestia blinked in surprise, “But that’s not possible.  You’re dream magic can’t be blocked!”

Luna approached her sister, “That’s just it dear sister, I am not being blocked,” she pointed to her diagrams, “An outside force is essentially rendering me powerless whenever I try to access him.  This force in question, if I can call it that, broke me out of my trance in a manner of seconds like it was nothing.”

Celestia looked down at her steadily worsening sister as she hugged Celestia in fright, “It’s magic, it’s like nothing I have ever felt before, and it frightens me sister.”

Celestia nuzzled her sister comfortingly as she looked to the horizon from Luna’s window.

What manner of being could render Luna’s magic powerless?

*

The pony’s looked out on the horizon as it passed them by.  The very ship they stood on was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.  The ship itself reflected an Equestrian zeppelin in its design and size, but that’s where the similarities ended.  It was a marvel of engineering indeed.  Whereas Equestrian zeppelins were left aloft by a massive balloon, a Griffon airship was held in the sky by a series of large and surprisingly quiet propellers.  Four were expertly placed on the sides to provide for expert ascension and decent as well as turning on a dime.  On the back was the final propeller that could allow for excellent propulsion and if increased to maximum output, would go for excellent speed.  The propellers, doubled with its sleek model and design made it a great aircraft indeed.  It also helped the fact that it was one of the King’s personal aircrafts.  The wood was a nice polished chestnut brown with gold trim, details and rivets.  Though the King had admitted at one point it was only gold colored.

However, one passenger was not enjoying the flight.

Baen was leaning over the side of the ship with a green face as Flash landed beside him, “Hey, you doing alright?”

Baen stared at him evenly, “Peachy.”

Flash blinked in surprise, “You’ve never flown before?”

Baen shook his head, “No, flying is for winged creatures,” he dry heaved and then finished, “not earth ponies.”

Flash gave him a pat on the back, “you’ll be fine,” he looked over the side…and his eyes shrank.

There was nothing but water.

Flash reeled away from the side and was shivering next to the mast, clutching it for dear life.

Baen snickered, “Afraid of falling Sentry?”

Flash shook his head, “Drowning.”

Baen chuckled, “And you’re supposed to be a guard?”

“Says the pony scared of heights,” Flash shot back.

“Touche.”

Baen then resumed his dry heaving as a voice rang out, “Attention special Equestrian passengers, we will be arriving at Griffonia in two minutes.  Prepare to disembark!”

Shining came above deck and looked at the scene before him as Vinyl and Cheerilee joined him, “What the hay is going on here?”

Flash looked at Shining, “Oh….sir….I was just checking the sturdiness of the main mast…that’s all,” he knocked the mast a few times before standing, “perfectly secure.”

Shining rolled his eyes as the ship started to descend, “Well, let’s get underway.”

Soon the exit ramp was lowered and the ponies stepped hoof into the city…and cheers erupted.

The ponies looked around and noted all the griffons cheering and smiling.  Then in a flash they were mobbed…and Baen was hoisted into the air.  Shining and the ponies blinked in surprise.

“Um….,” Flash looked from side to side, “did we miss something?”

“You’ll have to excuse my subjects.  They can get a tad excitable.”

All the griffons lowered Baen and bowed.  The massive crowd parted as Lord Hyperion walked toward the group with a smile.

“Baen, it’s good to see you again,” the king stated in a calm tone, but one that radiated thanks.

Baen nodded, “I see you cleaned up the mess we made the last time I was here,” he remarked with a joking tone.

Hyperion laughed with mirth as he led the group, “Indeed, with a massive effort on my subject’s part I might add.”

Hyperion soon led them through the town and passed more grateful griffons and even tourists.  When they reached the stairs, Baen stopped.

Shining glanced at him as the group was halfway up the stairs, “Something wrong?”

Baen looked up at Shining and smiled, “It’s nothing, go ahead.  I’ll be right inside.”

Hyperion ushered the group to follow as Baen remained on the landing.  His smile vanished as he spoke in a clear and impressed tone.

“Impressive,” he stated, “you masked your presence well since we arrived.  Though, your wing beats, they gave you away.”

“Heh, like you’d know anything about how to use wings loser,” stated an arrogant sounding voice.

Baen chuckled as he turned fully, “Hm, this is a surprise.  When Rainbow Dash told me about you, I honestly thought you’d be…a bit more imposing.”

The griffon snorted, “Can it!  I’m here to kick your flank!”

“And why is that?”

The griffon stepped forward, “Cause I think what they say about you is nothing but a load of feathers!  You're nothing special and I'm going to prove it!  And when I'm done, the name you're going to be remembering after is Gilda the Griffon,” Gilda stated with a smirk, “After today, everyone will see just how cool and strong I am.”

Baen chuckled as he placed his ax to the side, “You’re more than welcome to try Gilda.”

The two combatants bent low and prepared to charge.