Mark of Baen

Within the King’s palace, Hyperion gave his new guests a small tour of the large structure to pass the time.  As the group ventured to the ground, Shining couldn’t help but wonder exactly what Baen was up to.  From Twilight’s letters, and the length of time he himself had known the barbarian, whenever he said ‘it was nothing’ it was always ‘something.’  His attention diversion didn’t go unnoticed; Vinyl glanced at Shining and raised an eyebrow behind her cracked lenses.

“Something wrong dude?”

Shining shook his head as they entered the banquet hall, “It’s nothing.  I was just wondering what’s taking Baen so long.  You don’t think he started something do you?”

Vinyl shrugged, “Eh, probably just basking in the lime light.  Besides, Baen isn’t stupid, he wouldn’t start a fight for no reason.  He’s our friend not a−“

*

“PANSY!”

Baen was sent flying into a wagon which splintered under his weight and force of impact.  Shaking some splinters from his mane he stared at the female griffon above him, that smirk plastered on her face as she flexed her wings a few times.  She slowly approached and cracked her talons.

“Seriously?  This is the super strong barbarian that Equestria and this town have been singing praise about?  What a joke!”  Gilda scoffed as she kicked a wheel out of her way.

Baen snorted lightly as he stood up, “Praise eh?  Well I was expecting something, but praise?”

Gilda harrumphed, “As if you didn’t know loser, that’s all I’ve been hearing for months,” she then placed her talons under her chin and started to speak in a prissy voice, “Oh that Baen, even though he’s a stallion he’s quite attractive.  I wonder if he’ll shop at my store,” she then grunted and unfurled her wings, “well I’m sick of it!”

“Ah, so its jealousy then,” Baen smiled lightly as he tilted his head, “not surprising.  All things considered.”

Gilda stopped, “What do you mean by that?”

Baen steadied himself, “Oh nothing, I mean it’s only natural that you’d be jealous of me.”

Gilda growled and pounced at him, “Shut up!”

Baen rolled under her as she plowed into the cart wreckage, “I know a bit about you Gilda.  You used to be Rainbow Dash’s best friend,” Gilda’s head popped out of the wreckage, “and she cast you out due to your attitude.”

Gilda’s beak contorted into a rage filled scowl as she threw the wreckage aside, “Not surprising, I mean just from looking at you, you’re nothing,” he then lingered on the final words, “But a street punk.”

Gilda roared loud and pointed a talon at him, “YOU DON’T KNOW ME!!!”

She rushed Baen, but Baen’s face was neutral as he side stepped her and stuck out his hind leg.  Gilda squawked as she lost her footing and tumbled into a cabbage stand, the griffon running it expressing his distress at having it ruined.  Gilda stood tall from the wreckage, cabbage leaves falling from her body.

“And that’s another thing,” Baen scowled at her, “You had a good friend in Rainbow Dash and yet you ruined all of that because of your foolishness and juvenile mindset.”

Gilda grabbed a piece of wood and threw it like a spear in a fit of anger, Baen shattered it with ease.  Gilda’s eyes practically turned red as the claws on her lion paws unsheathed.

“You couldn’t just take the chance to get to know Pinkie Pie, or let alone anypony,” Baen advanced slowly on her; “You just wanted to keep Rainbow Dash to yourself and be her whole world.  Not only is that selfish, but it’s just stupid!  Not once did you give anypony a chance or a fleeting glance.  You were cruel, vindictive, and selfish.”

“SHUT UP!!!!!”

Gilda roared as she rushed him, her talons going for his throat.  Baen’s scowl turned to an anger filled snarl.

“YOU FOOL!”

Baen brought his foreleg hard into her exposed midsection.  Gilda went limp and gave a weak gasp; Baen stared at her with a look of pity.

“I’d say you deserve the solitude you’ve given yourself,” he let her gently slump to the ground, “But that would be cruel, and such words should not be spoken to one who has felt the sting of rejection by friends, especially not a lady.”

Gilda curled in a ball in pain, sniffles were heard.

“Why….,” Gilda spoke weakly, “You said cruel words shouldn’t be said to someone like me.  Then why did you say all those things?  Why didn’t you fight back?”

Baen shook his head, “I truthfully did not wish to.  Your anger was your undoing, as was your pride, I merely took the advantage.  But know those words were not in cruel when I spoke them, I was pointing out your flaws,” he smiled at the griffon who stared up at her, “so that you might better yourself and seek out friends, perhaps even absolution of your past deeds.”

With those words, Baen ascended the stairs of the palace.  Gilda watched him leave in silence.  What did he know…..and yet….

*

Baen opened the main doors and nodded at a smiling griffon guard.  The guard informed him of his friends moving into the dining hall.  Following the guard that led him, he eventually came into the large room and smiled as the King and his friends laughed with each other.  Everypony turned their heads and noticed one collective thing.

“Baen,” Cheerilee asked, “Why do you have wood chips in your mane?”

Baen blinked and shook his head, “Oh, it was just a minor skirmish with a local who challenged me, no big deal.”

Hyperion raised an eyebrow, “Which?”

Baen raised a hoof with a calming look, “It’s alright your highness.  it was just small skirmish, no harm done.”

Hyperion’s expression didn’t change.

Baen sighed, “Do you know of a griffon by the name Gilda?”

Hyperion nodded in understanding, “Gilda Purplecrest, why am I not surprised.”

Vinyl mouthed her name to the others who collectively shrugged.

Baen placed his hooves on the table, “You know her?”

Hyperion shook his head, “Not personally, though her father who runs a local tavern known as the Dragons Den, has told me things.”

Baen nodded, “I see.”

“The Purplecrest family are quiet….unique.   Gilda’s father Garth is quite spirited and dependable.  His wife Leoma is kind as any mother,” Hyperion folded his talons, “though the children are….the focus of much scrutiny.  The youngest, a griffon named Lydia, is a bit of a troublemaker and has been brought before me a few times.  Though she is still young, so I can’t be too harsh with her, they are merely pranks.”

Baen had a minor flashback to the CMC and their shenanigans and smiled.

Hyperion shook his head, “Then we have the twins, Gilbert and Gilda.  Gilbert is….,” Hyperion shook his head, “let’s just say he is far different from his sister.  Gilda is far more of a troublemaker and at times she has been labeled a local disturbance.  Picking fights, doing harmful pranks and disturbing the peace.”

Baen tilted his head, “It’s because of her brother isn’t it?”

Hyperion blinked, “How did…”

Baen’s look became a tad forlorn before he shook his head, “Let’s call it a hunch.”

“Gilbert is a good griffon, loyal to his country, and compassionate to his family,” Hyperion’s silver eyes seemed to dim, “But many years ago, when Gilda fell in with the wrong crowd, he jumped forward to save her from it.  I know this,” Hyperion looked to the side as a memory surfaced.

*

Many years ago…

Hyperion looked down at the sobbing griffon who wore a black jacket and some heavy matching eyeliner.  In front of her was a male griffon that resembled her but with slight differences.  His feathers and fur were far darker, and his feather patterns were far different.  He was covered in blood with talon marks and panting.

“Please help my brother,” a young Gilda sobbed.

Around them laid the groaning and injured bodies of less than friendly looking griffons.

*

“He’s been in the hospital for many years now, he hasn’t awoken and the poor chick blames herself for it,” Hyperion sighed heavily, “the weight of this crown can be too much to bear at times.”

Shining nodded, “I know the feeling.”

Hyperion perked up in realization eager to change the subject, “But I digress, to what do I owe this visit?”

Baen thought for a moment, “This might seem odd, but does this phrase mean anything to you,” Baen cleared his throat, “The knight disturbs the water?”

Hyperion’s eyes widened for a moment.

But then he responded in a steady tone, “and thus the challenger surfaces.”

Baen blinked in confusion, “What?”

Hyperion sighed, “I knew this day would come,” he looked at Baen, “the phrase you spoke wasn’t just a phrase, it was a code.  When the first king took the throne, it was said that a pony appeared before him with a request.  To this day we do not know the request, but he left our line with a duty,” Hyperion stood and beckoned them to follow to which they complied, “When, and only when, an individual who appears before the griffon monarchy and speaks the first of the code, are we to reply with the final piece and give to them The Way.”

Cheerilee tilted her head in confusion as they entered the throne room, Hyperion approaching his throne, “The Way?”

Hyperion nodded, “Ai,” he reached beneath his throne and emerged with a copper tube, “The Way.”

Hyperion approached them as Shining took it in his magical grasp.  The tube was about as long as a flashlight and about as thick.  On the tube were odd inscriptions and markings but fixed in the center upon its surface was a flawless diamond in the shape of a rhombus.

Hyperion nodded and gestured to the tube, “What I have been told is that when you exit the castle, pull it from both sides, The Way will open.  But ensure that you have those you trust with you when you do.”

Baen nodded, “Understood, I can’t thank you enough your highness.”

“Think nothing of it my friend,” all eyes then turned when a far door opened.  Standing in the door way was another griffon, her feathers the color and pattern of a peregrine falcon and her fur a light chocolate brown.  She wore a soft white dress and a silver circlet on her head.  Her figure was elegant and lithe.  Orange eyes flecked with silver gazed at the visitors.

“Father,” the griffoness asked, “Are we having guests?”

Hyperion smiled, “Unfortunately no my daughter, did you enjoy your walk?”

The Princess smiled, “Indeed I did.”

Hyperion gestured to the princess, “This is my daughter, Princess Thyra.  My daughter, this is Baen and his company.”

Thyra smiled sweetly at Baen, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Sir Baen, I thank you for saving us.  I apologize that I did not meet you before but I was away overseas.”

Baen blinked and nodded back.

Hyperion then gestured at The Way, “It’d be best to get underway.”

Baen nodded as the group turned to make their way to leave, as they did, Baen cast a glance over his shoulder and smiled at his king friend and his daughter.

*

Outside, the ponies stood on the street and examined the tube.  However, the group looked to Baen as his gaze was upon a griffon that was looking at the ground.

Gilda scratched the back of her neck, “Listen….I thought about what you said and….well,” she looked at Baen, “You’re right.”

Baen remained silent as she continued, “I was selfish and acted like a kid, I shouldn’t have done what I did when I went to see Dash,” her eyes watered, “the things I said, what I did.  I know what everyone says about me, I’m a problem child, a troublemaker.  Even if I went back to Ponyville and tried to play it cool and apologize, she’d never forgive me.”

Baen approached the griffon and put his hoof on her shoulder, “You don’t know that, besides, a wise mare once said,” Gilda looked at Baen as he nodded, “everyone deserves a second chance.”

Gilda blinked a few times but before she could speak, Baen looked back at his group and took on a thoughtful expression, “Gilda,” a smirk appeared on his face, “If I were to ask you if you wanted to join in on a quest that would test your strength, resolve, and overall awesomeness.  What would you say?”

Gilda thought for a second, but then her confident smirk reappeared, “I’d say move over and let me show you how a real Equestrian does a quest!”

The group stared at Baen perplexed as Gilda approached them, “My friends, Gilda.  Gilda, my friends.”

The ponies waved slightly.

Shining looked at the tube, “Alright,” his magic grasped the tube on both sides, “here goes.”

When he pulled, the gem and tube became suspended in mid-air.  The two tube halves started to rotate fast around the gem as it started to glow brightly.  The group shielded their eyes as a white flash engulfed them.

*

Meanwhile, within a dark castle, Vida had watched the events unfold before her and her eyes travelled to The Star.

“Find them,” The Star stood at attention, “find them and retrieve the sword.  Kill them if you must.”

Vida turned to Mulberry who was busy looking over a few things.  Vida tilted her head and pursed her lips before smiling.

“Mulberry, you accompany The Star,” Mulberry looked at his mistress and nodded.

*

Somewhere a bright flash emanated from within a dark cavern, and from the flash, a group was deposited.  Baen groaned in mild pain and looked around as they stood up.  The cavern was perfectly smoothed out.  The stone dark ad reflective, as far as he could see, there was no entrance or exit.

“Look!”

Vinyl pointed ahead of them and to their collective surprise, they saw a small lake.  The depths were obscured by the dark waters and spanning across it was a stone bridge.  Carved flawlessly into being and perfectly flat, but that was not what they saw.  At the far end of the bridge was what they sought.  A stalactite of black stone held a sword.  The blade was as black as the murky depths that lay below it.  Its metal had a dark sheen that reflected the light in the cavern; it’s cross guard resembled a pair of closed wings, the feathers etched with perfect detail and spread wide to allow the ability to still stop a weapon.  Fixed in the center was a flawless round diamond that shined with an inner light.  Running up the center of the blade were runes.

Baen and his group ran forward to the bridge, and he stepped forward.  However, a ripple spread across the calm surface.  The moment it died down, a series of soft clanks were heard.  From the back of the stone, a shape emerged.  It was a pony.  But this pony was garbed from hoof to head in a full suit of armor of old.  Beneath the plates was a full body suit of chainmail.  The plates were a dark silver; covering the head of the pony was a helmet.  The helmet’s visor was nothing more than a slit, holes around the plate that could be raised to allow for breathing.  The knight stood stoically before the group, blocking their way.  No tail or mane could be seen, faint steel colored mist hissed from the joints of the armor and the visor.  Within two orbs of cobalt light gazed at Baen.

Gilda stepped forward but was stopped by Baen’s hoof which he raised.

Baen tilted his head, “Am I by chance addressing, Sir Lancelot of Canterlot?”

The Knight slowly nodded.