Meeting with less than a greeting
The gryphon King and his subjects stood basking in the warm sunlight of a perfect day. The wind brought a cool breeze to their bodies, weaving through their heavy golden armor, airing out their feathers upon their chest. Th grassy green field they stood in compared itself to the softness of the best quality pillows. Each step they took felt like the clouds they moved in the skies around their city of Gryphondale.
“So when you get back, your going to change the prices of fish again, right? I’ve had to keep buying roasted mice just so i can pay my bills.” Scales asked in his less than polite tone.
“Of course. I thought we were running out in the fishing industry, because they filed a plea to raise the prices so that they themselves could pay for their fees, but out of no-where they pulled the Cod out from under them. I heard they had to flee some sort of kraken to get to them.” King Vigor said, adjusting his oversized jeweled encrusted crown upon his head.
“I bet that’s just some made up story, who’s actually ever seen a kraken. Let’s put this into perspective…” Scales continued his rant letting his other guards, who lay in the grass nearby, attempt to ignore him.
“Its really quiet out here. You know, if you ignore Scales over here.”
“HEY! Am I the only one with a personality out here? Does all it take is two hours of waiting for you guys to turn into dull… feathery… goldeny-ish rocks?”
The kings guards were usually quite energetic. However, their social talk had died down as their thirty minute wait on the border of equestria, had turned into a long doze. For those numerous hours they waited for Celesita’s guards to arrive and accompany their king the rest of the journey to Canterlot. They lay down in the middle of a grassy field, the same spot that the handover would occur every year prior.
Rulers in both countries had agreed that during their bi-yearly visits of each king, queen or otherwise, they would be accompanied by specially tasked guards to protect and inform them during their visit. However, previous ordeals had changed the agreement temporarily.
“Where in the world are those lazy ponies? We’ve been here for hours.” Said the biggest gryphon between the four guards who lay surrounding their king’s chariot. “I say we just head right for Canterlot ourselves. There’s no time to waste.”
“You should be more careful than that Rumble,” Said the King. “Our relationship with this land may be strong, but you should never take trust for granted. You of all gryphons should know the rules. I heard that our visit last year was caused by an uproar within the city due to a public brawl.” He raised an eyebrow at the large gryphon whose glance fell to the floor. “They wanted us gone within the hour. It was thanks to their top squad that their citizens finally settled down and let it go, despite many of them being injured.”
“Yes, of course. I remember. I apologize King Vigor.” Rumble’s shoulders sank a little. Pride was his greatest trait, yet it was most easily his largest fault. “I was in the bar and….”
“It’s quite fine, I didn’t mean to bring back old bruises my friend. It’s just… peace between nations has been a dream of mine, but now that we have peace between our lands, I realize now how unstable it can be. Isn’t that right, Cleaver?” He asked, already knowing the response he would receive. Smiling cheekily, he looked over to his left where a gryphon sat comfortably in the grass next to the chariot. His large double bladed axe handy by his side.
“Yeah, sure.” He said unenthusiastically, scratching his beak with his retracted paw. “Hey, It seems we finally have enough for a party.” He announced pointing ahead of them up over the tall grass that grew almost to their own height.
Above the erect green blades a single pony, or unicorn to be more precise, emerged from the darkness of the forest. He took his time to approach the golden armored guards, but when he did, the size difference between pony and gryphon was substantial. He stood at roughly half the height of any of the gryphons and hid himself under a rather tattered and depressing looking red cloak that hid his face in shadow. The only body part visible was a navy blue horn poking through the hood opening. His long tangled black tail slid along the grass behind, tangling themselves in the green mess. Looking up he noticed the strangers and halted.
Gryphons stood silent in quiet curiosity of the strange looking pony. He wore no royal golden armor, nor did he carry himself tall with pride, but rather sank down low with his head arching towards the ground.
He dropped the white clothed bindle that he was carrying, quickly rummaging through it, pulling out a scroll tied with a famous red ribbon and pinned with a golden bit with a hoofprint depressed into it. He hoofed it over to the attent gryphon guard closest before picking up his bindle again and slinging it over his back. Unusual of a unicorn, he did not use magic to do so.
Scales was quick to open and read the scroll, eyes darting left to right at speeds that would make onlookers doubt he was reading the words at all, but rather just picking out a few key words here and there for lazynesses sake. Obviously done reading, he handed it over to the king who then took his time reading it for himself. His brow clenched as he lay the letter to his side.
“So, are you a messenger sent a head for the top division that’s said to accompanying me in this letter? Or are you just here to inform me that my visit will be delayed somewhat?”
“I am…” He began “Your personal guard during your visit.” The pony spoke with a deep and uninterested tone. “I will be your guard until we reach the city.” He seemed reserved, saying only what was necessary and no more.
“You can’t be serious!” Yelled Rumble. “You, a tiny pipsqueak was the only one they sent to protect our magnificent king! How dare they! We should pummel this guy. That’ll teach ‘em to think little of us.”
“RUMBLE!” Yelled another guard, her voice coming off commanding and powerful. “I’m sure Princess Celestia had good reason to do this. The skies are probably really safe from rogues and Changelings this year.”
“Actually, I’m taking him on hoof.” Interrupted the pony, glancing behind him. “No chariot. Unicorn.” He said, pointing to his horn. Using as few words as possible, it was clear he dislike idle chatter.
“And what makes you think that we’ll let you take our king with only a puny guard like you to protect him,” Rumble was obviously not pleased that his sole purpose as a royal guard was being taken away with such little protection into a foreign land. He walked up the pony, his heavy steps leaving deep imprints in the grass. Standing at least twice the pony’s height he craned his neck forward to stare at the pony from above. The stallion didn’t move, but just kept his staring straight forward unintimidated by the size difference.
“Why, if I am humble enough to receive an answer, did Princess Luna send you?” Vigor asked with his most polite tone, despite his true feelings of concern and annoyance. “For years it has always been Celestia that has dealt with my travels across your lands. However, this letter is signed by Luna instead.”
He shrugged “I don’t really know or care.” The king’s usual gentle expression turned stale. Although he could usually stay quite calm and composed, Luna having sent just a single pony, and quite a blunt and impolite one at that had ruffled his feathers. “I was assigned this task because I am capable. That is all I can say. I don’t expect you to believe me, but should come with me. If you want to complain to Celestia about it, then you can do it when we get there.” His near monotonous voice and impatient tone said it all.
“I must admit that it is becoming extremely difficult to trust you Mr… Well? “ He paused, expecting a response that included a name. A cloud passed through the sun, shading the pony even darker than before. Talk about awkward. “Not one for chatter, eh?” Silence stole his ears. “Well, if you won’t talk with your lips, perhaps a little demonstration of your skills is in order?” Nearing the end of his patience the King decided to skip proper formalities.
King Vigor stroked his goatee.
“Incapacitate all my guards.” He said, making every one of his guards look at him wide eyed. “Defeat them all simultaneously in a non-lethal battle. That is the only way I can see you being strong enough to protect me across Equestria, which I know as a fact is full of rogues, bandits, and malicious creatures from the dark.”
The pony’s leg twitched under his cloak.
Toothy smiles grew around many of the gryphons faces. They knew their king held confidence in them and only challenged the unicorn knowing that there was no way for the little equine to win.
“I apologize for applying this pressure towards you,” He said through gritted teeth. “but right now I have my most loyal friends here to protect me in my country, and this I would consider the minimum. For your land which could possibly be much more dangerous than my own, I would expect more than a single guard. I am usually very trusting when it comes to dealings with the Princesses, but a lone soldier sounds ridiculous to me.”
Looking up into the large blue eyes of Rumble who stood before him, the stallion blankly gazed expressionlessly. He asked only one question.
“With or without weapons?” In which he received the response.
“I would prefer if bad bruises were the extent of this fight, if you please.” Vigor raised his claw above his head, ready to give the signal for battle. “Remember, non-lethal, so put down that axe, Cleaver,” Cleaver flinched. Carefully laying his axe in the grass as one would a child in a cot he readied himself. “Commence as you wish!”
“Of course.” Rumble responded as a wide grin was seen to split his beak. Swiftly the stallion sidestepped Rumble’s clawed attack. The massive limb slammed down from above, digging their sharp nails through the soft grass and burrowing deep into the earth below.
In response the stallion threw his cloak up into Rumble’s face blocking himself from view.
Quickly, a claw brushed aside the red cloth only to reveal a blue hoof only a few inches away from his face. With one arm connected firmly to the ground and the other unprepared to defend, there was nothing he could do to intercept the pony. The hoof slammed into his jaw clenching his teeth, throwing his head back and knocking him with enough force to dislodge his claw from the ground and send him into a daze.
Without a seconds hesitation, the stallion landed and dived under the tall gryphon where the golden armor did not reach. After kicking him in his prized jewels, he followed up by placing punch upon punch with amazing speed into Rumble’s lower stomach just below the ribs. After the mini jackhammer had finished its pounding, the gryphon doubled over, one foreleg grasping his at his stomach that would sooner or later be painted with a large painful purple bruise. He fell to his side curling up into a ball, his free foreleg clutching the space between his legs.
Vigor raised both his eyebrows. With such ease his biggest and most muscular guard had been taken down. A feat that had taken four or five soldiers back at the sparring grounds. He also noticed that even without the cloak, the stallion still looked as depressed as he did before. He noticed, as the pony wiped his long tangled black mane from his face, that he wore a navy blue coat, something that deprived the candy colour most Equestrian goers wore.
The stallion readjusted his brown belt, checking to make sure that both his black hilted knives were secured with their strap. With a bored, disinterested expression, the stallion turned to his quickly approaching opponents.
“Com’n Scales, this guy can’t take us both,” Cleaver said firmly as if he never noticed his giant ally collapse in front of him. Cleaver took point charging a head while his friend took to the sky. As he approached, he reared back raising both talons into the air, bringing them down with immense force upon the pony. The stallion reared back as well, raising both his own hooves up catching the blades that would have scarred him if left to their own devices. There was a loud crack as the two opponents connected. Cleaver leaned over his challenger, pressing even harder attempting to push the pony to his haunches.
Now looking up at his opponent with veins around his temples, the blue pony guard caught, out of the corner of his eye, a figure diving at him from above. His friend had thought it best to attack from above and had found the best opportunity to do so. With his forelegs outreached and talons extended it was clear that the ‘non-lethal’ part of the fight had not been processed through his brain.
“Haha, you lose,” Cleaver smiled in his victory. The stallion was held down by him and would be hit from above in a few moments. He had lost. “Looks like you’re going back to your Queen empty handed, ya hairy little freak.”
“Not quite,” The stallion grunted as he suddenly stopped pressing against the gryphon only to pull him down as he dropped backwards. Cleaver, not anticipating that the pony still had a few moves left, fell forward onto the pony. Using his strong rear equine legs he threw the gryphon overhead, towards his fierce friend. After hearing a loud metallic clash, like pots and pans being rattle together, he raised quickly to watch the two tumble across the grass. They rolled awkwardly, often smacking their heads together as they rolled across the grass, leaving bend blades of grass in their wake. Coming to a stop a ways away, grumbles were heard, but neither had stood up.
The stallion straightened himself, wiping the messy tangled black mane from his face once more. His golden eyes focused on one thing alone. The last gryphon.
Vigor’s beak was left agape at what he had seen. His largest guard left crumpled on the ground and two of his most energetic and enthusiastic guards tangled together and groaning in the tall grass. He turned to his last and most level headed friend.
“That will be all, Gilda. I assure you he has already proven his capabilities.”
“If it is all the same with you,” She turned to her king. “I would like to test my own abilities against him.” She looked up to him with fierce eyes holding a firm resolve. She hadn’t liked how her fellow gryphons had lost so easily to a single pony. It was almost shameful for a gryphon to lose in a physical confrontation and she wanted to show this arrogant pony what a calm and clever warrior could do.
“Actually, that was meant more as a command than a request. I need to get moving as it seems we have already wasted enough time here. I do believe you of all my loyal guards would prove quite the opponent for him, but I’d rather you be in one piece to protect these rash boys on their way home.” He spoke with a hint of humor as he looked over to his guards who only now began to stand, still groaning and clutching their wounds. He eyed the stallion, who stood dressing himself in his dark cloak once more. He moved slowly and casually seemingly as if the recent fight had just been no more than a warm-up to him.
“I-I understand,” Gilda replied regretfully. A direct command being something no guard of any kingdom could or should argue against. “With respect and responsibility, I will take action with vigor in my step.”
“Haha, I love the new motto. All the troops put that together?” She nodded. “I appreciate the love.” He smiled at her before floating down from his chariot landing to feel the comforting soft grass between his toes. His loyal followers that had fallen in defeat, now stood in a line at attention each trying to stand tall and proud despite their injuries, but each held that regretful look of loss on their faces. As he passed each guard, he gave them a smile and nod to assure that they had done nothing wrong and he still felt proud of them.
He approached the depressing cloaked pony holding his claw out as a greeting. The pony ignored the formal greeting, nodding to him before walking to the expansive forest behind him. Vigor dropped his arm, and gave his new guard a strange look. However unwelcoming and unpleasurable this trip may be, it was only for a few hours. He would be in Canterlot soon and he could get away from the unfriendly, uncouth and suspicious pony.
Though despite these things as was said in the letter, complications had caused this to be his only option this year, so he followed his guard in tow. Looking back, he waved to his disciples who mirrored his actions, even the worried expressions on their faces were identical to his.
They reached the trees at the other end of the grassy field, leaves shading most of the light entering making each step further into the forest more difficult to place upon the numerous broken branches and leaf infested ground. To keep up with the stallion who seemed to navigate through the ferns and degrading compost, Vigor had to lift his legs high, almost prancing, over every erecting root just so that he wouldn’t trip and fall.
“This is gonna be a long day.” He sighed to himself.
“Isn’t there a better route we could take?” He asked, leaping over a fallen tree.
“No.” Was the blunt reply he received.
“I don’t want to complain or anything, but…”
“Then don’t, just keep up.” Snapped the cloak, floating over another bunch of dead branches.
Vigor straightened his crown on his head. He snorted at the pony from behind, distracting him from the tiny plant that had grappled onto his leg, attaching it to the ground. Falling face first into the dirt, he yelped in surprise of the malicious sapling. Picking himself up and rubbing his beak for the thirtieth time, he looked up to see the pony impatiently standing there in wait. He continued walking, only to be halted by his guard.
“Have it your way, we’re taking a different path,” The voice spoke muffled under the hood.
Vigor kept rubbing his beak, trying to sooth the pain. He had gotten sick and tired of the hours they had painstakingly walked, only having his own clumsiness injure and discourage him from moving further.
“About time!” He exclaimed. “And what made you come to your senses now rather than before?”
“Despite taking the safest path, I’ve had to bandage your leg and head-” he pointed at the white mummified injuries “-and the time spent waiting for you to recover from your falls has cost us a few hours. It’ll be dark soon so we’ll camp here. Stay.” He finalized slowly and assertively, as if talking to an insubordinate pet.
"Don't use that tone with me boy!" Vigor growled. "Do you think I can't take care of myself?"
"You've tried flying away behind my back few times, don't think I didn't notice you struggling to untangle yourself in the vines." the shadow under the cloak said in a calm, unhumorous manner. "It'll be dark soon and I need to know where you are at all times."
With the invitation for rest still open, Vigor sat down, putting his crown on a by standing rock as he did so. Rubbing his head he examined the area they were stationed in. It was clear of debris and overhanging branches. Even with his lack of camping experience, it was obvious that it was suitable for an outdoor fire. Suddenly, realization hit him hard on the head.
“Wait, you mean we’ll be spending the night out here?” He asked, only to notice that the pony had disappeared into the depths of the dark forest. He smacked his claw into the ground in frustration. Thinking that it would be less than a days walk to Canterlot, he compiled numerous complaints he would give audibly to the princess about this rude, antisocial and now uninformative companion. What was Luna thinking, sending such a pony to escort a figure head such as himself? What could have been so important that his bi-yearly visit had to be postponed?
His aggravated questions were interrupted when his stomach growled, the sound resembling that of a hungry Ursa. He clutched his stomach,thinking of his latest meal consisting of the most delectable fish, scrumptious salads, and sweetest of cakes, all put together by his amazingly experienced chefs. Drool split from his beak onto the dirt ground.
"Hungry?" The stallion dropped a healthy kindle of sticks in the open area, before clearing it of the crispy yellow and brown leaves. "Your food is in that sack over there." He gestured to his bindle before once again disappearing into the night.
Vigor's cheeks reddened as he wiped the saliva from around his beak. He looked over to the white sack. He turned away from it, sure that he could withhold his humility by going one day without dinner. Hesitant to open the pony’s belongings he waited a minute, but his stomach's voice grew only louder until it could be ignored no longer. Untying the knot, Vigor gracefully opened up the tightly bound cloth releasing a scent that tingled his taste buds. Fruit, biscuits and sandwiches toppled out of the bundle. To his surprise fresh fish and tofu were also amongst the delights, hidden within the slices of bread. He found it unusual that a pony would be carrying food items that equines generally didn’t included in their diets.
As he took a large bite of his tuna sandwich he turned around to find the pony kneeling next to the stacked kindling with some larger logs not too far off. He hadn't heard him approaching and was surprised to find the little guard bashing two rocks together as if playing with rain sticks.
What are you doing," he said more friendly than before. Now that his stomach was being filled and his body a little rested he was willing to try and befriend the stern and distant figure. Interested in what camping was like, he decided to take the experience as best he could entering converstation as best he could. "I've never been camping before. Dad would rarely let me out of any of my three rooms unless it was for educational purposes, so I don't really know much about fires or setting up tents."
The pony continued striking his rocks together, spraying the sparks over the dry grass he had collected. Minutes of this went by, of Vigor standing behind the stallion intrigued by every hot atom that flung itself towards the kindling, until finally a spark evolved into a flame and consumed the wood.
"Well I never!" Vigor said, applauding his companion's achievement.
"Just eat your food." The pony huffed, throwing a larger log onto the growing fire. He sat down warming up his side as he watched his escortee grab the food and do the same.
Vigor offered some food to the cloaked pony who declined the offer saying that the rations were only meant for him and no matter what he said it was clear the pony would go hungry tonight. With a silent companion he decided to talk his heart away, mentioning how he enjoyed the strategic game of chess and his favorite orchestra that consisted of only ‘pony folk’ as he put it. The one sided conversation eventually diverted towards diplomatic issues relating to the Princesses and the struggle he had with talking to the zebra king, with his foreign accent and strange tattoos. Although he was a good listener the silence of the pony created awkwardness in the night.
With the moon rising and the stars emerging from behind the black veil, the stallion pulled away his hood and stared into the sparkling vast space.
Vigor, having run out of things he wanted to get of his chest, noticed the dark figure looking upwards. Even with the moonlight to light up his face, the pony still looked like no more than a silhouette of a strange hairy creature. Only burning red flames were strong enough illuminat his facial features. Despite that, the unpredictable movements of the fire still distorted ,playing with his visible cheek bones and cross brow. They displayed his dry lips and only made a worse look of his seaweed like hair. However, one characteristic proved more pronounced than the rest. His eyes, bright and pure, stared into the dark depths of the sky with magnificence. Each gold ring out shone even the most untainted parts of his whites.
Staring at them for longer, he was somehow reminded of his wedding ring. He had only one, for the one and only of his life, but it was his most valuable possession. Looking to his left claw, he felt the simple golden piece of jewelry feeling its simplicity. He smiled to himself, knowing she would be safer than him tonight.
“Are you thinking of her?” A deep voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Sorry?”
“Your wife, you sit here in the middle of a dark forest surrounded by mysterious and dangerous creatures,-” Vigor looked around into the darkness with nervousness. “-yet you still look at your ring and smile, even though you may not wake up to see the sun.”
“Umm… If you’re asking whether I love her then your answer is yes.” He replied a little taken back at the ponies sudden interest in conversation. “We met a long time ago. At first we didn’t quite get along, but after-”
“I don’t want to hear it.” The stallion interrupted
He lifted up his claw, presenting the golden promise to the similarly eyed unicorn. “Anyway, I wanted diamond encrusted rings, but she didn’t want anything fancy on our wedding day. She said it was to keep our love as plain as day and night, left or right. She always made things nostalgic like that. Just one reason why I love her.”
The pony turned to him, looking at him intensely.
“And if you woke up to find you couldn’t be with her anymore?”
“Then I’d find a way to be with her,” He looked at the pony with strong stern expression, but it softened as he thought about the reality of things. “But… But if I couldn’t reach her, then I would need to find another reason to go on.”
They sat in still in the warmth of the fire, the only sound being made by the crackling of the wood and the only movement by the erratic and forever uncomfortable flames.
“I needed to hear that, thank you.” The stallion suddenly said, giving the gryphon a tiny yet visible smirk, his red feline eyes glowing through the darkness.
Wait red eyes?
“Oh, it’s quite alright.” He began giving the stallion a strange stare, his brow clenched. “I always love to-”
“Just finish your food and don’t waste any.” He disrupted rudely turning his head towards the fire to once again illuminate in its golden brilliance. Vigor cocked his head at his own confusion. Was it the trick of the light or was it his tired eyes giving him trouble? He turned to eat a piece of his cubed tofu when the stallion walked over, grabbing a few from the pile. “Actually, I need these.” He said, turning back to the fire, placing the pieces in front of him.
“I didn’t know equines could eat tofu. I thought it had too much… er, something in them for you to digest.” He wasn’t complaining, just confused at his actions. He turned to finish off his meal with an apple.
“They’re not for me,” He said before a black beam shot out from his horn. The ray hit the cream coloured tofu, turning them as black as the charred wood crumpled around the fire.
“Black tofu?”
As still as the non existent wind, Vigor watched with a little fear in his heart. The feathers on his chest tingled at the spell, but he had not a clue as to why he could feel magic from that distance. He continued to watch as the pony gathered up the pieces of black mush before then standing to face the pitch black forest. Without looking around for danger, he walked straight into the dark depths not looking back to say anything to his fearful companion.
He threw another log onto the flames, encouraging them to glow and light up the surrounding bushes. Ignoring the burning heat he shifted closer the the fire, pretending that there was a boundary between the light and dark. One that evil monsters could not pass. Even if it was all in his head, his little fairy tale made him feel safer.
A wolf’s howl chilled the air. It echoed through the forest, shaking every thing that heard it to the bone. The only thing stopping the proud gryphon from panicking was the warm sanctuary of light made by the fire to his side. He curled up closer to himself, trying to shrink down to invisibility.
Emerging from the ever deep and black forest, the navy unicorn stepped into the fire’s brilliance, crossing the pretend boundary that had been placed.
“Did you hear that?!” The pony didn’t react. He just moved into a comfortable position, leaving the raging camp fire between himself and Vigor. “I t-think it w-was a wolf, or m-maybe a timber wo-wolf. No, I-I’m pretty sure i-it was a-an Ursa. Yeah, so c-can we hide somewhere?”
“It was nothing. She won’t disturb us.” He said in a calm manner. “Sleep, you’ll need it in the morning. I’ll keep watch for a while if that makes you feel better.”
“Huh, sleep? I’d like that. I-if it’s not asking too much could you keep watch for a while?” The pony rolled his eyes and nodded, annoyed that he had already stated his actions. He shifted away from the fire that had almost burnt his side. He scuttled around the fire to sit closer to his guardian. Feeling safer, Vigor dropped his head and allowed his eyelids to droop over his sight. Silence emanated through his ears, save for the crackling fire.
Sleep drew in close, to the point where he could barely acknowledge the figure laying beside him. And just as his head was about to close off the physical world, a song held him there, between his dream and reality.
Do you hear the calls
That the sirens might sing
Or do you ignore the cries
The hurt, and their suffering
When they sing out to you
Would you take up to the deed
Or will you allow their voices
To die out at sea
Each shackled to their malice
Similar to my own
The darkness ready to devour
And strip its victim to the bone
For there is no time to atone
For the sins that may own
Every Fiber of your being
Even your very soul
So the sirens call again
Is my reach at its end
For the depths may have already come for me
And the darkness, my soul it’ll rend
He was already too deep asleep to make sense of the words, so Its slow melody allowed his thoughts to drift elsewhere.
Snores tore through the stillness, as Vigor slept surprisingly comfortably.
“No mouse would attack a lion in its den. So sleep soundly while I am here.” A voice said, from the darkness under the hood. Sitting uncomfortably next to the bright fire.
