“I bet you don’t even have a very ‘special somepony’” Gilda snickered as she used her raised claws to emphasize the words “special somepony”.
“Shut it Gilda!” Oliver said as he playfully slapped his little sister in the back of the head with his wing. “She didn’t mean anything by it Courtier.”
“It’s cool dude.” The young blue colt shrugged with his wings. As a pegasus it was always a little painful to shrug like that, but it was the easiest way to make Griffins shut up and stop apologizing. Courtier had lived with Griffins all his life but his smaller pony wings had always had a hard time expressing the wing language that the Griffins used to communicate ideas without saying them things directly.
Oliver was Courtier’s best friend and was normally a joy to hangout with him. But it was the holidays now and his kid sister was back from school. You would think that Gilda would have gotten less annoying by attending school in Equestria, but instead it just gave her fuel for making fun of Courtier. Oliver had assured Courtier that she wouldn’t have to hangout with them all the time, but at the moment she was such a nuisance it was all Courtier could do not to ditch his friend and go back to his room. Then again his room in the castle wasn’t really some place he wanted to go to begin with. A few months ago Courtier’s grandmother had gotten very ill and his parent’s had gotten permission to step down from their ambassadorial duties and return to Equestria to care for her. At the time Courtier had been very happy that the Sky King had offered to take the young colt under his wing and let him stay at his school and squire for him in the evenings and on weekends.
“But seriously dude, what are you doing for Hearts and Hooves day.” Oliver asked, switching from Griffianin to Equestrian to say the name of the pony holiday. Courtiers brown mane bristled at the question but he didn’t let his wings flare to give away his discomfort.
“I though maybe you could help me with my hunting practice.” Courtier proposed.
“Dude. One: you’re going to need a lot more help then I can give if you’re ever going to be a true hunter. And two: that’s the first day of the new year, got to spend it in the nest with my sister and parents.” Oliver’s comment caused Gilda to snicker but a quick glare from her brother stopped any comment that might have followed. “Plus, if the rumors are true you will be busy helping his majesty entertain the diplomatic visit from Equestria.”
“Oh Pony Feathers!” the expletive received a concerned look from Oliver, and a smirk from Gilda. “Sorry, just remembered that I have to check in on the entertainment for the visit.” Courtier apologized as he grabbed his saddlebag from under the table and leaped into the air, beating his wings hard to speed away into the city.
“Well, maybe he will forget its Hearts and Hooves day and keep him self busy.” Oliver muttered out loud, forgetting his little sister was standing next to him.
“Bro, why do you hang with a feather head like that?”
“Shut it sis.” Oliver shot her a glare, “Courtier doesn’t have it that easy, he used to spend every Hearts and Hooves day with his parents, celebrating like we celebrate New Year, its got to be rough with his parents gone.” Gilda rolled her eyes at him as he continued to glare at her, “What about how you felt during your first few months away from mom and dad, it’s the same for him, but now he doesn’t have any other pony to help him figure out where he fits in among us griffins.”
“Pfft, I did just fine in Equestria. Plus a lot of my friends have their cutie marks already, he’s older why doesn’t he have his yet?”
“You think he has time to think about his ‘special talent’? He’s squiring for the King, and struggling with school! Of course he doesn’t have a cutie mark, not with his mind on the King’s prediction.”
“Becoming a ‘skilled hunter’, yeah right. That colt couldn’t even take down a one legged rabbit.” Gilda laughed.
“He’s not a Griffin, he shouldn’t have to worry about hunting.”
“What ever!” Gilda said, flicking her wings to show her boredom, “Let race bro!”
“Oh these pony lessons got you thinking you can take on your big brother? Your on!” And before she could comment he was airborne racing towards and cliff side to their own favorite flight course.
Courtier normally highly enjoyed his duties as squire to the Sky King, but in the Griffin kingdom this time of the year was meant to be spent with family. It should have been a relief to him that he would be at the Sky King’s side instead of alone with his parents away, but he couldn’t help but feel that he was missing out. Courtier had never actually celebrated Hearts and Hooves day with a special somepony, but his parents had always made the day special for the whole family. And with the griffin New Year on the same day all of his friends would be hunting and eating with their families, something he was rather ill-equipped to participate in.
Standing on the balcony of the Sky King’s castle Courtier couldn’t help but wonder why the King himself had no hunting plans. It was not common for a squire to ask the King personal questions, but Courtier couldn’t help but wonder.
“Sire, why don’t you hunt on the New Year?” The giant Griffin looked down at the small blue squire, a slight smile playing across his beak.
“Why do you say I do no hunt, young one?”
“Well your meeting with diplomat from Equestria.”
“Must I hunt for food? Can I not hunt for the continued happiness of myself and my kingdom?” The kings way of only answering questions with questions was part of the reason the small squire normally didn’t ask questions, but today Courtier was bursting with agitation he could not keep them in any longer.
“And what about the diplomat? Don’t they celebrate Hearts and Hooves day?” Before the Sky King could answer or Courtier could continue, a trumpet blared from the castle tower above them. Courtier stood straighter and flared his wings to griffin salute as his head went forward to see who had been sent as diplomat from Equestria.
Much to his surprise I very tall winged mare landed on the balcony before them. Her light pink, almost white, coat glimmered in the sun, and as she folded her large wings her horn came into view and Courtier recognized the sun cutie mark on her flank.
“Princess Celestia, may I greet you to My Kingdom.” the Sky King said in perfect Equestrian.
“It is my pleasure to be here!” The princess replied in heavily accented Giffianian. As they bowed to each other Courtier also remembered his manners and folded his wings as he took a knee before the princess. Rising from his bow the Sky Lord looked beyond the princess.
“And who else has the pleasure of joining us?” Just then Courtier noticed a unicorn filly stepping down from a chariot pulled by two of the Equestrian royal guard. The filly must have about his age or a year older with a light yellow coat and a red and yellow wavy mane and tail.
“This is my personal student Sunset Shimmer. Sunset this is his majesty the Sky King.” Sunset bowed to the griffin king. Courtier couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of envy as he noticed her cutie mark, a red and yellow sun flare. “And I see, that my protégé will have some company during our visit” princess Celestia said looking down upon Courtier. “What is your name young Pegasus?”
“I’m Courtier your majesty. Squire to his majesty the Sky King, and son of former Equestrian Ambassadors to The Griffin Kingdom!”
“Ah yes Courtier, I was saddened by the news that your parents would be leaving The Griffin Kingdom, but I am surprised to find their son here in their absence.”
“It was at my request your majesty.” The statement from the Sky King took Courtier by surprise… he had thought that his parents had asked the Sky King to take him as a squire not the other way around. “Now Courtier, if you would be so kind, and take our younger guest on a tour of the castle ground. The Princess and I have matters to discus and I will not be needing your assistance for the rest of the evening.”
“Of course Sire!” Courtier saluted and waved Sunset Shimmer towards the open doorway.
