It was still an hour before sunrise, I guess that makes me early. Not that it really makes a difference to me, though. There's a lot I've stopped caring about, but I digress. Judging by the map grandfather sent me, this is it. Ponyville. Such a rustic little town, it's almost cute.

Of course, so were the villages I was ordered to burn.

No, no I can't think like that. We're not at war anymore. It's over.

With a sigh and shakes of my head, I begin my trek to the house indicated on my map. If the size is in comparison to to the other houses, then it must be pretty big. As I walked, I noticed ponies that were already out on the streets, setting up their stalls or on there way to their shops, no doubt. Everyone I pass immediately stops to watch me as I slowly pass by. I imagine I looked a little strange, being pretty tall and wearing a hooded pullover and sweatpants. Despite everyone- sorry, everypony- walking on two legs, they still barely wore clothes, if ever, if what grandfather said was true.

One, a light tan mare with a carrot orange mane, tried to wave to me. Then we locked eyes, and she slowly dropped her hand, looking on in shocked silence. What's with her? What's with everyone here? *sigh*

As I drew closer to the town hall, the sun slowly peaks over the horizon, bathing everything it touched in a soft glow. Thankfully, it also made reading the map a little easier. I have to turn east of the town hall, towards the edge of town.

Just as I turn around, I hear a loud, feminine gasp. Turning even more, my eyes widen as I take in the sight of another Griffon, her white feathers somewhat offset by her brown fur. The feathers around her eyes were a semi dark blue, making her yellow irises seem that much brighter.

"Dude, is that you, Adrian?" The Griffon speaks, sounding surprised. She seems vaguely familiar...

"...Gilda, right?" I ask, doing my best to recall her name.

"Holy shit, it is you!" She exclaims, immediately throwing a taloned arm over my shoulder. "I didn't think you'd get here so soon!" she gives me a cocky smile. Okay, my memory may be horrible, but I know she wasn't this friendly before. I just shrug.

"Anyway, can you help me get to grandfathers house? I'd like to get settled before too many, err, ponies start waking up." I ask, popping my neck.

"Sure, follow me." She says, walking off, with me close behind. At least she isn't bombarding me with questi-

"So, you nervous about living with ponies, cousin?" spoke to soon.

"Not really, I just don't want them to stare or, Hresvelgr forbid, see my scars. I'd rather not have to explain my history if I can avoid it, especially if these ponies are really as peace-loving as grandfather makes them sound."

"Ah, alright. Actually, me and my friend Rainbow Dash were planning to hit up the bar today. Wanna join us?" she looks back at me with a half cocked eyebrow. Not even in town ten minutes, and she's already trying to get me drunk. I can't help but smile at the thought.

"You have no idea how tempting that sounds, but I don't want to make a complete ass out of myself on the off chance I have too much." I answer with yet another sigh. She shrugs, somewhat indifferent to my turn down. Wow, what did I miss?

"Hey, it's no big. You are coming with us one of these days, though." She counters with a cocky grin.

As we make our way through town, more and more ponies start leaving their houses. And, of course, more and more ponies stop to stare as I pass. Of course, others wave just like when I first entered this town. I don't return their waves, keeping my hood pulled down, and doing my best to walk as quietly as possible. It may be awkward having to explain why a Griffon made hoofsteps as he walked.

++++++

After another twenty minutes of walking, we finally arrive at the house. Well, nice to know that the map wasn't exaggerating. The house in question was a large, four story house, built like a mansion back in Griffonia with sturdy support beams and oddly smooth cobblestone walls.

"Here we are. Now I'm gonna go hang with my friend Dash! Catch ya later, Adrian!" She says before unfurling her wings and taking off with a *whoosh*

Before I can even take another step, I hear yet another loud, feminine gasp and my beak twitches in irritation. Gods, what is it now?!

I turn to the source of this gasp, and catch sight of a mare looking at me with the biggest, happiest smile I've ever seen (by Hresvelgr, but that's unsettling) and big, bright blue eyes. Her coat was a bright pink, with her mane being a slightly darker hot pink (And, as per usual with most ponies, not wearing clothes.) *sigh* Well, let's get this over with.

"Are you okay, miss?" I ask, keeping my hood down. She just stands there for a minute before-

In a flash, she was right in front of me, shaking my paw impossibly fast.

"HimynameisPinkiePieandyou'reanewponyhere-wellIguessnewGriffonsinceyouaren'taponyandIknoweveryponyinponyvillewhat'syourname???"

... What. The absolute. Tartarus is this mare on? Shaking my head clear of sudden panic, I lift my hood slightly so she can see my eyes.

"I'm Adrian. Adrian Grey-Feather. I'll be living here with my grandfather from now on." I explain. Thank Hresvelgr ponies don't understand the meaning of griffon last-names.

"Nice to meet you! *gasp* Ohmygosh, I gotta start preparing!" she suddenly says, and in a flash of pink, she's gone. Gods down feathers, I'm keeping my distance from her.

With that not-so-cheery thought, I pivot in place and walk quickly to the large, ash wood door and knock.

"Eh, I'm comin', I'm comin'! Give an old bird a moment to get up!" A familiar voice calls from inside, a rough, somewhat raspy voice with an unmistakeable undercurrent of strength. A voice I haven't heard in so long...

With a sudden jerk, the door is flung open, and I'm confronted with an older griffon, his dark brown feathers contrasting starkly with his near white fur. His tips of his talons were pitch black, and a network of scars ran across his face, chest, and arms, with one large scar cutting across his face, in between his eyes. His eyes, a striking bright orange, widened in surprise, then crinkled in happiness as a smile broke out across his beak.

"Sonson! Det har varit så länge! Jag har väntat på din ankomst!" He exclaims, wrapping me in a crushing hug. Even at sixty-four, his strength never waned. I hug him back, resting my beak on his shoulder.

"Tack, farfar. It took me a little longer than expected to get here." I say. He lets go of me and booms with laughter.

"A little longer than expected? You're here seven hours early!" His laughter reduces to chuckles as he steps aside to let me inside.

As I step over the threshold, he closes the door. "I still don't see why you wear those things, fågelunge. Are you covering your battle scars?"

"I don't think the ponies would be all that interested in seeing my scars, Farfar. If they're as peaceful as you said they were in your letters, I doubt the presence of another krigare will be overly welcome." I say, collapsing on one of the chairs in the living room, to the left of the lit fireplace. Besides the one I was sitting in, there were three other chairs and a couch formed in a semicircle around the fireplace.

"Adrian, if they're comfortable around an old fältherre like me, why would they be weary of you?" he asks, sitting across from me, to the right of the fireplace.

"Because I doubt they know just how strong you still are, Farfar. Or your history." I raise an eyebrow at him, to which he just laugh again.

"You caught me, they don't. Well, not all of them do." he admits, looking me dead in the eye. "But they'll accept you fågelunge, of this I am sure."

Author's Note

A little different from what I'm used to, but I hope you enjoy anyway!
If you see any spelling or grammar errors, let me know.

-Moonshine Wing, Patriarch of the Wing Clan.