-1- A Gryphon, an Earth Pony, and a Unicorn walk into a bar...

The lone mercenary, surrounded by an enthralled audience, told his story with a level of grace and elegance more common in bards than those who made their living on the edge of their sword.  His dramatic pauses were all expertly placed, and of sufficient length to draw in the crowd each time there was a lull.  The gryphon in the room glared at the storyteller, his eyes narrowed and a tiny twitch in his eye being his sole movement.  Also seated at the table of the gryphon were two ponies, each carrying their share of scars and still healing bruises.

The mercenary’s tale reached another minor climax, and for a moment the storyteller leaned back, resting on his laurels as the eager crowd ordered him yet another ale, hoping that he’d be willing to continue.  After draining half the tankard of fresh ale, the mercenary started up the next part of his story, going on about the eternal threat offered by the changeling menace.

The gryphon started to push himself back from the table, but a firm hoof came down on his claw of flesh and blood, staying him.  “Don’t, Tyr.”  The gryphon looked to the pony for a moment, and then shrugged off the hoof, but remained seated.  The two ponies shared a quick glance, and then settled their gaze on the mercenary, hoping that their wayward companion would soon return.

“We needs must depart, soon, from here.  This mercenary’s tale stinks worse than your cooking, Shield.”  The white unicorn, despite his normally joyful tone, seemed deadly serious.  He tore his gaze from the mercenary long enough to look to both the gryphon, and his eternal rival.  “Surely even Sleight, bumbling harlot that she is, wouldn’t take this long to break into the larder.”

“We give her two more minutes before we take steps.”  The gryphon didn’t tear his gaze from the mercenary, but he motioned with his beak towards the door behind the counter.  “Hex, can you use anything to see back there?”

“No.  The innkeeper warded it.  Unless I was in there, I couldn’t magically affect anything inside.”

“... Although that tale pales next to when I visited the Gryphon Empire.  Why, I’m sure that this good gryphon would gladly tell you of the splendors to witness within his esteemed home.”  The small crowd quickly turned, and split, so that Tyr could see both the mercenary and the eager faces of each member of the crowd.  “Please, my fine feathered friend, tell them of the glorious Frozen Falls, and the ice caves in which your kind once dwelled.”

Tyr noted, with small satisfaction, that there was just the smallest pleading note buried in the mercenary’s words.  Seeing his opportunity to knock down the pony, clearly not a mercenary after all, Tyr was all too glad to use the opportunity.  “Aye, mercenary.  Although I’d rather tell these gentlebeings about some of your other tales.”  A new patron entered the inn as Tyr stood, and a quick glance revealed yet another unicorn entering the room.  Not wearing the armor of the royal guard, so Tyr paid the newcomer no further attention.  “Namely the changelings, and the dragons, whom you so bravely battled.”  The gryphon advanced on the not-mercenary, and gave the kind of smile that only a gryphon could give.  “Remind me, mercenary, where did you do battle with them?”

“The icy pass of Ysmir’s Beard, where my warband did battle with Gilgareth, a mighty dragon of great renown.  And then, in the arid west, the Badlands, my company was beset upon by a swarm of changelings, eager to capture us and suck us dry.”  The mercenary seemed confident, and his small smile spoke volumes.

“Gilgareth has been dead for three generations, warrior.  How, then, did you, and yours, slay the mighty beast?  Or are you the mighty warpony Falchion, who did battle alongside some of my ancestors to slay the beast?  And these changelings, whom you battled.  Surely a warrior as wizened as you in the ways of combat would know that the changelings don’t truly do battle that way.  In open combat, they seek only to kill.  They capture only when the chance becomes available, and they are not fighting for their lives.”  Tyr stopped just before the table, his gaze level with the mercenary.  “I’d wager that you aren’t really a mercenary, and that you only spin this yarn to garner the good grace of these humble citizens.  And, further, you displayed utter ignorance of the changelings in nearly every aspect, and the dragons more so.  Good folk, this pony is a fraud, and a charlatan.  He has played you for fools, and wishes only to mooch from you, your hard earned bits and vittles.”

“You...  I...  And what makes you so great, gryphon?  I’d wager that I’m twice the warrior you are, and a better storyteller besides!”  The mercenary glared back at Tyr as he responded.  “Well, chicken, what say you?”

“I’ve no time for you, and your petty squabbling with me.  I only wished to show these ponies who they were speaking to.  I’ve no need to debase myself just to give you a chance to embarrass yourself further.”  Tyr quickly turned, and found himself looking at a set of three angry looking ponies.  “And the trap is sprung.”  Before Tyr could utter one further sound a bolt of brilliant white light flew from the gryphon’s left, smashing into one of the trio, throwing him several feet over, and revealing the disguised changeling.  The other two were faster to act, and Tyr soon found himself pinned under the fanged assault of the rather large changeling who had bulled him over.

Nothing but quick training gave Tyr the chance to bring his arcane worked iron talon to bear, forcing it into the changeling’s fanged maw.  The threat wasn’t gone, though, as the beast still had the capacity for magic.  A sickening green glow surrounded the monster’s horn, and Tyr only just managed to jerk his head to the side, avoiding the released bolt of lethal energy.  The gryphon felt an odd sense of detachment as he saw that the creature lacked the once characteristic holes of their kind.  The moment was fleeting, though, and before he even realized it happened, he brought his other talon into play, forcing it up and around the monster’s horn.

A pulse of lightning ran down the gryphon’s arm, but it lasted only a moment before Tyr wrenched the beast’s horn from it’s body, sending the creature into a blind panic which quickly ended as the creature’s magic fled from it’s body, leaving it a lifeless, and far lighter, husk.  With the foe dispatched, Tyr shoved the husk aside, and quickly got to all fours, before noticing that the others were already dead, leaving just the mercenary, now revealed changeling.  All of his bravado was gone, and he merely looked at the enraged townsfolk and the approaching gryphon and company.

“No, stay away!  I just wanted to be able to survive, and move on to the next town!”  He pushed himself back, further, against the wall, desperate for space between himself and the others in the tavern.  “I don’t want to die, please!”

A pan flashed over the crowd, and connected solidly with the changeling’s head, knocking it out soundly.  A small bat pony fluttered overhead before landing atop the table and staring at the slumped over form.  “Then don’t die.”  Without pause, the filly turned in place and looked at Tyr.  “I did good?”

The gryphon nodded, and then looked at Hex.  “Summon the guard.  We’ve got our prize, and I aim to be paid.”  He paused, and looked to the gathered crowd.  “This is done.  Go about your business, or don’t.”  The group lingered for several moments, and then began to thin as some ponies left the building, and some returned to their original tables.  Less than five minutes after the fight ended, the tavern was back to normal, and Shield and Hex were seated at the table once again, this time with Sleight sitting atop the table between them, looking from one to the next as they traded insults.  Eventually several guards arrived, and took away the unconscious form, leaving a bag of bits with the gryphon.

After quickly counting the contents, the gryphon returned to the table, and retook his seat, his disposition barely increased, despite the rather sizable payment.  He looked to his three companions for a moment, and then he brought his gaze to the patrons, feeling a tingle along his spine.  “Something is still amiss.”  His words were softly uttered, seemingly ignored by his companions, but he knew them well enough to see the shift in their focus.

“The new unicorn mare.  Near the door.  She’s the source.”  Hex didn’t look at the mare in question, but Tyr could see the faint glow of his horn.  “She’s a changeling.  But not a drone, or even a warrior.  She’s different.”

“Can you isolate her magic?”

“She’s not using it, save for a tiny alteration to you, and the rest of us.  She wants to be noticed.”  Tyr glanced at his allies for a moment, and then looked directly at the unicorn for several moments.  She looked at him, their eyes met, and she looked away.

“Outside.”  He looked at Sleight, nodded, and then stood.  “Let’s not keep her waiting, then.”

The trio moved to the door, deliberately slowing near the unicorn’s table before heading to the outer structures, made for housing excess stock during times of plenty.  They didn’t wait long before the unicorn came out of the inn, and hurried over to the group.  She looked at each of them before settling her gaze on Tyr.  “Tyr Irontalon, I must say that it is an honor to finally meet you.”  She gave a small bow, and then met the gryphon’s gaze.  “My name is Nike, daughter of...  Well, my lineage isn’t all that important, anymore.  I am the last of my line.”

“Spare us, changeling.”

If the unicorn was taken aback, it didn’t show.  “Very well.”  She fidgeted for a moment, and then heaved a sigh.  “I have no monster’s for you to hunt, but I have a request all the same.  I must cross much of Equestria, and your group is fairly well known within these parts.  I would hire you as protection.”

“We’re not interested.  We hunt.”

Shield was visibly distressed, and he stepped between Nike and Tyr.  “Are you daft?”  He looked at the unicorn for a moment, and then back at Try.  “She’s the last of a changeling line!  She’s bound to have tons of treasures to pay us with!”

“We.  Hunt.  Monsters.  We don’t escort them across Equestria.”

“While I would normally question anything that comes from Shield’s mouth, he speaks some modicum of sense, Tyr.  I suggest we mark our calendars, and save this day as a holiday.”  Hex looked at the unicorn, and then back to Tyr.  “Truly, Tyr, be smart about this.  If nothing else, we could escort her till we find a new contract.  That way, we earn money simply for roaming as we normally would.”

“And what if it’s a trap?  She could, very well, be leading us to some ambush.”  Tyr glared down at the shorter pony, daring a response.  “Hex, you’ve shown wisdom countless times when I made rash decisions.”  A snort came from Shield, but none paid it any heed.  “Now, heed my warnings.  This is foolhardy, and you know it.  Sleight was gone long enough to have pilfered enough food for us to last till the next contract.”

“That bat pony of yours will be of no use much longer, Tyr, and you know it.”  Hex refused to back down from Tyr’s glare.  “She’s growing up fast, now, and soon you’ll have to make good on your promise to her.  What will you do then?  Go back on your word?”  The gryphon opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.  His beak snapped shut, and he glared at Shield, and then Nike before looking back to Hex.  “We’ve not promised her more than traveling companions, Tyr.  Once we find a new contract, we charge her for distance covered, and then we’re done with it.”

“Curse you, Hex, and your children, too.”  The gryphon turned to face the unicorn once again.  “Very well, changeling.  You’ve got our protection until we find a new contract, or we reach your destination.  You’ll have to pull your weight, though.  Hunting, gathering, setting up camp, and keeping watch.”  Tyr took a step forward, momentarily admiring the fact that the creature didn’t even flinch.  “But if I sense even a whiff of deceit, a trace of a trap, you can consider your life forfeit.  I do not give second chances to beasts that would give none themselves.”

/\***/\

Hex watched as Tyr stomped off into the night, likely headed for their camp on the edge of town.  The normally stoic gryphon had been growing increasingly agitated as summer drew nearer, and this was the first of, likely, many similar outbursts.  From the outset Hex had been confident in what the outcome would be, but the ordeal had to be seen through.  “He fears me.”  Hex turned to look at the unicorn.  “I have done nothing, but he fears me simply for who I am.  Yet he buries his fear with hate.”

“His story is his own.”  Shield scratched idly at the back of his head.  “I’ve heard him tell it once, but I’ll not share it.  It’s for him to tell.”

“Like as not, the mongrel doesn’t remember it.”  Hex quickly returned his gaze to the unicorn.  “Still, he speaks some truth.  Tyr’s story is his own.  Let us go, then.  Our camp is at the edge of town, and we’ll stay there till sunrise.”  Hex took a single step before he paused, and let out a shrill whistle.  After a few heartbeats, rushing wings heralded the arrival of Sleight.  “You heard?”  The filly gave a quick nod.  “Good.  Let’s go, then.”

Silence lingered in the air as the quartet made for their camp.  Other than the faint sounds of the town around them, all was quiet.  The unicorn trailed at the rear of the group as Shield played idle little games with the filly, waiting for her to leap atop his back before he’d knock her off.  Their games lasted for a short while before the filly grew bored, and decided to walk beside Hex.  The gray unicorn looked at the filly, and noted that she was far more somber than normal.  In a voice far more subdued than normal, she spoke.  “Does Tyr hate Nike?”

Hex nearly paused in his steps, but he managed to keep his pace.  “No, Sleight.  He doesn’t.  He’s afraid of her.  What she is reminds him too much of home, and things he lost.  You’ve heard how he lost his talon.”

“But Nike had nothing to do with that.”  The filly furrowed her brow, her wings shifting as she tried to puzzle out the gryphon.  “It was a different group altogether, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, child.”  Hex did pause at that, and he turned to face the newest follower.  “The gryphon, Tyr, hails from clan Long Wing.  His clan is known for being vicious, and relentless in hunting and pursuing their prey.  An enclave of changelings called the north their home, and they foraged for love and food in the same domains as did Tyr’s kin.  Time and myth painted those changelings as merciless monsters capable of more than even the Royal Sisters can do.  It became tradition to hunt down these beasts, and bring back their skulls as war trophies.”

“Are you of their kind?  You don’t have the accent, or the mannerisms.”  Hex tilted his head as he looked at the female.

“Ignore the charlatan.  I can hear some of your accent, but it’s subdued.  You aren’t northern, but central.  Canterlot, or somewhere close by, I’d wager.  Perhaps raised nobility, but born to the declining caste?”

“She’s not a pony, half-wit.  She’s a changeling, wearing the guise of a pony.  Pardon Shield, but he’s a wet match in a dark cave --”

“I know that she’s not a pony, you ignoramus, but perhaps --”

“You’re both right, to an extent.”  The two stopped and looked back to the changeling.  “I was born to nobility.  My mother, as I tried to tell you, was the same who birthed The Once and Only Queen Chrysalis.  My father was different, though, so I am not of the same blood.  My mother did fear for what I’d become, and so she spirited me away, to be raised amongst the gentler and less savage ponies.  It was a lengthy arrangement, and my identity was known to a select few.  I was to bridge the gap between ponies and changelings, but then my half sister had her tantrum, waged her war, and lost.”

“And there went any hope of creating a diplomatic first meeting.”

“Essentially, yes, Hex.  I tried to make some amends, but Princess Celestia was certain that nothing could be done for the foreseeable future.”  The unicorn motioned for the group to continue to camp, but she didn’t cease her tale.  “My adoptive family was paid handsomely, and forced into the declining caste, falling out of nobility and into the trading classes.  Not a hardship, by any means, but almost too much to bear for mother.  After some time, I left home, and began wandering.  Something has changed, though, and I feel a call that I’ve never once felt.  It is a darkness edging in on my mind, and I fear what I might do without some form of guidance.”

“We’re not protecting you, we’re protecting others from you.”  Shield and Hex shared a quick glance, and their demeanor shifted so subtly only Sleight noticed it.  “Perhaps Tyr was right.”

Nike’s gaze widened.  “No, please, I assure you, I am not a monster.  The urges come and go, but they’ve not once clouded my mind.  And my intent would not be lethal, merely an attempt to drain you of emotions.  They would return, in time, and you’d be none the worse.”

Hex dropped back so he was beside the unicorn, and he looked over her body quickly, before looking to her face.  “And you seek to discover what makes these urges present?”

The changeling nodded, and lowered her gaze.  “Not once in my life have I ever felt the need to harvest what has been freely given to me.  Yes, love is the most powerful agent for my magic, but even hate and loathing, and despair, can be made to work.  All of these, and more, I have used.  But never have I wished to take that which I am not given.”

Hex remained silent, for a time, as he thought on what he’d heard.  Shield was silent as well, and Sleight took to the sky, likely off to find something to put in her belly.  She was a clever girl, though, and Hex knew that the likely cover was just a chance for her to digest what she’d heard.  “Her whole life has been with Tyr.”  The changeling looked confused for a moment, and then her gaze softened.  “He found her when she was a newborn.  Promised her dying family he’d treat her right.  He’s her father, effectively, but they act more as siblings than father and daughter.  I don’t know if it’s really healthy for her.”

“She will be a great pony, some day.”

“She already is.  She doesn’t do what she wants because she wants to make Tyr happy.  Theirs is the least healthy relationship I’ve seen in some time.  She wants only for Tyr to be happy, and Tyr wants only for her to be safe, but by his side.  His promise makes him loathe to do what he wishes, and her desires are further at odds.  The only solutions make neither happy.”

The camp appeared in the distance, the fire already casting flickering shadows across the landscape.  Shield broke into a trot, eager to get something to eat, and some sleep.  Hex watched him go, and then looked to the changeling once more.  “Don’t speak to Tyr about what we’ve said.  I’m a good judge of character, but he’ll not trust you, even with my word.”

“You’ve known him longer, Hex.  I’ll defer to what you think is the best approach.”  The pair walked into the camp, and saw Shield hunched over a makeshift grating upon which sat several pans, already warming.  Before they could approach the cooking pony, though, there was a faint rustling, and then Hex found himself sprawled on the ground, looking on as Tyr pinned the changeling to the ground with one claw, while his metal one hovered over her head, the metal digits flexing slowly.

A strange hissing sound came from Tyr’s beak, and the changeling’s eyes widened for a moment.  Hex cast his quickest shield, but the changeling was a hair faster, bringing her own barrier up just before the gryphon’s claw could pierce her throat.  “Stop this, Tyr!  She’s not a threat!”

“Sleight told me enough!  She’s going mad, and I’ll not be subjected to the horrors her kind is like to wreak.”  His claw pressed down on her barrier, and Hex could see it wavering.  “This monster may preach to you, and pull you in, but I’ll not be so easily swayed.  We kill these things, Hex.  Why should she be different?”

Before Hex could respond, Sleight walked over, and placed herself between Tyr and the changeling, sitting atop the barrier she created.  She looked up at the gryphon, but said nothing.  The gryphon’s eyes widened for a moment, and then he leapt off the changeling, putting several body lengths between himself and the prone form.  “This will end poorly, for us.  But, if all of you are so set on seeing this madness through, fine.”  The gryphon took several steps closer.  “Ten bits per league.  Fifty per day.  You pay your own way for food and drink and lodging.”  He stalked closer still, his eyes unwavering as he stared down the changeling.  “And if you tell any lies to Sleight not even Princess Celestia, or even Emperor Balgruuf, will stop my fury.”

Not a sound could be heard as Tyr stormed off into the night, his wing beats fading into nothingness as he put distance between himself and the camp.  Shield looked over his shoulder at the others, and gave a weak smile.  “Really, I think that went quite well, all things considered.  Fifty bits says that before this whole adventure is done, he’s changed his mind about the changeling.”

“Your lightheartedness is a kindness, Shield, but I fear that you are mistaken.  His fears run too deep.  I cannot sway him, nor can any of you, until he decides he wants to be swayed.”

Dinner was a simple affair, and afterwards, Shield took first watch, allowing Nike and Sleight to retire for the night.  Hex stayed up, sitting beside Shield as he looked out into the gloomy darkness.  Every few minutes one would toss one of their cards down onto the pile, frequently to a curse from the other.  “Has he ever been gone this long, before?”

“Not to my recollection.”

“Probably all that cheap booze you guzzle down.”

“At least I’ve got bits to spend, unlike you.”

“Only because--”  Hex was cut off as Tyr dropped down in front of them, his beak bloody and his claws equally so.  “Oh.  Good that you’re back.  The others are already asleep.”

“Fine.  Wake me for the next watch.”  Without further comment, the gryphon stalked past the pair, and made for his tent.  He looked in on Sleight, first, and then resumed his walk to his tent, his shoulders slumped after his visit to the filly’s tent.

“You’re on, Shield.”  Shield looked at Hex, for a moment, and then a small smile came to his face.  “And another fifty says that he falls for her.”

Shield chuckled as he tossed down another card.  “Are we a cliched story, now?  That’s a fool’s bet, but I’d be glad to see you separated from your bits.”

Hex tossed down an ace, and smiled as he used his magic to cut a nick into the wooden stake Shield had stuck in the ground.  “I’m up four, now, and we’ve not got much room left on this stake.  Better get good, or get some money.  And I think that you’ll be surprised.  Tyr isn’t heartless.  Just distant.  And since Sleight likes her, that’ll do wonders.”

/\***/\

Dawn came, and with it the stirrings of life in the quaint town.  Tyr looked down at the citizens as they started living their lives anew, rushing to and fro as they sought to ensure the fields were well, and that the various livestock were in good health.  He could even pick out the running foals, still too young for work and allowed to run free and play.  For a moment the gryphon felt a pang in his heart, but he turned back to his camp before it could become something more than it was.  “Wake up, you sorry lot!  We’ve got ground to cover today, and I’m not waiting for you to finish your beauty sleep.”

A couple minutes passed, and then Hex and Shield each emerged from their tents, already wearing their respective gear, and ready to head out.  They immediately set upon their tents, quickly and efficiently tearing the structures down, and packing them up.  Nike, too, emerged already wearing her traveling cloak, and with a few quick spells her tent was bundled up, and stowed in her pack.  There was no sign of life from Sleight’s tent, though, and Tyr took a small step towards the tent.

Before he could close the distance any further, though, the filly zipped over Tyr’s head, and barreled into her tent, knocking the whole thing down and ensnaring her within the fabric.  Her laughter was a sweet sound, and when her head finally emerged from the wrecked tent, a part of the fabric still laid atop her head, and she shook it off before giving a warm smile to the gryphon.  “Mornin’ grumpybutt!  I was just playing with some of the other foals in town!”  One of the supports from her tent, somehow still standing, chose that moment to fall down, and it knocked her on the head, eliciting a round of laughter from everyone in the camp.  The filly didn’t find it quite as funny, but the laughter was infectious, and soon even she joined in.

As the sound died down, and the filly got to work on her tent, assisted by Hex and Shield, Tyr found himself looking around the camp.  His gaze passed over the changeling, and she gave him a smile.  Tyr nearly returned it, the good feelings from the laughter still lingering.  Her smile irritated the gryphon, for some reason, and he whirled around, reluctant to share positive emotions with the creature.  He could feel her smile shift to a frown, but he ignored it.

“I intend for us to reach the next town by nightfall.  And the Maresissippi River the following day.  If we’re going to be escorting this beast, I want it done swiftly, and with as few distractions as possible.  Perhaps, if we’re lucky, we can reach Canterlot three days hence.”

Is this intentional?  Or an error?

Dat gryph don't take no shit yo.