The Heart Diplomatsby Arboreal Blue LeafChapters1 - Seclusion2 - Crossing the sea3 - Griffonstone1 - SeclusionAuthor's Note Hello every pony! After a month of work and research, I'm happy to publish this new story. First for all, I want to apologize if there are a lot of mistakes. Since English isn't my mother tongue, I am doing my best to write it as flawless as I can. The main purpose of this story is to develop Equestria's neighbors and their history. I have selected six destinations that we will get through the history, including Griffonstone or the Minotaur’s Empire. That will be the occasion to have an overview of the world outside Equestria’s boundaries! I have tried to alternate between dialogues and descriptions in order to give you a narrative immersion, and I hope it will work. Anyway, I’m often talking a lot in the beginning of the chapters. I hope you will enjoy this reading and thanks for your time! If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 1 - Seclusion Once upon a time in the magical land of Equestria, there were three great tribes which united under the banner of the two regal sisters. Valuing the friendship and the elements of Harmony that saved their kind from the dreadful fate brought by the Windigos, they tried their best to respect and serve those virtues. Since then, pony kind had always been prosperous; Equestria had always been one of the most powerful yet respected lands of the known world. However ponies grew a certain pride for their kind, consciously or not. They and the Goddesses were alike after all. They had the Sun and the Moon as rulers. They had mastered the weather thanks to pegasi. They could make wonders that none others races could do thanks to unicorns. They had the ability to grow food anywhere because of the earth ponies’ abilities. They had the most powerful artefacts known: the Elements of Harmony. All the foes that had threatened Equestria one day had been defeated. This pride, this deep-rooted pride was not without basis. Unfortunately it had brought to ponies an overweening self-esteem. Despite Celestia's best efforts to keep this pride under control, her people grew callous to her wise teaching. Year after year, century after century, the kingdom became more and more secluded. Ponies were getting presumptuous as the time passed by The Solar Princess gave up the fight eventually. The diplomatic relations maintained by Equestria begun to crumble before stopping completely. Twilight Sparkle read again the scribbled notes on her parchment, tapping her hoof on the desk thoughtfully. She had found no evidence at all of a decrease of this pride that had brought Equestria to a diplomatic silence, except with ancient colonies or a few others lands. The verdict disturbed her; Equestria had not had real diplomatic exchanges with Griffonstone for more than three centuries, with the Great Diamond Dogs Tribes of the East for more than five centuries. It was the same with the Minotaure's empire, the lands of bat ponies, Yakyakistan and even ponies in remote places of Equestria. She wasn't sure why Celestia would have decided to stop entirely the communication with other countries but it was an undeniable fact: pony kind had a serious problem with communication. Despite having a very developed technology, magical resources and much more, they weren't bothering checking on others. She hadn't to search very far to know about this. Her whole life she had dreamt about the legendary Griffonstone's library only to found a few months ago that if was now only a decayed pile of rubbles, as was the entire griffin capital as a matter of fact. She was willing to change this however. On her impulse, Princess Celestia had decided to get back in touch with Yakyakistan by inviting Prince Rutherford, the current ruler of this kingdom, to visit Equestria. Twilight had personally taken the visit in charge and, thanks to her friends, managed to renew with Yakyakistan. The relationship between the two kingdom was still frail and therefore had to be strengthened. As the Princess of Friendship, she felt that it was her duty to end the Equestrian diplomatic silence; and she couldn't think of a better idea than personally visit the countries and offer them Equestria's friendship. Somepony knocked at the door of her bedroom and brought her back to reality. She quickly gathered the scattered parchment into a pile and asked to the guess to come in. Spike opened the door, came in and rubbed his arm, “So... You are leaving today, aren't you?” “I am. But it won't take long Spike; I'll be back in less than a week or two,” Twilight reassured him kindly. “I know you'd like to come, but I have to travel in a very small committee for this first diplomatic visit. Plus, griffons don't like dragons particularly.” “Aren't you scared? I mean, would you be able to handle the...” He didn't finish his sentence. “I am going to Griffonstone, what would I have difficulty to deal with? Unfriendly griffons?” she laughed quickly, she wasn't afraid at all. “I was thinking about their library. You won't get mad when you see it, will you?” “I'll judge their case later. No one should mistreat a book,” She pointed out, winking to Spike. “I'll just go there and befriend their king. It is that simple!” “I hope it will,” he sighed. “So, I'm in charge of the castle I presume.” “Don't worry, I asked the girls to help you with everything.” “You promise you'll come back soon, do you?” Spike asked again. “I will,” she said as she hugged him warmly. They stayed like this for several seconds before splitting up. “Applejack's here anyway,” the dragon said as he went back to the door. “Is it noon already?” Twilight gasped as the checked the clock on the wall. She had been so absorbed by her notes that she didn't notice the time. “When did she arrive?” “Five minutes or so. She is in the kitchen with Rainbow and Starlight. The others aren't here yet.” Twilight nodded quickly and took the saddlebags she had prepared meticulously the day before. She was to leave and take the train in three hour and a half with Applejack in order to get to Manehattan where they would take an airship. She had been working for months on these diplomatic visits, and had had difficulties to meet the conditions of all the chiefs they would be meeting in the next days. The current king of Griffonstone had accepted their request, as long as they would pay for all the foods and services they would use - a typical griffon's mindset that Twilight was hoping to change. The bat ponies were more restricting: they would accommodate them as long the Equestrian delegation would be counting at most three ponies. They were a very wary kind; and since their capital was hidden deep into the Bug Bear Territory she had decided to enrol a guide in her delegation. Finally, Yakyakistan wasn't equipped with proper airports, they would have to lend in the Crystal Empire and travel through the mountains by walk; thus the ponies of her delegation had to be athletic enough to get through the mountains twice. Amongst all her friends, Applejack was the most suitable partner to fill all the requirements of this first trip. She had talked with the girls about this and they had agreed on this point. Applejack was the one who would come with Twilight during this trip. Besides, Applejack's commercial skills could be handy in case they have to buy supplies. Of course, she was disappointed that she had to leave most of her friends behind but she had to make concessions if she wanted to visits those countries. Deeply buried in her thoughts, she barely noticed that her legs had transported her to the kitchen where her friends were talking. She smiled at the sight of Starlight Glimmer discussing with her friends. She was now living In Ponyville. Twilight had been worried that maybe she would have felt left behind. The lavender alicorn got closer and took a sit. Rainbow Dash was the quickest to talk, “Hi Twilight! Sup? Ready to go?” “I have never been so prepared,” She answered with a confident grin. “I have everything Applejack and I will have to do on lists, every single place we are going to eat and sleep booked and all the equipment needed waiting for us at the right place,” she finished proudly. “And it was ready weeks ago!” “So much for an adventure,” Applejack chuckled. “At least ya know what ya doin'.” “Princess Celestia trusts us, we mustn't mess up,” Twilight pointed out. “Rainbow told us she already went to Griffonstone in the past,” Starlight stated. “How are you going to befriend their king? It seems that they aren't exactly inclined to friendship.” “I've been discussing with King Gregaire for the last months by letters, he is actually quite willing to renew with Equestria. It should be the easiest one to befriend amongst all the chiefs.” “All the chiefs?” Rainbow asked as she titled her head. “Aren't you just going to Griffonstone?” “For the twentieth time, we have diplomatic trip to six countries, with a return to Ponyville in between. First, we visit Griffonstone, and then we go to the Moonlight Caverns which located at the north of Griffonstone. There we'll find the bat ponies. After this stop, we head to the Crystal Empire where the airship will be left, since we will have to travel through the Yaket Range by hoof. We will visit Yakyakistan and then we go come back to Ponyville. That's the first part of the trip,” Twilight explained as if she was reciting a well learnt lesson. ”Then it will be the Minos Empire, the Diamond Dogs Tribes and, at the very end, the Zebra Kingdom. North and then South.” “Yeah I remember!” Rainbow exclaimed with a grin. “And we will come with you for the second part of the trip!” “Ayep, the minotaurs are bigger than bat ponies, but they ain't as restrictive,” Applejack noticed. “Won't they be bothered to have seven ponies to accommodate?” Starlight asked politely. “Eight ponies, Starlight, you are coming with us,” Twilight corrected. “The Minotaur King has insisted to meet me and all of my closest friends, you included.” The alicorn unpacked from her saddlebag the train tickets to Manehattan and the reservation for the airship. She wanted to check it once again with Applejack, this diplomatic trip had to perfect. The future of Equestria's international relationship would depend on it. Words about it had already been spread in the country; some ponies had seen an opportunity in business and had prepared for futures economical exchanges. She knew that a lot of ponies were counting on her. All the more it was her duty as a princess to not fail. But she was actually feeling confident. With Applejack at her side, nothing wrong could happen. After all, she had thought about every single details and had already had befriended different races before. It couldn't be as hard as it had been with the Prince of Yakyakistan. No definitely, it would be easy as pie. 2 - Crossing the seaAuthor's Note Hello every pony, A small trivia for today. While making this chapter, I was doing some research about the griffons in order to get the last details straight before Griffonstone. Do you remember the name of the Cyclop who stole the Golden Idol of Boreas? It's Arismapi, but do you know from where its name comes from? He is named after a legendary people of the Ancient Greece which was told to fight against Apollo's griffons in order to steal the god's gold. It was quite a nice surprise to see this connection, and it was worth sharing I think. If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! As usual, enjoy your reading and thank you for your time! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 2 - Crossing the sea Twilight and Applejack looked at the aircrafts moored on the Manehattan airport's docks. From huge commercial airships to small, private ones, there were almost a hundred of them around. The earth pony walked and was looking up, almost breaking her neck. She was amazed to see that much aircrafts; she had of course glimpsed some in the past but never as close or as enormous. Twilight was looking for a particular blimp. Princess Celestia had booked one of her personal aircraft and pilot for the occasion. She had told to search for "l'Archimède"; the old yet functional aircraft that would make them travel from point A to point B. Like Applejack, it would be Twilight's first travel aboard an airship. She had fantasized about meeting an old and grumpy captain with an eye pad, who would have mesmerizing stories to share with the ponies daring enough to listen to him. She had a childish laugh as she trotted toward other aircrafts, telling herself she had been reading too much fantasy books. Applejack caught up her friend and asked with a worried voice, “So... Those big things... They aren't dangerous at all, right?” “They aren't at all. Is there a problem, AJ?” she inquired. “Ah am not completely comfortable with the idea of spendin' a day up there actually,” the earth pony pointed to the sky with her chin. “There's not need to worry. Statistically speaking, aircraft is of the safest mode of transportation in all of Equestria.” “Ah believe ya sugarcabe. Ah bet it will feel mighty weird on this.” “I'm pretty sure it will be like in a hot balloon!” “Speaking of balloons, isn’t it the one we are searchin' for, Twi?” The alicorn looked in the direction to see the small yet seemingly resistant airship proudly wearing its name “L'Archimède” on its hull. It wasn't as large as the commercial ones, but the bright red of the balloon was quite catchy for the eye. Dozens of cables where linking the balloon to the boat like part of the airship, on which Twilight could see a stallion watching at the setting sun. She nodded to Applejack and searched for an access to the ship, or at least a way to draw the attention of the captain. A solution was quickly offered by the earth pony who simply called out the stallion. His ears raised up, turned around a little before he got off the iron barer and quickly got to the gangplank. He was a young stallion, much younger than everything Twilight was expecting. He was barely older than her. His coat was a dark brown, matching its eyes. He was wearing a white shirt and welding spectacle on his forehead, which gave him the look of a crazy engineer. This first impression was reinforced by its cutie mark: three gears positioned into a triangle shape. He bowed slowly, “Good evening your Highness and Miss Applejack. I'm Cog Walker and I'm pleased to be your pilot for your pilot for your diplomatic shuttle,” he punctuated his sentence with a smile and extending his hoof to the airship. “Welcome aboard the “L'Archimède”. Do you want me to take your bags?” “This is a pleasure as well. It will be alright, thank you captain,” the alicorn answered politely as she got on and crossed the gangplank. “And please call me Twilight,” she added once she was on the ship. “Are ya sure we can thrust this plank?” Applejack questioned suspiciously as she tested the wooden gangplank with her hoof. “Don't worry Miss, the old one broke two weeks ago, this one should be solid,” the stallion observed with a small smile. “Even more, it would a very bad publicity if I had such important guests falling even before the trip begins, don't you think?” “Fair point,” The earth pony tipped her hat and got in the ship. “Might I show you your rooms?” Twilight took Applejack's saddlebags and hers in her telekinesis grasp and followed the young captain. It was very curious that he was so young in fact. She would have thought that Celestia would have sent her to an experimented traveler. She wasn't questioning her choice; she knew that Celestia’s decisions were always wise. She concluded that Cog Walker was some sort of airship prodigy. It reminded her of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns where she had seen countless students from different backgrounds, mainly from Canterlot of course, but some from far less important cities. She could make an analogy with this young stallion. To be experimented or capable didn't mean to be an old and grumpy pony. The captain got down a small staircase and through a tight corridor, large enough for only one and a half pony to fit at once. He opened two facing doors and showed them with his hoof, “I hope this will be good enough for you, ladies. The bathroom is the last door on the left. The last door on the right leads to the engine room and this one to my room. If you search the steering cabin, just go back outside and take the stairs at the back of the ship. I almost forgot, the kitchen is accessible from the deck.” Twilight looked inside one of the room. It was a small but functional room with a bed against the wall just under a circular window, a wooden desk with a chair. Some shelves were attached on the wall. She saw a mirror that seemed to be installed very recently. She chuckled slightly; stallions were often thinking that a mare would always spend countless hours in front of a mirror every morning. It was a very nice intention from the captain thought. “It will be perfect, thanks you.” “In that case, make yourselves comfortable. I'm going to get the authorization to leave the docks and we will go!” The young stallion claimed with a tremor of happiness in his voice. He left with a sustained pace. Applejack glanced quickly at him with a smile before turning to the alicorn. “Ah like him. Maybe a little bit too tensed but ah suppose it's because we've just met. Take the room ya want.” “It is his job to welcome ponies as politely as he can, and I suppose he knows why we are travelling. And I'll take this one,” Twilight added as she put her saddlebags in her new room. “Besides, I'm pretty sure it will be better after a day or two.” “Ah sure hope so. He is kinda cute, don't ya think?” the earth pony said jokingly. “Ah'm sure the old'n'fancy engineer look got you.” “You are right AJ, I think I have found love at first sight,” Twilight rolled her eyes, a small grin on her muzzle. “I am a little bit disappointed though. I was waiting for an old captain.” “Maybe he has a parrot in his steerin' cabin.” They laughed while unpacking. Twilight was glad to not be alone during this travel; she knew that with a friend by her side, everything will be alright. She was a little frightened by the upcoming visits but she could do it. She put a few books on the desk. Applejack came inside her room and looked through the window, “Do ya know how high this big thingy can go?” “It depends of your needs. It can be a few meters or a few kilometers.” “Kilometers... Darn it... That's...” the earth pony mumbled. “Last time Ah got off ground that high, t'was to go to Cloudsdale. Two years ago Ah think.” “I do remember this time. Not a very good souvenir,” Twilight winced. “Now I'll think twice before casting a spell on a friend.” Applejack took her eyes off the window and looked at the alicorn with a genuine smile, “Say Twi, Ah don't know if Ah've thank ya to have me travelin' with ya. That's very kind of ya. Plus Ah'm glad Ah can help with your princess' duties.” “I'm the one who should thank you. It would not have been the same alone.” The aircraft's engines roared under their hooves, they were being turned on. The alicorn couldn't withhold a small squeak of excitement. The airship was going to take off; the diplomatic visits were officially going to begin. After months of hard word, countless sleepless nights, her efforts were going to pay. Her excitement quickly met her natural curiosity; she wanted to see with her own eyes the ship taking off. She turned to Applejack who was giving her a wide smile. “Go ahead sugarcube, Ah know ya want to go up and watch that takin'-off. Ah follow ya, “she added with a wink. Twilight didn't wait for Applejack to repeat this. She promptly returned to the deck and looked around. Aircraft engineering was a deep well of knowledge, full of complex yet fascinating equations and physical laws. She could name a few of them; explain some of the phenomenon which played a role in the taking off. Ponies were too often thinking that you just had to heat air to lift a balloon. It was partially true, but an airship wasn't working like this at all. The alicorn saw the captain untying the ropes holding the ship on the docks. She gazed at him a few seconds; maybe he would let her help with the maneuvers. Applejack chuckled at her side, repositioned her hat and gave a small poke to Twilight, “Ya don't have to be shy Twi. He's not goin' to eat ya.” “Wait... What do you...?“ the alicorn blushed. “Do ya need some help with this, partner?” the earth pony called out the captain, not letting Twilight finish her question. Cog Walker raised his head with a rope in his teeth and smiled, “I am not supposed to make my passengers work; I wouldn't be a gentlecolt if I did so.” “Quite the contrary. Ah've a princess here who badly wants to help!” the earth pony jokingly pointed out with a wink to Twilight, whose blushes intensified. “Alright then. I wouldn't want to disappoint her!” he tilted his head to the right. “There're still five ropes to untie, and some weight to put off the deck. You could use your telekinesis. And I presume that wasn't exactly what you were waiting for; I'll show you the cockpit then,” he added quickly. “If you work well, my trusty crew, I will let you driving the ship once we will be above the sea.” Applejack gave him a genuine laugh and trotted to the nearest rope. Twilight was exulting internally. When she was a filly, she had once dreamt to become a pilot and fly all-around of Equestria. She was thrilling with impatience, plus she would be able to ask heaps of questions once they will be inside the steering cabin. She hummed a song happily as she trotted to a stack of sandbags. This flight was going to be very interesting. After she and Applejack had finished the tasks the captain had given to her, he had kept his promise and showed to Twilight all the main systems of the aircraft. She let Cog Walker alone and got with Applejack on the deck. They leaned on the iron barer at the back of the blimp to watch Manehattan fading away in the distance. As the sun was setting low, the sky was shading to the orange and, hundreds of meters below them, the ocean was quietly moving. The alicorn could see the first stars appearing like small floating candles. It was such a surrealistic view she stayed muted for a long time. “Mah brother must be bucking the last trees for today,” Applejack said eventually. “And Spike should be finishing one of his comic books. He likes to read one of them after dinner.” “Ah am going to miss them, Twi. Last time Ah left home for so long, Ah was still a small filly.” “Don't worry. You are not alone,” the alicorn reminded her with a smile. “Pinkie and Rainbow did it a few months ago; we are following their paths in some way.” “It's sounds like some sort of quest when ya put it like this, sugarcube,” The earth pony laughed. “We gonna seek for that almighty golden sculpture, ain't we?” “The golden idol of Boreas? It might be the best way of befriend the griffons but I'm not feeling like going down the bottomless pit in which it is.” “So much for the advent... Woah Nelly!” Twilight felt something hot falling on her back, making her exhale in surprise and fall on the deck. The voice of the captain was yelling behind her, “No! Vanook! Come back here!” The alicorn saw a big ball of fluffy white fur jumping back on the floor and running away from her. It took her a few seconds to understand that she had been attacked by a dog of almost half her size. Applejack was already by her side, offering her hoof to help her getting up. “Are ya okay Twi?” “Celestia, I'm so sorry Princess Sparkle! Please forgive my dog; he is always excited when he met new ponies,” Cog Walker explained quickly with embarrassment. His sentence was punctuated by the dog backing happily. “No hard feelings,” She reassured him as she got up. “I know a dog like this one,” she said with a smile to Applejack. “Winona is the sweetest dog of Equestria, don't you dare makin' fun of mah girl sugarcube,” she answered with a smirk. “I'm glad you aren't mad," the captain sighed as petting the dog to keep him next to him. "Please meet Vanook; he's my dog and copilot. Don't mind him; he is just a big ball of fur and love.” “Hello there, little one. You've got an interesting way to introduce yourself,” Twilight told to the dog as she petted him. He rolled and the floor and let the alicorn stroke him. “It seems he likes you,” Cog Walker noticed with a smile. “Anyway, I was going to make the dinner, I'll let you know when it's ready.” He left the dog and the two friends. The animal returned to the stallion eventually after a few minutes. Applejack and Twilight stayed at the back of the ship for a while, looking again to the fading city. The alicorn thought about the upcoming days, and begun to have doubts about the way she was going to befriend the griffons. She pointed out jokingly that getting the golden idol of Boreas would be the best way to befriend this kind. But what if it was the only way? She didn't forget the griffon king's will to renew with Equestria but as long as she could tell, the only time when griffons got along in recorded history was when this idol was in their possession… She breathed deeply and let her doubts go. It would be alright. She had prepared everything meticulously, and she wasn't going to fail. Travelling by airship wasn't very different from travelling by train the alicorn quickly realized. Sure, the breathtaking views and the relative silence were a big plus, but the main activity was killing time by any mean. The diner had occupied a part of her evening. She had been surprised pleasantly when she saw the meal the stallion had prepared, it were simple yet delicious salads. They had eaten together on the deck and talked about themselves. Cog Walker was the possessor of the "L'Archimède", a quite surprising fact since buying one of these was extraordinary expensive. He had received it as a legacy from his father a few years ago when he passed away. The captain used to be an engineer in Canterlot but decided to continue the familial enterprise. The Walker family had been working in the aerial transportation for five generations and were one of the most trusted family it this domain. She understood why Celestia had chosen this young stallion. He told them about previous flights he had assured for the crown or for important ponies, such as Sapphire Shore or Prince Blueblood. He had hundreds of stories and anecdotes as a experimented private transporter, even if most of them came from his father's life. Twilight found in him someone interesting from who she could learn a lot. After a one hour long dinner, she decided to spend the evening in her room with a book about griffon history. She had read it several times in the last three weeks, but she wanted to master this as much as possible. A chapter was actually far more fascinating then the other: the relation between griffons and magic. They weren't able to directly interact with magic like unicorns or zebras, but had developed mysterious means to canalize and use it. Those were old tales, and this was a long-forgotten art. The story went that they were using precious gemstones and alchemical processes to alter the very nature of matter. For example, they could change the strength of a metal, allowing them to create greater yet lighter swords without the use of alloys. The main ingredient for their art was pure gold. The alicorn believed that their greedy nature might come from this ancestral art, since they knew the value behind the gemstones and gold. The book she had been reading was a transcription of Starswirl's manuscripts of travel and it was already calling this kind of magic a long lost art, so she could assume that the griffon's alchemy had not been used for more than a millennium. A knock on her door called her back to reality. She put the book back on the bed and looked at the small clock she had brought, it was already eleven o'clock. Twilight yawned quietly and trotted to the door, behind which she saw Applejack. “Ah hope Ah'm not wakin' you up sugarcabe, did Ah?” “Not at all, I was reading. You want to come in?” “Ah want to show ya somethin' actually that ya will love,” she answered with a confident grin. “What is this?” Twilight asked curiously. “Have you found something interesting in the ship?” “More like outside of it. Now don't ya try to make me name it before ya see it. Ah ain't sayin' a word!” she tilted her head to the stairs. “Come on, ya won't regret it!” “Too bad, I love riddles. Something outside the airship you want me to see...Maybe about the sea?” Twilight wondered aloud as she followed the earth pony. “Or maybe Cog Walker showed you something with a...” “Just close your eyes and follow mah voice, Twi,” Applejack chuckled. Twilight followed the instructions and let Applejack guide her. It was a very short walk as she went what she thought to be the iron barer of the aircraft. She heard the earth pony asking the captain to shut down the light of the deck. She quickly understood what Applejack wanted her to see and opened her eyelids. She looked up to the sky and was astonished by what she was looking at. She had never seen a night sky like this one. Far from any light pollution, from any source of light, the sky was shining with thousands of stars. She could almost instinctively name all the main constellations, but there were hundreds of them she had never seen. She sat on the floor, speechless in front of the dim light of the celestial bodies. She saw on her right a shooting star which disappeared after a few seconds. Applejack sat next to hear and whispered, “Ah know ya love stargazin' and this sky was just too incredible to not let ya know 'bout it.” “I've never seen anything like this...” Twilight murmured with her eyes getting wet. “I must be dreaming...” “It gonna be our night sky for the next couple of days. Pretty neat, uh?” Applejack answered as she raised her head. “Did Ah already tell ya 'bout the time Ah had to prevent mah little sister and her friends to build a rocket in our orchards?” “Did they really...?” “Ayep. It was an idea from Scotaloo just after they met Princess Luna,“ she laughed softly. “Ah love stargazin' too. It reminds me of so much stuff... Mah big brother used to teach me some constellations.” “I could show you other if you want,” Twilight offered as she turned her head in Applejack's direction. “The sky is perfectly clear; we can see all of them.” Applejack nodded and smiled, asking if there were any constellations that Twilight though as more important than the others. This question wasn't a total nonsense actually, since the stars used to be used by navigators. Twilight pointed at a few stars, traces in the air a few constellations, counted ancient legends and told Applejack about some of the things that fascinated her the most in the universe. Her friend quietly listened to her, sometimes adding a story of her own and some facts she knew. The alicorn was amazed by the attention the earth pony was paying to her. She couldn't recall when the last time somepony had listened to her like this. She learnt during the evening about Big Macintosh's passion for astronomy and that he used to spend countless hours stargazing during his youth, sometimes with his sisters. Cog Walker had joined them later with his dog and blankets. He listened to Twilight too, sometimes explaining some old ways to navigate through the sky and the sea. They ran out of discussion eventually, just staring at the sky in silence. Twilight felt the slumber of the night slowly surrounding her as she didn't move in her blanket. She sometimes looked at Vanook sleeping at Cog Walker's hooves or Applejack. She lost track of time, thinking about the upcoming weeks. She was glad that Applejack had come with her, and that she had showed her the night sky. She stopped fighting her heavy eyelids and let them shut down with a last glance to Applejack. She felt asleep with a small smile on her muzzle. 3 - GriffonstoneAuthor's Note Hello everypony, I can't remember the last time I posted a chapter on this story, and I apologize to those who had to wait a long time. I hope this new chapter will please you, I must say that it is my very first attempt to bring an emotion linked to a place, here Griffonstone. This is quite a classic trick, the places in which characters evolve are usually filled with meaning. If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, please do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! As usual, enjoy your reading and thank you for your time! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 3 - Griffonstone Griffonstone. Twilight was seeing it for the first time of her eyes with her very eyes. As the city's outline was getting more and more precise in the distance, the aircraft flew above sprawling pine forests. Sitting atop of a gigantic rocky mountain, the griffon capital was still emanating with its past glory. Griffonstone had once been the heart of a kingdom almost as powerful as Equestria during its apogee under King Grover's reign. It was during that era of prosperity that ponykind had stopped their contact with the griffons, thus explaining why the only books Twilight could find on the subject were only referring to the immensely grandiose city. She would one of the first, if not the first, delegation to visit this kingdom since three centuries. The morning mist made her shivered, but the beams of the rising sun would dissipate it quickly. Despite her excitement, she couldn't contain a yawn. Having trouble sleeping at high altitude, she had awoken before the sun had appeared for the last two days. She had been gazing at the horizon for an hour now; they had been flying over the endless pine forest all night. A bark took her out of her contemplation; Cog Walker's dog had sneaked at her side and was now looking at Twilight happily. She had a small smile and stroked its head. "Good morning Miss Sparkle, how was the night?" the captain's voice asked behind her. He presented her a green mug filled with smoking coffee. "Here's your coffee." "Hello captain. Thank you. That very sweet of you," she took the mug, touched by the intention. "It had been a short night like yesterday." "Insomnia again?" "The height isn't helping." "It took me a few years to get rid of this. Miss Applejack seems to be already accustomed to it on the other hoof," he smiled. "I have never heard somepony snoring like this!" Twilight laughed as she let the dog go away. "And I have a dragon at home that snores. A lot." "That's not the same league but Vanook can be noisy from time to time." Cog Walker took a sip from his own mug and gazed to Griffonstone too. "We will be there in two hours at most, plus half an hour to land. Should I wake up Miss Applejack?" "Don't worry, she will be awoken soon," Twilight chuckled. "She is always getting up with the sun." "The ones who get up early hold the world in their hooves. We must be the rulers of the world, at least for this morning, so to speak," the captain laughed lightheartedly. Twilight smiled genuinely and took a small sip of coffee. Cog Walker and she were getting along well. He was an energetic stallion who knew how to enjoy the simple things of life. He had often stories about his father's or his own travels across Equestria. She recalled that she had said to Applejack two days ago she would have loved to travel with a pony that sounded like the pirates of fairytales. The young earth pony wasn't exactly a pirate in appearance but surely as much stories to tell as an old sea-dog would have. "Say, Cog Walker, have you ever gone to Griffonstone?" "No, but my father did," he stated, rubbing his chin. "It was something like... Thirty years ago? Before he met my mom, he was often taking jobs no one would dare to. He had to go and check on the griffons. He and his balloon had been welcomed by a rain of arrows before he could even reach the capital." "You mean that the griffons attacked him without any warning?" she swallowed with anxiety. "I hope King Gregaire has sent the order to not fire at sight..." "It wasn't griffons actually but something else. He escaped without any damage but decided he wouldn't return there for a very long time." "It wasn't griffons? But the use of weapons like bows indicates he had been attacked by a sapiens kind," Twilight stated. "The closest guess he had managed to make was a tribe called Arismapes." "Arismapes...? That sounds awfully a lot like Arismapi," the alicorn pointed out. "These creatures were likely linked to the creature who stole the golden idol of Boreal." "I've never read anything about this idol," the captain said. "But if there's anything I can do to help." "You are already helping a lot by transporting me and Applejack," Twilight reminded him kindly. Sounds of hooves clopping on the floor drew the attention of both the alicorn and Cog Walker. Applejack was trotting towards them, yawning loudly. Twilight felt a small smile growing on her muzzle when her friend appeared but had no idea why. As usual, Applejack was wearing her stetson and had gathered her uncombed mane in a ponytail. She returned Twilight's smile and got next to her. "G'mornin' y'all. Ya woke mighty early again, Twi'. Somethin' prevented ya from sleepin'?" "Well the usual stuff... Height, stress, thinking... You know me." "It doesn't hold ya back from coffee though. Ya goin' to be as excited as Pinkie," the earth pony said jokingly, making Twilight roll her eyes with a smile. The earth pony turned her head to the captain. "Ya should be careful with this; too much coffee can make her excited." "Got it, but what about you? Do you want some coffee?" Cog Walker asked, showing his mug. "Nope, ah never drink coffee in the mornin'. But thanks ya anyway!" "Alright, I'm going to prepare the breakfast then. By the way, we'll arrive in a few hours." "Gosh, I almost forgot!" Twilight yelled in a panicked voice. "Speaking of Griffonstone, I have to tell King Gregaire we will arrive soon! I'll be back, sorry!" The alicorn trotted quickly to her room and opened one of the bag from which she selected a letter she had written back in Ponyville. Twilight hadn't checked her lists since she woke up this morning. She knew it almost by heart now but having every step she had to follow written and planned reassured her. Twilight got briefly through the letter which signaled that the airship was to land in Griffonstone in a few hours. The alicorn nodded with satisfaction as rolled up the parchment and enveloped it with her magic. Twilight ignited the letter with a green fire that consumed the parchment as soon as the flame had appeared. She was using the same type of magic Spike was doing when he sent letters to Princess Celestia. She had understood during her foalhood that this kind of magic could always be useful and had learnt how to do it a few years later. Her ability was nothing compared to those of the dragon, but was enough to communicate with a few persons. Twilight had had a difficult time sending the first letter to King Gregaire. The letters weren't going straight to the pony she was thinking of when she was casting her spell, it was far more complicated then that. The magic of sending letters was a whole field of magic. One had to be sure to send the letter to the right pony, since some letters had to not fall into the wrong hooves. In order to get such a result, the unicorns of the past had developed a system based on secured magic streams which was still in use in Equestria. Twilight had found after many sleepless nights an old stream connecting Canterlot and Griffonstone and had managed to send letters to the old empire with the instructions on how to send letters back to Canterlot. Luckily for her, she had obtained a response from King Gregaire himself. The alicorn had been emboldened by this success and had managed something she had thought to be impossible, she had renew contact with the Nocturnal Lands using this technique and got the letters to arrive directly to her. She was able to send and receive letters as she would do with Princess Celestia. It had been one of the toughest challenges she ever had to overcome but it was definitely worth the time. As the airship got closer to the ancient city, the endless pine forest was fading from a dense wood to rocky and inhospitable plains where scrawny trees where hardly surviving the weather. Gust of winds were howling between the boulders, giving to the barren landscape an unsettling atmosphere. Twilight was able to discern with difficulty something that looked like a old road made of cobblestone under a thick layer of dirt and rocks that winded between the small hills of the plain to Griffonstone she guessed. The alicorn felt uneasy when she looked at the landscape, and wasn't sure why the pine forest that must have been once expanding to the very gates of Griffonstone was so replaced by those lifeless lands. Twilight's excitement was slowly changing in apprehension as she getting closer to King Gregaire. She and the griffon's king had been exchanging letters for a few months now, and he seemed to be willing to renew with ponykind. But she knew how many times in history Equestria and the Griffon Empire had had tensions in their relationship because of the greedy nature of griffons. And also because of the pony pride she added mentally. When they began to fly over Griffonstone, Twilight felt her apprehension turn into disappointment. She knew thanks to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie's stories that the once majestic city was now only the shadow of its past glory, but the condition of the city was far worse than she expected it to be. She spotted some griffons walking through the town without a glance for each other. The buildings had survived to the time but they were mainly ruins somepony could hardly live in. The alicorn's heart shrunk in her chest as she was overwhelmed by Griffonstone. Those griffons needed help. "Hum. Yes, ponies," a voice took Twilight out of her thoughts. The alicorn yelped with surprise when a griffon appeared in her field of view, making her falling on her haunches. The griffon laughed scornfully as he crossed his arms on his grey chest. "You are really easily scared, aren't you?" he stated, shocking his head. "You must be the equines who want to meet our king." "You took me by surprise!" Twilight tried to justify vainly. She got up and extended her hoof. "I am Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and on behalf of Equestria I..." "Mine's Goltor," the griffon cut her without bothering shaking the hoof she retracted slowly. "Gregaire wants me to tell you where you can moor your airship and escort you to the castle. But you know how it works in Griffonstone..." He extended his hand, claws opened and the palm facing up with a greedy grin. Twilight growled and rolled her eyes. He wanted bits; the first thing a griffon asked her was bits. The alicorn didn't want to haggle over the price; she knew it would be a waste of time. Instead, she gritted her teeth and muttered. "Yes, I know... Please wait me here..." She left the airship deck and trotted to her room. She got from her bags a small purse made of leather full of bits, enough money to cover the expenses of at least three weeks of living in Ponyville. She hoped that it would be enough for the two days they were supposed to spend in Griffonstone. On her way back to pay Goltor's fee, she took the time to warn Cog Walker that a griffon would indicate him where he could land the airship. A few minutes later, she found the griffon talking with Applejack. ".. But ya know we are on an official mission to renew the relationship between our countries, right?" the earth pony tried to persuade Goltor. "Not my problem. Sharing the knowledge equals sharing the wealth," he hammered his point as a well learnt lesson. "But ya could do a favor to both of us if ya just..." "Time's money," he interrupted her rudely. He pointed Twilight with his claws. "Speaking of money, you got mine?" Twilight levitated a few bits from the purse in the direction of Goltor who grasped them greedily and bite one of them with his beak. He nodded with satisfaction and made a quick gesture with his hand. "It will always be a pleasure to make deals with you, dear equestrian delegates," he scoffed with a fake smile. "This way, please." The griffon left the airship and began to fly in the direction of the eastern part of the city. Twilight looked at him and facehoofed. If every griffon was like Goltor, it would be a very complicated mission. Applejack let her know that she was thinking the same with a growl. The griffon brought them to what seems to be an old open-air marketplace large enough to fit at least three times "l'Archimède". Cog Walker had no difficulty to land and moore the airship to the ground. The landing had been far less impressive than the takeoff, but Twilight was glad she and Applejack could help the young captain in the maneuvers this time. After the quarter of hour needed to land, the three ponies had got off the airship followed by the captain's dog. "I'm going to walk around the city with Vanook, but be sure to come back to the ship if you need anything," Cog Walker explained to Twilight as he gave her a bunch of keys. "You can open every door with this, but be sure to lock behind you please. I'll never to far anyway, but just in case." "Thank you, Cog. We're going to follow Goltor to the castle. I'll let you know when we are done," Twilight replied while slipping the keys inside her bag. "Thanks ya again for your help, sugarcube," Applejack added with a smile. "I'm just doing my job, but it's always nice to have clients as nice as you are," he blushed slightly as he rubbed his neck. "Do you need a kick in the back to move, ponies?" Goltor almost yelled behind the group. "Ah swear Ah won't lose my temper... Sweet Celestia, Ah swear I won't," Applejack told to herself as she closed her eyes in a attempt to not reply to the griffon. The three ponies broke apart and the two delegates followed Goltor through the city. The castle was at five minutes by hooves from the airship at most, but it was long enough for Twilight to see how badly the empire had decayed. Everything she was putting an eye on was falling apart. She could guess the ancient position of statues as only their plinth had survived. The few griffons she saw seemed to be as spiteful as their guide was, and the haughty looks they were giving her weren't helping to brighten the situation. Twilight leaned towards Applejack and murmured. "Who would have guessed that Griffonstone was such in a bad condition? I know the girls told us so, but I wasn't expecting anything like this." "Ah wasn't expectin' the griffons to be so greedy too. Ah hope this one is only an exception," Applejack muttered. "But given how they're lookin' at us, Ah'm afraid they all are Ah sure hope Ah'll be proven wrong." "Don't worry, as far as I can tell, the King is really a nice guy," Twilight reassured her softly. "Are you walking or are you sleeping?" Goltor barked in front of them. "He can't be any worse than this bird..." the earth pony's eyes narrowed. They climbed all their way to the castle sitting atop a gigantic rock from which griffons had carved an enormous and stylized tree. Twilight was impressed by such a large scale project, memento of the past glory of Griffonstone. She would have loved to know who had ordered this titanic work and why. Her bet was some megalomaniac king who wanted to be remembered, or at least show its power. Goltor stopped in front of a door made of oak and titled his head. "My job's done. Just get inside and follow the great corridor, the throne room will be there," He took off from the ground and flew away. "It was a pleasure as well and good bye!" Applejack yelled, exceeded by the griffon's behavior. Twilight sighed and shook her head, but didn't say anything. As the alicorn opened the door with her hoof, she felt her apprehension returning. She felt like a hole in her stomach, but entered in the castle anyway. The very first room of the castle was a large room with a pillar in each corner, two small corridors started both on the right and the left of the alicorn. In front of her, an overstrained carpet that must have been blue once was stretching across a corridor as large as the airship. She was amazed yet saddened by the decaying architecture that was falling apart. But the strangest fact was that neither guard nor any living entity could be seen. It was like the castle was empty, and it was most disturbing. "Ah know what you're thinkin' when ya got this head, Twi," Applejack.said with a soft voice. "Ya don't have to be anxious. If ya think Kin' Gregaire's a nice guy, he must be. And besides, ya are not alone," she added with a wink that somehow made Twilight shiver. Twilight nodded with a smile and trotted to the end of the corridor to encounter yet another closed door, probably leading to the throne room. Twilight opened her bag and took out from it a small wooden box. Applejack asked her as she took off her Stetson to clean it quickly. "Say Twi, ain't ya supposed to put on your princess outfit? Ah mean ya often wear outfits or things like that for official visits." "I will for the other visits but I've decided to not to today," the alicorn explained. "The more I see Griffonstone, the more I think griffons haven't much wealth left. And in their culture, having someone rubbing wealth you don't have on your face can be taken as a pretty big insult. I'll just take my crown to show King Gregaire I take this visit an official matter," she stated as she opened the small box and took out the said crown. She put it on her head and adjusted it with precision. "How do I look?" "That will do the trick. Ah let ya handle the talkin', sugarcube," Applejack smiled and put her hat back. "Let's go then and show this kin' how ponies roll!" Twilight chuckled behind her hoof and pushed the door with her telekinesis, revealing the throne room. It was a circular room with six imposing stained glass which showed several griffon kings performing legendary tasks. The alicorn recognized on one of them the depiction of King Grover holding the Golden Idol. The throne room was as decayed as the rest of the castle, if not more. Plants had begun to sprout in some cracks of the ceiling; even some mushrooms had grown on a seemingly very ancient stump at the very center of the room. Behind was a stair high of several steps which lead to a throne made of stones of different colors that had been once embellished with precious gemstones. A griffon of an advanced age was sitting on the throne, holding several parchments on which Twilight recognized the broken seal she used for her letters. He was taller than the griffons she had seen so far, with a cream plumage. He raised his head slowly and looked at the alicorn and her friend with his green eyes as hard as steel. A smile slowly made its way on his beck yet his eyes stayed cold. He put the letters on the throne's armrest and got up. His deep voice resonated in the room. "Your Highness Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and Lady Applejack, The Element of Honesty. I am most pleased to welcome you in Griffonstone," he got down the stairs and walked around the stump. He stopped a few meters away from Twilight and bowed slightly his head, "I am King Gregaire, Lord and Protector of Griffonstone," he offered his claw to Twilight. "A pleasure equally shared, King Gregaire,” Twilight answered as she grabbed the claw and firmly shook it. "I hope your travel got well, you must have met my son Goltor." "Indeed we did," the alicorn answered. "He left us a few minutes ago before we entered in the castle." "I asked him to do so, I wanted to welcome you personally but I have to stay in the castle because of some unexpected problems," the king explained. "I may be a terrible host by asking this, but shouldn't we put the formalities away? I may be greeting you as a king, but I am mainly greeting you as a friend." "I understand your desires King Gregaire," Twilight nodded, pleased by how the griffon seemed to want their meeting to be. "In that case, call me Twilight. This is how all of my friends call me." "I shall call you by your name if it is the pony way to show friendship," the old griffon smiled. "We should go somewhere we can all sit then. Please follow me." They got again through the crumbling corridors of the castle. Twilight trotted a few steps behind the king and near Applejack. She was glad to see that the earth pony's face had softened since they met the griffon. All griffons weren't the same; Gregaire seemed to really be different from the others, to be working for the greater good of his people. Even more, Twilight preferred to see Applejack smiling rather than frowning. Her smile was so beautiful after all. The alicorn stopped and blinked. Had she just thought that Applejack had a beautiful smile? In a moment like this? Why did she even think of this? She shook her head and stared at the earth pony. Her friend and King Gregaire had stopped and turned around, looking at the alicorn with puzzled expression. "Are ya alright, sugarcube?" "I... I was just... Uhm... Yes, I was just wondering who built this castle!" Twilight lied with a fake smile, feeling her cheeks burning. Applejack raised her eyebrow but grinned eventually, she recognized here the need of the alicorn to understand everything that was around her. "I may have a few answers for you, Princess Sparkle," the griffon king walked towards her. "This castle has been built on order from King Grover himself six centuries ago. He decided to build it to protect the Golden Idol of Boreas and to show the unity of the griffon kind. Which it still shows today," he added sadly while looking at a giant fissure in the wall, and turned his head away from the ponies. Applejack couldn't help but getting closer to Gregaire and giving one of the warmest smile a pony could offer. "Ah know how frustratin' it is to see a family torn apart, and your folk aren’t very different. Ya really seem to care about your folk, King Gregaire," Applejack took her hat off her head. "If ya do the best ya can, Ah know it will change." "Yes, this is a lifelong dream I have been working for ever since I was crowned. But griffons need something to gather around, something I haven't found yet." Twilight raised her hoof and was about to answer when a voice yelled through the corridors, echoing all across the castle. A young griffon in a rusty and seemingly too large armor run towards Gregaire and made a quick reverence before delivering his message. "Your Highness, Arismapes warriors have been spotted near the entrance of the city and are about to attack!"
1 - SeclusionAuthor's Note Hello every pony! After a month of work and research, I'm happy to publish this new story. First for all, I want to apologize if there are a lot of mistakes. Since English isn't my mother tongue, I am doing my best to write it as flawless as I can. The main purpose of this story is to develop Equestria's neighbors and their history. I have selected six destinations that we will get through the history, including Griffonstone or the Minotaur’s Empire. That will be the occasion to have an overview of the world outside Equestria’s boundaries! I have tried to alternate between dialogues and descriptions in order to give you a narrative immersion, and I hope it will work. Anyway, I’m often talking a lot in the beginning of the chapters. I hope you will enjoy this reading and thanks for your time! If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 1 - Seclusion Once upon a time in the magical land of Equestria, there were three great tribes which united under the banner of the two regal sisters. Valuing the friendship and the elements of Harmony that saved their kind from the dreadful fate brought by the Windigos, they tried their best to respect and serve those virtues. Since then, pony kind had always been prosperous; Equestria had always been one of the most powerful yet respected lands of the known world. However ponies grew a certain pride for their kind, consciously or not. They and the Goddesses were alike after all. They had the Sun and the Moon as rulers. They had mastered the weather thanks to pegasi. They could make wonders that none others races could do thanks to unicorns. They had the ability to grow food anywhere because of the earth ponies’ abilities. They had the most powerful artefacts known: the Elements of Harmony. All the foes that had threatened Equestria one day had been defeated. This pride, this deep-rooted pride was not without basis. Unfortunately it had brought to ponies an overweening self-esteem. Despite Celestia's best efforts to keep this pride under control, her people grew callous to her wise teaching. Year after year, century after century, the kingdom became more and more secluded. Ponies were getting presumptuous as the time passed by The Solar Princess gave up the fight eventually. The diplomatic relations maintained by Equestria begun to crumble before stopping completely. Twilight Sparkle read again the scribbled notes on her parchment, tapping her hoof on the desk thoughtfully. She had found no evidence at all of a decrease of this pride that had brought Equestria to a diplomatic silence, except with ancient colonies or a few others lands. The verdict disturbed her; Equestria had not had real diplomatic exchanges with Griffonstone for more than three centuries, with the Great Diamond Dogs Tribes of the East for more than five centuries. It was the same with the Minotaure's empire, the lands of bat ponies, Yakyakistan and even ponies in remote places of Equestria. She wasn't sure why Celestia would have decided to stop entirely the communication with other countries but it was an undeniable fact: pony kind had a serious problem with communication. Despite having a very developed technology, magical resources and much more, they weren't bothering checking on others. She hadn't to search very far to know about this. Her whole life she had dreamt about the legendary Griffonstone's library only to found a few months ago that if was now only a decayed pile of rubbles, as was the entire griffin capital as a matter of fact. She was willing to change this however. On her impulse, Princess Celestia had decided to get back in touch with Yakyakistan by inviting Prince Rutherford, the current ruler of this kingdom, to visit Equestria. Twilight had personally taken the visit in charge and, thanks to her friends, managed to renew with Yakyakistan. The relationship between the two kingdom was still frail and therefore had to be strengthened. As the Princess of Friendship, she felt that it was her duty to end the Equestrian diplomatic silence; and she couldn't think of a better idea than personally visit the countries and offer them Equestria's friendship. Somepony knocked at the door of her bedroom and brought her back to reality. She quickly gathered the scattered parchment into a pile and asked to the guess to come in. Spike opened the door, came in and rubbed his arm, “So... You are leaving today, aren't you?” “I am. But it won't take long Spike; I'll be back in less than a week or two,” Twilight reassured him kindly. “I know you'd like to come, but I have to travel in a very small committee for this first diplomatic visit. Plus, griffons don't like dragons particularly.” “Aren't you scared? I mean, would you be able to handle the...” He didn't finish his sentence. “I am going to Griffonstone, what would I have difficulty to deal with? Unfriendly griffons?” she laughed quickly, she wasn't afraid at all. “I was thinking about their library. You won't get mad when you see it, will you?” “I'll judge their case later. No one should mistreat a book,” She pointed out, winking to Spike. “I'll just go there and befriend their king. It is that simple!” “I hope it will,” he sighed. “So, I'm in charge of the castle I presume.” “Don't worry, I asked the girls to help you with everything.” “You promise you'll come back soon, do you?” Spike asked again. “I will,” she said as she hugged him warmly. They stayed like this for several seconds before splitting up. “Applejack's here anyway,” the dragon said as he went back to the door. “Is it noon already?” Twilight gasped as the checked the clock on the wall. She had been so absorbed by her notes that she didn't notice the time. “When did she arrive?” “Five minutes or so. She is in the kitchen with Rainbow and Starlight. The others aren't here yet.” Twilight nodded quickly and took the saddlebags she had prepared meticulously the day before. She was to leave and take the train in three hour and a half with Applejack in order to get to Manehattan where they would take an airship. She had been working for months on these diplomatic visits, and had had difficulties to meet the conditions of all the chiefs they would be meeting in the next days. The current king of Griffonstone had accepted their request, as long as they would pay for all the foods and services they would use - a typical griffon's mindset that Twilight was hoping to change. The bat ponies were more restricting: they would accommodate them as long the Equestrian delegation would be counting at most three ponies. They were a very wary kind; and since their capital was hidden deep into the Bug Bear Territory she had decided to enrol a guide in her delegation. Finally, Yakyakistan wasn't equipped with proper airports, they would have to lend in the Crystal Empire and travel through the mountains by walk; thus the ponies of her delegation had to be athletic enough to get through the mountains twice. Amongst all her friends, Applejack was the most suitable partner to fill all the requirements of this first trip. She had talked with the girls about this and they had agreed on this point. Applejack was the one who would come with Twilight during this trip. Besides, Applejack's commercial skills could be handy in case they have to buy supplies. Of course, she was disappointed that she had to leave most of her friends behind but she had to make concessions if she wanted to visits those countries. Deeply buried in her thoughts, she barely noticed that her legs had transported her to the kitchen where her friends were talking. She smiled at the sight of Starlight Glimmer discussing with her friends. She was now living In Ponyville. Twilight had been worried that maybe she would have felt left behind. The lavender alicorn got closer and took a sit. Rainbow Dash was the quickest to talk, “Hi Twilight! Sup? Ready to go?” “I have never been so prepared,” She answered with a confident grin. “I have everything Applejack and I will have to do on lists, every single place we are going to eat and sleep booked and all the equipment needed waiting for us at the right place,” she finished proudly. “And it was ready weeks ago!” “So much for an adventure,” Applejack chuckled. “At least ya know what ya doin'.” “Princess Celestia trusts us, we mustn't mess up,” Twilight pointed out. “Rainbow told us she already went to Griffonstone in the past,” Starlight stated. “How are you going to befriend their king? It seems that they aren't exactly inclined to friendship.” “I've been discussing with King Gregaire for the last months by letters, he is actually quite willing to renew with Equestria. It should be the easiest one to befriend amongst all the chiefs.” “All the chiefs?” Rainbow asked as she titled her head. “Aren't you just going to Griffonstone?” “For the twentieth time, we have diplomatic trip to six countries, with a return to Ponyville in between. First, we visit Griffonstone, and then we go to the Moonlight Caverns which located at the north of Griffonstone. There we'll find the bat ponies. After this stop, we head to the Crystal Empire where the airship will be left, since we will have to travel through the Yaket Range by hoof. We will visit Yakyakistan and then we go come back to Ponyville. That's the first part of the trip,” Twilight explained as if she was reciting a well learnt lesson. ”Then it will be the Minos Empire, the Diamond Dogs Tribes and, at the very end, the Zebra Kingdom. North and then South.” “Yeah I remember!” Rainbow exclaimed with a grin. “And we will come with you for the second part of the trip!” “Ayep, the minotaurs are bigger than bat ponies, but they ain't as restrictive,” Applejack noticed. “Won't they be bothered to have seven ponies to accommodate?” Starlight asked politely. “Eight ponies, Starlight, you are coming with us,” Twilight corrected. “The Minotaur King has insisted to meet me and all of my closest friends, you included.” The alicorn unpacked from her saddlebag the train tickets to Manehattan and the reservation for the airship. She wanted to check it once again with Applejack, this diplomatic trip had to perfect. The future of Equestria's international relationship would depend on it. Words about it had already been spread in the country; some ponies had seen an opportunity in business and had prepared for futures economical exchanges. She knew that a lot of ponies were counting on her. All the more it was her duty as a princess to not fail. But she was actually feeling confident. With Applejack at her side, nothing wrong could happen. After all, she had thought about every single details and had already had befriended different races before. It couldn't be as hard as it had been with the Prince of Yakyakistan. No definitely, it would be easy as pie.
2 - Crossing the seaAuthor's Note Hello every pony, A small trivia for today. While making this chapter, I was doing some research about the griffons in order to get the last details straight before Griffonstone. Do you remember the name of the Cyclop who stole the Golden Idol of Boreas? It's Arismapi, but do you know from where its name comes from? He is named after a legendary people of the Ancient Greece which was told to fight against Apollo's griffons in order to steal the god's gold. It was quite a nice surprise to see this connection, and it was worth sharing I think. If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! As usual, enjoy your reading and thank you for your time! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 2 - Crossing the sea Twilight and Applejack looked at the aircrafts moored on the Manehattan airport's docks. From huge commercial airships to small, private ones, there were almost a hundred of them around. The earth pony walked and was looking up, almost breaking her neck. She was amazed to see that much aircrafts; she had of course glimpsed some in the past but never as close or as enormous. Twilight was looking for a particular blimp. Princess Celestia had booked one of her personal aircraft and pilot for the occasion. She had told to search for "l'Archimède"; the old yet functional aircraft that would make them travel from point A to point B. Like Applejack, it would be Twilight's first travel aboard an airship. She had fantasized about meeting an old and grumpy captain with an eye pad, who would have mesmerizing stories to share with the ponies daring enough to listen to him. She had a childish laugh as she trotted toward other aircrafts, telling herself she had been reading too much fantasy books. Applejack caught up her friend and asked with a worried voice, “So... Those big things... They aren't dangerous at all, right?” “They aren't at all. Is there a problem, AJ?” she inquired. “Ah am not completely comfortable with the idea of spendin' a day up there actually,” the earth pony pointed to the sky with her chin. “There's not need to worry. Statistically speaking, aircraft is of the safest mode of transportation in all of Equestria.” “Ah believe ya sugarcabe. Ah bet it will feel mighty weird on this.” “I'm pretty sure it will be like in a hot balloon!” “Speaking of balloons, isn’t it the one we are searchin' for, Twi?” The alicorn looked in the direction to see the small yet seemingly resistant airship proudly wearing its name “L'Archimède” on its hull. It wasn't as large as the commercial ones, but the bright red of the balloon was quite catchy for the eye. Dozens of cables where linking the balloon to the boat like part of the airship, on which Twilight could see a stallion watching at the setting sun. She nodded to Applejack and searched for an access to the ship, or at least a way to draw the attention of the captain. A solution was quickly offered by the earth pony who simply called out the stallion. His ears raised up, turned around a little before he got off the iron barer and quickly got to the gangplank. He was a young stallion, much younger than everything Twilight was expecting. He was barely older than her. His coat was a dark brown, matching its eyes. He was wearing a white shirt and welding spectacle on his forehead, which gave him the look of a crazy engineer. This first impression was reinforced by its cutie mark: three gears positioned into a triangle shape. He bowed slowly, “Good evening your Highness and Miss Applejack. I'm Cog Walker and I'm pleased to be your pilot for your pilot for your diplomatic shuttle,” he punctuated his sentence with a smile and extending his hoof to the airship. “Welcome aboard the “L'Archimède”. Do you want me to take your bags?” “This is a pleasure as well. It will be alright, thank you captain,” the alicorn answered politely as she got on and crossed the gangplank. “And please call me Twilight,” she added once she was on the ship. “Are ya sure we can thrust this plank?” Applejack questioned suspiciously as she tested the wooden gangplank with her hoof. “Don't worry Miss, the old one broke two weeks ago, this one should be solid,” the stallion observed with a small smile. “Even more, it would a very bad publicity if I had such important guests falling even before the trip begins, don't you think?” “Fair point,” The earth pony tipped her hat and got in the ship. “Might I show you your rooms?” Twilight took Applejack's saddlebags and hers in her telekinesis grasp and followed the young captain. It was very curious that he was so young in fact. She would have thought that Celestia would have sent her to an experimented traveler. She wasn't questioning her choice; she knew that Celestia’s decisions were always wise. She concluded that Cog Walker was some sort of airship prodigy. It reminded her of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns where she had seen countless students from different backgrounds, mainly from Canterlot of course, but some from far less important cities. She could make an analogy with this young stallion. To be experimented or capable didn't mean to be an old and grumpy pony. The captain got down a small staircase and through a tight corridor, large enough for only one and a half pony to fit at once. He opened two facing doors and showed them with his hoof, “I hope this will be good enough for you, ladies. The bathroom is the last door on the left. The last door on the right leads to the engine room and this one to my room. If you search the steering cabin, just go back outside and take the stairs at the back of the ship. I almost forgot, the kitchen is accessible from the deck.” Twilight looked inside one of the room. It was a small but functional room with a bed against the wall just under a circular window, a wooden desk with a chair. Some shelves were attached on the wall. She saw a mirror that seemed to be installed very recently. She chuckled slightly; stallions were often thinking that a mare would always spend countless hours in front of a mirror every morning. It was a very nice intention from the captain thought. “It will be perfect, thanks you.” “In that case, make yourselves comfortable. I'm going to get the authorization to leave the docks and we will go!” The young stallion claimed with a tremor of happiness in his voice. He left with a sustained pace. Applejack glanced quickly at him with a smile before turning to the alicorn. “Ah like him. Maybe a little bit too tensed but ah suppose it's because we've just met. Take the room ya want.” “It is his job to welcome ponies as politely as he can, and I suppose he knows why we are travelling. And I'll take this one,” Twilight added as she put her saddlebags in her new room. “Besides, I'm pretty sure it will be better after a day or two.” “Ah sure hope so. He is kinda cute, don't ya think?” the earth pony said jokingly. “Ah'm sure the old'n'fancy engineer look got you.” “You are right AJ, I think I have found love at first sight,” Twilight rolled her eyes, a small grin on her muzzle. “I am a little bit disappointed though. I was waiting for an old captain.” “Maybe he has a parrot in his steerin' cabin.” They laughed while unpacking. Twilight was glad to not be alone during this travel; she knew that with a friend by her side, everything will be alright. She was a little frightened by the upcoming visits but she could do it. She put a few books on the desk. Applejack came inside her room and looked through the window, “Do ya know how high this big thingy can go?” “It depends of your needs. It can be a few meters or a few kilometers.” “Kilometers... Darn it... That's...” the earth pony mumbled. “Last time Ah got off ground that high, t'was to go to Cloudsdale. Two years ago Ah think.” “I do remember this time. Not a very good souvenir,” Twilight winced. “Now I'll think twice before casting a spell on a friend.” Applejack took her eyes off the window and looked at the alicorn with a genuine smile, “Say Twi, Ah don't know if Ah've thank ya to have me travelin' with ya. That's very kind of ya. Plus Ah'm glad Ah can help with your princess' duties.” “I'm the one who should thank you. It would not have been the same alone.” The aircraft's engines roared under their hooves, they were being turned on. The alicorn couldn't withhold a small squeak of excitement. The airship was going to take off; the diplomatic visits were officially going to begin. After months of hard word, countless sleepless nights, her efforts were going to pay. Her excitement quickly met her natural curiosity; she wanted to see with her own eyes the ship taking off. She turned to Applejack who was giving her a wide smile. “Go ahead sugarcube, Ah know ya want to go up and watch that takin'-off. Ah follow ya, “she added with a wink. Twilight didn't wait for Applejack to repeat this. She promptly returned to the deck and looked around. Aircraft engineering was a deep well of knowledge, full of complex yet fascinating equations and physical laws. She could name a few of them; explain some of the phenomenon which played a role in the taking off. Ponies were too often thinking that you just had to heat air to lift a balloon. It was partially true, but an airship wasn't working like this at all. The alicorn saw the captain untying the ropes holding the ship on the docks. She gazed at him a few seconds; maybe he would let her help with the maneuvers. Applejack chuckled at her side, repositioned her hat and gave a small poke to Twilight, “Ya don't have to be shy Twi. He's not goin' to eat ya.” “Wait... What do you...?“ the alicorn blushed. “Do ya need some help with this, partner?” the earth pony called out the captain, not letting Twilight finish her question. Cog Walker raised his head with a rope in his teeth and smiled, “I am not supposed to make my passengers work; I wouldn't be a gentlecolt if I did so.” “Quite the contrary. Ah've a princess here who badly wants to help!” the earth pony jokingly pointed out with a wink to Twilight, whose blushes intensified. “Alright then. I wouldn't want to disappoint her!” he tilted his head to the right. “There're still five ropes to untie, and some weight to put off the deck. You could use your telekinesis. And I presume that wasn't exactly what you were waiting for; I'll show you the cockpit then,” he added quickly. “If you work well, my trusty crew, I will let you driving the ship once we will be above the sea.” Applejack gave him a genuine laugh and trotted to the nearest rope. Twilight was exulting internally. When she was a filly, she had once dreamt to become a pilot and fly all-around of Equestria. She was thrilling with impatience, plus she would be able to ask heaps of questions once they will be inside the steering cabin. She hummed a song happily as she trotted to a stack of sandbags. This flight was going to be very interesting. After she and Applejack had finished the tasks the captain had given to her, he had kept his promise and showed to Twilight all the main systems of the aircraft. She let Cog Walker alone and got with Applejack on the deck. They leaned on the iron barer at the back of the blimp to watch Manehattan fading away in the distance. As the sun was setting low, the sky was shading to the orange and, hundreds of meters below them, the ocean was quietly moving. The alicorn could see the first stars appearing like small floating candles. It was such a surrealistic view she stayed muted for a long time. “Mah brother must be bucking the last trees for today,” Applejack said eventually. “And Spike should be finishing one of his comic books. He likes to read one of them after dinner.” “Ah am going to miss them, Twi. Last time Ah left home for so long, Ah was still a small filly.” “Don't worry. You are not alone,” the alicorn reminded her with a smile. “Pinkie and Rainbow did it a few months ago; we are following their paths in some way.” “It's sounds like some sort of quest when ya put it like this, sugarcube,” The earth pony laughed. “We gonna seek for that almighty golden sculpture, ain't we?” “The golden idol of Boreas? It might be the best way of befriend the griffons but I'm not feeling like going down the bottomless pit in which it is.” “So much for the advent... Woah Nelly!” Twilight felt something hot falling on her back, making her exhale in surprise and fall on the deck. The voice of the captain was yelling behind her, “No! Vanook! Come back here!” The alicorn saw a big ball of fluffy white fur jumping back on the floor and running away from her. It took her a few seconds to understand that she had been attacked by a dog of almost half her size. Applejack was already by her side, offering her hoof to help her getting up. “Are ya okay Twi?” “Celestia, I'm so sorry Princess Sparkle! Please forgive my dog; he is always excited when he met new ponies,” Cog Walker explained quickly with embarrassment. His sentence was punctuated by the dog backing happily. “No hard feelings,” She reassured him as she got up. “I know a dog like this one,” she said with a smile to Applejack. “Winona is the sweetest dog of Equestria, don't you dare makin' fun of mah girl sugarcube,” she answered with a smirk. “I'm glad you aren't mad," the captain sighed as petting the dog to keep him next to him. "Please meet Vanook; he's my dog and copilot. Don't mind him; he is just a big ball of fur and love.” “Hello there, little one. You've got an interesting way to introduce yourself,” Twilight told to the dog as she petted him. He rolled and the floor and let the alicorn stroke him. “It seems he likes you,” Cog Walker noticed with a smile. “Anyway, I was going to make the dinner, I'll let you know when it's ready.” He left the dog and the two friends. The animal returned to the stallion eventually after a few minutes. Applejack and Twilight stayed at the back of the ship for a while, looking again to the fading city. The alicorn thought about the upcoming days, and begun to have doubts about the way she was going to befriend the griffons. She pointed out jokingly that getting the golden idol of Boreas would be the best way to befriend this kind. But what if it was the only way? She didn't forget the griffon king's will to renew with Equestria but as long as she could tell, the only time when griffons got along in recorded history was when this idol was in their possession… She breathed deeply and let her doubts go. It would be alright. She had prepared everything meticulously, and she wasn't going to fail. Travelling by airship wasn't very different from travelling by train the alicorn quickly realized. Sure, the breathtaking views and the relative silence were a big plus, but the main activity was killing time by any mean. The diner had occupied a part of her evening. She had been surprised pleasantly when she saw the meal the stallion had prepared, it were simple yet delicious salads. They had eaten together on the deck and talked about themselves. Cog Walker was the possessor of the "L'Archimède", a quite surprising fact since buying one of these was extraordinary expensive. He had received it as a legacy from his father a few years ago when he passed away. The captain used to be an engineer in Canterlot but decided to continue the familial enterprise. The Walker family had been working in the aerial transportation for five generations and were one of the most trusted family it this domain. She understood why Celestia had chosen this young stallion. He told them about previous flights he had assured for the crown or for important ponies, such as Sapphire Shore or Prince Blueblood. He had hundreds of stories and anecdotes as a experimented private transporter, even if most of them came from his father's life. Twilight found in him someone interesting from who she could learn a lot. After a one hour long dinner, she decided to spend the evening in her room with a book about griffon history. She had read it several times in the last three weeks, but she wanted to master this as much as possible. A chapter was actually far more fascinating then the other: the relation between griffons and magic. They weren't able to directly interact with magic like unicorns or zebras, but had developed mysterious means to canalize and use it. Those were old tales, and this was a long-forgotten art. The story went that they were using precious gemstones and alchemical processes to alter the very nature of matter. For example, they could change the strength of a metal, allowing them to create greater yet lighter swords without the use of alloys. The main ingredient for their art was pure gold. The alicorn believed that their greedy nature might come from this ancestral art, since they knew the value behind the gemstones and gold. The book she had been reading was a transcription of Starswirl's manuscripts of travel and it was already calling this kind of magic a long lost art, so she could assume that the griffon's alchemy had not been used for more than a millennium. A knock on her door called her back to reality. She put the book back on the bed and looked at the small clock she had brought, it was already eleven o'clock. Twilight yawned quietly and trotted to the door, behind which she saw Applejack. “Ah hope Ah'm not wakin' you up sugarcabe, did Ah?” “Not at all, I was reading. You want to come in?” “Ah want to show ya somethin' actually that ya will love,” she answered with a confident grin. “What is this?” Twilight asked curiously. “Have you found something interesting in the ship?” “More like outside of it. Now don't ya try to make me name it before ya see it. Ah ain't sayin' a word!” she tilted her head to the stairs. “Come on, ya won't regret it!” “Too bad, I love riddles. Something outside the airship you want me to see...Maybe about the sea?” Twilight wondered aloud as she followed the earth pony. “Or maybe Cog Walker showed you something with a...” “Just close your eyes and follow mah voice, Twi,” Applejack chuckled. Twilight followed the instructions and let Applejack guide her. It was a very short walk as she went what she thought to be the iron barer of the aircraft. She heard the earth pony asking the captain to shut down the light of the deck. She quickly understood what Applejack wanted her to see and opened her eyelids. She looked up to the sky and was astonished by what she was looking at. She had never seen a night sky like this one. Far from any light pollution, from any source of light, the sky was shining with thousands of stars. She could almost instinctively name all the main constellations, but there were hundreds of them she had never seen. She sat on the floor, speechless in front of the dim light of the celestial bodies. She saw on her right a shooting star which disappeared after a few seconds. Applejack sat next to hear and whispered, “Ah know ya love stargazin' and this sky was just too incredible to not let ya know 'bout it.” “I've never seen anything like this...” Twilight murmured with her eyes getting wet. “I must be dreaming...” “It gonna be our night sky for the next couple of days. Pretty neat, uh?” Applejack answered as she raised her head. “Did Ah already tell ya 'bout the time Ah had to prevent mah little sister and her friends to build a rocket in our orchards?” “Did they really...?” “Ayep. It was an idea from Scotaloo just after they met Princess Luna,“ she laughed softly. “Ah love stargazin' too. It reminds me of so much stuff... Mah big brother used to teach me some constellations.” “I could show you other if you want,” Twilight offered as she turned her head in Applejack's direction. “The sky is perfectly clear; we can see all of them.” Applejack nodded and smiled, asking if there were any constellations that Twilight though as more important than the others. This question wasn't a total nonsense actually, since the stars used to be used by navigators. Twilight pointed at a few stars, traces in the air a few constellations, counted ancient legends and told Applejack about some of the things that fascinated her the most in the universe. Her friend quietly listened to her, sometimes adding a story of her own and some facts she knew. The alicorn was amazed by the attention the earth pony was paying to her. She couldn't recall when the last time somepony had listened to her like this. She learnt during the evening about Big Macintosh's passion for astronomy and that he used to spend countless hours stargazing during his youth, sometimes with his sisters. Cog Walker had joined them later with his dog and blankets. He listened to Twilight too, sometimes explaining some old ways to navigate through the sky and the sea. They ran out of discussion eventually, just staring at the sky in silence. Twilight felt the slumber of the night slowly surrounding her as she didn't move in her blanket. She sometimes looked at Vanook sleeping at Cog Walker's hooves or Applejack. She lost track of time, thinking about the upcoming weeks. She was glad that Applejack had come with her, and that she had showed her the night sky. She stopped fighting her heavy eyelids and let them shut down with a last glance to Applejack. She felt asleep with a small smile on her muzzle.
3 - GriffonstoneAuthor's Note Hello everypony, I can't remember the last time I posted a chapter on this story, and I apologize to those who had to wait a long time. I hope this new chapter will please you, I must say that it is my very first attempt to bring an emotion linked to a place, here Griffonstone. This is quite a classic trick, the places in which characters evolve are usually filled with meaning. If you spot any error in the writing, or some things I could fix, please do not hesitate to tell me in the comments or even my private message! It will be my pleasure to learn thanks to you! As usual, enjoy your reading and thank you for your time! Note: This story is under editing, and only the first part of this chapter has been reworked. I am currently in search of a new person to help me. I really hope that the mistakes won't bother you too much in your reading. I apologize if so. Anyway, have fun! 3 - Griffonstone Griffonstone. Twilight was seeing it for the first time of her eyes with her very eyes. As the city's outline was getting more and more precise in the distance, the aircraft flew above sprawling pine forests. Sitting atop of a gigantic rocky mountain, the griffon capital was still emanating with its past glory. Griffonstone had once been the heart of a kingdom almost as powerful as Equestria during its apogee under King Grover's reign. It was during that era of prosperity that ponykind had stopped their contact with the griffons, thus explaining why the only books Twilight could find on the subject were only referring to the immensely grandiose city. She would one of the first, if not the first, delegation to visit this kingdom since three centuries. The morning mist made her shivered, but the beams of the rising sun would dissipate it quickly. Despite her excitement, she couldn't contain a yawn. Having trouble sleeping at high altitude, she had awoken before the sun had appeared for the last two days. She had been gazing at the horizon for an hour now; they had been flying over the endless pine forest all night. A bark took her out of her contemplation; Cog Walker's dog had sneaked at her side and was now looking at Twilight happily. She had a small smile and stroked its head. "Good morning Miss Sparkle, how was the night?" the captain's voice asked behind her. He presented her a green mug filled with smoking coffee. "Here's your coffee." "Hello captain. Thank you. That very sweet of you," she took the mug, touched by the intention. "It had been a short night like yesterday." "Insomnia again?" "The height isn't helping." "It took me a few years to get rid of this. Miss Applejack seems to be already accustomed to it on the other hoof," he smiled. "I have never heard somepony snoring like this!" Twilight laughed as she let the dog go away. "And I have a dragon at home that snores. A lot." "That's not the same league but Vanook can be noisy from time to time." Cog Walker took a sip from his own mug and gazed to Griffonstone too. "We will be there in two hours at most, plus half an hour to land. Should I wake up Miss Applejack?" "Don't worry, she will be awoken soon," Twilight chuckled. "She is always getting up with the sun." "The ones who get up early hold the world in their hooves. We must be the rulers of the world, at least for this morning, so to speak," the captain laughed lightheartedly. Twilight smiled genuinely and took a small sip of coffee. Cog Walker and she were getting along well. He was an energetic stallion who knew how to enjoy the simple things of life. He had often stories about his father's or his own travels across Equestria. She recalled that she had said to Applejack two days ago she would have loved to travel with a pony that sounded like the pirates of fairytales. The young earth pony wasn't exactly a pirate in appearance but surely as much stories to tell as an old sea-dog would have. "Say, Cog Walker, have you ever gone to Griffonstone?" "No, but my father did," he stated, rubbing his chin. "It was something like... Thirty years ago? Before he met my mom, he was often taking jobs no one would dare to. He had to go and check on the griffons. He and his balloon had been welcomed by a rain of arrows before he could even reach the capital." "You mean that the griffons attacked him without any warning?" she swallowed with anxiety. "I hope King Gregaire has sent the order to not fire at sight..." "It wasn't griffons actually but something else. He escaped without any damage but decided he wouldn't return there for a very long time." "It wasn't griffons? But the use of weapons like bows indicates he had been attacked by a sapiens kind," Twilight stated. "The closest guess he had managed to make was a tribe called Arismapes." "Arismapes...? That sounds awfully a lot like Arismapi," the alicorn pointed out. "These creatures were likely linked to the creature who stole the golden idol of Boreal." "I've never read anything about this idol," the captain said. "But if there's anything I can do to help." "You are already helping a lot by transporting me and Applejack," Twilight reminded him kindly. Sounds of hooves clopping on the floor drew the attention of both the alicorn and Cog Walker. Applejack was trotting towards them, yawning loudly. Twilight felt a small smile growing on her muzzle when her friend appeared but had no idea why. As usual, Applejack was wearing her stetson and had gathered her uncombed mane in a ponytail. She returned Twilight's smile and got next to her. "G'mornin' y'all. Ya woke mighty early again, Twi'. Somethin' prevented ya from sleepin'?" "Well the usual stuff... Height, stress, thinking... You know me." "It doesn't hold ya back from coffee though. Ya goin' to be as excited as Pinkie," the earth pony said jokingly, making Twilight roll her eyes with a smile. The earth pony turned her head to the captain. "Ya should be careful with this; too much coffee can make her excited." "Got it, but what about you? Do you want some coffee?" Cog Walker asked, showing his mug. "Nope, ah never drink coffee in the mornin'. But thanks ya anyway!" "Alright, I'm going to prepare the breakfast then. By the way, we'll arrive in a few hours." "Gosh, I almost forgot!" Twilight yelled in a panicked voice. "Speaking of Griffonstone, I have to tell King Gregaire we will arrive soon! I'll be back, sorry!" The alicorn trotted quickly to her room and opened one of the bag from which she selected a letter she had written back in Ponyville. Twilight hadn't checked her lists since she woke up this morning. She knew it almost by heart now but having every step she had to follow written and planned reassured her. Twilight got briefly through the letter which signaled that the airship was to land in Griffonstone in a few hours. The alicorn nodded with satisfaction as rolled up the parchment and enveloped it with her magic. Twilight ignited the letter with a green fire that consumed the parchment as soon as the flame had appeared. She was using the same type of magic Spike was doing when he sent letters to Princess Celestia. She had understood during her foalhood that this kind of magic could always be useful and had learnt how to do it a few years later. Her ability was nothing compared to those of the dragon, but was enough to communicate with a few persons. Twilight had had a difficult time sending the first letter to King Gregaire. The letters weren't going straight to the pony she was thinking of when she was casting her spell, it was far more complicated then that. The magic of sending letters was a whole field of magic. One had to be sure to send the letter to the right pony, since some letters had to not fall into the wrong hooves. In order to get such a result, the unicorns of the past had developed a system based on secured magic streams which was still in use in Equestria. Twilight had found after many sleepless nights an old stream connecting Canterlot and Griffonstone and had managed to send letters to the old empire with the instructions on how to send letters back to Canterlot. Luckily for her, she had obtained a response from King Gregaire himself. The alicorn had been emboldened by this success and had managed something she had thought to be impossible, she had renew contact with the Nocturnal Lands using this technique and got the letters to arrive directly to her. She was able to send and receive letters as she would do with Princess Celestia. It had been one of the toughest challenges she ever had to overcome but it was definitely worth the time. As the airship got closer to the ancient city, the endless pine forest was fading from a dense wood to rocky and inhospitable plains where scrawny trees where hardly surviving the weather. Gust of winds were howling between the boulders, giving to the barren landscape an unsettling atmosphere. Twilight was able to discern with difficulty something that looked like a old road made of cobblestone under a thick layer of dirt and rocks that winded between the small hills of the plain to Griffonstone she guessed. The alicorn felt uneasy when she looked at the landscape, and wasn't sure why the pine forest that must have been once expanding to the very gates of Griffonstone was so replaced by those lifeless lands. Twilight's excitement was slowly changing in apprehension as she getting closer to King Gregaire. She and the griffon's king had been exchanging letters for a few months now, and he seemed to be willing to renew with ponykind. But she knew how many times in history Equestria and the Griffon Empire had had tensions in their relationship because of the greedy nature of griffons. And also because of the pony pride she added mentally. When they began to fly over Griffonstone, Twilight felt her apprehension turn into disappointment. She knew thanks to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie's stories that the once majestic city was now only the shadow of its past glory, but the condition of the city was far worse than she expected it to be. She spotted some griffons walking through the town without a glance for each other. The buildings had survived to the time but they were mainly ruins somepony could hardly live in. The alicorn's heart shrunk in her chest as she was overwhelmed by Griffonstone. Those griffons needed help. "Hum. Yes, ponies," a voice took Twilight out of her thoughts. The alicorn yelped with surprise when a griffon appeared in her field of view, making her falling on her haunches. The griffon laughed scornfully as he crossed his arms on his grey chest. "You are really easily scared, aren't you?" he stated, shocking his head. "You must be the equines who want to meet our king." "You took me by surprise!" Twilight tried to justify vainly. She got up and extended her hoof. "I am Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and on behalf of Equestria I..." "Mine's Goltor," the griffon cut her without bothering shaking the hoof she retracted slowly. "Gregaire wants me to tell you where you can moor your airship and escort you to the castle. But you know how it works in Griffonstone..." He extended his hand, claws opened and the palm facing up with a greedy grin. Twilight growled and rolled her eyes. He wanted bits; the first thing a griffon asked her was bits. The alicorn didn't want to haggle over the price; she knew it would be a waste of time. Instead, she gritted her teeth and muttered. "Yes, I know... Please wait me here..." She left the airship deck and trotted to her room. She got from her bags a small purse made of leather full of bits, enough money to cover the expenses of at least three weeks of living in Ponyville. She hoped that it would be enough for the two days they were supposed to spend in Griffonstone. On her way back to pay Goltor's fee, she took the time to warn Cog Walker that a griffon would indicate him where he could land the airship. A few minutes later, she found the griffon talking with Applejack. ".. But ya know we are on an official mission to renew the relationship between our countries, right?" the earth pony tried to persuade Goltor. "Not my problem. Sharing the knowledge equals sharing the wealth," he hammered his point as a well learnt lesson. "But ya could do a favor to both of us if ya just..." "Time's money," he interrupted her rudely. He pointed Twilight with his claws. "Speaking of money, you got mine?" Twilight levitated a few bits from the purse in the direction of Goltor who grasped them greedily and bite one of them with his beak. He nodded with satisfaction and made a quick gesture with his hand. "It will always be a pleasure to make deals with you, dear equestrian delegates," he scoffed with a fake smile. "This way, please." The griffon left the airship and began to fly in the direction of the eastern part of the city. Twilight looked at him and facehoofed. If every griffon was like Goltor, it would be a very complicated mission. Applejack let her know that she was thinking the same with a growl. The griffon brought them to what seems to be an old open-air marketplace large enough to fit at least three times "l'Archimède". Cog Walker had no difficulty to land and moore the airship to the ground. The landing had been far less impressive than the takeoff, but Twilight was glad she and Applejack could help the young captain in the maneuvers this time. After the quarter of hour needed to land, the three ponies had got off the airship followed by the captain's dog. "I'm going to walk around the city with Vanook, but be sure to come back to the ship if you need anything," Cog Walker explained to Twilight as he gave her a bunch of keys. "You can open every door with this, but be sure to lock behind you please. I'll never to far anyway, but just in case." "Thank you, Cog. We're going to follow Goltor to the castle. I'll let you know when we are done," Twilight replied while slipping the keys inside her bag. "Thanks ya again for your help, sugarcube," Applejack added with a smile. "I'm just doing my job, but it's always nice to have clients as nice as you are," he blushed slightly as he rubbed his neck. "Do you need a kick in the back to move, ponies?" Goltor almost yelled behind the group. "Ah swear Ah won't lose my temper... Sweet Celestia, Ah swear I won't," Applejack told to herself as she closed her eyes in a attempt to not reply to the griffon. The three ponies broke apart and the two delegates followed Goltor through the city. The castle was at five minutes by hooves from the airship at most, but it was long enough for Twilight to see how badly the empire had decayed. Everything she was putting an eye on was falling apart. She could guess the ancient position of statues as only their plinth had survived. The few griffons she saw seemed to be as spiteful as their guide was, and the haughty looks they were giving her weren't helping to brighten the situation. Twilight leaned towards Applejack and murmured. "Who would have guessed that Griffonstone was such in a bad condition? I know the girls told us so, but I wasn't expecting anything like this." "Ah wasn't expectin' the griffons to be so greedy too. Ah hope this one is only an exception," Applejack muttered. "But given how they're lookin' at us, Ah'm afraid they all are Ah sure hope Ah'll be proven wrong." "Don't worry, as far as I can tell, the King is really a nice guy," Twilight reassured her softly. "Are you walking or are you sleeping?" Goltor barked in front of them. "He can't be any worse than this bird..." the earth pony's eyes narrowed. They climbed all their way to the castle sitting atop a gigantic rock from which griffons had carved an enormous and stylized tree. Twilight was impressed by such a large scale project, memento of the past glory of Griffonstone. She would have loved to know who had ordered this titanic work and why. Her bet was some megalomaniac king who wanted to be remembered, or at least show its power. Goltor stopped in front of a door made of oak and titled his head. "My job's done. Just get inside and follow the great corridor, the throne room will be there," He took off from the ground and flew away. "It was a pleasure as well and good bye!" Applejack yelled, exceeded by the griffon's behavior. Twilight sighed and shook her head, but didn't say anything. As the alicorn opened the door with her hoof, she felt her apprehension returning. She felt like a hole in her stomach, but entered in the castle anyway. The very first room of the castle was a large room with a pillar in each corner, two small corridors started both on the right and the left of the alicorn. In front of her, an overstrained carpet that must have been blue once was stretching across a corridor as large as the airship. She was amazed yet saddened by the decaying architecture that was falling apart. But the strangest fact was that neither guard nor any living entity could be seen. It was like the castle was empty, and it was most disturbing. "Ah know what you're thinkin' when ya got this head, Twi," Applejack.said with a soft voice. "Ya don't have to be anxious. If ya think Kin' Gregaire's a nice guy, he must be. And besides, ya are not alone," she added with a wink that somehow made Twilight shiver. Twilight nodded with a smile and trotted to the end of the corridor to encounter yet another closed door, probably leading to the throne room. Twilight opened her bag and took out from it a small wooden box. Applejack asked her as she took off her Stetson to clean it quickly. "Say Twi, ain't ya supposed to put on your princess outfit? Ah mean ya often wear outfits or things like that for official visits." "I will for the other visits but I've decided to not to today," the alicorn explained. "The more I see Griffonstone, the more I think griffons haven't much wealth left. And in their culture, having someone rubbing wealth you don't have on your face can be taken as a pretty big insult. I'll just take my crown to show King Gregaire I take this visit an official matter," she stated as she opened the small box and took out the said crown. She put it on her head and adjusted it with precision. "How do I look?" "That will do the trick. Ah let ya handle the talkin', sugarcube," Applejack smiled and put her hat back. "Let's go then and show this kin' how ponies roll!" Twilight chuckled behind her hoof and pushed the door with her telekinesis, revealing the throne room. It was a circular room with six imposing stained glass which showed several griffon kings performing legendary tasks. The alicorn recognized on one of them the depiction of King Grover holding the Golden Idol. The throne room was as decayed as the rest of the castle, if not more. Plants had begun to sprout in some cracks of the ceiling; even some mushrooms had grown on a seemingly very ancient stump at the very center of the room. Behind was a stair high of several steps which lead to a throne made of stones of different colors that had been once embellished with precious gemstones. A griffon of an advanced age was sitting on the throne, holding several parchments on which Twilight recognized the broken seal she used for her letters. He was taller than the griffons she had seen so far, with a cream plumage. He raised his head slowly and looked at the alicorn and her friend with his green eyes as hard as steel. A smile slowly made its way on his beck yet his eyes stayed cold. He put the letters on the throne's armrest and got up. His deep voice resonated in the room. "Your Highness Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and Lady Applejack, The Element of Honesty. I am most pleased to welcome you in Griffonstone," he got down the stairs and walked around the stump. He stopped a few meters away from Twilight and bowed slightly his head, "I am King Gregaire, Lord and Protector of Griffonstone," he offered his claw to Twilight. "A pleasure equally shared, King Gregaire,” Twilight answered as she grabbed the claw and firmly shook it. "I hope your travel got well, you must have met my son Goltor." "Indeed we did," the alicorn answered. "He left us a few minutes ago before we entered in the castle." "I asked him to do so, I wanted to welcome you personally but I have to stay in the castle because of some unexpected problems," the king explained. "I may be a terrible host by asking this, but shouldn't we put the formalities away? I may be greeting you as a king, but I am mainly greeting you as a friend." "I understand your desires King Gregaire," Twilight nodded, pleased by how the griffon seemed to want their meeting to be. "In that case, call me Twilight. This is how all of my friends call me." "I shall call you by your name if it is the pony way to show friendship," the old griffon smiled. "We should go somewhere we can all sit then. Please follow me." They got again through the crumbling corridors of the castle. Twilight trotted a few steps behind the king and near Applejack. She was glad to see that the earth pony's face had softened since they met the griffon. All griffons weren't the same; Gregaire seemed to really be different from the others, to be working for the greater good of his people. Even more, Twilight preferred to see Applejack smiling rather than frowning. Her smile was so beautiful after all. The alicorn stopped and blinked. Had she just thought that Applejack had a beautiful smile? In a moment like this? Why did she even think of this? She shook her head and stared at the earth pony. Her friend and King Gregaire had stopped and turned around, looking at the alicorn with puzzled expression. "Are ya alright, sugarcube?" "I... I was just... Uhm... Yes, I was just wondering who built this castle!" Twilight lied with a fake smile, feeling her cheeks burning. Applejack raised her eyebrow but grinned eventually, she recognized here the need of the alicorn to understand everything that was around her. "I may have a few answers for you, Princess Sparkle," the griffon king walked towards her. "This castle has been built on order from King Grover himself six centuries ago. He decided to build it to protect the Golden Idol of Boreas and to show the unity of the griffon kind. Which it still shows today," he added sadly while looking at a giant fissure in the wall, and turned his head away from the ponies. Applejack couldn't help but getting closer to Gregaire and giving one of the warmest smile a pony could offer. "Ah know how frustratin' it is to see a family torn apart, and your folk aren’t very different. Ya really seem to care about your folk, King Gregaire," Applejack took her hat off her head. "If ya do the best ya can, Ah know it will change." "Yes, this is a lifelong dream I have been working for ever since I was crowned. But griffons need something to gather around, something I haven't found yet." Twilight raised her hoof and was about to answer when a voice yelled through the corridors, echoing all across the castle. A young griffon in a rusty and seemingly too large armor run towards Gregaire and made a quick reverence before delivering his message. "Your Highness, Arismapes warriors have been spotted near the entrance of the city and are about to attack!"
