Victorian Equestria: The Corps of Discovery

This text is translated to English after its appearance in the Unicorn Novel, "The Discovery of Disharmony," by Sunny Day. A version in Equestrian is available at . Any issues with the translation must be taken to the archivist's office.

Authenticity remains debated among Unicorn scholars.

Saturday, September 21st, 1805

Gray... Gray was all I saw when I awoke. Cold, damp stone that sucked away all heat and all hope. I definitely considered the possibilities of me being captured by savages, but I never thought that I'd be captured by gigantic birds! I can only hope that the Lord has given me this trial to test my faith. I was never the most pious man back home, but since leaving for this expedition I've thought more and more of what the Pastor at home said every Sunday. I have definitely grown into a more God-fearing man after this experience and I only hope to return home one day.

- John Mayor

After putting away his journal, John tried to shut out the voices of the Griffon guards by looking through his knapsack and found that most of his materials were still in there. Only his dagger, food rations, and water were gone, which, honestly, were not that surprising to be absent.

"At least I have my journal," He said to himself before hearing the sound of Griffon feet walking towards his cell.

"To the wall, Prisoner!" He heard the voice of one of the guards yell out.

Once John complied, the guard opened his cell door and in walked a large Griffon clad in magnificent white armor, who only said, "Follow and don't tarry."

As the large Griffon turned to leave, John briefly considered trying to run, but he figured that the Griffons would most likely be able to catch up to a running human, so he decide to just follow silently while taking one last look at the guard at his cell door.

"Make sure you listen to him closely, human, Flock Leader Giffr is a hard-ass so I'd suggest not getting on his bad side, unless you've got a death wish, of course," the guard said smugly.

Once he left the prison hall, John followed the Flock Leader up a flight of stair before stepping through a doorway and being met by the sight of an ornate hallway with banners and paint lining the stone walls and various members of the staff were flitting about.

After a ten second observation, he then heard Giffr command, "Follow, maggot."

As they continued on, he took notice of the various glances and, ofttimes, stares that were cast their way. He knew that look, it was the same look the various Injuns gave him and his fellow men when they meet. It was a look of curiosity, of wonder, and of pity. Whether they saw tired adventurers or a disheveled new species, all they knew was that they were better off than those guys.

Soon, after a five minute walk, they reached a set of oaken doors. When Giffr opened the doors, John heard a familiar voice saying, "Tell Lord Guff that we're explorers in service of the United States of America."

Once past the door, John saw Merryweather Lewis, William Clark, the Injun Princess, three Griffons in armor identical to that of Giffr, three Griffons in various cloths, and - sitting on an ornately decorated, oaken throne - Lord Guff, clad in golden armor.

Once the Indian Princess had relayed to Lord Guff the reason for the Corps of Discovery's trespassing on Griffon territory, she then bowed her head and stepped back to Lewis.

After a moment of thought, Lord Guff then said, "Normally I'd have already executed every member of your 'Corps of Discovery,' but through the council of Steward Grim, Chancellor Guter, and Elder Gylver, I decided to hear from you three humans. Now I wish to hear from one other member of your flock, and to that end I had Flock Leader Giffr pick any one member he wished."

It was at this moment that the three heads of the Corps of Discovery noticed John from the other side of Giffr, "Ah John, please impress upon the Great Lord of the Crystal Mountains that we had no ill intentions when we entered his demesne." Lewis then said to John.

As John walked over by his fellow humans, Lord Guff then said authoritatively, "Now tell me of the purpose of your flock's encroachment upon my realm, and tell me why I should spare any of you trespassers."

After straightening up and having a moment to think on his words, John then spoke of the purchase of French Louisiana, the mission given to the Corps of Discovery by President Thomas Jefferson, and his own reasons for coming on the trip - the sense of adventure and the glory of discovery. When he finally got to speaking of why Lord Guff should spare the Corps of Discovery, John spoke of the spirit of adventure, the right of men to explore unknown lands, the official approval of the United States, and - most importantly - the fact that they did not know of the Griffons.

With information from four members of the Corps of Discovery, Lord Guff then withdrew to mediate on his decision. John could only hope that his point, along with those made by the Injun Princess, and Lewis and Clark, would persuade Lord Guff to let them go.

After conferring with his council, Lord Guff then returned and said, "I have made my decision. I will not execute any member of your flock." Relief washed the four humans before Lord Guff continued, " But, I have decided listen to Elder Gylver's advice and I will allow you four members of your flock to leave to Seaddle to meet with King Griff. I believe that news of organized human expansion towards the Griffon realm is something that the King himself should know of and, with the council of the Flock, find a solution."