The Elder Scrolls: Equestria

by GarytheGriffon

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Crossover
Length: 64237

The years after Nightmare Moons banishment weren't pretty. Silver Scroll is just a unicorn trying to make a living. But being a professional thief isn't the safest occupation. When her lucks run out she is forced down a path that she never expected.

Decades after the banishment of Nightmare Moon Equestria is experiencing it's darkest days. The kingdom is torn by war in the west and civil unrest throughout it's lands. In these times the criminals of Equestria are flourishing.

And who would believe that the fate of all Equestria would be decided by a lone thief?

Silver Heart doesn't care about politics. She is only interested in bits, but all this changes when a job gone wrong sets her on a collision course with her destiny.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-04-30 03:15:19 UTC

Prologue

Hello, everypony...sorry. I've never done this before. This kind of thing isn't really my specialty. My specialty is thieving, robbing and causing general mayhem to anypony that calls themselves the law. And if you haven't already guessed I'm a thief. Not exactly the most noble career but what can you do? A mare's gotta make a living, and I'd much rather do it picking pockets than digging ditches or serving drinks to drunk bucks in a tavern or sitting in a tower reading scrolls.

Anyway as far as being a thief goes it isn't so bad. All the bits I can spend and the Guild at my back. Not bad at all. Of course, the Guild's support doesn't come free. You have to take jobs from them if you want their help. And there's still the Royal Guard to worry about. If you get caught on a job you either spend some time in the dungeon thinking about it, or you pass a sack full of bits their way. Either way, it really sucks getting caught. So I don't.

The Guild brought order to the thieves of Equestria. Before the Guild it was nothing but mayhem. Everypony stealing from and robbing each other. The city guards never took bribes, instead sending any and all criminals to the executioners axe. There was no honor. Only an endless cycle that always ended at death eventually. The Guild changed that. When the Guild was first founded it brought together all the thieves of the capital in the Everfree forest. Rules and guidelines were set. The Guild became it's own entity. A country within a country. Under the Guild there was peace among thieves. No thief would steal from another. No thief would kill another thief. Or ponies in general. Bad for business.

To be honest, I never thought I'd be a thief. When I was just a filly living in Fetlock – a small village near Canterlot – I was on a very different path. My parents wanted me to enroll in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns; even if I wasn't gifted. They tutored me day and night in Arcane Studies and Unicorn history from the day I could talk. But I never wanted to. It felt like my life was being decided for me. My entire life planned out before I even got my cutie-mark... and when I actually did get my cutie-mark it only made it worse. Nothing says magical scholar like an open scroll on your flanks.

So when I got the chance to leave home I took it. I left Fetlock, traveled to Canterlot and joined up with the Guild. They let me in on the spot. Being a unicorn my magic allows me to use the precision tools of the trade. Any pony can open a door with a key but opening a lock without one is difficult even for those with magic. Or claws in the case of griffons. And even though my parents tried to spend every waking hour cramming my head full of Arcane history they couldn't stop me from trying to pick every lock in town. It was the best decision I ever made. In the years I spent in the Guild I made more bits than some ponies would make in a lifetime.

But I'm getting off track aren't I? The name's Silver Scroll. And here's my story.

Chapter 1: Royal Contract

"...In an age of darkness and despair, the light often comes from the unlikeliest of places. And it is often delivered by the most unlikely of ponies..."

“Everything ready?” A brown unicorn buck asked from across the table. The tavern was full of ponies; drinking, singing and just trying to have a good time. Nopony would overhear us. And if they did they were too drunk to care anyway.

“Eyup. The guards are paid and the spells are disabled.” I replied, pushing a stray lock of silver hair from my eyes with my foreleg. “When the shift changes we'll have twenty minutes.” He nodded, tightening one of the straps on his leather barding. I took a long pull from my drink, my throat burning a little as I finished it, then I slapped the mug on the table and dropped a few gold bits with it. I hopped of the stool and landed nimbly on my hooves. The other ponies parted as Puzzle Piece and I made our way through. His name may sound funny but Puzzle Piece was no joke. He's the only pony I know who could get us past the complex puzzle locks that stood between us and our biggest payday yet.

We stepped into the cool Fall night. The moon and stars shining beautifully above us and the rich buildings of Canterlot lighting the mountainside with yellow and orange brilliance. Whoever thought slapping a city to the side of a mountain was a good idea must have been on shrumin or something. But even I had to admit the city was beautiful. White marble buildings engraved with unicorn runes and carvings of unicorns. The occasional statue of Princess Celestia and the bright flags embellished with the sun. With all the wealth spent on the city's decor you'd never think Canterlot was the capital of a nation at war.

We made our way down the empty city streets towards Canterlot Castle; its many towers and gardens demonstrating Equestria's riches and vast resources. All ripe for the picking! I thought merrily, taking in the sight of the gold finish on many of the castle's walls. Why would anypony put gold on the outside of a building? It didn't matter, the night was young and the city guards were busy elsewhere.

We reached the outer wall of the castle and immediately ducked into the shadows. If there's one thing you need to remember in my line of work its that the shadows are your friend.

“Do your thing, P.” I told Puzzle Piece, pulling the hood over my head and making sure my mane was tucked in. bad part about having silver hair, does not blend in well at night.

“Got it.” he said floating a short crossbow from a holster on his saddlebags and taking aim at the top of the wall. I tapped his shoulder and pointed at the bolt.

“What?” He asked stupidly. I facehoofed and pointed at his bags.

“You need the rope, P.” I whispered. He immediately blushed, (or I think he did its hard to tell at night.) and pulled a long thin rope from his bags. He tied it to the end of the bolt on his cross bow then took aim again. He fired, the bolt was sent flying with a Twang! It stuck at the top of one of the guard towers above us. Puzzle Piece gave it a few testing pulls before smiling and sliding the rope into a clip on his barding. With horn and hoof he began to scale the castle's outer wall. I stayed at the bottom providing lookout. We couldn't both climb at once, the rope was too thin and with the off chance that the guards betrayed us after we paid them off I'd rather somepony else go first.

It appeared that we weren't betrayed however when a minute or so after he started climbing Puzzle Piece quietly called for me to join him. After reaching the top of the tower we pulled the rope up and readied it for another shot. This time Puzzle Piece had to hit the castle itself; just under the third story window on a tower opposite the throne room. With another Twang! The bolt went flying and just like the first it hit it's mark. I used my magic to tie the end of the rope as tight as I could to the tower. If it came lose when we were going across it would be a thirty foot fall to the ground and since I'm not a Pegasus I'd rather not try my hoof at flying.

Just as before Puzzle Piece went first. Shimmying along the rope over the gardens. My mare on the inside did her job; the guards normally posted in this part of the garden weren't at their posts. But they'd be there soon enough. There was always some guards posted near the statue of Victory. And a few by the stone Draconequis nearby. Oh the bits I could get from that statue was almost enough to make my mouth water. Too bad we didn't have enough time to grab it. I watched Puzzle Piece as he reached the last few feet of the rope and dropped into the shadows of the tower's second floor. What that pony won't do for a bag of gold.

Now I'd like to say that I'm not afraid of heights but dangling from a thin rope thirty feet off the ground unnerved the hell out of me. And since I had to go nearly two hundred feet along said rope wasn't helping. It only took a couple minutes to get across but it felt like an hour. I hopped inside the open window and landed silently as a tomcat. Puzzle Piece was waiting nearby impatiently nearby.

“Dammit Silver we need to go!” he hissed as we wound our way through the long hall to the stairs. “We don't have much time left!”

“I know, P. Now shut the hell up.” I told him. “You're gonna blow our cover.” The bottom of the stairs opened into a long room with purple carpet on the floor. The walls were adorned with several stained glass windows. Each one was beautiful but I was drawn to one in particular. It depicted two alicorns flying around a white Draconequis. Discord. The statue in the garden was made as a reminder of the sister's grand victory over him. Dammit! If we only had more time!

“Silver!” Puzzle Piece hissed. I turned my attention from the window and back to our goal. At the end of the hall was a tall pair of gold and purple doors. There was a yellow carving of the sun with a single hole the size of a horn in the center. Puzzle Piece tapped the door a few times and pressed his ear to it. He then pulled out a false unicorn horn that was more than twice the length of a normal one. He slid it into the hole and after a moment the door gave a soft click that sounded as loud as breaking glass in the silence of the night. The doors swung slowly inward revealing a large gem studded box on a pedestal.

“All you, Silver” Puzzle said, gesturing to the box with his left foreleg.

“You should really only use my initial when we're on the job, P.” I told him, not even trying to hide my annoyance. He snorted into his hoof and waved at the box again. Dumbass. I thought, floating out my lock pick and taking a look at the lock. It was a standard four tumbler lock and that bothered me. With all the other security why would you put a simple lock on the container with the goods? It didn't matter. The client wants whats in the box and I was going to get it to her. Come hell or high water.

“Why can't we just take the box?” Puzzle Piece whispered. I shook my head and answered,

“Because if we take the box the alarms will go off. It was all in the scroll the client gave me. Now shut up and let me work.” I slid in the pick and began to work the tumblers into place. It only took a few moments before the box opened with a satisfying click the lid opening of it's own accord. I smiled and rubbed my hooves together. Inside were six ordinary looking gems. Except for the one in the center (which was shaped like a star) the gems were all the same shape. The only  differences were their color. Why would anypony lay down the bits we're getting for a few lame gemstones? I thought, feeling kind of disappointed that I wasn't stealing something more exciting. Like one of StarSwirl the Bearded's private scrolls or Princess Celestia's secret stash.

I shrugged and floated the gems out of the box and placed them carefully in the smaller padded box the client gave me. I could still remember the look on the white mare's face. Her orange mane pushing out the side of her black hooded cloak.

“Do be careful with them, darling. The items in question are very important to me and can only be transported in the finest containers”

I closed the box and looked over my shoulder at Puzzle Piece.

“We got the goods. Let's get outta here.” I slid the box back into my bags and we made our way back up the stairs, to the windows and across the rope. This time I went first. The one with the goods always went first. About halfway across the rope I was almost blinded by several bright lights coming out of the garden.

“HALT! By order of the Royal Guard!” there were a dozen or so ponies on the ground. The unicorns using their horns to cast beams of light at me. There were earth ponies on the ground holding spears. The light from the unicorns glistening on their golden armor and weapons. I heard wings flapping and in seconds there were half a dozen Pegasi surrounding me. I looked back at the window in time to see puzzle piece get whacked across the head with the handle of a spear.

“Now I don't know who that pony is,” I said loudly, pointing a hoof at the now unconscious Puzzle Piece. “but I am the castle's tower trim inspector. If you gentlecolts would be so kind as to help me down I'll put in a good word with Princess Celestia regarding your stoic professionalism and outstanding courtesy.” The guards looked at me blankly as I gave my most convincing smile. And I swear a few of them believed me when a unicorn carried by a Pegasus blasted me in the chest with a shock spell. Pzztzzztzzzt.

“OW!” I shouted, the blast making me spasm violently in the air. The rope snapped and I dropped halfway to the ground before a Pegasus caught me and then immediately dropped me the rest of the way down into the hooves of the other guards.

“I swear, I'm the castle ..” I began to say, but the unicorn shocked me again and this time I blacked out.

                             ….….............

Like I said before. Getting caught sucks. There were chains binding my forelegs to hindlegs, keeping me from moving any faster than a light trot. There was also a ring on my horn that prevented me from using magic. And of course the guards weren't making it any easier.

“Move it!” one said pushing me to my hooves when the chains made me slip.

“I'm going, I'm going.” I told him, tucking the hair pin I'd pulled from my tail underneath my tongue. Never be un- prepared.  They were leading me down a stone corridor towards what I assumed was the castle dungeons. When I woke up they were spouting a bunch of nonsense about 'thievery' and 'high treason' and blah, blah, blah. So it was either the dungeons or the guillotine or they were taking me to the dungeons where I was going to wait to go to the guillotine. Either way, I was basically fucked if I couldn't get out.

They carried we down a flight of stairs that led into a long hall with prison cells lining each side. So, it's wait and then execution. Fucking brilliant.

“Get inside!” one of the guards said, shoving me into an open cell and slamming the door shut. I waited a moment for them to lock it with a key but the door lock clicked when the guard stuck his horn in a hole on the wall. Typical. The guard saw the disappointed expression on my face and sneered.

“Sorry little mare. You won't be leaving hear any time soon. Except to see the executioners axe” he drew his hoof across his throat and laughed. The other guards left first, leaving him standing at the door to my cell alone. Idea!!!.

“You know, if you let me out of here I'm sure I could make it worth your while” I told him seductively. He burst out laughing, even going so far as to bang his hoof on the wall.

“Sorry girl. Maybe if you were a buck I'd let you out for some fellatio but you're not so...enjoy rotting in there. Dinner will be along in a couple days.” He left the hall laughing like a filly on Hearths Warming.

“Fuck, me.” I looked around the cell. There was a pile of old hay in one corner and a lit candle on the wall. Besides that it was completely empty.

“The guard may have said no but I sure wouldn't mind.” somepony said. I turned around, the chains clinking loudly as I did so. Across the hall there was an ancient looking Zebra stallion sitting by the bars in his cell. “What say ya girl? Once you fly striped you never gripe.” every instinct was telling me to tell this buck to go fuck himself. But that cheesy line made me snort and fall into the hay laughing.

“Hey, what's so funny?” he said indignantly. But I couldn't answer...I could barely even breath!

“Fucking... I wouldn't mind! Hahahahahaha!” oh sweet Celestia that's funny. When I finally stopped laughing long enough to say more than a few words I looked at the old stallion.

“What are you in for, Stripes” I asked. He looked at me angrily for a moment but after a a few moments his expression softened.

“I was arrested for 'acquiring' one of Princess Ambrosia's necklaces. How was I supposed to know the damn thing belonged to royalty. Knew that Pegasus was shifty the moment I laid me eyes on him.” he scratched his chin a few times before asking. “What about you, Fine Flanks. What you do?”

“Who me?” I asked, putting my hoof to my chest and feigning ignorance. He raised an eyebrow and when his gaze didn't relent I insisted, “I didn't do a thing. You can call me Silver Scroll the innocent! Or, Silver Scroll the wrongly accused” this time it was the old zebra who laughed. Rolling around on his pile of hay for several minutes. “Laying it on a little thick aren't you buddy?” I asked, but he still ignored me. I rolled onto my back and stared intently at the ceiling. No lock on the door and they stuck me in the cell block with probably the only gay stallion in the Royal Guard. Fucking typical.

It took Stripes nearly ten minutes to stop laughing. To be honest,I was starting to think he was having some kind of seizure or something but he stopped and didn't look dead so I didn't bother the guards. A few hours after getting thrown in my cell (or I think it was a few hours) the guard came back and slid a single moldy apple through the bars with a mug of water.

“There's lunch.” he stated simply before walking back out of the hall.

“Nice...” I drank the water and tossed the apple into the Zebra's cell. I'd eaten worse before but I wasn't that hungry...yet.

For the next week it was the same routine. Get water and food once a day, stare at the walls of my cell trying to memorize every line etched in the stone and if I got an apple it went to the Zebra. He wasn't the best company but he was better than nopony. He never answered questions about himself like; what his homeland was like or if he had any family. He wouldn't even tell me his name. I wasn't very open either. He asked if I had family and I said no. (even though my parents still lived in Fetlock.) He asked what my hometown was like and I told him it was destroyed by bandits. That shut him up. But despite the lack of sharing I enjoyed his company and I think he enjoyed it too.

I was lying on my back with my forelegs behind my head and my hindlegs crossed when I heard the stomping of many hooves echoing through the cell block. Four Royal guards stopped in front of my cell, each of them holding spears.

“On your hooves” they commanded. I obeyed, getting to my hooves and standing straight while they opened the door and checked my mane and tail and to my dismay they even had me open my mouth. The unicorn guard pocketed my hair pin and the four of them stepped back. “She's clear your majesty” I felt my jaw drop as a tall winged unicorn stepped into the doorway of my cell. Her very presence seemed to light up the room with sunlight, her rainbow mane and tail waving magically behind her. The golden jewelry she wore was nothing compared to the grace that she carried herself with.

“Silver Scroll is it?” she asked kindly. Her eyes seemed to sparkle and her smile made me feel almost ashamed that I was in her jail. Almost.

“That's me.” I answered.

“I don't think those are necessary anymore.” the chains around my legs clicked and snapped off. She floated them to the guards behind her and even took the magical protection ring from my horn as well.

“Your majesty, I don't think this is very wise..” one of the guards began but she silenced him with a look. Not even a mean look either. All it took was her looking at him to make him silent.

“My guards informed me that you are the one who attempted to steal the Elements of Harmony. Is this true?” Wait, what are the Elements of Harmony? I opened and closed my muzzle several times before I answered.

“If that's what they were, then yes.” I said lamely. Looking at my hooves. The Princess was silent for only a minute but it felt like hours.

“Impressive.” She stated simply. I gasped and looked at her. The Princess of the sun didn't look angry in the slightest. She looked almost amused. “I know that you had no idea what you were stealing and I knew you would attempt it. I just had to make sure that you had the proper skills for the job. And the fact that you disabled the security spells and  actually got out of the tower with the fakes in hoof showed that you do.” Fakes? She set me up. That orange maned cunt set me up! At that moment I thought about Puzzle Piece. It was the first time I'd thought about him all week.

“What happened to Puzzle Piece?” she looked surprised at the question.

“I'm sorry to say his sentence was carried out three days ago. Captain Autumn sent him to the block.” her expression was sad. And it was her expression that was making my chest tighten, not Puzzle Piece. “I'm afraid he was a repeat offender with a history of violent crimes. I'm sorry about your friend.”

“He wasn't my friend,” I said seriously, making her raise an eyebrow. “He wasn't. I was just curious. That's all... Now, if I may ask. What do you want with me, Your Highness?” her expression was skeptical for a few moments before softening once more.

“I am in need of somepony with your...shall we say, particular, talents. The easiest way I can explain is that I have a contract for you.” I looked her in the eye for nearly a full minute but her expression stayed the same. Hell, she didn't even blink.

“You, Princess Celestia of Equestria. Have a contract... for me?” I asked incredulously. She nodded once. I must have been dreaming. The fucking Princess has a contract for me.

“It is a rather simple contract,” she said floating a scroll before me. “There is an item that I wish you to acquire from the estate of Prince Pureblood in Whitetail.”

“Whitetail? That's in Imperial territory!” I told her. She smirked and nodded.

“I know. It's a fact that causes me great pain to acknowledge. And my city will not be under Imperial rule for much longer. That is, if you take my contract.” the scroll unfurled. “It's simple. You retrieve the missives that are listed here,” she pointed a wingtip at the scroll. “and infiltrate the treasury. Once you're inside you have free rain to take whatever you wish and it will be yours to keep.” I felt my mouth start to water just at the thought. Free rain to keep what I wish? From a Royal treasury? Oh... sweet, sweet, gold!

“Except for one item,” she floated a small drawing of a red chest with an odd black symbol on the front. “You must obtain the contents of this chest and return them to me, along with the missives. You have three weeks to get there and acquire these items and then you have a week to bring them back here.”

“What's in it for me?” It was a good deal just with the city treasury but if I could get more then I would. The guards behind the Princess muttered darkly and their frowns deepened. But Princess Celestia's expression however, remained unchanged.

“In addition to whatever you steal in Whitetail you will be given a full pardon for any and all crimes in your past. Including what crimes you'll commit while on your mission; excluding murder of course.” I nodded, content with what she offered but she added, “You will also receive a sum of fifty thousand bits.” It took all my will power to keep my expression neutral. If I looked too excited she might change the deal.

“I accept. With the condition that I'm granted an expense account of five thousand bits to assist in the fulfillment of the job. I'll need to purchase equipment, pay off guards and provide incentives for my coworkers.” one of the guards snorted behind her drawing looks from the others.

“What? She said 'coworkers'.” he said. The other guards just shook their heads, but I saw the ghost of smile on the Princess's face.

“I'll give you ten thousand for expenses and provide a mercenary for your protection. That way you'll be safe from enemies and your 'coworkers' alike.” Celestia offered.

“I don't need protection.” She smirked once again.

“I am well aware. But you are going into enemy territory with a massive sum of my gold. Extra protection is warranted.” Ah. She wants to make sure I don't just leave with the bits. “And I'm sure it goes without saying that I will be placing a magical tracking spell upon you for the duration of your mission. Government assets must be monitored.” I wasn't particularly fond of that idea but it wasn't a deal breaker. Fifty thousand bits and a full pardon for anything short of murder for the next month sounded fine by me.

“Deal” but as an afterthought I added. “Wait, there's one more thing I'd like you to do.”

                           …...........................

Less than an hour later I had my leather armor back, along with my saddlebags and my tools. In addition there was a very hefty bag of coins sitting in my bags with the scroll containing the details of the job. I was in the Royal throne room standing before Celestia, and her two nieces and one nephew. Princess Ambrosia was smirking at me from under her orange mane. I can't believe I didn't recognize her before. She's a fucking Alicorn! I must be getting rusty.

The room itself was lined with golden trim and the stained glass windows looked like they were worth a fortune. If the Royal family wasn't watching me I might have taken a closer look.

Celestia retrieved a medium sized roll of parchment from a chest near the throne and floated it over to me.

“This is an enchanted map of Equestria. It has all the large cities and villages marked. Do try not to lose it. It's one of a kind.” I accepted the map and stuck it in my bags. “Your protection will be waiting for you by the city gates. Look for the griffon” she watched me quietly for a few moments before bowing her head slightly. “Good luck, my little pony. May your mission be successful.” then she whispered barely loud enough to hear. “I truly hope it is.”

I was escorted out of the throne room and the castle proper by a half dozen Royal Guards. You'd think we'd be fast friends since I was working for the Princess but I guess they're not as trusting as Celestia. Or maybe just as trusting since she cast a tracking spell on me before giving me the map.

They escorted me out through the castle courtyard and through the gardens. I could still see the bolt stuck in the side of the tower by the window. Once I was outside the gate it slammed shut behind me. Well they don't seem happy with me.

Waiting by the gate with his forelegs crossed was the Zebra stallion. He still looked ancient but his expression brightened greatly at the sight of me.

“Thank you, missy!” he said giving me a spine cracking hug. “I thought I'd be rottin' down there for the rest of me days.”

“Think nothing of it.” I told him dismissively. “We scum gotta stick together, eh?” he chuckled and nodded wiping his eye with his hoof.

“I'll be taking me leave now. I hope to meet ya again someday. If we do I'll pay for lunch.” he told me with a wink.

“You're on, Stripes.” I waved him off and he started immediately down Canterlot's main road towards the gate. I'm gonna miss that old buck.

There was a bounce in my step as I made my way through town. The high society ponies around me watched me with clear disdain but their looks would quickly turn to fear if I looked them in the eye. I couldn't help but smile as I trotted along. Even though the tower job was a bust, I would be getting more gold than that would have ever paid if this job goes well.

I stopped at the mouth of an alley between a winery and an antique shop and dove into the shadows. It was a short alley, taking me less than two minutes to reach the large wooden door at the end. I knocked three times and a small section of the door opened, revealing a very tall, very muscular stallion.

“Brutus.” I said, stiffly.

“Password” his deep voice rumbled.

“Shadows preserve us. Darkness protect us.” the door swung silently inward opening into a large room with more than two dozen ponies sitting at tables with drinks. Unlike the bar Puzzle Piece and I met in before this place was quiet. Nopony was talking, or if they were they were being really, quiet. There was no dancing or anything else that might indicate anypony was there to have fun. Well, it wasn't really surprising. Nopony came to this tavern for fun. You came for one of three things. To drink yourself to death, have somepony killed, or talk to ponies like me about contracts.

A few ponies looked my way as I went through the room. Most looked on with apathy but a few gave knowing smiles. And sitting in the far corner were the two ponies I was looking for.

“Hiya Silver. How are the accommodations in the tombs these days.” A yellow coated mare with white fur on her muzzle and hooves asked me. Her name was Sunshine (go figure) and she was the most annoying mare in the Guild. But also my best friend.

“I'll survive.” I told her dismissively, sitting down opposite her.

“There was never any question” the Pegasus buck to her left said sarcastically, “but what about the other prisoners or the poor guards?”

“Can it, Windsheer, and get me a drink.” he smirked and slid a mug towards me with his wing. I took a long pull from the mug and slapped it back on the table.

“I'm heading out of town on a...specialty contract. I need you to tell Pinumbra. I'll be back in a few months tops.” Sunshine spit her drink on the table, and on Windsheer.

“A few months!? What could you possibly be doing that will take you outta Canterlot for a few months?” she asked incredulously. She and Windsheer were both giving me suspicious looks.

“Don't worry you idiots” I said reassuringly. “I have a contract that's pulling me out west. It'll take some time to maneuver but I'll be back.” Their expressions didn't change but I didn't want to explain further. If Guild Master Shadowmark found out how much money I stood to make he'd demand a portion for the Guild's 'Treasury'.

“You're not planning on going... Platinum are ya?” Windsheer whispered. Even though the bar was already quiet the silence became absolute when he said this.

“No dumbass.” I said loudly, making anyponies looking at us go back to their drinks. “I have a contract from the Aristocracy. They need me to go to Imperial Territory and snatch something.”

“Snatch what? You don't cross old Grogar for trinkets Silver Scroll.” Sunshine said skeptically before finishing her ale in one pull. “And how much does a thousand mile journey cost these days anyhow?”

“It's none of your business what I'm stealing, first of all. Secondly, it'll pay five thousand bits.” there was no way I was telling them how much I was really getting. If Shadowmark found out...

“No kiddin'? Five thousand bits is quite a lick. Maybe you'd like some company on your trip then?” Windsheer kicked up his hindlegs on the table and leaned back in his chair. “Traveling alone into Imperial Territory ain't exactly the smartest move ya know.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I'll pass on that. Last thing I need is your dumbass getting me killed before you loot my corpse. Besides, the Aristocracy already set me up with a guard.” I smirked at him, his smile had disappeared. “Griffon mercenary. Big, mean fella.” I hopped off my seat and started for the door. Halfway there I looked over my shoulder and snarled, “You better fucking tell him or I'll come back and cut your face!” Everypony in the bar broke out laughing. Myself included. If only we could talk like this in Canterlot taverns and not get thrown out. The look on the Canterlot ponies faces were worth it though.

“See you guys.” Sunshine and Windsheer waved me out, smiling and shaking their heads. A few of the other ponies in the tavern waved me out or gave me a stiff nod. Thick as thieves indeed. Even Brutus gave me small smile before slamming the door shut behind me

I'd only been in the tavern for five minutes at most but now the streets were filled with hundreds of ponies heading towards the castle.

“What's going on?” I asked a yellow mare.

“Hmph!” she said, sticking her nose in the air. Bitch.

“The Princess is making an announcement at the castle.” a Royal guard to my left said, startling me. “I believe she's doing it so you may leave unnoticed.”

“Is the entire Royal Guard in on what I'm doing?” I asked with a smirk.

“We don't know what you're doing. Just that the Princess wants us to get you to the gate and out of here as soon as possible. She doesn't want you wasting the time she's paid for at a tavern.” Right. The tracking spell.

“I'll be going then.” I told him.

“Good.” the buck followed the crowd and I started trotting down the city's main street towards the city gate. The crowd had thinned out enough that I could speed up to a gallop. The sooner I get this done the sooner I get to retire to Prance.

When I reached the gate I was greeted by a tall, thickly built griffon clad in steel armor. He wore two short swords on his belt and a third dagger like blade protruded from the top of his helmet. He had a scar across his left eye and a missing talon on his right foreleg.

“Are you Silver Scroll?” he asked quietly, his voice sounding far less rough than I thought it would.

“That's me. You the merc?” he scowled at my question a spit at my hooves.

“Not a mercenary. I'm a soldier. Are you ready to go?” he asked pointing a claw at a nearby golden chariot with two Royal Guard Pegasi strapped into the harnesses.

“Yeah, let's do it.” I said nervously. I stepped carefully onto the back of the chariot and tied myself to the side with a leather belt from my bags. The griffon looked at me inquisitively for a moment before his beak broke into a smug grin.

“Not a fan of heights? I thought they caught you dangling thirty feet from the ground.” I'm never gonna live that down!

“There's a difference between thirty feet and falling off a fucking mountain!” I looked over the edge of the chariot, which was right by the edge of the city, and gulped. “What about you, Feathers? Can't you fly?”

“Course I can,” he stated, flexing his wings. “But that doesn't mean I have to pass up a free ride.” he winked at the Pegasi pulling the chariot and they scowled.

“Ready for take off in five...”

“Four...”

“Three...”

“Two...go!!” they flapped their wings powerfully and the chariot launched off the mountainside and dropped straight down.

“Aaaaaahhhhhh!” I screamed and threw my forelegs around the griffon, even though I was strapped to the chariot. We leveled out after a hundred feet and headed south. It took a few minutes for me to relax enough to let go of him, and stop shaking. Meanwhile the Pegasi were laughing their asses off at my fear and my guard's discomfort.

“While I groove with a prank as much as the next griffon, don't do that again.” I felt almost thankful before he added, “if she dies my honor will be tarnished.”

“Oh, yeah. And why's that... er. What's your name?” one of the Pegasi asked.

“Grover. And my mission is making sure she doesn't die. Now get flappin!” he ordered.

An hour later I was enjoying a great view of the Equestrian countryside, while puking my guts out over the side of the chariot.

“For some reason I thought a hardened criminal wouldn't have a problem taking a short ride in the air.” Grover said sarcastically, crossing his forelegs behind his head and leaning against the side opposite me.

“Oh?” I said between wretches. “and what's your story, Bird Boy?”

“Don't have one.” he said quickly. A little too quickly.

“Bullshit” I said when my stomach wouldn't give up any more. “Everyone, has a story. If you don't want to share that's fine, but don't be throwing mine in my face. Ya got that?” he looked shocked but only for a second. He gave a dramatic little bow and turned his gaze to the horizon.

“How much longer boys?” the Pegasi looked back at me and then to the horizon,

“Two or three hours. But if we get a strong wind in our favor we could be there in an hour and a half.” the one on the left told us. “Once we get to the outpost by Ghastly Gorge you're on your own. Take the road south, it will lead to the Pegasus city of Timbucktu. They'll direct you to where you need to go.” after that the Pegasi didn't seem too keen to speak us.

I'd never flown before, with the exception of Windsheer carrying me into upper story windows. The sky stretched out in front of us like an endless blue canvas with fluffy white clouds breaking the constant blue. We were soaring over a seemingly endless stretch of dense forest. In the distance I could see an old castle ruin. I tapped Grover on the shoulder.

“What's that?” he sat up and looked over the side of the chariot, squinting.

“I think... that's Celestia's and Luna's old castle.

“Don't say that name!”

“Don't say that name!” The Pegasi said indignantly. Their faces wore expressions that bordered on hatred. “That damn traitor...what the fuck!?” he screamed looking downward. We followed his gaze and my eyes widened.

“Grover, cut my belt!” he looked down at the bright green ball of energy streaking towards the chariot and without a word he pulled one of his swords from his belt and slashed my belt in half. He wrapped his left foreleg around me and pulled me off the chariot. That was the second time I'd screamed that day. I think I may have broken my voice.

We'd fallen maybe twenty feet before the green ball impacted against the chariot and exploded. The Pegasi screamed, burst into green flames and flailed through the air towards the forest below.

Grover flapped his wings and tried to level out but several more balls of energy shot out of the forest towards us.

“Hold on!” he said trowing me onto his back.

“I'm not going anywhere!!!” I wrapped all four of my legs around his torso I locked my fetlocks together. Grover dove and spun in the air trying to avoid the blasts. By the looks of them they were balls of condensed dragon fire. Grover pumped his wings suddenly and dodged one shot by mere inches. The heat burned leather barding and singed my mane.

“Head for the ground!” I told him Grover looked at me in confusion.

“I'm pretty sure that's where the ponies shooting at us are! You want us to die faster?” he asked with a scowl.

“We're in the open up here. Take us to the trees and they won't be shooting dragon fire at us!!” he looked skeptical but his wings flattened against his back and we plummeted towards the treeline like a javelin. Okay, this time my voice did break. I coughed explosively, spitting blood onto the back of Grover's head just before he leveled out at the treeline and dropped once more.

He slid down a large tree, carving deep gouges into the bark with his claws. We slid off a thick branch and landed on the ground with a bone jarring thud.

“You alright?” he asked me. Wiping some of the blood off the back of his helmet.

“Yeah,” I said, hoarsely. I coughed some more blood onto his shoulder. “I just need a drink.” he looked at me skeptically. “let's just go.” he nodded and lunged forward. Running far faster than I thought possible and dodging trees and other foliage with ease. He moved with the lithe of a cat... oh, right. The whole part lion thing kinda slipped my mind. Still, it was amazing how fast he moved on the ground. Slipping through brambles and jumping on and off of trees like an acrobat.

After half an hour on foot (Grover's feet) he stopped on the edge of a clearing before a stone bridge spanning a deep gorge. Our eyes widened at the mass of dark blue tents and massive bonfires surrounding the ruins of an ancient looking castle. The towers and bridges between them were shattered and crumbling. The castle looked deserted and decrepit looking while the camp surrounding it was buzzing with activity. Hundreds of ponies midnight blue leather barding were stoking the fires, carrying barrels and hammering away at anvils.

“Nightstalkers.” Grover said, darkly.

“That's not good.” I gulped. (Damn my throat hurts!) The Nightstalkers didn't exactly have a reputation for being the nicest ponies. “I didn't know those bastards had magic of that caliber.” No wonder the Royal Guard's been having trouble dealing with them.

“Let's get out of here.” Grover flipped around and dashed back into the brush and scrambled to the top of a tree. If I hadn't emptied my stomach on the chariot earlier I would have puked all over him. When we reached the top of the tree Grover put his talons to his forehead and looked towards the sun.

“The sun sets in the west so south is...that way.” he pointed away from the castle and the gorge. “You have a map don't you?” he asked. I removed the map from Celestia with a nod and unfurled it with my magic. There were several places already marked on the map. Canterlot, the Everfree forest and the Castle of the Two Sisters. Wait. I looked over my shoulder at the camp surrounding the castle. How did...wait. Celestia said it was an enchanted map. He took the map from my magic's grip and ran a claw over it.

“Damn. Were over a day from the outpost.” scowling I snatched the map from his grip.

“If we go west and follow the main road we'll be in Whitetail in a week and a half. Two tops.” he raised an eyebrow, er, feather?

“If we take the main road we'll have to bypass the front lines. And I for one don't want to be captured by the Legion anytime soon...duck!!” he dropped from the tree just before a ball of dragon fire collided with the trunk and set it ablaze. We landed hard on the ground below and Grover turned to me.

“It would be easier if I wasn't carrying you!” I blushed and unhooked my legs from his torso. “Thank you.” he dashed into the trees, me following close behind as more blasts of dragon fire struck the trees and brush around us.

What the hell is wrong with these ponies? I thought as we ducked underneath a fallen tree, more blasts of dragon fire exploding near us. Suddenly, one shot out of the bushes directly behind us. Shit! I focused my strength into my horn and raised a shimmering shield around us. The dragon fire exploded against the shield propelling us from our cover.

We flailed through the air before crashing into large pile of old branches and leaves at the foot of several tall, gray trees.

“Ow. Fucking dragon fire,” I sat up rubbing my head with a hoof. Grover stood nearby with both of his blades drawn. He helped me to my hooves and looked around the small clearing cautiously.

We waited. For the next attack. For somepony to come out of the trees weapons flashing. But nothing happened. It was as if we'd fallen into a completely different forest. One that was lacking in crazy ponies shooting fireballs. Then we heard a branch break. Spinning on the spot I readied the deadliest spell I could think of but there was nopony. Instead, the broken branches surrounding us began to connect together and form a giant dog creature.

“Timberwolves!” I shouted and blasted the beast with my magic, shattering it into splinters. “Run!” I told Grover, who was looking at the branches and pieces of wood in horror as they slowly reformed. He turned on the spot and followed, sheathing one of his swords as he did so. We hadn't gone more than a hundred feet before the howling started.

“Runrunrunrunrunrunrunrun!!!” if we didn't get out of the trees soon they'd be gnawing on our carcasses. Even though I had a bit of a head start, Grover was slowing his pace so I could keep up. How the fuck can he move so fast in the armor?  I thought angrily. A Timberwolf burst from the trees to our left and pounced at Grover.

“Look out!” he spun and slashed the creature's face, breaking it apart. I jumped over the pile of wood as it began to reform again.

“How do you kill these things” he asked me desperately. Fending off another two with surprising speed and skill. Griffons.

“The only way to kill them is to burn them where those no other wood for them to heal!” looking around us, I could tell that wasn't going to work.

“Typical.” he said darkly, pulling his other sword and slicing the legs off another Timberwolf. “Know any other spells that might help?” I thought about it but besides teleporting or setting the whole forest on fire I couldn't think of anything useful. Even if I did teleport I'd only ever done it once (and I threw myself into a stone wall, so I didn't feel too confident about my chances.) I shook my head. Grover scowled and took to the air.

“Hey Timberwolves!” he said, shaking his tail at them. “Can't get me!” more than a dozen of the beasts lunged at him from the surrounding trees. He smiled cockily and dropped down suddenly. The Timberwolves collided and exploded in a mass of branches, leaves and splinters. He landed on the ground next to me. “Burn them!!” I focused and a thick torrent of flame erupted from my horn and bathed the pile of twitching wood.

“Let's go!” we ran past the burning pile and and hightailed it to the south. There was too much brush around for the fire to kill them but at least they'll think twice before coming after us again.

Between the magic and the running I was almost exhausted. Not even four hours in and I almost die half a dozen times. That's gotta be a record. I'd have to write it down and compare it to my other notes but I'm pretty sure I beat the Guild record for near death experiences on a single job. After running for what felt like ages we slowed to a brisk trot and eventually stopped on the banks of a wide river.

I fell forward on my stomach and stuck my head in the water. I must have guzzled down half a gallon before pulling my head out to breath. Grover was sitting on a rock nearby drinking from a canteen.

“Oh. I thought you were trying to drown yourself. Or, can you cast a spell that makes you breath under water?” I didn't know how to cast a spell like that but I made a mental note to look for one. “You still thirsty?” he asked, shaking his canteen in front of my muzzle.

“Fuck you.” I said, getting to my hooves. At least the water helped my sore throat a bit.

“No thanks. You're not my type.” he took a long pull from the canteen then stuck it in the water. “Maybe you should pull that map of yours and find out where we are instead of trying to seduce me.” I felt the water steaming off my face while I floated the map from my bags and unrolled it onto a large flat rock by the stream. My gaze shifted around the Everfree forest until it found a little drawing of a pony and a griffon sitting on the east side of a river marked 'Everfree'. Typical.

“If we cross the river here, we can be in Whitetail  in a week. Two tops.” I told him. Surprisingly the griffon shook his head.

“Afraid not. My orders are to escort you to the Royal Guard Outpost by Ghastly Gorge. We go there, and then we'll take the road southwest to Applewood.”

“That's idiotic! We could save days of travel by just going straight there!” I can't believe I was stuck with the one griffon in Equestria who wasn't a mercenary; at least they could be bought.

“If we go straight there we'll have to deal with thousands of soldiers from the Royal Guard and thousands more in Grogar's Legions!” he pointed at the map, to the lands surrounding Whitetail. “The lands east of there are a damned war zone. There's a reason the Princess want's us to take the long route. It will allow us to maneuver around the fighting and get into city with as little suspicion as possible.” we scowled at one another. Neither of us willing to back down. If it came to a fight then he could kill me. No question there. But he wouldn't.

“Oh yeah, what if I decided to just go straight there without you?” I poked his chest plate. “What are you going to do, kill me?” his expression darkened and a very unsettling smile formed on his beak.

“No. I'll knock you unconscious and tie you up from head to hoof then carry your miserable little behind all the way to Whitetail.” he pointed to the Outpost south of us. “We go to the Outpost, it's only a day or so away. No. Arguments.” groaning inside I rolled up the map and returned it to my bags.

“After you.” we followed the river for a few miles before turning south onto a dirt road. I kept the map floating beside me to keep us on course. Damn! I wish I had this thing before. Really would been useful during the Arcadia Mint Heist. Maybe High Land wouldn't have gotten caught. It was a good thought but he was dead already so...

The road was strangely empty of any traffic. I'd never been this far south but this was supposed to be the only road connecting the Canterlot caves to the San Palomino Desert. One would think there would be some ponies. My thoughts turned back to the camp surrounding the castle ruins in the forest. Maybe not. if they shoot down Royal Chariots like that...

We reached Ghastly Gorge a few hours later. The gorge looked like a great scar gouged into the land by the gods themselves. Nearly a mile below us a river rested at the bottom of the gorge. While on the other side, (nearly a mile away) was the village of Ironshoe.

“That's quite a drop.” Grover stated, kicking a small rock into the gorge. He strained his right ear and waited for the splash. After a moment he stuck a claw in his ear (Ouch!) and strained again. After a few more moments we heard the smallest of splashes. I whistled and Grover stepped back from the edge.

“The outpost is directly south of here. We can either make camp for the evening or keep going. Your call” I looked up at the sun. From it's position in the sky it looked to be about five or five thirty.

“Let's keep going. I'm not getting paid by the hour.” we continued following the road south along Ghastly Gorge. To our right more trees had sprung up and since the Gorge was on our left we were virtually doomed if we were attacked here. But nothing happened.

Grover kept his eyes on the trees, waiting for the slightest hint of an attack. Even though I loathed to admit it, I did fell safer with him with me. In the Guild we had some very skilled fighters but we didn't really fight for each other. We defended ourselves when necessary and only our fellow Guild Members when we had to. There's was something different about Grover but I couldn't quite put my hoof on it.

After a time I dared to repeat my earlier question.

“Hey, Grover.” he looked at me. “What's your story?”

“I don't have one. I'm just a soldier, that's all.” his face went blank and he wouldn't look at me.

“How about this,” his gaze returned to me. “I'll tell you my story, if you tell me yours.” He remained silent for more than a minute before speaking.

“If you're a thief where did you learn those spells?” he asked, curiously. Got him! “From the reports I read you were just some sneak thief with an insane amount of luck. Those spells you were using were high level.” I smiled smugly.

“Well, us common sneak thieves have hobbies you know.” he blinked in confusion and almost tripped on a rock. I laughed and explained. “I've spent most of my life studying magic. I just didn't choose it as a profession.”

“What else can you do?” he asked. “Magic wise I mean.” I rubbed my chin in thought for a moment before answering.

“A few things. Mainly disabling security spells. That's how I got in the business of burglarizing Canterlot. It's what I'm known for but I can do basic combat and defensive spells. A few other things.” he nodded and went silent.

“Hey, that's not how it works, Feathers.” I said smiling. “I told you something, you gotta tell me something.” he scowled but nodded. “Why'd old Sun Butt send you to protect me instead of one of her Royal Stooges.” he seemed irritated at the question, or maybe that I'd called Celestia 'Sun Butt' but I couldn't tell which. I looked at him pleadingly until he relented.

“I volunteered.” he said simply.

“Why?” he worked his jaw back and forth in silence before sighing deeply.

“It's a matter of honor. I did something dishonorable, and I must atone for it.” I opened my muzzle to ask what it was but he covered it with his claws. “That's all I will say for now. The Outpost should be around the next bend in the road.”

We reached the curve and started towards the Outpost. Grover stopped in his tracks and grabbed my tail.

“Hey! What the hell?” in reply he pointed to the walls surrounding the Outpost were dozens of ponies in gold armor were fighting dozens more in midnight blue barding.  Swords and spears were clashing with spiked pony shoes in a angry frenzy just a hundred yards in front of us. One of the mares in blue barding noticed us and shouted.

“Kill them!!!”

Oh come on...

Level Up! Combat Magic: 25. Speech: 25.

Perk added: Sweet talker. +5% chance of persuading others in dialogue.

Chapter 2: Slight of Hoof

"...We crucify ourselves between two thieves: Regret for yesterday and Fear of tomorrow..."

You would think with everything I'd been through that day, and the previous week, the gods would throw a mare a bone. Obviously not.

“Kill them!” the mare and several more Nighstalkers left the main battle and charged at us. They carried wicked looking swords and brutal warhammers. How a pony could hold a twenty pound hammer in her teeth I'll never know. Lucky for me, I don't need a hammer.

Fire erupted from the tip of my horn and bathed the ground in front of them in hot death. All but one unicorn mare scattered, trying to avoid being cooked alive. Grover could handle them, my problem was the mare who didn't run. Her horn glowed crimson and her body erupted into flames.

“Oh, shit!” I fucking hate cloaking spells! she charged right through the wall of flames and rammed right into me. The flames singeing my mane and the parts of my coat not covered by my barding. Including my fucking face!

“Get off me!” I hadn't used this trick very often, since I so rarely ever got discovered on the job but everypony in the Guild knew it. I made the motion that I was sitting down and rolled onto my back. Then I kicked the mare right between her hindlegs with all four of my hooves. The mare screamed hysterically, putting her hooves between her flanks as she flew back through the air. Grover took the opportunity. He spun and slashed both of his swords through her neck. He didn't even look in the mare's direction as she was cut in two. Her head and body flew to the ground and landed with a nasty crunch.

While I raised a magical shield and sent small bursts of lightening at anypony who came too close, Grover went on the offensive. He cut the knees of the stallion directly in front of him then crossed his blades before decapitating him. One buck swung a warhammer at Grover's head only for the griffon take to the air seconds before it hit. He threw one of his swords at the buck who barely raised his weapon in time to deflect it. The blade ricocheted off the hammer and slashed the throat of a mare nearby before flying right back into Grover's talons.

“Damn.” that was all I could say. Grover moved like he was dancing instead of fighting for his life. His movements were precise and he never once faltered against an opponent. Anypony who went after Grover ended up dead or dying at the griffon's feet. The entire time I watched him fighting he never flinched, or recoiled. He was an unstoppable force of death.

While he looked like he was having fun I was just trying to keep them away from me. I have some impressive spells sure, but once my enemies get close enough to strike I either have to run away or try and trick them. I wasn't like Grover. I could use a dagger but in a full blown fight an eight inch blade didn't do much. Fortunately, I didn't need to fight that's what he was for.

There were less than a dozen Nightstalkers now. Our arrival had distracted them long enough for the Royal Guards to gain the upper hoof. That, and the fact that Grover was a fucking tornado of death, his blades soaked in pony blood. Every one of his sword strokes resulted in another dead opponent. Watching him cut through vicious warrior ponies like they were nothing but wet paper ignited fear inside me.

The Princess didn't send him with me to guard me or her money. I thought darkly. She sent him to hunt me down and kill me if I try to run. That had to be it.

I lowered my magical shield as the Royal Guards cornered the last three with tall golden shields and their spears. The Nightstalkers were striking at them ferociously but the Guard's shields were unwavering. Seeing that defeat was inevitable, the four remaining Nightstalkers sank their teeth into their left shoulders. Blood and white foam burst from the ponies mouths as they spasamed and fell to the ground in a twitching heap.

Grover sheathed his blades and stared at the four ponies who hated Celestia enough to kill her soldiers and then themselves when defeat was unavoidable. His expression was absolutely disgusted.

“What is wrong with your species?” I threw my right foreleg over his shoulder and almost slipped off from the blood coating his armor.

“Oh a little of this, a little of that.” I said sarcastically, drawing worried looks from the guards. “I just like to think of it as being 'special'. Isn't that right boys?” the guards looked taken aback by the question. They tucked their heads together and after a few moments of frantic whispering one of them left the group and approached us.

“Thank you for the assistance, civilians. But why are you here? This Outpost is currently on lock down.” Grover wiped some blood off of his saddlebags and pulled out a scroll with only a little blood on it. He passed it to the unicorn who's eyes widened when he read it. “You two are the Princess's agents?” Grover and I nodded.

“You were due here hours ago. By chariot if I read the report right...” his expression filled with worry. “Where are Clipper and Dust Storm? They're supposed to be with you...”

“Huh, I'm surprised you didn't see the explosion.” I said sarcastically. “The Pegasi didn't make it. Real sorry about that. Now, about our provisions?” the guards looked crestfallen but didn't inquire further. Grover shot me a very dark look from under his helmet's visor before following the head guard into the walls of the camp. The other guards watched me with expressions ranging from suspicious to sad and hateful to frightened. Wasn't surprising really. Only a few moments ago they were watching me set ponies on fire and Grover cutting the Nightstalkers to ribbons.

Grover and the guard returned burdened with saddlebags that were filled to bursting. The guard tossed one pack to me while Grover walked straight past me and onto the road.

“Get a move on.” he said simply. I strapped the bags over my own and followed as fast as I could. I knew a thing or two about making your pocket space count but these bags were ridiculous!

“What the hell is in these?” I asked after the outpost was out of sight. “Did you fill them with bricks or...” I was about to say, 'bags of sand' but Grover cut be off with a hard smack to the face. I readied a bolt of lightening but before I could even start casting he knocked me onto my back and pushed the tip of one of his swords against my throat. It felt like the longest time with him just standing there, his blade on my neck. Without a word he sheathed his blade and pulled me to my hooves before continuing south along the road. After a few minutes I managed to find my voice again.

“You...uh, going to tell me what that was about?” he didn't reply. “Because if I did something to offend you and your freaky griffon pride than all you gotta do is tell me.”

“That was needlessly cruel.” he said after a few moments. I didn't get it. What was cruel? My confusion must have shown because he stopped in his tracks and said, “What you said to that soldier. It was cruel and pointless. Why did you say that to him?” Oh, that...that! That's what he's pissed about?

“What? I was just being truthful. Was I supposed to tell him, 'Oh yeah, they are totally fine. Just went back to Canterlot for a drink and some cheap whores'.” I told him. What was the big deal? “Seriously, Feathers you griffons got some weird ways of communicating.” Grover slapped the side of his helmet and returned to being silent. I have to admit, I liked him better when he was being a smart ass (at least he was entertaining) now he was just boring.

Needless to say the rest of the day was boring. Grover refused to talk to me (for whatever reason) and nothing else in the wilderness seemed to want to test itself against us. We saw a few ponies on the roads -mostly traveling merchants-  but one look at Grover sent them scurrying to the side to avoid us. He was still covered from head to foot in blood.

“You want a rag or something..?” I asked, holding out an old shirt I took off one of the Nightstalkers -that and all their bits, smaller weapons and even a half dozen healing potions-. He took the shirt grudgingly and began wiping at the almost completely dry blood.

“Here.” I said, floating my canteen towards him. He poured some water on the shirt and had a much better time getting the blood off his armor and coat. Not that it did much good. Once his chest piece was mostly clean a trickle of fresh blood leaked out from under his armor.

“I don't know if you've noticed but your armor is dirty again.” he ripped the shirt in two and shoved one half under his armor, but he did nothing else. “I scavenged some potions from the Nightstalkers you so gleefully murdered. Would you like one?”

“I murdered no one. Thieves and cowards murder. I defeated them in fair combat.” that was bullshit, those poor bastards didn't stand a chance against him. But I didn't call him on it, and since he was busy ignoring me I took the opportunity to see what kind of tracking spell the Princess placed on me. My horn glowed gold as I activated my spell. This drew Grover's attention immediately.

“What are you up to?” he said, gripping the hilt of his sword threateningly.

“It's a spell to detect nearby life,” I lied smoothly. “I'd prefer not to be caught off guard again if you don't mind.” he nodded, removed his talons from his blade and continued walking.

The spell Celestia used was complex...but not perfect. It was an advanced tracking spell that connected me to either to the Princess herself or a secondary magical object. Like a map or maybe a mirror. Or...maybe a triangulation spell.

“Maybe...” I whispered to myself, drawing a suspicious look from Grover. “Just a squirrel.” I told him. I felt myself smile despite trying to hide it. I'll have it cracked in a day. Two tops! To keep up appearances I changed to an actual life detection spell.

“Uh, oh...” there was something massive and angry in the trees to the right of us. “Grover!” I whispered and pointed at the treeline. Figures. Were just a mile from the Applewood mountain range and something else has to happen.

Grover unsheathed his blades in a fraction of a second and dropped his bags on the ground. Two savage yellow eyes appeared in the brush, the creature let out a deep growl that reverberated in my bones. The head of an enormous lion with horns emerged from the trees, followed by a powerful cat body with dragon-like wings and the tail of a scorpion.

“Son of a bitch.” I said as the Manticore roared and charged us. I started to launch a fireball at it but stopped mid cast. If that thing kills Grover, I'll be able to focus on cancelling the spell. Then I'm home free!! I let the spell die and watched the monster charge at Grover with anticipation. If only I had some popcorn. I thought glumly. Grover flapped his wings  and jumped clear over the Manticore before bringing both his blades down on it's tail, severing it.

The monster roared in pain took a few swipes at the griffon. Come on! Just gut him already! But the stupid bastard was too slow. Grover darted around the Manticore like a hummingbird, striking out at it every time it moved. Soon the beast was covered with dozens of deep gashes gushing boiling hot blood on the ground. With one final thrust Grover drove both his swords into the nape of it's neck. It reared up on it's hindlegs and roared in pain before falling face first onto the ground and landing in a twitching, bloody heap.

“Damn.” I managed to say; the little pony in my head was screaming a lot more colorful things. I had to be very careful with Grover, even with my magic he could kill me with his eyes closed. “So...if you're not a mercenary where did you learn to fight like that? I thought you griffons just spent your days counting your gold.” Grover pulled his blades free of the carcass and began wiping the blood on the Manticore's coat. How can he move that fast in armor like that? I had to find out more about him...if he can kill a Manitcore like that he could beat Shadowmark... nah. He can't be that good.

“You're not wrong.” he said simply. “about my people I mean. Most griffons do as you said, hoarding their gold and gems like dragons do. But I care not for gold, so I learned to fight.”

“What's wrong with gold?” I asked, more than a little insulted. Gold was...everything really. Bits make the world go round and all that. “If you don't care about bits than what are you doing in Equestria anyway? I'm sure Griffonstone is lovely this time of year.” he scowled darkly at me in response. “Oh, come on! We're going to be traveling together a while, just give me the reason you left. Please!” he remained silent for a little longer, just long enough to put his pack back on and continue down the road.

“You want to know why I'm here?” he asked slowly. I nodded. “Then I'll tell you.” he took a deep breath and pointed to the east.

“I left my home to come to this war torn land seeking something that will help my people. Celestia will help me retrieve it in exchange for helping her fight Emperor Grogar.” he turned back to me. “I will gladly give my life if it means my people will get what they need. And if that means keeping scum like you alive then that's what I'll do.” I didn't know how to respond to that so I didn't.

“Your turn, sneak thief.” he said, smugly. “If you studied magic most of your life, how come you decided to be a thief?”

“Sorry to say it's a short, boring story,” I lied. In reality it was long and the exact opposite of boring. “Being a scholar doesn't quite rack in the bits like a good ole lock pick. So once I was old enough I came to Canterlot and enjoyed a spectacular three year crime spree before being ratted out by that bitch Ambrosia.” to my surprise he actually smiled. It wasn't smug or sarcastic either, but a genuine smile.

“You got that right. That mare is the most aggravating creature I've ever come across.” Just a little more...

“Yeah she's just the wor- ahh!” I stuck my hindleg in a small hole in the road and fell forward. The best way to make something look real is to make it real. Grover caught me before I hit the ground and a put a hoof on his bags to steady myself. With one swift motion I removed a bundle of scrolls from his bags and dropped it into my own.

“You alright?” he asked. Dumbass.

“Yeah, just hit a hole in the road. One disadvantage of hooves. Aren't you the lucky one?” He shrugged.

We followed the road until nightfall. Checking the map every once in a while allowed me to keep tags on how far we'd gone. We were only half an inch from the Guard outpost and Everfree forest but I figured we'd gone at least fifteen- maybe twenty- miles. Not bad considering.

“We'll make camp here. I'll get some wood, use that spell of yours to keep an eye out for anything dangerous.” he told me dropping his pack of provisions on the ground. (he kept his own saddlebags on his waist.) I was tempted to look through the scrolls but instinct told me to wait. He'd probably cut my head off if he saw me going through his things...Idea!I dropped floated the scrolls before me and used a spell that came with my profession. The bundle glowed bright orange and disappeared. Then it two identical bundles appeared in my magic's grasp.

“Silver, you are a genius.” I put the copy in my bags and waited for Grover to return with the wood. Once he had the wood prepared I threw my right foreleg around his neck. “Thanks, Grover. It's going to be cold tonight, I can feel it.” he didn't notice me putting the scrolls back in his pockets.

“Don't think anything of it.” he told me. “Now why don't you light it?” he stepped back as fire erupted from my horn and bathed the wood. In minutes we had a hot, roaring fire beside the road. I dug a few apples, some cheese and a slice of bread from my bags while Grover chewed on a couple dead rats from his own food supply. Fucking...Griffons. I shook my head and pulled one of the copied scrolls from my bags. Upon seeing it Grover scowled and checked his pockets. His eyes widened in surprise and he scratched his head.

“What are you reading?” he asked, suspiciously. I smiled and opened the scroll.

“This is the first volume in the autobiography of Guildmaster Nightingale.” I lied smoothly. “Here's the opening quote' If I steal Bits from anypony, there may be no harm done in the mere transfer of possession; she may not feel the loss or it may prevent her from spending it badly. But I cannot help doing this great wrong towards pony, that I make myself dishonest.” his eyes widened in surprise.

“Well...that was shockingly profound. But I have to say, I've never heard of this 'Nightingale' before.” it took every ounce of restraint I had not to facehoof. I finished my food in one gulp, rolled up the scroll and returned it to my bags. Whatever was in them could wait until later.

“That is unacceptable! Nightingale is the founder and grand matriarch of the Guild, and she deserves to remembered.” I reared up and stuck my right foreleg in the air.

“How are you going to tell me without the scroll?” he asked.

“I have the story memorized. Now are you going to let me tell the story or not?” he nodded and waved for me to continue.

“It all began forty years ago, just after the rise and fall of Nightmare Moon. On that faithful day Luna raised the moon to block out the sun. That day... Equestria witnessed it's first and only solar eclipse. The very sight of the sun being swallowed by the moon and the ensuing darkness that surrounded the world struck terror into the hearts of millions...and inspired others!

“Nightingale was known by another name in her youth but it is lost to time. She was a simple cut purse living in Arcadia when she witnessed the eclipse. While the other ponies of the city screamed and ran for cover, hoping to be spared the unnatural terror that they were witnessing, she saw opportunity. While the ponies of Arcadia had stormed the palace and hid behind it's walls, Nightingale filled her bags with every Bit, piece of jewelry and valuable gem in the city then skipped town. She made more money in five minutes than she had in her entire lifetime, and this gave her an idea.

“Before Nightmare Moon the thieves of Equestria were disorganized, unskilled and fought against one another for supremacy. After Luna's banishment Nightingale took it upon herself to bring order to the chaos, and so the Thieves Guild was born. Using her charms, uncanny skills and at times sheer force, Nightingale brought every thief in Equestria under the Guild's banner. Those who wouldn't join were killed or went into hiding. Nightingale alone brought peace Equestria's underworld.

“Once the infighting settled down Nightingale declared was declared the very first Guildmaster. All the thieves of the Guild swore themselves to her and what she created, and the Guild knew nothing but prosperity and peace for decades after...” Grover leaned back against his pack and crossed his hindlegs.

“Well. That was informative. Got to say I didn't think sneak thieves could be organized.” he grabbed his canteen and took a long pull before continuing. “Of course I heard of the Guild when I was back in the capital but I thought it was a load of rubbish. Whatever happened to her?” he asked. Ugh...

“She was assassinated by a stallion named Black Wing fifteen years ago.” I said. “He broke the tenets and caused a schism in the Guild.” He whistled, Wait...he has a beak. How'd he do that?

“Nothing like a civil war. How did that go?” he asked sarcastically. I groaned inwardly. This story sucked.

“After Nightingale was murdered seven different ponies challenged Black Wing's ascension to Guildmaster, and the rest of the Guild split apart and stood behind the pony they thought would be best at leading us. To keep it short Grover, it was a long, and bloody schism that ended with seven factions being killed off by Shadowmark and his followers. He's been in charge since...” I rubbed in my muzzle in thought. Maybe I could trick Shadowmark into killing Grover?

“Well thanks for the bed time story, sneak thief. I'm going to sleep.” he unrolled a sleeping bag and stretched out on it. “I'm sure it goes without saying, but I'll remind you.” he drew his sword in the blink of an eye and pointed it at my muzzle. “If you try to run, I'll hunt you.” he smiled, sheathed his blade seeming went to sleep. I hadn't been thinking of trying to run (not yet at least) but now that he said not to I was tempted to hightail it through the country side.

But the scrolls were calling to me.

I sat back down and removed the first scroll from my bags once more. I unrolled it, and from the first few inches it appeared to be a journal written in surprisingly elegant script.

First Day of Sun's Dusk, Year 17. Seventeen? The year is 41 AC. Eh, maybe it's a griffon thing. I shook my head and read on.

I led a squad of Pegasi in a scouting mission along the lines today. Seems that the Legion was fortified again last night. At least another three thousand rams and counting. We still outnumber them nearly two to one but if they keep coming in like this we won't last long. I expressed my concern to the General that an advance was imminent......

I miss Sapphire...

I managed to kill a high ranking officer who happened to be inspecting the lines. Almost lost Cloud Breaker to crossbow fire in the escape but the lucky bastard managed to dodge the shot. He decided to leave the bolt sticking out of his helmet for sentimental reasons. I guess if any Legionnaires see him they might think he's already dead...or maybe a zombie or something?

Second Day of Sun's Dusk, Year 17.

It was just like I feared, the Legion made another big push today. If they keep moving like this we'll have to fortify Arcadia. But I can't honestly say that they didn't pay for every inch they took in blood. I feel like I'm wading waist deep in blood. I killed a hundred and thirteen Legionnaires today but every time I cut one down another appears in it's place. Grogar seems hell bent on taking ground by sheer numbers. Far be it from me to correct the tactics of the enemy but I assume he only has so many Legionnaires, perhaps he should be more careful with them?

A hundred and thirteen? Holy shit! That's insane.

Third of Sun's Dusk, Year 17.

I saw Gilgamesh in my dreams again. Princess Celestia offered to remove the memory from my mind when I met her but I just couldn't. What I did was wrong, terrible, but it would be worse to just pretend it didn't happen. I shouldn't have even told her, I deserve to see him.

I can feel home calling me once again; the scent of fresh seared salmon assails my nostrils and makes my mouth water. I long for my beautiful Sapphire, I think of her every day.

Daw, how cute!

Every day I fight this blasted war I long to go home. But I can't leave until this war is over and I get what we need. Once that bastard Grogar's head is on a pike my mission will be over and my people will get what they need most. I must be patient. General Secretariat has informed me that I'm to return to Canterlot three days after Celestia left the encampment. The journey will take only a day and a half in the sky but I think I will take a longer route. It's been so long since I could just enjoy the scenery; where Equestria isn't torn by war it is quite beautiful. Reminds me of the plains between the Hyperborians back home.

Forth of Sun's Dusk, Year 17.

I flew between the Smokey mountains today. The land was beautiful. The lush greenery, the woodland creatures, and the crystal clear streams running through the valley between the mountains left me in awe. I know the Princess wouldn't approve but I took a few hours to sketch the scene. I do hope Sapphire likes it.

In addition I had an interesting conversation with two stallions in the area. They talked about building a homestead and asked my opinion on whether they should start with growing food or building shelter. Given the whether I saw no need for a house, but at the same time planting crops would diminish the land's natural beauty the same as any structure. In the end I simply told them to flip a Bit to decide, but for some reason I can't fathom I think they're still arguing about it.

Huh...never pictured him as a nature lover. I looked over at the griffon snoring quietly on his bedroll. That didn't stop him from butchering that Manitcore. I read on, starting to feel invested.

Fifth of Sun's Dusk, Year 17.

My true mission has begun. I was recalled from the front lines for a reconnaissance mission. Celestia has commanded me to protect and monitor a captured thief by the name of 'Silver Scroll'. The Princess tried to assure me that this mare is the edge we need but I'm not so sure. I understand the Princess's need for espionage but she has plenty of such agents at her disposal. Perhaps she doesn't want to risk any of her ponies in an infiltration attempt. Or maybe she just likes pulling the strings. I know not.

Turns out that this Silver Scroll was captured in an attempted theft of the Elements of Harmony. The Princess wouldn't share what they were or what they do but from what information I could find they must be powerful weapons. I hope she has the good sense to use them to destroy Grogar. If not I may have to take matters into my own talons.

It seemed that I started on one of the more recent journals. The scroll was one of over a dozen. Grover snorted and rolled over, startling me into almost dropping the scroll in the fire. I rolled up the journal, returned it to my bags and looked at the sky. The moon was shining brilliantly above us, surrounded by hundreds of shining stars. The silhouette of a unicorn mare stood against the luminescent white of the moon. No wonder the Nightstalkers want her back. She wanted this to last forever.

I yawned loudly and used my magic to unfurl my own bedroll before sprawling out on it. I left my barding on, but it was made of lack leather. How Grover could sleep comfortably in metal body armor I had no idea, but he was doing it.

I curled up and watched the last of the embers die out before me. I don't know when but I fell into a dreamless sleep.

Grover shook me awake early the next morning. He already doused the remains of the fire and packed his bedroll.

“Come on, sneak thief. We have a lot of miles to cover.” he said tiredly. I got to my hooves, stretched and packed my things back into my bags. Then we continued down the road. I floated another apple from my bags and took a bite as the road weaved through two mountain ranges. The Applewood mountains and the Rockies. To the direct south lay Equestria's rock farms while to the far north was the Whitetail Woods, and the unicorn city of Arcadia. At the rate we were moving we could be in Applewood in two days at most. And from there just half a day to Timbucktu.

An hour after we started moving we came across the first ponies traveling on the road. Took long enough to find some suckers. I thought looking over the unicorn mare and her earth pony guards. They weren't soldiers, maybe mercenaries or friends of hers. She was pulling a cart covered with purple silk. Time to strut my stuff.

“Follow my lead.” I whispered. Grover looked at me curiously but didn't question me.

“Greetings!” I said to the mare once they were close enough to hear. “might I say you look like three scrupulous and intelligent ponies if I'm not mistaken.” the bucks smiled but the mare looked suspicious. Up side of having such a nice ass and a face as beautiful as mine was that stallions were easy. But at the same time my looks made most mares intimidated and jealous, and therefor harder to fool. But I am a professional.

“What do you want?” she asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow.

“I just thought you looked like a sensible, intelligent pony who would be interested in improving their life.” I floated a small crystal from my bags and cast a illumination spell on it. The crystal glowed with several bright colors. “This my dear mare is a Soul Stone. It has the power to grant wishes once per day.”

“Is that the best scam you got?” she asked sarcastically with a smile. “I've seen fillies with better sales pitches.” Oh really?

“Stone, I wish for a Bit.” I used my magic to make a false Bit appear from thin air in front of me. The mare's jaw dropped in surprise.

“How much?”

                          ….......................

“That was completely unnecessary,” Grover said as I pranced happily down the dirt road, flipping a Bit on and off of my muzzle. Grover was trotting to my left, breathing deeply. He was really fast in the forest and when he was fighting, but wearing all that armor in the heat and keeping up with me seemed to be wearing him out. So he is mortal after all.

“That was totally necessary!” I told him indignantly. “Besides, this thousand Bits is in far better hooves now than before.” I lifted the large bag of Bits off my back and shook it merrily. “Come on....” I whined. “You know you want some.”

“No.” he said grumpily.

“Oh, come on!” I shoved the bag under his beak with my magic. “You know you want it. You can take the whole bag! Consider it my thanks for being such a stoic protector.” I pulled the string, opening the bag and his eyes widened. They twitched as he beheld the large some of gold. Maybe I can buy him off. Suddenly he scowled, grabbed the bags and launched himself into the air. He flew clear over the mountain and disappeared from sight.

“That went well. Now all I have to do is disable the tracking spell...” I stopped mid sentence as Grover reappeared over the peak and dove straight towards me. He landed hard next to me, his claws gouging the earth beneath him. He no longer had the gold.

“What did you do?” I asked. Maybe he hid it somewhere?

“I threw your gold into a river.”

“No! I can get them!” I told him as he dragged me on the ground behind him, his tail wrapped around my waist. “I can't leave them behind!”

“I dropped the bag in the middle of a deep river. Since I'm fairly sure you can't breath underwater you're not getting it back.” he said tiredly. He'd been dragging me like this for almost ten minutes and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't break his tail's grip. Maybe if I shot him with lightening? No, he'd probably dodge it. Maybe I could turn him into a mouse? Not that either, I never tried that spell on anything larger than a teapot. And if I missed or fucked it up he'd probably kill me.

“You idiot! Why did you do that?” I asked indignantly. “If you didn't want it you could have just told me to keep it. I earned every Bit of that money!” Asshole. He snorted loudly and shook his head.

“You didn't earn one coin. You swindled it out of insecure fool with your magic. If only you used your magic for good, who knows what you could accomplish.” I knew what I could accomplish if I tried to kill him. Wait a moment... My horn glowed brightly and I focused on casting a  spell that would attract some unique visitors.

“Did you hear that?” Grover asked, looking in the direction of some trees and other foliage.

“I didn't hear anything.” I wasn't going to tell him anything. Hopefully, whatever it was would be able to get rid of the psychotic bastard.

“There it is again,” he said, standing on his hindlegs and gripping his blades. “Are you sure you didn't hear something?”

“Afraid not. My hearing isn't the best being dragged on my belly on a fucking dirt road like a foal.” I said sarcastically. Just a little longer...

Then it happened, a large black and white creature with insect wings and multiple limbs burst out of the trees. it's eyes glowed crimson, it six legs all ended in razor sharp claws longer than my dagger and it had two antenna growing out of it's head.

“What in heaven's name!?” He shouted. Sweet fucking Luna. He doesn't even curse when he sees a fucking Bug Bear.

He lifted me with his tail (which surprised me) and threw me to the opposite side of the road while he drew his blades.

“Time to send you back to Tarterus, foul monster!” the Bug Bear roared and slashed at Grover's face. The griffon took to the air just seconds before the attack could hit him, then he flew over the Bug Bear's back and in one clean stroke cut it's wings off. The Bug Bear roared in pain and crashed to the street with a bone breaking thud but it got to it's feet at once and looked at me. Pure hatred in it's red eyes. Oh....Fuck.

I got to my hooves and galloped down the road as the Bug Bear chased after me. Grover was flying beside it striking it with his blades every second, leaving large gushing wounds everywhere he managed to hit. But the Bug Bear showed no signs of slowing down, or that it even noticed any pain. My heart raced, my throat burned terribly and my legs felt like the were on fire. I wanted noting more than to stop and sit down but I knew if I did the Bug Bear was going to get an easy meal.

I looked over my shoulder just in time to watch Grover dive out of the sky like a javelin and impale the Bug Bear through the head with both his swords. Grover buried his blades all the way to the hilt inside the monster's brain. The Bug Bear fell forward skidded to the ground behind me. I still had to run for almost thirty feet before it stopped sliding and when it finally did stop I dropped to the ground panting hard. Okay, I'll put up with him...for a little longer.

Much to my surprise, once Grover removed his swords from the Bug Bear's corpse he sheathed them and brought me his canteen.

“Drink up. You just galloped a solid mile.” I took it and drank gulped the water down quickly. I didn't even stop to breath as I emptied the canteen. “You're not an athlete are you?” I floated his canteen to him and shook my head.

“Don't have to run...very often.” which was true, I normally make it back to the Guild coin in hoof before anypony even realized I robbed them. Looking at the dead Bug Bear I added, “Thanks for killing it. I would have been Bear chow.” he nodded and looked at the dead creature.

“Just doing my duty. What I don't understand is where the damn thing came from.” he said scratching under his helmet. “I didn't even know Bug Bears lived in this area.” to be totally honest neither did I. I was just hoping for something big when I cast the attraction spell.

“No idea. Just dumb luck I guess.” he didn't question my answer. As fast and deadly as Grover was he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. And that suited me just fine.

The rest of the day was uneventful. The weather turned unbearably hot as we reached the edge of the Great San Palomino Desert. We'd reach the village of Applewood by tomorrow night.

Like the night before Grover gathered firewood and set it ablaze. And just like the night before once the griffon went to sleep, I went to reading. This scroll appeared to be a much earlier set of journal entries.

Seventeenth of Red Trot, Year 15.

I don't really know why I'm writing this. Sapphire said it will help me focus and relax but I don't know. I'd much rather be home, but the pony Princess is our only hope. I told her of our plight and she is willing to help in exchange for assistance in the war. I haven't taken a life in more than a decade but if I have to take a thousand more to help my people than I will. I just hope Sapphire doesn't think me a monster for it. Perhaps I just won't tell her. If he killed a hundred and thirteen in one day I think he missed the thousand mark a long time ago.

Twentieth of Red Trot, Year 15.

Sapphire was right. Again. I don't know what it is about writing but it makes me feel better about my situation. Princess Celestia was rather disappointed that I was the only griffon who was helping her. She seemed to believe I could rally my kind to fight Grogar and almost reconsidered our arrangement. She changed her mind once she saw me fighting in Vanhoover, and due to my combat prowess she has put me under the command of one General Secretariat.

I just hope I can survive long enough to return home with my reward.

Thirtieth of Red Trot, Year 15.

It seems that I woefully underestimated the evil I have chosen to face. An entire Legion was destroyed by the Royal Guard to the west of Whitetail. We thought it would be a crippling blow to Grogar but it wasn't. The monster raised them from the dead. I've spent the last three days killing the same rams over, and over, and over, and over...Grogar is a sick bastard.

I almost dropped the scroll. He brought them back to life..? Like zombies? I didn't even know rams could use magic, but magic of that level...

Another thing that has been bothering me is the ponies I've been fighting beside. I never knew kinship in Griffonstone. The only griffon I ever knew who cared for me is Sapphire. Even my parents cared more for gold than me. But the ponies of Equestria are far different. After a few days of guarded suspicion the Royal Guard seem to have grown warm to me. Many of them thought I was just a sell-sword interested in making gold off of their misery. But after some time they found about about me. How I was here of my own free will an they seemed to warm to that. I've been invited for drinks in the officers cabin several times because of my interaction with the Princess but I never went. So when the normal soldiers asked me to their own little party I agreed.

It was the first time since I left Sapphire that I felt happy. That I felt hope. It's amazing what having one night with no killing can do for the soul... I was thinking of giving up. Going home and seeing my Sapphire again. But after tonight I feel my confidence returning. We. Will. Win.

I tried to imagine what Griffonstone was like. It must have sucked pretty hard for Grover to leave the one griffon he cared about to fight on war for somepony else. In a country that had little love for him. I looked over at the griffon with a new feeling. I hadn't felt anything close to this since the first time I saw Shadowmark sparring in the Guild training room. Respect. He was certainly a better pony er, person, than I was. Whatever. I rolled up the scroll and returned it to my bags. Grover suddenly jerked, his left hindleg reached up to his head and scratched his helmet comically.

“No way...” I whispered. Snickering I pressed a hoof to my muzzle to stop from waking him. I'll have to make a memory orb of that. The very thought had me giggling like a filly. Grover jerked and rolled over making me stop. If he woke up I don't think I would have been able to come up with a good enough lie.

I woke Grover the next morning, we ate breakfast and headed straight for Applewood. I hadn't been able been able to sleep. Grover was just to funny. It's like he's a fucking house cat or something. Dammit, I wish I had a ball of string!

For the first time it what was only a few days but felt like forever I had a day where nothing tried to kill me. Granted the Bug Bear was my fault it still felt nice. Grover was stoically silent most of the time. I had a plethora of new questions I wanted to ask but I had to bite my tongue. If I asked the wrong question he would realize that I'd read his journal. He wouldn't know that I made copies but he'd think I read them and returned them to his bags. So I asked questions that were common enough to avoid suspicion.

“So, what's it like in Griffonstone?” he seemed a little surprised but answered without hesitation.

“It is...different from Equestria to say the least. There is no kinship there like there is here. Most griffons just ignore one another or fight over trinkets.” his expression turned to one of longing. “Not all are like that though.” I smiled coyly.

“Got a mare back home?” I asked bumping his flank with my own and immediately regretting it. Fucking armor!

“That's none of your concern.” he said dryly, his face going blank again. Damn!

“I understand, that's private info. No argument here.” I smiled coyly and whispered, “Is she cute?” His face went bright red underneath his helmet. She must be a damn cutie. I left Grover alone after that. More out of fear that he might try to kill me if I kept pestering him than anything. His journals made if clear enough that his kill count was easily in triple digits, and I was sure it wouldn't take much to make him add me to the list.

By mid day the heat was excruciating. The sun's rays were beating down on the landscape like Celestia's wrath. Maybe I pissed her off. But there was a silver lining. The land was flat for miles. The only break in the landscape was the Applewood mountains and right by the mountains was the village named for them.

And it was burning.

Level Up! Pickpocket 50. New Perk Added, Animal Magnetism: you have an uncanny ability to attract dangerous wildlife, you now do 10% more damage to creatures and take 10% less.

Chapter 3: The Heart of a Thief

“...a thief believes everypony steals...”

In my career I've come across many unusual and dangerous things. I've seen talismans that turn ponies into frogs, talking house cats (don't ask) and I've cast spells that would make Star Swirl envious. But up until leaving Canterlot with Grover I had never killed anypony, (seen more than a dozen killed by my coworkers, mostly Brutus. but never killed a pony myself.) I never saw a Manticore and I'd never flown. But seeing Applewood burning and being attacked by large insect-like creatures took the cake.

“Changelings!” Grover growled, unsheathed his swords and flew to the village without hesitation. I on the other hoof did hesitate. On one hoof, innocent ponies were being hurt. On the other, this was an excellent opportunity to slip away and let Grover get eaten. But all my thoughts melted away as I heard her.

On the edge of the village, cornered by a rather large changeling, was a little blue coated earth pony filly cowering against the wall. And she was calling for her mommy.

Oh hell no!

“Stay away from her you bastard!” I summoned all the power I could muster and summoned a long, curved blade made entirely out of magical energy. Then I brought it down right into the changeling's spine...er, whatever changelings had in Lou of a spine. The changeling hissed horribly as magical energy melted it's black carapace. In retaliation it turned to bring it's fangs down on me but Grover wasn't having it. The griffon was already covered in what I assumed was changeling blood Typical. as he brought both of his swords down on the back of it's neck, severing it's head.

The blade disappeared as I went to the filly and pulled her away from the dead changeling. I recoiled at the very sight of the monstrosity. It was the size of a pony with a body of black chitin, insect wings, a curved horn and two large fangs sticking out of it's mouth. In all my life I'd never seen anything uglier.

“Are you all right?” I asked her. In response she gave a tentative nod, tears streaming down her face. “Where are your parents?” she pointed down the road leading through town where several changelings and town ponies were still struggling. Grover stood close to us, his eyes darting around wildly for any sign that the creatures were coming closer.

“Go help them,” I said pointing to where the town ponies we fighting off the creatures. “I'll take care of her.” Grover nodded and took the skies without a word. I couldn't help but watch in awe as he drew a half dozen of the creatures away and dispatched them one by one.

He's a fucking killing machine...

There was a tug on my mane that drew me out of my reverie. I looked down to see my hair in the filly's mouth.

“Sorry. Show me where home is.” I followed the filly's directions through the small town. Many of the buildings were burning with bright green flames but a few were intact. There were dozens of bodies throughout the streets. Most were unicorn and earth ponies but there were a few Pegasi and changeling corpses as well. I covered the filly's eyes while she rode on my back, she didn't need to see any of this. I had the deadliest spell I could think of at my horn tip, ready for anything that tried to harm us. But the changelings stayed away. Maybe Grover killed them all already. I wouldn't put it past him.

We reached the house where the filly lived less than a minute later, my chest tightening at the sight of a dead mare and stallion with coats identical to the filly on my back. They looked like their bodies had been drained of any fluid in addition to the two large holes on each of their necks.

“Are they there?” her voice, small and pleading asked me.

“I...” the words stuck in my throat. I had to be sure. “What do your ma and pa look like?” I asked, dreading that I already knew the answer.

“They have my coat, but Mamma's hair is green and Daddy's is grey like mine.” Mother fucking cunt! Dammit!! Son of a cock sucking whore!!! I wrapped my tail protectively around her and quickly trotted away from the house back towards the edge of town. Grover could meet us there once he was done making changeling ka-bobs. “Where are we going, is my mommy and daddy ok?” she asked.

“They weren't there,” I quickly lied. “But we'll find them. Just stay close alright?” Dammit, dammit, dammit.

“Okay. Thank you,” she added, “for saving me from the monster.” she was silent for a moment before saying, “My name is Rose. What's your name?”

“That's a very pretty name. My...” I thought about making a name up but she was damn cute I really couldn't think of anything. What harm could come of telling a little filly? “Silver Scroll. My name is Silver Scroll.” she smiled and pulled my tail away from her eyes.

“Your name is pretty too.” she said sweetly. Daw! No, focus Silver! Focus. There were still changelings everywhere, my spell was making that clear enough. But looking around I couldn't see any. They were all on other streets or towards the center of the village.

We reached the edge of town where I first saw her and the first thing I did was start lighting the dead changelings ablaze. I couldn't do that to the town ponies though. We'll bury them once the changelings are dead. And from what I read in Grover's journals that wouldn't be very long.

Or so I thought.

After putting all the dead changelings in a pile and lighting them on fire my life detection spell showed a mass of creatures coming towards us. Rose was still on my back watching the pyre with a curious expression when Grover, surrounded by over a dozen changelings plummeted from the sky and crashed into the ground. His armor was covered in dents, scratches and green changeling blood. The parts of his body that weren't covered had large bite marks identical to the one's on Rose's parents.

“Filthy creatures!” he yelled, slashing at any changeling that came too close. It was clear from his movements that he was badly injured. His left hindleg wasn't supporting his weight, his wings were covered in bites and gashes and his right foreleg was dangling limply at his side. He was holding both his swords with one set of talons, spinning them like a baton twirler at the changelings.

Despite all this, he was clearly more than a match for any single changeling. My spell told me that these were the last of the changelings in the village. He had already killed the rest. Looking at him in this state, surrounded by the creatures made a candle burst to life in my mind. Idea! They'll either kill him and I can finish the rest with my magic or he'll kill them all and one spell should be all it takes to finish him!

Yes it was perfect. Grover would be killed, Rose and I will make camp away from Applewood. I'll break the news to her about her parents, (gently, of course) I'll spend the next couple days disabling Celestia's tracking spell. Then Rose and I will go live in Prance. Perfect! I would have been so content to just sit and watch the show, if not for Rose.

“The monsters are gonna get him, you have to help!” I looked over my shoulder at the filly, ready to explain why I couldn't (wouldn't) help the psychotic bastard and that we should run, but the look on her face stopped me in my tracks. Her eyes were large and concerned. Tears were streaming down her face, and her lip was quivering. Dammit.

I set Rose gently on the ground, along with my bags and galloped towards Grover. It seemed that the latter of my two plans would have come to fruition. There were only five changelings left and they were keeping just out of range of Grover's weapons. Hissing and taking the occasional swipe with their horns. Unfortunately for them, they were so distracted by the griffon that they didn't notice me. I launched a bolt of lightening at one causing it to spasm horribly and fall to the ground in a charred, twitching heap. The others turned their attention to me just long enough for Grover to decapitate another.

The remaining changelings seeing how quickly the odds turned on them took to the skies and tried to fly away. Grover threw his swords like javelins, impaling one and cutting the wings off the other. I launched three fire balls in quick succession at the third. It even managed to dodge the first two before the third struck home and blasted it to pieces. Okay, rest now. I was exhausted. My horn was throbbing, there was sweat pouring down my face and I was breathing heavily.

Grover was doing far worse. He was bleeding profusely in over a dozen places and it looked like he was on the verge of passing out. Maybe he'll bleed to death and save me the trouble of killing him. Apparently not. Rose came galloping up to him with several of my healing potions in a pouch hanging from her mouth. Hey...not bad, actually. I gotta give the girl credit, she found them quick.

“Here ya go, mister griffon.” she sweetly, giving Grover the potions.

“Thank you, young one.” he said tiredly, dropping onto his haunches and gulping down the potions. Suddenly, the changeling Grover clipped crashed into the ground about twenty feet from us, along with it's dead companion and some charred pieces of chitin. After finishing the last potion Grover's foreleg snapped back into place disturbingly, he stood up and walked to the creature. The changeling panicked and tried to crawl away but Grover seized it by the neck and slammed it against one of the few buildings in Applewood that wasn't on fire.

“Explain yourself foul creature!” he said angrily, fire in his eyes. If I had been the changeling I probably would have pissed myself. And I couldn't help but giggle a little when I saw a trickle of urine running down the wall underneath it. “Why were you here? What could these ponies have possibly done to deserve this!?” I pulled rose behind me. She was shaking terribly at the sight of the creature. Unsurprising really.

The changeling tried to answer but Grover was putting so much pressure on it's throat that it could only making gagging sounds.

“Um...I think it'll answer if you let it breath.” I said sarcastically. Grover's scowl deepened as he released the changeling. It fell to the ground with a hard thump and rubbed it's throat.

“We...we were hungry.” It managed to wheeze. Grover's eyes seemed to turn to fire as he grabbed it again and slammed it back into the wall. This time, to my amazement, the wall actually cracked from the force.

“You were hungry?” he said in a tone of utter contempt. “Hungry? Hungry! There's an apple orchard less than half a mile to the west! You could have eaten to your heart's content!” he drew his claws back and slashed the creature across the face. Leaving four deep gashes.

“We don't eat apples!” it said desperately, it's voice echoing it's pain. “we eat love. We must, Chrysalis says so!” How the hell does that make sense!? They drained them of their fucking body fluids!!!

“Who's Chrysalis?” I asked, taking a step closer. The changeling started to shake terribly. I don't know why it was afraid of me. Grover had it by the throat, it should be scared of him. Which it was, since it was peeing again.

“Sh..she is the queen. Queen of all changelings.” Grover pressed him against the wall harder making it gasp for breath.

“She sent you here?” he asked. His voice low and dangerous. The changeling nodded quickly. “Where is she?” It was silent for a moment but one more petrifying glare from Grover was enough to get it talking.

“She...she's at the city...the cloud city...with the winged ponies...”

“Timbucktu.” Grover said simply. “Thanks” he drew back his claws and stuck them clean through the creatures eyes, while at the same time crushing it's throat. The changeling squirmed against the wall but couldn't free itself from Grover's iron grip. Once it stopped moving Grover spun and through the creature clear into the pyre.

“Holy shit, Grover.” I said, feeling a little nauseous. I'd seen some fucked up shit in my life. The last few days in particular, but seeing that thing's pulped brain leak out of it's head was pretty high on the list. He turned from me without a word and flew low over the town. At first I thought he was looking for more Changelings but after he dove to the ground and flew back to us with his swords in claw I realized what he was doing.

“We'll need to start digging if we hope to bury them by nightfall.” he said, sheathing his blades. “We don't need any monsters coming here for a meal.” I scowled at him and pointed a hoof at Rose. His expression turned from angry to regretful faster than I thought possible. He came closer to me and whispered, “I'm going to start gathering the bodies. Dig a hole with your magic and keep the young one occupied.” he took to the air again and started for the center of town. Fucking...Griffons. I shook my head.

I managed to move enough dirt to bury the majority of the town ponies. My horn felt like it was about to fall off but I had one less spell in mind. Something for Rose's parents.

“Rose, did you ever hear the story of the Sirens?” I asked her, once I'd dug two holes by the town's apple orchard. I covered her eyes as we walked through Applewood. Grover was fast but he hadn't been able to get all the bodies before I was done digging. Rose hadn't asked what the holes were for. She either didn't realize or was too frightened to really care what I was doing.

“No.” she said quietly. She looked sad and still a little scared but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Gotcha! “What are the Sirens?”

“It all started on a day a very long time ago. The Sirens were three beautiful creatures that could charm ponies with their voices. They sang to any and all who they came across. Bringing joy and light into their lives. At least, that's what they did at first.

“After a while, the Sirens realized they could make their voices stronger if they fed off the negativity of ponies. So they used their magic to make ponies fight each other instead of being happy.” Rose eyes widened and she scowled, her grey mane falling into her eyes.

“That's awful! Just awful, why did they do it?” I smiled and brushed her mane out of her eyes.

“They wanted power. That's almost always what drives ponies to do bad things. But don't worry. They were stopped.” I told her, getting a small smile in return.

“How?” she asked.

“There was one pony who was immune to their magic...” I began, but Rose interrupted.

“It was Celestia huh?” I shook my head, making the filly gasp. “They even tricked Celestia!”

“Yes. Celestia couldn't stop them and neither could her sister, Luna. There was only one pony who stood a chance. And that pony was...” Pause for effect. “Star Swirl the Bearded! Once the Sirens arrived in Canterlot they charmed the whole city into doing they bidding, even the Princesses.” Rose gasped again. Daw!

“Star Swirl challenged them to a musical dual. Believing they were far more powerful than he was they accepted and met him in the city by the palace. They were so confident they would win they even let him sing first. But the words that came out of Star Swirl the Bearded's mouth wasn't a song. It was a spell.

“Using a powerful magic lost to time, Star Swirl opened a portal and banished the Sirens from our world forever, putting an end to their evil plans once and for all.” I smiled as warmly as I could, despite my aching heart. “and that's how Star Swirl stopped the Sirens, saved the Princesses and in turn, all of Equestria.” Just as I finished Grover landed nearby.

“It's done.” He said simply. Rose looked between the two of us, looking confused.

“What?” she asked, perplexed. “Whats done?” Grover looked at me with a tired expression.

“Tell her.” he told me.

“Tell me what?” she asked with a scowl.

“Get her parents, and bring them here,” I whispered in his ear. “They have her coat, mare has green hair, buck has grey.” he nodded and took to the air once more.

“Come on, Rose. We need to talk.” I pulled her away from the graves and into the orchard proper. Once we were a good hundred yards away I sat down under one of the trees and told her to as well.

“What is it?” she asked. I sighed and put my foreleg around her shoulder.

“We...we found your ma and pa, Rose.” she looked around excitedly.

“Are they here? Are they hiding..?” Dammit.

“No...they're not. Rose, I'm so sorry... they're dead.” the excitement left her expression at once. At first it was replaced by confusion which turned to horror.

“But...but...” she stuttered her eyes filling with tears. “you...you said we would find them. You said...we would...” I hugged her close as she wept openly into my breast.

“Shhh, shhh. I'm sorry Rose. I'm so, so sorry.” I didn't know what else to say. How can you make anypony feel better about losing their parents? At least she didn't see them. Nopony should have to see that.

I don't know how long we sat there. Rose crying. Me holding her. I just knew I couldn't let go. Grover came after a while but at the shake of my head he left again. The sun was setting over the orchard when she finally stopped crying. She just stayed where she was, shaking against my chest. Her eyes were extremely puffy and red and she had copious amounts of snot running down her muzzle onto my Guild barding. I pulled a piece of torn shirt from my pockets and held it to her muzzle.

“Here. Blow hard.” she did as she was told, blowing into the dark cloth. “There you go.” I used the dry half of the cloth to wipe her eyes and the rest of her face. “Come on, let's get you some water.” I lifted her onto my back and returned to where I left my bags, being careful to avoid the graves I made  for her parents on the way.

Grover was sitting by my bags when we reached them. His armor was on the ground beside him along with a shovel sticking out of the ground nearby. He watched us approach silently until I reached my bags.

“I did as you said,” he whispered, watching Rose out of the corner of his eye. “I didn't know their names though. There's a large stone at the head of the graves. Maybe you could find out their names and engrave it with your magic?”

“Yeah...” I said absently while I passed my canteen to Rose. “Drink up.” she drank without argument when I floated the canteen to her lips. I need a drink myself. Maybe Grover did too but he wasn't showing it. I opened up the various pockets in search of some ale, but much to my irritation there wasn't any. Are you fucking serious?

“Grover?” he nodded, while beginning to scrub the Changeling blood off his armor pieces. Without his armor on he looked a lot different. His coat was sleek and shiny. He was covered from head to toe in lean...almost supple muscle covered in sweat... Holy shit...if I were a griffon!

“What is it?” he asked with a small scowl.

“When you were in town did you see a tavern?” I said, shaking my head.

“Yeah,” Yes!! “It burned down though.” Dammit! He stood up and whispered, “Maybe instead of trying to find a drink we should show her to the graves? Let her say goodbye.” He was right. Rose finished my water and once again was leaning against my chest tears streaming down her face.

“Come on, Rose” she walked sullenly between us as we made our way to the graves. The fires of Applewood finally burned themselves out just before nightfall. The smoldering remains of the many houses and shops casting a flickering orange light around us. We stopped at the hoof of the grave, and just as I thought Rose burst into tears again.

Returning Rose to my back Grover and I made our way to one of the only houses left standing. Hers. It was a small house with a hay roof like every other in town. Rose was curled up in a ball on my back sobbing quietly as I brought her into what I assumed was her room. There was a small bed with a nightstand and some toys on the floor. I set her down on the bed and tucked her in.

“You're not leaving, are you?” she asked desperately. I smiled reassuringly and rubbed her face with my hoof.

“Of course not. I'll stay right here.”

“Promise?” she asked skeptically.

“Yeah, I promise.” that seemed to calm her down a little. From the other room I heard Grover's talons clicking on the floor and the sound of metal clanging together. Damn, he's putting his armor on. Real shame too. He looked a hell of lot better with it off.

It was hours before Rose finally fell into a fitful sleep. I stayed by her bedside until she did, while Grover stood guard in the living room. He sat like a statue, as stoic as any of the Royal Guard or even more so. I watched him through the door for a while, trying to catch him blink.

I never did.

Maybe it's good I didn't kill him. Who knows what would have happened to Rose if Grover died and I hightailed it to Prance. She wouldn't have stood a chance. Rose would have been just like her parents...

“I don't get you.” Grover said from the doorway, making me jump a little.

“How do you mean?” I asked innocently. Rose rolled over and wrapped her forelegs tightly around my hoof.

“That's how I mean,” he said pointing a talon at at the filly and dropping his voice to a whisper. “How can you light ponies on fire, joke about the deaths of dozens and be so callous to those guards, and then treat this child so...kindly?” Oh. That's how he meant.

“That simple. One; the Nightstalkers were assholes and it's fun to burn assholes then joke about it. Two; those guards were assholes and deserved all the shit I gave them. Three;” I ran my free hoof through Rose's mane as she slept “she...she's just a filly.” I finished lamely.

“You never answered my question,” I added as an after thought, drawing a confused look from the griffon.

“What question is that?” he asked blankly.

“Do you have a mare back home?” just as before Grover blushed furiously at the question. But unlike before, he gave an answer.

“First of all, it's Hen, not mare. Ynd...Yes...” he turned to leave the room but my magic stopped him.

“Oh come on! You gotta give me more than that. What's she like? Is she smart? Or more importantly...is she cute?” Grover scowled at me for a moment but his eyes betrayed him. Gotcha!

“Her name is Sapphire and she is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen,” he said longingly. “she gives me the strength to do what I must every day.”

“What's she look like?” if he was this sweet on her after being in Equestria for two years she had to be special. But instead of telling me what she looked like he removed a folded piece of parchment from his bags and opened it. Inside was a very detailed drawing of a drop dead gorgeous griffon mare er, hen. Her coat and the feathers on her head were the same bright blue, while her talons and beak were ash grey. Her eyes shone like...well, sapphires. Two drinks, three tops and I'd do her.

“How come she isn't helping you?” he blinked rapidly and raised an eyebrow (Feather!?). “Well, think about it. You're the one who came to Equestria to fight a war against a necromatic ram while she's back at Griffonstone doing what exactly? Seems like she could have at least bothered to come here with you since you're trying to 'help your people' and all. At least then you'd have some pussy once in a while. Or maybe even oral?” I wonder how that works with a beak, must pinch a lot. His expression darkened immeasurably and for a moment I believed he would actually kill me. Might have found a nerve there.

“I am going to let that one slide because of the kindness you showed the young one but let me make something clear.” he drew his sword silently and stuck the tip a fraction of an inch from my throat. “Talk about her like that again and I'll kill you.” he sheathed his sword, left the room and returned to sitting like a statue in the main room. Fuck, sensitive much? I turned my attention back to Rose who gave a big yawn and rolled over. She's got the right idea.

I took my bags off and climbed onto the bed with her, giving a big yawn myself.

“Night, Rose.”

                      ------------------------

“Miss Silver?” the small voice of Rose said from beside me. “Miss Silver? Are you awake?” she asked timidly. I was sprawled out on the bed with my right foreleg stuck in between the pegs at the end of the bed. Rose was standing with her forelegs on the mattress and her hindlegs on the floor. There was a plate on the bed by her with a bread roll on it. “I brought you some breakfast.” I couldn't help but smile, even though I was having a fantastic dream that involved Grover mounting me over a billiard table in the tavern in Canterlot. The look on the faces of those Canterlot snobs!

“Thanks. And yeah, I'm up.” Yeah, I'm up now. I ate the bread in two bites and rolled haphazardly off the bed onto the floor. “How you holding up Rose?” I asked, getting off my side and onto my hooves. Her face turned heart breakingly sad and she wiped her muzzle.

“I...I'm okay. Miss Silver?” she asked.

“You can just call me Silver, Rose. None of the Miss stuff.” I told her. Bad memories just hearing somepony call me Miss Silver. Miss Silver turn to page three hundred and twelve...Miss Silver clean out your ink pot...Miss Silver don't make paper birds out of the pages of your textbooks. Blah, blah, blah!

“Oh, okay. Silver...can I come with you and mister Grover?” Oh shit. I hadn't even thought of that. Where was she going to go? Everypony in town's dead so she can't stay but would she be safe with us? I looked over her into the other room where Grover sat at the table sharpening his sword and looking out the window for trouble at the same time.

“Of course you can, Rose!” I said, a gleeful smile spreading across my face. Grover dropped his sword in the other room and looked at me in shock. He must have some really good hearing. I hadn't even said it that loud. Maybe it was a griffon thing?

“Really?” she said brightly, a smile crossing her muzzle as well. Grover opened his mouth to speak but I cut him of.

“Yeah really. We'll be thick as thieves!” I winked at Grover and the griffon facehoofed. Facetaloned?

Rose spent the next ten minutes bouncing around the house on the tips of her hooves collecting her things and saying, “I get to come! I get to come!” she looked so damn happy that Grover didn't tell me what was on his mind until we'd left the house heading towards the graves of Rose's parents. She wanted to say goodbye one last time.

“Bringing her with us is an extreme risk,” he whispered urgently. “we are going on a dangerous mission into hostile territory and that's after we deal with that 'Chrysalis' creature.”

“Isn't following the Princess's instructions are mission?” I asked simply. “Why do we have to deal with some stupid changeling cunt?” his expression turned from concern to one of pure hatred and I once again felt cold fear tingling up my spine. I'd seen what he could do with just his claws, and I didn't want any of that shit.

“As long as that monster is alive she will have her drones kill hundreds of ponies.” he pointed at Rose who was walking a few steps ahead of us. “Or to put it another way; that 'changeling...C-word' is the one who is responsible for the death of her parents.” I didn't know what to focus on more. The fact that he was totally right and I should make that cunt spontaneously con-bust for what her changelings did to Rose and her family, or the fact that he actually said 'C-Word'.

“I'm in.” I told him. “and she is coming with us.” he opened his beak to argue but I silenced him with a hoof. “Between my magic and your...terrifying knack for killing things nothing will be able to get near her. Besides, look at her.” she was walking silently with her eyes looking between her forelegs. She was crying again. “She ponies to help her right now. And those ponies will be us...so to speak.” I added a little lamely.

“Fine,” he said begrudgingly once we reached the graves. “but we'll have to be extra careful. We can't bring her into Imperial territory.”

“Of course not,” I told him, even though we totally could. I just needed to remember that spell that turns ponies invisible.

Idea!!! I'd teach her all the tricks of the trade! I'll show her how to pick locks and pockets. Pockets especially and how to trick idiots into giving her their last Bit. We are going to have some fun!

“What are you smiling about?” Grover asked, concerned. I shook my head and smiled coyly.

“Just imagining killing Chrysalis in all kinds of violent magical ways.” he nodded and stepped to the hoof of the graves where Rose was sitting. Her eyes downcast and pouring tears. I too went to her side and wrapped a foreleg around her shoulder. Grover removed a small scroll from his bags and held it in front of her face.

“I know this can't make up for your loss but...” she pulled the string with her teeth and the scroll unrolled revealing a skillfully illustrated picture of Rose sitting between her mother and father. The two looked healthy and unharmed. After seeing them before they were buried I could even imagine what they looked like before hoof, but Grover used a magic greater than I knew with only his talons and a brush to bring the two of them back to life.

Rose's lip quivered as she hugged the scroll close to her and cried. Grover nervous at first, like he'd upset her but a moment later she jumped and wrapped her forelegs around his neck in a tight hug. Watching her hug the steel clad griffon made me smile and not the 'I'm thinking of ways to rob somepony' smile either.

I'm really glad I didn't kill him.

Level Up! Combat Magic 50 Speech 50

New Perk Added! Filly at Heart. This perk gives you 10% to Persuasions in dialogue with children and gives you unique dialogue options with children.

Chapter 4: Epiphany

“...for a genius thief you really are a stupid girl, aren't you?...”

“You see, the trick is to have somepony else distract your mark while you cut their purse. That way they won’t realize what’s happening, or if they do they’ll blame the pony who distracted them.” I explained to Rose who, for the last two hours, sat on my back listening intently. I already explained the five basic steps to pick pocketing items that wasn't gold (You’d be surprised how much easier it is to steal money) and I’d moved on to gold and jewelry. Meanwhile, Grover trotted alongside us shaking his head.

“You’re a bad influence.” he said for the twentieth time that morning. I didn't know what his problem was; I was just explaining my trade. “You shouldn’t be teaching her that nonsense. She should be learning something useful. Something she can do to support herself in a peaceful way.”

“Just like you?” I said sarcastically. “You're the most peaceful griffon in the world huh? Nothing like cutting ponies, Legionnaires and changelings to ribbons eight hours a day.” Grover scowled darkly and returned to being silent.

That’s right shut the fuck up.

We’d been walking west along the road towards Timbucktu. I could see the floating mass of clouds once we passed the Applewood’s apple orchard but it was still a day or so away on hoof. Grover could fly there in maybe a half hour but he couldn't carry Rose and myself that distance.

I spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon explaining the various misdirection techniques, the basics of stealth and general situational awareness. She won’t make a very good thief if she trips over a dog sleeping by the stairs.  I did that once and not only was it embarrassing, it was painful.

But I wasn't just teaching Rose about my trade. From the moment we left Applewood I was working my magic. Bending the structure of Celestia’s tracking spell, reshaping it, altering it. And after nearly five hours of solid work, pretending I was watching for dangerous creatures and bandits…

“Yes, yes, yes!” I bounced on all four hooves in glee, abandoning all composure. Rose squealed happily as I bounced around Grover. The griffon watched me first with amusement that turned quickly into concern. After four or five minutes he grabbed me by the shoulders.

“What is wrong with you?” he said. It took a moment to compose myself before answering.

“I was just bored.” I kissed him on the tip of his beak causing him to release me and backpedal several steps.

“You are a very strange pony.” he said with a shake of his head. I smiled mischievously as we continued down the road. I may be strange but at least I’m free! Oh sweet sexy freedom! Her royal highness couldn't track me anymore so all I had to do was ditch Grover and I would be set. Rose and I could take the road all the way to the Smokey Mountains then head past Canterlot to Trottingham. Then we could hop a ship to Prance. Sweet freedom, here I come.

“There it is.” Grover said darkly. “We shouldn’t take the young one with us. It will likely be very dangerous.”

“It would be more dangerous leaving a filly, alone on a dirt road in the desert don’t you think?” That shut him up. I looked up and beheld the floating mass of clouds that was Timbucktu. It was only a short flight away. I climbed onto Grover’s back and locked my forelegs around his armored neck. Rose wrapped her forelegs around my own neck and for good measure I surrounded her in a magic bubble.

I hate flying.

Grover shot into the air like a javelin towards the city. Rose shrieked happily and yelled,

“Woohoo!” she was having such a great fucking time! I on the other hoof felt my breakfast coming back up. Son of a bitch. Grover landed on a cloud on the very edge of Timbucktu and I vomited all over his side.

“Damn it, Silver! Get it together.” he said indignantly, wiping my vomit off his side.

“Sorry.” Not really. I dropped the shield around Rose and tried to remember the cloud walking spell

“Wow. it’s really pretty here.” Rose said as she hopped off my back towards the cloud.

“Oh fuck!” I caught her in my magic just before she hit the clouds. “Rose, don't do that! I have to cast the spell first.”

“I’m sorry.” she said, her ears drooping. Damn it.

“It’s okay, Rose. Just please be careful.” I cast the spell and set her down. The clouds felt like thick silk fabric beneath my hooves as we made our way from the city’s edge towards the palace. Grover stood on his hind legs with both his blades drawn Rose trotted alongside me and I had my life detection spell activated looking for any sign of danger.

But there was nothing. Nopony or changeling was here.

“You never answered my question, Grover.” I said.

“What question?” he asked, looking around the corner of a tavern. Or maybe a shoe store? That horseshoe above the door is a little confusing.

“What is Griffonstone like?” I asked. He didn't give me a good answer before.

“I already told you…” he began but I spoke over him.

“No, no, no. I mean more specifically. What’s it look like? What’s the food like? If griffons only care about gold how come you built a city? And most importantly...how did you meet Sapphire?” he was silent for almost a full minute, checking the doorways of some cloud houses for changelings.

“My kind built Griffonstone as a bastion to protect our gold and jewels from the dragons, with whom we’ve warred with for centuries. The homes are built from the branches of the a massive tree called the Gildagreen. The city rests on the edge of a massive canyon named the Abysmal Abyss; where our cubs learn to fly.

“ Griffonstone sits atop the tallest peak in the Hyperborean Mountains and towers above the valleys below.” he explained. Instinctively, I removed a quill, an ink pot and a blank scroll from my bags and began writing notes. I’d never found a book on griffons before (except how to deal with mercenaries) and what he said was interesting. Huh, a war between griffons and dragons? I’ll get more on that later.

“You said your ‘cubs’ learn to fly in a canyon?” I asked stopping to dip my quill in ink. Rose climbed back onto my back and then onto the back of my head for good measure.

“Why would they fly in a canyon?” she asked, quietly. Grover smiled and continued,

“The naturally strong wind currents of the Abysmal Abyss are perfect for helping our cubs learn to fly in the most adverse conditions. I started when I was two and ceased training when I turned ten.” When he was two… like two years old?! Holy fuck, Grover. I wrote it down anyway. I’ll file that away for later.

“As I was saying. Uh… where was I? Ah, yes. My kind has no government only a set territory for each ‘Pride’ or family. Once a drake selects a mate they bear three cubs and once they reach the age of five they are on their own. After that the parents are free to do whatever they wish.” Really? I facehoofed. Fucking Griffons. Again, I wrote it down.

“What do griffons eat, Mister Grover?” Rose asked sweetly from her perch on the back of my head. Besides dead rats. Fucking nasty!

“Mostly Hyperborean salmon, cod and sturgeon. They basically infest the rivers and lakes in the mountain range. I know you ponies are vegetarians but fish is different... and that’s Griffonstone in a nutshell.” he finished lamely.

“What about Sapphire?” I asked as we rounded a corner onto a street stretching towards the palace. The nape of my neck began to tingle as we walked closer to the palace. Where is everypony?

“Who’s Sapphire?” Rose asked curiously.

“That’s Grover’s girlfriend.” I said, bumping my flank into his. Rose blushed brighter than Grover.

“Is she pretty?” she asked shyly. Damn right!

“Yes, young one. She is very beautiful.” he said longingly. Rose giggled and bounced up and down.

“Rose, please stop.” she stopped bouncing and began apologizing profusely.

“Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry!”

“It’s okay. Just don't bounce on my head please.” I said, starting to feel a little guilty. “ It’s not that a big deal...oh no…” we reached the steps leading up to the door of the palace, where two white coated pegasi were lying dead.

I wrapped my tail around Rose’s eyes before she could see them. She doesn't need to see that again. I followed closely behind as Grover stepped through the door, both blades ready. What greeted us inside was without contest the most horrific thing I'd ever seen.

The bodies of dozens, no, hundreds of Pegasi filled the throne room of the palace. They were two and even three deep in some places. The walls were covered in scorch marks, cracks and gouges. Among the Pegasi were dozens of changelings. Most looked like they were killed with swords or knives but a few had arrows sticking out of them.

“Damn.” Grover said quietly. I however was not quiet. “Damn it, Silver!” I vomited the rest of my stomach contents across the floor by Grover then turned tail and galloped right out of the room.

“What happened, are you okay?” Rose asked shyly. Not really, Rose. Holy shit.

“Yeah, I'm okay. Just ate some bad flowers is all” Wait, why did flowers come out? I didn't even eat flowers!

We waited at the bottom of the stairs for a little over an hour while Grover searched the palace. I tried telling him that my spell wasn't showing any signs of life but he wanted to be sure. How he could stand being in there with all those corpses I don't know. Meanwhile Rose and I were doing something normal; picking locks.

“Good job, Rose. That was thirty seven seconds. Not bad at all.” I pulled a lock I...found and a lock pick for her to practice with. Considering that she was an earth pony, thirty seven seconds was very impressive. She's a natural.

“You're a natural, Rose.” We are going to have some fun.

“You should not be teaching her that!” I jumped at Grover's voice. The steel clad griffon stood behind us holding several burlac sacks in his talons.

“Whatcha got?” I asked. Didn't think he was one to loot corpses but he was a soldier. He probably did it all the time when he was fighting the Legion.

“Healing potions, magic potions and food.” he dropped the sacks by me and I immediately opened them up. I was expecting the motions and celery stalks, but I definitely wasn't expecting the bag of gold coins.

“What's all this?” I asked while Rose climbed around in the bag of celery. Grover looked over his shoulder with a curious little smile.

“Potions, and food. I was certain I told you that.” he turned and trotted down the street towards the edge of the city. “You coming?” he shouted back. I smiled, shook my head and lifted Rose and the bags onto my back. How about that.

Now that we weren't constantly looking for changelings I had a chance to get a better look at the city. It looked a lot like Canterlot. (Except for the clouds) Almost all of the buildings had tall pillars by the doors and just like the palace there were dead pegasi in the interiors. Needless to say for Rose's sake (and my stomach's) we stuck to the street.

We reached the northern edge of the city, where Grover looked towards the horizon.

“Trot is just over twenty miles. We can be there by night fall if we start now.” he said in a tired, almost sad voice.

“Why should we go there?” I did not feel like trotting twenty miles in the wrong direction...then again, if we do go that way it would take us closer to Trottingham.

“We must warn the ponies in the region of the threat. Perhaps General Secretariat could spare a few divisions to exterminate them.” I looked into his golden eyes and saw something I hadn't noticed before. They looked so... tired. The way Grover moved when he was fighting showed strength and vitality. But he looked like he wanted nothing more than to go to sleep.

“That's a plan alright,” I jumped onto his back and threw my forelegs around his neck. “Giddyup Grover!” he raised an eyebrow (Whatever) at me.

“Excuse me?” I didn't have time for this. I leaned over and kissed him right on the beak, even used my tongue a bit.

“Ahh!” he jumped and slipped right off the edge of Timbucktu.

“Woohoo!” How can she find this fun!? Rose should have been a Pegasus...Idea! I'll just find a spell to change an earth pony into a Pegasus. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Grover leveled out about halfway to the ground and I'm proud to say I managed not to puke on the way down. But the landing wasn't too pleasant, the impact jarred me down to the bone.

“Don't do that again.” he said angrily, dropping me to the ground and catching Rose by her tail. Oh, so he catches her. Okay I would have caught her too.

“Whats the matter?” I asked sarcastically. “You don't like me?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him and saw Rose blush beside me. “Don't you think I'm pretty?” Grover looked at me blankly while Rose giggled and climbed onto my back.

“Let's get going, shall we?” he said simply. He turned away and trotted down the road without another word.

“I guess he doesn't think so.” Rose returned to her perch on the back of my head.

“Don't worry,” she began sweetly. “I still think you're pretty.” Damn! I think my brain just broke a little.

“Thank you, Rose.” she smiled brightly. I removed the lock and lock pick from my bags and floated them to her. “Here, keep practicing.” It'll give her something productive to do anyway.

We followed the road for about an hour and no matter what I tried I couldn't draw Grover into a conversation. I asked him about Sapphire and he ignored me, I asked him if he he thought I looked okay and he ignored me! Can you believe that? He just didn't want to talk. At least, until I asked him about fighting.

“So...you can turn a Manticore into a shishkabob. Wanna tell me where you learned to fence?” I asked.

“Why do you want to know?” What a stupid fucking question.

“Grover, you killed a fucking Manticore by yourself. I may just be a 'sneak thief' but I appreciate real skill when I see it.” his gaze softened and he sighed deeply.

“I presume you're going to keep bothering me until I answer. Am I right?” I nodded firmly. “Fine, I'll tell you. But get that life spell of yours up, I don't want to be caught off guard.”

“Yay, story!” Rose said excitedly as I turned on my spell.

“I was instructed in the art of Venti by my teacher, Master Gunther...” he began.

“What does 'Venti' mean?” Rose interrupted. I was curious about that too. I'd studied plenty but not much to do with griffons. But that wasn't my fault! There were no books on griffons.

“'Venti' means 'as wind'. It is a sword style that only the most agile of my kind can master.” he explained, pride in his voice. “I trained under Gunther for twelve years and when my tutelage was complete he had transformed me from an undisciplined cub to what I am today.” Twelve fucking years!?

“Wow. That explains so much.” I said sarcastically. “When was the first time you killed someone?” The question had been nagging me ever since I read it in his journal. It was before he came to Equestria so probably another griffon...oh! What if he killed his teacher? That's sounds like a griffon thing to do.

“Never you mind.” he said simply, his expression turning to stone. After a moment his beak broke into a sly smile. “Besides, it's your turn.” Damn. He's got me there.

“Alright. Story time is extended.” Rose bounced happily on my back before blushing and apologizing.

“Don't worry about it, Rose.” I turned to Grover. “What do you want to know?” Grover rubbed his beak in thought then clicked his claws together.

“You know how I learned to fight, why don't you tell me where you learned magic.” Nice, exactly something I didn't want to talk about. But...a deal's a deal.

“Alright. When I was a filly my parents taught me everything they knew about magic...” It wasn't much either. My parents (bless them) were idiots. I learned some household stuff and how to light the fireplace. That's was all I got from them. “but once their vast surplous of knowledge was exhausted they hired a tutor out of Arcadia.”

“Arcadia huh?” Grover said, sounding...wow. Did he sound impressed? “You were tutored by a pony from the Mage's College?”

“Yeah, actually. How did you know about the College?” I asked. Didn't think griffons cared much about magic. I mean, they couldn't use it.

“I've been through Arcadia a few times. I have to say, you don't seem as haughty as some of the unicorns I've met...” he scratched his head then added. “for the most part anyway.”

“Ha, ha. Your comedic brilliance knows no bounds. Can I continue?” he nodded and Rose raised her hoof. “Yes Rose?”

“Why didn't you just go to the school?” she asked, dropping my lock and lock pick into my bags.

“My parents wanted me to go to Celestia's school in Canterlot. They would have gotten a tutor from there but the school didn't have any available.” I explained.

“Oh. Okay.” Damn, she is just adorable.

“So my teacher, Miss Strudel, disciplined me in dozens of magical techniques. She taught me everything from practical application to magical history...and just what is so funny?” Grover stopped in the middle of the road holding his beak shut, trying not to laugh.

“N...nothing...your teacher's name was what exactly?” he asked, looking like he was on the brink of a stroke.

“Miss Strudel.” Grover nodded and waved for me to continue.

“Anyway, after my tutelage was complete I went to Canterlot and joined up with the Guild, enjoyed three years of profits and good old fashioned fun before Celestia's goons forced me on this stupid fucking quest!”

“'Good old fashioned fun'.” the griffon said sarcastically. “You mean, 'robbing everypony you met'.” Not everypony!... well, maybe not everypony but I did rob a lot of ponies. Almost everypony in Canterlot at least once. Almost, not all.

“At least I didn't kill my marks.” that shut him up. His expression darkening immeasurably. Seriously what's his problem? He's killed Tartarus knows how many ponies, rams and maybe even other griffons. You'd think he would be so sensitive about it. If I ever push him too far... That settled it. The next time I get an opportunity Grover's going down. He was alright as far as griffons go but he was just too dangerous.

“Why did you start stealing if your parents wanted you to go to school?” Rose said curiously. Grover's scowl disappeared and his face turned as curious as Rose's.

“The money is better.” I lied. It was none of their business. Maybe I'll tell Rose when she's older but not Grover.

“You're lying.” the griffon said simply.

“And you're two steps from being turned into an orange, so watch your step bird boy.” he smirked and trotted ahead of us. Smart ass.

We traveled all day and then into the night. I would have rather stopped and made camp but Grover wouldn't have it.

“We need to warn the city.” he said, over, and over and over again. I didn't really understand why he cared. His journals said that Celestia would help him if he helped her defeat Grogar. Not that cunt Chrysalis. But I couldn't do anything about it. Until something killed him or hurt him bad enough that I could I was stuck with him. Rose didn't seem to mind the walk though. She was sleeping on my back.

The orange brilliance of the sun was just coming over the horizon when we reached the outskirts of Trot and I have to say; I've seen a lot of things but I've never seen a full blown war before.

Hundreds of Royal guards alongside hundreds of other ponies in steel armor were fighting changelings just outside of the tall white walls of Trot.

“Holy shit...” I've been in more than a few fights over the course of my life. The only ones where ponies died were after leaving Canterlot...or rather, the only times I'd ever had to kill anypony anyway. But what was happening before me wasn't a fight, I'd never been scared in a fight.

But this, this was terrifying.

It was like Grover times a thousand. Royal guards and changelings cutting each other down. Blood, bodies and body parts littered the fields surrounding the walls where the remaining fighters hacked away at one another. The wounded from both sides lay strewn between the fighters and the dead, moaning in pain. In the center of the battle was a massive pony statue made out of wood with changelings pouring out of it. It was just, brutal. How did Grover go through this for two fucking years!? I looked at the griffon. His face was hard and cold as steel. His eyes were filled with fire and pure rage.

“We have to get down there!” he drew both his blades and unfurled his wings, ready to fly into the fight. But there was something...unusual. I could feel it.

“What's going on?” Rose asked sleepily, standing up on my back.

“Damn it Grover you're not going down there!” I surrounded the three of us with a force field just as Grover lunged forward. He slammed into my shield, swore explosively and spun his blade towards my throat, stopping it less than an inch away.

“Drop the shield! I need to get down there.” he said sternly. Rose peeped, dropped from my back and hid behind me. Her eyes filled with fear.

“No you don't.” Which was true, he really didn't. “Look up, Grover.” he reluctantly looked to the sky above us and his eyes widened. Plummeting out of the sky above us was none other than Princess Celestia herself. She was surrounded by a dozen ponies in blue and gold armor. But Celestia herself wore no armor, and held no weapons. She was armed only with her magic and wore only the crown and necklace she was wearing when she talked to me in my jail cell. You'd think she changes her outfit once in a while.

Suddenly, Celestia surrounded herself in a cloak of bright orange flames. Her horn glowed bright gold and every hair in my mane stood up at once. I could feel her magic, and it was powerful. More powerful than I imagined was even possible.

“Fuck.” I said as she cast the most powerful spell I had ever witnessed. She landed in the center of the battlefield and beams of bright red and orange energy erupted from her horn in every direction. Unnatural screams of pain echoed across the battlefield towards us. Rose's ears and my owned flattened against our heads, while Grover's scowl darkened further.

And just like that it was over. Every changeling on the battlefield fell to the ground twitching, their bodies pierced by numerous beams of energy from Celestia's spell. Instead of blood the creatures wounds leaked ashes.

I could already smell it.

“Don't you dare!” Grover said backing against my magical barrier. If there was anything left in my stomach I would have puked but there was nothing. It didn't prevent my face from turning green though.

“Here.” Rose said through the canteen in her mouth. I took it and drank deeply.

“Thanks Rose.” I said, hoofing the canteen back to her. I dropped my shield and Grover tried to go for the battlefield again. But I had an idea. “Wait, Grover.” he stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder.

“I should go instead.” his jaw dropped almost comically and his brow furrowed.

“Why?” he asked, his expression turning suspicious. Okay Silver, time for the good stuff.

“No offense Grover but you are not subtle,” I said, snapping my tail at one of his armored plates. “You stay here with Rose while I scope out the situation.”

“You really think you'll be able to sneak around through that?” he asked, pointing at the field surrounding Trot. That's just insulting.

“Grover, I once stole all the valuables from a noble's bedroom while he was having a three way with two of his maids...with the candles lit.” I finished by adding. I wasn't lying either. Ah, memories.

“It appears that all the changelings are incapacitated. Why don't all three of us go?” That was not an option. That bitch Celestia would put a new tracking spell on me and alert Grover to my efforts. I'd never be able to get away.

“I don't think Rose should go and see that, and I'm more confident in your abilities to protect her from danger than mine. And to tell you the truth Grover...I'm scared.” I whispered the last two words to him with just the right amount of fear in my voice. His eyes softened and he looked at his claws. Dumbass.

“If the enemy is beaten what are you afraid of?” he asked, concerned. Damn I'm good.

“If all three of us go down there, Celestia will know about Rose, and that royal bitch will send her to an orphanage. I've seen the Canterlot orphanage, it's not pretty.” It actually felt really weird to be telling the truth about so many things. And if I was honest with myself, I was afraid she'd take her. Fucking Sun Butt, thinks she knows whats best for everypony. “Just let me go Grover. Alright?”

“Alright,” he said grudgingly. His eyes narrowed to slits and he tipped his sword towards me. “I don't have to remind you what happens if you run, do I?” I smacked him upside the head with my tail and pointed at Rose.

“That's insulting, and you know it. I'll be back soon.” I turned to Rose and floated four things from my bags. The lock and lock pick, a belt and finally, a short dagger. “Just in case. Grover can show you how to use it.”

“Please be careful, come back.” she said, sounding worried.

“Don't worry Rose. I'll be back.” I nuzzled her cheek, nodded to Grover and trotted down the hill towards the battlefield. Alright, a little pallius mixed with...silentius? That should do it. I breathed deeply and began to cast my spell. The spell I had in mind was difficult but not too difficult. If Celestia could fry an entire battlefield I could do this. My spell bent the light around me and muffled my my hooves.

Hot damn I am good!

I galloped as fast as I could towards the edge of the battlefield, and slowed down once I reached it. It was even worse up close. The remaining ponies were all either badly injured or so covered in gore that I couldn't tell if they were hurt or not. If I had a spell to get rid of nausea I'd use it. Mental note; find anti nausea spell.

I weaved between the Royal Guards and steel clad ponies of Trot heading towards the center of the field. Directly in the center of the battlefield, among dozens of dismembered bodies and body parts stood Celestia and her Pegasi guards. She stood in front of a particularly large changeling who, like the others, was covered in burned holes all over her body and wings. The creatures writhed on the ground before Celestia's hooves, hissing and barring it's fangs. I stopped a couple yards away and crouched low to the ground.

“It's over Chrysalis,” Princess Celestia said, outrage in every syllable. “You must be punished.”

“Do your worst. You are nothing without the dark one, and you know it.” Chrysalis mocked. Celestia's expression darkened terribly and she brought her hoof down on the creature's back, pressing her against the ground.

“You and your minions will spend the rest of eternity at Mount St Hoof.” she leaned down and whispered, “you will never see my sun again.”

“Just kill me you coward.” she said, almost pleadingly.

“That wouldn't be a punishment. It would be mercy.” with a flourish she gave a sharp kick to her head and knocked her unconscious. The nearby changelings that weren't dead or unconscious hissed at the Princess.

If I learned one thing that day, it was that I never, ever, wanted to get on the wrong side of her horn.

“Auntie, I believe that the thief may be in the area.” Princess Ambrosia landed near Celestia. Unlike the Princess of the sun Ambrosia wore full body armor painted to match her coat and hair. “The spell was disabled about a day's trot from here and the map indicates she was heading in this direction.” HA! Knew it.

“There's no need, Ambrosia. I have full confidence in Grover. His ambition won't allow him to fail. It's too important to him.” Celestia said confidently.

“What does he expect you to do once we destroy Grogar?” Ambrosia asked, inspecting one of the dead changelings with almost sickening fascination.

“He expects me to reward him with something that will help his race rise above their current state. And in exchange he has proven the most valuable asset I've ever had.” She looked over the assembled Royal Guards and steel clad ponies with growing sadness. “So many lives wasted. Every soldier we lost today is a soldier that won't be taking the fight to the Legion.” she looked down at Chrysalis, pure disgust on her face.

“Why don't you just kill her, Aunt Celestia?” Ambrosia asked, looking down at Chrysalis with even greater contempt than her aunt.

“It is a fitting punishment for her and her entire race to starve to death inside a volcano, I think. Don't you?” Wow. I thought starting to crawl away from them. The strain of keeping the spell going was starting to make my head hurt. That's pretty fucked up for Celestia. I didn't think Celestia had it in her to be that harsh. But she was hundreds of years old, who knows what she did.

As I tip hoofed through the remains of Royal Guards, dead changelings and unconscious ones I thought of what I heard. Like I thought, Celestia knew the spell was disabled the instant I did it, and just as I guessed, Grover was sent to stop me from running. But looking around at the field of charred changelings I couldn't help but wonder why Celestia didn't put a stronger tracking spell on me. I mean, I am good, very good. But if she could take out an entire battlefield like that why didn't she put a stronger spell on me? Or, even stranger; if she had that kind of magical power why didn't she just kill Grogar and his armies. She should have. Unless... he was even more powerful than Celestia.

The very thought sent a chill down my spine that the corpses around me couldn't hope to match. If she couldn't defeat Grogar on her on without much power then she needs to use every card in the deck to win. And that includes Grover, the intensely motivated and highly skilled griffon warrior, and me; the best magical security breaker in Canterlot.

As I made my way back towards the treeline I checked every corpse I came across for anything valuable, and hot damn did they have some good stuff on them. Mostly potions but a fair few had a good sized sum of gold on them. I stopped near an two dead Guards and an injured stallion in steel armor.

“Please, help me.” I stopped dead in my tracks and looked down at my hooves. Eyup, definitely have a problem; I could see them. “Please...help me...stop the pain.” reluctantly I turned to the stallion and dropped onto my stomach. If Celestia or that orange maned cunt sees me...

The stallion looked at me pleadingly with one eye, the other had been slashed out. There was a changeling horn stuck in his chest, right where his heart was. It was astonishing that he was still alive.

“Please, help me.” he asked again. But, I couldn't. I knew some pretty impressive spells, and I would be lying if I said healing wasn't apart of my curriculum, but I didn't know anything that could fix a hole in somepony's heart. Hell, I doubted I could lift him off the ground, and I was confident that if I tried any more advanced magic Celestia would be able to feel it.

“I-I can't help. Sorry.” I started to turn away but his hoof gripped my shoulder.

“Kill me. I can't do it myself, just do it. I'll give you everything I have, please, it hurts so much.” his eyes were filled with tears and every word echoed the agony in his expression. It would really be kinder to kill him now than just leave him here. Who knows how long it would take for him to bleed out with that horn in his chest.

I thought of the perfect spell too. It was a simple one, levitation. I'd just increase the pressure on his throat until he stopped breathing. Just a few pounds of pressure and his pain would end. Or maybe something else would work?

My horn glowed bright silver as I strained to cast one final spell. After a minute or so of concentration I single silver orb burst from the tip of my horn and floated down onto his chest. His body was surrounded with a silver aura and his face relaxed into an almost stupid grin.

“Thank you.” he said, closing his eyes. He wasn't dead, it didn't feel right to kill him like this. All I did was remove his ability to feel pain. He could just go to sleep and never wake up.

“You're welcome.” without another word I crawled towards the edge of the battlefield and when the cost was clear I made a break for the treeline as quickly and quietly as I could.

“What happened?” Grover asked when I emerged from the pushes, loaded down with dozens of potions, a few choice weapons, a dozen bottles of ale and hard cider and two full suits of steel pony armor. I would have taken the Royal Guard armor but that stuff was hard to sell. Rose galloped to me and hugged my forelegs.

“I was so worried, I thought something happened to you.” she said, wrapping all four of her legs around my forelegs.

“Nah, I just did a little shopping.” I turned to Grover. “Celestia took care of those changelings like they were nothing.” I told him about her spell and the sheer amount of raw power that went into it. I also told him about what she was going to do to Chrysalis and her changelings. (I left out the part about them looking for me of course)

“Seems a rather fit punishment for that disgusting creature,” he said spitting on the ground. “my only grievance is that I was not able to inflict retribution upon that creature myself. I suppose you talked to the Princess?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” I told him dismissively. “she's not staying long. Just going to talk to the remaining soldiers and have the Royal Guards sent to the western front. We should probably get moving if we're going to get around them. Fewer questions and all that.” Damn I'm good!

“Smart move. We'll move through the forest until we reach the western road. That will take us straight to Whitetail.” he said with a nod. “Do you need to rest? You like exhausted.” No, no. Of course not. I just walked all day and night carrying almost eleven thousand gold coins, a few short swords, food, water, and a filly to get to a blood bath just in time to see Celestia magically bitch slap an entire race into submission.

“I'll be fine, but Rose will have to walk for a few hours. Then we'll make camp.” as an afterthought I added, “And you're going to carry this stuff.” I slung my extra bags onto Grover's back who, to my amazement, didn't even strain from the extra weight. Damn. I am making it a priority to get him into bed before getting rid of him. As strong and agile as he was he probably knew a few good positions. Made me wet just thinking about it.

We followed the treeline to the road and walked for maybe an hour before I collapsed. That invisibility spell took a lot more out of me than I thought it would. We made camp by the road, just on the edge of the Whitetail Woods. At the rate we were moving we'd be in Whitetail in three days. Something I'd much rather avoid. The bits Celestia was offering were great, but what if she was lying? What if she decided not to pay me and just have me jailed?

At Grover's insistence we rested all day and that night too. He wanted me to be in top shape for infiltrating Whitetail. I didn't complain, I was so sick of walking I could have stayed there for a week. Alas, it was only for the night.

Since we were staying there for the night and I took a pretty good power nap during the day I decided to stay up a little later and read one of Grover's journal entries. I guessed that this one was dated about a year after he came to Equestria, from the way his other journal entries were marked.

17th of Crystal Wind, Year 16.

I had the dream again. We were standing in the center of the Crucible, our wings bound and our blades drawn. We struck out at one another with the inexperience and fiery energy of youth. I still remember the surreal feeling of actually being in the dueling pit. There were so many times I went to watch others battle...this was the first time it actually felt real.

Sparks flew around us as we fought. I can still see his face, his eyes. Even as I write. Full of anger, hatred even. He knew it was his destiny to kill me...and I robbed him of it.

Gilgamesh.

I still feel the weight of his body as it dropped to the floor. I remember the feeling as my blade pierced his torso. And I remember the cheers. Every griffon watching the match cheered for me. My victory. I had won the gold. I could even see mother and father in the stands...

They were cheering louder than any of the others.

Then old Gunther came into the pit, unbound my wings and raised my right foreleg into the air. I was the champion, and I had to act like it. The crowd demanded that I bow and celebrate my victory as much as they were. All the while Gilgamesh lay bleeding on the ground. He didn't die quickly, nor was it painless, and I'm the one who caused it.

Upon leaving the arena I retrieved his blade, as was my right as champion of our contest. It didn't feel right leaving it to Gunther, or any other griffon that decided they wanted a new sword. I always wake up after my father congratulates me. It was the only time he ever had.

“You did me proud son, and don't you forget it.”I don't think I ever will.

I think I'm done writing for now.

That is horrible. Not just horrible, that's like Shadowmark levels of horrible. His parents cheered while he killed someone? And I thought my parents were bad. Difference between insanely overbearing and bloodthirsty I guess. Rose snuggled closer to my side and wrapped a hoof around my own. I thought back to Rose's parents and wondered what they were like. Surely they weren't like Grover's, and probably not like my own.

“I'm so sorry Rose,” I whispered and stroked her mane. Maybe I could find a spell to bring them back to life, not like zombies but actually bring them back. “Maybe if I could get into Star Swirl's atheneum...” I wondered aloud. No, that wouldn't work. I'd studied magic for years and I never heard of a spell that could do anything more than reanimate the corpse.

“I can't bring them back, but I don't need to. I'll take care of you, Rose.” she couldn't hear me but it felt good saying it. “I won't let anything happen to you. I swear.” ever since leaving Fetlock I never thought about getting married or having foals but when I looked at Rose I felt something. I felt it in my soul. I just... I fell in love with the little shit.

I looked over at Grover's sleeping form and thought about what I had read. He dreamed about the day he killed someone and wrote it down. He killed 'Gilgamesh'. He said he 'had the dream again'. How often did he have it? Was he having it now? If only I knew a spell that would let me see into his mind. Then I could see what's going on in there!

I stowed Grover's journal in my bags, drank a bottle of ale and took another power map before waking Rose and Grover.

“Want one?” I asked him once we got back on the road, floating a bottle towards him. “You're no fun. What about you, Rose?” I floated the bottle of cider towards her. She sniffed the bottle tentatively.

“Are you sure it's okay?” she asked, sounding nervous. “Isn't drinking bad?”

“Having a drink of hard cider isn't bad. Drinking until you fall flat on your face drunk is bad. Isn't that right Grover?” the griffon nodded and when I floated a second bottle to him her accepted.

“I was five the first time I drank Hyperborean whiskey.” he took a long pull off the bottle and smacked his lips er...beak. “As long as you don't over do it it's fine.” Rose sniffed the bottle once more before gripping it in her teeth and taking a small drink.

“Not bad, huh?” I asked as she hoofed the bottle back to me.

“It's okay, but it tastes weird.” she said trotting beside me.

“Yes it does.” I agreed, finishing my second bottle and tossing it to the side of the road.

“Wait,” Grover said after we'd been walking for almost an hour. He drew one of his swords and turned to the trees on the other side of the road. We were at the very edge of the Whitetail Woods, it just figured something had to happen. I pulled Rose behind me and readied a bolt of lightening.

Grover stepped towards the treeline cautiously, unsheathing his other sword and sinking into his trademark combat stance. But before he could do anything a dozen ponies in Nightstalker armor burst from the trees and swarmed him.

“Get back, Rose!” I pushed Rose towards the other side of the road and into some bushes. “Just stay out of sight!” I turned to cast lightening at anypony who came too close but they weren't interested in me and Rose. They were going for Grover. The griffon managed to cut down three of them before the rest tackled him to the ground and started stabbing at the gaps in his armor.

“You'll pay for killing our brothers and sisters!” a green mare shouted shoving a knife into Grover's left hindleg. Grover snarled and stabbed the mare in the face with his bladed helmet. The other Nightstalkers crowded around him and pulled his blades away, then they began to beat him furiously.

But Grover wasn't going down without a fight. He slashed them with his claws. He sank his beak into all within reach and no matter how many times they hit him he wouldn't go down.

“Help him! They're hurting him!” Rose cried, and she was right. Grover was a tough son of a bitch but without his weapons and room to maneuver he was a goner. I got ready to cast lightening at the Nightstalker closest to me but another thought came to mind. If I hit any of the Nightstalkers the electricity will hit Grover too, but I didn't think it would kill him. But if I hit Grover... Yes, that would work. If I cast the bolt right at Grover's helmet the shock will carry through his body and armor and hit the Nightstalkers! I'll be rid of Grover and the Nightstalkers! No going to Whitetail, no more being a puppet of Celestia's. Just me and Rose living the high life in Prance.

I reared up and prepared to blast them all to Tartarus. One spell is all it would take.

Then the world froze.

Everything around me came to stand still. The Nightstalkers holding Grover to the ground, Grover himself sinking his talons into the stallion next to him and Rose...she was looking right at me. Her face was contorted in absolute fear, tears running down her face. And she was looking right at me.

She was just scared of the Nightstalkers right? She wasn't afraid of me. She couldn't be.

Right?

Then I looked from her to myself. Reared up on my hindlegs, magical lightening crackling around my horn. I was about to solve all my problems. We were going to be free. All I had to do was kill Grover...

Kill Grover? Why? A little voice in my mind asked me.

To get my freedom back! I told her, but she didn't relent.

Grover wouldn't hurt you, why would you hurt him? What has he done to you? It asked.

He's helping Celestia force me to go to Whitetail. If I kill him I'll be able to get away. I have to! Just like the Nightstalkers at the outpost, if I don't kill him Celestia will throw me in jail. I was sure of it. After what she did to Chrysalis why should I be any different? I may not be a freaky changeling but I caused a lot of trouble in Canterlot, why would she actually go through with the deal?

Are you going to light him on fire too? Like the Nightsalkers? I felt my heart sink. I-I did it to keep them away! I had no other choice.

You could have hid behind a shield while Grover killed them. He would have anyway. Or you could have avoided them until Grover and the Guards rounded them up. But I didn't. I cast fire at them...

What is wrong with me? The true horror of what I was going to do hit me like a bottle of cider to the side of the head. I was going to kill Grover; the griffon who came to another nation to fight a war that had nothing to do with him, for a pony princess who said she could help his people. A princess who could help his Sapphire and all the griffons of his homeland. He was risking his life and the future of his people to keep me safe. And I...I was trying to kill him.

Damn it, Silver Scroll! What's wrong with you? I felt tears streaming down my cheeks just like Rose's.

“NOOOOOOOO!!” I blasted the pony closest to me with a beam of magical energy, knocking him off Grover. I pulled a dagger from the sheath on my foreleg and charged into the group, sending beams of energy at the remaining Nightsalkers as I went. Grover had already killed half of them, I could handle the rest. I have to.

“You won't hurt my friend!” and I meant it. Grover may have been a crazy griffon bastard but he was the only person I'd ever met who didn't want something from me. Well... he wanted something from Celestia but that didn't count!

I jumped right into the pile of ponies and stabbed at anything and everything that was exposed. I aimed for the under belly, the fetlock and I even gelded a stallion when he tried to bite my ear. I've been in more than a few scraps, but this was ridiculous. Grover threw a mare off his back and she flew into me, then the two of rolled into the bushes on the other side of the road.

“You stupid bitch, we aren't here for you or your kid. We just want the griffon!” she said kicking me between the hindlegs. Fucking cunt... more tears fell from my eyes as we kicked at each other in the bushes. If could concentrate long enough to cast a spell  I would have killed her already but she wouldn't give me the chance. I reached down and gripped the hilt of the dagger strapped to my other foreleg.

“Bitch.” I said past the hilt as I drew up and sank the knife into her neck. She gasped and blood erupted from her mouth and the wound in her neck, splashing across my face and chest. She pulled it out and rammed it into her neck and chest again and again, until she finally fell to the ground.

“The night will rise again...” she managed to choke out before closing her eyes for the final time.

I don't know how long I stood there, looking at the still body of a mare I'd just stabbed to death. Long enough for Rose to come to my side and pull on my mane until I returned to the road with her. Fuck, my tail hurts!!! Grover waited in the middle of the dirt road next to the dead Nightsalkers. He piled them up just on the side of the road and stripped them of their weapons.

“You alright?” he asked, finishing a healing potion and dropping the empty bottle next to a half dozen others.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” it took me a moment to reply, I could still see her face, and her neck oozing blood. What is wrong with me?

“You mind lighting the pyre?” he asked, gesturing to the ponies behind him. I shook my head.

“No. Let's just go.” I floated Rose onto my back and turned away from the bodies.

“Let's just go.”

Level Up! Combat Magic 75 Sneak 50.

New Perks Added! Light Stepper. Galloping no longer affects your ability to sneak and you don't trigger floor based traps!

Quest Perk: Well Read. Your extensive magical knowledge is the envy of most wizards, spells are now 15% more powerful!

Chapter 5: The Heart of a Warrior

“...true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation...”

“How long until the shift change?” a tall ram with curved horns and wearing Legionnaire armor asked the ram next to him. He never did care for guard duty; the eastern road was so desolate that almost no one ever traveled on it. And if they did, they were trying to leave the city.

It made this post particularly boring.

“Another hour.” the other ram said, watching a flock of birds above them. His attention shifted from the sky and back to the road. “Look, somepony's coming.” he said pointing a cloven hoof down the dirt road.

“I think it's a trader.” the other Legionnaire added, taking in the sight of a white coated unicorn mare pulling a wagon. His gaze shifted from the young filly on her left to the griffon in black, spiked armor on her right.

“Identification is required to pass this point. Present your papers.” the two of them declared in unison. The unicorn brushed a lock of silver curls from her eyes and flushed with embarrassment.

“Oh, dear. I'm so embarrassed. You see my daughter, my servant and I were attacked several miles down the road by Nightstalkers and a good deal of our supplies were lost,” she moved closer to him and batted her eyelashes. “including my identification and trading permit.”

“I...I see.” he said, his expression turning suspicious. “If you were attacked how come you look so...perfect.” he finished rather awkwardly. She giggled and stroked his right cheek.

“How kind of you to say, darling. I do try to keep myself presentable. As to your question the reason I am unharmed and gorgeous is solely thanks to my strapping young servant.” she pointed to the griffon who bowed slightly. “Gunther is ever so proficient at protecting my daughter and I.” the ram blushed and gulped.

“I...am glad to see you have such capable protection, but we can't allow you to enter the city without...” she moved even closer and batted her eyelashes again.

“You are such a strapping young ram. So strong, so brave,” he shuddered as she pressed in closer. “risking your life everyday to dethrone that pretender in Canterlot. So many ponies owe you so much. I could repay you in so many ways. But I have some very important business to take care of in the city. I would be very happy to service you and your friend if you were to let us through.” the other ram looked her over then turned his gaze to Grover.

“I think we can make an exception. If your servant would care to participate...” the griffon turned to her and she was sure if his face wasn't entirely covered, he would have been scowling.

“Gunther will do whatever I tell him to. And if I might add he is quite educated in the art of pleasure.” she winked and licked her lips at the griffon and the filly nearby turned bright red. The shorter ram smiled and licked his own lips while the taller of the two nodded.

“Alright Miss. You can pass.” she kissed him and used her tongue for good measure.

“Where can the four of us meet later?” she asked seductively after removing her tongue from his mouth. The ram stammered for over a minute before the shorter of the two answered.

“There's a tavern in the city called the Drunken Cockatrice. We'll be there an hour after dark,” he smiled unpleasantly. “and if you don't show up I'll have you know we will arrest you and have some fun with you both anyway.”

“Don't worry darling! I'm in town for business and pleasure. Now if you would be so kind as to tell me where I could get replacement identification?”

                       …...........…..........

“If you think for one second that I'm going to participate then you're delusional.” Grover said, his voice muffled by his masked helmet.

“You also said I was delusional when I said I was going to get you into that suit.” I said pointedly. Getting him into that suit of pony armor was a pain the the flank, but I did it. “Besides, he isn't participating in anything. It'll just be you and me you sexy drake you.” he slapped his helmet with an armored foreleg and shook his head. Rose giggled and trotted faster to catch up to me.

“They didn't seem too bad. Everypony always told me that the Legion was full of bad ponies er, rams. They seemed alright.” Oh the innocence of youth.

“Remember Rose, the Legion is not our friend. We're going to get out of this hell hole as soon as possible...and keep that knife hidden.” I added, she had my dagger hidden in the folds of her dress.

“Did you really need the wagon though?” Grover asked, lifting the mask on his helmet. “It seems like we could have just carried our supplies through the check point like we were before.” he frowned. Ugh, this again?

“He didn't need the wagon!” I almost shouted. “I mean, it's not like we took his stuff too. Just the wagon.”

“And the dresses.” he said pointing at the silk skirt I was wearing in Lou of my Guild armor.

“And the dresses.” I relented. “But we needed them! And the wagon. The more we look the part the better.” I don't know why Grover was so slow to understand this. This was infiltration, not going in flashing our weapons.

“Tell me this; what happens when those idiots go to that tavern and we don't show up?” he asked pointing a talon over his shoulder.

“Put your mask down!” I hissed as two more Legionnaires trotted past us towards the checkpoint. Fuckers are all over the place. The checkpoint was built on the eastern road connecting Trot, Whitetail and Arcadia. Just forty miles to the east was the front lines, where more than a dozen Legions were carving their way towards Arcadia. When I was sure the cost was clear I said,

“They won't do anything, because we're going to be there.” Grover immediately began to protest but I spoke over him. “We're not going to fuck them. We'll follow them up the rooms and knock them out. Then we'll take their stuff and head to the treasury.” my mouth began to water at the thought. Sweet, sweet gold! I had the whole thing figured out too; once we got the missives, the red chest and all the gold I could carry I'll leave the missives and the chest with Grover and take Rose to Trottingham. I was really going to miss him, but it didn't feel right asking him to come with us. He had a mission and I didn't think there was anything I could do to stop him.

“And what exactly do you intend to do if they wake up before we're out of the city?” he asked. “Then are you going to pleasure them?” Rose and I snorted and I shook my head.

“Grover, it's simple. We'll knock them out, I'll slap some makeup on them, pour a bunch of whiskey everywhere, leave the bottles on the floor and pull the blankets off the bed. They'll wake up, think they had a great night but couldn't remember because of the booze.” I'm not proud to admit that this wasn't the first time I had done something like this. I'm not ashamed, but I'm not proud either.

“That's devious.” he said with a small laugh. There it was again! He sounded impressed.

Whitetail was only a mile or two from the checkpoint, so it wasn't long before we could see the city and all it's brilliance. Or, remains of brilliance.

“Wow...” Rose said, awestruck. Whitetail was made entirely of light grey (almost white) stone. Several farms surrounded the city's tall stone walls, and between them were massive fields of corn stalks, colorful flowers and wheat. The crops were smashed down in many places from the Legionnaires that were traveling back and forth from the front. Where the crops were standing dozens of ponies toiled, surrounded by Legionnaires spread out between them.

As we got closer to the city I began to see spots in the walls and some of the taller buildings (like the palace) where they had been damaged. In most places the damage was severe, in others they were either undergoing repairs or the damage was so minor that they hadn't bothered.

“We're on the eastern side. Why is there damage on this side of the city?” I wondered aloud.

“The Legion surrounded the city from all sides and forced us inside the walls.” Grover explained, his voice turning somber. “We held out for three months, the last week without food and very little water. The lives of many brave ponies were lost. Mostly from the Legions trebuchet.” Wait, he was there? It shouldn't have surprised me in hindsight, I read his journals and I knew how long he fought the Legion before being sent to Canterlot. I stopped, unhooked myself from the wagon and walked towards him.

“What are you...?” he stopped as I hugged him. He probably didn't feel it through the armor but I didn't care. Rose hopped onto his back and hugged the back of his head too. Good job, Rose.

“Sorry Grover. I can't even imagine what that was like.” It might not have been able to entirely make up for what I planned to do to him, but this was a start.

I thought it was anyway.

“Okay, thank you.” he said awkwardly. “That's enough" we continued to hug him. "Please let go of me.” I released him and strapped myself back into my wagon but Rose held onto him for a few moments longer before returning to my side.

From there we went through the city's gate without incident. The Legionnaires payed little attention to us, with the exception of looking at my flanks as I trotted by. They wish

I couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief as we passed by the rams without any problems. Before heading into the city Grover expressed his concern about being recognized by members of the Legion.

“I'm the only griffon fighting for Celestia and I'm not trying to boast or anything but I have quite the reputation with the soldiers of Grogar's Legions” he had told me, and I had no doubt he was being truthful. If his journals were anything to go by... But thankfully no one seemed to recognize him. A suit of pony armor that was two sizes two small seemed to help a lot.

The city inside the walls wasn't much different from the outer walls. Most buildings were damaged or in the process of being repaired. A few were destroyed entirely, crushed by boulders almost the size of the buildings themselves. But the thing that disturbed me was the citizens of Whitetail. There were few ponies in the streets; one buck at a stand with spoiled fruit and several ponies with sunken eyes lying against the buildings and in the gutters holding out tin cans. All of them looked malnourished.

“Damn.” I said as we passed by the beggars one by one. Looking around, I could see the Legionnaires walking by the gate, and those on the walls far above the streets. Many held spears in their fetlocks, and swords on their belts. Some ever sat in the seats of massive crossbows that pointed inward at the city.

“Do you know where the general store is?” I asked the buck at the fruit stand. We needed to get rid of our extra stuff and the wagon. I was sick of pulling it.

“Depends, how much is that info worth to ya?” he asked tiredly. Grover stepped forward but I blocked him with my foreleg and floated a fifty coins from my bags and stacked them in five neat towers on the counter. “Three blocks down the main road towards the palace. Place called Bits and Pieces. Right next to the Drunken Cockatrice.” He swept the coins and fruit into a large sack and left his stand without another word.

“I could have saved you a few coins you know.” Grover told me.

“No. That would have caused a scene.” Why do I have to keep explaining this? “We're trying to be subtle.” I whispered, not wanting the bums to overhear...wait. Idea! “Grover, take the wagon to the shop, wait for me, and keep an eye on Rose.”

“Why?” He asked as I unstrapped myself.

“Because my feathered friend,” I smiled slyly. “I've got some ponies to talk to.”

Half an hour later I followed the main street to where the fruit said Bits and Pieces was. And just as I thought Grover and Rose were waiting by the door with our wagon.

“What were you doing?” he asked.

“Just making some new friends, don't worry about it, I'll fill you in later. Now load up bags with everything we're not selling.” I instructed as I removed my saddlebags and carefully stored my Guild armor inside them with my other possessions. I also pocketed Grover's armor, I could probably buy a house in Canterlot with the gold I'd make from selling the set but I didn't think Grover would be very forgiving. I'd end up like Gilgamesh.

Before going inside the store I cast a spell to detect any security spell, Or any spells that allowed somepony to eavesdrop. And only entered once I was satisfied that it was clear. Rose and I went through the door and started for the counter where a petite cyan earth pony mare with dark blue hair was writing in an old weathered book with a quill. Grover however had turned still as a statue.

“What are you doing? Come on.” I said. If he stood there like an idiot somepony, or more importantly some ram would get suspicious.

“I-I-I think I should wait out here.” he stammered, then tried to back out of the store but I wasn't having it. I surrounded him in a field of levitation and floated him in after me. The mare watched us with a bewildered expression while I half floated half dragged Grover inside.

“Is he alright?” she asked, watching him struggle against my magic.

“Yeah, he's just nervous around ponies he doesn't... Grover stop!!” Grover unfurled his wings and flapped them hard, sending a gust of wind that knocked Rose and I to the floor. My magic exploded around him and the strength of his beating wings sent him flying like a spear into the opposite wall and knocking his helmet clean off.

“Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!” I said quickly, first helping Rose off the floor and turning to the mare. “He just gets really nervous around...” she wasn't even looking at me, her gaze was focused entirely on Grover. The mare left her counter and went to Grover's side, her eyes wide.

“It's you.” she said, her voice wavering and tears building in her eyes. “It's really you....You're Grover! You saved my children!” just as I had not an hour earlier she wrapped Grover in a hug. Except hers was a little more forceful. She squeezed Grover until his face turned red under his feathers.

“Yes...it's me. Please let go, I can't breath.” he said, starting to gasp for air. She quickly let go and helped him to his feet.

“I'm so sorry! I was just excited as all.” she explained sheepishly, her hair falling over her right eye. “If you're here that means the Royal Guard is here right? We're free right?” she looked and sounded so desperate that it made my heart drop in my chest.

“I'm sorry but the Guard isn't here,” Grover told her, his voice stoically neutral. “It is only myself and her.” he finished with nod to me.

“And me too!” Rose said indignantly. At first the mare looked confused but then her face brightened immeasurably.

“If it's just you two, you must be here to kill Grogar.” she said quietly, her voice filled hope. “You're here to kill that bastard aren't you? This is great! Oh yes, yes, yes! Finally, we'll be rid of him!” she ran lunged at me and wrapped me in a rib cracking embrace.

I looked to Grover for help but he had frozen again. His  eyes had gone wide and his pupils were the size of pin pricks. He went to the mare, pulled her off me and looked her straight in the eye.

“Do you know where he is?” he asked, his voice deadly serious. He couldn't actually be thinking...

“He lives at the palace. That, monster, has been staying there since he had Pureblood executed. You're going to kill him right? That's why you're here, to set us free?” I couldn't think of any way of telling her the truth without crushing her. She sounded so hopeful, so sure that we were going to help. But Grover spoke for me.

“I will do everything in my power to remove that bastard's head and put it on a pike. I swear it.” tears spilled from her eyes and she broke down sobbing. He is thinking it.... Fuck!!!

“First you save my children, now you'll save us all. Thank you so much.” she turned away from us and yelled out, “Bluebell, Riverwind. Come down here please.” a minute of two later a green coated Pegasus colt flew down a set of stairs in the back of the room. Followed closely by a sky blue filly.

“What is it mamma?” they asked in unison. Their gaze shifted from me, to Rose and finally landed on Grover. Their eyes widened and wide grins spread across their muzzles.

“We have a visitor.” she said as her children rushed to Grover asking questions a mile a minute, the colt buzzing around his head like a hummingbird and the filly bouncing around his legs.

“Where have you been?”

“Are you here to help us?”

“If you're here does that mean the Royal Guard is too?”

“Who is she?” they pointed at me.

“And who is she?" They pointed at Rose.

“Is she your marefriend?” the filly asked Grover with a giggle. The colt blew a raspberry at his sister and flew over to Rose.

“My name is Riverwind. What's yours?” he asked, holding out a hoof.

“I-I'm Rose.” she said, blushing slightly as she took his hoof.

“I like your name. It's pretty.” he told her, kissing her hoof. Rose's face turned scarlet. Isn't he a smooth operator.

“Bluebell, Riverwind, please. Sorry,” she added to Grover. “They're just so excited. Oh, and look at me! Here you are in my home and I haven't gotten you anything to eat. How rude of me. Please come up stairs, and you can leave your things behind the counter.” she said trotting to the door, turning the sign to 'closed' and then locked it.

“Please follow me.” she said kindly, waving for us to follow. Grover looked at me nervously but I just shrugged. I'm not saying 'no' to a hot meal. I  pulled my wagon behind the counter and followed...shit, I hadn't asked for her name.

“What's your name again?” I asked, the three of us following her up the stairs.

“My name is Quill&Ink. But you can just call me Quill.” she looked over her shoulder and smiled. “What's your name?”

“Silver Scroll.”

Quill&Ink showed us to a small living room above her store told us to make ourselves comfortable while she fixed us a meal.

“Can I play with Riverwind and Bluebell?” Rose asked me. Holy shit. I remembered when I was just a filly asking Miss Strudel if I could play with the other kids.

“You are welcome to go play, as long as you are aware that in doing so you are wasting your parents money and my time. I am here to teach you magic, not watch you run around like an animal!” I will never treat her like that!

“Of course. Just promise to have fun, okay?” she smiled brightly and hugged me before following Quill's kids to their room down the hall.

I looked around the room to pass the time while Grover sat on the couch rubbing his beak in his talons. There were several shelves covered with scrolls and a few books but other than that the room was bare, except for a single picture of a buck in golden armor on the wall.

“She said you saved her kids, is that true?” I asked. Grover nodded sharply in response.

“Mind giving me some details?” again, he nodded. “Yes you mind or yes you'll tell me?”

“Yes, I mind.”he said coolly.

“Damn it Grover, spit it out! Please?” he shook his head “Please? Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!”

“No.” he said, crossing his forelegs.

“As you wish,” I said, getting off the couch. “I'll just ask her.” Grover's eyes widened before scowling darkly.

“Don't. I'll tell you.” I sat back down and leaned back on the couch, crossing my hind legs. He sighed and pointed at the one picture on the wall.

“That was Whitewind, he and I fought together during the siege on the city. The Legion had just destroyed one of our battalions that tried to break their lines surrounding us. When we first retreated into the walls there was about...seventeen or eighteen hundred of us. Not counting the civilians that didn't escape before the evacuation and Whitetail's guards. In total, maybe another four hundred ponies.

“General Secretariat and his forces were battling a half dozen legions that advanced towards Hoover Valley. That left Captain Smelter in charge of recovering Whitetail.” he pointed at the buck on the wall again and said in a low, somber tone, “ we fought together everyday of the siege. He and I served under Captain Cutter, who was commanding the troops inside Whitetail. Smelter lead the troops outside the city...it was a long, bloody conflict. The second most terrible battle I've ever taken part in.

“On the last day of the siege Cutter and Smelter figured out a plan to get the civilians out. Smelter's troops would attack from the east, north and south spreading out the Legion's defenses. While Cutter would lead the troops inside the city against their western side. The plan was to crush them from both sides and break the line. At that point we didn't care about the city, we just wanted to get the civilians out” judging by the fact that Quill&Ink and her kids were here that didn't work out too well, but I didn't say anything. From his expression it seemed to be really painful for him to talk about.

“Three hours before our attack the Legion pressed in from all sides. They struck without warning and they showed no mercy. By the last day of the siege there were less than eight hundred of us, including the civilians...” then I heard a sound I never thought I would hear from the stoic warrior I'd come to know. It was a sob.

“We...I...I-I tried to save him. But there were so many. They were everywhere. I killed...I killed... I don't even know how many of them. There was so much blood.” he breathed deeply a few times to steady himself before continuing. The very sight of Grover on the verge of tears made something snap in my brain.

“Whitewind took a crossbow bolt in the heart... he died so quickly. The last thing he said was, 'My family'. I abandoned my squad and brought his body back here.” he waved around the room. “Quill was beside herself, hysterical. But she held it together enough to tell me that Riverwind and Bluebell were with their aunt on the other side of town.

“I don't remember much after that. Just a lot of blood, and screams. The ponies from my squad told me later that I fought my way through hundreds of rams to get to the children. I don't know if it was that many but I was coated in blood from head to toe when I reached the store. I tried to get Quill to leave but she wouldn't go. She had to bury her husband. I told a few other Guards to get her and the children while I returned to the fight. Less than an hour later I was on Peace Corps medical wagon heading to Arcadia. I hadn't heard from Quill since.”

“What happened?” I asked. From the way he was telling it seemed that the Legion needed the medical wagons. Note to self; Do. Not. Piss. Off. Grover.

“The Guards I charged with getting Quill and her kids out were killed. The Healers told me I got on the wrong end of a Minotaur's war-hammer. ” A Minotaur? He got hit by a fucking Minotaur!? But what surprised me more was the fact that Grover had tears streaming down his face. He had always been so strong. Such much stronger than I could ever be. I watched him cut down a dozen changelings by himself. I stood idly by while he brought down a full grown Manticore by himself. Grover, who was strong enough to kill a savage Bug Bear that I led to us, was crying. Damn it, Silver! What the fuck is wrong with you?

If I hadn't read his journals and found Rose, I would have assumed he was faking it. A way to lure me into a false sense of security. Surely, he who had ended so many lives so easily couldn't possibly feel bad about killing?

It was kind of like stealing in retrospect. When I first joined up with the Guild, I felt bad about it. But after a while, I felt less bad, and soon, I didn't feel anything at all. I've robbed royalty and framed priests for murder without a second thought. But when I saw Rose for the first time a different part of me seemed to awaken. It seemed that it was the same for Grover. Except he didn't grow immune to guilt or become totally sociopathic like I thought he was. He just held all the guilt inside; never telling anypony. Except his journals.

And now, me.

For the second time that day I hugged Grover. The only differences were that he wasn't wearing the armor anymore and he didn't recoil. He didn't return my embrace and he wasn't weeping. He just sat there, silent tears running down his cheeks.

At some point Quill entered the room with a tray of plain baked apples and cups of water. Definitely not the worst thing I've ever eaten. Once she returned Grover wiped  his face with a wing. It didn't stop his eyes from being puffy but Quill either didn't notice it or thought better of pointing it out.

“Sorry about the portions,” she said, hoofing a plate to each of us. “and the taste. The Legion isn't very generous with ration tickets.”

“Ration tickets?”

“When Grogar took over the city he tried to press most of the ponies into the Legion but there weren't enough of us left to fill the holes in his ranks and keep the city working. He put us all to work. Took our possessions and whatever food we had squirreled away.” she took a bite of apple and chewed it slowly. Savoring it.

“I only got to keep the shop and trade goods because Grogar wants to bring commerce back to the city. Even with the war there are still some traders willing to trade here. Mostly the Zebra caravans; one came through here earlier actually. Ninety percent goes right to the Legion, I keep five percent for buying goods and I get five percent back in ration tickets and water vouchers.” I looked at the baked apple floating in my magic's grasp and felt a powerful wave of guilt pass over me. They are starving here. Why am I eating her food? I came to the shop hoping to make some money, but I couldn't take a coin from her if it meant Quill and her children starved.

“I'm so sorry Quill. Why don't you just leave? Grover and I got in no problem, can't you just go?” she smiled sadly. The kind of smile your mother gave you when your pet died.

“That's only for traders and ponies wanting to defect.” she said with disgust. “My children and I are subjects of Emperor Grogar, and until he's dead and his corpse incinerated it will stay that way.” it was weird to see such a sweet mare speak so venomously, but I understood...or, I guess I didn't. I'd never been in her situation before. How can she stand it?

She floated an apple slice to her muzzle and ate it whole before speaking.

“So, what's your plan?” she asked. “I don't have much here but I'll help however I can...” she was interrupted by a deep, almost demonic voice that seemed to come right out of the walls.

“Good afternoon subjects. This is your humble ruler.” Quill turned pale under her coat and began to shake violently. Rose rushed into the room followed closely by Riverbed and Bluebell. The latter rushed to their mother's side while Rose jumped into my forelegs. She was shaking worse than Quill. And I'm not going to lie; I was too.

“I am pleased to tell you all that your faithful servants in the Legion have once again thwarted the Pretender's attack on our borders. Soon all of Equestria shall be free of the tyranny of the Princess of the sun.” I hugged Rose close to me and looked at Grover. His eyes burned with pure rage, his wings and muscled limbs twitched just like a cat's before it pounced. (Minus the wings) Between Grover and the voice, I didn't know what was scaring me more.

“In addition to this wondrous news I would like to inform you all that the trial of seventeen traitors to the Empire has concluded. In one hour the executions will take place. As always I expect all ponies who are able to attend will do so. Those who are able and don't attend, know the penalty.

“Good evening, my loyal subjects. I look forward to seeing you all at the palace.” Just as suddenly as it came the voice disappeared, but it left a palpable fear in it's place.

“W-what was that?” Rose asked, pushing her head out between my forelegs. She was still shaking.

“Don't worry, Rose.” I said reassuringly. “That was just somepony using a voice amplification spell in addition to a voice modifier.” Perhaps even a reverberation component as well.

“That was Grogar,” Quill explained, hugging her children close. “He does that every few days to remind us he's here, and that he's...powerful.” Grover slowly got off the couch and walked to a shelf in the corner.

“Are you still writing your poems?” he asked gesturing at the scrolls. I thought it was an odd question considering, but it seemed to calm her nerves a bit.

“Yes, but I only get so much parchment from the Legion for my records. I've had to write everything a lot smaller so I have enough left over. If they ever found out...” she trembled again but only for a moment. “What about you Silver dear, do you write?” she asked, turning to me.

“Uh, n-no.” I said, taken aback by the question. “Not in a long time anyway.” she smiled and pointed at my flank.

“I thought you had that look about you. I noticed your cutie mark,” she said, her cheeks turning red. “N-not that I was looking, or anything.” I stifled a laugh and looked at the scroll on my flanks.

“Don't worry about it, Quill. You can ask me anything. Just like my ass says, I'm an open scroll.” I said, giving her a wink. Rose giggled and crawled back out from under me. Seeing her, Riverwind and Bluebell did the same.

“We should go to the execution.” Grover said gravely, turning towards the shuddered windows in the kitchen.

“It would be a good opportunity to case the joint.” I agreed. Everypony (and griffon) looked at me curiously. “I mean it's a good idea. So I can inspect the castle's arcane security, check the positions of the guards and their patrol routes. Look at the layout of the place. You know, casing a joint?” Grover shook his head and the others shrugged, with the exception of Rose, who nodded in understanding. She's got my back...and my flanks apparently. Rose was looking right at my flank.

“You okay, Rose?” I asked, waving my foreleg in front of her.

“How did you get your cutie mark?” she asked. “I thought your mark was a lock or something, but it's a scroll. How did you get it?” Wow, going for the throat huh? All at once everypony was looking at me expectantly. Even Grover was watching me out of the corner of his eye.

“If you're uncomfortable...” Quill began, casting a stern look at her children.

“No, no. It's alright.” I told her, smiling at Riverwind and Bluebell. “It's just not very exciting.”

“I don't mind,” Rose said cheerfully. “I always love your stories.” Little shit.

“The thing is, I know you're playing me.” I told her. “But I don't mind. Everypony listen up, because I'm only telling it once.” Riverwind and Bluebell scooted closer to me and sat on either side of Rose. Grover turned from the window to show he was listening, and Quill nodded for me to start.

“When I was just a filly, like you three,” I pointed at them. Riverwind pouted and said,

“I'm not a filly!”

“Shh, don't interrupt son.” Quill scolded.

“No, you're not a filly. You're a strapping young stallion.” I told him and he smiled smugly, crossing his forelegs. “But I was a filly, and when I was a filly my parents wanted me to go to the best school in the country. Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. So when I was little they hired a tutor to teach me about magic.” And she was a bitch.

“I think it was two years after my tutor started teaching me when she gave me a surprise test.” Bluebell booed and Riverwind blew a raspberry. “That was what I thought.” I told them before their mother could scold them any further. “But it wasn't that bad. She wanted me to write a new spell.”

“You used to write spells?” Rose asked, her eyes going wide as she scooted closer to me.

“A few, but I haven't done it in a very long time. My tutor, Miss Strudel, wanted me to write a spell. Which isn't that difficult if you understand magical frame works and spell structure, and she made sure that I knew.” I admit that I thought about lying to them about how I got my cutie mark, but with Rose there I felt a little more comfortable telling them.

“I stayed up all night trying to write a spell. The tricky part about writing spells is that you're trying to make a spell that doesn't exist,” I rubbed my chin. “or that you don't know.” I amended. “I tried thinking about what I didn't know and how I could put a spell together to fix that. After a few hours and thirty rolls of parchment I was frustrated, and I couldn't think of anything. So I took a break for a while and tried writing something else.”

“What was it?” Bluebell asked, her mother simply rolling her eyes.

“Just a story.” I said evasively.

“It seems important to the story,” Grover said with a sly little smile. “What did you write?”

“You'll laugh at me.” I said. In response Rose, Riverwind and Bluebell moved so close to me that they were mere inches away.

“Please.” the three of them said together. Damn it.

“Fine. It was a lfff story.” I mumbled.

“Didn't quite hear you,” Grover said sarcastically. “Could you say again?” Lying mother fucker!

“It was a lfff story.” I said again. Come on Grover, don't be a dick.

“There must be something in my ear,” the griffon said sticking a talon in his ear. “Could you say that a little louder please?”

“Fine! It was a love story alright?” said, starting to get annoyed. Riverwind gagged while Rose and Bluebell awed in unison. Quill smiled politely and Grover had the good sense not to laugh, just stand by the doorway to the kitchen with a satisfied smile on his face.

“Anyway, by the time I finished the story my mind had cleared. It was like the sun was rising; I knew exactly what do to and went to work right away.” I sighed. “I finished the spell just when the sun was coming up, then brought it right to my teacher. It was the first time she ever told me I did a good job.” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “She got my parents, told them what a good job I had done and told them that I got my cutie mark in magic. I was so surprised that I almost fell over spinning to look at my flanks.”

“Didn't you notice?” Riverwind asked ruffling his wings and stifling a snicker. Earning him another scowl from Quill.

“Nope. My brain was too busy processing what Miss Strudel said.” Bluebell raised her hoof politely and received an approving smile from her mother and a scowl from her brother.

“Yes, Bluebell?”

“Why didn't Miss Strudel tell you about your cutie mark?” Grover snickered and clamped his beak shut when we looked at him.

“She was too busy telling me how good I did.” this time Rose raised her hoof.

“Yes, Rose?”

“What was the spell?”

“A light spell.” I said a little too quickly. Grover raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to me.

“You're lying.” Damn it.

“Fine! It was a love spell, okay!?”

                      …...........................

I tried not to bump into anypony as I followed Quill down the main road towards the palace. It probably wouldn't look very good if I walked into a pony and caused a panic. If I walked into something invisible I'd probably panic too.

The sky above was covered in dark grey clouds spanning out for miles in every direction. The buildings above us had Legionnaires on the roof, pointing mounted crossbows at the ponies milling towards the city center. Quill shook nervously as she walked and looked over her shoulder every few seconds.

“Quill, you have to stop that. They'll get suspicious.” I told her. “Just take a deep breath and calm down. I'm right behind you.”

“What about the children?” she asked, on the verge of panic. “They're able bodied. I have to check in with them or the Legion will come for them. We go by the same Legionnaire every time he knows I have children!”

“I'll take care of it, just calm down.”

“But...”

“Quill, trust me.” I hated putting her on the spot like this, but I needed to see the security and I didn't trust Grover coming with me. He'd probably go after Grogar the second her saw him. That, and I didn't want Rose anywhere the palace. She was far safer with Grover than she was with me.

We followed the line of ponies through an open gate that led into a massive courtyard in front of the palace. As ponies stepped through they showed a short, plump Legionnaire their papers before he waved them through.

“Papers Quill.” he said lazily. “Hey, where are the kids?” he asked looking around her hooves. “You know the rules Quill I'll have to call...” his eyes widened and went in different directions. He reached for Rose's papers looked at them for half a second and hoofed them back to her.

“Go ahead, pretty pony.” he said stupidly.

“Go!” I urged her forward. Persuadari. Works like a charm.

The Legion corralled everypony in the center front of the courtyard before the castle's tall wooden doors. High above the doors and built into the castle itself was a large platform supported by several metal beams. There were several Royal Guard chariots resting on the platform with Celestia's symbol crossed out and the black horns of Grogar painted on the sides.

They packed us together so tightly that I had to climb on Quill's back to avoid bumping into anypony. No wonder Rose likes riding on my back. It was a bit different since I was taller than Quill by an inch and was wearing my Guild armor and saddlebags. I told Quill she could keep the weapons, armor and food that I'd scavenged from Trot but I kept most of the potions. If things went sour we'd probably need every single one to get out alive.

Quill didn't find the arrangement as pleasant as I did. She strained under my weight, barely able to hold herself up.

“You alright, Quill?” a brown buck to our right asked, seeing her discomfort.

“Say what I say.” I whispered into her ear.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” she said nervously. “Just strained my back moving supplies last night.”

“You really ought to ask for help, my break is scheduled for tomorrow if ya need help with anything.” he said with a smile.

“I appreciate it, thanks.” a collective hush poured over the crowd as two doors on the platform above opened to the city. Everypony bowed low to the ground. Even the Legionnaires brought their chins to the ground in respect. A lone figure left the doors and walked onto the platform with a slight strut.

He was tall, very tall. Almost as tall as Celestia. His long, curved horns looked like a sinister crown on his head. His coat was light gray and he wore a red gold necklace with a glowing ruby in the center. The ruby's glow paled in comparison to the bright crimson orbs that rested where his eyes should have been. He reached the edge of the platform and smiled heinously down on the crowd, revealing razor sharp teeth.

“Good evening, my little ponies.” his voice reverberating throughout the yard, everypony's ears flattening against their heads. “You may rise.” Quill couldn't stand back up on her own with me weighing her down.

“You really did hurt your back.” the buck said, helping her up. “You should have asked for a waiver.”

“I'm fine. Shh.” Quill said tiredly. Sorry Quill.

“As you well know, two weeks ago today two dozen ponies attempted to assassinate their rightful ruler. These foolish ponies sought to restore Celestia's rule in Whitetail. Seven of the perpetrators will killed, the rest,” a sphere of black and red energy formed between his horns and in a red flash a dozen and a half ponies appeared in front of the crowd. Their legs were chained, their eyes blindfolded, and their mouths gagged. How is that possible! When I read Grover's journal I thought he was exaggerating about the zombies but if Grogar could teleport...

“These traitors sought to destroy me. And in doing so they threatened the peace and equality that I have been fostering since you became my subjects.” He scowled darkly, causing everypony and many of the Legionnaires to recoil a bit. “These cowards tried to destroy what I am trying to create, and in doing so they have sealed their fate. To die as enemies of the Empire I have spent decades building. Equestria will no longer stand as the super power it once was, it will bow to the Empire. As will the Yaks, the griffons and even the Zebra!” many of the soldiers gasped in surprise and some of the ponies in the crowd whispered among themselves.

“It is true, my subjects! Today a half dozen Legions were deployed into the South Luna Ocean. They will land in the Zebra Empire in two days time. Soon, very soon, all the world will fall under the banner of Grogar!” all the Legionnaires cheered loudly at this news, but I couldn't help but think that he was being stupid.

With a flourish he teleported to the ground behind the chained ponies, his horns bathing the prisoners in green flames. The ponies screamed through their gags and fell to the ground kicking and struggling with their restraints as the flames spread through their flesh and all the way to the bone. After two agonizing minutes, they finally died.

“There will be peace and prosperity in my Empire. Do I make myself clear?” everypony bowed in response and Grogar smiled his terrible smile that was so much worse than his scowl.

“You are dismissed.” Everypony stood, turned around and trotted away from the palace without another word. Even the kind buck who helped Quill to her hooves was utterly silent. Before we reached the gate I jumped off Quill's back and whispered,

“I'm going to look around. Don't worry, I'll be back.” she nodded and followed the flow of traffic back to her shop. That pony is dedicated. I couldn't help thinking. She was helping me get into the palace despite the consequences. Or maybe she's just desperate. I looked at the sky and from the light coming through some of the clouds it was getting late. It would start to get dark in less than an hour.

Time to see if I still got it.

                    …............................

“This will be difficult.” I told Grover once I was done casing the palace. “The security spells shouldn't be a problem but there's more guards inside the palace than in the rest of the city.” I planned on making a map of the various corridors and rooms in the palace but I got lucky. They had several maps with 'You are here' next to dots at various points on the map posted on the walls. One copy spell later I was golden.

“No doubt,” the griffon agreed. “but I take it you have a plan?” I smiled.

“Of course I do. What do you take me for?” he smirked. Rose came out of the backroom, having taken off her dress and dagger.

“Why did you take so long?” she said giving me a hug. “When Quill came back and you didn't I was so worried.”

“It's alright, Rose.” I said reassuringly, stroking her mane. “I was just looking around as all. You didn't have to worry” she had tears in her eyes, and...there was something different about her but I couldn't put my hoof on it. Maybe bringing her along wasn't the best idea. But what else could I have done? I couldn't give her to Celestia, she'd just send her to an orphanage... Maybe...

I had been thinking about finding her a safe place to stay but the only one I could think of was too far away.

“Are you sure it'll be okay? You and mister Grover are going out again aren't you? You sure it'll be okay?”

“Of course it will. This is me we're talking about!” Grover snorted. “And you know how strong Grover is. Oh, that's right. I met with the Legionnaires at the bar, talked them into waiting for another hour. Get your stuff together.” Grover nodded, and Rose hugged me tighter.

“You know, it has been a long time since you've slept in a bed.” she looked tired. Not surprising since it took us five days to get here from Trot. Fucking Nightstalkers! “What do you say I tell you a bed time story, and tuck you into bed, huh?”

“You promise you'll be okay?”

“Promise.” I said, crossing an 'x' over my heart. I noticed Quill watching me out of the corner of my. She wore a sad smile on her face.

“Everything alright, Quill?”

“Yeah, yeah...” she replied a little awkwardly. “I-I just had a question.”

“Fire away.”

“Why would you bring your daughter here?” she said, scowling darkly. “Could you not afford a foalsitter? What the hell is wrong with you?” her words cut me worse than any knife ever could, and it must have shown on my face because the hard glint in her eyes softened a bit.

“She...she's not my daughter. And I would have taken her somewhere else but we didn't have time.” I said, with more venom than I intended.

“Oh...I see.” she said, blushing a little. “If she's not your daughter, why is she with you? Younger sister or...” I watched the filly until she disappeared into one of the back rooms before answering.

“Almost two weeks ago we came through a village called Applewood.” I told her about the changelings and finding Rose's parents; keeping my voice low and my eyes on the door Rose disappeared into. By the time I was done explaining Quill looked mortified.

“I'm sorry. I just...I've wanted to get my children out of here for so long. Everyday I fear that they'll say the wrong word or do something the Legion doesn't like and that bastard will have them killed.” I almost asked if Grogar had done this before, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes. He had killed children before. Perhaps in the same manner he had executed the ponies in the square, and I brought Rose close enough for this monster to harm. Over my dead body.

“Quill?”

“Yes, Silver Scroll?”

“When Grover and I go. Please keep her safe. I know I have no right to ask,” she had her own children to protect after all. “but I beg you. Please keep her safe.”

“I'll do what I can.” she said, her eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and annoyance. I'll have to find a way to get her out of here. She didn't deserve to raise her foals here. You can bet even if Celestia retook the city, Grogar would kill everypony before running.

“I'm ready.” Grover said. He was wearing his armor, minus the helmet and a long black cloak over it; hiding the armor and his swords rather well.

“Hold on, I gotta tuck Rose in.” I went into the room that where Rose and Quill's children were sleeping. Bluebell and Riverwind shared a bed while Rose had a smaller one to herself.

“You ready for your story?” she nodded, while I used my magic to tuck her in.

“There once lived a beautiful princess, who wanted noting more than the stallion she loved to love her. One night she asked the sky 'oh how can I get him to love me?' For the stallion loved another mare and would not court with the princess.”

“Was she pretty?”

“Yes she was, but he still wouldn't court with her. When the princess talked to the sky she wasn't expecting an answer, she was just more frustrated than anything. So when she did get an answer, she was delighted and terrified all at once. For the one who answered her was none other than Discord! The spirit of chaos and disharmony took pity on her plight and gave her the recipe to a powerful love potion. One so strong that the stallion would have to love her. Little did she know that Discord had other plans.

“The princess followed Discord's instructions and gave the potion to the stallion, and at once it worked! He loved her more than anything else in the world, and she him. They loved each other so much that they never left each other's side. But there was a problem.”

“What was it?” she asked, curiously.

“The love potion wasn't a love potion...it was a love poison!” she gasped. “the poison made the princess and her new prince so in love, so lost in each other's eyes that they neglected their duties and the kingdom collapsed. After the kingdom fell, there was nopony who could stop Discord from taking over the world. Except for Celestia and Luna.”

“I knew it!” she said, with a smile.

“Celestia and Luna used their alicorn magic to defeat Discord, and from that moment on...they have ruled us as the Princess of the Sun and Moon.” she pulled herself out of her blanket and hugged me tightly.

“Thanks for the story...hey uh, Silver?”

“Yeah?”

“Can...d-do you...” she muttered.

“What is it?”

"I...I was wondering...never mind" she said sheepishly.

"It's okay Rose. Whatever it is you can tell me." I said, growing worried. Maybe she's just scared of Grogar Hell I was scared of him.

“Will you be my new mommy?” she blurted out. My heart skipped a beat. Hubbazawa? It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I had no idea what to say.

“It's okay if you don't...” Rose began but I cut her off, hugging her tight.

“Of course I will, Rose. Of course I will.” I said, tearing up a little.

“I love you, mommy. Stay safe, okay?” she said, smiling so sweetly I thought one of my heartstrings broke.

“Love you too. Don't worry, I have Grover, I'll be safe. Get some rest now okay?” I said, barely holding it together. Sweet fucking Celestia.

She nodded and crawled back under the covers. I tucked her back in, kissed her on the forehead and went back towards the living room. I stopped in the doorway and looked over my shoulder at the little filly. Her eyes were closed, her breathing was steady and she had a smile on her muzzle.

Then why do I feel like crying? It was then that I noticed what was different about her. She had curled her mane in several places. Just like mine.

“You ready?” Grover asked. He was standing by the door to the stairs.

“Yeah,” I said resolutely, tears pouring down my cheeks. Grover either didn't notice (unlikely given his eyesight) or he thought better of saying anything. “Let's do this”

Level Up! Stealth 100 Speech 75 New Perk added: Maternal Instinct. You inflict 20 additional damage against opponents and resist 20 additional points of damage from enemies when in the presence of children.

Chapter 6: Flight of Blight

“...when you love somepony, truly love them, you no longer think of just yourself. But of the pony you love. Their needs, their desires, and their happiness...”

SNAP! There went my forth lock pick. Fuckfuckfuck!!! what the fuck is wrong with me!? I couldn't even remember the last time I broke a lock pick on a job in Canterlot. And this...this fucking novice level door lock was giving me shit. My thoughts returned to Rose, staying at Quill's home. Ever since she called me 'mommy' I'd been slipping.

I broke a dozen of my lock picks getting past the three doors that I picked earlier without breaking one. I walked us straight into a patrol that I could have easily avoided. Thank the Shadows for Grover. He took down the three Legionnaires like a tomcat pouncing on a mouse. Disarming them and finishing them off in three fluent strokes of his blades.

One blood purging spell and a locked broom closet later we were on our way to the treasury. Even with Grover beside me I still felt...off. Uneasy. And the little pony in my head just would not shut up about Rose. What if we get caught and Quill has to raise her? What if Grogar finds out about her and hurts her? Why the fuck did I bring her to this awful place!?

My ears were twitching, my mane was in disarray and I was shaking. I...I never shook! I was never scared on a job! I broke into Canterlot castle and almost made off with the Elements of Harmony without blinking an eye! I shouldn't have been nervous. I shouldn't have been scared! What is wrong with me?! I should be able to handle this!

I hadn't felt anywhere near this nervous on a job in nearly three years but the moment we reached the door to the treasury my nerves were so frayed that one more fuck up and I'd be sobbing. Hell, there were already tears running down my cheeks. Just as I floated out another lock pick Grover placed his talons on my shoulder.

“Take a deep breath, steady yourself.”

“I'm fine...” I began weakly.

“I heard what she said to you.” his grip tightened on my shoulder reassuringly. “I understand, you're scared. You're regretting your decision, but you have to calm down. We'll be in and out. You will be fine. I will be fine. Rose will be fine. Just focus.” his words, so calm, so confident...so... reassuring. His words coupled with the determination I saw in his eyes calmed me enough to focus. I took a deep breath to steady myself, then focused on opening the lock.

And with practiced ease the lock opened.

“That's my mare. Now let's go.”

Grover followed close behind me as I disabled the treasury's protection spells. The room itself was a massive collection of ivory statues, piles of bits taller than Celestia and Grover combined, and gemstones larger than my head basically littered the floor. The walls were covered in large banners made from golden silk, and the ceiling was adorned with massive crystal chandeliers. The gems cast a soft azure glow over the treasury and it's contents.

I admit that at times I felt aroused when I looked at Grover. Especially if he wasn't wearing his armor. But looking around this place, and having Grover so close actually brought a blush to my cheeks.

There he was. Standing ever so vigilantly beside me. Looking for anything and everything that could hurt me. He was so confident, not just in himself but in me as well. He would die to protect me. To protect Rose, or Quill and her kids. I suppose the thing I loved about Grover was...

He cared.

He cared about me, Rose, Quill, Riverwind, Bluebell. He cared about Equestria, and the ponies who lived here, even though many of them treated him as nothing more than a mercenary. Even Celestia, arguably one of the kindest and most understanding ponies to ever live, was using Grover as nothing more than a weapon.

And he still cared. He cared enough about his homeland to fight a war against the most dangerous threat Equestria, no, the world had ever faced, on the off chance that Celestia would be able to help his people.

The more I thought about this the more my cheeks burned. I couldn't tear my eyes away from Grover as he vigilantly scanned the room. Fantasies began to flash before my eyes. Grover agreeing to come with me to Prance was chief among them, but there were far more colorful scenes playing out before me. I took a single step towards Grover, then hesitated.

He had a girl back home, would he even consider me?

Fuck it.

I threw my forelegs around Grover's neck, (all worry fading from my mind) and locked my muzzle against his beak. He was so taken aback by my sudden burst of affection that he fell backwards onto a pile of gold. I knew I was being foolish. That I could very possibly get us captured, but instinct drove, no, insisted that I continued. I'd convince him to run with Rose and I. We would go to Prance, far away from this horrible war. We could leave right after giving Celestia her missives and the chest. Fuck Griffonstone! They never did anything for him anyway. And fuck Equestria! What's it ever done for me? The answer was simple; nothing.

These thoughts and more flashed through my mind as my tongue explored his mouth, and while Grover wasn't exactly participating, I still took immense pleasure in it. (even though his beak did feel really weird compared to a pony's mouth.)

It will be perfect. Rose will have a mother and a new father, and unlike her old parents we could protect her. I had my magic and Grover had his blades. We'd be the perfect family. My hoof reached down to start exploring between his hindlegs. His eyes widened and he forcibly  pushed me off him.

“What is wrong with you?!” he hissed, getting back to his feet.

“Damn it Grover! Fuck this place. Fuck Celestia! Fuck Grogar, fuck this war and fuck Equestria! Let's grab the stuff, deliver it to Canterlot and run away together!” he had to understand, he just had to! He wasn't blindly loyal to Celestia, his journals proved it. I could convince him! “I love you Grover, and I love Rose. And I know you care about her too. Let's leave this country and never come back. We can be together for the rest of our lives where Celestia and Grogar won't be our problem anymore!

“Think about it. Grogar invaded the Zebra Empire. There's no way his armies are strong enough to fight the Zebras and the Royal Guard. Celestia can handle it. You don't have to stay here!”

“What about Griffonstone?” he asked simply. “And my Sapphire?” he added.

“Fuck Griffonstone! That place was horrible. Griffons killing each other in the dueling pit, your parents leaving once you turned five. Having to fight beak and claw since the day you were five, that town sucks. Why do you care so much about that terrible place, and what has Sapphire actually done to make you so crazy about her?” I added, feeling a mix of curiosity and annoyance that he was still focused on some hen he hadn't seen in three years. I waited for an answer but Grover had frozen: his eyes widened in shock and confusion as he tried to find his voice.

“Did...did you say 'dueling pit'?” I felt my heart drop in my chest. Uh oh.

“You did. You...” his expression darkened and he pounced on me before I could blink. He lifted me off the ground with one foreleg and held me aloft as easily as I would have held Rose in with my magic. I didn't resist or try to flee as he dug through my saddlebags, and he only let me go once he found what he was seeking.

His journals.

He opened many of the scrolls and read through the first few lines to ensure they were indeed his journals. And once he confirmed it, his eyes burned with rage.

“You went through my journals.” it wasn't a question, and the moment he spoke all the joy I felt in my heart dissipated. “You know about Gilgamesh?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the floor by my hooves.

“Why?” I tried several times to speak but found that no words would come. After what felt like minutes of stammering (and Grover still keeping a vigilant eye on the entrance) I finally found my voice.

“I...I just wanted to know more about you.” I said, tears building in my eyes again. And even though I had taken his journals out of a selfish desire to invade his privacy, I was still telling the truth.

And he seemed to know it. His expression softened slightly for a moment only to turn instantly to stone.

“You wanted to know more about me. Well, how about I tell you?” He took a step forward and pressed his beak against my muzzle. “You want to know why I am so loyal to Griffonstone? I'll tell you.” he drew the blade on the left side of his belt and held it in front of my face.

“This sword belonged to my brother. The very same brother whose life I stole seventeen years ago. Despite what you read in my journals, my father wasn't a complete bastard. Better than most father's in Griffonstone actually.

“When Gilgamesh and I were four years old, father brought us these blades and told us that we must be strong. Whether he stole them, or bought them, I know not. But it didn't matter. We had them and he expected us to use them.

“Eight years after that day I challenged my brother in the dueling pit. He insulted my Sapphire and her family, and I wouldn't stand by and let my own flesh and blood treat my fiance so shamefully!” his voice was filled with anger, and his eyes shone with tears. “I killed him, won his gold and took his blade as a reminder of that day. The day I became a monster.”

“You're not a monster...” I began but he spoke over me, still managing to keep his voice steady, and quiet.

“It was only after the dual that I realized what I'd done. I actually felt pride when father congratulated me. I felt pride for killing. My. Brother! From that day on I swore, that if it took every pound of flesh, every hair, and every drop of blood my body had to offer I would change Griffonstone. Change it to something worth the loyalty I've shown it. Make it worthy of my brother's sacrifice, worthy of my wife and worthy of my cubs waiting for me back home!” the tears in his eyes spilled over his cheeks, but these weren't tears of sadness; they were pure rage. Rage that just couldn't be contained anymore.

Grover was married. He had cubs waiting for him. My mind couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't written of them. And even though I knew it was in bad taste I couldn't help but ask him.

“I have. You just haven't read the entries.” he sighed and backed away from me. Sheathing his sword. “When this mission is over, we will return to Canterlot. You will give Celestia the missives and the chest, then you can take your leave. I however, am staying until Grogar's head is on a pike.” without another word he turned away from me and began to search the treasury.

He didn't even wait for me.

I felt...not sad, or confused or even angry. I just felt...

Empty.

I was so sure I could convince him to come with us. With me...  But there was one simple, universal truth. Nothing short of death would keep Grover from trying to help Griffonstone. And given how determined he was, I wasn't even sure death would stop him. Thoughts flashed in my mind where Grover fell in battle and was simply raised from the dead by Celestia. If she could take out an entire army of changelings, I had no doubt she could raise somepony from the grave.

I then realized how stupid and foalish my actions were, and I regretted ever opening my mouth.

I had never felt this way before. I had been disappointed many times. But with Grover it was different. I had never been so forthcoming with anyone before. Ever since I came to Canterlot I lied to everypony. I lied to nobles, beggars, barkeepers, guards and even the ponies I worked with. I lied to Brutus, Sunshine, Windsheer, Pinumbra, even that bastard Shadowmark.

Especially Shadowmark.

And I had even lied to Grover. I stole from him and worst of all. I even tried to get him killed. And I felt bad about it. I'd only known Grover for a few weeks, but I cared about him more than I could explain. I still remember the look on Rose's face, my daughter's face when he gave her that drawing.

Grover, a war hardened griffon warrior who didn't bat an eye at killing a dozen ponies. A griffon was willing to sacrifice his own life for a country that wasn't his own, took the time out of his day, time he should have spent resting, to try and cheer up a filly that he just met. That he had no reason to care for in the slightest.

Maybe that's it.

Every other pony I knew was only concerned about themselves. The entire Guild only existed so that thieves could rob and steal with as few repercussions as possible. We  didn't care about each other. Not even a little. The Guildmaster was only worried about how much coin we brought in.

But not Grover. He actually seemed to care about Equestria. He cried openly about a fellow soldier, a friend who died, when he wasn't able to save him. He couldn't even get his wife and children out of the city...Shit! I was so lost in my own thoughts that I'd forgotten about Rose. Feel like shit later Silver! You have a job to do.

Pushing these poisonous thoughts aside I began searching the treasury for the chest that contained...whatever Celestia wanted. We already had the missives (picked them up from an office on the way to the treasury) so all I needed was the chest and we'd be home free. Once we got past the guards and got out of Whitetail anyway.

As I searched I couldn't help watching Grover. (Not his ass!) I knew it was foalish, but I was still kind of hoping that he'd turn around and say that he changed his mind but he never did. He didn't even look in my direction. His eyes scanning over the seemingly endless piles of gold with little interest. To be honest, I didn't really care about the gold anymore. Celestia gave me free reign to steal whatever I wanted, but I didn't really feel like it.

It was the same when we met those rams at the tavern. One of them tries to mount me, Grover knocked him out with a bottle of whiskey, the other ram got really pissed off, blah blah blah. It wasn't even fun putting make up on them. (I still did it, but my heart wasn't in it.) I was too worried about Rose to really enjoy myself.

And even if we did get out of Whitetail without incident, how could I take care of her by myself? Sure I could protect her from animals and maybe a few Nightstalkers (ten tops) but she was a filly! The last thing she needed was to be on the road all the time. It wouldn't be good for her.

As I stepped around a particularly large pile of gold coins and jewelry my thoughts returned to finding a place for Rose to stay while I went to Canterlot. Once we got out of Imperial territory I wouldn't have any trouble keeping her safe, and there was no way I was hoofing her over to Celestia. Especially after what Rose said. But the only other option I had wasn't exactly my first choice. Maybe they'll...

“Over here” Grover whispered, pulling me out of my reverie. I followed the sound of his voice until I reached a small clearing in the room. There was an eerily white pedestal in the center with the red chest sitting atop it. Artificial daylight was filtering down from a large crystal on the ceiling. I had been so distracted by my thoughts that I hadn't noticed the magic surrounding the box.

And it was powerful.

“Stay back, Grover.”I cleared my mind of all my stray thoughts and took a hesitant step forward and began working my magic. Instantly I felt a massive amount of protective magic around the box. Tracking spells, alarm spells that would bring every Legionnaire in town towards the palace. Anti teleportation, paralysis inducing vapor spells. Even a spell that would destroy the contents of the box if it left the pedestal. But whomever placed all these spells on the box made a critical mistake. The worst mistake anypony can make when trying to protect something with magic.

They only put the spells on the box.

I pulled out a lock pick (one of only four that I had left) and went to work. Just as I thought, the spells were geared towards somepony removing the box, not opening it. And I'm the first to admit it, most of the time I would just take the box (this, and the castle job being an exception)

The lock itself wasn't very difficult which surprised me. With all the arcane security surrounding it one would think that they'd at least put a decent lock on the thing. Grogar must have spread his budget a little thin.

A few moments later the lock gave a satisfying click and I opened the lid. I don't know what I was expecting; maybe gems like the one's from Canterlot. Or maybe some strange magical artifact.

I was disappointed.

Inside the chest, there was no gold, or magical artifacts or gemstones. There were several old and very weathered looking scrolls. I counted nine in all.

“That's it?” I said louder than I intended. “Just some fucking scrolls!?” Wow, that is really anti climatic. Grover shook his head.

“Just grab the things and lets go. I don't want to be here longer than I have to.” I know he didn't mean it at the time but I felt like he was referring to being with me instead of being in Whitetail. Like I said, I know that's not what he meant, but it felt like it at the time.

“Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses” I said, even though I wouldn't have minded if he let them out a few minutes ago. I floated the scrolls out of the chest and began packing them into an empty pocket in my bags, but I stopped when I noticed that one scroll had a familiar symbol on it. I floated the scroll before me and looked at the five point star engraved on the scroll's clasp. It was just like one of the gems from the Canterlot Castle job.

“What are you doing?” Grover asked, watching the room nervously. “Hurry up, Silver!” I scowled at the back of his head. He doesn't want to be with me and Rose, that's fine. I thought venomously. But I'll be damned if we came all this way to get these scrolls and I don't get to read one. I untied the clasp and unfurled the scroll.

Then everything turned white.

                ---------oooOOOooo---------

The first thing I could remember feeling was...weightlessness. The treasury had evaporated around me and I found myself floating in a galaxy of stars that moved about in a seemingly random manner. Floating from one another, combining into a larger star then seperating a second later. I tried to move but I had no hooves, no body. I couldn't even feel my heart beating. I don't know how long I just floated there, doing my best not to panic. If I could feel my heart beat, it would have been racing. It felt like an eternity.

Then, the stars swarmed onto me like a horde of wasps attacking a bear offending their hive. They swirled around my consciousness and slowly, very slowly, I felt my body return to me. My heart began to beat again and I could feel my coat bristling.

Naughty, naughty unicorn,

Reading my scroll.

Nauhgty, naughty unicorn,

Seeking control.

Foolish little unicorn,

with a thirst for knowledge.

Foolish little unicorn,

digging in my fridge.

What the fuck is a fridge? I thought as the voice continued to sing it's strange song.

Poor little thief,

with a daughter so close.

Poor little thief,

the one you love will soon be a ghost!

With that final verse I felt my self crash into the hard stone floor of the treasury. My head spinning and my chest burning. My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would explode in my chest. When I opened my eyes I found myself not in the treasury, but inside a barred cell. The floor was stone cold and the cells to either side of me were empty.

I wasn't alone however.

Standing on the other side of my cell door, holding a group of scrolls in a field of red magic was Grogar himself. His eyes burned like coals in the dimly lit dungeon, and even his teeth seemed to glow; making his smile all the more terrifying.

“Look who's awake.” he said sarcastically. “You could have been out of the city hours ago and I would be none the wiser. But you just had to read one of my scrolls. I suppose it's for the best, we all have our guilty pleasures. Tell me my dear; how are you feeling?” I bit back a snarky remark as he pulled me to my hooves with his magic. I realized that I was naked; my guild armor and saddlebags were gone, but I felt...different. My legs seemed...longer, for some reason, and looking at my horn it looked longer too.

“For a genius thief, you really are a stupid girl aren't you?” His smile widened. “Still, I have to thank you for getting these scrolls for me. I would have never guessed it was as simple as just opening the box. My mages will be executed for their incompetence tomorrow. And it seems that the scroll has changed you.” he dropped me onto my hooves and made me stand to my full height.

“Perhaps you would like a mirror?” without waiting for a response he summoned a mirror out a thin air before me, and despite being locked in a cell in front of the most dangerous being in Equestria, I couldn't help being more surprised by my appearance.

I was taller. A lot taller. Maybe as tall as Grover, or even Princess Ambrosia. My figure appeared to be slimmer and my horn was longer. I looked more, regal. The little pony in my head couldn't help commenting that I may have looked good before but now...ho ho! Smoking hot!

Then I remembered Grover.

“Where's Grover!?” I said bucking the mirror through the bars into the cell to my left, where it shattered against the stone floor. (guilt flooding through my body as I spoke)

“Your guard is currently entertaining some of my soldiers. I am sure you know that he isn't the most popular griffon among my Legions. But don't worry, I won't be leaving you out.” his magic tightened around my neck and pulled me into the bars. Making my head throb painfully where it connected with the metal.

“Once their done with him, you'll be next. I will teach you not to steal from me! No one can stop me. Not you, not your griffon and not Celestia!” he hissed and threw me into the stone wall at the back of the cell. He walked away from the cell, carrying the scrolls with him. So, he waits until I wake up just so he can brag. Wow, original.

I looked around the cell, trying to find a way to escape. But the bars were embedded into the floor and ceiling, the cell was locked with a simple enough lock but their was an anti magic ring on my horn. But that wasn't what was really bothering me. What was really bothering me was the fact that if I was just a little smaller, I'd be able to slip out between the bars. Fucking. Typical.

I was trapped. I couldn't get out, Grover was being tortured and who knows how long I'd been unconscious. Rose is probably worried sick. Fuck! I slammed my hooves against the cell door over and over again until it felt like they were about to crack. I slipped down onto the floor, covered my face with my hooves and cried. I layed there on the floor of my cell for what felt like hours. Every dark thought I had from the past two weeks bombarding my senses.

“Grover....Rose...this is all my fault!” I brought Rose to Whitetail when I should have gave her to Celestia. I stole Grover's journals and now he hated me. I just had to read the damn scroll and now Grover is having Celestia knows what done to him because I was so stupid! Now I was going to rot in here until some ram came and killed me, or Grogar lit me on fire in front of everypony in town.

Including Rose.

It was the worst thing I'd ever done. During the time I spent in Canterlot I robbed hundreds of ponies. Picked thousands of pockets. Cut thousands of purses. I stole something just so I could frame another pony for stealing it. I've had ponies sent to prison who didn't deserve it. I sat idly by while Shadowmark killed Guild members for going Platinum... I walked out on my parents, when all they wanted was me to have a good education. I walked out on them and I chose to be scum.

But all that was nothing compared to what I'd done to Rose. She was the only thing on my mind besides what horrible things they were doing to Grover. I promised  her I'd be back. I promised that everything would be okay. I told her that I would be her mother...and now, I was leaving her behind. Leaving her alone.

What the fuck is wrong with you, Silver!? What is wrong with you... My ears stood erect and swiveled to my right as I heard hoof steps coming done the hall towards me but I didn't care. If any of those ram fuckers want a piece of me, they'll get it! The hoofsteps grew nearer and nearer as I readied myself. I had a plan too; I'd kick whomever it was so hard in the balls (or vagina) that they'd fall over puking, then I'd knock them out, lock the door, find a way to get the ring off, find Grover and get the fuck out of here. Fuck this contract. And fuck Celestia for making me take it.

I waited as patiently and silently as I could while somepony began to open the lock...wait. I knew that sound. He's not using a key. I dared to peek between my forelegs and noticed something off about the person before me. His hooves weren't cloven, and his coat was a mix of black and white stripes.

Then I heard a voice I never thought I'd hear again.

“We scum gotta stick together, eh Fine Flanks?” I removed my forelegs from my eyes and looked up at the old zebra. He was wearing a black cloak that covered his entire body. (except his hooves) and his eyes were glowing gold. But that wasn't what caused my jaw to drop.

Sitting on his back, with a lock pick in hoof, was Rose.

“Hi mommy.” she said as the cell door swung inward. I didn't waste a moment, I jumped up and pulled Rose into a hug. I'd never felt so happyto see somepony in my entire life.

“Mommy, you look different.” she said, snapping me out of my jubilation. Rose...was here. In Grogar's castle. Though I had been happy to see the old zebra at first, my joy soon turned to seething rage. After carefully placing Rose on the floor and making sure she was alright, I got to my hooves and smacked the old zebra upside his head.

Hard.

“Shit! What was that for?” he asked indignantly, rubbing the side of his skull.

“You brought Rose into the fucking castle!!!” I whispered (quietly screamed would be a more accurate term) “You fucking idiot!” then a new thought crossed my mind and I added, “how did you even know where she was or where I was?”

“I'll explain that later” he said, pulling out a pair of saddlebags from under his cloak. “These are yours I reckon. They had 'em in an evidence chest in the other room, kinda stupid of 'em huh?” I had to fight the overwhelming urge to strike him again as he removed the ring from my horn. But with Rose there I felt a little self conscious about it. You should really cut back on the swearing too. The pony in my head scolded. Her voice sounding strangely like my mother's.

“Where's my Guild armor?” I asked, trying to clear my  mind. Rose sat close by, watching the hallway they came from. She was wearing black leather barding, and my dagger was belted to her side.

“Couldn't find it” he declared, removing the ring. I strapped my saddlebags on and once more pulled Rose into a hug, kissing her cheek.

“Stop it. Not in front of Mr Zebra!” she whined but I didn't care. Rose was okay, not exactly as safe as I wanted but she'd be okay. I'd make sure she was okay.

“I'll kiss you in front of Mr Zebra whether you like it or not” I looked over Rose's shoulder and scowled darkly at the old buck. He, at least,  had the decency to look ashamed. “Why did you bring her here?”

“Well, I was at the shop bringin' a few extra wares to Miss Ink when we heard you scream...”

“You, heard me scream?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yeah,” Rose said, her eyes tearing up. “We could hear it in the shop. I was so worried that Mr Zebra said he knew you from Canterlot and he'd help me find you.”

“And Quill just let you go!?” I asked, incredulously. What is wrong with her?

“Well...I actually had to tie her up” the buck said, rubbing his neck. “I didn't want to bring the kid, but I can't pick locks.” he pointed at Rose. “That filly a yours has some talent.” I opened my mouth to tell him off but I couldn't think of way to say it without hurting Rose's feelings. I made a mental note to apologize to Quill and returned my attention to Rose.

“You did great, Rose. I'm so proud of you.” I hugged her tight and placed her on my back. “For now, let's focus on finding Grover and getting the fu.. I mean, heck outta here.” I pointed a hoof threateningly at the stallion. “You and I, will talk later. “ he gulped and waved for me to follow.

“You got taller, mommy.” Rose commented as we snuck down the cell block. Our hooffalls silent. Thank you Silencio!

“Yeah, I noticed that too.” I nuzzled her, as the buck turned a corner and waved for me to follow.

“Do you know where Grover is?” I asked, causing him to stop and turn to me with a strange look on his face.

“What? The griffon?” I nodded. “Who cares? He's one of Celestia's stoolies. Fuck him.” I wrapped my magic around his neck and dragged him to me. Our muzzles touched and I saw my eyes, glowing white, reflected in his own fearful eyes.

“We will find him and we will get him out of here, or so help me I will turn you into a nice, juicy apple, cut you into perfect little slices and eat you with peanut butter.” he gulped and nodded. I let him go and he turned around and went down a separate hallway. That's right, get moving! I couldn't blame him for not wanting to help Grover. He just didn't know him like I did. But that didn't stop me from being annoyed with him.

“What's up with your eyes, Stripes?” I asked, trying clear the air.

“Tis called 'Night Eyes'. Little trick my kind can do. Let's us see in the dark.” I filed that away for later and began thinking of spells that would do the same, and an instant later I knew the spell. It was simple, just put magical energy into the iris that will greatly increase visablilty. My horn glowed and I gave it a try.

At once the room lit up with brilliant light. I could see everything. Every line in the floor and even the vermin that scuttled about in the shadows. Stripes noticed my eyes and his own went wide.

“Didn't know you were part zebra.” he said nervously. Rose looked at my eyes and said,

“Whoa”

“I'm not. I'm just a quick study.” he shrugged (his expression worried) and continued down the hall for another hundred feet before stopping in front of a wooden door with a slit open in the middle. I cut my spell and looked through the slit. It took all the self control I had not to scream.

Grover was sitting straight up in a chair; his forelegs tied behind his back and his armor now where in sight. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, his breathing was labored, and worst of all; there was a gaping, bloody hole where his left eye had been. There were two Legionnaires standing by him, holding brutal serrated blades. I covered Rose's eyes and set her on the floor by the door.

“Stripes, stay here and protect Rose.” I said, preparing to open the door.

“What are you gonna do?”

“You'll see.” I reared up on my hind legs and blasted the door off it's hinges, sending it to the floor. The rams turned to me, shock and fear on their faces as a dozen daggers made of pure magical energy materialized in the air around me. Just over a week ago creating a single blade had exhausted me, but now it was like picking up an apple.

The rams screamed as the blades pierced their flesh and pinned them to the wall behind Grover. They writhed and twitched as the life drained out of their bodies with their blood. When I had killed the changelings I felt nothing, they were monsters. Whenever I thought about trying to kill the Nightstalkers with my fire I felt shame, and when I killed them later with magic and blade I felt, ashamed, but justified. But as I watched the life drain from the Legionnaires eyes, I felt no remorse, or guilt or shame of any kind. They hurt Grover, and they deserved far worse for what they'd done.

“Keep Rose outside” I called to the buck as I began to untie Grover. He wasn't unconscious, and he was looking at me with a curious expression.

“Thanks” he said weakly.

“Not necessary. I wouldn't have left you here.” I told him, unclasping the restraints that held his hindlegs down. How long has he been here? How long was I out? His entire body was covered in small, very painful looking wounds. Mostly cuts and bruises but there were dozens of burns as well.

“I didn't mean now. I meant with the Nightstalkers.” I blinked and looked him in the eye as he got to his feet. He stood without flinching, or otherwise indicating that he felt any pain. That's my drake. Strong as a dragon.

“I'm thankful for you helping me now, but I did say 'thank you' for saving me after Trot.” he explained, going to the corner where a table of potions, bandages and several knives were sitting. (the blades were covered in blood) He drank every healing potion on the table before opening the chest next to it, then began pulling pieces of his armor out and putting them on.

“When I saw you charging your spell, there was a strange glint in your eyes. I knew then that you were thinking about ending me.” my jaw dropped, and shame filled every fiber of my being.

“I...I'm so sorry Grover...I...” I began but her cut me off.

“Don't apologize. If the situation were reversed I would have taken the opportunity to strike you down without a second thought.” he said, catching me off guard with his callous honesty. “You had been forced to choose between life in prison or going on a mission into very dangerous territory,” He covered his open eye socket with a bandage. No potion could fix his eye. (which was sitting on the table with the knives)

“I wouldn't have been surprised in the slightest if you chose to leave me to my fate, or attack me instead of the Nightstalkers. But you didn't,” he said with a weak smile, buckling his swords to his belt and putting his saddlebags on. “You risked your own life, and in the process, your filly's, to help me.” he placed his claws on my shoulder.

“I will be perfectly honest with you. I don't see you as a lover, Silver, and I likely never will,” he said gently, his words still cutting into my heart like a blade. “I have a wife and children. But despite everything you've done, all the bullshit that you seem to drag around with you, I count you as a very, very dear friend, and I want you to know that you're forgiven.”

“Now let's get the scrolls out of here.” I felt my chest tighten.

“Grover...Grogar has them. He had them when I woke up. And...and it's all my fault.” I finished, tears building in my eyes. Grover however, smiled as if I told a particularly funny joke. He opened his bags and pulled out a bundle of weathered scrolls. Among them, was the scroll I read in the treasury.

“You're not the only one who can trick someone you know.” I wrapped him in a hug only for him to flinch and groan.

“Sorry!” he shrugged it off and waved at the door.

“RRRRRAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The castle itself shook as an earsplitting roar reverberated through the palace. Lamps shattered on the walls and the tray holding the torture implements and Grover's eye clattered to the floor. Rose galloped into the room, her ears flat against her head like my own, and hid underneath me, earning me an inquisitive look from Grover.

“I'll explain later!” he nodded.

“I think Grogar just found out about his scrolls.” Grover guessed, as Stripes came into the room.

“Guards are coming. We need to scadattle!” we followed close behind as the zebra galloped through the halls. I could hear the hoofbeats of dozens of guards heading towards us.

“Shit! This way!” the zebra turned down a side hall towards a staircase. Rose wrapped her hooves around my neck and shrieked. I looked over my shoulder in time to see a dozen Legionnaires rushing down the hall after us.

“After them!” they flashed their weapons and charged. Normally, I wouldn't be very worried about it, given that Grover could handle Manitcores and dozens of changelings on his own given the right circumstances. But these weren't the right circumstances. I had to use my magic just to keep Grover on his feet, and he could still barely keep up with us. If the Legion caught up to us...

“This way!” we reached the top of the stairs and turned right. I focused my magic and bathed the corridor with fire. The stone itself seemed to ignite as my magic washed over the floor, walls and tapestries hung from them. Maybe that will slow them down.

“Where are we going?” Grover wheezed, leaning against me just to stop from falling over. Those potions must not have done much.

“The landing platform. It's the only way out!”

“How!?” Grover shouted spitting some blood onto my chest. “Does it really look like I can fly right now?”

“Just shut up and trust me!” we weaved through half a dozen different corridors before going through a large pair of doors leading to the platform Grogar had been speaking to the city from. I carried Grover to the middle of the platform where he collapsed, coughing more blood onto my coat. Now I know how he feels.

“Help him!” I shouted but the zebra shook his head.

“I don't know nothin' about healin'. Talk to my grandkids when they get here. Why don't you use some a yer fancy ass magic?” I didn't know any healing spells! Or did I? Looking at Grover a number of spells that would help flashed before my eyes. Even something that would repair his eye. When did I ...the scroll! That's why Celestia wanted them! They must have some serious magic inside them! I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and focused on Grover.

I focused my magic and sent waves of healing energy into his body. Repairing the cuts, making the bruises fade and healing the blistering burns that covered most of his body. I had heard of spells like this, powerful magic that could heal almost anything. But I didn't think I'd ever be able to perform anything close to it. I mean, I was good, really good, but I never thought I would ever perform such advanced magic.

Which is why I was almost as surprised as I was overjoyed that it worked. After maybe five minutes of continuous effort Grover got to his feet, his breathing returning to normal and all his smaller wounds gone.

“When did you learn that?” he asked, sounding far stronger than he was just moments ago.

“The scroll, I think. Just thought it would keep you from getting more blood on me.” I nudged his shoulder with a hoof.

“Glad I could return the favor.” he frowned. “It's weird not having to look down to look you in the eyes.” he added.

“Yeah, it is.” he looked so much better, it brought a smile to my muzzle.

“Ya'll can fuck later, we have a problem!” the old zebra shouted. Rose shrieked and hid behind Grover and I while the old zebra back peddled away from the doors. I turned to the doors and I felt my smile leave my face, my eyes widen and my coat bristled.

“I am growing tired of this.” Grogar stood in the doorway, two dozen Legionnaires standing at attention behind him. Their spears pointing towards us. My blood froze in my veins as I took in his appearance. His horns shined brightly, as if they had just been polished. His eyes and jeweled necklace glowed brilliantly in the darkness. He wore a long red cape that billowed softly in the pre dawn breeze. And Rose was were feet away.

It was my worst fear realized.

“Stripes!” I grabbed Rose with my magic and threw her towards the zebra stallion. She shrieked as the buck grabbed her out of the air with practiced ease, then they hid behind one of the chariots. Grogar paid them no mind, his focus was on Grover, who stood tall on his hind legs and drew his blades.

“Finally!” Grover shouted, joy in every syllable. “Now I can finally kill you!” the Legionnaires stepped forward threateningly but Grogar raised a hoof for them to stop.

“You wish to fight me, whelp?” Grogar burst out laughing. And soon every one of his soldiers followed suit. “You're kidding. You're kidding right?” In response Grover clanged his blades together and changed into his all too familiar fighting stance. Grogar scowled darkly, and it took every ounce of self control not to run. Like my instincts were screaming at me to do.

“Fine.” Grover smiled chillingly and looked to me.

“Go to Rose and use your shield...”

“Grover you can't! I just put you back together...”

“I am only going to say this once,” he told me, his voice deadly serious and his eye blazing with hatred. “You will stand aside and let me end him. If you interfere...” he drew a claw across his neck. My eyes widened and I backed away. He wouldn't. Would he? I thought as I looked into his eye and got my answer.

He would. Without a doubt.

I retreated to the edge of the platform and erected my shield around the three of us. Rose pulled herself from Stripes and clung to my foreleg.

“What's Mr Grover doing?” she asked, her voice filled with worry and fear.

“What he has to.” it was true. Grover was doing what he believed would be the only way to save his people. Once Grogar was dead Celestia would be able to help him.

That's what he believed anyway.

The Legionnaires blocked the door and held their weapons at the ready as Grogar and Grover circled one another. Grover removed the bandage over his eye, or, where his eye would have been. There was no gaping hole like before, new skin had grown over the socket along with new feathers, but he was still half blind.

They continued to circle each other for what felt like hours, (even though it was only a couple of minutes) Grogar's eyes burning through the early light of dawn. Even with Grogar's almost supernatural appearance, I hardly noticed him. Grover stood like a beacon in the dark, his own golden eye shining brighter than any star. He moved neither fast nor slow.  His movements were deliberate and cautious. The movements of a trained warrior.

Looking back now. I think I believed that he would actually win.

“He just needs to hold him off for five maybe ten minutes” stripes told me, keeping his voice low. “then the youngin's will be here.” Ten minutes. Just ten minutes. Grover was the fiercest warrior I'd ever seen (except for maybe Shadowmark) if he could kill a Manticore alone in under a minute he could hold his own until...

“Who are the youngin's?” Stripes opened his muzzle  but closed it again when Grogar spoke.

“Well?” that one word was enough for Grover. He lunged like a javelin towards Grogar and slashed both his blades across his face. Or so I thought.

Grogar materialized a bladed staff and blocked the strike with little effort before spinning and slashing Grover along his right foreleg. Leaving a deep wound that bled profusely. The griffon warrior didn't skip a beat; taking to the air and attacking Grogar with a combination of sword thrusts and swipes that I couldn't even hope to follow. He was so fast that every time I blinked was in a completely different place than he had been before. Each time their weapons connected a mass of sparks flew in every direction with a resounding clang!

What I saw scared me, and not because Grover was so fast. Nor that Grover looked so determined, ignoring the wound in his foreleg. It was because even though Grover was likely the fiercest warrior in all Equestria. Fast enough to cut a fly in half with a single swipe of his blade...

Grogar, was still faster. And it absolutely terrified me.

The demonic ram was standing in the same spot he had been when Grover first struck. No matter how fast Grover's attacks were, Grogar blocked every single thrust. Deflected every swipe as if Grover were no more than a child. Grover soon grew frustrated, his attacks becoming more and more reckless. Finally, through sheer force, Grover managed to push Grogar back from his original stance.

With one final attack Grover slashed out at Grogar's neck and the demonic ram caught one blade with his staff, shattering the sword in Grover's left foreleg to pieces. The pieces flying back into Grover's face, cutting several fresh wounds into his flesh. Grover's other blade cut Grogar across his cheek.

A magic pulse emanated from Grogar's horns, knocking Grover back as the ram charged and struck at him with his staff. He cut through Grover's armor and slashed a bloody swathe through his side with one arched attacked from his left side. Grogar turned his staff and struck Grover upside the head with the handle so hard that I was surprised the handle didn't shatter. Grover crumbled to the ground and stopped moving on the spot.

“Grover!” Rose and I shouted together. I dropped the shield and rushed to his side. “Keep her back!” I told the zebra, who obediently grabbed Rose in his forelegs.

“Momma! Grover!!” she yelled. But I had to focus on Grover.

“How precious. A mother brings her daughter and her love interest into my city to steal my Elder Scrolls.” he laughed coldly. “I still can't believe he was bullheaded enough to fight me one on one. My soldiers have a right to fear him. And soon, so shall Celestia.” he took a step towards us and raised his staff over his head.

“He'll make an excellent edition to my Legion once he's a little more, controllable.” I selected the most powerful spell I could think of, with every intention of blasting Grogar into pieces that were so small they'd have to bury him in a thimble.

Then a zebra mare flew through the air like a javelin and kicked him full in the face with both rear hooves. Grogar grunted and flew back towards his soldiers.

“Emperor!” they shouted in unison as the Legionnaires dropped their weapons and raised their hooves to catch their leader, only for his momentum to carry him into his troops and knock all of them back into the hall.

The doors slammed shut, revealing another two zebras to each side of them.

“Grandpa we need to go!” they ran towards us after barring the doors, one stopped to scoop Grover onto her back and run to the edge of the platform, where Stripes and Rose were waiting.

“Let's go!” I didn't have to be told twice. The younger zebras jumped off the platform and slid down a massive beanstalk growing out of the ground in the middle of the castle courtyard. I threw Rose onto my back and followed them down the stalk just as Grogar yelled again.

“RRRRRAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AFTER THEM! KILL THEM ALL! BRING ME MY SCROLLS!!!”

The platform exploded into a ball of eldritch fire just as we landed on the street, the beanstalk was still growing into the air but it seemed to be in pain as the fire spread to it's limbs. I followed the zebras carrying at a full gallop towards the gates. I smiled, seeing that the guards at the gates were already unconscious. Thank you zebras.

The streets were strangely deserted as we made our way towards Quill's shop; there no ponies or Legionnaires anywhere in sight. We stopped in front of Quill's shop where a large covered wagon hitched to two zebra bucks was waiting.

“What about Quill?” it didn't feel right leaving her behind...and tied up. Mental note: smack Stripes even harder for leaving Quill tied up. The wagon pullers answered my question by pulling the tarp with their teeth, revealing the mare and her children huddled under a few burlap sacks. Never mind.

I nodded and jumped in the back, holding Rose in my forelegs as the zebras put Grover in the back next to me. Followed closely by Stripes himself.

“Let's get a move on before that bastard realizes who put that smack down on him!” they covered us with the tarp and the wagon started down the road. Alarms rang out all over the city and I saw bright flashes of red light from under the tarp, precursed by loud explosions. Followed by ponies screaming.

Even though it probably wasn't the smartest idea, I nudged the tarp open with my muzzle. Just enough so that I could see what was happening. The zebras pulling the wagon were far faster than I thought they'd be. We had already left the city walls. Blasts of red and black energy were emanating from the palace. Buildings exploded into balls of flames, sending wood and stone flying everywhere. Rose huddled closer to me, shaking terribly as screams reverberated throughout the night.

When we were more than a mile away I could still hear the screams. The light of the fires blended with the first rays of dawn as the sun began to rise over the horizon.

I hugged Rose closer to me and pulled the tarp back down. Who knew how many ponies I had just gotten killed by reading that scroll? We could have been twenty miles away by now; instead we were in the heart of Imperial territory with the entire Legion looking for us.

Celestia will get her scrolls alright. I thought bitterly as the zebras continued their high speed gallop along the eastern road. And I'm going to make sure she knows how much they cost.

Level Up! New Perk added: Gift of The Elder Scroll: Magic. All of your magical skills have increased to 100 and all combat, healing, and stealth spells have been unlocked! Power Penalty, resistance to physical damage has dropped by twenty points

Chapter 7: Home

“...what is the most important thing in your life? Is it gold?  Perhaps it is personal pleasure? Or, maybe it could be something else…

Maybe, family..?”

“Hurry up and finish it!”

“That’s not how it works lady, it still needs a few minutes to brew and it doesn’t help that the wagon hits every hole in the fucking road!” the zebra mare snarled at the stallions pulling the wagon. The buck’s ears flattened against their heads, their heads lowering and begrudgingly slowed their frantic pace.

It had been six hours since we left Whitetail to burn at the vengeance fueled hooves of Grogar, and we’d barely covered thirty miles. With Zaire, Xenphyr, Rose, Bluebell, Riverwind and I in the wagon with Grover, the bucks pulling us were under a lot of strain. Even with Zenmir (The old zebra buck) his grandson Mika and Quill trotting and occasionally galloping alongside us our progress was agonizingly slow. So when they did manage to reach a good speed they tried their best to maintain it for as long as possible.

It was nothing short of a miracle that we hadn’t come across any Legionnaires yet.

“Watch your mouth!” I growled as my magic continued to wash over Grover’s injuries. The lack of progress I was making was really beginning to frustrate me. Whatever spell Grogar used to create his bladed staff was a dark one, and the energy left over in his wounds was either negating my magic, or causing more damage to his body as I tried to heal it.

That, and every time somepony cursed the little pony in my head went all mother mare on me. And the zebras I was currently with cursed a lot.

Grover was lying on a bedroll that was sprawled out in the back of the wagon. I stripped his ruined armor from his muscular frame to see what we were dealing with, and what I saw was not encouraging. Grogar’s staff didn’t just cut through his armor, it melted it! I spent the first hour and a half alone pulling deformed shards of steel from his from his flesh. And those were just the cuts. When the handle of Grogar’s staff struck it left nothing but shattered bones and bruised flesh behind. While I used my magic to keep Grover’s wounds from deteriorating further, I also used a spell to reconstruct the bones in his face. Oh Grover.

I shouldn’t have let him do it. I should have grabbed him and teleported away. (I’d never teleported before but with the Scroll’s magic flowing through my veins I felt like I could do anything)

Except save Grover.

I bombarded Grover with a continuous stream of healing magic from the second the city was out of sight, and he still wasn’t better! For the first few hours Rose sat close by, hugging me tightly as I worked. Telling me I could do it. But she was just a filly. The longer we went without seeing any improvement the more her concern grew.

Eventually I had to use a sedation spell so she could get some rest. At Quill’s insistence I used the spell on Riverwind and Bluebell as well. The two were so scared and worried that they hadn’t slept at all the night before.

During this time, Zaire put her alchemy skills to work. She brewed a dozen potions over the last several hours to staunch Grover’s bleeding, replenish his lost blood, prevent infection and seal his wounds. But even with her potions and my magic combined, his wounds simply refused to heal.

At this point I was at my wits end. I used every spell I could think of; I even tried cauterizing his wounds, but they reopened within minutes. My horn was sparking, my body was trembling and my breathing was more labored than Grover’s. If I didn’t heal his wounds quick I’d burn out, and then he would die for sure.

I watched the rapid rise and fall of Grover’s chest and listened intently to his groans and whines. He was in a lot of pain. During my time with Grover I’ve seen him take punishment that would kill a normal person, and he never once complained or showed signs of slowing down. He was steadfast, strong, and fiercely loyal. The drake took on an entire swarm of changelings on his own and he wasn’t nearly this badly injured.

A lot of things were beginning to make sense. Celestia may be able to subdue a horde of changelings with her magic, she may be an incredibly powerful alicorn, but Grogar, to me at least, was on an entirely different level.

Grover’s wounds seemed to be getting worse. Blood wept from his wounds, leaving a puddle of ever increasing size spreading throughout the wagon. His skin was pale beneath his coat and plumage, and his breathing was shallow.

He was dying.

After everything we’d been through, after everything we’d done together, he was going to die.

And it was my fault.

The others seemed to believe it was inevitable as well. Quill trotted along the wagon watching him closely, tears running down her cheeks. Zenmir’s grandchildren watched with hopeless expressions. While they hadn’t known Grover, they had been watching him ever since Zaire and I started working on him. You can only watch so long before it hurts.

Zenmir himself was trotting along with an apathetic expression. He hadn’t known Grover as a person; he only saw the drake as one of Celestia’s soldiers, and as a soldier Grover was a symbol of law and order. A symbol that ponies (or zebras) in my line of work don’t particularly care for. Zenmir only helped me save Grover to avoid being turned into an apple.

Just when I was on the brink of crying a strangely familiar voice began speaking in my head.

You’re wasting your magic. One doesn’t stitch the wound when the blade is still inside.

I looked all around me but nopony had spoken. They were either looking anywhere except Grover, or watching him with sad expressions. After I was certain my ears were playing a trick on me the voice returned, sounding annoyed.

You’re supposed to be smart, Silver Scroll! Think about it for Celestia’s sake!!

Feeling like I’d just been scolded by Miss Strudel I looked back at Grover and thought about what the voice said. Don’t stitch the wound with the blade inside…OH!

It was like a dam burst in my mind, flooding my body with relief as the solution hit me like a buck to the face. I cast a spell to detect any and all lingering magic inside Grover and I found incredibly dark energy pulsating inside his wounds. Grogar’s staff left behind a strange type of magical poison. I berated myself for not thinking of it earlier. Come on Silver! Get your head in the game.

I focused all of my remaining magic into cutting the spell, but even with my magic being considerably more powerful than before, I was tired and the spell I was attempting to break was complex and powerful. It basically emitted necromatic energy.

My horn began to spark wildly, my head throbbed and my vision blurred. I was about to burn out…

I focused and poured every ounce of magic I had left into breaking the spell. My horn began to throb along with my head; my heart beat faster than it ever had before. Just when I thought I wouldn’t be able to break the spell, just when I thought Grover was lost to me forever, the spell snapped like a twig under my hoof, and the very second it shattered my magic failed me. Slumping onto the wagon right next to Grover I tried to catch my breath and will my heart to slow. I shifted my gaze towards Grover and watched with relief as his wounds began to slowly seal together. All the potions and magical energy we’d been pouring into him was finally beginning to take effect.

I watched several wisps of smoke coming from my horn dance in the air above us. I don’t know if it was my mind playing tricks on me, or if I was simply hallucinating, but I saw the wisps curl into a smiley face.

Took you long enough.

“What did you do?” Zaire asked, breaking me out of my reverie. She watched Grover with a fascinated smile as his wounds healed before our eyes.

“You don’t stitch a wound while the blade is still inside.” Zaire seemed satisfied with my answer as she finished mixing together her final potion.

My breathing returned to normal right alongside Grover’s. After some time his groans and whimpers ceased, replaced by deep, steady breaths. I was so happy that I didn’t even care that I was lying in a pool of blood.

“Will he be alright?” Quill asked, her eyes still filled with worry. At least she’s not crying anymore.

“He should be fine,” Zaire said, confidence returning to her features and her voice. “This potion will restore any missing flesh and kill of any infection.” She scowled and pointed a hoof where Grover’s missing eye should be. “I can’t fix that though. Maybe a few hours ago when I still had the ingredients, but not now.  Maybe if you would have done what you did a few hours ago” she added, scowling at me.

Normally I would have retorted but right now I didn’t care. Grover was going to survive! Not only that but we got the missives and the scrolls! I can get my money and retire to Prance with Rose…I felt my ears droop at the thought that Grover wouldn’t be coming with us but I knew I couldn’t stop him.

Maybe I can ponynap him…the thought died as quickly as it formed. It would take nothing short of an army to keeping him from fighting. And he’d never forgive me if I tried to stop him.

Rose stirred in her blanket nearby, where she huddled close to Riverwind and Bluebell. As I watched her sleep she twitched and turned over several times.

“Grover…” she whispered, her eyes darting around behind her eyelids. I considered waking her for a moment but thought better of it. She needed sleep, and she could see Grover when she woke up. But as I watched her, another thought came to mind. Zaire, Quill and the others were talking about something but I wasn’t listening. There was only one thing on my mind.

Where can I take Rose?

I’d been thinking this since before coming to Whitetail. If the job was successful and we got out alive there was no way I could take here with me to see Celestia. It would take a lot of explaining just to convince her I didn’t ponynap Rose, and there was no way she would let me keep her. I even considered leaving her with Sunshine and Windsheer but I quickly pushed the idea from my mind. I’d done some stupid things lately but I wasn’t going to add that to the list. That only left me with two options; take her to Celestia and convince her to let me keep Rose…

Or go home.

I nosed my bag open and removed the enchanted map I got from Celestia. I unfurled it (keeping it on Grover’s chest instead of the blood covered floor) and scanned it for the destination I had in mind.

“How long will it take to get here?” I asked the bucks pulling the wagon, showing them the map.

“Three days, maybe four.” They answered in unison.

“That’s where we’re going.”

                              ****************

The sleepy little village of Fetlock rested between Equestria’s shining capital of Canterlot and the unicorn city of Arcadia. Fetlock wasn’t a large town, having only three hundred residents, but what it lacked in ponies in made up for in charm.

The town itself was made up of a dozen shops built around Fetlock’s main road connecting Arcadia to Canterlot. The buildings were made of fine wood from the Whitetail Woods, while the farm houses surrounding the village were made of simple oak.

While Fetlock had no contingent of Royal Guards from Canterlot, the residents of the village formed their own small town guard. They wore simple brown barding and were armed only with daggers. Despite being poorly equipped the guards of Fetlock took their jobs very seriously.

And it made my stomach drop.

We rolled into Fetlock early in the morning, before any of the town ponies had opened their shuttered windows and opened their stores for business.

“Halt, what’s your business…Silver Scroll?” the guard at the entrance to Fetlock stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of me. “You look…taller.” He shuffled his hooves awkwardly, his eyes looking me over.

“Does the shop still open at nine?” I asked, climbing out of the wagon and standing to my full height. The guard (I think his name was…Barrel? Or maybe Buckle?) He nodded and pointed a hoof down the road.

“Yeah, go right ahead.” I nodded and started at a trot towards the one place in Equestria I swore I’d never come back to. Zenmir trotted ahead of me and stopped in my path.

“It’s been fun Fine Flanks, but me and the youngin’s are headin’ out.”

“Oh…” his declaration taking me off guard. “Do you think you could help me with Grover before you go?” it had been three days and nights since we left Whitetail, and even though his wounds were healed Grover lost a lot of strength. He hadn’t been able to stay awake for more than five or ten minutes at a time.

“I reckon me and my kin have helped Celestia’s killin’ machine plenty,” He rubbed his muzzle. “we risked our necks for ya back in the city, and bringin’ you and yer filly back here. If it were up to me I woulda just left him there, but I didn’t. We used a lot of our supplies keepin’ him alive. As far as I’m concerned, my debt’s been paid.”

I hated his words but they were true. He didn’t have to help me; he only helped me in Whitetail because I got him out of prison. That and he really didn’t like Grover. To Zenmir, anypony crazy enough to fight Grogar one on one for Celestia was somepony to be avoided.

“I suppose it has.” I turned back to the wagon and floated Rose onto my back, where she quickly curled up into a tight little ball. Next was Grover. I used my magic to create a stretcher and place him gingerly upon it, along with one of his swords and the shattered remains of the other. I don’t know why, but it felt, wrong, to separate him from them. Finally I strapped on my saddlebags, turned back to where Zenmir was silently waiting and levitated a large bag of coins from my bags.

“Here, for you supplies.” Not only did they use a lot of their alchemy supplies keeping Grogar alive, but they also dropped most of their supplies in Whitetail so we could fit in the wagon.

“Are you sure they won’t mind?” Quill asked, transferring her children from the wagon and onto her back. “I wouldn’t want to impose…”

“Nonsense.” I spun around to face her. “Don’t worry, you won’t be imposing. Just…don’t tell them the truth about Rose ok?” I had explained this to her several times, but I couldn’t help but reiterate. She nodded and I turned back to Zenmir and hoofed him his gold.

“I hope our paths will cross again.” He nodded in reply and whistled to his grandchildren. He climbed into the wagon and turned his gaze to me, a sly grin spreading across his muzzle.

“Don’tchu worry, Fine Flanks. With how often ya’ll get inta trouble we’re bound to meet up.’ He winked and hollered to his grandchildren. “Get movin’ ya lazy mules!” the wagon sped out of town, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. I watched the wagon until it was out of sight, then I took a deep breath and trotted to the front door of the shop. The store itself was a small general store, in addition to acting as Fetlock’s library. Part of me was glad to see it again.

The other part of me was screaming for me to run back to Whitetail.

I took one more deep breath, raised my right foreleg and knocked on the door four times. After a few moments of silence I raised my hoof to knock again when the door opened.

“Hello, what can I do for….” The white coated mare that was my mother stopped mid-sentence, her muzzle hanging open.

“Hi, Mom.” For the first time in weeks I felt self-conscious about my appearance. None of us had bathed in days and my mane was a tangled mess. I had to refrain from smelling myself in front of her.

“Silver..?” she said, reaching up and placing a hoof on my shoulder to make sure I was really there. After a moment she looked over my shoulder at Quill, and Grover floating silently on his stretcher. “Oh dear…what happened!” stricken with panic she forcibly pulled me inside, almost making me drop Rose.

“Mom, careful” I pointed my nose at the little ball of blue fur that was Rose, and my mother’s face brightened with joy; at the same time her eyes filled with tears.

“Silver dear…is she… yours?” I nodded and she turned away from us.

“Fleece! Come down here, quickly!” there were sounds of breaking glass and heavy objects hitting the floor above us before a gray buck with silver hair came rushing down the stairs.

“What’s wrong…?” his eyes widened at the sight of me, just like Mom’s did. But he wasn’t as subtle. He rushed over to me, wrapped his hooves around my neck and pulled me into a hug.

“Oh, Silver! My little girl is home!” he shook me in his excitement, causing Rose to stir on my back.

“Mommy, what’s going on?” she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes. This proved to be too much for my parents. They wrapped their hooves around us both, pulling Rose and I into a rib cracking hug.

“Mommy, what’s going on?” the little blue filly asked again, her expression quickly shirting from confused to fearful.

“It’s okay Rose. We’re home.”

The next ten minutes was filled with tears, crying, laughter, and levels of awkward I hadn’t experienced since I lost my hymen. My parents ushered us all inside, sent us to the dining room and began cooking us breakfast. Soon the most wonderful aromas filled the room. Oatmeal, freshly sliced fruit with peanut butter and colorful flowers covered out plates. Rose, Bluebell and Riverwind tore into their food with a vengeance. Rose had only eaten grass and uncooked oats since she started traveling with us and Quill’s kids lived under Grogar, so it was no surprise they were so excited to see good food. Quill tried to make them sit still and slow down but after a while she gave up and let the foals be foals.

Quill restrained herself but it was clear she was enjoying the food as much as her kids. She was slimmer than I was.

“Here you are dear, your favorite.” my mother placed a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar, sliced apples and daisy petals in front of me, along with a glass of milk.

“Thanks mom.” I inhaled the scent greedily, causing my mouth to water. I hadn’t eaten my mother’s special oatmeal in years. Before I dug into my breakfast I looked to the couch in the living room across the hall, where Grover was sleeping soundly.

My parents hadn’t questioned why I was carrying an unconscious griffon with me, but from the way they kept looking at him it was only a matter of time. But for the moment, they were satisfied with watching Rose and I with teary expressions.

When I took my first bite flavor exploded inside my mouth. It was like I was a little filly again, having a nice, study free breakfast before helping mom with the store.

It made my heart ache.

“Silver dear,” Mom said once we had all finished our food. “We are of course; very happy to see you, but why have you come to town? If you wanted to visit you know we’re just a letter away.” Her eyes darted to the couch.

“Quill, could you take Rose to the other room?” I asked, she nodded and nudged Bluebell and Riverwind towards the living room. I nuzzled Rose’s cheek. “Go on, it’s okay.” She reluctantly followed Quill into the other room. After she was on the other side of the couch I closed the door with my magic, and cast a spell to prevent eavesdropping for good measure.

I looked at my parents and they looked at me, but nopony talked. I tried to but I just couldn’t find the words. I’ve talked fillies out of candy and bucks out of their gold, but I just couldn’t think of what to say. After what felt like hours (even though it was maybe five minutes) my father got up from his seat and stood by my shoulder.

“What happened, Silver?” it was the one question I loathed to answer more than any other. For the last several days I had been thinking of different stories to tell them. Some were good but others were laughably pathetic. But I’d rather tell them a stupid story than the truth. For as long as I could remember I put them out of my mind. I never told anypony at the Guild where I was from, I even told them my parents were dead. I preferred to pretend they didn’t even exist.

And my heart was breaking just thinking about it.

When I left, I didn’t give them much warning. I left a letter on the nightstand by their bed saying that I was going out on my own. How I was going to make a life for myself. I was old enough, I had my cutie mark and I knew really impressive magic considering my age. I could take care of myself. But that wasn’t the way I phrased it.

I told them I was sick of studying, sick of Miss Strudel and sick of magic. I told them how I didn’t want them controlling my life anymore. I hurt them and I didn’t even have the decency to write to them. To tell them I was okay, and ask if they were okay. I was a spiteful as possible.

And now I was sitting in their house, with an unconscious griffon, a half-starved mare and three foals, one of whom was calling me mommy. I couldn’t even look them in the eye while my mind raced through the various excuses I concocted over the last week. Finally, I settled on a story that I thought would sound the best.

I went to live in Arcadia, got work as a teacher at the Mage’s College, and married an earth pony in the Royal Guard. The reason we were here was that Grogar’s army was getting too close to Arcadia and my husband was killed in a skirmish near the city borders. It was the best thing I could say to garner sympathy. It was the best way to get forgiveness for my stupidity.

That’s what I should have told them. Instead, I told them the truth.

I started my story right after I left home, and ended at our flight from Whitetail. I talked for what must have been hours and with the exception of an occasional question, my parents remained silent. I told them about the Guild, getting arrested and sent to Whitetail. I started crying when I got to the Nightstalkers.

“I…I…I killed them…” I blubbered, mucus running down my muzzle. “I lit them on fire…” my dad put a hoof on my shoulder while I continued crying. My mother came to my side as well, and wrapped a foreleg around my neck.

Feeling reassured, I continued.

I told them about the fights I was in, what happened in Applewood, Timbucktu, Trot and Whitetail. But I did leave out a few things. My feelings toward Grover, (Sexual and violent alike) along with a few of my stickier interactions with ponies over the years. I told them about basically everything except my sex life, and why my body had changed. (I knew it had something to do with the scroll but nothing more than that)

When I finished I hung my head and stared intently at the floor. The silence in the room was deafening

I couldn’t even imagine what they were thinking. Or, I could, but none of it was very positive. They must think I’m such a screw up. I expected them to yell, berate me. Tell me what an idiot I’d been. Maybe even demand that I leave right then and there. What I wasn’t expecting; was them hugging me tight and telling me everything would be okay.

“Oh Silver…we’re so, so sorry.” My mother told me, stroking my mane gently; tears rolling off her cheeks and onto my head.

“We should have listened more…” my dad nuzzled my cheek. “We just wanted what we thought was best.”

“I’m so sorry…you must hate me…”

“No!” they hugged me tighter. Getting hard to breathe!

“Silver Scroll, that’s nonsense. We would never hate you. You just did what you had to, it doesn’t make you a bad pony,” My mother pointed at the door to the living room. “and what you did for that little filly proves it. It’s clear that she loves you to death and so do we.” Dad nodded in agreement, nuzzling me again.

I sniffed, wiped away the tears pouring from my eyes, and wrapped my forelegs around them both.

“Thanks.”

We sat together for a while, crying and hugging each other. When I finally cried myself dry, I disabled the spell on the door and gestured to it with a hoof.

“I’m sure Rose would like to see her mommy and grandparents, she’s probably upset, we’ve been talking so long.” My parents smiled brightly, my mother tearing up again, and started for the door. I got up from my chair and trotted to the door, but before I could open it somepony knocked.

“Um, Silver? I know you’re talking but Grover’s been awake for a while and...” Quill’s voice came through the door; her words made my heart thump in my chest. I threw the door open with my magic, causing Quill to jump a foot in the air. I trotted past her and went around the couch, where Rose was sitting curled up on Grover’s shoulder, watching him with interest as he skillfully sketched a griffon hen that could only be Sapphire. One little pony in my head was annoyed at this, but the other was so overjoyed to see Grover conscious that I ignored my selfish feelings, hopped onto the side of the couch and pulled them both into my forelegs.

Rose shrieked in surprise and Grover dropped his pencil. “Mommy!” I kissed her on the forehead and Grover on the cheek.

“Thank Celestia you’re awake! How are you feeling?” my parents stood on either side of me while Quill and her kids sat on a plush chair a few feet away. I noticed the five of them looking at me oddly out of the corner of my eye but I didn’t care. Grover was awake!

“I feel like I get hit with a mountain,” he stretched like a cat, (pun intended) picked up his pencil and turned towards me. “but I’m alive. So not too bad of a day. What about you?” I had covered his missing eye with some black cloth from Zenmir’s caravan and was relieved to see it was still there. Every time I saw it felt terrible. He’d still have it if I hadn’t screwed up. I even tried to restore it myself but the only way I could do it is if I cut his eye socket open and hallowed out the flesh inside. I shuddered at the thought.

“I’m fine,” hugging them tighter. “What about you Rose, how are you feeling?” I asked, nuzzling her cheek.

“I’m okay.” She answered awkwardly, looking at my parents over my shoulder. “Why do they keep looking at me like that?” she whispered. Once my parents noticed Rose they had been watching her with happy expressions. But they hadn’t said more than five words to her, like they were shy or something.

“That is a good question.” I released Grover and pulled Rose off the couch. “These are my parents, and your grandparents.” I put Rose on the floor and she immediately hid behind my forelegs.

“It’s alright dear,” my mother took a step towards us and held out her hoof. “I’m your grandma.” Rose hesitated for moment before taking a cautious step towards her. I found it odd that she was being shy now but didn’t hesitate to greet them when we first arrived.

“I never had a grandma before…” my mother smiled and scooped Rose in to a hug. The filly burst into a fit of giggles and I felt tears building in my eyes again.

She’ll be happy here.

Maximum Level Reached.

Chapter 8: Going Platinum

“…I, as Master of this Guild, find you guilty of treason! You betrayed your brothers and sisters in shadows, and there is only the one punishment for it…”

“No! I don’t want to stay; I want to come with you!” Rose shrieked as she clung desperately to my foreleg. It all worked out so much better in my head. I’d explain to Rose that she had to stay in Fetlock for a few days while I finished up in Canterlot, she would be sad and a little hurt but in the end she would agree.

That wasn’t how it happened.

Rose reacted in much the same way that she had when that changeling had her cornered in Applewood. She had tears pouring from her eyes, she was shaking terribly and her face was fearful.

“Please don’t make me stay! I don’t know what I did wrong but I’m sorry! I love you mommy, please don’t leave me!” Grover, my parents and Quill watched with shocked expressions. I had expected her to be depressed and even a little scared, but her words cut my heart like a knife, almost entirely shattering my resolve.

“Rose… you didn’t do anything wrong!” I pulled her into my forelegs and hugged her tightly; tears building in my own eyes. “I just want you to be safe. I swear I’ll only be gone a few days, I’m coming back.” She sniffed loudly.

“But my old mommy and daddy didn’t!” that caught me off guard. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed my parents gasp. I had asked them to never talk about Applewood or what happened there; especially in front of Rose; but it was clear from the tone of Rose’s voice that she wasn’t sad, or angry. She was scared.

She’s was very scared; scared of the same thing happening to me. I dragged her across Equestria into the most dangerous city in the country, and she had almost been killed more than once. What if Grogar had hurt her? I thought for the umpteenth time since leaving Whitetail. What if the Nightstalkers got her? Or some assassin Shadowmark sent after me?

That was yet another thing weighing on my mind as I held Rose. I left Canterlot without telling Shadowmark in person; that alone would really piss him off. Not only that, Windsheer asked if I was going Platinum; basically calling me a traitor in front of everypony. No doubt that word would carry to Shadowmark, and I had no doubt that he would have Rose harmed, or even killed, just to hurt me. But as I held Rose in my forelegs, I knew that now wasn’t the time for silence.

“Rose,” I told her sternly, (though not unkindly) looking her straight in her big, blue eyes. “I will come back. I’ll be two, or three days at the most. I just don’t want Celestia to take you. If it looks like it will take any longer than three days, I’ll come back early. I swear I’m coming back.” She sniffed and wiped some of the tears from her check.

“D-do you promise?”

“Promise.” I nodded firmly and hugged her closer to my breast. It still took another ten minutes to get Rose to stop crying, but at last she seemed to understand, believing in my word that I wasn’t going away forever.

Not that I had much choice in the matter if fate decided to be a dick.

We spent three days at my parents, and I have to admit, I didn’t want to go. Three days of relaxation; playing with Rose, showing her how to pick locks around the house (something my parents would not have been happy with if they found out) and for the first time in a very long time; I put a quill to paper. Not that I hadn’t used a quill in years, I just hadn’t written anything since leaving home. My parents had given Quill some scrolls, a few quills and some ink once they found out she liked to write poetry. We spent the first night huddled around the fire, listening to an epic poem that Quill just seemed to pull out of nowhere, and seeing the way she enjoyed simply reciting them to us inspired me to pick up a pen.

I hadn’t written much, mostly just rewriting what Grover had told me about Griffonstone (and what I found out about Griffonstone from his journals). Still, it made me feel…normal. No, that’s not the word. It made me feel…

Right.

With a final ‘I love you’ and a hug I parted from Rose, Grover following closely behind. Quill and her kids would be staying with Rose and my parents for the time being and for the first time in my life I planned on sharing my wealth. After everything that happened to them, I decided that I would give them whatever gold I got from Celestia. If she didn’t just have me arrested that is.

Grover stopped by Rose before we left and scooped the filly into a rough embrace. “Stay out of trouble Rose, you hear me?” she nodded and hugged him tightly.

“I love you Mister Grover.” Grover blushed brightly under his feathers. “Please take care of my mommy.” She kissed him on the cheek and he set her down gently.

“D-don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe.” Rose smiled warmly, her eyes still showing apprehension and fear. But with my parents staying close to her side and my promise of return fresh in her mind, she didn’t try to stop or follow us as we left Fetlock.

                         **********************

“Finally.” The great white city of Canterlot loomed before us. Grover flapped his wings hard, keeping both of us airborne as we slowly made our way towards the castle. And I have to say, I was rather proud of myself that I hadn’t vomited once on the flight. Not that my stomach hadn’t tried, but if anything that makes the small victory all the sweeter.

Grover and I hadn’t talked much at all on the flight or even during our stay at my parent’s. Soon after waking he asked what had happened in Whitetail. Begrudgingly, I told him how his fight with Grogar ended, and while I made sure to emphasize how brave and strong he had been, he only seemed to register one thing.

He lost.

I had seen Grover sad, angry and even happy once or twice. But the most powerful emotion I had ever seen him display was his self-loathing. I had first seen this in Whitetail’s treasury, lamenting having killed his own Brother and again when he was so desperate to face Grogar. But when I told him how easily he had been beaten, he seemed to not only find it shocking, he found it unacceptable. He berated himself openly for hours, and only fell silent when he noticed that he was upsetting Rose, though I still think he was yelling at himself mentally. To Grover, the worst possible thing was failure.

At least he can tell Celestia that we were successful.

I had never seen Canterlot from the sky before. Grover wasn’t flying very high over the street, maybe twenty feet, but it still made the city look drastically different. The ponies seemed smaller and they rarely noticed us. But I noticed them. I saw the mare that I’d asked what was going on at the palace the day I left. I saw the guard that I tried to bribe with sex to get out of prison walking by a café. I even noticed Windsheer and Sunshine, sitting at the same café that the guard was at. They looked up and their eyes widened at the sight of me. I guess they didn’t think I was coming back. I gave a weak little wave.

Grover landed stiffly at the doors to the palace less than a minute later. The guards around us stared in shock at his missing eye, and the several new scars adorning his unarmored body. I had tried to repair his armor. I tried very hard, but Grogar’s magic had made the damage irreversible. The same went for Grover’s sword, which I was dismayed to learn, had originally belonged to Gilgamesh. Upon leaving the arena I retrieved his blade, as was my right as champion of our contest. It didn't feel right leaving it to Gunther, or any other griffon that decided they wanted a new sword. His words echoed through my mind even as we walked through the throne room doors. Inside, Princess Celestia of Equestria and her bitch niece stood by the throne, a surprised look on Ambrosia’s face. Celestia herself looked entirely calm. Almost eerily calm.

“I see that I have underestimated you Silver Scroll.” She stated, striding towards us. “I should have thought that the spell I placed on you would compromise your ability to get into Whitetail undetected. I am impressed that you simply disabled it yourself instead of trying to contact me.” Funny enough, that was the excuse I was planning on giving her when she asked why I disabled her spell. Huh. Hindsight is twenty twenty…kinda?

“It’s done Celestia.” I told her simply, depositing the missives and bag of magical scrolls on the throne room floor directly in front of her. “Here’s the scrolls and the missives.” She floated them to eye level and expected each one before returning them to their bags and floating them to Ambrosia.

“I see that their magic has touched you.” She observed, looking at me critically. “I had felt Grogar’s rage from here. It seems that the two of you gave him quite the…” she topped mid-sentence at the sight of Grover. New skin having grown over his empty eye socket and the wicked scars covering his body where Grogar’s magic had touched him seemed to shock her. Her eyes widened, but only for a moment.

“Oh Grover, you need to stop pushing yourself so hard.” She said, sounding concern…wait. I thought. It was subtle, very subtle, but there was a change in her tone. I thought I was just imagining it at the time, but it sounded like she was feigning concern, instead of actually being concerned.

“It is nothing.” He said dismissively. Celestia opened her muzzle to argue but I cut her off.

“Listen, I have places to be. I’d like my payment.” Ambrosia’s eyes narrowed and she scowled darkly at me, but Celestia seemed unfazed.

“Done.” She said simply, floating over a massive bag of golden bits. A quick spell told me the count was fifty thousand even. “the sum that was agreed upon and your pardon.” She then floated a single scroll over to me. I unfurled it and read it.

By order of her Royal Highness Princess Celestia of Equestria, the convicted thief by the name of Silver Scroll is officially pardoned for all crimes, thanks to her service to the kingdom.

There was a royal seal at the bottom of the parchment. It was a simple message, but it spoke volumes. I’m really free. Wanting to stay in Celestia’s company for as little time as possible, I nodded to her then turned to Grover. Much to the Princesses surprise, I threw my forelegs around him and hugged him tightly. “Stay safe damn it. Please stay safe.” the little pony in my head scowled darkly. Oh what do you want!? Rose isn’t even here! After a moment’s hesitation, casting a glance at Princess Celestia, Grover returned my hug. “Thanks for everything.” I released him and he shrugged.

“It was nothing, I was just doing my job.” I felt tears starting to build up my eyes, so with a final quiet goodbye I placed my gold and pardon into my bags and left the throne room; closing the doors behind me. I felt bad for making my goodbye so short, but it was just like ripping off a leech. The sooner you did it, the better you felt.

Except I didn’t feel better. My mind flashed with images of Grover fighting Legionnaires on a massive battlefield around Arcadia. He held only one sword and he was slower than before, soon he collected dozens of minor wounds that stopped him from fighting. A moment later, he hit the ground bleeding and torn with more wounds than I thought anypony could suffer without dying, but Grover held on. He held on until Grogar himself found him, raised his staff once more and brought it down on my friend.

I burst out sobbing and galloped into the castle gardens, weaving between the statues until running head first into the Discord statue.

After my head stopped spinning I sat down on my haunches and cried as quietly as I could. But with nopony (or griffon) around, I didn’t know why I was bothering to keep quiet. And with that realization, I openly sobbed at the foot of the statue. After everything we’d done together, it was over. I had been more subtle about it on our trip to Canterlot, but I still wanted him to come with Rose and I. I even suggested that we come with him to Griffonstone, but he refused. He had a wife and children of his own and they were his number one priority. Before Rose I would have scoffed at the idea, but after being with her, comforting her, letting her sleep in my bed, getting to know her and…getting to love her, I understood why he chose them over me. But that didn’t stop the little pony in my head from crying her eyes out whenever I thought about it.

You should really tell her to shut it, I can’t stand crying. It’s so boring.

I blinked and raising my head, looked around the garden. But nopony was there.

Of course there’s nopony. Damn it Silver Scroll you’re supposed to be smart!

Once more I looked around the clearing in confusion, only for the voice to return sounding extremely irritated.

For fuck’s sake you stupid mare! I’m right in front of you!!! I looked forward to see only the Discord statue. Is the statue talking to me? I thought, beginning to think I’d finally lost it.

Not yet my dear, but you’re getting there. I shrieked (feeling extremely thankful that nopony was there to witness me doing so) and backpedaled away from the statue, only for the voice to scold me. Really? That is so rude, I just thought you’d like to know why your body has changed, but if you don’t want to know… my fear melted away almost instantly, being replaced by a burning curiosity.

“What do you know about it?” I asked quickly, keeping in a gallop ready stance just in case.

Oh my dear Silver Scroll you are just too adorable. I know everything about the Elder Scrolls and their effects.

“How?” I asked, feeling the last of my fear draining away. It was clear that he wasn’t free. He was still trapped, (would have been nice to know that he was there in the first place but what can you do?) and he didn’t seem to be able to harm me, though, I didn’t think he’d even tried. Discord laughed heartily at my words.

Because I made them you stupid tart. The Elder Scrolls are mine. They have always been mine. Celestia just wants to use them for war, not that I really intended for them to be used for anything in specific, but the thing that matters is that they are mine! I scowled at the statue, watching it (him?) suspiciously.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I asked coyly, adjusting my tone so it had just enough interest as caution. The statue was silent for a moment before answering.

I take it back, you are good. I admit, despite the situation I felt my ego inflate a little. If you want to know the whole story I suggest you take a seat, this may take a while. On one hoof, I really wanted to get back to Fetlock. To get back to Rose. But my curiosity was demanding that I stayed. With only a moment’s hesitation I sat down near the statue.

Very good, I knew I liked you for some reason. Now, as for my Scrolls. Before Sun Butt and Lulu imprisoned me in this stony prison I was having the most wonderful time. Equestria was quite perfect in its chaotic state, and I felt content. Still, I could only cause so much chaos without fiddling with free will and to be honest, I try to save that as a last resort. As Fluttershy will find out…

“What?” I asked, my ears dropping. Who and or what is a ‘Fluttershy?’

Never you mind. Anyway, I was bored one day and decided to throw all the knowledge in the universe into a bunch of scrolls I was saving for a midnight snack. Then I spread those scrolls around Equestria and enjoyed quite a show while ponies fought over them, abused their power and overall just had a fantastic time. It was quite entertaining until Celestia and Luna stuck me in this statue, and then stuck me in this garden where ponies goggle at me and birds shit on my head. It’s a real sham how those mares turned out; I should have just left them as unicorns.

Hubbazawa? It felt like my brain broke a little.

That’s a funny word; I’ll have to add that to my lexicon. Oh wait, did you not know that Celestia and Luna were unicorns? He asked condescendingly. Quite the sordid affair. Poor little Luna was sick and Celestia desperately wanted to save her, so she came to me. It had taken all of two minutes of conversation to get a major headache from listening to Discord. But if what he said was true…

Oh it’s true my little pony. I’ll keep it short for the sake of that nasty headache of yours (I mean really, complaining to the readers?) Celestia came to me, I saved her sister and in doing so I turned them both into alicorns.

“Why both of them?” I couldn’t help asking, and even though he was still a statue (or he was just messing with me) I could feel a cold glare emanating from him.

I am Discord! Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony! If the name doesn’t tell you, then I will. I can be a bit random at times. I had to forcibly hold in a chuckle.

Now that the history lesson is over let me tell you about my scroll. You read the Elder Scroll of Magic; contained within is all knowledge of magic in the world, and when you read it, or rather just looked at it, all that knowledge flooded into that adorable little pony body of yours. In a fraction of a second you have become the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. Good job! I rolled my eyes and mulled over what he had said. What he said about the princesses surprised me, but not as much as it would have when I was younger. I always thought it was a little weird that Celestia was the only alicorn in Equestria. Then there was the Elder Scroll, if what Discrod was saying was true…

Oh dear. The spirit said, snapping me out of my reverie. It appears that our chat must end my dear. I have a few lines of dialogue to write for a future event. I suggest you go into the castle along the eastern corridor and wait behind the statue of Star Swirl the Bearded…oh. I miss that stallion! His beard was so wonderfully chaotic! Anywho, goodbye.

And with that the voice of Discord was gone. It was the strangest conversation I had ever had in my life to say the least, but what he said at the end bothered me. Go into the castle along the eastern corridor and wait behind the Star Swirl statue? I had first dismissed this as idiocy, just some crazy thing he said to bother me. But just as my curiosity prompted me to sit and listen to Discord’s ramblings, it was prompting, no, demanding that I followed his instructions.

So I did.

I snuck back into the castle under my cloaking spell and followed the eastern corridor to the Star Swirl statue. It was easy, most of the guards were outside or in the city; making the castle seem oddly quiet. At the very least I thought I’d see a servant or two.

Just moments after slipping behind the Star Swirl statue the magnificent form of Princess Celestia came walking down the hall, deep in conversation with that bitch Ambrosia.

“Are you sure it’s worth it?” the orange maned alicorn asked, sounding…wow! She sounded kind of guilty. “He lost an eye! Maybe we shouldn’t be using him anymore.” I felt an unholy rage build within me. They were talking about Grover, they had to be, and from the sound of it Celestia wanted him to do something so dangerous that even Ambrosia thought it wasn’t worth the cost.

“He is the most powerful weapon I have. I will see if I can restore his eye, but if cannot be done he will need to return to the front without it.” She said, shifting her hooves as the two came to a stop right in front of me. “I do not like it, but I will do what I must to protect my ponies, and you need to do the same.” Ambrosia looked shameful. Glancing between her hooves she muttered,

“But what if we win and he finds out we can’t help him?” I felt my heart drop like a rock. Can’t help...? Celestia’s expression turned somber.

“I will do what I must. The ponies of Equestria are my concern, not the griffons. If we lose this war, Grogar will conquer the griffons as well. Our victory will just have to be enough for Grover.” Her answer had finality to it, as if no further discussion would be tolerated. Ambrosia, after a few moments of doubt, nodded slightly, and then turned to continue down the hall. As Celestia began to walk by I noticed the saddlebags floating beside her. She isn’t going to help him!!! I felt anger and hatred unlike I ever had before. After everything that he did for her, after everything that he sacrificed, Celestia, apparently the kindest pony in the world, was going to let him either die fighting her war or deny him the help she promised once they won. I used my magic to float all the scrolls out of the bags and replace them with blank rolls of parchment.

When Celestia was a good distance away, I left out from behind the statue and trotted down the hall at a brisk pace.

As soon as I tell Grover about this he’ll have to come with me. Fuck it! I’ll find a way to help the griffons if it’s the last thing I do!

“Silver Scroll.” Somepony hit me hard in the gut and clamped a brace to my head. Oh fuck me galloping!!!

                     *************************

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but it couldn’t have been that long. I didn’t feel the need to relieve myself and despite being chained to the floor with an anti-magic brace strapped to my horn I was fairly comfortable. It took me a minute or two for my eyes to adjust to the light in the room; which I recognized as the Cistern. The heart of the Guild. Dozens of ponies in the standard black Guild armor were sitting in the rows of seats that circled the walls of the Cistern and they were watching the center of the room with expressions ranging from outrage to delight.

The center of the room was dominated by a medium sized table that normally held scrolls and books. Now however it held the beaten and abused form of Brutus. The large earth pony stallion was strapped to the table with thin wire that cut into his skin. He was covered from head to hoof in bruises, cuts and small burns and his head was inside of a blacksmith’s vice. Standing around him were three ponies. Two mares and a stallion. The stallion’s dark gray coat blended into the shadows of the room, but his glowing golden eyes betrayed his identity. His bat wings shuffled in agitation as he stared down Brutus, who stared back, his expression as stoic as a special griffon I knew.

“I don’t want to hurt you Brutus,” the slimy, charismatic voice of Shadowmark echoed softly throughout the room. His voice was calm, even. But his face was contorted in rage and every time his wings shifted the dagger like black blades sparked against each other. “just tell me where she is and I’ll forgive your treachery.” In response Brutus spit in his face.

“Fuck you…” he said weakly. If Shadowmark looked angry before, it was nothing compared to the fury that now dominated his features.

“Fuck me? Fuck me!? Fuck me, you mother fucker, fuck my mother!!!!” he foamed at the mouth as he tightened the vice until Brutus cried out in pain. One of his eyeballs exploded into red and pink paste that splattered onto the faces of Shadowmark and the mares near him. The mares cried out in disgust while Shadowmark smiled and licked a piece of flesh into his mouth.

“Tell me where the cunt is!!!” Shadowmark snarled, only for Brutus to once more spit in his face and this time, Shadowmark had enough. He jumped into the air, unfurled both of his wings and impaled Brutus’s chest. The blades struck him right in the heart and he died instantly.

“Brutus!” I cried and the brutal thestral that was the master of the Guild of Thieves turned around.

“Hello, Silver Scroll.” He strolled over to me, hooked one of his wing blades into the brace on my head and lifted me off the floor like I weighed no more than a kitten. “I dare say you slept through most of our fun, how about I bring you up to speed, shall I?”

With a flourish he spun and bucked me in the chest, launching me across the room until my chains forced me to slam into the stone floor. Some of the ponies around us gasped, while others cheered. Much to my surprise though Sunshine galloped to my side, with a worried expression on her muzzle.

“Guildmaster…” she was cut off by three lightning fast bucks to the chest and face. Sunshine crumbled to the floor of the cistern, whimpering in pain as Shadowmark stepped on her like a doormat.

“So, my dear Silver Scroll, how are you feeling? Are you thirsty? Hungry perhaps? Do you need to use the latrine?” his voice was calm, even pleasant. With an apprehensive look at Sunshine and her battered form, I felt myself bristle. In response, Shadowmark looked at me and smiled brightly.

Even Grogar hadn’t been this terrifying.

“Let’s get down to business,” he said lifting me off the floor again. “Silver Scroll, you are hereby charged with treason against the Guild. You turned against your brothers and sisters in shadows, do you deny it?” I stammered for a second before finding my voice.

“Yes, I deny it! I didn’t betray anypony!”

“Is that so? For starters, you left the city without informing me of your mission. You instead delegated those two to inform my second in command.” He hissed, pointing at Windsheer, holding Sunshine in his forelegs. “Secondly, you lied about the sum in an attempt to steal the Guild’s due percentage.” One of the mares brought my bags over and dumped the massive sack of gold on the floor by Shadowmark.

“That’s not true! It was five thousand, but she offered a bonus if I could cause some extra mayhem out west. I just didn’t want to set you up for a disappointment if I failed the extra objectives, and you would have been pleasantly surprised if I came back with more than expected anyway.” I am good. Almost all of the ponies in the room nodded and smiled, clearly accepting my excuse. Even Shadowmark seemed to at least think about it.

“You are truly charismatic my dear, but that won’t work on me. You lied and I know it and only my word matters!” he said the last few words to the room, causing everypony to wince and bow their heads. “Besides, even if you hadn’t done this, your treason still stands. You conspired with Platinum to remove me from my position and destroy the Guild!!!” I gasped, along with everypony else. P-P-P-Platinum is back..?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I said, beginning to shake. If she’s really back…or in the Guild!? “I swear, I’m not helping her. I didn’t even know she was here, what happened?!”

“What happened?” he grinned maniacally at me, bearing his wicked looking fangs. “Dear Miss Platinum strolled into our tavern three days ago, and murdered a dozen of our compatriots. Then her Nightingales stormed the sewers and went on a killing spree. Your treachery led to the deaths of nearly a hundred of my ponies.” A hundred…a whole hundred!!! The Guild had around a hundred and fifty members at its largest. There must have been some serious fighting in the tunnels.

“A-a hundred? Who died!” I looked around the room and saw plenty of familiar faces, but with the prevailing darkness I couldn’t make them all out.

“Besides Brutus here? Just about everypony and it’s entirely your fault!” before I could defend myself further a massive rumble shook the Guild, causing the walls of the Cistern to crack in places. His expression unchanged, Shadowmark turned to the mares next to him and ordered them to check the eastern corridor.

“Is it time for me to decide your sentence Silver Scroll.” He said wickedly as the mares climbed the stairs to the rows of seats overlooking the chamber, and then proceeded to leave through a large wooden door. I tried to argue but he smacked me hard across the muzzle.

“Silence!! as Master of this Guild, find you guilty of treason! You betrayed your brothers and sisters in shadows, and there is only the one punishment for it…death!” he raised his wings and I felt like I’d been pulled back in time.

I was a lot younger, and extremely nervous. I stood in the Cistern with a few other new recruits as Shadowmark circled us, his blades raised. “Defend yourselves!” he dashed forward and swept his wings at the daggers we held in our teeth, (Shadowmark insisted we didn’t use magic.) knocking our blades away in a fraction of a second and knocking us onto our backs.

“If I were your enemy, you’d all be dead!!!”

That was it, I was finished. I personally gave myself better odds of surviving a fight against Celestia. At that moment I felt a strange feeling. It wasn’t sadness or anger, denial or even fear. I felt…at peace, I suppose. I mean, I had a pretty good run, and Rose was safe…and then I felt my heart drop. Rose…I’m so sorry I broke my promise.

I felt tears build in my eyes as Shadowmark leveled his wings at my neck…

and that’s when everything went to hell.

The door that the two mares left through exploded in a ball of green fire, sending shards of wood across the room, followed closely by the burning remains of the mares. Shadowmark scowled as he dropped me to the floor.

“I’ll deal with you later. Besides,” he came close to me and ran his tongue up the side of my neck. “you’re so much prettier now. It would be a waste not to sample you before your execution.” I shivered as Shadowmark turned towards the now open doorway. Several ponies in armor almost identical to the Guild’s (except that it was solid white) rushed into the room holding daggers and other small weapons.

The Guild responded to these attackers in three different ways. Some yelled battle cries and charged into the fight, some took to the shadows, trying to hide and some defected outright and turned on Shadwomark’s ponies. In seconds, the Cistern turned into a war zone and not lie the warzone in the west, where there were battle lines and commanders. It was everypony for themself. Shadowmark’s ponies slashed out against the Nightingale invaders with speed and precision, but the Nightingales were a cut above the remaining Guild ponies. They were outnumbered, but they were faster and their strikes were more powerful. In minutes, the Nightingales either killed or subdued Shadowmark’s fighters.

Shadowmark himself just stood by and watched as more and more of his fighters fell, watching with a bemused expression. The only ponies who weren’t involved in the fighting were Sunshine and Windsheer, who were sitting near me; Windsheer was pouring a potion down her throat.

“You’ll be okay Sunshine, I promise.”  After he spoke the room went quiet, everypony who was still fighting stood completely still as a mare in Nightingale armor landed in front of Shadowmark with a flourish of her bat wings.

“Platinum…” I whispered, not wanting to be noticed. Shadowmark regarded her coldly, his eyes looking her over. She looked nothing like the other bat pony in the room. He coat, mane and tail were all the same flowing gold, with silvery highlights in her hair. Her eyes were also gold, only a slightly darker color. Just like Shadowmark, she had a wicked looking blade on the tip of each wing, except hers were made from solid gold.

“Brother.” She said coldly. It took every ounce of will I had not to gasp.

“Sister.” The two began to circle each other while the Guild ponies and Nightingales took various seats in the rows above. It was nothing that they were just killing each other moments before; now there a real fight was about to take place.

As the two circled one another, bearing their fangs and wings threateningly, I was strongly reminded of Grover and Grogar. Only this time, there was no way it would end so one sided.

Shadowmark lunged with a flap of his wings and struck out at Platinum’s side faster than I could follow. Either one of them could have stood blade to blade with Grover at his peak, and very suddenly, a new thought came to mind. Everypony’s watching these two go at it. I smiled and waved my hoof in front of Windsheer.

“Windsheer! Get this thing off me and we’ll get out of here.” I whispered. He looked skeptical at first, but with a stroke on the cheek from Sunshine he nodded. The two of them quietly made their way towards me and began to undo my shackles.

Meanwhile, Shadowmark and Platinum hissed and growled at each other in rage, the sparking of their knives lighting up the room like a crackling fire. Sunshine finished the shackles on my forelegs and proceeded to remove the brace from my head while Windsheer struggled with the shackles on my hind legs. He wasn’t as good as Sunshine.

“Enough!” Shadowmark yelled out before spinning and bucking Platinum in the chest. She was knocked back several feet, panting heavily from the exertion and the pain in her breast. “I’ve had enough of this, kill her!” several ponies got up from their seats only for the Nightingales to block them. Just when I thought the whole room would erupt into fighting again a door on the bottom floor of the Cistern was thrown open. A half dozen ponies in Guild and Nightingale armor burst in then slammed the door shut.

“BAR THE FUCKING DOOR!”  Both groups pressed themselves against the door and a second later something slammed into it with enough force to knock a couple of them onto the floor.

“What’s going on?!”

“What’s going on?!” Shadowmark and Platinum asked their respective fighters. Both groups had more interest in keeping the door shut than answering, but one of the ponies that was knocked off the door, a mare in Nightingale garb, answered for them all.

“We don’t know! We were fighting in the western tunnels when some psychotic fucking griffon broke through the doors and started tearing the place up. He killed everypony except us!”  the eyes of both thestrals widened.

“There’s only six of you!” platinum almost shrieked. (I noticed a smirk from Shadowmark) “There were twenty of you in those tunnels, without my brother’s ponies! How could a single griffon possibly kill so many of you?” I couldn’t help it; I busted up laughing as soon as the brace was off my head. I got to my hooves and shrugged the chains away.

Shadowmark and Platinum stared at me in confusion. “Just what is so funny?” Shadowmark said threateningly.

“Oh nothing,” I said as sarcastically as I could muster staring down those blades. “It’s nothing really. Just that the griffon that happens to be tearing his way through that door happens to be a friend of mine.” Platinum’s jaw dropped and with a cautious look at her brother, she waved a hoof for her Nightingales to come with her. Two ponies detached themselves from the door leaving only two ponies holding it shut.

“To the shadows!” She cried, and all of the Nightingales disappeared. Shadowmark smirked.

“Coward!” he turned to the door and told the bucks holding it to move.

“Are you crazy!? He’ll kill us OW!” a very familiar blade pierced the door and cut the buck’s ear in half.

“Here’s Grover!!!” with one final thrust the door was blasted off its hinges, crushing the Guild ponies beneath it. Grover landed on the door (and the ponies groaning beneath it) with murder in his eye. “Where is she!!?” he held his sword in his right talons and a royal guard sword in his other. He was dressed in simple light weight armor that reminded me of Royal scouts. His eye fell upon me and instead of filling with happiness or relief as I thought it would, it filled with pure rage.

“YOU COWARDLY TREACHEROUS SNEAK THIEF!!!” he rushed towards me and wrapped his left claws around my neck. “After everything I’ve done you stole the scrolls?! How could you?! “

“Grover…I need to tell you something, please listen…” I said, fighting for breath.

“Well, well, well.” Shadowmark began sarcastically. “A friend of yours eh?” he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, what does matter is that I’ve found an ally.” Grover’s eye widened and he dropped me on the floor, turning to Shadowmark he growled.

“And just what does that mean you freakish creature?”

“It is simple. I would love nothing more than to kill Silver Scroll myself,” he pointed at me. “but it seems you have a vested interest in doing it yourself. I’ll make you a deal, help me eliminate my sister and her bothersome minions and not only will Silver Scroll be yours, but all the gold in that bag as well.” He finished by pointing at my gold on the floor. Grover stared at Shadowmark for a moment or two, but it felt like an eternity.

“And what, pray tell, would stop me from just killing you all and taking her myself?” the drake said, low and dangerously. For the first time in my life, I saw Shadowmark surprised.

“How dare you! I will…” faster than I thought possible Grover closed the distance between them and slashed the thestral across the face with his talons. Knocking him off his hooves and sending him flying several feet. Shadowmark landed nimbly on his hooves, hissing as blood poured from four long gashes on the right side of his face. “Oh it, is, on!” he growled and charged Grover, his wings outstretched. Just as he had minutes earlier with his sister, Shadowmark began striking out with speed and ferocity that I had only seen in Grover.

Except when Shadowmark fought Platinum, the two seemed equally matched. Now it was the opposite. Grover was faster and more skilled than Shadowmark, and Shadowmark knew it.

“Guild! To me!” to their credit, it took some serious loyalty and courage for the three ponies that actually tried to help Shadowmark fight Grover. But it made no difference. In second Grover had killed two and injured the third. Even with a single eye, Grover was still as deadly as ever.

Shadowmark wasn’t done however. He fought harder and harder, and focused more on avoiding Grover’s strikes than deflected them. Even with the adjustment in his fighting technique Shadowmark just couldn’t overcome Grover. I dared to look around the room and saw that all the remaining ponies, Nightingale or otherwise, were watching Shadowmark begin to falter with varying degrees of glee.

Apparently murdering your own ponies doesn’t earn you loyalty.

I even saw Platinum watching her brother being forced towards the wall with a strange expression. I couldn’t quite place what it was.

With one final burst of strength Grover caught each of Shadowmark’s blades on his own then headbutted the master of the Guild right in the muzzle. His muzzle broke with a sickening crack and he crumbled to the ground. With a final flourish Grover brought both his blades down onShadowmark…only to stop mere inches from his neck.

After a moment, Shadowmark looked up at Grover with a shocked expression. Then the griffon turned his gaze from his opponent and looked at the ponies around him. Most were cheering and chanting ‘KILL HIM!’ over and over. Grover took a deep breath, sheathed his blades then bared his talons at the thestral. Shadowmark flinched but Grover didn’t touch him. He simply removed the blades from his wings then stepped away.

The ponies around us gasped in shock, they had been expecting a bloody and violent end to Shadowmark and his lunacy. But Grover, in a rare instance, gave mercy to a foe. To anypony that didn’t know Grover like I did, this would confuse them. But even though I was hoping he’d cut Shadowmark’s head off, I couldn’t help but feel immense joy that he hadn’t. my mind flooded with various journal entries.

I remember the feeling as my blade pierced his torso. And I remember the cheers. Every griffon watching the match cheered for me. My victory.

Grover had already killed someone in cold blood, with onlookers who cheered him on and he didn’t want to repeat it.

I galloped forward and wrapped Grover in a tight hug. “Oh Grover, you were great!” he pushed me off him and slapped me across the face. Not very hard, but it still hurt.

“Where are the scrolls?” he scowled darkly, and I watched as Platinum flew down from the stands and landed by her brother.

“Grover! I didn’t steal them for money, I swear! Celestia is lying to you, she doesn’t care about Griffonstone she just wants to win the war!” Grover looked at me in disbelief.

“That’s a lie!! I know that you’re a selfish pony but I never thought you would lie about that to get me to come with you. Now give me the scrolls!” he shouted, holding out his talons. With a shriek Platinum stabbed her wings into Shadowmark’s chest. The bat pony stallion jumped up and sank his fangs into her shoulder. Grover turned flew over to them and pulled Shadowmark off her.

“I’ll see…you all in Tarterus…” with those last scornful words, Shadowmark, one of the deadliest warriors in Equestria, drew his last breath. Platinum straightened up, tears in her eyes as she strode over to Grover.

“Thank you.” Grover blinked in confusion at her words.

“For what?” he asked, but I thought I knew what she meant.

“For showing my brother mercy. I don’t think I would have if I were in your place, and that has given some things to think about.” She used her teeth to pull the blades off her own wings, and then presented them to Grover. “My father made these blades for me when we were young. I want you to have them.” Grover took the golden daggers in his claws, then he took Shadowmark’s blades and presented them to her.

“When I was young, I wielded my own brother’s blade. Perhaps you should do the same.” Though it kind of bothered me that Grover was being so pleasant with her, the gesture was very kind. Platinum took the blades and strapped them to her wings before turning to the room and addressing the survivors.

“The pretender is dead and the Guild reunited! We got work to do, chop chop! And somepony get Silver Scroll’s things now!” everypony, Nightingale or otherwise, followed her instructions without question.

Grover turned back to me and held scowled, but before he could speak, I touched the tip of my horn to his forehead and used my magic to force my memory of Celestia and Ambrosia into his mind. Grover’s eye glowed white for nearly a full minute as he experienced the memory first hoof. During this time Sunshine brought my bags to me, being careful to stay out of reach of Grover. I looked down at the blades still grasped in his talons and I got an idea. I took them, and after a moment of searching through his pockets I pulled out the hilt of his broken sword.

“What are you doing?” Platinum asked with a curious look.

“Paying back my friend.” My horn glowed with energy and my eyes turned sold white as my magic flowed into her daggers and then into the hilt of Grover’s broke sword. The three items melted into a blob of metal in the air before reforming into a perfect sword. The hilt was steel, while the blade was solid gold. It was even the same length and thickness as it was before Grogar shattered it.

Grover snapped out of the memory and with almost unholy strength he roared at the top of his lungs. Everypony in the Cistern either dropped what they were doing and ducked into the shadows or simply ran out of the room in terror. Even Platinum flew up against the ceiling and held onto a support beam.

“THAT DOUBLE CROSSING WRETCH!!! I’LL KILL HER, I’LL KILL THEM ALL!” at the sight of me shaking like a leaf and holding the new sword in the air next to me he calmed down enough to stop yelling.

“I know it can’t replace your brother’s sword entirely but it’s still got the hilt…” he took the new blade in his claws and smiled.

“Perfect to remove Celestia’s head.” He said darkly, making everypony in the room (including myself) gasp.

“Grover, you can’t fight Celestia! It will be…” I was going to say ‘Grogar all over again’ but a new thought crossed my mind. what if he didn’t need to kill her? Just subdue her, or force her to capitulate? When I voiced my thoughts Grover scowled darkly.

“It would be harder to make her give up then it would be to simply kill her.” I shook my head and went to my saddlebags. I looked through the various scrolls until I found one with a single blade etched into the clasp.

“Grover, you can’t beat her the way you are now, but if you promise me that you won’t kill her, I think I can make you stronger.” He looked at the scroll in confusion, but it only lasted a fraction of a second. Personally, I didn’t care much about Celestia, if at all, but if Grover killed her, we’d have to fight our way out of Canterlot, then through half of Equestria before we got away.

In a single fluent motion he took the scroll from my grasp, slowly undid the string keeping it shut, then unfurled it.

The next thing I knew, Grover was screaming.

Maximum Level Reached.

Quest Perk added: A friend in Mind: Look at that, the Lord of Chaos is watching over you, you gain an additional point of luck. Sometimes.

Chapter 9: Celestia

“…Grover! Grover, wake up! Damn it! Somepony get some healing potions…!”

This was by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. And if any of you have been paying any attention up to this point, then you should know how much of a feat that is. As Grover and I walked through the streets of Canterlot, I thought back to everything I’d done since coming here. And nothing. Nothing! Came close to what we were doing. Like I’ve said, I’ve done some stupid things.

But I’ve never attacked royalty.

We passed by many of the Royal Guard on our way to the palace. At the sight of me they scowled and raised weapons but a single look from my companion was enough to send them scurrying. The first time I saw Grover I thought he was intimidating, but that was nothing compared to how he looks now. He stood a clear six inches over me, his eye restored and glowing with anticipation. Every scar on his body had vanished, leaving untarnished coat and muscle behind. He wore no armor, only his blades belted to his waist.

We had walked all the way to the palace gate without anypony stopping us, but we were at the castle. The guards couldn't just run and hide. “Grover, why isn't she in chains..” the first guard asked a fraction of a second before Grover smacked him so hard that he fell to the ground unconscious.

The guards kept their distance after that.

The doors to the throne room opened silently as Grover pushed them inward. “Good work Grover,” Celestia, who was sitting on her throne like she was none the wiser to what we were doing, said as we entered. “You've brought her back.”

“Stop Celestia. I know the guards warned you.” Grover said coldly, his talons gripping the hilts of his swords as he stood on his hindlegs.

“Warned me of what?”

“Don't play cute Celestia. You betrayed me.” He said darkly, drawing each blade silently. There were more than a dozen guards at the entrance and more lining up behind them, so I summoned a shield and blocked the doors. I looked to my right and saw Princess Ambrosia unfurling her wings and her horn flaring with energy.

“How so?” Celestia asked, getting to her hooves and walking towards Grover. “What has the thief told you that made you so sure?”

“I saw you! You said you wouldn't help me, you told that one you couldn't!” he pointed a blade at Ambrosia, who flinched and quickly backed away. Though she still kept her eyes locked on me.

“Don't you think she could have fabricated such a memory? Perhaps to trick you into siding with her and helping her escape? You have traveled with her for some time. I'm sure you noticed her silver tongue.” she said.

“If I wanted to escape I wouldn't be here!” I shouted. This is really, really stupid! I should have bailed when I had the chance. But there was no going back. Grover stood very still and watched her for a good while. After nearly five minutes had passed Celestia smiled knowingly and was about to speak when Grover said the eight words that changed our lives forever.

“I didn't say she showed me a memory.” Celestia eyes widened as Grover lunged towards her, murder in his eyes. Her horn glowed bright gold and a powerful beam of energy shot right at Grover. Princess Ambrosia charged me and tried to blast me with her magic. I countered with my own and watched as our two beams of energy merged and formed into a single sphere between us. I had never been in a duel before and she was damn strong, but I wasn't about to let her take me out so quick. If she and Celestia both fought Grover he wouldn't stand a chance. I shook my head and focused on my foe. More accurately, I focused on how much I hated her.

I poured every ounce of energy I could into my attack and grinned as the sphere shot from between us, struck Ambrosia in the chest and sent her flying into the air. I chanced a look at Grover and watched in amazement as he deflected Celestia's magic with his golden sword. Thank you Platinum! As I pressed the attack on Ambrosia Grover showed once again that his swordsgriffonship was unmatched by anypony. After deflecting or dodging a dozen blasts from Celestia he got close enough to her that she created a bladed staff made of pure energy to block his blows. It's a good thing we were in the throne room. If Ambrosia and Celestia could fly they could leave me in the dust.

Or could they?

Ambrosia flared her wings and blew gusts of wind at me. I thought about for a fraction of a second before surrounding myself in my magic and floating myself off the ground and into the air after her. There wasn't much space to work with, but since I couldn't move any faster than a gallop it didn't really matter. That, and the fact that I was still keeping us all in the throne room with the shield, I wouldn't last very long anyway. If we don't finish this fast...

I never voiced my thoughts though. Ambrosia was no fighter and it didn't take much to get under her skin. “It's good to see that you have a whore's endurance along with her looks!” she screamed in rage and charged at me as I landed on the throne room floor, and just as I had done so many times before, I sat down, pressed my forelegs against her chest, leaned back and kicked her right between her flanks. She screamed hysterically as I threw her into the wall.

“Ambrosia!” Celestia cried, and the guards began to beat on the shield more violently than before. Not that it did anything. While Celestia blocked Grover thrusts and swipes I charged at her from behind and blasted her in the back with my magic. She cried out in pain just as the guards did and with three final movements Grover cut her staff in half, knocked her crown off her head and head butted her right in the muzzle.

Celestia crumbled to the floor in front of her throne and Grover wasted no time in shoving the tip of his new sword against her neck. “Do you have any last words traitor?” What!? This wasn't part of the plan!

“Grover! We agreed not to kill her, we're just here for answers remember?”

“She was willing to let my people suffer. their lives mean nothing to her..” he began, only for Celestia to cut him off.

“I did what I had to to protect my people!” she said, trying to staunch her bleeding muzzle.

“What about my people!!!” Grover screamed so loudly that it felt like my ears popped. “I fought for you! I bled for you! I left my home for you! I killed for you! And you won't help me! Have I not earned your appreciation? Your assistance?”

“My ponies come first! If it were a different time I might have been able help your people, but I can't! Please understand...” he moved the blade closer, its very contact cutting into her flesh.

“Oh I understand, but I do not condone.” he raised his sword and was about to bring it down when I stood between them.

“Grover stop!” Think fast Silver, think fast! “if you kill her every guard in Canterlot will come after us!”

“Then they will die just as surely as she will. If she couldn't kill us what makes you think they could?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing Grover, that's my point. They couldn't best you, or me. We'd waste through them. They wouldn't stand a chance and you know it! But they won't stop trying if you kill her,” I pointed at Celestia. “Is killing her worth killing all those ponies, who just want to defend their country? Their city? Their family? if you think that killing everypony in the Royal Guard is worth getting petty revenge then go ahead!” I stepped out from between them and pointed a hoof at Celestia. "Go ahead!" his eyes softened, and I knew at once that he was thinking about Sapphire and his cubs. Or maybe Rose and Quill and her kids.

“Fine.” he pulled his blade away from her and sheathed it. “But if I ever, ever see you again Celestia, I won't be so merciful.” he spit on the floor beside her and walked to the exit, where nearly fifty Royal Guards stood waiting for us, their weapons drawn.

“Let them go.” Celestia ordered as she got to her hooves. The guards yelled in protest but the Princess silenced them with a raised hoof. “If they ever set hoof or foot in the city again, you may kill them. But for now, let them go.” I never did find out why she did that. Then again I never did ask her. But I've always thought, and still do mind you, that she knew what she did was wrong. That she felt bad about how things turned out with Grover.

As we set out for Fetlock (me riding on Grover's back and trying my best not to look down) I could feel the winds of change blowing through. Things are going to get better.

Introduction

Once upon a time in the magical Land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest, used her unicorn powers to raise the Sun at dawn. The younger brought out the Moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects. All the different types of ponies. But as time went on the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth. But shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One faithful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her but the bitterness in the young ones heart transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness. Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom. The Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both Sun and Moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since...or that's how the story goes anyway. The truth, was far from it.

Yes Nightmare Moon was defeated by her sister. And the ponies of Equestria saw this as the defeat of a great evil. A victory for Equestria. Others however, didn't see Celestia's victory over Luna as a triumph. They saw it as an opportunity to strike. Celestia and Luna had ruled together for many, many years, and they had defeated mighty foes. The Spirit of Chaos, Discord. Sombra, the King of Shadows. And many other threats to ponykind. But Celestia always had Luna at her side. She hadn't defeated Discord alone, or Sombra all by herself. Without Luna Celestia was weakened. Equestria was weakened. And the Princess of the Sun knew it. It began slowly. A monster attack here. A usurper there. And Celestia showed no mercy. Slewing all who threatened her subjects. With Luna she had been strong enough to banish her foes, or merely imprison them. Without her, she couldn't risk them returning, and she couldn't protect the whole of Equestria alone anymore.

Thus the EUP Guard was formed. The Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi banded together under the banner of the Sun. and it seemed that Celestia's rule would be unchallenged. With a mighty army behind her who would dare threaten her subjects? Or the Kingdom they swore their lives to defend?

If history has taught us one thing its that there's always somepony who will challenge. Who will seek power that is not theirs.

And this time, it is no different.