It was the very next morning since the summit had taken place. The rulers were taking an extra day to relax and enjoy a bit of time to themselves before heading back to their own lands. However, the griffon empress seemed to be keeping a rather watchful eye on Zemrite in particular.She was just as curious as for her general, Ravenheart about what exactly laid behind that mask he seemed to always wear. She had no intentions of trying to get close to him after he had denied her advances from the day before, respecting his decision to keep his lovers to the princesses whom he had given his heart to solely. But she was extremely curious as to what he was capable of. She could clearly see that he was an archer of sorts by how he had his bow and quiver on his back. But what else was he hiding in that leather armor and under that cloak?

Today would be the day that both she and her general would find answers, one way or the other. But they’d have to be careful as to not rub the princesses the wrong way. Especially noticing how close he and both the sisters were. Seems like she knows about the two mares he was speaking about now after having watched him shower the two with his love and affection, the Empress was actually feeling a bit jealous that she didn’t have someone like him to give her that kind of attention. But that wasn’t the main concern for now. She sits in her room now, observing the grounds below from her balcony.

“Ravenheart.”

She called out to her general who was standing just feet from her. The other female griffon was quick to respond by kneeling beside her on one knee.

“I’d like you to keep a close watch on that..handsome mystery of a male for me. While I will not advance on him, I'd like to know what he is capable of. Before we leave, I’d like you to challenge him to a duel.”

“But mistress, he looks to be nothing more than an archer. I’d only need to dodge him enough to where he runs out of arrows and then it would be a rather unfair fight.”

She said puffing her chest out in pride thinking that it would all she’d need to do so in order to beat him and make him submit to her. The Empress, however, only smile with a low chuckle. It is wise to underestimate that...black wolf.”

She said finally putting a comparison to him, nodding a few times thinking it seemed very appropriate. Little did she know how right she was in saying just that. Ravenheart scoffed a bit at those words.

“Mistress, he is no wolf. If anything, he is more of a mutt than anything. I can tell without that mask of his, he is no pony nor a griffon. And he is most certainly NOT a wolf.”

See to griffons, wolves are their worthy counterparts in this realm. And she definitely felt like that Zemrite didn’t deserve to be called a wolf. The Empress just chuckled lightly and looked back to her thick headed general, a smile slowly forming across her beak.

“My, if you are so confident in your abilities, then by all means, put him in his place in a duel then. Show him that you are the dominant one in this land. But I warn you, if you do not do recon on his abilities, it will turn around to bite you in that lovely rear of yours, Ravenheart.”

“Tch, just watch me…”

She said as she stomped out of the room and slamming the door behind her in the process. She walked down the hall brisky with her claws wrapped around the hilt of her blade.

“I will show you I am not a little girl anymore….mother.”

--A Bit Later--

Zemrite was walking down the halls of the lower castle after having visited with his lovely princesses, making sure that they had all they needed for their day. Once that was done, he went about his own day, just walking through the castle, making sure everything was in order and all was right with the guests. It’s not that he had to, he was just bored enough to do so. He rounded a corner before coming face to face with General Ravenheart, he blinks a few times behind his mask and tilts his head slightly.

“Something I can help you with?”

He asked in a rather calming and bored tone. The griffon glared at him slightly at his attitude and leaned up to him.

“You, me, duel. Meet me out on the training ground in thirty minutes. You better be there to…”

“Ah, so we are settling what YOU started yesterday? This will be fun! I need to go and tell the princesses. They will want to watch me put you on your ass. They weren’t too happy with how you threatened me yesterday you know. I told them to let it go, but since you are wanting to duel me, I believe they will be as giddy as schoolfillies. Very well, I accept your duel request. I suppose it would be fair since you do have an advantage over me with that silver sword of yours. Oh well, that just makes it more challenging for me. See you soon, lionbutt.”

He said that last bit in a teasing manner. That’s right, he could spot that metal from miles. And silver was not the kind of metal he wanted to come in contact with. He’d have to get that blade away from her as first priority. However, it also dawned on him that her armor had its faults in its design. He would exploit those if necessary. He heard the griffon growl in anger at his nickname he gave her. He laughed to himself knowing full well he had struck a nerve, and he loved it. He couldn’t wait to tell Celestia and Luna what was going to transpire within the next half hour.

--A few Minutes Before The Duel--

“Are you sure about this love? If what you say is true, she already has a big advantage over you, and if that blade connects with your flesh…”

Celestia knew he was strong and capable, but she and Luna worried like any lover would for their mate. Zemrite walked up to both of them and smiled up at them lovingly. They could tell that he was giving them that same caring look he always gave to them, even from behind a mask.

“Tia, Lulu, you don’t need to worry. I won’t let a hot-headed griffon who thinks she is hot shit take me down. In fact, those kind of opponents are fun to humiliate when all is said and done. Knock’em down a few pegs, you know. Now, you two go and get comfy and watch the show. I may come out with a few cuts here and there, But I am sure that you will make me feel much better later~.”

He said with a wink at the last part. They both giggled and nodded rapidly. They most certainly would help him feel better.. Zemrite walks out into the open training grounds where everything had been cleared away for the duel at hand. He removes his cloak and places it on a nearby training dummy before making his way to the center. He noticed that the griffon empress was watching from the other side as her general approached, drawing her silver double-edged sword with a smirk on her face. Zemrite reaches behind and pulled out his bow and readied an arrow.

“I am going to make you cry like a little bitch…”

She threatened.

“Little bitch? Is that the best you can come up with? Or do you lack intelligence in that thick skull of yours? Oh and before we get started, I should mention that if you get knocked out of the white line that borders this place, it’s an automatic loss. So be careful how far you live away birdy.”

They start at each other intently for a few moments, then the bell sounds off. Ravenheart flies at Zemrite with a loud battle roar and she was closing in quickly. At the last second, Zemrite grins and shifts to the side and quickly sheaths his bow and arrow.

Hmmmm...looks like arrows aren’t going to help me here. She is rather quick in her flight, let’s see if my new toys can do something about that.

The crowd watched on in awe at Ravenheart’s relentless attacks and Zmerite’s acrobatic dodging and maneuvering. He was wearing her down long enough to wait for the right moment to strike. And it would be something that would even the playing field a bit more.

“Come on! You gotta attack at some point! You afraid, mutt?!”

He chuckles lightly and shakes his head.

“Resorting to name calling, are we? I am not so hot-headed like a certain griffon when it comes to petty insults.”

The griffon makes another charge at Zemrite who gets in a good window of opportunity now. He jumps into the air, doing a side flips and connects his hand to the open part of her armor where her wings were. When his hand connects, a small needle retracts from his gauntlet and slips into her flesh, giving a small dosage of a poison that paralyzes the affected area. He quickly pushes off her back with another flip. Shoving her into the ground in the process. The crowd that had gathered lets out a collective “ooooooh!” as this was done. While others may have missed what Zemrite has done, both the princesses and the griffon Empress saw what had happened. And it was now evident to the onlookers after Ravenheart got up and tried to get airborne again, but her wings wouldn’t operate, at all.

Mmmh...handsome AND clever. Looks like Ravenheart failed in following my advice...poor girl is going to get eaten by the wolf, that’s for sure…

Thought the empress as she sat back in her chair resting her jaw on her right hand. The way he moved and attacked, it was as if he was a living shadow. Ravenheart made it back onto her feet and growled lowly at Zemrite.

“Whatever you did to my wings...that was a dirty trick!’

She said as she turned to reach for her sword...which was missing. Zemrite had the blade in his hand and tosses it out of the boundary. A wicked grin formed under his mask as he did this.

“Let’s get rid of that nasty thing, shall we? The last thing we need is for someone to get a scar that would take quite a long time to heal.”

He said in a mocking manner. Clearly, this general did not have any experience in fighting with a trickster and her lack of was about to cost her the duel. Shen charged at him in a blind rage now, angered that he had made a fool of her in front of her empress and the other onlookers. But Zemrite wasn’t done. He was about to show her true humiliation. Once she got in close enough, Zemrite threw down a small black vial that contained a pure black smoke screen that filled half the arena. The sound of metal clashing and falling to the ground could be heard as Zemrite moved in the darkness, using his dagger to peel off Ravenheart’s armor piece by piece, cutting the straps and various other objects holding it together, One by one, the pieces of metal fell to the ground outside of the smoke screen until it cleared. Once the smoke had dispersed, Zemrite had his left arm wrapped around the now nearly naked griffon’s lower body and his right hand holding his dagger to her throat.

“Yield…”

He said in a low growl as he pressed the blade to her neck a bit more. Ravenheart was stunned at what had just happened. How was he able to move so fast in that cloud of smoke?! And what's more, how was he able to dismantle her armor completely?! Looking down as she was in nothing but her bra and underwear, she lets out a gasp and falls to her knees covering herself as best as she could, her wings still being out of commission.

“I...I yield…”

“Smart girl.”

He said before motioning a guard over.

“Get her something to cover up with, this duel is over.”

“R-right away, sir…”

Everyone there was completely taken at how Zemrite handled the duel. Not single bruise, cut, or injury was on either of the two. Ravenheart’s wings would soon regain their functionality again. But it was the fact that she now realized that he was toying with her this whole time. He makes his way back into the castle after grabbing his cloak from the training dummy. Both the princesses and the griffon empress watched on in awe. This wasn’t a duel, this was a slaughter without one ounce of bloodshed. One thing’s for sure, Ravenheart’s pride was the thing that was slaughtered here today.

Author's Note

Here's another :D

May the darkness grant you peace.