Growing Influenceby Jay DavidChaptersArrivalMeetingsConfrontationsDepartureArrivalThe sun was shining brightly in the sky today, but that was about the only good thing Twilight could say about her circumstances. Currently, she was about as far removed from Ponyville as one could get, walking carefully along a winding mountain road, going higher and higher with every passing minute. The winds were bitterly cold here, as shown whenever she would stop and shiver for a moment. Naturally, she had to work hard to keep her glasses from falling off whenever a particularly bad gust came her way. But, at the very least, she wasn't alone out here. Beside her was none other than Cadence, who, like Twilight, seemed just as uncomfortable with their surroundings. In addition, Twilight's brother, Shining, was also present, walking just a little further ahead from the two mares. In fact, it was the stallion himself who broke the silence between them, stopping to look back to them both. "It shouldn't be long now. Just a few more turnings and we'll be at their gates!" Cadence nodded to this, though said nothing as her bodyguard carried on marching forward, Twilight, by contrast, looked to her colleague with a look of uncertainty. "I never thought I'd find myself in a place like this." Again, Cadence nodded, though she seemed far more solemn about this situation than Twilight. "And I hoped to never find myself here again." Twilight looked to her with interest. "Oh yeah, you've been here before, right? With Princess Celestia?" Cadence sighed before answering. "Yes. It was a diplomatic mission some years back, when I was just starting out as her hoof-maiden. She wanted to discuss new trade agreements with king Grover. It didn't turn out well though. The King kept making ridiculous demands regarding the prices he wanted to charge for incoming goods. Eventually, we had to call the whole thing off." Twilight looked ahead, seeing her brother continue to forge onwards, making sure the path was safe. And it was as she looked to him that she carried on with her conversation with Cadence. "Cadence...am I really the best pony for the Princess to be sending to this meeting? I mean, I understand why you're here, you're the trained diplomat after all. But me?" A small smile crept onto Cadence's face. "You're the personal apprentice of Princess Celestia, Twilight. Your presence carries weight, regardless of your political experience. It shows that the Princess considers this an important matter." Twilight hung her head as they kept on walking. "No offense to the Griffons, but the last time I was near them, it wasn't exactly a pleasant time for me." Cadence nodded, her expression a serious one. "And that, perhaps more than anything else, is why Princess Celestia wants you here. You know first-hoof just how bad the situation with King Grover's people is right now. If those in his kingdom can just go about and turn bandit without his knowledge, and beyond his ability to control...well..." Here, Shining stopped, looking over his shoulder to those he was charged to protect. "Surely that's no surprise, Ambassador? Expecting King Grover to be able to keep his people reined in is like expecting Yaks to be polite at a dinner party. It's just not happening." Cadence gave him a disapproving frown over that remark. "That was one time, Captain, and the Princess asked us both not to hold a grudge over the matter." The stallion said nothing to that, but watched as Cadence continued. "And as for the Griffons, we're here as friends, Shining, not as people coming over to criticise his rule. Perhaps talking with us, hearing just how serious those raids have become, might just be enough to convince him to step up and take greater action." Shining rolled his eyes. "It's your nature to hope for the best, Cadence, but I'm a soldier. My job is expecting the worst." Twilight looked from one to the other, clearly uncomfortable over this disagreement they were having. But, she said nothing, especially as her brother had other battings he wanted to get off his chest. "To make matters worse, apparently only I'm needed on protection for this little trip." To that, Twilight finally spoke up. "There's no need for a whole army, brother. It's just diplomacy." Shining snorted briefly, looking ahead and starting to get back to the business of walking forward. "Perhaps...but I'd feel a lot better knowing you two were surrounded by my best guards. We are heading for the centre of their power after all." The other mares said nothing to this, merely doing their best to keep up with him as the winds around them continue to make their journey all the more difficult. However, after passing by the next turning in the mountain road, Shining stopped, prompting the two mares to follow suit. They didn't know what was going on, but it was not long before he looked back to them, seriousness upon his face. "Well...speak of the Devil..." He didn't finish his words, as Twilight and Cadence already got a feeling of what he was about to say. They trotted swiftly together, until they now stood on either side of him. And here, they looked ahead with a pair of smiles, seeing that they had, in fact, reached their destination. Griffonstone, the great capital of the Griffon people. Like a mighty tree sprouting forth from the mountains itself, it stood tall and proud upon the horizon before them. Even from this distance, it remained an impressive sight, catching Twilight in awe in particular. Cadence giggled to seeing her like this, though Shining, by contrast, was no more thrilled to be here than he was before. However, before anypony could do anything else, the stallion looked up, his eyes narrowing yet again. "Heads up. We've got company." The mares did as requested, turning their heads upwards to find, to their surprise, that a pair of armoured Griffon males were now flying swiftly towards them from high above. The three ponies watched with baited breath, waiting to see what would happen next, and it was not long before those Griffons landed on the road just ahead of them, pointing a pair of sharp-looking spears in their direction. "Halt! Who goes there?" one asked. Cadence stepped forward, placing a hoof upon her chest and speaking up in a tone of authority. "I am Mi'Amore Cadenza, Ambassador of Equestria. We are here on a diplomatic mission from Princess Celestia. Will you allow us entry to speak with your King, Grover?" The guards seemed taken aback by this, looking to one another with uncertainty. One leaned in closer to the other, whispering in his ear, all while the ponies watched. For a moment, Twilight was worried that, perhaps, they might not be granted entry. But, the fear was short-lived, as the guards lowered their spears, bowing their heads slightly to Cadence before speaking back in a more respectful manner than before. "Ambassador. Of course. The King will be pleased to speak with you." Cadence, likewise, returned the bow, and then smiled to the two. "Excellent. We have much to discuss." MeetingsAs one would expect of a mare like Twilight, she had, over the course of her journey here, conjured up many a mental image of this place they were sent to visit. All her life she had heard tales of the great and renowned city of Griffonstone, and those who dwelled within, and those stories had done much to paint her notions of what she would expect. She had envisioned grand and ancient columns, able to rival even those of Canterlot itself. She had pictured architecture so well-crafted that even the best builders of Equestria could probably learn a thing or two. She had imagined a sense of ancientness that would be felt in the very air they breathed. But most of all, she had gained great expectations of those who lived here, the Griffons. In spite of her brother's warnings, she had expected a people so noble, so dignified, that they would be respected by all who met them. Unfortunately, none of her hopes survived actually seeing this place. Had anypony from her neck of the woods been here to see these surroundings Twilight had found herself in, they probably would have referred to it as a slum. And that was if they were feeling charitable at the time. Throughout her walk through the main street of the city, she could see nothing but grimy and poorly-kept homes. Some had even collapsed due to one reason or another, with no effort whatsoever being put into fixing them again. The grand architecture she'd hoped for was there, but its lustre had passed on centuries ago from the looks of it, as many of the larger buildings seemed to be largely ignored, to the point where some were only held together with rudimentary scaffolding. And as for the Griffons themselves, most of them looked to Twilight and the others with angry glares, ad though simply being here was a crime in itself. "I told you not to get your hopes up, Twily." Twilight turned to look upon her brother as he'd said those words, his expression still one of seriousness as he once more looked ahead on their walk. Right now, all three of them, Cadence included, were being escorted by the same two Griffon guards who had greeted them not so long ago. But that was about the only courtesy they were receiving right now, as every other Griffon that arrived in view seemed to view them with nothing but scorn. Cadence alone seemed to give Twilight a degree of warmth, smiling to her in silence, in an effort to make her feel better about this unfortunate turn in their journey. Moving slightly closer to her, Twilight spoke in a low tone to her. "So...I take it you already have a plan on how you're going to talk to the King?" Cadence nodded, and here, her smile faded, replaced instead by a more sombre look. "I have...and it seems I won't have long to wait." At first, Twilight didn't know what she'd meant by that, but she soon understood, as her eyes widened to what now lay ahead of them. It was the place they had come all this way for, the tall palace of Griffonstone itself. And this place, at the very least, seemed to have had some effort in making itself presentable. Tall spires reached high into the sky, and gold adornments throughout continued to glisten, especially upon the vast wooden doors that served as the palace's entrance. But it was clear to anypony who looked that this castle's glory days were very much behind it, as the chips and cracks seen everywhere around it definitely showed it's age, and not in a good way. However, Twilight said nothing, remaining with the group as they, finally, reached those aforementioned door. And here, one of the guards escorting them walked a few steps ahead of them, giving another bow of his head to them. "Welcome to the palace." Cadence nodded in acknowledgement of this, and she, Shining and Twilight carried on without them at this point. This did not leave them alone, however, as there were now an additional two guards ahead, standing on either side of the palace gates. And those gates now opened, creaking loudly as they did so, with the aforementioned guards putting in a great deal of strength to make it happen. But now, at long last, the three ponies were within the palace of Griffonstone, and Twilight, for her part, once more felt a degree of disappointment when she laid eyes on the interior. Much like the rest of the city, it clearly looked as if it had seen better days, with the grand hall lined with cracked and broken statues, depicting past rulers. Like before though, she said nothing, staying close to Cadence and her brother as they made their way deeper and deeper into the chamber. But, it was not long before the uncomfortable silence was broken. "Ah, Ambassador! Welcome to Griffonstone!" The voice had been friendly, and full of energy, and for just a brief moment, Twilight hoped that perhaps things were looking up for their little group. Looking ahead, she saw that there, at the very end of the hall, was a large throne, and within sat an older Griffon that, frankly, looked as if he could stand to lose a few pounds here and there. Upon his head was a shining crown, the only thing here that seemed to be in good condition, and he looked to the approaching ponies with a smile upon his beak. "Welcome! Welcome! I trust the journey wasn't too taxing for you?" Cadence, once she'd arrived at the base of the throne, gave a deep bow, and was followed shortly afterwards in this by Twilight and Shining. When the Ambassador stood tall again, she smiled to her host. "It is a pleasure to be welcomed back here, king Grover." The old Griffon laughed, and as he did so, Twilight had a moment to really get a look at him. It was harsh to say, but this guys really did seem to be a perfect metaphor for Griffonstone as a whole. For while he might have been great once, clearly that greatness was gone from him, and all that was left was someone who, to be perfectly honest, seemed as though he would have a hard time just getting out of his chair. But she, obviously, said none of this, and watched as the King started speaking again. "Yes...I wish the visit was under better circumstances though." Cadence nodded slowly. "I take it you know of our concerns then?" The King, his smile now gone, nodded back. "I do. And believe me, I wish there was something I could do. But the fact of the matter is this. Despite the obvious crimes of those who have strayed from my rule, there is little I can do beyond what I've already done." Shining stepped forward, frowning to this. "And what have you done, your Majesty?" The King shrugged his shoulders. "I've sent out numerous patrols to find those criminals, but every time we've done so, the miscreants have always found a way to slip past our guards. I'm sorry to say, but..." He looked away, appearing ashamed as he spoke. "...it really does seem as though I won't be able to help you in this." Naturally, Shining was not satisfied with such an answer, and nor was Cadence for that matter. Twilight stayed silent, looking from one to the other, and all the while she was thinking on how best to help in this situation. However, before she got the chance to say or do anything, she and everypony else was interrupted by a sudden loud voice calling out. "I believe we can be of some help, your Majesty!" All eyes turned around, looking upon the one who had spoken, and when they did, Twilight's gained a look of shock. "What?!" ConfrontationsThere were many things that Twilight had expected to see on her journey to Griffonstone. And every single one of those expectations had been thoroughly dashed by her actually being here to see it. But, while that disappointment lingered, it had to be said that, what she definitely wasn't expecting to see on this trip was what now stood before her. The doors of the palace had opened wide, and there, standing in that doorway, were about half a dozen pegasi. But that was not what surprised her. What did surprise her was their dress. For every single one of them was clad in the distinct armour of the night guard, the military of the Lunar Kingdom. Naturally, seeing them here caught everyone off-guard, especially the King, who seemed to be unable to say anything right now because of how shocked he was. However, as the newly-arrived ponies started to enter the palace in earnest, Grover finally snapped himself out of this state, glowering angrily at the unexpected guests. "Who...what is the meaning of this?!" The ponies kept on approaching, prompting Shining to take position in front of Twilight and Cadence, ready to protect them from whatever may come. But onwards the Lunar ponies marched, until they stopped just a few feet short of Twilight and her group. Silence fell over them, and the whole situation was one of immense discomfort. Twilight could hear her own breathing loudly, which was all the more noticeable given how worried she was right now. However, the silence did not last forever, and the pony at the head of the Lunar's group took another step forward, giving only the barest bow of their head. "King Grover...a pleasure to meet you." The voice was that of a mare, and before Twilight or anypony else could say anything, they watched as that mysterious figure raised a single hoof, placing it upon her helm. In one motion, she removed it, revealing the pony underneath. As Twilight had suspected, it was indeed a mare, one with light green fur and a bright orange mane. Upon her face was a look of utter confidence, as she stared intently at all those present. "I am Captain Lightning Dust of the Lunar Guard. Our Queen sends her regards, your Majesty." Grover frowned to this. "That's all well and good, but the law of our land is clear on this. No outsider may come to the palace without outright permission from the royal family!" Lightning smirked to this. "Ah, but we do have permission." Naturally, such a remark earned confusion from Grover and the Equestrian ponies, prompting Lightning to take the next step in her introduction. Reaching into her armour, she rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a scroll. It was tied tightly, and was emblazoned with a golden seal, bearing an obvious symbol of a Griffon's claw. "I believe this is the permission you were referring to?" Grover, as well as Twilight and the others, were hugely taken aback by this. "But...but...I never..." Unfortunately, the king had no opportunity to continue, as another unexpected voice started to speak up. "I'm the one who called them, Father." The heads of all in attendance turned, and to the surprise of all but Lightning, there was another Griffon now entering the scene. Instantly, they could see that it was a female, with a variety of grey-coloured feathers, and upon her face was a look of clear concern. Nopony said anything, especially when this newcomer approached the King, giving a respectful bow of her head. Grover, for his part, seemed to be having a difficult time taking this in. "G...Gabby?" The female, Gabby, looked up to him, her expression both one of fear and shame. "Father...I invited the Lunar ponies here...to help us." She looked to him in a pleading manner. "We can't do this! Not even with the Equestrians! We need them!" She pointed passionately at the Lunar ponies, prompting the King to frown angrily. "My daughter...I love you truly...but this was not your decision to make!" Hearing those words, Gabby returned to her earlier look of shame, and all the while, Twilight and her party looked amongst themselves with great discomfort. As for Lightning, she was more along the lines of impatience, raising one eyebrow as she addressed the King yet again. "You should really thank your daughter, King Grover. Your Kingdom has suffered much with these malcontents. Asking for outside aid was obviously the correct call, given that you seem..." She measured her next words carefully. "...less able that your people might like." Obviously, such a remark caused outrage for the King, and he struggled to hoist himself out of his throne, glaring ferociously at the green pegasus. "You dare say that to me?! You march into my realm, unwanted, and claim to know what is best for my people?!" Contempt crossed his face, and he snorted as though the very idea of them needing their help was ludicrous. Twilight, though she felt hesitant to do so, cleared her throat, gaining the attention of all there. "With all due respect, Captain Dust...what makes you believe that you are able to help them, when the Griffons themselves have been unable to do so?" Looking to her, Lightning silently stared at Twilight in an analytical manner, much to the latter's discomfort. Then, her prior smirk returned. "You must be Twilight Sparkle, yes?" The fact that this complete stranger knew who she was caught Twilight off-guard, and it was a feeling clearly expressed in her face. By contrast, Lightning hid her feelings well, turning and gesturing to the door behind them. "Anyway, in answer to your question...we already have fixed the problem." Those words caused surprise for everyone in the room, and without saying anything, they turned to where Lightning had gestured. As if on cue, a number of other Lunar guards now entered the royal chamber, but unlike the first, they were not alone. Shocking all of them, they appeared to be dragging in a number of Griffon citizens, all bound and with sacks over their heads. As one would expect, this earned a great deal of ire from the King. "What right do you have to take my people like this?!" Lightning turned to him with scorn in her eyes. "I would hope for a bit more gratitude, your Majesty. It's not every day somepony waltzes in to hand you your most wanted on a silver platter." Lowering himself back into his throne, Grover's expression was now one of incredulity. "And what evidence do you have that these individuals are the bandits?" Lightning's expression made it very clear that she had been hoping a question like that would be asked, and so, once the prisoners had been brought closer, she turned her full attention to Twilight. "You saw the bandits first-hoof, yes?" Hesitantly, Twilight nodded, prompting Lightning to turn to one of the guards, a male, holding one of the prisoners. She nodded, which he nodded back to, before promptly yanking off one of the sacks. Immediately, the face of the one underneath was revealed, and when he was, Twilight made an audible gasp, leading to Lightning looking back to her. "Tell me, Miss Sparkle...is this one of the ones you encountered?" Twilight paused, staring intently at the imprisoned Griffon male before her. She glanced to Cadence and Shining, silently hoping that one of them would be able to help her. But, sadly, no advice came, leading to a degree of further impatience on the part of Lightning. "We're waiting." Hanging her head, Twilight sighed. "Yes...that is one of the bandits." Lightning smiled, clearly pleased at this outcome, before then swiftly turning her head back to the King. "King Grover. You were unwilling to do what was necessary for the wellbeing of your people. I think this makes it clear that your ability to rule Griffonstone is somewhat...suspect." Grover seemed incensed by this, but said nothing as Lightning looked instead to Gabby. "However...at the very least, some here were not so blinded with pride to be kept from doing what needed to be done." A smirk crossed her face yet again. "The Lunar Kingdom stands ready to enforce the leadership of Griffonstone from bad elements such as these...assuming that your people gain a...wiser head." She briefly glanced to Gabby, though the latter had not noticed, and Shining, who had been quietly seething this whole time, moved forward, standing right in front of Lightning. "You think to come here and dictate what these people do?!" But Lightning was unimpressed with such a display. "Captain...given that your own leader was so often unwilling to take direct action like this, I'd say you're hardly in a position to decide what's best for them." Her smirk returned. "What was Princess Celestia planning on doing, exactly? Or was sending you three to ask the King to try harder really her only plan?" Shining said nothing, though he was clearly still angry at what had been said. Cadence, likewise, was at a loss for words. As for Twilight, she felt utterly helpless right now. They had been sent here for one thing, and not only had they not accomplished it, but things had taken a very unfortunate turn. And during that long silence, Lightning once more turned to Grover, her eyes filled with her usual level of disdain for him. "I think it's time Griffonstone had an injection of...fresher blood." DepartureOf all the ways her assignment to the Griffons could have gone, how it had actually concluded was about as far removed from her expectations as Twilight could have imagined. Yes, the bandit situation seemed to be resolved, as shown when dozens of aggressive-looking Griffons were being detained by the Lunar forces. And yet, wherever she and her companions went, there was this inescapable sense of failure. She should have felt happy. The problem she, Cadence and Shining were sent to aid in had been brought to a close. But, it could not be denied that she did not feel happy about it. Still, it was clear that, given their lengthy stay here, there was no longer any reason for them to remain. So, led by Cadence, the three ponies made their way away from the palace, once more heading down the main street of Griffonstone. Gone was the sense that they would be attacked around every corner, replaced instead by a feeling more foreboding, yet harder to describe. Lunar guards stood watch at every street entrance, and the Griffons who passed them by kept their heads down, as if terrified that simply looking like they would cause trouble would get them in trouble. But, on they went, with Cadence especially seeming disappointed in how things had turned out. Shining, for his part, was angry more than anything else, though he did his best to hide it. And as for Twilight, her mind raced with a thousand different thoughts, about what this would mean for their domain. However, most importantly, she grimaced at the notion of how she was going to explain this to Princess Celestia when they got back. But, for now, she stayed silent, carrying on until their group finally reached the outskirts of the city, wherein they were met by Gabby, daughter of Grover. The female Griffon tried to smile, but it was clearly a forced one, and Cadence looked to her with sympathy. "So...Queen Gabby now?" Gabby nodded. "Yes. The Griffon Lords convened and...well...it turns out that they were just as unhappy with my Father's rule as the people were." Cadence nodded back, raising a hoof and gently placing it upon her shoulder. "Well...I wish you all the best in your rule, your Majesty." "Oh, I don't think you need to be quite so worried, Ambassador." All four of them turned, and Shining in particular narrowed his eyes when he saw that it was Lightning, now approaching with a somewhat victorious look upon her face. "After all...it's not as if she'll be alone in ensuring her people's prosperity." Nopony said anything to her, and instead, Cadence gave the young Queen another glance, smiling warmly to her before, at last, starting to make her way beyond the borders of the city. Shining, after glowering at Lightning, soon followed, leaving only Twilight. The lavender mare took a moment to look up at Griffonstone, and her face was one of sadness as she contemplated what had occurred. Turning, she looked to the Queen herself, looking, more than anything, remorseful. "Take care." Gabby nodded, seeming genuinely appreciative of Twilight's words, and watched as the young unicorn finally started to head off. The new Queen kept her position, watching as the three Equestrians moved further and further from view, until, finally, they were gone altogether, having walked behind a particularly stark mountain turning. Now gone from their sight, she sighed, prompting Lightning to walk closer to her. "Chin up, your Majesty. A crown may be a heavy burden to bear, but you carry it well. Your instincts were to protect your people, and that is exactly what you have done." As before, the young Griffon nodded. "Yes...I suppose there's that at least." Lightning looked to her, her respectful expression changing to bear a slight tint of sternness to it. But remember this..." Gabby turned to her, uncertainty in her eyes as the pegasus finished her words. "...consider always...whom you owe your people's safety to." The Queen stared to her ally, her expression never betraying what she felt, and as she once more looked away, to the spot where Twilight was last seen, she gave a single nod. "I think...I don't have much choice."
ArrivalThe sun was shining brightly in the sky today, but that was about the only good thing Twilight could say about her circumstances. Currently, she was about as far removed from Ponyville as one could get, walking carefully along a winding mountain road, going higher and higher with every passing minute. The winds were bitterly cold here, as shown whenever she would stop and shiver for a moment. Naturally, she had to work hard to keep her glasses from falling off whenever a particularly bad gust came her way. But, at the very least, she wasn't alone out here. Beside her was none other than Cadence, who, like Twilight, seemed just as uncomfortable with their surroundings. In addition, Twilight's brother, Shining, was also present, walking just a little further ahead from the two mares. In fact, it was the stallion himself who broke the silence between them, stopping to look back to them both. "It shouldn't be long now. Just a few more turnings and we'll be at their gates!" Cadence nodded to this, though said nothing as her bodyguard carried on marching forward, Twilight, by contrast, looked to her colleague with a look of uncertainty. "I never thought I'd find myself in a place like this." Again, Cadence nodded, though she seemed far more solemn about this situation than Twilight. "And I hoped to never find myself here again." Twilight looked to her with interest. "Oh yeah, you've been here before, right? With Princess Celestia?" Cadence sighed before answering. "Yes. It was a diplomatic mission some years back, when I was just starting out as her hoof-maiden. She wanted to discuss new trade agreements with king Grover. It didn't turn out well though. The King kept making ridiculous demands regarding the prices he wanted to charge for incoming goods. Eventually, we had to call the whole thing off." Twilight looked ahead, seeing her brother continue to forge onwards, making sure the path was safe. And it was as she looked to him that she carried on with her conversation with Cadence. "Cadence...am I really the best pony for the Princess to be sending to this meeting? I mean, I understand why you're here, you're the trained diplomat after all. But me?" A small smile crept onto Cadence's face. "You're the personal apprentice of Princess Celestia, Twilight. Your presence carries weight, regardless of your political experience. It shows that the Princess considers this an important matter." Twilight hung her head as they kept on walking. "No offense to the Griffons, but the last time I was near them, it wasn't exactly a pleasant time for me." Cadence nodded, her expression a serious one. "And that, perhaps more than anything else, is why Princess Celestia wants you here. You know first-hoof just how bad the situation with King Grover's people is right now. If those in his kingdom can just go about and turn bandit without his knowledge, and beyond his ability to control...well..." Here, Shining stopped, looking over his shoulder to those he was charged to protect. "Surely that's no surprise, Ambassador? Expecting King Grover to be able to keep his people reined in is like expecting Yaks to be polite at a dinner party. It's just not happening." Cadence gave him a disapproving frown over that remark. "That was one time, Captain, and the Princess asked us both not to hold a grudge over the matter." The stallion said nothing to that, but watched as Cadence continued. "And as for the Griffons, we're here as friends, Shining, not as people coming over to criticise his rule. Perhaps talking with us, hearing just how serious those raids have become, might just be enough to convince him to step up and take greater action." Shining rolled his eyes. "It's your nature to hope for the best, Cadence, but I'm a soldier. My job is expecting the worst." Twilight looked from one to the other, clearly uncomfortable over this disagreement they were having. But, she said nothing, especially as her brother had other battings he wanted to get off his chest. "To make matters worse, apparently only I'm needed on protection for this little trip." To that, Twilight finally spoke up. "There's no need for a whole army, brother. It's just diplomacy." Shining snorted briefly, looking ahead and starting to get back to the business of walking forward. "Perhaps...but I'd feel a lot better knowing you two were surrounded by my best guards. We are heading for the centre of their power after all." The other mares said nothing to this, merely doing their best to keep up with him as the winds around them continue to make their journey all the more difficult. However, after passing by the next turning in the mountain road, Shining stopped, prompting the two mares to follow suit. They didn't know what was going on, but it was not long before he looked back to them, seriousness upon his face. "Well...speak of the Devil..." He didn't finish his words, as Twilight and Cadence already got a feeling of what he was about to say. They trotted swiftly together, until they now stood on either side of him. And here, they looked ahead with a pair of smiles, seeing that they had, in fact, reached their destination. Griffonstone, the great capital of the Griffon people. Like a mighty tree sprouting forth from the mountains itself, it stood tall and proud upon the horizon before them. Even from this distance, it remained an impressive sight, catching Twilight in awe in particular. Cadence giggled to seeing her like this, though Shining, by contrast, was no more thrilled to be here than he was before. However, before anypony could do anything else, the stallion looked up, his eyes narrowing yet again. "Heads up. We've got company." The mares did as requested, turning their heads upwards to find, to their surprise, that a pair of armoured Griffon males were now flying swiftly towards them from high above. The three ponies watched with baited breath, waiting to see what would happen next, and it was not long before those Griffons landed on the road just ahead of them, pointing a pair of sharp-looking spears in their direction. "Halt! Who goes there?" one asked. Cadence stepped forward, placing a hoof upon her chest and speaking up in a tone of authority. "I am Mi'Amore Cadenza, Ambassador of Equestria. We are here on a diplomatic mission from Princess Celestia. Will you allow us entry to speak with your King, Grover?" The guards seemed taken aback by this, looking to one another with uncertainty. One leaned in closer to the other, whispering in his ear, all while the ponies watched. For a moment, Twilight was worried that, perhaps, they might not be granted entry. But, the fear was short-lived, as the guards lowered their spears, bowing their heads slightly to Cadence before speaking back in a more respectful manner than before. "Ambassador. Of course. The King will be pleased to speak with you." Cadence, likewise, returned the bow, and then smiled to the two. "Excellent. We have much to discuss."
MeetingsAs one would expect of a mare like Twilight, she had, over the course of her journey here, conjured up many a mental image of this place they were sent to visit. All her life she had heard tales of the great and renowned city of Griffonstone, and those who dwelled within, and those stories had done much to paint her notions of what she would expect. She had envisioned grand and ancient columns, able to rival even those of Canterlot itself. She had pictured architecture so well-crafted that even the best builders of Equestria could probably learn a thing or two. She had imagined a sense of ancientness that would be felt in the very air they breathed. But most of all, she had gained great expectations of those who lived here, the Griffons. In spite of her brother's warnings, she had expected a people so noble, so dignified, that they would be respected by all who met them. Unfortunately, none of her hopes survived actually seeing this place. Had anypony from her neck of the woods been here to see these surroundings Twilight had found herself in, they probably would have referred to it as a slum. And that was if they were feeling charitable at the time. Throughout her walk through the main street of the city, she could see nothing but grimy and poorly-kept homes. Some had even collapsed due to one reason or another, with no effort whatsoever being put into fixing them again. The grand architecture she'd hoped for was there, but its lustre had passed on centuries ago from the looks of it, as many of the larger buildings seemed to be largely ignored, to the point where some were only held together with rudimentary scaffolding. And as for the Griffons themselves, most of them looked to Twilight and the others with angry glares, ad though simply being here was a crime in itself. "I told you not to get your hopes up, Twily." Twilight turned to look upon her brother as he'd said those words, his expression still one of seriousness as he once more looked ahead on their walk. Right now, all three of them, Cadence included, were being escorted by the same two Griffon guards who had greeted them not so long ago. But that was about the only courtesy they were receiving right now, as every other Griffon that arrived in view seemed to view them with nothing but scorn. Cadence alone seemed to give Twilight a degree of warmth, smiling to her in silence, in an effort to make her feel better about this unfortunate turn in their journey. Moving slightly closer to her, Twilight spoke in a low tone to her. "So...I take it you already have a plan on how you're going to talk to the King?" Cadence nodded, and here, her smile faded, replaced instead by a more sombre look. "I have...and it seems I won't have long to wait." At first, Twilight didn't know what she'd meant by that, but she soon understood, as her eyes widened to what now lay ahead of them. It was the place they had come all this way for, the tall palace of Griffonstone itself. And this place, at the very least, seemed to have had some effort in making itself presentable. Tall spires reached high into the sky, and gold adornments throughout continued to glisten, especially upon the vast wooden doors that served as the palace's entrance. But it was clear to anypony who looked that this castle's glory days were very much behind it, as the chips and cracks seen everywhere around it definitely showed it's age, and not in a good way. However, Twilight said nothing, remaining with the group as they, finally, reached those aforementioned door. And here, one of the guards escorting them walked a few steps ahead of them, giving another bow of his head to them. "Welcome to the palace." Cadence nodded in acknowledgement of this, and she, Shining and Twilight carried on without them at this point. This did not leave them alone, however, as there were now an additional two guards ahead, standing on either side of the palace gates. And those gates now opened, creaking loudly as they did so, with the aforementioned guards putting in a great deal of strength to make it happen. But now, at long last, the three ponies were within the palace of Griffonstone, and Twilight, for her part, once more felt a degree of disappointment when she laid eyes on the interior. Much like the rest of the city, it clearly looked as if it had seen better days, with the grand hall lined with cracked and broken statues, depicting past rulers. Like before though, she said nothing, staying close to Cadence and her brother as they made their way deeper and deeper into the chamber. But, it was not long before the uncomfortable silence was broken. "Ah, Ambassador! Welcome to Griffonstone!" The voice had been friendly, and full of energy, and for just a brief moment, Twilight hoped that perhaps things were looking up for their little group. Looking ahead, she saw that there, at the very end of the hall, was a large throne, and within sat an older Griffon that, frankly, looked as if he could stand to lose a few pounds here and there. Upon his head was a shining crown, the only thing here that seemed to be in good condition, and he looked to the approaching ponies with a smile upon his beak. "Welcome! Welcome! I trust the journey wasn't too taxing for you?" Cadence, once she'd arrived at the base of the throne, gave a deep bow, and was followed shortly afterwards in this by Twilight and Shining. When the Ambassador stood tall again, she smiled to her host. "It is a pleasure to be welcomed back here, king Grover." The old Griffon laughed, and as he did so, Twilight had a moment to really get a look at him. It was harsh to say, but this guys really did seem to be a perfect metaphor for Griffonstone as a whole. For while he might have been great once, clearly that greatness was gone from him, and all that was left was someone who, to be perfectly honest, seemed as though he would have a hard time just getting out of his chair. But she, obviously, said none of this, and watched as the King started speaking again. "Yes...I wish the visit was under better circumstances though." Cadence nodded slowly. "I take it you know of our concerns then?" The King, his smile now gone, nodded back. "I do. And believe me, I wish there was something I could do. But the fact of the matter is this. Despite the obvious crimes of those who have strayed from my rule, there is little I can do beyond what I've already done." Shining stepped forward, frowning to this. "And what have you done, your Majesty?" The King shrugged his shoulders. "I've sent out numerous patrols to find those criminals, but every time we've done so, the miscreants have always found a way to slip past our guards. I'm sorry to say, but..." He looked away, appearing ashamed as he spoke. "...it really does seem as though I won't be able to help you in this." Naturally, Shining was not satisfied with such an answer, and nor was Cadence for that matter. Twilight stayed silent, looking from one to the other, and all the while she was thinking on how best to help in this situation. However, before she got the chance to say or do anything, she and everypony else was interrupted by a sudden loud voice calling out. "I believe we can be of some help, your Majesty!" All eyes turned around, looking upon the one who had spoken, and when they did, Twilight's gained a look of shock. "What?!"
ConfrontationsThere were many things that Twilight had expected to see on her journey to Griffonstone. And every single one of those expectations had been thoroughly dashed by her actually being here to see it. But, while that disappointment lingered, it had to be said that, what she definitely wasn't expecting to see on this trip was what now stood before her. The doors of the palace had opened wide, and there, standing in that doorway, were about half a dozen pegasi. But that was not what surprised her. What did surprise her was their dress. For every single one of them was clad in the distinct armour of the night guard, the military of the Lunar Kingdom. Naturally, seeing them here caught everyone off-guard, especially the King, who seemed to be unable to say anything right now because of how shocked he was. However, as the newly-arrived ponies started to enter the palace in earnest, Grover finally snapped himself out of this state, glowering angrily at the unexpected guests. "Who...what is the meaning of this?!" The ponies kept on approaching, prompting Shining to take position in front of Twilight and Cadence, ready to protect them from whatever may come. But onwards the Lunar ponies marched, until they stopped just a few feet short of Twilight and her group. Silence fell over them, and the whole situation was one of immense discomfort. Twilight could hear her own breathing loudly, which was all the more noticeable given how worried she was right now. However, the silence did not last forever, and the pony at the head of the Lunar's group took another step forward, giving only the barest bow of their head. "King Grover...a pleasure to meet you." The voice was that of a mare, and before Twilight or anypony else could say anything, they watched as that mysterious figure raised a single hoof, placing it upon her helm. In one motion, she removed it, revealing the pony underneath. As Twilight had suspected, it was indeed a mare, one with light green fur and a bright orange mane. Upon her face was a look of utter confidence, as she stared intently at all those present. "I am Captain Lightning Dust of the Lunar Guard. Our Queen sends her regards, your Majesty." Grover frowned to this. "That's all well and good, but the law of our land is clear on this. No outsider may come to the palace without outright permission from the royal family!" Lightning smirked to this. "Ah, but we do have permission." Naturally, such a remark earned confusion from Grover and the Equestrian ponies, prompting Lightning to take the next step in her introduction. Reaching into her armour, she rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a scroll. It was tied tightly, and was emblazoned with a golden seal, bearing an obvious symbol of a Griffon's claw. "I believe this is the permission you were referring to?" Grover, as well as Twilight and the others, were hugely taken aback by this. "But...but...I never..." Unfortunately, the king had no opportunity to continue, as another unexpected voice started to speak up. "I'm the one who called them, Father." The heads of all in attendance turned, and to the surprise of all but Lightning, there was another Griffon now entering the scene. Instantly, they could see that it was a female, with a variety of grey-coloured feathers, and upon her face was a look of clear concern. Nopony said anything, especially when this newcomer approached the King, giving a respectful bow of her head. Grover, for his part, seemed to be having a difficult time taking this in. "G...Gabby?" The female, Gabby, looked up to him, her expression both one of fear and shame. "Father...I invited the Lunar ponies here...to help us." She looked to him in a pleading manner. "We can't do this! Not even with the Equestrians! We need them!" She pointed passionately at the Lunar ponies, prompting the King to frown angrily. "My daughter...I love you truly...but this was not your decision to make!" Hearing those words, Gabby returned to her earlier look of shame, and all the while, Twilight and her party looked amongst themselves with great discomfort. As for Lightning, she was more along the lines of impatience, raising one eyebrow as she addressed the King yet again. "You should really thank your daughter, King Grover. Your Kingdom has suffered much with these malcontents. Asking for outside aid was obviously the correct call, given that you seem..." She measured her next words carefully. "...less able that your people might like." Obviously, such a remark caused outrage for the King, and he struggled to hoist himself out of his throne, glaring ferociously at the green pegasus. "You dare say that to me?! You march into my realm, unwanted, and claim to know what is best for my people?!" Contempt crossed his face, and he snorted as though the very idea of them needing their help was ludicrous. Twilight, though she felt hesitant to do so, cleared her throat, gaining the attention of all there. "With all due respect, Captain Dust...what makes you believe that you are able to help them, when the Griffons themselves have been unable to do so?" Looking to her, Lightning silently stared at Twilight in an analytical manner, much to the latter's discomfort. Then, her prior smirk returned. "You must be Twilight Sparkle, yes?" The fact that this complete stranger knew who she was caught Twilight off-guard, and it was a feeling clearly expressed in her face. By contrast, Lightning hid her feelings well, turning and gesturing to the door behind them. "Anyway, in answer to your question...we already have fixed the problem." Those words caused surprise for everyone in the room, and without saying anything, they turned to where Lightning had gestured. As if on cue, a number of other Lunar guards now entered the royal chamber, but unlike the first, they were not alone. Shocking all of them, they appeared to be dragging in a number of Griffon citizens, all bound and with sacks over their heads. As one would expect, this earned a great deal of ire from the King. "What right do you have to take my people like this?!" Lightning turned to him with scorn in her eyes. "I would hope for a bit more gratitude, your Majesty. It's not every day somepony waltzes in to hand you your most wanted on a silver platter." Lowering himself back into his throne, Grover's expression was now one of incredulity. "And what evidence do you have that these individuals are the bandits?" Lightning's expression made it very clear that she had been hoping a question like that would be asked, and so, once the prisoners had been brought closer, she turned her full attention to Twilight. "You saw the bandits first-hoof, yes?" Hesitantly, Twilight nodded, prompting Lightning to turn to one of the guards, a male, holding one of the prisoners. She nodded, which he nodded back to, before promptly yanking off one of the sacks. Immediately, the face of the one underneath was revealed, and when he was, Twilight made an audible gasp, leading to Lightning looking back to her. "Tell me, Miss Sparkle...is this one of the ones you encountered?" Twilight paused, staring intently at the imprisoned Griffon male before her. She glanced to Cadence and Shining, silently hoping that one of them would be able to help her. But, sadly, no advice came, leading to a degree of further impatience on the part of Lightning. "We're waiting." Hanging her head, Twilight sighed. "Yes...that is one of the bandits." Lightning smiled, clearly pleased at this outcome, before then swiftly turning her head back to the King. "King Grover. You were unwilling to do what was necessary for the wellbeing of your people. I think this makes it clear that your ability to rule Griffonstone is somewhat...suspect." Grover seemed incensed by this, but said nothing as Lightning looked instead to Gabby. "However...at the very least, some here were not so blinded with pride to be kept from doing what needed to be done." A smirk crossed her face yet again. "The Lunar Kingdom stands ready to enforce the leadership of Griffonstone from bad elements such as these...assuming that your people gain a...wiser head." She briefly glanced to Gabby, though the latter had not noticed, and Shining, who had been quietly seething this whole time, moved forward, standing right in front of Lightning. "You think to come here and dictate what these people do?!" But Lightning was unimpressed with such a display. "Captain...given that your own leader was so often unwilling to take direct action like this, I'd say you're hardly in a position to decide what's best for them." Her smirk returned. "What was Princess Celestia planning on doing, exactly? Or was sending you three to ask the King to try harder really her only plan?" Shining said nothing, though he was clearly still angry at what had been said. Cadence, likewise, was at a loss for words. As for Twilight, she felt utterly helpless right now. They had been sent here for one thing, and not only had they not accomplished it, but things had taken a very unfortunate turn. And during that long silence, Lightning once more turned to Grover, her eyes filled with her usual level of disdain for him. "I think it's time Griffonstone had an injection of...fresher blood."
DepartureOf all the ways her assignment to the Griffons could have gone, how it had actually concluded was about as far removed from her expectations as Twilight could have imagined. Yes, the bandit situation seemed to be resolved, as shown when dozens of aggressive-looking Griffons were being detained by the Lunar forces. And yet, wherever she and her companions went, there was this inescapable sense of failure. She should have felt happy. The problem she, Cadence and Shining were sent to aid in had been brought to a close. But, it could not be denied that she did not feel happy about it. Still, it was clear that, given their lengthy stay here, there was no longer any reason for them to remain. So, led by Cadence, the three ponies made their way away from the palace, once more heading down the main street of Griffonstone. Gone was the sense that they would be attacked around every corner, replaced instead by a feeling more foreboding, yet harder to describe. Lunar guards stood watch at every street entrance, and the Griffons who passed them by kept their heads down, as if terrified that simply looking like they would cause trouble would get them in trouble. But, on they went, with Cadence especially seeming disappointed in how things had turned out. Shining, for his part, was angry more than anything else, though he did his best to hide it. And as for Twilight, her mind raced with a thousand different thoughts, about what this would mean for their domain. However, most importantly, she grimaced at the notion of how she was going to explain this to Princess Celestia when they got back. But, for now, she stayed silent, carrying on until their group finally reached the outskirts of the city, wherein they were met by Gabby, daughter of Grover. The female Griffon tried to smile, but it was clearly a forced one, and Cadence looked to her with sympathy. "So...Queen Gabby now?" Gabby nodded. "Yes. The Griffon Lords convened and...well...it turns out that they were just as unhappy with my Father's rule as the people were." Cadence nodded back, raising a hoof and gently placing it upon her shoulder. "Well...I wish you all the best in your rule, your Majesty." "Oh, I don't think you need to be quite so worried, Ambassador." All four of them turned, and Shining in particular narrowed his eyes when he saw that it was Lightning, now approaching with a somewhat victorious look upon her face. "After all...it's not as if she'll be alone in ensuring her people's prosperity." Nopony said anything to her, and instead, Cadence gave the young Queen another glance, smiling warmly to her before, at last, starting to make her way beyond the borders of the city. Shining, after glowering at Lightning, soon followed, leaving only Twilight. The lavender mare took a moment to look up at Griffonstone, and her face was one of sadness as she contemplated what had occurred. Turning, she looked to the Queen herself, looking, more than anything, remorseful. "Take care." Gabby nodded, seeming genuinely appreciative of Twilight's words, and watched as the young unicorn finally started to head off. The new Queen kept her position, watching as the three Equestrians moved further and further from view, until, finally, they were gone altogether, having walked behind a particularly stark mountain turning. Now gone from their sight, she sighed, prompting Lightning to walk closer to her. "Chin up, your Majesty. A crown may be a heavy burden to bear, but you carry it well. Your instincts were to protect your people, and that is exactly what you have done." As before, the young Griffon nodded. "Yes...I suppose there's that at least." Lightning looked to her, her respectful expression changing to bear a slight tint of sternness to it. But remember this..." Gabby turned to her, uncertainty in her eyes as the pegasus finished her words. "...consider always...whom you owe your people's safety to." The Queen stared to her ally, her expression never betraying what she felt, and as she once more looked away, to the spot where Twilight was last seen, she gave a single nod. "I think...I don't have much choice."
