Equestria's Weapon

“So, you were traveling to Griffinstone?” Celestia asked. The crowd had since dwindled away with less than a quarter of the original audience present. “Interesting. So you didn’t have those claws before, but bought them?”

“You could say that.” She glanced away as she didn’t look up at the mare. “But I still didn’t know how I got there.”

“Well, if you continue, then not only will I probably let you live, but you may return home… if it’s possible, of course.”

Laura only shook her head at that option. “I wouldn’t advise that. Most of those ponies wanted me dead. And if they saw me roaming free, they might take matters into their own hand. As for going back home… I wouldn’t be any better there than where I am now.”

“With how you were, I doubt it’ll be easy. But, please, continue. What happened when you landed in Griffinstone?”

“Well, it was a rather big surprise to see that those large bird were something more… unique.” She rested a hand on her cheek as she had no worry of possibly ending her own life with her claws.

Laura had to rub her eyes twice to see what she was looking at. Those large birds weren’t birds, they were gryphons! But not the ones from the stories where they’re half lion and half eagle, rather, all of these are different than the last. They were all half feline and half raptor, but all predator. ‘I could be dreaming, but you can’t feel pain in a dream!’ She thought, watching the mythical creatures fly by and ignore her. ‘Maybe one of them can speak english… maybe.’ She added as she began to walk past the fancy gate, seeing that the whole town looked both abandoned and a dump in one.

She could see some griffons flying into their home, or some that were flying by, a pair almost bumping into each other before they started screeching at one another. Most of the buildings were houses, until she noticed an abandoned library and a pub. ‘There would most likely be some griffons to ask where am I.’ She thought, starting to walk to the pub, opening the flap doors and getting everyone’s attention.

She let out a nervous gulp as she kept her eyes on the floor, reaching the front bar before she took a seat, the stools beside her being empty from the start. She wanted to ask, but just didn’t know how, or if they would even understand her. ‘Damn, it’s like the first day of school all over again.’ The bartender, one that looked part tiger and part condor, approached to her with a somewhat confused look, but gave her a stern stare as he half assed cleaned a mug with his own feathers.

“What are you?” He asked in a ragged voice that sounded like he smoked a lot.

She knew what he was asking, but remained quiet for just a moment. “I’m… I’m uh… a human.” She shyly answered, still looking at the table as she could see the shadow of the griffon cleaning a mug. ‘Very stereotypical bartender action.’ She thought.

“Human? ...Never heard of your kind.” He spat into the glass with a loud loogie, right before cleaning it again. “What do you want? A drink? History? Or just visiting and annoying my customers?”

She couldn’t help but look up at the bartender at the last part. “What? No. I mean, I… I just need some answers on where I am.” She answered.

“... For some bits, I can answer that.”

“Bits? Is that money in this place?” She asked, rather curious on what these ‘bits’ were.

“What are you? Retarded? Of course it’s money! You want to know or not? 5 bits.”

“What? Of course not. I don’t know where I am, how I got here, or how things work around here, alright.” She explained. “First, I was at a convention by myself, and the next thing I know, I wake up in a field, find this town, and now I’m talking to a creature that doesn’t even exist.” She showed a rather angry look with slight annoyance at how much of a jerk this bartender was. However, he didn’t seem to pay much attention to her.

“5 bits.” He handed his claw to her and opened it, ready to take in some cash. “5 bits, order something, or get out.”

“Tch, fine. I’ll go find help somewhere else.” She huffed as she got off her seat, starting to make her way to the exit. ‘Freaking jerk. If I didn’t know what a bit was, what made him think I would have any.’ She thought as she had a feeling that most of these creatures might be the same. Unfortunately, her way out was blocked as some more griffins entered, each wearing armor and having some scars across their bodies. There was a good five griffins; the shortest had a dagger sheathed to her left side, looking like a swallow and a lynx; the next had an ax, and resembled a vulture/lion; the largest was a Hawk/Tiger mix with no weapons; the tallest was an owl/panther, who barely had scars and had a sword; finally, the leader, standing in the middle, was an eagle/panther, the more stereotypical looking griffin of the bunch.

“Aw shit.” The bartender swore.

“Well, well, well.” The leader of the group purred in a Gentleman-Western accent. “Freud the server, it’s been awhile since you’ve paid for your… protection.”

“Look, I’m running a bit behind, okay? I’m trying to get your money’s worth, but you’ve been jacking up the price and-”

“Ah-tatata! Need we remind you what happens when you threaten want to alter the deal?” The Hawk/Tiger walked to the booth, cracking his claws and neck. The bartender backed away.

“W-wait! Please! Give me an extra week! I swear I’ll pay!”

“Too late. Give him what he deserves.”

“NO!!!” The large griffin grabbed the bartender and smashed him onto the counter with a loud ‘CRACK!’. His screaming became loud as the large griffin lifted him with his right claw and delivered hard punches with the other. The other griffins turned and looked away, all except for Laura. In thirty seconds, the bartender’s face was all but hidden underneath a mask of blood.

“That’s enough.” The large one stopped and took a deep, calming breath, dropping the bartender. A weak wheeze came from Freud, telling everyone he was alive, but wasn’t able to last long if it continued.

“Hey, boss!” The small griffin spoke, pointing at Laura. “Check her out!”

“I say,” The owl/panther added with an English accent. “What type of creature is she?”

“Looks like a hairless monkey.” The vulture/lion added with a gruff voice.

“Please, allow me.” The leader spoke, walking to Laura, smoothly taking a seat and sitting in front of her. He gestured to a seat next to her. “Please, take a seat, ma’am.”

Laura didn’t know what to do. Inside, she wanted to run off, ignore him, or possibly kick his ass for hurting that bartender, even after he begged for another week for whatever they were blackmailing him for. But, she complied and sat down, sitting across from the griffon as she didn’t know if she could even take on this creature.

“I apologize for that display you, and all of these customers, witnessed. See, he was part of an old army, back when this land was great, but had to retire when everything fell. We offer him protection, since he’s pretty old, but even now, some of old timers need to be taught a lesson from time to time. Allow me to introduce myself; the name’s Alexander, and these are my coworkers. Care to tell me your name?”

“L-Laura.” She said, the fake name being the first to pop in her head as she was still thinking back on fighting this griffon. She wasn’t even sure if he would be strong or weak to her. ‘Why am I even talking to this jerk? What would this griffon need protection from? Insults?’ She thought. ‘But maybe just against Alex himself.’

“Laura? Hm… interesting name Sounds normal compared to the other races and their names. Where are you from? The Minotaur kingdom? Oh, what am I saying!? Of course not! You don’t look like any of those bulls. You must be from some other kingdom. Let me guess: you’ve been sent here by your king and/or queen to find a new place for your kingdom to grow and decide to come here, Griffonstone, to ask King Gudo if they’d be interested to share his kingdom riches with yours. Is that it?”

“Uhm… no.” She simply answered, a bit thankful that he was talkative enough to say where she was, and perhaps some more places she could travel to find a way out of here. “I’m rather lost. I don’t know how I got here, or how to get back to my home.” She rubbed her neck a little. “I might not even be on the same planet or dimension even.” She added as she looked down at the table.

“... You’re new here?” He had a sly grin across his face. “Hm… and you have no idea about how anything works here?”

She only shook her head. “But I guess I’m in Griffonstone, as you called this place.” She said as she looked up at him.

“Hm… Laura? How would you feel working for some of my… employers?”

“Employers? I don’t know. I should at least figure out how I got here.” She said, starting to get up. “And thanks for the offer, but I don’t think I’ll be here for long.” The large and tall griffin stood to her right while the others to their left. Alexander stood up and walked to her.

“Oh, but you’ll enjoy working for them. They can offer you a good home, teach you the various cultures, and give you a better life than your old one.” The Owl/Panther and Vulture/Lion readied their weapons. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, my employer’s customers love experiencing… new things.”

“Again, very convincing. But perhaps someone else would be better suited once I head home.” She said, a little nervous as she wasn’t quite sure she could even leave now.

“... Hard way it is then. Get her.” The small and large griffins tackled her, each pulling out rope and began to hogtie her legs first.

Well, they tried, before she gave a strong kick to one of the griffon’s jaws before she tried to get up and run off, not wanting any of this. She was tackled by the two others, who slammed her onto one of the various tables.

“Look at you’re doing!” Alexander yelled at his co workers. “You’re ruining her look! Our prices are going to drop if you rough her up like that.” The pulled out their own rope and began to tie her hands together.

She didn’t know what, or how it happened, but it seemed her fight or flight options were coming, and that only taking over being fight. She growled angrily, before she unsheathed all her claws, She kicked one of the owl/panther griffon’s barrel, the single blade on her foot impaled him half-way, before she twisted it, using his body to kick away from the group. Even with her wrists tied up, she was able to jump to her feet. A small glint of red was in her eyes, the girl knowing what she was doing while having the adrenaline keeping her up and moving.

“What the fuck!?” The large griffin yelled in shock. “She just… WHAT IS SHE!?!?!?” Alexander looked shock, turning to his dying partner, bleeding out from the shock, before turning back to Laura. He pulled his sword out.

“She’s dead.” He charged at her, slicing his sword at her. Laura snarled and snapped the roped that tied her wrists before she sliced the blade clean with her own claws. Alexander took a step back surprised at what she had done, and feared for his life. She prepared to pounce at him, but the small one jumped onto her back, pulled they're dagger out, and began to stab Laura in the back. The Vulture/Lion took his ax and swung into her chest, stopping halfway through her body.

Her attackers stopped, and the bar gasped as her body healed rapidly; the stab wounds on her back quickly went away, and the ax was pushed out by her body. The real kicker, however, was Laura herself; she wasn’t in pain, oh no… she was pissed! She grabbed the small griffin off her back, grabbing it by his throat, before slicing their head right clean off. A shocked look was only present by the decapitated head, with a large fountain of blood spurting everywhere. Everyone was too shocked to react, allowing Laura to toss the body and tackle the Vulture/Lion. She snarled wildly as she began to slice past his armor and flesh, not even giving two shits about who’s watching: she only wanted blood, and they were her calling. The Hawk/Tiger, in a last ditch effort, pulled his dead comrade’s sword and impaled Laura with it. The blade went through Laura, covered in her blood.

Laura stopped momentarily, looking at the blade that had impaled her. She quickly turned to her attacker, fury in her eyes. She swiped her legs, slicing off the griffin’s legs off, making him wail in pain. The woman quickly stabbed him in the eyes, making him scream more, followed by slicing his throat, making the blood wash all over her face as the continued to stab the fallen griffin for a few seconds.

Alexander hyperventilated, seeing all of his men dead, mutilated by a human with claws. Laura turned to him, looking more like a wild animal than the frightened woman he was going to take in for any of his employer’s prostitution ring. He backed away from her.

“W-wait! S-s-stop! R-right now!” He whimpered like a child. Laura slowly walked to him, covered in the blood of his allies. Alexander pulled out another blade, aiming for her, but shook like a leaf. Laura didn’t hesitate; a single slice was all that was needed. He ducked, but he screamed as he felt his left wing being sliced off. The griffin turned and ran away, his nub of a wing bleeding, leaving a trail of blood as he ran away, tripping and falling roughly to the floor as he attempted to fly away. Only silence came, all but Laura’s own breathing. Her claws retracted as she breathed hard, suddenly regaining control. She gasped as she saw that she was covered in blood from head to toe and turned around. A massacre was inside the bar, with all of the corpses being mutilated by her own claws.

“... Wha… what have I done?” she asked herself aloud. A crowd surrounded her, which had gasping, some screams, and murmurs of the sight.

“Did she do this!?”

“What happened inside!?”

“How is she still standing!?”

Laura looked around, seeing the crowd coming closer. She didn’t want to, but her claws came out, making the crowd gasp and back away. The pain came back to her, making her fall and scream in pain, but she got up and painted her claws at the citizens.

“Get back!” She yelled “All of you! Get back!” She walked to them, parting the crowd, each looking frightened at her appearance. Panic got the best of her; she turned and ran out of the town and into the forest nearby, disappearing from sight.

“... Find her!” One of the griffins spoke before they flapped their wings.

Laura sprinted like she never had before; she had killed some griffins by herself, and she was going to be hunted because of this! It wasn’t like her to fight, not at all! All that went through her mind was for her to find a place to hide, and hopefully stay there until she can find a new disguise, or wait for a few years until she was but forgotten.

She lost her footing as she tripped and fell, stumbling down a small hill before she stopped by slamming against a tree. “Ugh… ooh.” She groaned as she hugged her stomach from the pain. “Mmh, damn it.” She mumbled as she curled close to herself. ‘I can’t stop. I gotta keep moving.’ She thought, slowly getting up as she was much slower with the small pain, making sure she wouldn’t trip and fall again. “What even came over me..?” She asked out loud.

“There she is!” One of the griffins yelled, pointing to her.

“Shit!” She shouted as she started running again, ignoring the pain as she wanted to run as fast and as far as she could away from the griffon that spotted her. However, she began to tire and feel light headed again. It was only a few feet, but she fell again, her sight blacking out as multiple griffins came and landed around her. Her eyes closed once again, drifting her off to sleep.