A life stolen for a war unclaimed

"So what is it you wanna talk about in regards to the way I'm raising Spike?" Damos said as leaned in to the back of the chair getting comfy as Spike was driving. Veil sighed ruefully.

"Why are you training him to be a viscous dragon? Why are you bothering treating him like blood relation to you at all. The closest you two actually are is nothing but cousins. But your going out of your way to have him lose his virginity in a noble, albeit stupid, right of passage event. So why are you putting this much effort into him?" Veil said getting an annoyed look in the mirror from Spike Rainbow was drinking a juice box as starlight only blinked before mulling the idea in her head as she nodded.

"Veil brings up a good point, Damos..."

"Simple... Because Spike would've died without intervention." Damocles said nonchalantly. This statement caused Rainbow to do a spit take out the window which made Damocles Frown as she coughed . "Your cleaning those stains."

"I'm sorry Spike would've died? How? WHY?!" Rainbow screamed growing more distressed as they spoke.

"Hey Starlight," Spike began. "Did you know that Dragons are omnivorous?"

"Yeah, they are herbivore and geovorous aren't they?" She responded.

"To a degree." Damos answered while yawning."

"Did you know that some Dragons are carnivores? Because I didn't and neither did Twilight." Spike said a little somber "Did you know that I was among them? I didn't... Did you know that I was actually being starved of the nutrients to increase my strength, natural armors and the ability to turn my baby fat into muscles? I didn't...."

"Wait Spike... When did you start eating meat?" Rainbow asked.

"After Damos showed me that i need it." He replied happily.

"Damos how did you know?" Starlight asked worry as veil was still mentally reeling from the information bomb that was blown in her face. Starlight was answered with Damos having fallen asleep gently his wings dripping down and pooling around him.

"On his home world... His kind hunted dragons to extinction turning them into myth has time passed." Spike said softly the low humming of engine permeating the silence that filled the air with Tension. "Damos... he shared some stuff about his world as he spent time making sure I ate properly and how to prepare it properly. Among is that humans... his kind have 3 wells of infinite potential which should never be underestimated." Spike spoke as he turned the car to have it follow a main road where some griffons where beginning to be seen hauling large carriages of goods and the such.

"Wh-what were they spike?" Veil questioned her voice filled with Trepidation

"The first was their ability to learn. 'Knowledge is Knowledge any knowledge can be used for good as well as bad.' bad people have attained power using common knowledge that everyone had access to as well as good people conquering them because of 'forbidden knowledge'." Spike said

"The second?" Starlight inquired.

"Their innate ability to adapt to anything. 'life, time, hell even death are rivers weaving and bobbing through space, no two instances will ever be the same and unforeseen events may force a river to go one way, the other or both. If you cant flow with it, it will swallow you alive and that will be the end of you. To adapt is to survive, to survive is to live, to live is to die. Death devotion and bravery are the key things to adapt.'"

"Death?" Rainbow questioned. "how is that necessary to live?"

"what he told me was 'devotion inspires bravery, bravery inspires sacrifice, sacrifice leads to death. So feel free to cause as much Death as you need to adapt.'" Spike said remembering when he watched Damocles kill an elder manticore.

"whats the third then?" Rainbow asked. the pooled liquid metal immediately wrapped around the three mares' necks as Damos Spoke up.

"Never underestimate a humans Infinite potential for MALICE." His voice was dripping with untold things. None of which where threats, but all were simple promises. Everypony had a look of fear as they watched Damocles metal tendrils start to spike up going closer and closer to their throats and just as any of them felt the first pinch of a thorn threatening to pierce them it all receded to his back. Spike easily weaved between the increasing griffons as on the edge of the clearing of the forest paths the Gryphonia capital Griffonstone could be see on the mountain.
Griffons of all kinds could be seen coming and going from the Mighty refurbished and remade castle.

As the group was beginning to get closer to the main entrance of the capital they were stopped by a few Griffons with pointed spears.

"Ponies and Dragon Step out of the...... Thing! Slowly!" The guards said as they sneered. Damocles growled as he slowly stepped out followed by the rest.

"I swear to Tartarus, you mess up my Car You will pay for it." Damocles challenged.

"State your business." The lead griffon Rebutted before having an envelope thrown at him.

"We are guests of Ambassador Baron Rio. My name is Damocles Nyx Meteora, this Automated carriage is my vehicle and mode of transportation, the other ponies and Dragon are all my extra personnel i was permitted to invite. Damn Ahroun...." Damocles said. The griffon in general Squawked loudly as he read the letter in the envelope before offering a bow.

"M-my apologize Prince Damocles, We were told special guests would be on their way from Equestria, but we did not expect them so soon." He explained before returning the letter. "Would you like us to escort your... Vehicle, to the Barons estate?"

"I would Deeply appreciate this Thank you. Spike Passenger seat." Damos demanded.

"Awww" Spike gave a light sigh of disappointment before nodding as the two traded positions with the others getting in the car and following the guard griffons to the estate where they pulled up and out of the vehicle. Almost immediately a Screech from a bird was heard as Damocles was tackled down bowling over Veil before Damocles ended the rolling having pinned the Griffon to the ground with a shark like grin.

"Miss me you soulless fuck?" The female Griffon challenged.

"Nah, i havent taken a shot at you but your aim is still as impeccable as ever your trickster image bitch." Damocles replied as he got off her.

"Oh no don't mind me... i'm just the pony meant to keep an eye on you, please feel free to run me over." Veil said petulantly as she got up. Belladona blinked before looking at Damocles.

"Whose the bitch with the stick up her ass?" She said gesturing with the thumb of her talons at the pony in question.

"Veil she's supposed to be one of my... wardens? Watcher? Legally appointed stalkers!" Damocles stated as he thought what to say before settling on it. This caused Spike and Rainbow to laugh alongside a chuckling Griffon.

"Well I do see my dear daughter is in brighter spirits at your arrival Prince Damocles." A familiar voice spoke jovially to the group. "And I'm quite ecstatic that you aren't put off by her crude choice of words."

"Baron Rio, a pleasure to see you and I would get up to shake your claw but I appear to be pinned by your aforementioned daughter." Damos laughed at the expression on Belladona's face before getting the air knocked out of him with a laugh from the ponies and Dragon.