The Last Knight of Gryphonstone
Written by The Drunken Sailor
The wind and rain raged violently as Gallus rode the updrafts to glide and land heavily at the edge of the stone cliff. Raindrops pattering off his steel plate cuirass and dampening the long flowing blue cape that hung from his shoulders.
Gallus stood before the wide maw of a cave that lead deep into the rock, from within its dark depths Gallus spotted a faint but still visible golden shine. A glow most glorious which was accompanied by a soft, high-pitch, song-like whine which echoed down the cavern to Gallus' ears.
He drew his sword, a long and sharp glittering thing and-
“Oi! Wake up, you lazy-feathered idiot! Ya got chores ta do!”
Gallus groaned as he opened his eyes. Sunlight steamed through a window into his small makeshift of a nest. His bed was not much more than a pile of blankets and pillows bundled together with precious little else filling out the room.
Gallus sat up and stretched his wings while thinking back to his dream. He had been having that exact dream for the past months or so, ever since he had returned to Gryphonstone for the summer break. He didn't mind though, the dream made him feel like a knight of old...
“Gallus! Get yer tail down here! Now!”
“I'm coming, gramps!” Gallus yelled back. “No need to get your feathers in a twist!”
Gallus finally climbed out of bed and glided down the small drop from his perch to the kitchen. Sitting at the table was Grandpa Gruff, looking as gnarled as ever as he peered at Gallus with his one good eye.
“What's got you so chipper, then?” Gruff asked Gallus, realized he had been smiling and dropped it.
“Nothing, slept well,” Gallus said, gramps didn't want to hear about his dreams.
“Well then you should have plenty of energy,” Gruff grunted. “Hurry up and get yer chores done, later today we're goin' on a hunt for fresh meat, might even get lucky to find somethin' large enough for the two of us, now hop to it!”
The first thing to do was get water from the well. So, Gallus grabbed a bucket and went outside. The sun was now well past the horizon and set alight the streets of the city. The term “city” is rather generous, as Gryphonstone was only a crumbling shadow of what it once was.
True, progress had been made recently. Someone had attempted to rebuild the outer walls as to maybe discourage as many Sky Raiders from attacking them, the result was little more than a short pile of rocks circling around the perimeter.
The library had been rebuilt to a reasonable degree though, mostly due to the personal investment of none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle herself. She had poured her own personal money into rebuilding the structure, restoring the books, and even repairing the statue outside. As well as finding a willing librarian and explaining, in very clear terms, that they were not to charge money for people borrowing books.
Despite all that though. Gallus couldn't help but look to the cracked cobblestone streets, overgrown stone walls, and unstable nests and think that Gryphonstone still had a far cry to go before it was the glorious capital of the kingdom that it once was.
Gallus made his way towards the town well where he attached his bucket to the available rope and began to lower it down. He heard it splash into the water below and began hauling the bucket back up. Just then there was the flap of wings and suddenly Gallus wasn't alone.
"Hey kid," Gilda said, carrying a bucket of her own. "Old bird cracking the whip hard this morning?"
"Yeah," Gallus said, unhooking his bucket from the pulley and letting Gilda attach hers.
"You seem to be in high spirits though," Gilda said. "Sleep well?"
"You could say that."
"Gaaaaaaalluuuussss~" echoed a cheerful voice and Gallus turned to see Gabby gliding down, her usual big smile on her beak.
"Good morning!" Gabby said. "Gallus! You look so good this morning! Some something with your feathers?"
"Says he just slept well," Gilda chimed in.
"Yeah, had a nice dream," Gallus said, a tad wistfully.
"Wait, dream? Oh wait..." Gilda rolled her eyes. "Not the idol again..."
"I can't help what I dream about!" Gallus said in protest.
"Yeah but I think that's a sign of obsession," Gilda shook her head. "I told you the Idol of Boreas fell down the Abyssal Abyss."
"Of come on, Gilda!" Gabby said with a smile. "I think it's cute! Gallus likes fairytales!"
"It's not a fairytale," Gallus insisted. "The idol exists, it's just missing."
"Yeah, it's lost, forever," Gilda said.
"It doesn't have to be," Gallus said.
"We don't need that old thing anyway," Gilda retorted. "As annoying as ponies are they're right about that, we just need to work together, don't they teach you all this at that friendship school?"
"Yes but," Gallus said. "Professor Applejack said that one of the best ways to make friends and bond with people is to work together towards a common goal, so together as friends couldn't we find the idol? It's a part of our history and culture, and without is Gryphon's around here don't have much proof that friendship is worth much do they?"
"We could, if it wasn't lost forever," Gilda said. "Bother Gruff about this, he'll say the same thing, and he's old enough to remember the Age of the King."
"He hates it when I ask him about that stuff," Gallus whined. "Says I shouldn't give myself hope, I'll only end up disappointed."
"Maybe he's not totally wrong," Gilda shrugged, she took to the air. "Later, kid."
"If it makes you feel better, Gally, I'd love to find the Idol of Boreas with you!" Gabby exclaimed. "I just don't know where to start!"
"Neither do I," Gallus said, picking up his bucket. "See you later, Gabs."
"Bye Gally!"
Gallus flew back to Gruff's nest and deposited the bucket of water into a large basin that lay in the kitchen. He then went about his other usual tasks, sweeping away what dust and dirt had gathered, though it was often a fruitless effort. Though he couldn't clean out Gruff's private room, which was always locked.
"Gallus! It's huntin' time!" Grandpa Gruff would call out later that afternoon.
The two of them left the ruinous city with spears in their grips and extras strapped to their backs as they went on the prowl. They flew low amongst the trunks of the forest that lay below the high peaks of Gryphonstone, taking care to not make much noise.
Gallus enjoyed hunting, it was exciting none the least. The effort and skill it took to track down good game in these woods made the whole process that much more rewarding. He knew that his more vegetable-inclined friends back at school would likely balk at the idea of eating a once-alive creature. But that was Equestria, this was Gryphonstone. Food is food, meat is meat.
Gruff signaled for them to land with a gesture and they softly set themselves down on the grass. Gruff leaned down and inspected the dirt closely.
"See that?" Gruff pointed to a patch of ground, the dirt had been disturbed, the grass flattened. "Boar, and a large one too, probably a male."
They followed the trail northward, following the torn-up grass, broken branches, and mud. Boars weren't hard to track, but they were hard to take down. If you managed to do it you not only won meat galore but praise and admiration as a hunter and warrior.
They stalked the boar over a small bend in the ground to where they found it, in a small cave of sorts. More of a rocky alcove, the grey rock sweeping upwards and overtop like a roof. Dry brush, loose branches, and torn fauna littered the flattened area around the den. Gallus and Gruff crouched just within the thick brush, the earthy tones of their fur and features providing natural camouflage.
"I'll take the east flank, you go west," Gruff hissed quietly. "Once yer ready I'll hop out and get the bastard's attention. Once I do you fly out and get it, you remember how?"
Gallus did, he'd been taught how to befell a boar. Fly over. Speartip right through the center of the neck. Severs the spine, and it dies without pain.
Gruff stalked eastwardly and Gallus did the same in a westerly fashion. Taking care where he put his claws. The boar didn't seem to notice that two predators were circling his den, he was content to stick his snout in the muck. Once Gallus was in position he let out a high pitched whistle, one that he knew Gruff could hear but the boar could not. After a few moments, Gruff answered back, and so it began.
Gruff leaped out of the bush right in front of the boar ant let out a roar. The boar reared in fright and squealed but quickly righted itself in a clear stance to charge as Gruff. Gallus wasted no time grasping his spear and taking to the air, he only needed one flap of his wings to get there before he leveled the spear and let his weight fall onto the boar as the tip pierced its thick hide with a gruesome thunk!.
"Nice kill, for a young'un," Gruff said as Gallus stepped off the now lifeless boar. "Pull out the spear and take a breather for the flight home, you're carryin' him."
The flight home was slow as the boar was heavy and Gallus needed to take frequent breaks. They had taken a brief respite just at the base of Gryphonstone's mountainous slope when Gallus spotted figures far in the sky. There was at least twenty, and they were heading straight for his home. Gallus felt an uneasiness at the sight, but Gruff insisted they push on.
Yet as Gallus suspected, trouble awaited them there.
Commotion, yelling and screaming, these sounds filled Gryphonstone as rough figures corralled the populace into the town square. They were all shaggy and filthy individuals, clad in poor quality patchwork armour of leather and steel, their weapons crude but deadly.
"Sky Raiders..." Gallus growled.
"Keep your dumb beak shut and do as they say!" Gruff snapped back as they were corralled with the rest into one group. Once they were the leader of the raiders presented himself. There were many Warchief's of the Sky Raiders, Gallus knew this one, Ironclaw. Appropriately named as his left claws were encased permanently within an iron apparatus which ended each of his fingers in long iron daggers which could rip a Gryphon apart, and most likely had.
"Alright, you know the drill," he grunted. Without question everyone began piling goods before Ironclaw, mostly bags of grain and other foodstuffs, though some bits and other currencies. All did so with a look of passive acceptance, this was the way things were.
Yet Gallus didn't move, he kept one claw resting on the boar carcass as he stood there. Ironclaw scanned the crowd and eventually, his beady eyes landed upon Gallus. He seemed more passively disinterested than anything even as he approached Gallus.
"The boar, son," Ironclaw said with surprising gentleness. "Now."
"It's not yours," Gallus said defiantly, he caught Gruff's aghast look but ignored it. Ironclaw seemed bemused, and he turned to glance at some of the other Raiders with raised eyebrows. A few of them shrugged, and as Ironclaw turned back he raised his iron appendage and smacked Gallus hard in the face with it, knocking him to the ground. Gallus landed in the dirt with a cry of pain.
"You know the rules, boy," Ironclaw said, he sounded almost sympathetic. "Now we'll be taking that boar..."
"No!" Gallus snapped, righting himself up and lunging towards Ironbeak yet something stopped him. Gruff's surprisingly strong grip holding him in place.
"That's enough! Let it go!" Gruff snarled. Ironbeak watched the display with something approaching pity as two of his raiders dragged the boar carcass away.
"We thank you for your generous donation," Ironbeak said. "Until next time."
With that the Sky Raiders promptly left, carrying with them loads of good so easily taken. Gallus wrestled himself free of Gruff's claws and stood up, all around him people stared at him with pity.
"Why did you stop me?" Gallus demanded.
"As much of a prat as you are I don't rightly feel like watchin' you get yourself killed," Gruff spat.
"We can't just roll over and let them do this! We should stand up for ourselves!" Gallus looked around, none could meet his eye. They looked ashamed. "There was a time no Sky Raider would ever dare threaten or steal from us! When the king was around-"
"There is no king!" Gruff snapped. "You understand? No king, no idol, no brave knights, no heroes. This is real life, boy, not a fairy tail, and in real life the strong take from the weak; and we're the weak, you'd do best to remember that!"
"But it doesn't have to be that way!" Gallus argued. "We don't have to just accept it."
"We do if we want to see next winter," Gruff said solemnly. "Grow up, Gallus, friendship and dreams doesn't do much other than give false hope."
Gruff stormed off and the rest of the crowd wondered away, leaving Gallus to stew in defeat. He sat down with a heavy sigh as Gilda and Gabby approached him.
"Buck up, kid," Gilda said. "These old birds are just set in their ways."
"I'd just wish they'd listen, but I'm just a kid, right?" Gallus sighed again.
"Maybe Grandpa's got a point, Gally, what could we really do about it?" Gabby asked.
"We outnumber the Raiders almost three to one, if we worked together and stood up for ourselves they wouldn't be able to steal from us," Gallus said. "But everyone's too afraid, too selfish, they've forgotten what friendship and working together can do if only I could show them..."
"Been trying, kid, but you and I both are still friendship novices," Gilda said. "And short of sending half of Gryphonstone to that school of yours or having Princess Twilight commit to teaching these old birds full time, it's going to be a long time before it takes hold."
"That's why we need to show them what can be accomplished, with something they understand and believe in," Gallus said.
"The idol?" Gabby asked.
"Gallus..." Gilda said tiredly. "You really ought to let it go, it's just a statue."
"It's part of our history, part of our culture," Gallus said. "It doesn't define who we are but that doesn't make it a less important symbol, it is important and it might be the only thing to give hope back to Gryphonstone."
"Even if you're right we've been over this before," Gilda said. "You have nowhere to start."
"I know, I know," Gallus said sadly. "See you guys around."
"See ya, kid."
"Bye Gally! Hope you feel better!"
Gallus trudged his way home, dragging his claws as he did so. It was often that one had days like today, where the bad outweighed the good tenfold, that was just how Gryphonstone was.
When he arrived home Gruff was nowhere to be found, instead Gallus found a note laying on the table.
"Gone to find more food. Stay out of trouble."
Gallus huffed as he scrunched up the note and threw it away. Stay out of trouble, how more patronizing could Gruff be? Gallus sat down, his thoughts turning angrier. Gruff was constantly like that, treating him like a kid, not listening, not caring, what a sad old feather-duster! He'd given up a long time ago, and that fact frustrated Gallus so much he began to pace.
Maybe he was a kid but no adult wanted to do anything! They'd all rolled over, submitted, Gallus couldn't do that. For much of his young life he fended for himself with no family to speak of, had he given up hope then that would've meant his death. It was impossible they all said, but shouldn't they at least try?
In frustration Gallus punched the nearby wall, the blow echoed and bounced with gave Gallus pause. He looked at the wall and hit it again, echo. He turned to the opposite wall and hit it, no echo. Hollow? Gallus wondered, tapping at the echoing wall. He looked about him, even though he had lived here a long while it wasn't exactly his house and he wasn't sure Gruff would appreciate him snooping around.
Then again, who cared what that old coot thought?
A seam in the wall ran vertically from top to bottom, Gallus ran his claws along the seam and around the middle they slipped in to a small hole where he gained grip. With an audible click and to Gallus' amazement the wall slide open to reveal a small space just behind it. Contained within the space was two objects; a locked chest and a long thin package wrapped in cloth which leaned against it.
The lock on the chest was solid and there was no getting through it. So Gallus picked up the package, it had weight to it and as he unwrapped the cloth it was slow ply revealed what it truly was. A sword. The most beautiful sword Gallus had ever seen. It's craftsmanship put the crude and rusted things that the Sky Raider's carried to shame.
The sheath it was contained within was a solid dark leather inlaid with intricate designs of wings, crowns, and runes that Gallus couldn't read. The crossguard was polished to a shine and crafted to appear as the spread wings of an eagle, or more likely, a Gryphon, with the tips extending towards the blade. The grip was a long one wrapped in soft red material which ended in a beautifully carved round pommel with a glittering ruby at its centre.
With shaking claws Gallus drew the blade from its sheath. It slid smoothly and silently from the leather, the polished and well-oiled double-edged blade reflected the afternoon sun. The mere sight of such a thing stunned Gallus so much he could hardly comprehend it. Yet as he took the grip of the sword properly it felt natural, good even like he had done it a thousand times before. Gallus poised himself to take a test swing and-
"Havin' fun?"
Gallus nearly dropped the sword as he whipped around to see Grandpa Gruff standing there glaring at him.
"W-what are you doing back so early?" Gallus stuttered.
"I was going to see if you wanted to come back out hunting to make you feel better about our last catch," Gruff said. "Seems you've entertained enough snoopin' around where ya don't belong."
"I'm sorry," Gallus said, sheathing the sword. "But where did you get this?! It's in such good condition! Look at the crossguard! And these runes here! That's High Gryphonian, the language of Kings! This sword must have been past down generation to generation for thousands of years! Why is it sitting here?!"
"It's mine," Gruff said, a touch of sadness to his tone.
"Y-yours? But a sword like this had to belong to a Knight of the Sky!... What aren't you telling me, Gramps?"
"Never you mind!" Gruff snapped, snatching the sword from Gallus. "There are no more knights, you hear me! Should've known you'd snoop this place out eventually, my fault for being sentimental! Well no longer!"
Gruff turned heel and marched out the front doors, taking the sword with him. Gallus hurried in a panic.
"Gramps? What are you doing? Gramps?!" Gallus asked he followed Gruff as he quickly existed the city and headed towards... The lake.
"No!" Gallus shouted, standing in front of Gruff. "You can't!"
"Out of my way!" Gruff shoved past Gallus. "I should have done this a long time ago."
"Wait! Just wait! That's part of our past! Our history! You can't just!-"
Gruff reached the edge of the lake and without hesitation, he tossed the sword into the air. It spun end over end before landing nearly directly in the center of the lake with a splash before sinking into the deep waters.
Gallus collapsed in the sand and felt tears spring to his eyes. Just moments ago he had held and seen a real piece of history, his history, now it was gone.
"B-but why?" He asked.
"It's time to let the past die," Gruff said angrily. "You need to let go of these fairy tales and stories, look what they do to you, it's a hunk of metal, Gallus, save your tears."
"That's our history, Gramps, we have so few pieces of that left," Gallus sobbed. "That was a sacred sword, a holy sky knight's sword, imagine what the king would've thought if-"
"Gryphonstone has no king!" Gruff snapped. "Gryphonstone needs no king."
With that he left, leaving Gallus to mourn. Gallus stayed there for a while, mostly feeling sorry for himself and wondering how any one Gryphon could be so angry and bitter. It got dark before Gallus picked himself off the ground and went home. He was silent as he could be re-entering the house and he did his best to try and sleep.
"Gallus..."
"Gallus....."
Gallus opened his eyes. He lay on the rocky floor of a long cavern which dipped deeper into the earth. The darkness lit only by the flickering flame of a torch that lay next to him. Somehow Gallus knew this place though he was sure he had never seen it before...
"Gallus..."
The whisper came along a warm breeze which ruffled his feathers, it came from deeper within the cavern. An enticing golden illumination bouncing off the damp rocks to sparkle into Gallus' eye. Without question Gallus followed it, carefully navigating down the tunnel, and as he progressed a sound reached his ears; the angelic tinkle and deeper grand tolls of bells.
Gallus turned a corner and the light was almost blinding here, when his eyes adjusted they set upon a most holy sight. It was a grand hall, one not unlike that would have been used in a king's palace. At the back stood a throne, now empty, and it stood at the head of a long table which was set as if for a grand feast which other chairs and fine plates, yet no food was present.
At the head of the table just in front of the throne was the source of the light. A fine silk cloth was draped over the all too familiar shape with the ends of it being stirred by some ethereal breeze, wisps of golden light danced around it and a quiet song sang its name.
The dust of sunsets blown in by the northwind, the Idol of Boreas.
"Gallus..." Came the call once more, a voice, many voices, emanating from the Idol. Deep and commanding, soothing yet terrifying. "Lower yourself before this place, Gallus, for you stand upon holy ground."
To shocked to think Gallus lowered himself into kneeling as the warm golden tendrils swirled around him.
"I don't understand... Who are you?" Gallus asked.
"I am the spirit of your ancestors, of Grover and Guto, the Light of Kings, and I would call upon you, my son, Gallus."
"Call on me? For what?"
"I have watched the pride fade from the Winged Throne, I have seen the once grand Knights of the Holy Sky fall from grace, and I have watched the people of Gryphonstone suffer and languish in stricken squalor, no longer."
"B-but... What could I do? I'm no one, I barely have a name, I'm just an orphan who... Who no one wants," Gallus said.
"You are a Son of the Sky as all my children are, and you shall be the kindling to relight the flame of the Gryphon Kingdom. Seek this idol of gold, Gallus, for it holds within it the symbol of our people's pride."
"But they won't listen to me, they won't help me! You've got the wrong Gryphon, I can't do this-"
"You can and you will!" the voice thundered as the very earth shook with its momentary fury, Gallus cowered in fear from his spot on the ground, until the warmth embraced him once more and the voice spoke again with gentleness. "Oh Gallus, look upon the table."
Gallus looked up, saw the empty plates and goblets, and before his eyes they filled. Golden light shined and food, warm and welcoming filled the plates mad drink filled the goblets. Gallus became slack jawed at the sight.
"Our people deserve this bounty, a life of milk and honey. They can be a great people if they want to be, they only need the light to show them the way, for this above all I send them you... My chosen son..."
The light grew and blinded Gallus once more as the sound of bells and and the touch of warmth left him yet lingered. Even as he opened his eyes once again and he found himself in his bed, the morning day sun streaming through his window. It took Gallus a moment to get his bearings, there was no cave and no idol... Or had there been?
It had seemed so very real, the voices, the sensations, but it couldn't be real could it? Gallus had dreamt of silly things like that before, this one was just more intense because... Of how rough the day had been, that must be it. Best just to ignore it, as Gruff had told him, he needed to let go.
Gruff was awake but didn't say much other than a grunted greeting, Gallus was okay with that. Things would be pretty cold between them for a little while, not that they were ever really that close. Gallus doubted his "Grandpa" really gave a toss about him, only that he do his chores and not be so annoying.
Gallus went about his chores silently, starting with gathering water from the well. Like before he lowered his bucket into the well as like before as he was pulling it back up Gilda appeared.
"Listen, Gallus..." Gilda began awkwardly. "About all that stuff you said... About the idol..."
"I know, I know," Gallus said tiredly. "I should just let it go, maybe you're right, I get to attached to fairy tails I guess."
"No, Gallus I..." Gilda looked around her to see if anyone was listening in. "I saw the idol"
"Wait, what?"
"In a dream, I saw it, I was in a cave and then there was a throne and a table with the idol under a cloth," Gilda shuttered. "And a voice, it told me that I would help you find the idol..."
"I had the same dream!" Gallus exclaimed.
"Gally!" Came a cry and Gabby came borrowing from the sky, nearly crashing right into Gallus. "Gally I had the craziest dream, there was a cave, and a throne, and a table, and the idol of Boreas! And this scaaaary voice!"
"We know," Gallus and Gilda said together.
"You do?!" Gabby exclaimed.
"We all had the same dream, somehow," Gilda explained.
"Princess Twilight once told us about a time when Princess Luna used her dream magic to make all the ponies in Ponyville share a dream," Gallus offered. "But I don't think she had anything to do with this."
"Then what could it mean?" Gabby asked.
"Well, the idol said to me that I should look for it... Maybe that's what it is? The old tales always said the idol was magical, and it could almost think for itself," Gallus said.
"That's impossible," Gilda scoffed.
"Is it? The Tree of Harmony was like that, able to talk to us, maybe this is sort of the same thing?" Gallus said. "But instead of a tree it's an idol, and instead of harmony it's..."
"Gryphon-y Magic?" Gabby offered.
"But Gryphon's don't have magic!" Gilda said.
"We can walk on clouds and move the weather like Pegasi can, that's magic," Gallus argued. "And the old legends said the Gryphon King was given magical wisdom from the Idol, almost like all the previous kings were speaking to him."
"Okay, okay, say you're right," Gilda said. "We still don't know where to even start."
"Actually, I think I do," Gallus said.
"How?"
"Call it instinct, I dunno, but meet me by the lake at sunset, okay?"
"What? That's it? We can't just take off out of nowhere!" Gilda exclaimed.
"I'm in! I'm in!" Gabby said. "Gryphon adventure! Yay!"
"We'll we're going, with or without you!" Gallus said stubbornly, Gilda stomped in frustration.
"Bah! I'd never hear the end of it if you two got yourself hurt, fine! I'll come."
"You won't regret this! I swear!" Gallus said, flying off.
He didn't say a word to Gruff about any of this, no doubt he would have tried to stop Gallus if anything just because the old bird thought the whole idea was stupid. Gallus did his chores and waited patiently for the sun to begin to dip towards the horizon and for Gruff to inevitably fall asleep in his chair. Gallus left no note, there wasn't much he could say anyway, and he slipped out quietly.
The sun brightly lit the sky in a brilliant orange when Gallus arrived at the lake, Gabby and Gilda were not long to join him.
"So what's the plan, kid?" Gilda asked.
"There's a sword at the bottom of this lake," Gallus said, gesturing to the water. "Long story, but we're going to need it."
"A sword? Cool! But uh, I can't swim, I know neither of you can swim..." Gabby said. "So how are we going to get it?"
"I uh..." Gallus stuttered.
"Didn't think that far?" Gilda finished.
"Shut up, let me think, maybe we can-"
"Hey look!" Gabby exclaimed. "Bubbles!"
They all looked and indeed at the centre of the lake bubbles were rising to the surface, slowly at first but with gaining intensity. The water began to froth and churn almost as if it was boiling in a localized area. To the great awe of the three Gryphon's observing an object emerged from the steam and mist, water glittered off of metal in the golden sunset as a sword emerged from the lake.
"Dear Boreas..." Gilda said in a breathlessly shocked voice.
Before their eyes the sword floated along the surface of the lake unnaturally towards them until it washed up on the sand at Gallus' claws. Without question he picked it up, the weight and feel of the weapon confirmed that what he had seen must have been real. Instinctively Gallus drew the blade and the polished metal caught the golden sunset, the light collecting in a golden beam which shot through the air and pointed in a northeastern fashion.
"The dust of sunsets..." Gabby whispered.
"Blown in by the north wind," Gallus finished. "This is how we'll find our way."
Gallus sheathed the blade after taking careful note of the direction that the light had been pointing. She turned and gave a smile to Gilda who still seemed in a state of shock and awe.
"Still any doubt?" He asked.
"After that? I don't have a good enough imagination to dream all this..." Gilda shook her head. "Wait until the Ponies hear about this."
"Princess Twilight will ask a million questions," Gallus laughed. "But that's for later, for now, we know which direction we're going."
As they set off their surroundings swiftly turned to temperate forest. Tall dark leafed trees evenly set apart surrounded them with plenty of game trails and paths to follow. Wildlife was plentiful and judging by the lack of fear many of them showed towards the three predators wondering through their home it had been a long time since anyone had been here.
Though the forest seemed like any other the environment gave off a pervasive sense of unease. Something was odd, unsettling, though none of them could place why they felt this way. Gallus thought to himself, fearfully, that it was almost felt like they were being watched.
This feeling doubled as very suddenly and unnaturally a thick fog rolled in. It happened in seconds and before any of them realized they could barely see a centimetre in front of their faces let alone each other.
"You guys still there?" Gallus called out, the fog almost seemed to muffle his voice.
"Yeah I'm right next you, I think," Gilda said, Gallus could hear a tremor in her voice, he wondered if he sounded scared.
"I'm here!" Gabby didn't sound scared, just cheerful as she always did. That made Gallus feel slightly better.
"W-well lets keep going, but slowly," Gallus stammered, a cold breeze made him shiver. He swore he saw things moving in the fog, just put of sight...
"You guys wanna hear a joke?" Gabby's cheerful voice cut through the fog.
"I don't think now' the best time..." Gilda said.
"I do!" Gallus said, grateful for the distraction.
"What has ears but can't hear a thing?" Gabby asked, already giggling at her own joke. "A cornfield!"
Gilda groaned but Gallus couldn't help but snort put a laugh, Gabby was in a fit of giggles at her own joke.
"What do you call a dog magician?" Gabby asked. "A Labracadabrador!"
Gilda couldn't help but let out a laugh at that one and Gallus felt himself bubbling with giggles breathlessly.
"What did the limestone say to the geologist?" Gabby asked, barely able to control herself. "Don't take me for... Granite!"
They all completely lost it at that one, laughing so hard they had to stop walking just to collect themselves. Gallus felt he fear fade and with it, the fog seemed to pull back just as quickly and unnaturally as it had arrived. Their laughter echoing and pushing it away.
"There's more where that came from!" Gabby said breathlessly.
"I think... I think we're good," Gallus said, a large smile on his beak. "C'mon, who knows how much farther we got to go?"
Without the mist, the forest seemed brighter and the trees began to clear as they entered a clearing. In the center of this clearing was carve a fissure into the ground that stooped dramatically down into the earth. Blocking off the entrance to the fissure, much to the trio's confusion, was a pair of large metal doors with twin doorknockers that appeared as Gryphon's.
They all exchanged looks with one another and Gallus drew the sword, the now barely present light of the sun still caught the blade and the resulting beam indicated clearly to the doors. Gallus sheathed the blade and shrugged to his companions as he approached the doors, out stretching a grasping claw he gripped one of the door knockers and pulled.
To his great astonishment and momentary terror the Gryphon-snapped knocker bag an to move, it's stone beak closed and opened and it's carved eyes blinked. Gallus yelped and skittered away as the stone head began to speak in a gravelly voice.
"Only when the hidden truth is spoken shall these doors be opened!""
The trio exchanged glances and Gallus swallowed his fear enough to approach the door once again.
"What hidden truth?" He asked. No answer came.
"Oh! Maybe it's a riddle!" Gabby exclaimed.
"It sounds pretty straightforward though," Gallus said. "A hidden truth, okay... What's something you guys have never told anyone?"
"Oh! I tell everyone I love muffins but I really prefer cupcakes," Gabby said. "Or one time to was told only to have one cookie but I took two! How about how I really miss getting hugs ever since I went to Equestria? Or how about-"
"-I don't think that's working, Gabs," Gallus interrupted, he thought for a moment then looked uncomfortable. "Well, there is... Okay, her goes it... I, uh, I have a... I have a crush on one of my friends, but I'm too afraid to tell them."
Still no response from the door.
"Well that didn't work, still pretty embarrassing though, kid," Gilda teased, making Gallus blush.
"Well, what about you then? You're the only one left!" He demanded.
"Got nothing to hide," Gilda shrugged.
"Lies!" the door knocker shouted.
"No, it isn't! There's no hidden truth with me!" Gilda exclaimed.
"Lies!"
"It's the truth!"
"LIES"
"Fine! Fine!" Gilda yelled. "I was supposed to spread friendship to Gryphonstone and I haven't! I gave up almost immediately! And Gryphonstone hasn't changed at all because I haven't done anything about it!"
There was a pause as Gilda caught her breath and shook with emotion. The door knocker seemed to peer at her skeptically before it spoke again.
"Thank you for your honesty" it said, and the door creaked open.
Gilda slumped to the ground and Gallus approached her, placing a comforting claw on her back.
"You tried, that's what counts," Gallus said. "Change can be hard, but you have us now, and when we find the Idol, and we will, the next step will be teaching Gryphon's how to work together again. I'm still just a friendship student, but I'm sure between the three of us we can do it."
"Yeah!" Gabby exclaimed. "All you have to do is ask, Gilda!"
"Thanks, kid," Gilda sniffed, she stood up, confidence reinvigorating her. "C'mon, we still got an idol to find."
The crevasse led them deeper into the earth and as the sun finally dipped behind the horizon they were in almost total darkness. The light of the moon unable to peak through into the fissure.
"Can't see two meters in front of my beak," Gilda said. "How're we supposed to get along like this?"
"Wait, what's that light?" Gabby asked.
Gallus looked down and saw a golden light emitting from the sword sheath, grasping the hilt he drew the blade to find it encased in ethereal golden light. It cut through shadow sharply and lit the way forward.
Yet, along their path was illuminated a small form. At first, Gallus thought it was a rock but then he saw it breathing and then two large eyes peered out at him.
"H-hello?" The small filly asked.
"What in the name of Grover..." Gilda said.
"Shhh, uh... Hello, sweatheart," Gallus said softly. "Where are your parents?"
"I... Don't know," the small filly said quietly, her large tortoise eyes gleamed with tears. "I think they l-left me... Don't want me anymore..."
"Now, now, I'm sure that's not true," Gallus said, feeling his chest tighten. "I'm sure they're looking for you right now, but they probably are having trouble seeing in the dark. How about we take you out of this hole and find your parents?"
"Gallus!" Gilda hissed. "We don't have time for that."
"We can't just leave her here," Gallus.
"I know but we've been gone for almost a day now, every minute we're out here we risk running into something we can't think our way through, backtracking is a bad idea," Gilda argued. "I'm not suggesting we abandon her but-"
"-But we don't know how far this goes forward," Gallus said. "But we do no the way we came in isn't far, I know what it's like to feel... Not wanted, so I'm going to help her the best I can, it's the kind thing to do."
"You're right," Gilda sighed. "Of course you're right."
Gallus smiled and turned back to the frightened filly. "We're going to take you out of here, okay? Don't worry, we'll keep you safe."
"O-okay," the filly sniffed.
Gallus gently picked her up and placed her in the soft spot on his back, nestled between his wings as he started off leading them all back out of the crevasse by the light of his sword. Strangely, when they reached the exit, the double door was nowhere to be seen.
They climbed to the surface and the inky black seemed to fade away as they were illuminated by the bright light of a full moon. Gallus carefully took the filly off his back and placed her on the ground.
"There you go, sweetheart," Gallus said. "Now, do you recognize anything? Where did you last see your parents?"
"I see them over there!" The filly said, yet, when Gallus looked again, he couldn't see her, but here voice still echoed. "Thank you, sir! That was very kind of you!"
"What the..." Gallus said, looking around.
"Gallus, I don't think she was real," Gilda said, a disturbed look on her face.
"Spooky!" Gabby said, with a shutter.
"And we wasted time for nothing," Gilda grumbled.
"Hey, I don't know what that was, but what if it *had* been real? We can't be afraid to show a little kindness just on the off chance that it backfires," Gallus said. "Anyway, maybe we should just rest here and wait until morning?"
"Rest how?" Gilda snapped. "None of us brought any camping supplies! Food! Anything! We just ran into the forest without a plan! Bah! I knew this was stupid!"
"Hey! You agreed to be here, I didn't make you!" Gallus said firmly back. "No one said this would be easy, but it's worth doing isn't it? You've done nothing but complain and mosh the entire time! Do you want to be here or not?"
"I..." Gilda sighed. "I do."
"Then chin up," Gallus said in a softer tone, and offered a smile. "And pick a spot on the ground, try and make yourself comfortable."
Gallus found a patch of soft grass for himself and laid down with his limbs tucked under him. His fur and feathers would keep him warm courting the night. With his sword clasped tightly in his claws Gallus suddenly realized how exhausted he had become. He yawned and lay his head down to drift off to sleep.
"Gallus!" Gilda hissed. "Wake up!"
When Gallus opened his eyes he saw the sky was a murky blue, the pale inklings of dawn hours before the sun broke the horizon. Thus he could see reasonably clearly around them until the trees became too thick and all was an inky dark.
"We hear something..." Gabby said, she was shaking in fear. "Coming from the woods."
There! The snap of a twig, the rustle of leafs. Gallus' claw gripped the hilt of his sword but he was too slow before no less than five figures dove from the tree line to surround them. They were all clad in dirty and stained attire, mismatched prices of cloth and leather padding with the odd piece of steel armour where they could fit it. Poor green hoods hung over their heads so only their eyes glinted over their gnarled beaks at them.
"Dangerous out 'ere in the woods, kiddies," one grunted. "Lots o' bad sorts, ya know? Why don't ya come along with us then, and we'll take care of ya?"
To emphasize his meaning the brute clasped the hilt of a rusty cleaver, a crude weapon, but deadly.
"I don't think so," Gallis said, doing his best to make his voice sound steady and firm. He eased his sword just slightly out of its scabbard.
"A mighty warrior are we?" One of them laughed. "A pretty stick ya got there though, mind if we have a look?"
The brutes had surrounded them, there was nowhere to go as they slowly closed in. Their eyes wild, hungry.
"S-stay back!" Gallus said fearfully, he drew the blade but his grip shook and the sword felt heavier than ever before.
"Put that down, boy," the brute just in front of Gallus said, he ran the edge of his cleaver along the polished blade of the sword. Chips of rust and grim flaked away at the contact. "Before you get hurt."
The brutes tensed and Gallus prepared himself for the attack. Yet a flurry of movement caught his eye as it did the gang of brutes. The low light still caught the shiny surface of steel armour as the figure dive from the tree line, colliding with the brute nearest to Gallus and knocking him to the ground. He was clad in the armour of a knight, with chainmail and all, a heavy great helm covering his face.
"Sword!" He commanded, out stretching his claw to Gallus. The voice was all too familiar, rough, angry, gruff. Grandpa Gruff? Gallus didn't hesitate to flip his grip on the sword and toss it to Gruff who caught the hilt expertly and entered a combat stance.
He did so just in time to catch the wild swing of an axe at his head. Gruff deflected the axe to the side before using the opening to slam the hilt of the sword into the brute's head, knocking him to the ground where he lay still.
By this time the others were reacting to Gruff's sudden appearance. The brute who had been speaking swung his cleaver in a savage arc towards Gruff's head. Yet the blow was deflected to the side with the clashing of steel, Gruff ducked in such a way that the brute's overzealous momentum sent him stumbling. This gave time enough for Gruff to face the next charging opponent, the brute was winding up for a blow with his mace but this left his chest all to exposed. Gruff's blade sheared through the brute's poor armour and into his chest without so much effort.
With two beats of his powerful wings, Gruff shot forth, sliding along the ground toward the last two of the brutes. Skidding between them with his claws kicking up dust in his wake as he used the momentum to unleash a wide arc strike which struck both brutes in the throat.
The cleaver-wielding brute had recovered and rushed Gruff with renewed vigor. Blow after blow he threw at Gruff, each one only contacting his blade. The rusty and ill-maintained cleaver was taking a beating, whole chucks of metal splintering off with every blow.
Until finally with a great stroke, the cleaver snapped under the force of the abuse, the blade coming clean off and falling to the dirt. The brute stood stunned for a moment but stood no longer when Gruff reversed his grip on his sword, grasping it by the blade, and swung the pommel right into the brute's temple. Knocking him to the ground where he lay still.
Gruff stood on unsteady feet, his heavy breath echoing inside his helmet as he let the sword point drop into the dirt. He unbuckled his great helm and pulled it off, revealing his pallid bald skin which was drenched in a sheen of sweat. Gruff began to wobble and tilt and Gallus had to dash forward to catch him from falling over.
"Let's get somewhere safe," Gallus said.
They went a ways into the treeline and found a small clearing that was Surabaya hidden by shrubbery. Gruff unloaded his pack which was laden with food and supplied, including materials to start a fire which Gabby and Gilda quickly went about doing. Gallus lay Gruff on the softest piece of dirt he could find and let him take a drink from a waterskin.
"...you came," Gallus said, his voice breaking with emotion as his chest tightened.
"Of course I did," Gruff said. "I wasn't about to let you get yourself or hurt, son."
Tears gathered in Gallus's eyes as he lost his composure and there his arms around Gruff's neck, burning his face into his chestplate, and to Gallus' joy, Gruff returned the embrace.
"I'd never leave you hangin, kid," Gruff said softly.
"Thank you, Grandpa..." Gallus said tearfully back.
Eventually, Gallud did pull away which was when Gruff cuffed him roughly on the side of the head.
"Ow!"
"That's for giving me a near heart attack!" Gruff snapped.
"Okay! Okay! Jeez, I'm sorry," Gallus said, rubbing his head. "How'd you find us anyway? We didn't leave much of a trail."
"I had... A dream," Gruff said. "More of a vision, there was a voice, a familiar voice, I know that sounds ridiculous..."
"It doesn't at all," Gallus said. "That's what guided us out here, the Light of Kings, what did it say to you?"
"It told me you were in danger, where you were, and it reminded me... Reminded me of my oaths," Gruff said with a sigh.
"Oaths?" Gallus asked, his eyes lighting up. "Like knightly oaths? I knew it!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, alright," Gruff sighed. "Plop your rear down, I'll tell you everything, I owe you that much."
"Ooooh! Storytime!" Gabby said excitedly, sitting down next to Gallus.
"Maybe this one won't be so boring," Gilda lamented, joining them. The growing fire now basking them all in warmth, the light of the flame dancing off of Gruff's armour.
"King Guto was the last king to hold the Idol and know it's blessing, but also the King to lose it," Gruff said. "This is what history texts say, but what folks seem to forget is that Guto was not the last king. Perhaps he should have been, that would have been more merciful. Instead with the Idol lost, king after king tried to rule a kingdom without hope. Whatever spark of divine leadership that had blessed our people in the past was now past. Legends withered and died, hope and progress was replaced by fear and superstition. Kings replaced their wise advisors and generals, surrounded themselves with sycophants and philosophers. Childless elders locked themselves away in towers to ask questions of the stars. The royal line failed, and with every new crowning the kingdom was given over to lesser and lesser men."
"The Last King of Gryphonstone was named Goldbeak," Gruff continued. "In another age, he may have been a fine king, he spoke often and passionately about old glories that we had never seen, restoring a kingdom that was but a shadow of itself. It was inspiring, but empty sentiments solve nothing. King Goldbeak was paranoid and deluded, surrounded himself with ill-talented but loyal courtiers and knights."
"At the height of our Kingdom knights were chosen only from the blessed clans and trained from birth to serve the Crown, yet it had been long since the Great Clans had been great at all and many had fallen to ruin. In my youth I served first as a common soldier in the king's army, and with my service came a zealous fervour and loyalty to the idea of the crown, so taken was I with Goldbeak's talk of the legacy of our people. And it was for my loyalty, not for talent, for blood right, or by accomplishment that I took the oaths of knighthood."
"The Knights of the Sky were glorified mercenaries at the point, oh we wore the ancient armour and carried the blades of old, and the King made good investments to our training regime, but most were loyal not to honour but to the coin, they were paid it. But this suited the King just fine, as with every day he was sure he would be the target of some assassination plot."
"I doubt anyone cared enough about the crown in those years to hire an assassin," Gruff shrugged. "In the end, age and illness took him, and the King passed on with no heir and not a soul worthy of able to take his place. The fighting began almost immediately, greed had long since corrupted every institution and soon the scrap over the spoils left behind consumed the capital. The palace was ransacked and burned. Our so-called Knights slaughtered each other over pieces of gold, the ones who survived took their bounty and what warriors would follow them before fleeing to the wilderness. It is these ones who became the warlords and raider chiefs, their descendants carrying on the tradition."
"I fled all that, unable to harm the ones I swore to be my brothers, and unable to witness or stop the bloodshed, I reneged upon my oaths like a coward and hid away," Gruff looked down. "And for my sin I have remained long past that time, when all others who remember it are past, here I am."
"You're the Last Knight of Gryphonstone," Gallus said in awe.
"Knight!" Gruff spat. "Weren't you listening, boy? I have no right to such a title, that is for greater men than I."
"Saving us was a knightly thing to do," Gallus countered. "And what did the Light say? About your oaths?"
"...it said my oaths still bound me, and if I desired forgiveness and repentance, I must earn the honour that had been given to me unjustly," Gruff said.
"Exactly, help us find the Idol and bring back the hope and honour that you never got to have," Gallus said. "Do that, and you don't have to be the last knight."
"Look, kid," Gruff said. "I don't know if I believe in idols or spirits or if I have any faith in kings anymore, I'm old, and I'm tired, there'll soon be a time where I'm gone."
"Don't say that..." Gallus said sadly.
"You know it's true!" Gruff snapped. "But that's the point ain't it? I don't matter anymore, you do, it's your future, not mine. So if it's your intention to fond that Idol, then it's my duty to see you safely there, as it's the duty of every elder to guide the next generation..."
Gruff took up the sword again and sheathed it, holding the weapon out towards Gallus.
"This is yours now, and with it the future of our people, whatever you want that to be," Gruff said. "And maybe you're right, I won't be the last knight, because I can think of no one more worthy of that honour than you."
Gallus took the sword into his claws and stared at it, it's touch was already familiar to him yet the idea this sword, this symbol, belonged to him now was baffling.
"T-thank you," Gallus said, looking up at Gruff who gave a rare smile.
"Now..." Gruff began, then began shouting. "What are you two looking at?! Get that Fire goin' and get the food cookin! Take the meat from me pack!"
Gabby and Gilda were startled into action and began following Gruff's directions as the old knight rounded on Gallus.
"Now pull that sword out and give me a defensive stance!" He demanded.
"W-wha?!" Gallus said, startled.
"A defensive stance boy! Some scumbag is taking a swing at ya? How do you block it?!"
"Uh, I guess... Like this?" Gallus said, pulling the sword and holding it out in front of himself as if to block an incoming blow.
"No! No! Widen your stance! Loosen your elbows! Like this!"
And for the next few hours Gruff would harshly drill Gallus in the very basics of swordcraft. When they finally stopped to the eat the sun had left the horizon and the sky was orange.
Gallus devoured the fried strips of boar meat as Gabby and Gilda recounted their strange mystical experiences while in search of the the Idol.
"It was always said that the Idol possessed power, some ancient spiritual force going back to the origin of Gryphonnia," Gruff said.
"But why would it do any of this? Why not just lead us straight to where the Idol actually is?"
"I don't think that's for us to know," Gruff said.
"Either way..." Gallus said after swallowing the last piece of meat. "We ought to continue on."
"Then light the way," Gilda prompted.
So Gallus pulled his sword free once again, a motion that was becoming second nature. The sunlight caught it and coalesced to provide the golden beam which pointed their way.
"In the name of Boreas..." Gruff said in astonishment.
"That's the way we'll go," Gallus said.
The direction and path they took should have taken them directly to where the dark crevasse had been. Yet they travelled much father and they saw no sign of it. Instead the forest gave way to craggy rock structures which rose about them creating sizeable peaks and hills.
The temperature seemed to drop very suddenly as the sky greyed over. Wisps of snow fluttered along the wind and there was a sense of distance that Gallus had. Up until this point he had felt still so what close to home, yet here, it felt like the true frontier.
The light guided them to the far side of a particularly large rock. It was in the shadow of it that they found a surprising sight. A collection of derelict houses, no less than twelve buildings all closely constructed together and tall, appearing to be somewhat ramshackle in their design. With mismatched pieces of old wood and darkened stone, cracked and grimy windows, and the scent of coal smoke tainting the whole place.
"I've never heard of any village all the way out here," Gallus said as they followed the light right though the decrepit town.
"It's likely it started as a refugee camp or pilgrim hovel," Gruff said. "Fighting and danger all throughout the Old Kingdom make people flee to such remote places."
They saw the residents of the nameless town, most peered at them with fearful curiosity through cracks in moth-eaten curtains. A sizeable about however, simply lay on either side of the muddy road. Clad in rags and looking filthy. One such poor soul rattled a tin at them when they came close.
"Spare anything for the damned, lord?" He croaked.
"Haven't a bit on me, friend," Gruff said with genuine regret. "Sorry, but have my blessings all the same."
"Is the town struggling?" Gallus asked.
"Terribly so, child," the old Gryphon said. "Though, where isn't? Food is scarce, money scarcer, it's all we can do not to freeze when winter comes."
As Gallus looked at the elder be felt a tightening in his chest. He recalled a time that seemed so very long ago, a cold winter, going door to door and begging for food and being yelled away. Was it difficult to share what you had or didn't need? Then Gallus had an idea.
He took his sheathed sword into his claws and examined the ruby embedded in its pommel then began working his claws around the jewel. He began to pry the gem from its housing.
"Gallus! What in the name of Holy Arcturus are you doing?!" Gruff hissed.
"The sword is still a sword even without the decoration," Gallus said as he pried the ruby free. "If they sell this it will bring enough money for the entire town."
"But what about all that with it being a piece of our history!?"'Gruff demanded. "Your desecrating an artifact! A holy sword made to defend the Kings of old!"
"The Kings of old would want their people to prosper, even if it meant not having rubies in their swords," Gallus said and he offered the jewel to the elder. "Here, sell this, share the bits with the town and try and make it last."
The elder took the ruby and smiled a knowledgable smile.
"Arcturus bless your generous heart, Gallus," he said, then pointed. "And I believe that what you seek lies that way, go now, you've proven your soul to be pure."
"What do you mean-" Gallus began but his thoughts came in jumbles and his sight was covered by mist. When he saw again the elder and and the town was gone, and the ruby was back in its place upon the sword's pommel, glittering majestically in the light that now peaked through the clouds.
"What in the-" Gilda said.
"A ghost!" Gabby exclaimed.
"More like another illusion, a test I suppose?" Gallus said and then he looked to where the elder had pointed. A cave, set into a large craggy rock, it seemed all too familiar.
"It's there," Gallus said because he knew it to be true.
And so they entered the cave without fear and followed its familiar path. Warmth engulfed them and soon a golden light would fill the cave as they entered the great hall. Almost as it had been in their dreams the hall was played out like an empty king's court. The long table ending with the source of the light. Somehow the sight of it with true eyes brought Gallus to tears.
"We did it..." He said, dropping to kneel.
"And so you have."
The light intensified, so much that the idol was barely visible and Gallus felt once again a warm embrace.
"You do honour to your name, Gallus, your tenacity and your perseverance has earned you this bounty, and so I was right in my choosing of you."
"T-thank you," Gallus said.
"You seem troubled, my knight" the voice said as golden tendrils swirled around Gruff.
"I have no right to be here, lord," Gruff said. "I am an oathbreaker and coward, unworthy to look at the Idol at all."
"Your oaths remain sacrosanct, it is your duty to guide the next generation into a bright future, you must remind them of the glory of old and warn them of past mistakes as all elders do. For this is why you have been gifted a life long loved as yours, pass the torch Gruff, and your honour will be restored."
"Gabby, your joy and your enthusiasm is a light in grim times. Our people have embraced fear and hopelessness, I task you with showing them to laugh at the dark, to spread happiness and good humour back to their broken kingdom, and to never lose that smile you wear."
"Gilda, blame yourself not for our people not receiving the word of Hope you were trying to spread. You were given a task beyond your means and experience yet despite almost certain failure you did not shrink from your duty. With the light of our kingdom restored more will listen to what you have to say. Tell them of the joys of working together once more, and teach them how to cast away their selfishness and embrace the love, friendship, and kindred spirit that they have lost."
"Now all of you, my beloved children, take the golden bounty that is owed to you and return the Idol to its home. See that you let not its light shine until the moment it comes to rest at the center of the great city. With this symbol you will show our people the glory they can have if they learn to be loyal to one another, to accept the truth and speak it freely, to laugh and spread joy in the face of adversity, to show kindness to the weak, and generosity to the needy. These were once the tenants of our noble race, so they shall be again as I have spoken it!"
So the light faded and retreated into the idol itself leaving it standing there, so simple in its design yet so meaningful in its purpose. Gallus approached and carefully wrapped the idol in a cloth, cradling it as previously as he might a newborn child.
"Let's go home," he said.
The flight home, strangely, seemed far faster than it ought to have been considering the length of their initial journey. They winds themselves seemed to lend to their swift return and the skies formed clear and calm pathways all the way back to Gryphonstone.
Yet when they returned not a soul was there to greet them, though they hadn't expected a welcoming party. No one seemed to be even stirring.
"Where us everyone?" Gilda asked.
"There! Look! Fliers!" Gabby said, pointing to the sky where familiar dark shapes dive into the center square of the city.
"Sky Raiders," Gallus concluded and he felt the Idol heat up with energy. "Let's go."
The scene in the city square was all too familiar, the residents gathered together as rough brutes bullied their valuables from them. Amongst the raiders, Gallus regained a familiar face; Ironclaw.
"Don't try to hide anything! We'll find it!"
"But you won't take it!" Gallus announced as he flew right into the middle of the scene, supplanting himself between the Raiders and his people.
"You again, kid? Don't do this, it won't end well for you," Ironclaw said tiredly.
"You won't be stealing from us anymore," Gallus said. "We're not afraid."
"Look around you, kid, you can see that's not true."
"Gryphonstone has lost its hope and its honour," Gallus said. "As has the entire kingdom, your forefathers, like mine, were brave and noble people, perhaps even Knights of old. Do you think they would be smiling down at you knowing that you carried yourself like a common thief?" the words came unbidden from Gallus's beak and without fear as he gave himself over to the growing spirit within himself.
"My people need to eat, this is how we survive, it's tough, but it's true," Ironclaw said. "Now hand over what you got there, what is it anyway?"
"This? This is our hope!" Gallus declared, smiling as he took off the cover of the Idol and held it high above himself. The sunlight caught it and the golden light shined across all who stood witness to the reveal as warmth washed over the city.
"Arcturus it can't be..." Ironclaw gasped and similar cries of astonishment end hoed through the crowd, all the raiders ceased their deeds, women broke out in tears and men called out prayers and ancient sayings.
"We are both children of the sky, Ironclaw," Gallus said, laying the Idol upon a nearby stone pillar. "Heirs to the same legacy, we can be kin again, all Gryphons can be now, don't you see? Won't you accept it?"
"I never could have imagined..." Ironclaw gasped and dropped to kneel as his raiders, and the people of Gryphonstone all followed, all equal now in their loyalty.
"Gryphonstone still stands without a king, but that doesn't mean we stand without hope," Gallus said. "This Idol proves that our pride is not yet gone away and that we can be a great people once more, it will take time, it won't always be easy, but together as friends and family, we can make something of ourselves."
Then Gallus too kneeled, because he was no more than any other present there. Word would spread across the Old Kingdom of the Idol's return and great pilgrimages would be conducted just to see it. Legends of old glories would be spoken of again but now with excited joy rather than wishful nostalgia. The reversal of all the ills would not happen overnight, or even with a few years. But soon one could look into the eyes of a Gryphon and not see the sorrow anymore. Instead, they saw a spark, something magical and not fully understood, something that inspired the young and moved the old to tears. It was hope.
And hope was enough.
Author's Note
This idea took longer than expected to create, but here it is. Don't forget to comment your thoughts.
