John Sampson Returns Chapter Eight

Griffonstone is beautiful by moonlight but mostly it’s a safe way to be alone. Bird eyes have amazing focus and discrimination but most of them achieve it by giving up night vision. I have enough of a crowd with my own thoughts right now. There is a lot of logic and personal benefit in the killing of one old Griffon. I can’t claim much in the way of moral high ground after the way I enjoyed torturing Dragons this morning and served a sentient (mostly) being for dinner. But I’m learning to consider Griffons as friends and relatives so killing a Griffon feels different. The part that disturbs me most is that I’ve killed Ponies with less provocation and it didn’t bother me at all. What makes this one special?

After the mental circles outstrip the aerial ones, I decide to do something practical. I need a specific answer from Twilight and I need it soon. The sun has conveniently removed all the physical reasons for delaying Galinda’s request. Granger has removed all of the legal reasons and made his assent clear in the process. All that’s left is Twilight’s approval. So I reach for the sky over Canterlot and disturb several of the Night Guard. Landing on Twilight’s Observatory, I make my way downstairs. Twilight is in her upstairs library lost in thought.

Quietly, “Hello, Twilight.”

Twilight jumps, “John!”

We meet in the middle of the room and rub cheeks for minutes.

Twilight teases, “What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Did your new marefriend boot you out?”

“Don’t you wish,” I tease back, “She’s even wilder than AJ and far more determined. In fact, that’s why I’m here. Her flock agrees and all of the legal requirements are met. If you agree, all that’s left is the final negotiation.”

“Have you thought it through, all the way through, John?” Twilight is concerned, “You know how much you love and how soon a mortal will tear that love out of you.”

“Twilight, the sun has decided to merge Ponies and Griffons into one nation. Even without a complete merger, I like the idea of closer relations and more trade. A bunch of Pony / Griffon hybrids could encourage that goal, especially if some of them had magic.”

Twilight considers, “Are you thinking of another body or making changes in this one? Making you fertile is easy enough but I don’t think there’s physical compatibility.”

Wryly, I explain, “The sun gave me a gift last lowering. My body now adapts to the physical requirements of my mate.”

Twilight is really interested now, “Do you have voluntary control, John? I might want to try those cat parts myself.”

“I haven’t tried them yet but I’ll bet I could learn it even if they didn’t come that way. My worries are more about social compatibility. Could you tolerate an unapologetic predator in your home and bed? Could you maintain order versus a strong willed warrior? And on the other side, how long would it take for Galinda to go mad, locked up in polite Canterlot society? Could she be happy with the very limited time I could spend in Griffonstone?”

Twilight reminds me, “Don’t forget the foals. We can’t let a flock of aggressive predators with Alicorn level powers loose on Equestria.”

“Dammit, Twilight, I have enough questions. Point me at some answers.”

“Okay, John. Can I tolerate another predator in my home and bed? Why not? Can I maintain order with another strong willed warrior in the band? I’m betting they’ll tire each other out. And why in Equestria would I want to ‘lock her up’? You might have to stay here and keep the Court and sun going, she can go anywhere and do anything. I’ll bet that we can pair her up with the right Unicorn and have a damned good troubleshooting team. She didn’t do half bad during the Dragon crisis. She could go to Griffonstone whenever the urge struck her and be back in your bed that night. Given the strength of will that she’s shown, I wouldn’t be surprised if you set her up with her own horn.”

“So you approve?

Twilight explains carefully, “I approve conditionally. You need to spend some time with them explaining just what Royal life is really like. King Granger needs to explicitly agree to your offspring being raised in part as Pony wizards. And you need to do some mind walking with at least Galinda. She needs to experience Pony life and accept the limitations with open eyes.”

I nod, “I have already planned much of that. Granger himself demanded some of it. I see a wise King with an exceptional daughter as a rare alignment of circumstances that could permit an enormous improvement the general lot of Ponies and Griffons. And I’ve been thinking of how Griffon succession could be altered by an Alicorn in the mix.”

Twilight looks deadly serious, “And, John, be thinking real hard about what you are going to tell your colt when you get back here officially. Nopony has told him how you settled ‘the Dragon problem’.”

Equally serious, “Twilight, I had that decided before I left Canterlot. I will tell him the truth and answer all questions. I’m not ashamed of anything I did, just how much I enjoyed it.”

“That’s a better answer than I’ve been able to come up with. Go back to your sweet hellion and give her your best. I trust your judgment.”

“Thank you, Twilight. Do you mind if I share some of our memories with her? I want to give her a goal.”

Several minutes of horn work later, I had a presentation that would shake Galinda’s world again. Thanking Twilight, I reached for the air over Griffonstone. At night it’s clear and beautiful. I land on the balcony outside Galinda’s room and quietly let myself in. Galinda is there, on her pad with her back to me, and she does not look happy. She isn’t asleep and she is shaking or heaving in some fashion.

Coming up softly behind her, “Galinda, honey.”

She stills but it isn’t a healthy still of relaxation, she’s tight like a spring.

“Galinda, we must talk.”

The spring uncoils in an instant and I’m nose to beak with a very angry Griffon.

“Why, John? So you can make an excuse? Rub a little salt in the wound?”

Now I’m confused, “Please, assume I’m a complete idiot and tell me what I’ve done wrong.”

She screeches and grabs my ear in her beak. I can feel her bearing down and cutting through skin and cartilage. Blood is filling my ear.

“Please, Galinda, I do not understand how I have offended you so.”

She bites a chunk out of my nose and screams, “Fight me you bastard!”

“No. I have already exceeded my quota of dead Griffons for today. And you haven’t told me what we are fighting about. If you can give me a good enough reason, then I might fight you.”

“You ran to her, you dog. The first little bit of trouble and you ran to her. And don’t even try to lie, I can smell her all over you.”

I laugh out loud, which spatters blood everywhere.

“Give me a second to clean up the mess.”

I reload my body and send all of the loose blood and flesh to the middle of the ocean.

I smile, “Thank you. I’m going to enjoy reminding you of this for many years to come. Did Granger tell you what happened at sun lowering? Or why he let Gregory die?”

Now Galinda is confused, “Why in Equestria are you trying to drag that into us?”

“What did you want me to do last time we were in this room?”

“Damn you, John. You know what I’ve been wanting from you.”

“Yes, but I want to say it. You want me to fuck you until you can’t stand up but it just wasn’t possible. That’s part of what our little show was for. I got to measure your actual size. Now, you want to see what I’ve got? I’ll give you a couple of clues: ‘butt like a broodmare’ and ‘hung like a horse’. Darling, I am a horse, literally. I flare almost as big as your head.”

It is fun watching her face as the realizations run through her mind one after the other.

“Wait a minute! You just said ‘wasn’t’. What changed?”

“The sun gave me a gift. I am now adjustable, as in fully compatible and fertile with Griffons and Ponies as required That means only legal obstacles remain. The feast established me a world class hunter. Gregory traded a warrior’s death for making me a blooded warrior Griffon style. I am now fully eligible to court you and take you as mate by both Pony and Griffon custom. That leaves nothing but final agreement from both flock and herd. Now you wanna guess what I was talking to Twilight about?”

Galinda is thinking hard now, “You’re the stallion. Are you telling me that Twilight runs the herd?”

“We run the herd, together. She is primarily responsible for all things ‘mare’ and I’m primarily responsible for all stallion matters. But we have to cooperate and agree. Conflict destroys a herd. This is the kind of thing we must talk about. Twilight’s approval is conditional on my exposing you to the realities of life as a Royal Pony and your ability to adapt. Your father has some very similar conditions for me. And we all must understand what kind of changes our offspring will bring.”

“This just keeps growing and growing, doesn’t it?” Galinda asks.

“Galinda, you have to understand the level of obligation you are undertaking. Most Ponies run screaming when they understand what it means to be Royal. You’ve only had a few quick glimpses but I see a strength in you that gives me hope.”

“John, there’s something you aren’t saying. What is it?”

“I’m hoping above all else that you are strong enough to ascend. It will take time to tell but a strong will is the most important requirement.”

“You want me to have magic like you? Why is that so important?”

“I’m a special circumstance. It will be centuries before anypony with magic like mine happens again. No, the magic will be nice but the main reason is so I won’t have to watch you grow old and die.”

“John, everypony grows old and dies . . . . Don’t they?”

“No.”

“John, you are going to have to explain this to me.”

“Did you see what I just did? You bit a chunk out of my ear and my nose. See any scars? It’s part of the package. My body can renew itself as long as there’s magic in Equestria and any spark of consciousness in me. I’ve come back from being a charred torso. It’s both a gift and a curse. I have to tend the sun twice a day every day without fail. The world literally stops if I don’t. Celestia did it for more than fifteen hundred years before it broke her and I can’t stop until I find a replacement.”

“Damn, John. I had no idea.”

“You’re just beginning to get one. Are you in the line of succession for Griffonstone? Got any idea how immortality screws up succession? That’s one of the things we’ve got to work out with Granger. And if you do ascend, then you can end up in the line of succession in Equestria. You’ll definitely get to help out with Courts and other governmental chores.”

“This is beginning to sound like a job.”

“It is, when you’re not training or raising foals. In fact, you’ll get a taste of the training later today, if Granger agrees to the basics of Royal life for our foals.”

Galinda is worried now, “John, I won’t agree to denying our offspring their heritage. I know my father won’t.”

Here it comes, “Galinda, I would be the very last to deny them their blood and history, but, they must be raised with a Pony education and in the Pony manner. That’s not negotiable.”

Can Griffons cry? I may be about to find out, “Why, John? I’ve never seen the slightest sign of bigotry from you.”

Carefully, I explain, “It’s got nothing to do with pride or control and everything to do with safety. Imagine Germain with the ability to level Griffonstone in a tantrum. Our progeny will have magic, some of them very strong magic. Until they have mastered their magic and learned complete control, they can never be out of the supervision of an adult with stronger magic. Their young may have more freedom.”

Galinda is resigned, “I understand, John, but I have no idea how my father may react.”

I nod, “This is one of the big reasons we need all this negotiation. We won’t withhold your father’s grandfoals from him but one of us will accompany them for at least a few years. Believe me, after one of them sneezes and blows out a wall, he’ll understand.”

I have some time to go before sun raising so I settle in for some serious grooming. Galinda is a little unsure at first but quickly develops a sensuous purr and rub strategy. I’m happy. It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to groom my mares properly. But poor Galinda is about to fall down. When she relaxes into it, the lack of sleep tells.

“Galinda, Darling, come over here and get comfortable on the pad.”

I fold my legs and lay facing her.

“Galinda, if you agree, I’m going to show you another horn perk. Before we do anything, you have to understand that this will end any secrets between us. I will have absolute access to all of your memories and soul and you will have similar access to me. Because I’m trained and you’re not, I will have an advantage at first but I will not take advantage of you. You can simply say ‘no’ at any time and I will respect it. You will have to take that on trust until you are trained. Do you consent to a mind walk with me?”

“What will happen, John?”

“I don’t know yet. In my mind, we will be standing on a white floor side by side with the contents of my mind in front of us looking like windows spread across the horizon. We can search and select any memory and view it or enter it. A wizard’s mind must be organized like that or dangerous random magic can happen. We will find whatever we find in your mind and will just have to adapt. Fliers tend to have winds blowing in their mind and ride the winds to their desire.”

Galinda is thinking hard now, “This is something that you and Twilight do?”

I assure her, “All the time. In fact, Twilight has sent you gift. I have a package of her memories of what it’s like to be a Royal mare. She wants you to experience it as much as you can before you make a final decision.”

“John, you are beginning to make this sound like a sentence.”

“Think carefully, My Love, you are a provoked ovulator and I am super fertile. By the time we land from our cloud dance we will have a batch of magic Griffons on the way. I cannot harm them nor can I allow them to harm Equestria or Griffonstone. So that is a lifetime commitment.”

“And they might even be immortal so ‘lifetime’ could mean eternity.” Galinda stated flatly.

I nod, “You understand why everypony runs screaming? Right now, let me give you a little boost. We don’t have time for much and you already have a lot to digest but I can help by taking care of your sleep deficit.”

“Okay, John. That makes sense.”

I make a horn touch and pour some energy into her reserves. She snaps to full alertness.

“Wow! I like this.”

“Good. Get your sweet little butt in action and get your own horn and you can do it yourself anytime you want.”

“I might just do that so I can use it to spank your big fat horse butt.”

“Hah! You’re just fascinated by my magnificent muscles. And speaking of which, they need some fuel. When and where do Griffons eat breakfast?”

“The kitchen downstairs will begin serving at sunup.”

“That will be in about thirty minutes. We might want to start easing towards Lonely Crag. Can you fly by moonlight or do we need to teleport?”

“Let’s go out on the balcony and see if I can see,” with a laugh.

We go out and I admire the view again but, “John, it’s too dark for me to feel safe.”

I have an idea, “Can you climb on my back? I didn’t have a bit of a strain carrying a Dragon so I don’t think you’ll be a problem.”

She climbs up and wraps her front legs around my neck.

I levitate smoothly and as we pass the beacon on the top of the castle, “Don’t worry about falling. I’ve got my magic on you too.”

As we approach Lonely Crag, “Galinda, somepony is already there.”

She answers, “I forgot. That will be Gregory’s funeral. The tradition is to light his pyre at sunrise.”

I think for a minute then head for a landing, “I have an idea. Would his family mind if I participate?”

“Of course not, John. What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll provide the fire and I would like to say a few words.”

“I’ll ask them for you.”

We land on the end of Lonely Crag and Galinda hops off to make her way toward the other end of the rock where a dozen Griffons stand with torches in claw. In a moment she returns with a young adult Griffon.

She introduces him, “Prince John, this is George, the oldest son of Lord Gregory.”

I explain, “George, I made a mistake last night. I failed to understand the gift I was being offered until it was too late. So I owe Lord Gregory and his family. I wish to pay a portion of the honor I neglected last night by giving him a Royal funeral. I will provide the fire for his pyre. You need to tell me exactly what you want. I can take any amount of time from one second up and burn anything selectively.”

George looks at Galinda, “Is this a wizards trick? We don’t have time for this if we are going to make sunrise.”

I speak calmly, “You have twelve and a half minutes to scheduled sun raising. I can give you a few more minutes if you need them. The fire will come from the sun.”

George turns away from me to question Galinda, “Is he serious? Or crazy?”

Galinda speaks directly, “George, he’s a god and he has just offered your family a great honor. Choose your next words carefully.”

George looks back to me and says, “Come with me.”

He leads me to a very elderly female Griffon who bows when I approach, “Your Highness, thank you for coming. I have prayed for one great boon and you have answered.”

I speak softly, “I am here because I failed to understand once so please tell me exactly what you desire and be sure to tell me all. I owe you and wish to make my debt complete.”

She answers, “I want to fly for one last time so that I may join my mate in the proper way.”

I ask, “Is that all you want?”

She smiles, “Yes, Your Highness, My only desire is to join my mate in the wind.”

I touch her head lightly with my horn and pour as much strength as I dare into her body.

She straightens and flexes her wings, “Oh! Thank you, Sire.”

I caution, “Take care. I have given you the strength of youth but I cannot give you young bones. Stand over here beside me.”

Turning to Galinda, “Keep everypony else at least five yards back. Three minutes to go.”

Galinda leans to me and whispers, “The less that is left, the better the omen.”

She pushes the family back and I turn up my sun raiment. When I see the moon beginning to lower, I form my magic and reach out.

As I raise the sun above the horizon, “Come join us, Old Friend. I need your help to honor a Griffon who showed me just how great a Griffon heart can be.”

A golden beam shoots from the sun to envelope the pyre. The old Griffoness smiles at me and sweeps her wings to fly but one of them snaps. I quickly lift her with my magic and let her glide the last yard into the sunfire. As she passes fully into the beam I briefly raise the intensity then stop it.

“Thank you, my Great Friend,” and I turn my raiment off. Looking down, there is nothing but bare hot rock.

I turn and George is there, “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn’t know.”

I reply, “George, I’ll forgive you if you’ll forgive me. And I’m here because our races need to know.”

We hoof bump then all the rest of the Griffons pass by and do the same.

The last one surprises me, it’s Granger, “That was very good, John. But tell me the truth, did Georgina really fly?”

Looking him dead in the eye, “Yes she did, for about one yard.”

I didn’t know that Griffons could raise an eyebrow. Granger can. Then he says, “Let’s go get some breakfast.”

About halfway across the rock we collect Galinda and take off for the castle. Landing in front of the main door, we walk in to find platters of meat waiting on the table. Granger, Galinda, and I settle at the head of the table.

Interpreting my look, Galinda informs me, “Gerald is checking the coastal villages for Dragon damage and making a list. He should be back by tonight.”

Between bites, “Granger, do you have time for one of those long talks we promised each other? Galinda has a lot to digest this morning and it would be an ideal time. Later, the three of us could answer questions.”

Granger nods, “My very plan.”

We make short work of breakfast then Galinda excuses herself.

I suggest, “I would like to show you something, Granger. It will mean a long teleport but very little time. Since we will be coming out at altitude, it would be easier to leave flying.”

We take off just outside the front door and I teleport us to my truncated mountain in the Crystal Empire. We wheel around once to get an idea of its size then land.

I explain, “This used to be the tallest mountain in this chain. I was standing on top of it when I took control of the sun from Celestia. This was her attempt to kill me. She also swapped bodies with her sister Luna then almost killed Luna. I’m showing this so you can get an idea of the scale of the disaster when a wizard loses control. She thought I was in the Castle in the Crystal Empire so you can imagine what a mess it could have been.”

Granger is shivering so I take us back to the front door of his castle. We go in to his private office and get comfortable.

I continue, “How is this important to you? Galinda and I want to make a bunch of Griffon wizards. Some of them will be more powerful than Celestia. We, the Royal Herd of Equestria must control them. They will have to be educated as Ponies and raised by Ponies. That is not negotiable. I would never dream of denying them their heritage or family but until they have full control of their magic and emotions, they cannot be without the supervision of a more powerful wizard.”

Granger is deep in thought, “That’s a big bite, John.”

Heavily, “I know it is. There will be a time when this kind of restriction is no longer necessary but it is at least a century in the future. Until then, foals that can blow a building over with a sneeze must be supervised by adults that can block that sneeze. That doesn’t mean that they couldn’t visit. In fact, they could visit more because anypony able to supervise could also teleport. Granger, I have a four year old foal back on my farm that can pull a three bottom plow by himself. You want to speculate what might happen if somepony teases him too much?”

“John, you’re talking me out of it.”

“I’m not finished. Another big question is just where does Galinda stand in the line of succession? Where would our foals stand?”

“She’s right behind Gerald.”

“That could be interesting because I want her to ascend. It’s one of my strongest desires.”

Granger is puzzled, “Why would being a wizard change anything?”

Sadly, “She’ll never be that strong of a wizard but that’s not why it’s important to me. I’m developing a strong love for her and I don’t want to watch her grow old and die.”

Granger shakes his head, “John, that’s one hell of a bribe. Are you telling me that if you take my daughter as mate, you can make her immortal?”

I shake my head, “No, I can’t make her anything. But she has the potential and I have the knowledge. I can help her earn it.”

“I’m going to have to do some complicated balancing between those choices. Do you have anything else to add?”

“I haven’t told her anything at all about this part. She would have access to my wealth and resources. Griffonstone could have all of the roads, bridges, railroads, schools, hospitals, and industry that you could stand. That is a real bribe.”

Granger is focused now, “What’s in this for you?”

“Two things, the biggest, strongest, most prosperous herd imaginable and a strong mare for my band.”

“Are you trying to conquer Griffonstone?” from a very concerned Granger.

“No. That wouldn’t end well. I’m trying to merge Griffonstone. Ponies get strength and fierceness they lack and Griffons get magic and resources they lack. Both races win. If you are worried about Griffons being absorbed by Ponies, I expect to have a Griffon Throne in Canterlot in less than a century. The land of my birth faced such a choice. They chose to join with the larger nation. A century and a half later they were a recognized culture and a world power even within the larger nation. It can work for both races.”

“I’d feel better if you didn’t use past tense. Where are they today?”

“I don’t know. I left there more than four centuries ago and have no way to return.”

Granger nods, “That explains several of your mysteries. And I’ll bet Galinda has qualities like your native race that Ponies don’t.”

“Granger, when I first met Galinda, she was just along with Gerald. But she became interested in me so I spent a little time and liked what I saw. Then I started getting enough wing and tail action that everypony was noticing. When we went on our little Dragon hunt, she stood with me directly in front of two live Dragons and made a show of eating the flesh of one of them. That defined courage. But more important, she figured out what I was doing without a single hint from me and added to it. She casually commented to me that we need to bag as many Dragons as we could before the other herds and flocks found out. She was convincing enough that the second Dragon barfed up his load of Ponies without being touched. That’s when I decided that she would be the dam for my foals.”

Granger is laughing hard, “John. You’re telling me that you’re in love with my daughter because she’s fierce enough to terrorize a Dragon?”

I have to admit, “Yes. And strong enough to make the Dragon believe it and smart enough to know when.”

“I can’t wait until you have your first fight,” Granger muses.

“We already have.”

Granger inspects me closely, “That explains the noise but when I didn’t see any scars, I assumed you two were up to something else. Apparently you can cope with her. Would you believe that you are the first to come even close?”

Laughing, “How many have tried?”

“Two. The rest took a good look and decided that even a crown wasn’t worth the risk.”

Smiling, “See, that’s where I have an advantage, I already have a crown.”

Granger asks, “Yes, and you said something about another crown earlier. Just what are you offering?”

“I’m offering a job on the elite management team of Equestria. There are some sweet perks like immortality and unlimited smoked salmon. There are also some hellish responsibilities. Our world is growing and we need to grow with it. The combined might of Griffons and Ponies would make our subjects safe and happy for millennia. Recruiting slaves for military strength wouldn’t be smart so we need equality and representation for both races. That’s what I’m offering, a full partnership. For personal reasons I really want Galinda on that throne but if she can’t, one of our offspring will.”

“What’s wrong with Gregory?”

“Absolutely nothing. But I need somepony I trust on the Griffon side of things, a Griffon that can help me make the races fit together with minimum conflict, a Griffon that will give me honest answers about the needs of Griffonstone.”

“He’s onboard with your program. He was telling me how nice it would be to hire a Unicorn for teleport in circumstances like his damage survey. After experiencing some of it myself, I have to agree. The only real issue is trust and discretion.”

“I’m going to help you with that too. We’ll have our finalize the details session after lunch. Tonight I am going to give Galinda her first wizard lesson. If she can assimilate it, we will work on oaths in the morning. Wizard lessons are given by mind walk. If you have any doubts, you can mind walk too. I will offer you free access to my soul. By the way, as part of the lesson, I will deliver a package of memories from Twilight selected just for Galinda. When she wakes up in the morning she will think some of them are her memories. That wears off in a short time but will be very fun to watch for a few hours.”

Granger thinks for a few seconds and clearly makes a decision, “We can do that right now. It could help me decide.”

I nod and elaborate, “We will need to let somepony know what we are doing. It might cause a panic if they walked in and found both of us unconscious. A watcher is good too and Galinda would be my choice. We will need a comfortable place to lay so that I can touch my horn to your head.”

In a few minutes we have Galinda and a pair of thick pads. I tell Granger to hit the toilet or whatever else he might do before taking a nap.

I instruct Galinda, “This is the same as we talked about earlier. If anything happens, just wake us. It will be like waking from a sound sleep don’t worry about a momentary disorientation.”

We get ourselves in position and I make the touch. It takes a moment to find Granger and bring him to my side.

He is impressed, “This is quite a setup, John.”

“And completely necessary. Free magic can literally be anything that you can conceive. A stray association or sudden remembering could turn into a disaster. A wizard must have this kind of organization and discipline or they are a tragedy looking for a place to happen. This is what I have to determine if Galinda can do. Now what would you like to see first?”

Granger is overwhelmed, “I don’t know where to start. What do you suggest?”

I have an idea, “I am going to show you how to find things for yourself by showing you the thing we have most in common, Galinda. Just watch.”

I ask for Galinda and show him to find a category. Then I ask for the time of the Dragon hunt.

“See the Dragons laying on the sand? That’s the time I told you about earlier. You can play it and just see and hear or you can step into it and feel it as though you are me. You should step in to get the full emotional impact. I will probably have to pull you back out. It’s kinda intense and tends to capture first timers. I’ll let you stay in until you show distress or I chop the head off the Dragon, whichever comes first.”

I run it back to when I step out of the forest and show him in. When he gets to the beheading, I pull him back out.

He’s excited, “Holy . . . Intense is such a weak word. You can actually see the outside and inside of everything for hundreds of yards around you! But I don’t think I should see my daughter any more. A father shouldn’t see a daughter like that.”

“I’m going to show you a few more minutes of her and I promise it won’t be disturbing.

I take him to our first night sleeping together and let him feel the Alicorn protective instinct.

“What is that, John? I understand how you want to protect your mate but Gerald was there too.”

“That, my friend, is Alicorn magic. Like the magic of each Tribe, Alicorns have a special magic of our own. We protect. That’s the job I’m offering Galinda. When she ascends, she’ll get that magic and we’ll protect all of Equestria including Griffons.”

Granger is studying me, “Is that a hint of ‘if you don’t cooperate I can’t help you’?”

“How did I react when the Dragons threatened? That was before I even knew Galinda. But I can do so much better with insider knowledge and help. All the way back to my first great Oath, that is what drives me, to be the best protector of the best herd. Now what do you want to see next?”

That’s when Granger falls into the regular pattern, “I want to see you and Twilight. I want to know how you treat your mate.”

I laugh so hard it takes a moment to catch my breath, “You have just proven how much Griffons and Ponies are alike. It is proverbial that first time stallions go straight for the sex. So here we go, one full cloud dance.”

I start him in the middle of our first dinner together and pull him out as we land on Twilight’s Observatory.

Granger is panting hard, “Yes, I see that you can cope with Galinda. Will she be able to relate to you like that?”

“Once she ascends, yes. She’ll gain a lot of strength too. Until then I will be careful with her and treat her the best I am able. I do expect one difference between Pony and Griffon cloud dances, I will probably cover Galinda several times in one dance.”

“Where would you do all this dancing?”

“Right over and around Griffonstone. I want every Griffon in the land to see it. I want them to know beyond certainty that there is a real union between herd and flock. And I want them to see us afterwards so they can know that it’s something we both want.”

Granger chuckles, “You certainly aren’t bashful.”

“Did you notice how much our magic was lighting up the sky? Got any ideas how to hide something like that?”

Granger is becoming serious, “I want to see one more thing and I believe I will have enough. Show me the funeral.”

I’m concerned, “You mean this morning? There’s a lot of very high level magic going on and it won’t mean anything to you.”

Granger nods, “Yes, and I’m not interested in the magic.”

I take him to right before Galinda and I land, drop him in, and pull him out after we teleport to the castle.

He’s astonished, “You let Galinda ride on your back and didn’t feel the slightest worry!”

“Yes, Granger. Even at the peak of her anger, she went for my ear, not my throat. I trust her completely.”

“John, I’m not sure how important my opinion is any more but I have what I need now. You really cared for Georgina. All you had to do was turn away and she would have been gone but you gave her grace and dignity because you care. Let’s go tell Galinda.”

“Granger, don’t tell Galinda any decision yet. She has to master the mental discipline or she can’t be Royal. I want her to have every possible incentive.”

“I understand, John.”

Bringing us both out of it, I find an anxious Galinda, “Hello, John. I was getting a little worried. Granger was a little ‘tense’ for a while.”

Chuckling, “That’s a stallion thing. Don’t worry about it.”

She’s a little perturbed, “It was obviously ‘a stallion thing’, but I am going to be concerned about my father.”

Granger broke in, “He showed me a cloud dance. Daughter, he is going to give you an opportunity. Whatever it takes, win the prize for yourself and for Griffonstone.”

Addressing a very startled Galinda, “He took a guided tour. Tonight you have to learn to solo. You must or the magic will kill you and I can’t allow that. Your ‘prize’ for tonight is that package from Twilight containing her side of the very same cloud dance among many other things. That way you will know what to expect when we cloud dance.”

Lunch is a little late and a lot quiet. Afterwards we talk about frequency of visitation and military ranks and representation and extending the railroad and farms and currency and monster patrols and inheritance and schools and banking until, just before dinner, Gerald walks in.

Grinning, he says, “So you just couldn’t wait.”

Confused, I ask, “What are you talking about?”

He laughs, “Look at yourselves. Sitting there wrapped around each other. You’re bonded no matter what the rest of us say.”

Seriously, I say, “Gerald, it hasn't been decided yet. Galinda has to achieve wizard level mental discipline or she can’t stay around me. Without it the magic would kill her and maybe a lot of others.”

Galinda looks me straight in the eye and pronounces, “John, do you think you can teach me fear? After I stood with you nose to nose with the Lord of Dragons and backed him down.”

Returning her gaze, “Yes. Because there is one thing I fear, losing you. At this moment, I have a job to do. Anybody that wants, come along.”

When we get to Lonely Crag there is already a small crowd waiting. I recognize a few from the funeral. Granger clears one end of the rock for me and herds the crowd back to safe distance. I make my stand and turn up my sun raiment. Then I realize that Galinda is standing right behind me.

“Please, Galinda, you know what the magic did to you once before.”

“Don’t worry, John. It wasn’t the magic that confused me. I must face this.”

“Give me a few yards, I’m going to get hot,” as I don my sun raiment.

Then it’s time. I form my magic and cradle the sun. It sends out a tendril and touches me. I feel its great love and approval. The tendril moves to Galinda and explores her. As I ease the sun below the horizon the tendril retracts and I rush to Galinda. At the last second I remember to turn my ‘sun suit’ off.

“Speak to me Galinda.”

Smiling, “What should I say, John. It loves me and it said it gave me something but I don’t know what. I feel light.”

By the time I can finish a magic examination, Granger and Gerald have arrived.

I step back and, “Granger, my opinion no longer matters either. It started her ascension. Galinda, you feel light because you are developing Alicorn strength. Be careful until you get used to it. Things will suddenly seem very easy to break.”

Galinda is literally bouncing, “This feels good.”

“Take it slow, Galinda. A sweep that used to get you two yards will now get you twenty. You’ll bump into things.”

We take off and head for dinner. Galinda is doing loops around us and laughing like a foal. As we glide in to land in front of the castle door, Galinda miscalculates. I grab her with my magic less than a yard before she smashes into the castle.

Setting her carefully on the walk, “Next time I’ll let you break something. Alicorns heal quick but the pain is still there.”

“Yes, John.” I might buy the contrite part if she wasn’t giggling.

Dinner is on the table and Galinda dives in with enthusiasm.

Gerald is marveling, “John, are Alicorns hungrier than other ponies?”

Explaining, “It takes a lot of energy to use magic so yes. But that’s not Galinda’s issue. Just watch her wings. I ate five full meals at every meal time when I was growing my wings.”

Granger remarks dryly, “I’m glad you’re going to be feeding her.”

A second platter of meat later we head up the stairs to our room.

I fluff the pad and, “Make yourself comfortable. We’re going to be here for a while.”

I make the touch and Galinda comes rushing in, “Oh, John! This is amazing.”

I show her the controls and the tricks. We have fun replaying the Dragon hunt and learning to find things. Then it’s time to see if it sticks.

“Your assignment is to copy this package from Twilight and experience it in your own mind. There are some goodies in it and you have to find them yourself.”

Then I have to explain the progress bar. I come out of it and explain to her, “There will be a test in the morning. I want to see if you have assimilated all of this and can use it without my help.”

Pulling her against my side, I extend my wing over her and settle into our sleeping positions. She’s purring hard enough to vibrate me but that just adds to my happiness as I drift off to sleep.