A New Life and a New Home.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!!" Miles screamed as he shot out of bed.

Still in a panicked state, Miles jumped out of the bed and shoved the thing next to him, resulting in a loud CRASH! and the scream of someone outside.

"DAMMIT MILES!" A voice shouted at him from next to him.

Miles turned to the voice and he recognized the Griffon king, Black-Sun.

"Hi Black-sun. How's it going?" Miles fidgeted with his hands.

“What is wrong with you?!” Black-Sun exclaimed as he looked out the window.

"I had a nightmare, some shit happened, I panicked, I threw some equipment out the window.”

"I swear, you get increasingly moronic everyday. That wasn't a piece of equipment you threw out of the window, it was the doctor. Idiot." The king face-taloned as he turned back to face Miles.

"Oh. Is he going to be alright?"

"She, you ass." A familiar female doctor flew back in rolling her eyes and had some small blood stains on her face and ruffled feathers.

"You deserve it." Miles sat back down.

"What for?"

Miles said nothing, giving a blank look at the doctor.

"Oh. Right." She blushed beneath her feathers.

“Anyway, what’s this I hear about experimenting on me?!”

“W-w-who told you about that?” Black-Sun stammered.

“What did you do to me?! I don’t like being messed with.”

Miles eyed the griffons stood in front of him as the door opened and closed behind him as Professor Wharf Snort walked in. “Good news everyone.”

“Do you have a delivery?” Miles snickered.

“Excuse me?” Professor Wharf Snort asked, looking confused.

“Nothing, just a joke.” Miles said forlornly. ‘Memories of a great show. Too bad it was ended. *SOB*’

“Hmm. Yes, hilarious.” The professor turned towards the disgruntled king. “It worked. I can’t believe it. Working with the Equestrian scientists was the best idea ever.” He whispered in a hushed tone.

Miles listened in but only caught parts of the conversation. His curiosity grew as he saw the king’s mood change in an instant. Miles sat there on his bed, messing with equipment on the table next him. Picking up a scalpel with dried blood on it he began twirling it around his fingers and spinning it on his finger tips. As the blade twisted in his finger he lost concentration as a loud boom came from a room down the hall.

“What was that?” Miles said as he spun the blade faster and faster; cutting a few of his fingers in the process. “Ow.”

“We are trying to recreate your grenades. Its going well.” The professor seemed proud before a black-faced griffon in a lab-coat walked into the room.

“The experiment was a failure, sir.” The griffon walked back out of the room.

“You were saying?” Miles sniggered and was now flipping the scalpel in the air and catching it by the handle. Each toss increased in flips and speed before being caught.

“Just shut it and stop doing that before you hurt yourself. You just got out of surgery and we don’t need you back in.” The doctor scorned him.

“Pfft. I know what I’m do-AAAGH!” The scalpel impaled Miles’ hand. The blade went straight through the palm and out the back. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHY DIDN'T I SEE THAT COMING?!!!” Miles screams as he shook his hand up and down.

“*Sigh* Doctor,could you fix him up? And maybe give him at least one working brain cell?” Wharf Snort mumbled.

*1 hour later*

“Don’t do that again. I have more important things to do that stitch you back together.” The doctor placed bandages around his hand.

“Yeah. Like take pictures of my crotch. And speaking of that, I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do about that yet.” He hopped off the bed and slowly walked towards the door.

“Do what you want. I’m not bothered.” The doctor tried to keep a straight face but was doing poorly.

“Yeah yeah, whatever. I’ll see you round.” Miles waved his hand loosely at the doctor.

Miles left the doctor’s room and walked through the halls aimlessly. “What was going on in that dream? How come you couldn’t help me?” He thought to himself and the free-loading draconequus in his head.

“Something was blocking me from getting in. Also Luna was there and so was Chrysalis. If Luna saw me then we would have been screwed, and if Chrysalis saw me, it would eventually get back to the princesses and then we would have been screwed.” Discord said as a image of him doing the shuffle was in the topright corner of Mile’s vision.

“We’re going to have to stop pussyfooting eventually and come clean. The longer we wait the worse it gets and the more chance they notice you’re gone.”

“Don’t worry. That isn’t a problem for us. But, I must admit that you are indeed correct. We will have to come clean. I wouldn’t be surprised if they suspect something already.”

“What do you mean?”

“Put it this way, you have powers that could rival anything on this planet, save for the Princesses, myself and my Eris of course. And I have brought you things from your world and they have been a huge convenience for you. Such as when you needed something, it just happened to be there waiting for you, or when I got you the tank and you just knew how to drive it without ever having seen it before. And we can’t forget that Fluttershy has tolerated your meat eating habits with little protest.”

“Little protest?”

“Alright, some protest.” Discord gave a toothy grin, still at the top right of my vision.

“Whoa whoa whoa. You manipulated my girlfriend? Dude not cool!” Miles walked out of the hallways and into his chambers still wearing the hospital garment that left nothing to the imagination on his backside.

“Oh for crying out loud. I didn’t manipulate her completely. Much.” The draconequus received a few words best left unsaid to the public “And she already knew your diet was part meat so she understood you would eat it eventually. I just brought that side out a little quicker.”

“Screw you, Discord. You’re that one ass-hole friend that is a complete dick, but is the best friend you’ll ever have. Don’t change a thing, except maybe messing with my friend’s heads.”

“I aim to please. Also, on another subject, I was doing some research into your cultures, and found some funny stuff. Listen, why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side! Ahahaha. Brilliant.” Discord said as he jumped around in a chicken outfit.

“Yes. Brilliant. Please don’t tell any more.”

“Hey, what’s the deal with airline food? Bahaha! I don’t even know what an airline is. Listen to this great one. Knock knock.”

“Ugh...who’s there?”

“Boo.” Discord suppressed a fit of laughter.

“Boo who?” Miles rolled his eyes

“No need to cry. Its only a joke. AHAHAHAHA! GET IT? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE CRYING! AHAHA”

Miles sat on the edge of his bed next to a set of bedside drawers. “Please, stop telling jokes. I thought Eris was the evil one.”

“Oh hush now. I have an even better one, so listen up-”

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud* *Thud* *Thud* Miles slammed his head into the drawers again and again.

“Please. For the love of God, shut up.” Miles begged.

At that moment three griffons covered in armour and carrying spears burst into the room, searching the beds and checking the entire area from top to bottom. “What’s the problem? We heard banging? Were you in a fight of some sort and they’re hiding?” One of the guards spoke as the other two continued scanning the room “Its ok. You’re safe. You can tell us if there is anyone here. We’ll take care of them.”

“What? No.” Miles protested as the griffons lifted him up and searched him. “There was a bug that I tried to squish.”

“Ah, very well then.” The guards eyed Miles’ bandaged hand. “Unless...they’re hiding inside the mattress!”  All three guards simultaneously began stabbing their spears into the beds causing an explosion of stuffing to fill the room.

“Happy now? Miles crossed his arms as he blew a piece of stuffing off his face.

“Yes. We’ll be on our way. Oh, by the way, the king would like to see you right now.” The guard gave a salute before closing the door.

“Ooooh. Someones in troubleeeeeee….” Discord taunted.

“Am not!” Miles retorted. “I hope.” He said lower.

Miles dressed in dark blue denim jeans, a dark green T-shirt and his black boots before heading down to the throne room. The hallways were filled with griffons rushing about doing their daily tasks, be it serving food, protecting the castle or just cleaning up.

Entering the throne room revealed a large group of guards all with formal uniforms on each with the same patch on the right shoulder that read ‘Griffon Military Force Commander’.  Miles gave a salute as the griffons returned it.

“Your majesty.” Miles made a small bow, Discord simultaneously copying it in his vision.

“Miles, I would like you to meet the ‘GMFC’. They are the best of the best and they run the military. Nothing is of higher rank than they are in the Griffon society when it comes to war and the protection of the colonies.”

“Not even you?”

“Not by a long shot. If they all agree that they are doing what is best for the colonies in war time, they overrule even me. Only seven griffons have ever reached this rank in history. These are the current leaders.”

The room fell silent as the doors opened once again as Rune joined us in the throne room.

“Forgive me, your highness. There were some complications with the training equipment outside but it has been sorted out now.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re just doing your job.”

“Ahh. Captain Rune. Just who we wanted to see.” One of the GMFC saluted.

“Sir?” Rune returned the salute.

“We have an award for you. You are being promoted to the rank of general. Congratulations.” The same GMFC continued.

Rune stood speechless as everyone else in the room saluted to the new general. Her beak opened and close trying to find the words but none came out.

“With this, comes a pay rise, obviously, an office and you no longer have to be out there training the guards. Your job will be commanding over a group of captains just like when you were a captain.” The GMFC continued.

King Black-Sun grabbed the emblem from the side of his throne whilst one of the GMFC presented a new uniform to the speechless griffon. Before she could be handed the uniform and badge she stuck out a claw and spoke.

“I am most grateful for this honour, but, I cannot accept this. I belong out there, training those guards, fighting alongside them.” Rune proclaimed proudly.

“I see,” One of the GMFC spoke “I commend you on your loyalty to your fellow guards and the your commitment to your job.”

“Are you sure you want to stay as a captain?” Black-Sun was still taken aback.

“Yes, sir. It’s where I belong.” Rune continued with the same tone she had.

“Very well. You may return to duty later this afternoon. But for now I want you to just think seriously about this, its a big thing to turn down.”

“Sir.”

With that said, Rune walked out of the room deep in thought as she considered the entirety of the situation. The group left behind watched on as she disappeared behind the doors and into the halls

“Miles.” The king rested a claw on his shoulder.

“Yes sir?”

“Go after her. She needs someone to talk through this with. And thats why I brought you down here, so that you could help her.”

“Why me? I’m pretty sure she doesn't like me.”

“Actually, she does like - oh screw it, she doesn't like you a lot but she respects you. You’re a fellow military soldier. Now go, go and help her make the right decision. The decision to take the promotion.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Its her choice to make. I will help her but I’m not going to push her towards or from it.”

“There is a thousand bits in it for you.” Black-sun didn't waste anytime making the deal more interesting.

Discord’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and had a B which looked similar to a dollar sign.

“Hnng. Oh lord knows I want to. But……” Miles hung his head “I can’t. Its not right to force her into it. If she doesn’t want to then I’m not going to talk her into it. I’m sorry to disappoint you.” Miles walked to the door but before passing through he turned back to the group and said “It was nice meeting you all.” Before walking out of the room.

“Well your majesty, I must say, he is a tough nut to crack. He could be useful to us.” One of the GMFC spoke.

“One thousand bits is a hard offer to refuse. At least we know he won’t be easily persuaded to fight against us when they get here.” Another of the GMFC commented.

“Yes, but do you think he will be the one to save us? It is a large army after all.” The third GMFC added.

“Indeed it is. And thats why we need him at the front lines. Poor soul doesn’t know what’s coming.”

“Don’t you think we should tell him then?”

“Yes, but we have a month before they arrive at our doorstep. Let him have his surprise before we give him the bad news.”

“And what of the princesses?”

“They will be informed afterwards too. They have gone through great efforts for him, I won’t see them go to waste because they’re worried. And besides, as far as we can tell, the experiments were a success.”

****************************************************************************************

Rune sat upon the pointed roof of the tallest tower on the castle watching her guards train from afar where she could not be seen. Another captain was instructing them on how to fight effectively without weapons. Her concentration wavered as she heard a strange noise every few seconds. Finally she lost her concentration as the sound was near her.

“Hng. Ahh. Big drop. Don’t fall. Don’t fall.” The sound came from slightly below her.

Peering over the edge she saw a familiar face look up at her. “Oh, its you.” She groaned.

“Little help?”

“I’m busy.” Rune walked to the other side of the roof.

“Thats all well and good, but I can’t hold on much longer.”

Miles’ grip became weaker as his arms became more and more tired from holding onto the side of the castle on the climb up. Under his weight a number of bricks began to wobble and move. “Rune? You there?” Miles’ voice filled with worry as the bricks loosened more and more. Eventually it became too much as one of them finally fell taking Miles with it.

“RUNE!” He called out as Rune’s talon grabbed hold of his wrist. “Oh thank goodness.”

Miles thanked her repeatedly as she hauled him onto the roof.

“What are you doing here?” Rune said in a gruff manner.

“It’s a beautiful day so I thought that I would come and enjoy the scenery.” Miles commented while looking up at the cloudless sky, along with Discord who took out a pair of binoculars and looked up from the corner of his vision.

“The king told you to come and speak with me didn’t he?”Rune said flatly.

“How’d you know?”

“I’ve worked for him most of my life. You get to know a guy.” her voice softened to a gentle tone.

“Something’s troubling you. What is it?” Miles sat next to her and let his legs dangle over the edge of the roof.

“Nothing’s wrong. What would make you think something was wrong?” Her usual tough character took charge as she snapped at Miles.

“For one, you just got defensive. Secondly, you get to know a gal.” Miles flashed her a grin.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“C’mon. Tell uncle Miles what’s bothering you.” Miles chided her.

“Don’t push it.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re right though, something is bothering me. Those guards down there, they are my platoon and look at them. Best of the trainees. You know why? Because I trained them. I trained them every day and twice on Sundays. They put so much effort into their training, it cost some of them dearly, some lost wifes, some husbands, some even their entire families. They all sacrificed one thing or another for their duties.”

“But what does that have to do with you not taking the job? Look at them. They don’t need you to push them through it. You set the bar, and they’ll do anything and everything to reach it.”

“Hmm. I know, but it feels like I’m abandoning them. I forced them through so much crap its unbelievable.”

“Do you think they would want you to hold yourself back for their sake? They are going to go on and become great guards while you stay in the same position never going anywhere. Talk to them, they’re the ones you feel bad for leaving.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I’ll ask them in a little while.” Rune yawned and stretched out her wings clipping Miles in his cheek. Her strength made the slight contact like a full bitch-slap across the face. “Sorry.” Rune turned to face the training guards still looking glum.

“Is there anything else you need to get off your chest? Anything else bugging you.” Miles rubbed his cheek.

“You don’t want to hear it.” She brushed him off.

“Tell me. What's eating at you?”

“Its you.” She turned to look at him. Her gaze, solid and unwavering showed how serious she was.

“I wasn’t expecting that. But go on. Just vent it all out, scream at me if you have to.”

“You take everything so lightly. You are hardly ever serious and yet….you’re loved by all. I don’t get it. When I was a kid I was in the military and working. I worked damned hard every single day to get where I am. But you...you just come along one day and all of a sudden you're welcomed in with the princesses’ and the king’s open arms and you instantly become a high ranking member of the guard. You didn’t do a damn thing and you’re more loved than anyone else.” Rune ranted on without stopping for a breath.

“Wow. Do you not like me because the princesses and the king like me?” Miles rested a hand on her back. “Don’t be. Its just pity because they feel bad for me. Not long from now they will just see me as another guard and tell me where to go and what to do. No special treatment and I won’t even be considered special.”

“Its not that don’t I like you. Its just that you have it so easy when everyone else has to work to make a living.”

“I don’t want it to be that way though. I’m truly grateful to everyone who has helped me while I get myself sorted and start paying for myself and pay bills and everything else a normal citizen does. I have never been one to enjoy being taken care of by others. I like to do things for myself.”

“Aren’t you in for a surprise.” Rune uttered under her breath so Miles couldn’t hear.

“What?”

“Nothing important.”

“Well don’t stress about anything to do with me. It won’t last long.” Miles gave a playful shove. “Is there anything else bugging you? I get you don’t like me, I get that. But there seems to be something else.” Miles eyed her up and down as her body language screamed something wasn’t right.

“Actually, I do like you. A lot actually.” Rune looked down with her head but up with her eyes to make her seem more attractive.

Miles sat there shocked. The wind blowing through his hair made him look like he had just been electrocuted by her words. Seconds seemed like minutes as Miles tried to comprehend what he had just been told, his eyes darting from place to place as Rune inched closer and closer to him. As she leant forward, her beak getting closer to his lips, the wind picked up and blew him off the side of the roof.

Not a sound came from him as he plummeted towards the ground. Milliseconds before impact a pair of claws took hold of him. He watched as the ground got further away and the sound of wings flapping filled his ears. After a few seconds he was level with the tower once again but still dangling over the edge in the griffon’s claws.

“Is this yours ma’am?” The griffon asked.

“Yes, private. Just put him anywhere.”

The griffon placed Miles back onto the roof before returning to her duties.  Miles stayed in place, his mind becoming clearer and more focused. He watched as Rune once again leaned closer and closer towards him.

“R..Rune. I don’t think this is a good idea.” He stammered.

She didn’t respond, she merely put a talon over his mouth to silence him. Closer she got, Miles still not moving as she closed the distance between the two. Just before their lips/beak connected she whispered “I’m just fucking with you.”

Rune fell backwards laughing so hard her ribs hurt. Miles sat there unimpressed at the griffon who was close to wetting herself. “You’re a bitch.” He muttered.

“And you’re gullible. Did you really think I liked you?”

Miles didn’t reply. He walked over to the chuckling griffon before placing his boot on her sides and pushing her off the roof. With the griffon gone he could relax and watch the clouds go by, although pushed by griffons. The gentle breeze brushed over him as he laid back with his hands behind his head and not a sound reached his ears.

Miles laid there on the roof watching the world go by on the outside, but on the inside it was different. Miles’s vision blurred and appeared again in a casino. “Come on, seven. Papa needs a new pair of shoes.” Discord placed a pile of casino chips on a roulette table surrounded by people cheering him on.

“Seven! You win sir.” The croupier announced.

“Oh goody.” Discord clapped his paw and his talon. “What should we do next?” He turned to Miles who was stood beside him.

“I think you know what we should do.” Miles spoke in a grim tone before pulling out a violin case.

Discord opened up the case and pulled out two Tommy guns. The crowd ran in all directions as he fired a few shots into the air before turning the guns on the casino goers. Bullets ripped through the crowds as he slaughtered the imaginary humans whilst laughing maniacally.

“Hey! What about me?!” Miles held his arm out waiting for a gun. “Give it to me.”

“Oh yes. How could I have forgotten you? Here, I’ll give it to you.” Discord fired the guns into Miles’ chest.

Miles lay there on the floor as blood pooled out of him and onto the floor as Discord hunted more people down. Gunning more and more people down, only a few remained and were hiding from the gun-toting madman. Walking along the aisles of casino games a few humans were seen cowering behind cover before being blown away. Eventually, after painting the casino with blood and guts, all the people had been riddled with bullets and all the rooms cleared out, all except one room “Well, looks like this is coming to a close. Shame, killing these things is fun.”

Discord kicked the door down before filling everything that moved with lead. As smoke rose from the barrels of the guns one more person walked into the middle of the room carrying a semi-auto sniper rifle and smoking a cigar. ‘I recognize you. Where do I know you from?’ Discord thought to himself.

“Say hello to my little friend!” The last remaining human shouted as he fired his gun at Discord.

Ducking behind a nearby pillar, he evaded the onslaught of bullets that ripped the pillar to shreds making him need to run to the next. Throwing his weapons to the floor Discord waited for the bullets to stop before making a quick dash out of the room and back over to Miles’ body.

“Come on, man. I need you. Its not as fun without your shitty commentary.” The body remained lifeless as the blood started to dry. Ducking behind the roulette table, a pair of footsteps could be heard approaching his location. “Come on out and face your death like a man.” The imaginary movie character spoke as he rounded the corner of the table just as Discord had crawled to the other side. “If thats how you want to play it, then fine.” The replica Tony Montana walked off past the table and into another part of the large room. Thinking strategically and tactically Discord planned his next move.

Tony walked slowly, searching every corner for his prey as he made his way up and down the different aisles. Just as he was about to turn back, a shadow appeared over him. the shadow was created by Discord and his improvised weapon. “Taste the wrath of my best friend!” Discord screamed as he swung Miles’ body around like a mace with such force that when the two heads collided a messy explosions of brains spewed across the room. “Now thats all of them.”

****************************************************************************************

Miles’ sleeping form tossed and turned before waking up to come face to face with small pigeon that had made its home on Miles’s chest. “Get off me.” Miles flailed his arms to scare it away. “Hmmf. Bloody birds.”

Miles looked at the sun in the sky, judging the position, it couldn’t have been more than a couple hours. He closed his eyes again as he laid back and began drifting back into his dream.

*****************************************************************************************

“Ahahahaha.” Discord laughed clutching his sides. “I wish Miles could have seen that.”

“I did. After YOU killed me, I took the form of Tony so I could say the ‘Say hello’ phrase. And then YOU decided to obliterate my brains using my dead body. What sort of sick bastard are you?” Miles rested against a slot machine a few feet away for his safety against more flailing bodies.

“I….I killed you twice… oh hahaha. I’m so glad you came to Equestria.” Discord fell against a slot machine as it started to wobble.

Miles focused on the carnage that Discord had unleashed upon the casino and its patrons. He was so caught up in the havoc that he didn’t notice the machines falling in a domino effect towards him.

“Miles.” Discord wiped a tear from his eye. “You might want to watch out for those before….too late.” Discord attempted to warn his friend of his impending temporary doom but was silenced as Miles’ head was turned into the consistency of mashed potatoes…..again.

*****************************************************************************************

“Mother fucker!” Miles shot up. The same pigeon from before flew off again from returning whilst he slept.

“Calm down. Its just a bird.” Miles heard a voice but couldn’t see anyone. “Falling asleep? Thats not a good thing for a guard to be doing.” Rune came into his vision.

“Bugger off.” Miles grunted.

“Awww. Someone’s a little testy. You still upset from that prank?”She walked round him and slapped his cheek with her talon.

“No. Just a bad headache.” Miles rubbed his forehead.

“Suck it up. Come on, the king wants you.” Rune helped him to his feet.

“Oh ok. What does he want?”

“I don’t know. He said to come get you. He also told me to tell you something.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Yeah, he said ‘Think Wings’.”

“What does that mean?”

“You figure it out.” Rune pushed him over the edge and watched as he fell.

“FFFUUUCCCKKK YYYOOOUUU…….”

“SHITSHITSHITSHIT!” Miles screamed as he grew closer to the ground. “Think wings. Think wings. WINGS!” Miles shouted but nothing happened.

“How you doing?” Rune was freefalling next to him,

“Could use some help. Nothing is happening.” Miles breathed.

“You better figure it out soon. The ground is getting awfully close.” Rune patted him on the back before extending her wings and slowing her descent as Miles continued to shoot downwards.

“Wanker.” Miles grumbled. “Here goes nothing.” Miles closed his eyes and focused. “Wings. I need wings.”

Miles watched on, helpless as nothing happened and the treeline rushed past him. Miles shut his eyes as to not see his impending doom come to meet him. The wind rushing past him was deafening and only grew louder as his speed increased. He prayed. Miles prayed for help and then suddenly, silence.