996 CE

(Fluttershy)

(Warning: Implied gore)

It had been six months. Six months since my life got turned upside down. Now, things had finally settled into some new normal. Gwen was able to sleep longer, which meant I was sleeping longer. My animal friends had grown used to Gwen being around the house, and she had grown used to them. There were hardly any accidents anymore, and none as bad as... as...

...

I heard from Rarity that that mean old Spoiled Rich had stopped trying to kick Gwen out of town. Rumor has it that Spoiled some very offensive things that Diamond Tiara repeated to Miss. Cheerilee, who reported it to the royal guard. Someponies are even saying Spoiled might be charged with hate speech. I really hope that mare can turn herself around.

I was also able to get out more often now. Getting Rainbow to babysit Gwen, was a big help. Pinkie Pie volunteered to babysit next time, which ended up helping even more. Between the two of them, I could now once again go to the spa with Rarity, or help with some of Applejack's animals, or watch Rainbow Dash practice, or even just relax at home. It was nice to get out again.

But the first few months were rough. After... After Gwen... After the accident on the first night that Gwen was home, I could hardly go outside. I seriously considered giving Gwen back to Twilight after that night, but I couldn't do it. One look at her after she was cleaned up and I knew it wasn't her fault. She was just an innocent chick, doing what her instincts told her. Angel shouldn't have been in the room anyway, and I found a butterknife nearby! Gwen probably felt threatened.

But I don't ever think I will forget what I saw that night.

The flash of Gwen's reflective eyes in the darkness.

The blood when the lights turned on...

Oh, the blood, so much blood...

And the sound of chewing... I can sometimes still hear the chewing...

Celestia...

Sweet Celestia...

No! It is in the past! I know that this is just how nature works sometimes!

Oh no, I am rubbing my hoof again. Rarity says if I keep doing that the fur might not grow back.

Applejack came to check on me when I didn't come to town for a whole week. I told her what happened and she helped me recover. She got my food for me and made sure that the others stayed away. I am glad Rainbow never saw me while I was still mourning. I didn't want her to see me like that, I don't want her to worry.

That time wasn't all bad though. The magic expert that came to Ponyville when Gwen hatched had sent me a letter a few days after she returned to Canterlot. I have been pen pals with Miss. Twilight Sparkle ever since. Mostly we shared stories about Gwen and her dragon hatchling Spike. Spike sounds really cute; Twilight told stories of him accidentally burning off her brother's eyebrows right before picture day and serving her burnt pancakes when he was just learning how to cook. I wish I had gotten to meet him when Twilight came to town.

I had just finished my response to Twilight's last letter and was planning on giving it to Muffins this afternoon. Gwen was on the floor playing with some toys. It was really hard to buy her toys. She didn't seem to like any of the noisemakers but was fascinated by the picture book Twilight sent. I am sure she will grow up to be a bright girl.

Knock Knock Knock

As I was focusing on Gwen I heard a knock at the door.

Oh no, who could it be!? None of my friends were supposed to come over today, so it probably wasn't them. I just hope it isn't a salespony or a missionary. I almost joined Celestia's Witnesses the last time one of them came around! I should just pretend I am not home, if they go away it probably wasn't important anyway.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Okay, they aren't going away. That is pretty forceful knocking. Is it the royal guard? Or maybe S.M.I.L.E. to take Gwen away!? Or it could be a poor animal that is really hurt!? What do I do!

"Fluttershy? Are you in there? I have some important news to tell you!"

Wait. I know that voice. Twilight! I wonder what brings her all the way down to Ponyville? I hope it isn't anything scary like when Gwen arrived. It must be something important though.

"Fluttershy! Please open up!"

Oh, right. I should open the door. I can't keep a friend waiting. I think I will only open the top half of my door though. Just in case. I hope she doesn't think I am being rude.

"Oh, Fluttershy. I am glad your here. We have some new information on Gwen."

It was, in fact, Twilight at the door, but she wasn't alone. On one side of her was one of the S.M.I.L.E. agents from Gwen's birth, Tight Lips I think. On the other side was a Solar Guard stallion. He was quite large with white fur and a dark blue mane streaked with sky blue done up in a Solar Guard helmet. Truthfully, he was kind of scary. If Twilight brought ponies like them, I doubt it is for anything pleasant.

"Um... Do you mind if we come in? We have an exorbitant about to discuss."

I reluctantly let my guests into my living room. I don't want to be rude, but I would really rather not have a S.M.I.L.E. agent and Solar Guard in my house. They are both so scary! I wish Twilight had come alone.

Hearing all the commotion, Harry watched from the door to the kitchen. I think he was being protective of me, which is very sweet, but hopefully unnecessary. Gwen was still in the living room, looking at the strangers with her normal silent curiosity. I considered bringing her upstairs, but I waited to keep an eye on her, plus, it is not like she could really understand what we were saying.

"Make yourselves at home. Would you like some tea?"

"No, that shouldn't be necessary, we hopefully will not be here long."

I let out a sigh of relief at that.

"I know you don't like being around strangers," Twilight continued, "So let me introduce my brother, Lieutenant Shining Armor. And I believe you have already meet Agent Tight Lips."

We exchanged some pleasantries, but Twilight quickly brought us back to business when she took a thick folder out of her saddlebags.

"Fluttershy, we believe that we have found Gwen's birth parents."

I gulp. That was not the tone one uses when delivering good news. The purple mare in front of me levitated a photograph out from her folder. The picture depicted two serious-looking griffins in front of a cloth backdrop, one male, one female. The picture was black and white, so I couldn't tell any colors, but the resemblance was there.

"This is Gladys and Gavan. They lived in a small, remote, multi-species community on the northwest side of Griffinstone, called Gallopway across the sea from Trottingham."

That was a lot of past tense

"They look... um... nice. Wh... What happened to them? How did their egg end up all the way in Ponyville?"

"Well... We don't know all the details. About a year ago, the regular shipment from Trottingham to Gallopway found the town abandoned. It looked like it had been attacked."

"Oh my! That sounds horrible!" I did not like where this was going. How could poor Gwen lose her parents so violently before she was even hatched?

"Yes. Well, A griffin supremacist group calling themselves the Griffin's Dawn was behind the attack. Gallopway was isolated and they hated the idea of griffins living peacefully with ponies, making it the perfect target. They foalnapped or killed everycreature in the town.

"A joint Equestrian-Griffinstone task force was established to find out what happened. The survivors, including Gwen's parents, were taken to a Griffin's Dawn base in mountains. About a month ago, the task force found and raided the base. The Dawn had already left, but there were still some villagers there. The base was too cold and isolated for the survivors to leave, so most of them stayed. Of the three thousand creatures living in Gallopway, the task force was only able to recover one hundred."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Nearly three thousand dead!? I can't think of a single pony-made event since the war that had that many casualties. It was unheard of! How was this not front-page news on every newspaper from Farasi to the Frozen North!

"How could anycreature do something so horrible! What happened to them!? Did they not have enough food? Were they hurt!? Oh! Sorry I shouted. It is just so shocking!"

"It's nothing Fluttershy. I was also quite disturbed when I learned what happened," Twilight reassured before continuing her story, "Food wasn't the issue. We found many of their records. The Griffin's Dawn did unethical experiments on their prisoners." A look of rage and frustration appeared on Twilight's face, a look that could only come from the unforgivable. "I... I won't disturb you with the details, but those evil birds did dreadful things in the name of a twisted science. Most of their results were redundant, trivial, or just plain cruel. They are a disgrace to science! They aren't even real scientists! They were just using the veneer of science to justify their wanton cruelty! Justifying their irrational hated by...!"

Twilight's rant was cut off when the Solar Guard put a hoof on her shoulder. The lavender mare looked up at her brother, who softly shook his head in response. Twilight seemed to calm down a little, putting her hoof to her chest and pushing it out with the rhythm of her breathing. I was really glad she was able to calm down, it was getting a little scary.

"Sorry about that. For a mare of science like myself, what they did is against everything I stand for. Science is supposed to help ponies, not use them."

We all took a moment to calm down. Even Gwen could recognize the tension in the room and was looking anxious. Maybe tea wasn't that bad of an idea.

Twilight took some more pictures out of her folder. Rather than depicting griffins possing in a studio, these showed three ponies in front of a dilapidated building behind a fence. The ponies did not look like they were in good shape. Their coats were ratty and appeared to be falling out in places; their skin was gaunt, stretched barely over their bones allowing for a clear view of the ribs and skull. I didn't need my veterinary knowledge to spot malnutrition. One of the ponies wasn't completely facing the camera, giving a good look at their cutie mark, or at least where it should have been. The area was shaved, leaving no mark of the mark, instead, a series of numbers was tattoed onto their flank like a bar code. But worst of all were their eyes. I had seen those eyes before, on animals that came from horrible ponies. They were eyes that were done; that were no longer capable of seeing hope. I didn't think ponies were even capable of making those eyes.

"These prisoners," Twilight resumed her story with a melancholic voice, "They were neighbors of Gwen's parents. From what they said, Gwen's mother was expecting shortly before the town was attacked. One of the doctors who worked with the Griffin's Dawn took an interest in the couple. The guards took Gladys and Gavan in the middle of the night for seemingly no reason and they were never seen again. We weren't able to find any bodies, but it is unlikely they survived."

Taking one pitting look at Gwen and me, Twilight finished her story. "I am so sorry."

"So I guess Gwen is staying with me for a while longer then," I said in shock. I could hardly believe such a thing could happen under Celestia's sun. How could anycreature live with such tragedy? No. I decided then and there that I would not let this tragedy stand. Those griffins killed Gwen's parents because they hated the idea of ponies and griffins living in peace? Well, I will show them! I, a pony, will raise Gwen to be kind! To be tolerant! To be strong like a griffin and friendly like a pony! I will show them that we can live together! That we are better together! That will be how I will honor Gladys and Gavan! I won't let those meanies win!

"Thank you, Twilight, for telling me this. It means a lot to me." I said a little more edge in my voice than I meant. I hope Twilight didn't take it the wrong way, but I think Rainbow would be proud.

"That's not all."

With three words my new resolve shatters. There's more! What else could there possibly be!

"One of the lead 'scientists' from the Griffin's Dawn was recently spotted sneaking into Equestria. His name is Gosef Mengele, or as he was known by the inmates, the angel of death. He is supposedly the griffin behind the death of Gwen's parents and is extremely dangerous. S.M.I.L.E. thinks he might be coming after Gwen, so if you see him, report it right away."

Another photo floats from Twilight's folder. I see it and my world caves in. I feel like my veins have turned to ice and my throat is closing up. Depicted in the photograph is a well-dressed, impeccably groomed, and handsome griffin, probably in his early forties. A griffin I recognize.

"I know him. He is staying in Ponyville right now. He was here yesterday."

(Pinkie Pie)

(Warning: Druging)

It was a few days before the earlier part of this chapter and I was on a mission. My pinkie sense had gone off, another griffin was coming to town. After what happened with Gwen, I had to be on top of my game. So, I decided I wouldn't wait around until he got to town, I would be proactive! I was on the outskirts of Ponyville, near Sweet Apple Acers, when I spotted him. It was a little weird to see him coming from this direction. Most ponies came by train these days, but he wasn't a pony, so that checked out.

With my ~~prey~~, ~~victim~~, future friend spoted it was time to work my magic!

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name!?" I asked, appearing somewhere that would his heart pumping and excited. He jumped a little bit but quickly calmed own.

"Oh my! I apologize. I did not see you there! You wouldn't happen to be from Ponyville would you?"

"Yep! Is that where you are going? I am sure you will like it there! Everypony is super friendly! So friendly in fact, that I am friends with everypony in Ponyville! And since your going to be in Ponyville, that means I am your friend too! Even if you aren't a pony!"

"Really? Your friends with everygif in Ponyville? Wonderful, simply wonderful! You would happen to know a young chick that came to town recently?"

"Oh! Do you mean Gwen!? She is just a little baby! She is staying with my friend Fluttershy at the edge of town! Waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Are you Gwen's father!? Oh my Celestia! That is so exciting! I am sure Fluttershy will be dying to meet you!"

He chuckled a little at that. We had continued walking back into town while we talked. Well, he walked, I bounced, walking was boring. This was going so much better than with Gwen! I hadn't almost accidentally killed him yet! Better yet, he seemed to keep up with me! Most ponies couldn't handle this much Pinkie until they build up a tolerance.

"Truly wonderful! You will have to give me directions."

We continued talking after that. He asked all sorts of questions like; where I lived, if I lived alone, how often people came to the private section of the bakery, how many royal guards were in town, where the town got its water, if there were any expecting mares in town. A whole bunch of interesting questions!

Before long, we had talked all the way to Sugercube Corner. He was so friendly! I decided to let him into the kitchen so I could give him a fresh snack while we talked. Not a cupcake though, griffins and cupcakes don't mix. But then the most amazing thing happened! He offered me come candy. In my own kitchen! How cool is that! My c7 vertebra was itchy though, which usually meant food had gone bad, but he assured me the candy was safe to eat.

While I couldn't turn down a gift like that! Especially from somegif so friendly! It did have a little bit of an off-flavor. Maybe I could help with his cooking! I was giving lessons to Scootaloo's cousin, Thorax, so one more student wouldn't be a problem. When I asked, he responded kinda cryptically. He said "That would be wonderful Pinkie. I am sure I can learn a whole lot from you." in a kinda weird voice. I don't think it is anything bad though.

Hey, I feel really sleepy all of the sudden.

Author's Note

Hi everyone, super fun and upbeat chapter this week. As you can probably guess, this chapter marks the start of the next ark. Hopefully I will earn my thriller and horror tags with it! If you didn't know, I am basing Gosef Mengele off of Josef Mengele, an Nazi scientist, with some influnce from Bondrewd from the anime/manga Made In Abyss. Input and reactions are always appreciated.

As for lore, I thought I could talk a little about geography. I am roughly going off the Equestira at War mod map. The nations and such specifics will be different, but the general layout will be the same, with the addition of Farasi to the south of both Equestria and Griffonia.