Soul's Poison: Princess of the Rogues.

Chapters

Prologue. Who is sneaking over there?
Chapter 1. Legends of Hennewald.
Chapter 2. Shadow Forces of Maretonia.

Prologue. Who is sneaking over there?

Sun above was shining down on the city below. It was Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. This is a magnificent city on the Canterhorn Mountain. Princess Celestia, who ruled Equestria for thousand years, resides here as well as her younger sister Luna, who returned from the exile quite recently. After that, Luna regained her status of a princess and now rules alongside Celestia.

However if someone got her princesshood back, someone weren’t able to get it, even though, she had every right for that.

Twilight Sparkle, the scandalously known mage, former student of Princess Celestia herself and now an alicorn, who was rejected in the status of princess, went to the train station of Canterlot. She was under the illusion spell, so passersby couldn’t recognize her. She didn’t recognize the passersby as well as she was in hurry.

Well, that was to be expected, she thought. She was remembering the meeting with the princesses.

“Do you understand the consequences of your actions?” Celestia asked, glaring at Twilight with despise. That look didn’t change since that incident ten years ago, when she found forbidden books at Twilight’s place.

“I do, I guess,” Twilight replied, after she took mouthful of some salad. Before getting to the castle, Twilight went through the city and that was quite a sight. Correspondents and journalist of different newspapers, nobles, some shady persons and a way more of onlookers had been circling around Twilight until the first patrol of guards has organized an escort. In the castle, they’ve talked a little and Twilight retrieved the Elements of Harmony to princesses. After that, Celestia and Luna invited Twilight to a dinner. Twilight admitted that Celestia kept a stoic face until they got to dining room.

“No, you don’t. Do you understand why?” Celestia said with greeted teeth. “Firstly, your actions are an insult to our dignity, to our honor. An unknown pony wants into a royal court and not in the place of a maid, but a place of a princess such as I am.”

“Well, in your very law, there is certain rule: “Every alicorn is considered of a noble birth and he or she has a right to become a fellow ruler of Equestria,” Twilight remarked. Celestia smirked at that. “Besides, Cadence…”

“…Isn’t a ruler,” Celestia put in. “She isn’t a ruler, even though she is called princess. As to the rule that you mentioned… If you would’ve read it more carefully, you might have noticed that alicorn must ask me for permission. Only after I assent the proposal, they can fit into any governmental place as well as ruling with hard restrictions. Even Luna don’t have the power that I possess.”

“Does that mean that I won’t get the princesshood?” Twilight asked.

“You won’t get it,” Celestia nodded. “What were you thinking when you were making this proposal?”

“It’s not your business,” Twilight replied with a sigh. “Not like I even wanted princesshood in the first place.”

“So, Twilight,” Celestia began, after a moment of silence. “How did you managed to… Ascend?”

“Um… Luna gave me the spell,” Twilight replied. “Luna haven’t mentioned that?”

“What spell did you gave her, my dear sister?” Celestia asked Luna who was seating beside her.

“The one, that you once asked me to give to her,” Luna said. When Celestia showed that, she forgot what spell it was. “That one, eh… Pillars got injured after Starswirl casted it, you remember?”

“Oh, that one…” Celestia quickly remembered. “I remember now. Yeah, that was one of… ways I wanted to get rid of you, Twilight.”

“Thanks for telling me this, I guess,” Twilight replied, but something made her wonder. “So, who are these Pillars? Are they… The ones from the legend?”

“Yes, they are,” Celestia nodded. After seeing Twilight’s disbelief, she got highly surprised. “Out of all ponies, I guess, you are the only one who should understand that not all legends and myths are untrue.”

“So… Pillars are real?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, they were,” Celestia replied. “There were six of them. Mistmane, Somnambula, Flash Magnus, Rockhoof, Mage Meadowbrook and of course, Starswirl the Bearded, our teacher and the greatest mage of all time… They were quite a splendid team.”

“I see,” Twilight said. Nor Twilight, nor princesses found a topic to discuss, so the rest of the dinner was silent. After the dinner ended, Twilight parted ways with princesses, but before that, they taught her an illusion spell they often used, so she could get to the railway station without much turmoil.

When she was on the station, there was a slight feeling that something wrong. Someone was watching her. Following her.

Twilight started to look around every now and then. When she was getting tickets, she glanced over a shoulder twice, but there was no one. She did it once again, when she got to the station, waiting for the train to arrive. She watched the line before Ponyville ticket booth. She watched the crowd on the platform. She haven’t found the sudden stalker.

In the wagon, the feeling didn’t die out. Actually, it got worse. Twilight looked around a couple of times, but she couldn’t pinpoint anyone in particular. Many ponies looked in her way, but every one of them looked at a weird pony, who is turning her head around, as if she looked for something or someone.

Eventually, she arrived to Ponyville. A little crowd was waiting on the platform, but there wasn’t any friendly face. Twilight was expecting that. She talked with them before the ride and they said they had some chores to do.

Twilight observed the crowd for a little while, before she go for the exit. While doing it, she wished that her friends were there to help, since it would’ve help so much. She found a candidate, though.

That pony was following her through the Ponyville. She was constantly disappearing from sight, only to appear after a moment. When Golden Oak Library was in sight, Twilight also noticed that the pony, who followed her was using illusion spell, similar to her own.

“Golden Oak Library, how can we help you?” Spike asked from the desk, as he heard the door opening.

“Spike,” Twilight called, right as she discarded the illusion. “Go get some snacks.”

“Something in particular?” Spike asked, as he rushed to the kitchen. Twilight took a seat at the desk and yelled to Spike.

“Not really,” she said. “Bring me some tea… Two cups or three if you want.”

Twilight sat there, waiting. Soon after, a unicorn came in.

She wore a strange attire. A leather battered jacket with long sleeves over a white top was looking somewhat weird with the heat that was raising day after day. She also had a pair of leather gloves, a pair of knee-high boots and worker’s jeans. On the other hand, she didn’t had a worker’s cap or googles or something else common among the workers. Her boots and jeans were only barely battered in comparison with the jacket and her top was pristine. Besides, the gloves were looking like new ones.

As of her appearance, she was a unicorn with pale yellow coat and fiery red with some bright yellow strands. Her eyes were turquoise. Her cutie-mark hidden.

“Welcome to Golden Oak Library? You are looking for something?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I’m looking for something…” The mare said. “For someone, to be precise. For you, Twilight Sparkle?”

“And what is your reason?” Twilight asked, though she guessed that she knew why that mare was looking for her. “Oh, where’s my manners? Want some tea?”

“Wouldn’t mind,” the mare replied. When they took the seats, the tea with some snacks were already served. The mare suddenly apologized, “Sorry, Twilight. I also lost my manners. The name is Sunset Shimmer. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Well, Sunset Shimmer…” Twilight observed the unicorn more precisely. Despite how eager she had accepted the offer, she didn’t really went for tea. She was lazily munching on a cookie, but the tea was slowly cooling down as no one really touched it since Spike put it on the table. “Why were you looking for me?”

“Oh, Twilight, isn’t it obvious?” Sunset responded. “You are the most famous ponies at the moment… But I was your fan even before.”

“Really?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah,” Sunset replied. “I’ve seen you and your team in the newspaper. You’ve saved us from Nightmare Moon and brought Princess Luna back. I know, you have used Elements of Harmony, but there isn’t really a pony who could’ve used the Elements of Harmony aside from you.”

“Let’s say,” Twilight nodded. That mare knew how to say sweet things. Twilight thought, she knows how to use flattery.

“Oh, you’ve saved us all,” Sunset continued. “And, can you believe… They say that you are nothing, but a rebellious scum and damned vagrant, who just was lucky to get to the right place and time.”

“I do,” Twilight replied, though she admitted that the last sentence sounded like she agree with it. “Um… Can you answer a question?”

“Yes?” Sunset nodded.

“I’ve been in Canterlot this morning,” she said. “And someone started following me right to the railway station and even when I got on the train, this someone followed. You don’t know anything about it?”

“What? Of course not,” Sunset replied, though her demeanor changed and she became somewhat nervous. “That’s probably another fan of you… I came yesterday at night. I’m from Dodge-city and I’m staying at my friend’s place.”

“Oh, and how is it in the Dodge-city? Don’t buffalos trouble you? Maybe dragons?” Twilight asked.

“Um… No,” Sunset said reluctantly, as she wasn’t sure in her reply.

“Even creatures from Badlands don’t come and demolish everything?” Twilight asked once again.

“No, they don’t,” Sunset suddenly became quite annoyed and Twilight noticed that. “It’s pretty nice in there. You can come and see for yourself!”

“I see,” Twilight nodded. “So… And that friend of yours...”

Twilight was about to ask another question, but someone knocked on the door. Twilight quickly recognized the manner of it and went to open the door. Besides, she sent off Spike.

“Hello, Pinkie,” Twilight greeted her friend, as she opened the door.

“Hello, Twilight,” Pinkie said with her cheerful tone. “Oh, I see a new face there.”

“Yeah, Pinkie, but before you do that…” Twilight said, emphasizing the word “that”. “I would like to talk with her.”

“Oh, fine,” Pinkie nodded.

“You wanted something?” Twilight asked.

“Oh…” Pinkie looked at Twilight with a confused face, before she remembered. “Oh, right. My Pinkie Sense said that one of my friend is going to arrive soon. It also said that one of my friends is in danger. What can you say about that?”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight assured her friend. “Everything is covered. Bye!”

“Have a nice day, Twi!” Pinkie waved her hand and quickly ran away. Twilight meanwhile closed the door and turned to Sunset.

“So, Sunset,” Twilight began. “Or, maybe, not Sunset? Is that your real name?”

“No, it’s pretty much my name,” Sunset replied. “You guessed right, by the way. It was me back then in Canterlot and on the train. However, you’ve made it too obvious when you started to look around looking for me.”

“And what was that for?” Twilight asked. “Why?”

She sighed and then she looked straight in Twilight’s eyes. “I challenge you to a duel of mages!”

“A duel?” Twilight raised her eyebrow. Sunset nodded at that and Twilight with uncertain face said, “Fine. After half an hour, before the town hall.”

“Fair enough,” Sunset agreed and headed to the door. “Don’t try to play tricks on me.”

They stood in front of each other. Sunset Shimmer, unicorn unknown to the Ponyville’s residents, and Twilight Sparkle, once a unicorn who lived in Ponyville for half a year and who ascended to alicornhood. Ponyvillians were quite thrilled with the sudden duel between these two, but since no one didn’t know Sunset at all, they were agitating for Twilight.

“I’m not sure how magical duels must proceed, but I guess as long as you wouldn’t kill each other and you wouldn’t inflict serious injuries, you are allowed to test your strengths,” mayor said, as she stood between the two unicorns. She made one step back and nodded to two. “Use your spells and knowledge and put your opponent into a state, where they can’t struggle anymore. That’s the goal for both of you. Begin the showdown.”

Both mares started slowly. Rays were flying and defenses were created and destroyed. Mayor stood on the veranda of the town hall, but quite soon, she understood the danger of this affair. When the ray hit the planks next to mayor’s head, she went into the town hall.

Ponies of the Ponyville were told about that beforehand, so all the spectators were watching the show from secure places. Twilight’s friends as well as some of citizens with some guts were watching the showdown from handmade shelters.

With each ray, Sunset was coming closer and closer. Twilight didn’t like it and she reminded herself of a spell she know. Eventually, she got closer and they engaged in a melee fight.

Twilight learned something from her times back when she was on the streets. Sunset was a worthy opponent though. Twilight couldn’t pinpoint what was the stronger side of her opponent. She was stronger and quicker but Twilight predicted all the attacks. She lacked years of trainings and real fights.

Eventually, blocks and counterattacks pissed Sunset off and she started to make blows fiercely. Twilight started to dodge and retreat gradually. Twilight felt it was the moment and she was right. Twilight’s eye caught metallic glimpse of something that was attached to Sunset’s fist, which was on its way to her stomach. Twilight shot her spell, causing a serious blast that sent Sunset away.

Twilight tried to find that something that glimpsed, but it was in vain. She noticed a strange line on backside of the glove. That line went from one side of the glove to the other, and on closer look, Twilight understood that it was a pocket.

She wanted to kill me? A late question came to Twilight’s head, as her opponent raised from the ground. I need to end this quickly.

She braced herself as she came up with a spell that should do the thing. When Sunset came back to her senses, Twilight charged her horn and shot the spell at Sunset. Sunset immediately responded with a magical shield.

It was a mistake. Twilight saw that her opponent was using only magical shield. It was a common technique, since it was easy to perform and highly effective. Other techniques like missile dissolving or disrupting missiles are harder to perform, they are more specific and they requires a good aim and reflexes.

When the ray hit the shield, there was a little explosion. After that, Sunset suddenly noticed that her shield suddenly dissolved and nothing stands before her and a stunning ray.

The stunning ray worked as intended. The spell knocked senses out of Sunset and she lost herself for a couple of seconds. It was enough time for Twilight to cast a spell that prevent Sunset from casting anymore spells.

When Sunset got back on her legs, she saw Twilight with a fireball in her hand. She tried to use some magic in response, but she find, she couldn’t cast a single spell.

“So, some destruction spells, Twilight?” Sunset admitted. She quickly calculated her chances and without magic it’s unlikely that she will get to Twilight or that Twilight would miss. “Aren’t they like, kinda illegal?”

“I have a carte blanche,” Twilight replied. “Besides, you went for melee. You know that you would’ve been disqualified for even touching me. It is forbidden.”

“It was,” Sunset countered.

“Magic duels are forbidden as well,” Twilight replied, but after seeing the look of Sunset, she corrected herself. “Well, they are not really forbidden, but Celestia is highly against them.”

“She didn’t forbid them, because…” Sunset was about to add more information, but Twilight already knew it.

“She needed an instrument to push her authority and gain power,” Twilight concluded. “So, you’ve been in the school for gifted unicorns, right?”

“Yeah, and I’ve been studying there when you were in kindergarten,” Sunset said.

“Eh, kindergarten?” Twilight cringed, as her memories of that place weren’t the most exciting. When Sunset was about to add something, Twilight snapped out of it, “um, whatever… So, and why are you here and wishing me dead?”

“Dead? I had never killed in my life and I didn’t want you dead,” Sunset retorted.

“But you brought two nicely hidden blades,” Twilight parried.

“I wanted to win in a duel,” Sunset said. “You see, I was Celestia’s personal student, before you and I was there when you became one as well. I’m not sure why, but I ran after that, being angry at Celestia, you and probably the whole world.”

“You got jealous?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe…” Sunset mumbled, as she suddenly started to realize the foolishness of the situation and started to feel bad. “I was in my teens.”

“That’s explains a lot,” Twilight nodded. “I guess, I can’t hurt you or kill you. You have potential… Would you like to be in our team?”

“I think, I don’t have another option here,” Sunset replied. “There isn’t really anywhere I could go now. Nor Celestia, nor my parents will accept me, so I guess I will stick to your team… If I can?”

“You can,” Twilight said, but there was the pause at the end, which meant something else is unsaid. Sunset waited fearfully for that unsaid part. “But, keep in mind that I and my friend will be watching you. If you are planning something against me or my friends, you should better forget that. You are with us and I promise it’s going to be such a wild ride.”

Author's Note

Wowie! It's been awhile.

Chapter 1. Legends of Hennewald.

Twilight stood in front of two royal sisters. Her friends were also there at the Canterlot castle. They weren’t there because of some crime or something like that, but actually because they were about to be tasked for another adventure.

“So, what do we need to do?” Twilight asked.

“You are to undertake an important yet dangerous task,” Luna began.

“Which will take place in Hennewald, a region in Gryphon Empire,” Celestia added. Twilight and their friends after hearing this only raised their brows.

“You want us to go to another country?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Celestia replied. “From our delegation in Griffonstone, we received information of certain gryphons, who has anti-Equestrian attitudes. They are increasing their numbers, hiring mercenaries and bolstering their strengths. Most of their forces are in the north, but some made their way to the Hennewald. They sabotaged important businesses there and you need to help the locals.”

“Griffonstone?” Applejack suddenly voiced out. “Ah might be wrong, but it’s not in Gryphon Empire.”

“Yes, your words are truthful,” Celestia said. “Griffonstone has made a rebellion against Gryphon Empire and received their freedom from the empire.”

“This is all fine and all, but what up with Gryphon Empire?” Pinkie asked. When everyone looked at her questioningly, she corrected herself. “I mean, why we must go and help them?”

“Firstly, as we already mentioned, gryphons, whom you will face, want Gryphon Empire to fight with Equestria as they think we made some bad things to their country,” Celestia said. “We cannot allow that and we must crush the threat before it gets too late.”

“Secondly and most reasonably, the Emperor of the Gryphon Empire asked us,” Luna added, causing surprised looks on most of the girls’ faces.

“But why?” Applejack asked.

“He don’t want to lose power,” Luna explained. “If anti-Equestrians succeed even partially, they would be more favored by the nation of the Gryphon Empire than the Emperor, who did nothing all these years.”

“Sounds like a piece of cow’s shit ta me,” Applejack said, not being ashamed of crass words.

“Whatever,” Celestia shrugged off. “Just take those tickets and head to the Griffonstone. There, you will find our allies and they will show you how to get a troubled region. By the way, make sure your alicorn nature is kept hidden.”

Without really much of a choice, the group went for exit. After making couple of turns here and there, they came to a little café. They found an unremarkable mare and after she ended with her light snack, she blend into their team.

“So, how it went?” Sunset asked, still under the illusion spell.

“Pretty usual,” Twilight replied. “We got a new assignment and we are going to the station. Care to join?”

“Yeah,” Sunset replied. “Where?”

“Gryphon Empire,” Twilight said.

“Isn’t that too far?” Sunset asked

“We are going to Griffonstone and we will walk from there,” Twilight replied.

“Oh, fine,” Sunset nodded.

After that, they silently went to the railway station and after arriving to their destination, they got their seats on the last train. However, they found out that for logical reasons Sunset didn’t had a ticket. They bought her one, but she was in the different railway car.

They arrived to Griffonstone next day in the evening. In the dim lights of kerosene lamps, trio of gryphons met them.

Two gryphons at the back were looking rather similar, as if they were, if not twins, then brothers. Both had feathers of the same white and grey color palette in the similar places. Their body types didn’t share that similarity. One was slim and little, the other was a way bulkier, a bit pudgier and, of course, higher. Equipped with two halberds, both of them were protected only by single breastplates over simple clothes.

The one at the front was dressed like clerk or notary. The body type of that gryphon suggested, that they were actually a she. She had the formal attire that fitted really well on her body. Her feathers were also white with some brown feathers on her head, but if her white feathers were pure and well maintained, the brothers behind her had dust and dirt on them. This even made Twilight think that these gryphons may not have any grey feathers and all of them are just dirty.

“Let me welcome you to Griffonstone, dear guests,” the griffin at the front said. “I am Hildegard. These two brutes are Gerald and Gerome and they will be our bodyguards.”

“Bodyguards?” Applejack questioned. “Ain’t that too much. We can take care of ourselves.”

“They won’t be much of a bother, I promise,” she said. Applejack and others found nothing to say about that.

With that, they went forward, to the center of the city. The city itself didn’t look any extraordinary. It was pretty much like others gryphonian cities. A lot of tree houses were situated over houses of poorer gryphons. Tree houses were a common thing among gryphons, but due to the lack of proper trees for them, they were a rare sight. Only nobles or rich merchants are able to own such a luxury.

What could also be said about this city is that there were a lot of more classic stone buildings. Hildegard said that rich gryphons who despise traditions or who have a thing about a lot of living space build such houses. There is also a law that makes it illegal to build tree houses bigger than the one owned by the Emperor.

They came to a nice looking two-store stone building, which as Hildegard said, was home to Grampa Gruff, the oldest gryphon in the Council of Griffonstone, the government of the city-state. Because of his old age and, of course, his wealth, he was also one with the most authority in the Council.

Inside, they found a nicely furnished house, with pretty much anything for a nice living. A room with a fireplace, many bedrooms, a nice kitchen, where servant were already making a late dinner, and a lot more. However, the first thing they met, or rather, first gryphon they met made bad first impression.

“Gilda,” Rainbow Dash grit her teeth.

“Rainbow Dash?” She looked at ponies before her with disbelief and quite soon, her look changed to one of disdain. “First of all, you all made fun of me at Ponyville and sent me out like…”

“Stop it, Gilda!” Hildegard said. “I’m not sure what sort of contention you had with these mares, they are here to do important business, so stay away.”

“It’s not like I ever wanted to talk or something,” Gilda said. “Just mind your business.”

Soon, they were on the second floor, where they found aforementioned gryphon. Gruff was indeed old. On his head and neck, there were multiple wrinkles. Some of his peach pink feathers were sticking out of them.

He also had feathers of dark grey and white. While white feathers were forming a collar on the base of his neck, dark grey ones were covering the rest of his body.

“About time you showed up,” the old gryphon said. “Don’t think we are afraid of these angry fellas, who wants the war. We just want to get this guys stopped, so there is no trouble in our trade.”

“Troubles in the trade?” Applejack asked. “Ain’t that too greedy? You, fellas, don’t look like you need more money.”

“Don’t look?” Rarity gazed at Applejack with the look of disbelief. “There were a lot of buildings of…”

“Paupers?” Applejack ended Rarity’s question. “Those gals came from elsewhere, right?”

“That’s true,” Gruff nodded. “For many years, gryphons of Griffonstone were peacefully making business. Some were making legal stuff, some were not, but they all got rich eventually. Very few of them were poor and local duke quickly got rid of everygryphon so poor. The exception were only the staff member, who were bounded by the contract or debt. The latter ones were many by the way… Things didn’t change until the war came… I only heard stories about that life, but I don’t want another war to see it for real. Not now.”

“Oh, and you, guys, don’t have something like… A war industry?” Twilight asked, seeing clearly as day that Griffonstone’s economics ran solely on trading.

“We produce weapons, if you want to put it that way…” Gruff replied. “In Schneeboden, the duchy on the north, they makes better ones, though. They are the source of many wars that Gryphon Empire had… You have a keen mind, young hen... I mean, mare.”

“So, you don’t want a war,” Rarity stated. “But there are other forces who want that. You want us to fight them?”

“Pretty much, yes,” Gruff nodded. “Not here though. If they have some agents here, they are inactive. You will go to other place. Celestia already told you that you are going to duchy of Hennewald, our eastern neighbor. Tomorrow, I would like you to go there… Oh, and by the way, there was a gryphon, who came from Hennewald. He will go with you so ask him tomorrow for more information.”

“So, we will… Stay here?” Rarity asked.

“Yes. And even for free!” Gruff chuckled. “Hildegard will show you your rooms. More questions?”

“Y’all, folks, are tradin’ only with Equestria?” Applejack asked. “Ain’t that kinda dumb? You can go to…”

“Zebrica?” Gruff asked before Applejack could end the sentence. “It would’ve been a good decision if there was anything to buy. We can buy it in Gryphon Empire. Slaves? No need. Gems? Equestria has cheaper and wider assortment… Oh, and have I mentioned pirates? They are bane of anyone, who will try to go to southern lands. They even try to attack our ships that goes to Equestria… If it wasn’t for taxes, I’d worshipped your country.”

“Ah see,” Applejack said.

“More questions?” Gruff asked. After half a minute of silence, Gruff nodded and told Hildegard to show girls their room. “Wait… Before you go, who is that unicorn? Celestia told me only about six of you.”

“Let’s stay silent about that,” Twilight said, pulling some coins from her pocket.

“Fine. I will stay silent… Hildegard, you too,” he said.

Two guests’ bedrooms were nearby and they settled in. For Sunset, there wasn’t a bed, so Hildegard gave her a sleeping bag. When they all were laying in beds, Sunset since she laid next to Twilight spoke to her.

“Hey, Twilight,” she murmured to her. She repeated that a bit louder and got the attention of pony in question. “You aren’t worried about night attack? I don’t trust these gryphons.”

“You’d better worry about getting up earlier than me, if you don’t want me to stand up on you tomorrow morning,” she replied. “If you really worry about that, I cast a spell on the door. We will know if someone opens it. Besides, Pinkie, AJ and Rainbow will have one of them to stay up for a while and they will do that in turns. They will get us up.”

“Ugh… Fine,” Sunset responded.

The morning began with a cock-a-doodle-doo. Twilight jumped from the bed quickly.

“Ouch, Twilight! You stood on me,” Sunset shouted. Sleepy Twilight jumped once again. After that, she heard laughter.

That worked as energy booster for Twilight. She quickly lost all her sleepiness and looked around. Under her, there were not nor Sunset, nor Sunset sleeping bag. Sunset was found standing by the side and she was with Fluttershy and Rarity who were up as well.

“Huh… Oh, well… I guess, that’s funny. Heh-heh,” she giggled. “By the way, that sound…”

“My spell,” Sunset said. “A complicated one. Only we heard that cock-a-doodle-doo.”

Twilight was about to say something, but someone knocked on the door. She went to open it and behind it, Hildegard stood.

“I see, you are all up,” she said. “Have you gathered your stuff?”

“No, we…” Twilight was about to say no, but Sunset get into the conversation.

“Yes, we did,” she said. Twilight looked questioningly at her.

“We did?” Twilight asked. She looked at the room more carefully and she saw their stuff packed and ready to be carried to elsewhere. “Oh, we did.”

“Good,” Hildegard said at that. “Please, follow me. The gryphon from Hennewald won’t wait for too long.”

Outside, they really met another gryphon. He was all muscles and stuff. By his side, a crossbow was hanging. The battle knife was in a sheath on his belt. Overall, that gryphon looked like a bane to all sorts of troublemakers.

“Before you, stand Gavino, a good friend of Falk,” Gruff said. “Falk is a gryphon you will work for. He is the military advisor of Hennewald’s duke, as well as the commander of duke’s personal army.”

“That’s right,” Gavino said. “Now, the rules. Don’t speak too much. Don’t try to ask any questions. All the information you will get from Falk.”

“Oh… Um, fine,” Twilight said.

“Good,” Gavino said and after saying farewells to Gruff and Hildegard, they went to camp, where Falk waited for them.

Falk’s camp was situated on the border between Hennewald and Griffonstone. The road there took eight hours and they only made one big stop in order to have a meal and a couple of brief stops for some lights snacks. All questions to Gavino were ended with the one answer: “Ask Falk”.

In the camp, fifteen or so gryphons met them. Gavino immediately led them to the main tent. They found Falk there as well as other gryphon.

Falk was a normal gryphon. He wasn’t a giant mass of muscle like Gavino, nor he wasn’t a tiny bunch of feather like the other gryphon that was in the tent. The name of that other gryphon was Norbert.

Brown gryphon with green eyes and green feathers on top. That’s how Falk looked without comparison. He had the light armor with plates on the chest and shoulders. Gavino and Norbert had common attire.

“So, that’s our heroes?” gryphon with deep crimson coat, who was Norbert, elevated the ponies before him.

“Hey, you have troubles with us?” Rainbow Dash was the first to reply to sudden threat.

“Stop with that, you two,” Falk replied immediately, mediating the starting conflict. After things went quite, he turned to Twilight and her team. “Sorry for Norbert. He is a patriot.”

“So, what’s wrong? What do we need to do?” Twilight ignored the situation and asked Falk to clarify their purpose. “No one have told us anything. We would like to know more.”

“Straight to the business? That’s good,” Falk nodded. “So, listen: officially, you are here to make some deals here, some little trading there, that kind of things. For real, you are here to help us in finding all those anti-Equestrians. You shall be a great red flag for them.”

There was clearly something else on Falk’s mind and Twilight asked about it. “Something else?”

“Yeah…” He said, as his thought about the situation in hand. “Well, a certain thing happened not so long ago, about a couple of month. Duke Hennewald got awfully ill. We suspect it was an attempt on his life, so I want you to help us with the investigation.”

“Fine,” Twilight agreed. “Any suspects?”

“Not really,” Falk replied. His eyes then widened, as suddenly remembered something. “Oh, almost forget that… Uh, Twilight? Can I ask you of one more favor?”

“Yeah?”

“They asked me to assign an heir to the duke. It’s not like we are afraid of his death, but… Just find someone who will keep Hennewald intact,” Falk said.

“Eh… Fine,” Twilight agreed on that as well, though she had her questions. “You had someone in particular?”

“Old duke has three kids,” Falk said. “When we will arrive to Waldstein, I will show you to them.”

“Aha,” Twilight nodded. “Hey, why they gave you such a task?”

“I’m the right claw gryphon for the old duke,” Falk replied. “I know how to deal with gryphons and old duke knows that as well. I just don’t have time to deal with that.”

“Oh, I see,” Twilight nodded. Her mind festered with doubts.

Waldstein was looking like Canterlot. A completely made out of wood Canterlot with only a couple of stone buildings here and there. Since there is a forest around, it’s not that unexpected.

“We control a big part of Gryphonia’s Northern Forest,” Falk said, as he was asked about the city and its surroundings. “Our ancestors hunted in those forests and produced timber. It was our pride and honor and it is still so nowadays. Each year we become only better.”

“That’s understandable,” Twilight said at that. “But do you control the population of the animals… Or something like that?”

“From where you know that?” Falk asked.

“I had a hunter’s book back in the days,” Twilight replied. That caused Falk to open eyes wide open with bewilderment.

“You had that in Equestria?” Falk asked. After Twilight nod, he proceed with the answer to Twilight’s question. “Well… If by “population control”, you mean hunting seasons, where hunters can’t hunt anyone except said animals then we have that.”

“Well, in Equestria, they just declare which animals cannot be hunted,” Twilight replied.

“Whatever,” Falk brushed it off.

At the evening of that day, they arrived to Waldstein, or if being more accurate, they came to castle of the duke. It was more of a wooden fort with low walls, but from inside there were a lot of luxurious interior. Besides, as it turned out, there was a way more rooms and free space as underground tunnels went in all directions.

Before they went to sleep, they had the dinner, on which Falk introduced girls with other gryphons, who served under him and who were going to help with upcoming tasks.

Firstly, there were duo of ducal jaegers or pathfinders, Henry and Henriette Stockgreifs. They were pretty much alike with their oak brown and black feathers. They looked so much alike, that if it wasn’t for their body shapes, they would’ve been identical. Since they were brother and sister, it wasn’t something extraordinary.

Then, there was Ellie Stockgreif, wife of Henry and the pathfinder in the making. She had red feathers with some white ones here and there.

Also, there was Jorgen. A tall and silent and with yellowish feathers.

“So, do you have any suspects?” Asked Twilight. When every gryphon looked at Falk except Norbert, she raised her eyebrow. “…Or at least some guide how to find these…”

“Just walk the streets,” Norbert suddenly guffawed. “That will be enough to detect anti-equestrians, ha-ha.”

“They are not that stupid,” Falk replied, cutting off the laughter. “Well, not all of them… As to your question, Twilight, my dear… Norbert have been watching the town residents and he will show whom we should check. We fear, Twilight, that you and your girls are not required. You should make up your cover. As I mentioned earlier, you are here because you are traders. Spend this day or a couple to install the image in citizens’ heads.”

“How exactly you expect us to do that?” Twilight asked.

“Go to the market or storages, ask about goods and talk how trader should talk,” Falk replied, and after a moment of thinking added. “If you want, I can give you some gryphon in assistance.”

“That wouldn’t hurt,” Twilight responded. “Hmm, but after that, what should we do?”

“There will be job for you to do,” Falk said, after a moment of thought.

They continued their conversation for the rest of the dinner. After the end of it, they were shown their rooms. Twilight instead of immediately getting into her bed, asked if she can visit the old duke. She was rejected.

Tomorrow morning, she tried to do the same. The same nurse, who rejected her, was standing there.

“What?” She shouted at her. “Yesterday, I told you, that the old duke is too sick to have guests. Doctor, despite his best efforts, wasn’t able to fully heal him. Our dear duke will get better eventually, but until that, no guests allowed. Especially, not you.”

“Um, fine…” Twilight said, as the door before her closed. “Fine…” That was kinda suspicious. I need to talk with Falk.

And she did exactly that. Before Falk and his team went on their mission, Twilight came to him. Before she was able to ask about the situation, Falk sighed with a relief, pointed at one of the gryphon from his team and said, “Oh, Twilight. Look, it’s Samuel. He will show you the town and he will as well show whom of many traders around the city will be working with.”

“Yeah, good,” Twilight nodded and she forgot what she wanted to say.

“You wanted something?” Falk noticed the sudden confusion of Twilight.

“Yeah…” She tried to remember what she wanted to say and she was successful with that. “Oh, about duke’s nurse. She…”

“She is kind of harsh, isn’t she?” Falk asked in reply. “She definitely has that trait, but the doctor said she is a good worker. She don’t allow anyone to the duke. Even me.”

“Even you?” Twilight repeated his words. “Now, that’s getting only more suspicious. Can you check up on him and that… Nurse?”

“Hmm, since you are talking that way…” Falk rubbed his chin. “We will check.”

Twilight nodded at that and she grabbed Samuel with whom she will complete her part of the deal. Girls quickly prepared to the upcoming task.

“So, where we should begin?” Twilight asked, even though she technically didn’t require that information. Among their group, Pinkie and Rarity will be the temporary leaders and they will do all the talking, not only because they have experience in trading, but also because Samuel suggested others to play the roles of mercenaries.

“Let’s go to the local market,” Samuel suggested. “I know a couple of gryphons, who might interest you… By the way, have you looked at the papers? You know, to have an idea of what you are supposed to have and what you supposed to buy?”

“Yeah, I did,” Rarity nodded. “So, we have a whole cart of gems and we are interested to barter it into something different, right?”

“Do you know what exactly you are going to buy?” Samuel asked.

“Eh… Wood?” Rarity reluctantly replied trying to remember what was in the contract.

“Wood, coal, hides and so much more,” Samuel beamed. “There is a whole bunch of stuff we prepared for this trade. It’s waiting for you in the warehouse on the north of the city… However, it would be looking quite strange if we go there immediately. Let’s do it this way: we will be moving from trader to trader asking them for big wholesales. On the second day, we will ask my friend, Diego, who is looking after all these goods. After a little scene, you will go to warehouse, observe the goods and on third day, you will agree on the trade and sign the fake contract. By that day, Falk should end with the hunt and you can help him.”

“Well, that’s sounds like a plan,” Twilight agreed. “Come on, girls. We have business to attend to.”

After a moment, Samuel suddenly remembered something. “Oh, Falk also recommended us not to appear near castle. It would be strange if we would head there every evening.”

These couple of days were truly special. Twilight never been a silent mercenary, who just follows their hirer. Back in the days when she was just a simple thug in the Syndicate, she never had a similar job.

It hadn’t gone as Twilight was expecting it though. Gryphons had no much trouble with new ponies. Twilight noted only a couple of gryphons, who were letting themselves to express their spite towards newcomers.

Actually, there were pretty much a lot of ponies here in Waldstein. A lot of them came from Maretonia, but some came from Equestria. A couple of them even worked at the traders’ guild.

As it had been settled, on the second day, they found Diego.

Gryphons were known for their trading skills and ability of making money out of anything. Some gryphons might be good traders, some not, but among even the best traders Diego was one of the finest.

Even though, it was just a play, Twilight had the feeling as if they were actually going to barter a whole lot of gems for whatever they had in store.

As they were spending their time with Samuel and Diego, Falk was on his hunt. He and his gryphons worked hard these three days, capturing almost a dozen of gryphons. Most of them were found not guilty, but some of them were allied with the enemy. Via them, they learned about an organized group of anti-equestrians in Waldstein.

On the next day after the fake deal, Falk called Twilight only. Jorgen lead her to the castle via the secret passage.

“So, Twilight,” Falk began, as soon as she stood in front of him. “As you probably know, we are preparing a raid on the den of our enemy. Anti-equestrian do not expect the attack, but we… I must warn you, that they plan an attack on you. I’m not sure how they going to do that, but you must be ready to strike them back, both verbally and non-verbally. It’s likely that they are preparing a provocation of sort.”

“I see…” Twilight nodded. “So, you can’t help us?”

“Sorry, but no,” Falk sighed. “You are not connected with me. At the very first day you came to me, the only thing you did was to acknowledge your presence and ask for the guide. I did that. Now we are separate.”

“Oh, that’s a problem,” Twilight sighed as well. “Fine, we will handle the problem on our own… Through the same pathway?”

“Huh…” Falk looked on her, but after a quick thought, he got real and nodded. “Yeah. Jorgen. Go all the way back to the city.”

“When it will be, Twi?” Rainbow nodded. “Are you sure, Falk didn’t lie to you?”

Twilight said nothing. She didn’t believe Falk at all, but all of a sudden, there was an unsettling feeling of something dangerous hidden in that unnoticeable and once somewhat friendly region in the northern part of Gryphon Empire. Twilight couldn’t figure out the reasons of that, but right before she started thinking about it, she received an answer.

“Do you have a moment?” A bulk of a gryphon asked, while stopping the whole group. Twilight looked around and saw a group of hunters with bows.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity said. “We’re simple traders…”

“Ponies. Are. Not. Welcomed. Here,” he spelled, emphasizing every word. “You’d better head back to Equestria.”

“We are peaceful traders and we possess no threat,” Rarity replied, but gryphon in front of them only scowled.

“You. Are. Not. Welcomed. Here,” gryphon said with gritted teeth.

“Is that against the law?” Samuel, who stood in the back, asked. “I think there isn’t such a law.”

“Samuel, you, bastard!” Gryphon looked right into his eyes. “Think whom you support!”

“I support the true government,” Samuel returned the stern look, while getting between girls and gryphon. “Besides, Falk is going to kick you out soon."

“What do you mean?” Gryphon asked.

“Falk found you,” Samuel smirked. Gryphon in front of Falk after realizing his words looked back at Falk with shock in his eyes.

“You… You what?...” Gryphon mumbled. Then, suddenly, his face became very serious. He punched Samuel square in his chest and in his stomach. After that, he quickly jumped away and ran, while shouting, “Shoot!”

A barrage of arrows flew from different directions at the group. Almost all ponies scattered. Applejack quickly grabbed Samuel and head in one direction with Rainbow. Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy went in other direction. Only Twilight stood there.

She had cast a couple of pure magic discs, which shot the arrows down, but after seeing that arrows were flowing from too many directions, she ran after Applejack and Rainbow.

Luckily, the shooters weren’t going to finish the job. After seeing, their leader ran they followed him. When ponies eventually noticed that, they finally assembled back.

“Shouldn’t we follow them?” Pinkie asked.

“No… No need,” Samuel grunted, still not recovered from the blow. “Falk must… Deal with them… Without troubles.”

“Yeah,” Rarity nodded. Her eyes were wandering around, looking on the crowd around. “You know, they were first to attack and all. Am I the only one thinking our enemies have made a blunder?”

“Those cretins totally fucked up,” Samuel cursed.

They eventually got to the guild, where they solved out the details of the oncoming trading deal and the possibility of other trading deals in the near future.

Of course, it was a made-up facade. Ponies were actually sitting quietly, only starting to talk when an occasional gryphon entered the room.

After an hour, a gryphon came to them. Diego immediately recognized him and after a short conversation, he let ponies out.

In the tavern, Norbert was already waiting for them.

“You know, it’s not good to not warn your bosses about a sudden attack from the back,” Norbert spat.

“Do you think we were able to do anything?” Twilight replied with a question.

After a moment of staring at each other, Norbert softened. “Yeah, you can’t do anything.”

“Hey, not in that sense,” Rainbow Dash countered, when Norbert started snickering.

“Fine,” Norbert’s laughing died down. “I’m here for a completely different reason. You see, Elisabeth, Heinrich and Balthassar are here.”

“Who?” Rainbow confusedly asked.

“Who?” Norbert repeated while slightly disappointed. “They are the direct heir to the duke. I hope you haven’t forgotten your other quest here.”

“Of course, we do,” Twilight said, looking at Norbert with some sort of annoyance. “Should we know something of them?”

“Well, since you are asking,” Norbert rubbed his chin. “Listen. Heinrich is a boastful knight from the Knight Order. He is pretty much the showcase of them. Stubborn, conservative and with an iron will. Fights good, almost never takes off his armor… Hmm, did I forgot something? Ah, yes, of course. He looks pretty much like Falk. Some brown feathers on his body, same body type. Heinrich however has blonde feather on top of his head. In addition, Heinrich is a bit more muscular and tend to strike before thinking.”

“What about the other two?” Twilight asked as she made some mental notes.

“Elisabeth is narcissistic moneybag,” he admitted. “The only thing that saves her from being expelled from the duchy is her natural ability of trading. Even Diego admitted that… Hmm, she also knows how to make anyone do whatever she wants. She can see anyone through… Oh, yeah. She is a good marksman. Can hit the target with almost anything. She prefers rifles, but she is good in shooting bows and crossbows.”

“And Balthassar?” Rainbow joined the conversation. Since there was a slight pause, she due to her impatience decided to quicken the gryphon.

“Balthassar…” gryphon mumbled something as if he wasn’t sure how it sounded. “He is rather… Oh, he is rather eccentric, that’s the word… An eccentric scientist.”

“Scientist?” Twilight asked. After Norbert nodded, she asked another question, “So, and what he researches?”

“An esoteric stuff,” Norbert nodded. He then added with a lowered voice. “I haven’t misplaced the words, have I?”

“Not at all,” Twilight replied. “But… Esoteric? What exactly you meant by that?”

“I meant what I meant,” Norbert said. “He is all about studying some zebrican mumbo-jumbo.”

“Mumbo… Jumbo? You mean magic?” Twilight asked. “Do you want to say he is studying zebrican magic? I am not wrong?”

“I’m not sure, but he always speaks of ghosts and spirits and that kind of stuff,” Norbert shrugged.

“That does sound like zebrican magic,” Twilight agreed. “How he looks by the way?”

“You also forgot to tell how Elisabeth looks,” Rarity noted.

“Oh, I did?” Norbert raised one of his eyebrow. “Hmm, listen then. Elisabeth is a griffin with bright feathers all over her body. She is just the same size as you. When she looks at something or someone, she have either spiteful, evaluating or seducing face. Balthassar on the other claw always has his head in the clouds. He barely listen to someone’s speaking unless it’s connected to magic or something. His appearance is quite similar to Heinrich’s, but blonde feathers aren’t only on top of his head, but all of his head is covered with them. He is also skinny, but tall just as Heinrich.”

“And what do they wear?” Rarity asked. Everyone looked at her, but she in reply rolled her eyes and said, “if only you knew how much can be said about someone from their choice of clothes.”

“What right words,” Norbert marveled. “Heinrich never put off his mail-shirt. He might hide it under some common garments, but be sure that you will have troubles putting a knife in his guts. Elisabeth on the other hand never wore simple gowns. She has all kinds of dresses and she looks stunning even in light armor she has. She is pragmatic as well, so you wouldn’t find her wearing same dress, you saw month ago. She just sell them every month. Balthassar, however… He just doesn’t care. He has some tastes and he can dress well, especially for some important meetings, but most of the times he just wear that old yellow bathrobe. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t stitched that rip on the shoulder.”

“Quite interesting,” Twilight nodded. “Anything else?”

“Well, aside from Heinrich probably being around some fellow knights and Elisabeth being around some mercenaries nothing could be said about them,” Norbert replied and head to the exit. “You’d better check them yourselves.”

“Fine,” Twilight replied. “But before you go, I have the last question.”

“Go on,” Norbert said, clearly getting more bothered about that.

“How exactly your inheritance system works?” Twilight asked.

“Oh,” Norbert hiccupped suddenly. “That was unexpected… Now, give me a moment, I… Think.”

“Think faster,” Twilight rushed him.

“Eh, fine,” Norbert sighed. “Listen. The duke before he or she will die, choose who will inherit the title. Most of the times, it’s one of their kids, but technically, the duke can choose anyone. Only if duke didn’t choose anyone, the emperor would decide who will get the title. We obliged to send a gryphon to the emperor’s court if such situation arrives.”

“Yes, I see,” Twilight nodded and looked around with a certain question in her eye. Seeing that no one wants to ask more question, she turned to Norbert, “Since none of us have more questions, you are free. Girls, whom of you would like to accompany Norbert.”

“Ah will. Thank y’all for the advice,” Applejack said, as she accompanied him to the exit. When she returned, she turned to Pinkie, “hey, Pinkie. Do ya have an idea about whole thing tomorrow?”

“Don’t worry,” Pinkie nodded. She wasn’t really paying attention to Norbert, but rather writing something on papers. “Everything is covered.”

Norbert’s descriptions were quite right. It’s to be expected, since Norbert was around the age of Falk and he spent a lot of his time around the military adviser. Among many things, he dealt with all three of duke’s scions.

That fact bothered Twilight much more than anything else. Just in a day or two the celebration would start. Pinkie was a real party maker. Twilight checked on Pinkie a couple of times and she did a great job, even though Pinkie complained a lot. To quote, she said, “it’s gonna be so boring.”

“Falk, are you free at the moment?” Twilight asked, as she entered the room.

“Yes, my dear Twilight,” Falk nodded and he turned to her. “Does something bother her?”

“Many things bother me,” Twilight said, as she took a seat of front of the gryphon. “Don’t worry. The party isn’t a part of it. Pinkie is going to do a great job.”

“And what exactly worries you, then?” Falk asked.

“I still don’t know whom of them I’d better choose,” Twilight told him.

“Oh, that’s pity,” Falk mumbled. “You’d better make the decision until the event starts.”

“Why are we doing that?” Twilight suddenly blurted out. “Shouldn’t the duke himself decide whom will inherit the title?”

“That’s the problem,” Falk replied with a stoic expression. “Nogryphon had spoken with the duke since he fell ill.”

“Isn’t that strange?” Twilight raised her eyebrow in bewilderment. “You should check on that doctor. Besides…”

“Yeah,” Falk raised his eyebrow but in anticipation.

“Don’t you care?” Twilight asked after a little thought. “Like, if the duke dies, Heinrich will become the duke… Or, are you afraid that he will kick you off?”

“Don’t worry, I’m stuck to my place the way nogryphon can kick me off,” Falk smirked. “About your cause… Let’s change it. You are not choosing an heir, but rather checking whom of the three is more worthy to get a title. We will make sure the one you choose will become the duke… Or duchess, yeah.

“Fine,” Twilight agreed. “You need to check on the Doctor and try to get to duke.”

“Yeah,” Falk said, suddenly starting to ponder something. “Hey, Twilight! You are a magician, right? Wouldn’t you be bothered with doing that yourself?”

“That won’t be a trouble, but…” Twilight stopped, as a sudden thought intruded her mind. “You know… That’s rather risky job. I wouldn’t mind something in return of my service.”

“Oh, almost forgot who you were,” Falk smirked. “But, don’t worry. I will be generous with the reward… Besides, I will let you know a secret of mine. If you got to the duke however, you might know that from him as well.”

“Yes, I knew you were hiding something,” Twilight smiled with triumph.

“And I knew you would be the first to suspect me of something,” Falk smiled in return.

It was easier said than done. Magic was of no help either. Her giant wings were rather a nuisance, since she didn’t get used to them yet, especially since she was hiding them under the illusion, which made the whole thing even more irritating.

After lots of struggle, she eventually managed to get to the infirmary. The nurse didn’t want to leave the place for a good amount of time right until Twilight serious intervention.

At that place, she immediately climbed on one of the beams. One of the gryphon stared at Twilight with eyes wide open. The other didn’t and Twilight recognized that one as Jorgen. He was in a particularly bad shape, but he still shushed the other gryphon.

“Oh, that horrible purple pony,” the nurse was mumbling something, probably curses. “If only I could put my hands on her neck…”

“Are you done?” Someone asked. Immediately, the doctor came into view.

“Since she appeared, things went horribly wrong!” The nurse exclaimed. That made doctor cringe.

“Not here,” the gryphon hissed at her.

“But admit how suspicious that is,” the nurse grumbled. “That pony appear out of nowhere and then our nest got destroyed…”

“That’s not because of that,” the doctor mumbled. “You see, first of all, there are much more ponies there. Then, the rumor says that those ponies came here to make business. I’ve seen papers, it’s official.”

“Only that purple witch hanged around, though,” the nurse scolded.

“Hmm, you are right,” the doctor said. He then turned around and looked briefly but strangely on two gryphons in the room. When he looked back at the nurse, he silently nodded and left the room.

Just as silently, the nurse proceeded to the wounded gryphons. She quickly prepared the treatment and gave it to the gryphons.

It definitely had something in it, as two gryphons fell asleep almost immediately.

After checking that both gryphons were unconscious, the nurse went after the doctor. Twilight jumped off the beam and followed the nurse.

She headed to the duke’s chambers. When Twilight came to the door, she heard the voices coming from the other side. She didn’t try to overhear the conversation and jumped on the beam instead.

It was a right decision as almost immediately the doctor opened the door. “… Look after him. I’m going to have a quick nap,” he said and went somewhere. The door closed from the inside.

When the doctor was nowhere in sight, Twilight jumped off the beam and knocked on the door.

“Who in the… Ah,” the nurse opened the door and grumbled. Before she could even realize who stood in front of the door, Twilight already knocked her out with a spell.

She quickly dragged the limp body towards the bed and put her on a chair that stood next to bed. The old gryphon, almost grey with just a couple of brown feathers here and there, was watching the scene.

“And who you must be?” He asked. “Since you’ve did something to that hag, you don’t mean harm to me.”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle, sir…” Twilight replied. She then quickly understood that she didn’t know duke’s name. “Sorry, but can you tell me your name?”

“It doesn’t really matter, miss Twilight Sparkle,” he breathed out. “But to make it comfortable for you: my name is Leonard. Duke Leonard of Hennewald, but you can call me just Leo. Don’t fear the familiarity, my dear. I don’t think I will live up to the next time someone will call me that way.”

“Sir Leonard,” Twilight addressed properly to the duke. “Falk sent me here…”

“Ah, Falk,” duke Leonard interrupted Twilight. “My pride and honor… So, what were you saying?”

“Um…” Twilight hummed, forgetting what she wanted to say. She remembered, things pretty quickly, “First of all, Falk wanted to ask you whom to choose the next duke. We will be having an official event…”

“Why a loud celebration for such a situation,” duke complained. After a moment, he said normally, “As to your question… Falk, I choose.”

“Falk?” Twilight reasked, though before the duke could say anything, she remembered that anyone could become a duke. “He also mentioned that you have some kind of a secret between you two.”

“A secret between us?” He raised his eyebrow. He then mirrored the facial impression of Twilight, as he understood what Twilight was talking about, “Oh. Yes! You see, my dear Twilight…”

The celebration was going without a hitch. Pinkie neatly decorated the castle from inside and outside even though she complained that local gryphons didn’t know what the real decorations should look like. Indeed, in comparison with even Ponyville’s celebrations, that one looked a bit dull.

The food wasn’t much of a problem. The activities for the celebration however turned to be pretty troublesome. Pinkie as a masterful organizer didn’t try to make gryphons play pony games and asked knowledgeable gryphons as to what she could think up.

There wasn’t really a lot of games that were allowed in the gryphon’s court and because of that, Pinkie was forced to call actors and performers from all the Hennewald.

After all the activities being performed and food almost eaten, Falk gathered all the ponies. Trio of heirs were there as well.

“For your service, I want to welcome you to the declaration of the next duke,” Falk answered the question asked by Rainbow Dash.

In front of the room with the old duke, the nurse was waiting. She tried to fence them off, but Falk ignored her and broke into the room.

“Wha… Falk! What are you doing here? The duke isn’t…” The doctor tried to say something, but Falk interfered.

“Isn’t feeling well,” Falk said with greeted teeth. “But there is business too important for our duchy. Let me go to the duke.

There was clearly some sort of emotion in doctor’s face. His wild eyes were throwing glances everywhere, the line of his mouth was changing into a smile and then into unreadable neutral expression and then back.

“Fine,” he surrendered and stepped aside.

“Duke,” Falk quietly said. When he saw no reaction, he raised his voice, “Duke!”

“Huh… Ah, Falk,” the duke replied with a weak voice. “My favorite son.”

“Son!?” Everypony simultaneously cried out. Except Twilight, since she already learned that secret of the duke and Falk.

“Bastard son,” Heinrich added.

Twilight looked at Heinrich, but to her surprise, the similar look of spite and frustration was shared by all of three heirs.

“Bastard or not, he is my blood and kin,” the duke said, before Twilight was able to continue. “Therefore, I have all the right to choose him as my heir and he from his side has all the right to accept my gratitude and become the next duke of Hennewald.”

“But father…” Falk began. “I don’t want to be the duke.”

“But you are the most fitting gryphon for that title,” the duke said. “As much as I love all of my kids, you, Falk, has all the knowledge and the characteristics for being a duke. Your leadership and discernment will serve you and the duchy a great service. You have many allies that will help you in your cause.”

Instead of saying anything, Falk looked around. Noticing something in a crowd, he nodded to his thoughts.

“I…” Falk began.

“Do that for her… For Juliana,” the duke interrupted Falk.

“It seems to me, there is no choice… I accept the title,” Falk agreed.

“Good…” The duke said with a weak voice.

“I… Will miss you,” Falk replied. Only now, there were emotions. He almost broke down.

“I will too,” Heinrich nodded.

“I already miss you, father,” Elisabeth said.

“I want to ask you for forgiveness for each time I misbehaved, father,” Balthassar said.

Falk quickly raised from his position, letting his stepsiblings to come closer to their deceased father.

“All of us miss you, father, but some must work,” Falk suddenly said and turned to the doctor, who stood next to the door. “Doctor Archibald Hertner. You and your nurse, Elise Haubstadt, are taken into the custody until further investigation. Both of you are indicted for murder of three gryphons, the preparation of the governmental overthrow in the duchy and association with criminal elements. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“No, I don’t,” the doctor mumbled.

“Great,” Falk smiled gravely. “Somegryphon… Oh, Heinrich… I hope you know the way to…”

“I know,” Heinrich replied, not waiting for Falk to end the sentence. Before that, Heinrich sneakily came to the doctor from behind and wringed his claws.

At the exit, Falk found quite a nasty surprise.

“Where is she?!” Falk shouted at the guards at the door. “Where is the nurse?”

“She went that way,” one of the guards replied.

He immediately rushed in that direction. Twilight immediately followed him.

After passing numerous hallways, they exited the castle. Falk had many bad scenarios in his head, but when he got outside, he saw a picture, which proved all his scenarios false.

“Henry!” Falk exclaimed, as jaeger stood there, having the nurse in tow. “Great thing, that you’ve came. Care to bring her to the cell?”

“Already done,” Henry nodded and made the nurse go to the castle. Twilight came from the castle just after Henry entering the castle.

“Can you tell me two thing, Falk,” Twilight asked. After Falk nodded in confirmation, Twilight continued, “Why you didn’t want to become a duke?”

“Oh…” Falk was slightly taken aback. “Hmm, you see… Do you know how many advisors are there in the duke’s court? Aside from me, there are advisor of economy, advisor of politics, advisor of education, advisor of culture and so on. We were working separately, but now I must control all of their work… And that’s not talking about duke’s obligations and duties.”

“I see,” Twilight nodded. “If that makes you comfortable, we didn’t really wanted to be here as well.”

“Huh, it makes us the victims of circumstances, then,” Falk smirked. After a moment of silence, he turned to Twilight. “I want you and the girls to come to me, before you all return home. I will assign the reward… Oh, what was your second question?”

“Hmm, thank you,” Twilight thanked him. “As to my other question… Who are those three gryphons, who were murdered?”

“Oh,” Falk was taken aback. “Well, first of all, duke… Then, this morning, Jorgen and another gryphon from the guard were found dead this morning.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Twilight said. Falk nodded at that, and after that, they returned to the castle.

When Twilight and the team returned to the Griffonstone, they asked to stay for a while.

“What do you want, Mister Gruff?” Twilight asked, as she entered his working room.

“I want many things, dear Twilight,” he said. “With one of them, you can help.”

“Um, excuse me?” Twilight confusedly asked. “I thought we already helped you out.”

“You did,” he nodded. “But, when you were solving one problem, the other emerged… Don’t worry, I talked with Celestia. She said, as long as you are content with the idea of another trip, I can send you to the gates of Tartarus.”

“Oh, I see,” Twilight sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. “Well, I guess, if you pay well each of my girl, then I have nothing about this ordeal… What the problem, by the way?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Gruff said, as he thought about what to give to each mare of Twilight’s team. “Just go to Maretonia, the city of Farshire. It should be the second city after you pass the border. Don’t worry about passing the border. We have open borders with Maretonia.”

“In Farshire?” Twilight asked for details.

“Look for Strider’s caravan. He was stopped there for some reason,” Gruff said.

“Duke Falk of Hennewald, duke Falk of Hennewald,” someone’s voice came from Falk’s back. He smirked at that.

“I guess, I need to get used to this title,” Falk said and turned around. When he saw a gryphon in the door, he wiped off the smirk from his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Herr Doctor escaped,” he quickly mumbled.

“Two months here, huh,” Falk said to himself. To the gryphon in front of him, he said, “Prepare the crew and…”

“I already told Henry about the situation and he got his guys at the ready,” gryphon replied, interrupting Falk. He realized it quite quickly begged pardon.

“That’s what I wanted to hear so you are pardoned,” Falk nodded.

In the meantime, they followed the trace of Herr Doctor. Henry, the duke’s pathfinder and jaeger, lead them into the forest.

“Hey, Henry,” Falk called his friend. “Where is Henriette?”

“She wasn’t feeling well, so I told her to stay in the castle,” Henry replied.

“Hmm, I hope she wasn’t poisoned,” Falk added. Before Henry could reply, Falk asked once again, “by the way, how Ellie is going?”

“She is fine,” Henry said. Henry didn’t said more and Falk didn’t try to get more information. After a couple more minutes of running through the forest, Henry started talking once again. “Huh, don’t like this. There is a clearing in front of us and someone is standing there.”

“Is that doctor?” Falk asked.

“I can’t see their faces, but…” Henry made a dramatic pause, as he tried to get the picture. "There is definitely more than one gryphon. It looks like a trap.”

“What do you suggest?” Falk asked.

“Let’s make a trap of our own,” Henry suggested. “Attack from behind.”

“Show the way,” Falk nodded and lead the rest of the squad after Henry.

Soon they were close to the place, but from the other side, slowly approaching in order to swoop in and kill all in improvised camp. When they could see the trio of gryphons, their enemies suddenly jumped up and one of them whistled.

After that, Falk and his fellas find themselves in a skirmish. They couldn’t do anything, since their enemies immediately suppressed them with guns. Henry though managed to hit someone with a quickshot. For that, he received a bullet and fell dead.

After that, only Falk was left alive. He was on his knees as two precise shots hit him in his shins.

“Ah… Falk,” doctor said, as he watched the gryphon in front of him. “You should’ve bring some more gryphons with you.”

“What…” Falk was about to say something, but the gryphon behind him bashed him with the rifle. Doctor only smirked at that, but showed with a gesture, that he shouldn’t continue.

“Having someone in my grasp is such pleasure,” doctor said his thoughts. “You know, I don’t want to let you die in the darkness of ignorance. Ask as much questions, as you want.”

“What… What is your plans?” Falk asked. “You… If you want me dead, then you would kill me without all these shit.”

“Don’t really,” doctor replied. “You aren’t required for our plans. If a duke didn’t set an heir, someone is sent to the Emperor and he establish a new duke. Sometimes, it’s someone from the court, but often, they just declare a duke the sent gryphon.”

“So, some gryphon is on the way to Emperor’s court?” Falk asked.

“Oh, yeah…” doctor beamed. “And, do you know, who is on the way there?... Your brother. The one, who is a scientist. The knight is here.”

Falk looked around and as doctor said, Heinrich was there among the ambush team. Some of Heinrich’s knights and squires stood among Elisabeth’s mercenaries. She was there as well, showing her disgust to all.

Even though it was a desperate scene, he noticed something. Henry who was shot right in the beginning of the fight was actually alive. With his eyes, he was showing something.

In that direction, there were some sort of a motion among the leaves. Falk understood what was going to happen. He turned to doctor.

“Among many things that you failed to learn, there is one in particular,” he breathed out. Doctor raised his eyebrows at that. The whole party prepared their weapons. “Friendship is magic.”

Arrows and crossbow bolts flew from all directions. Half of mercenaries, all squires and a couple of knights died. Falk jumped onto doctor and they made a couple of flips. Henry meanwhile jumped up and immediately started shooting gryphons around him, good that his quiver was left intact. One of the first gryphons died to his arrows was Elisabeth. Heinrich died to a second barrage.

Falk was getting the upper hand in the fight. Even with his legs shot, he was kicking the ass of the doctor. Doctor wasn’t a punching bag as he was showing the results of some training he definitely had. It was nothing against a full-fledged warrior like Falk, though.

Most of doctor’s hits missed and the little amount of them, which did hit caused little to no damage. Falk on the other hand broke his beak, put a shiner under each eye and even managed to hit strong enough to kick all the air from his lungs.

Eventually weakened doctor started to lose the spark. One gryphon came to Falk and offered him a knife. After that, things ended rather quickly and Falk was grabbed and carried away from dead gryphon.

“So, you’ve been hanging around here, huh?” Henriette asked. Ellie was aside and she tended for Henry’s wounds.

“Very funny,” Falk chuckled mournfully. “So, what’s about…”

“Your squad, hence my brother, and one of our own,” Henriette said, not waiting for his question. “Not bad, but not good either. Who knew your sister could shoot so quickly yet precisely… Hey, why the sad face?”

“It’s just,” Falk sighed. “I wonder… Three of my relatives died, because of this upcoming civil war. I wonder if we have chosen the right path.”

Chapter 2. Shadow Forces of Maretonia.

“That’s just ridiculous,” Rainbow Dash complained.

“Easy there,” Twilight replied.

On the next day after they arrived to the Griffonstone, they went towards the Maretonia. As old Gruff said, they were allowed to pass into the country without a hitch. There wasn’t any guard post on the border if being truthful, but still, everypony was quite stressed, while moving towards the destination.

The problems started in Upper Bridlethorpe, the small village, where, as old Gruff said, they could’ve stopped for a little rest. They were planning that, but in a matter of minute after they entered the village, the local militia tried to arrest the whole group.

Instead of being lawful and proceed with their arrest, ponies escaped, while beating a couple of maretonians.

After that, they ran. At first, they were zigzagging, since they had to get rid of their followers. After half an hour, they started to return slowly to the road. After another hour, they were quietly walking towards Farshire. Quietly for a group of armed individuals, that were walking next to the road and not on it. They also were hiding their presence if there was some kind of a movement on said road.

In the middle of that process, the group started to relax bit by bit. With the relaxation, came the realization and the groupmates started to grumble.

“Ah agree with Rainbow,” Applejack added. “That's not normal to attack on sight. We’ve done nothin’ wrong. We don’t even look all that strange.”

“There is certainly some logical explanation to that,” Twilight replied.

“Fine. Go on,” Rainbow encouraged.

“Huh, let’s see,” Twilight started to quickly ponder about the situation. “We’ve came here in order to find the caravan’s master. He disappeared here because of some sort of a trouble. The caravan came here from Griffonstone. We came from there too, so this means that we need to solve that problem and escort the gryphons back to Griffonstone.”

“But since we were met so welcomingly in Bridlethorpe…” Rarity was saying, but Twilight break in.

“Upper Bridlethorpe,” Twilight said.

“Whatever,” Rarity shrugged it off, trying to recollect the thoughts. “Where was I? Ah, yeah, of course! If we were met that way in that little village, then this make the problem at least region-wide.”

“We will find a solution,” Twilight concluded. “We always did.”

The road ahead was going on for another hour and a half, but they eventually came to Farshire. The city twice as big as Ponyville was surprisingly empty. There was a couple citizens here and there and guards at the gates, that took the entry taxes from Twilight and her friends, but aside from them, there was little to no living beings at all.

“Is it me, or…” Rarity was about to comment a newly found empty stall, that was fourth or fifth one. Two stalls were still in use, but due to the assortment of the goods, they were on their way to mimic the state of the first stall, they’d seen. “This city looks as if we are in the middle of a siege.”

“Or a riot,” Rainbow added.

“You are quite right,” someone added as well. Everypony turned in the direction of the voice and they found there an old maretonian unicorn. He stood there in all black with a hood on his head, which casted a shadow on his face. Despite that, Twilight and others still could recognize his grey fur, which seemed darker due to the shadow and short white beard. “By the way, isn’t the weather nice today?”

“What…?” Rainbow asked, taken by surprise with a sudden question. “What do you…”

“Keep it quiet, Rainbow,” Twilight shushed Rainbow, discerning a possible source of information. She then quickly gathered her thoughts and said, “Ah, yeah… Yes, it is pleasant, to say the least.”

“Good to know that you share my opinion,” the old unicorn said. “The weather team has did a great job at keeping the climate at bay.”

“They are doing the good job,” Twilight agreed.

“Are you from Equestria, by the way?” The old unicorn asked. After a nod, he continued, “Oh… And, is that true, that in Equestria, the weather teams are much more active and they control the weather throughout the whole of Equestrian territory?”

“Right,” Twilight answered positively. “We don’t cover the territory completely though. There are some secluded areas that the weather teams ignore because they uninhabited or they are just too dangerous.”

“And the weather factory!” All of a sudden, the old unicorn exclaimed. “There is one hovering over the Sunset-city, but I’ve just heard so many tales about yours.

“Oh, you can’t compare them,” Twilight replied. “Ours has the whole pegasi city of Cloudsdale built around it. The city is even somewhat independent as there is that undercity part of Cloudsdale, which is located on the earth and creates the goods necessary for Cloudsdale’s needs.”

They were speaking nonsense for another minute when Rainbow Dash finally intervened. She coughed a little, reminding the two unicorns about the presence of others.

“Twilight,” she said. “Can we move on already?”

“No, Rainbow,” Twilight replied. She then turned to maretonian and said to him, “You won’t have spoken to us if you didn’t had something in mind.”

“And you won’t have replied to me if you didn’t had something in mind either,” the unicorn replied. “So, can I know what it is you seek?”

“Ya haven’t introduced yerself,” Applejack brashly said.

“Oh, where are my manners?… Nevertheless, I am used to be called Ripper,” the old unicorn said in reply. “Grim Reaper, that’s the full name.”

“But you are maretonian!” Twilight contended.

“Does that change anything?” Reaper smiled. “Anyway, you, newcomers, definitely require something. Is it information that you seek?”

“Maybe,” Twilight replied slyly. “But what are the guarantees of safety?”

“Judging by your looks, that’s me who will need guarantees of safety,” Reaper wisely noted. There was some truth in his words, as a single unicorn had little to no chance against the team of Twilight.

“I see that as well,” Twilight agreed with Reaper on that. After a momentary thought and quick glance at the girl, she accepted the offer. “Well… If task isn’t all too hard, then we might consider.”

“Great!” Reaper beamed victoriously. “Now, follow me!”

At first, he was leading them outside the city. Once they got outside, he looked sadly at the forest and went there. Ponies followed.

“What do we need to do exactly?” Twilight asked after about fifteen minutes.

Instead of a reply, the old unicorn started to sniff all of a sudden. He then said in a strange tone, “Can you sense that?”

“Uh… No,” Twilight responded, while sniffing the air.

“The smell of rot?” Fluttershy said all of a sudden.

“Aha, great, great,” Reaper nodded, while coming closer to Fluttershy. “Where had you been growing up, miss?… Ah, old me! Please, can anyone of you introduce yourselves?”

“Well, I’m Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight introduced herself. “Here is Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, Applejack and Pinkie Pie.”

“Aha… So, Fluttershy,” Reaper smiled and looked directly in her eyes. “You’ve got great senses.”

“Um… Thank you,” Fluttershy mumbled and looked away.

“You are welcome,” Reaper chuckled. “So, the smell of rot… You see, we are going to fight with the horde of undead and their master.”

“We will fight a necromancer?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, we will,” Reaper nodded. “Don’t worry, we had already cleaned most of his hoard.”

“We?” Rainbow noticed.

“I have two disciples,” Reaper mentioned. “One of them is away, so that is why I needed you. Besides, we are not sure if two of us can handle the necromancer without any troubles…”

“You have a point,” Twilight said.

“If you want to know, our necromancer was my disciple, as well,” Reaper dwelled into his past. “We’ve got a little argument and he decided to leave me. Unfortunately for him, he decided to terrorize the region, but it just happened so, that I owe a favor to the local governor and we need to eliminate the necromancer.”

“Are you a necromancer yourself?” Twilight asked all of a sudden.

“I don’t like that word,” Reaper replied. “I prefer to be called dark magister, but only in the official atmosphere. For you, I’m Grim… Wait!”

He stopped there. After listening for a second or a couple, he ran forward. He stopped next to the nearby thick bushes.

“Look,” he murmured to the ponies who came by. When he put the bushes away, ponies saw a little clearing where there was another maretonian, fighting with skeletons and zombies of different levels of rotting away.

Young maretonian was hard to describe. He definitely had fur of black or at least some other color similar to black. His short mane had been of fiery ginger, but when ponies looked at it, it was covered in sweat and dirt. The eyes of the stranger were hidden, as he had his back towards ponies.

He had been wearing a once pristine white shirt that now was grey with brown spots all over the surface. That shirt also had multiple cuts in various places. Brown trousers had been saved from that fate only because it was brown and dirt was just hard to notice on them. In his right hand, he held a sword with straightened bow blade, which looked similar to the scythe’s blade.

In a second after ponies looked at the maretonian, three skeletons rushed at him, two of them from behind. They were pretty close so ponies had little to no time.

Something whizzed through left skeleton’s spine, immediately killing him, or rather invaliding him. Rarity, with her reflexes, managed to throw the knife at the other skeleton’s skull, but it was to no use, as the skeleton was still on legs and moving. The maretonian, however, jumped away from the blows of both skeletons. In that direction, there was a zombie, but maretonian attacked him and dodged the counterattack. The cut on the zombie’s chest didn’t disturb the movements of that zombie, though.

“You are not losing your grip, Mortimer,” someone’s voice came from behind the trees on the other side of a little clearing. Right after that, another maretonian unicorn came from that direction.

He was dressed in a gambeson, black gloves and reinforced breeches. Aside from that, there wasn’t much more details in his equipment. As to his looks, he had oak brown mane, fur of dark burgundy and scarlet eyes. A small copper earring was hanging on his left ear.

“You are dead, Jack,” Mortimer shouted. “You know the rules.”

“The life taught me the other way of seeing things,” Jack replied. “Besides, something tells me that you don’t here to bring justice, but rather make a favor to the mayor.”

“Nevertheless,” Mortimer said, while starting to move to Jack. “You know how this will end.”

“Yeah,” he responded. “Kill him!”

All the undead started to move in the direction of Mortimer. Mortimer increased his pace, while also dodging blows of the undead or undead themselves. He also backlashed a couple of times.

By the time Mortimer got close to Jack, the gunshot was made. Due to the distance or something else, Rainbow Dash’s bullet didn’t reached its target. It hit the left ear of Jack, almost cutting it. The broken earring flew to the side.

Things from that point escalated quickly. Jack grunted, but cast something at Mortimer, nevertheless. Mortimer jumped at him, but the spell made him grunt and miss.

Ponies jumped out of the bushes and attacked the undead. Since they went to Griffonstone practically unarmed, they had to improvise.

Sunset was using her magic. Applejack had a club that she made from a branch. Pinkie was armed in similar way as Applejack, but she had spear instead of a club. Rainbow had a little knife and “Silverwasp”, the revolver that she was given as the reward by Falk. Rarity also had knife and in the middle of the battle, she managed to snatch the knife she threw. Fluttershy held “Skywrath”, the spear with a gilt tip. Falk aside from unique weaponry bestowed quite a big sum of silver gryphonian coins upon them.

The fight didn’t went on, however. Twilight, almost immediately shot a stunning ray at Jack. He definitely had been preparing some nasty spell for Mortimer, but Twilight ray brought him to the brink of unconsciousness, which gave Mortimer just enough time to end all that business with a single strike.

The undead army, who consisted of fifteen animated bodies, immediately stopped any resistance without the master’s control. All of them fell “dead” afterwards.

“It was a hard task, wasn’t it, Mortimer?” Reaper asked.

“Isn’t that obvious?” Mortimer chuckled. There was some truth in his words, since he barely kept himself conscious. He was on his knees, heavy breathing and kneeling on his sword.

“I believe, I already told you not to kneel for the sake of kneeling,” Reaper reprimanded Mortimer. “A true dark mage kneels only before a creature who proved that he is stronger or if kneeling will save mage’s life. Otherwise, dark mages either stand or lie down.”

“You were saying that,” Mortimer coughed and after trying to stand up, he fell to the ground.

After Reaper realized that Mortimer wasn’t going to rise up at all, he came closer to him and pulled out a small doctor’s bag.

“Any help?” Reaper asked and ponies came closer to the duo. They put him face upward and then Reaper with Fluttershy started to tend the wounds of Mortimer.

Soon after, they were shuffling towards the city. In a couple of hours, they came to one of the city’s gates. Under the bewildered looks of guards and citizens, they brought Mortimer to one of the houses, which turned out to be owned by Reaper.

They were living in an ordinary two-stored house. It was pristine, but the decorations were a bit poor. Twilight hadn’t been emphasizing the decorations too much, as she noticed different books on the shelves. After reading the names on the book covers, she found however that all of them were plain.

While eating the dinner, which Reaper prepared from the humble leftovers, ponies started asking different questions to Reaper and Mortimer.

“So, what kind of business do you need help with?” Twilight blurted out blatantly.

“Well, you helped me just enough,” Reaper admitted. “Tell me how I can help you in reply?”

“We are looking for a gryphon named Strider,” Rainbow confessed.

“Oh,” Reaper turned his gaze away and nodded to his own thoughts after a little musing. “I know that gryphon. I can arrange a meeting… But you should help us with a small business first.”

“And what if we won’t help you?” Rainbow suggested.

“Then, all I’m going to help you with is only telling you he is here,” Reaper smirked.

“Fine,” Twilight admitted their losing position after looking at Reaper for some of the time. “So, what’s the deal? What should we do for you?”

“Nothing,” Reaper made even more cunning smirk, but after looking at everyone’s dead serious looks, he corrected himself. “I myself don’t require anything from you. Mortimer however has a business that he won’t mind having help with.”

“I can do my business by my own,” Mortimer retorted.

“Not now,” Reaper replied. After a little though, he added, “Well… Except for that one business… Hah, technically, you can’t do that business by oneself. Nevertheless, it will wait for later. You have another work to proceed to.”

“What that business is about?” Applejack asked.

“There is a smuggler’s hideout somewhere in the middle of the road between Farshire and Maremouth,” Reaper said.

“And?..” Twilight drawled.

“And we were asked to find it and get rid of it,” Reaper answered. “I’ve been thinking how two of us are going to do that, but since you all are here, I think you wouldn’t mind helping us out?”

“Why, of course,” Twilight nodded, while musing something. “But… Aren’t there anyone else who could help us?”

“Elder Four, perhaps…” Reaper said, after a little thought. After noticing six questioning looks, he quickly explained, “There are four old friends of mine. Technically, we are Elder Five of Farshire. At least, that is how we are called in Maremouth. I do not spend a lot of time with them. They are great friends within their own group, but to all outsiders including me, they act pretty… Predatory.”

“Predatory?” Rarity and probably everypony except Mortimer asked.

“Yes,” Reaper nodded. “Let’s say, they have that tendency to make anyone owe a favor to them. The thing is they do that amidst a simple talk. If you go to them in order to ask a favor, then be sure they will turn into a bunch of usurers.”

“Aha…” Rarity cried out. “So… Is that why you don’t want to go ask them for help?”

“Pretty much, yes,” Reaper nodded once again. “Aside from them, I don’t have any actual friends that might help in that kind of a business. We are but a trio… A couple of humble magicians, who earns just enough to live a normal life.”

“All right…” Twilight sighed, rubbing her nose bridge. “So, when should we start the job?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Reaper said. “You can stay in my house… If you find the place to lie down.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said.

“Argh,” Rarity grunted. She had been grunting most of time they had been on the way, but if being honest, everyone from their team had been going through the same. Except one.

“I don’t envy you, guys,” Rainbow declared. She flapped her wings for show and take off, but quickly landed.

That night, Rainbow slept on the clouds, while others slept in Reaper’s house. Reaper gave them a couple of sheets but it still was as if they slept on the floor.

“Stop with bickering, you, all,” Mortimer shouted, stopping the quarrel before it would start. “We are coming closer to smuggler’s den. Be careful around here.”

“May I ask you a question?” Twilight said all of a sudden.

“Go on,” Mortimer nodded, while simultaneously looking around, searching for something or someone.

“Why we are here and not the mayor himself?” Twilight asked. “Shouldn’t he send out guards or something?”

“You are pretty much right, however…” Mortimer was about to say something, when a soft rustle of leaves disrupted him. He turned his head in that direction, ears on the ready and eyes watching carefully. After a moment, however, he turned and sighed, “Probably, some animal… So, where was I? Ah, right. Ahem… As I meant to say, the governor is afraid that the operation will likely to fail. He believes that there are smugglers’ associates in the ranks of his guards. Not like, he thinks that without a reason, although. Smuggle appears somehow in the city.”

“And what exactly we are going to do there” Twilight asked.

“We should closely watch the encampment,” Mortimer suggested. “Look for any flaws in their defenses, like some guards who sleeps or otherwise are distracted. Also look for some important stuff like documents or something. If we are lucky, you might notice someone who stands out. That will probably be a guard. Tell me about it if that will happen.”

The rest of the way was completed in an absolute silence. After a moment of walking, they turned towards the forest. Their pace changed a bit, as they didn’t know exactly where the hideout was situated.

When the group get closer to their destination, Twilight and Mortimer began to murmur another conversation.

“Mortimer, can I ask another question?” Twilight began.

“Hah… Go on, Twilight. But, be quick!” Mortimer encouraged her.

“So, I wanted to ask you about the criminal groups in Maretonia,” Twilight told him. “What do you know about the situation in the country? What can you say about these smugglers?”

“Not much,” Mortimer replied. “Reaper believes that the group we are going after is local. He says that there is only one global maretonian smuggler’s clan, which is owned by Harvey, and the local member of the clan told Reaper that they don’t have any connections to these smugglers.”

“You trust them?” Twilight mumbled another question.

“We don’t alternative,” Mortimer sighed. After a little thought, he added, “If being honest, nor I nor Reaper can’t tell much about the actions of the illegal bands in Maretonia. Most of outlawed magicians don’t associate with simple outlaws, but instead they work for government. Reaper says that otherwise the government would vanquish the mages with other outlaws, as we all are the same for them. I personally agree with him.”

“That is rather clever,” Twilight hummed. “To say the least.”

“I see you agree with that statement as well, huh?” Mortimer smiled. He then quickly looked around. “We’d better stay vigilant. Who knows when we will stumble upon the encampment?”

These words were truthful to some extent. After fifteen minutes, they heard voices and other sounds. Soon, they were looking at the camp, hidden well in the woods.

The foliage was creating an impenetrable roof over their head. It was not like a pegasus tribe was the most multiple among the Maretonians, but judging by how actively the two presumed watchers were eyeing the sky, the band was afraid of an actual air-raid for real.

Or, maybe they are just counting clouds, Twilight thought. That idea came to her mind after how easily they crawled up to the camp.

They watched the camp’s life for somewhere between five or ten minutes. They didn’t notice any flaws in the defenses of the camp, but it wasn’t like there were any

They had already been planning the attack, when the unexpected came. Some sort of noise came from the direction of the road. Then, the two maretonians came into the view.

Nothing was outstanding about them, but despite that, Mortimer was able to recognize the newcomers.

“Look what we’ve got here,” Mortimer said excitedly. When Twilight turned to him, silently asking the question, Mortimer continued, “That mare… Sergeant Meredith. And the stallion… Huh, Interesting. I don’t know him, but something tells me, it’s a newbie. If I’m not mistaken, they were replacing some undependable elements. Besides, look! He’s shivering. I bet it’s his first time in that kind of business.”

Twilight nodded, learning all she needed to know. Mortimer meanwhile continued.

“We need to come up with a plan,” he said. “How about we stun the guards and then jump on the smugglers.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Rainbow immediately replied. Twilight however looked questioningly at Mortimer, since she couldn’t believe that he would come up with such a dumb plan.

“Nah, we might get overrun,” Mortimer said, declining his own idea. When he briefly looked in the direction of the camp, he however noticed something. “Oh, look, these two are leaving. Rainbow, Applejack! Can you follow them and get rid of them?”

“Aye,” Rainbow replied and two of them went around the camp and soon they disappeared from sight. They returned after five minutes and said to the team that they kicked the shit out of two smugglers and even tied them to a tree with their own clothes. Mortimer sighed and told them to be faster next time.

To their luck, the smugglers and the maretonian duo weren’t planning to end their meeting soon. The team couldn’t hear the conversation between the two leaders except for some words they shouted due to strong emotions. It wasn’t like it actually mattered, however.

The sudden attack began with two rays. The two maretonians immediately fell unconscious. Before anyone else in the camp were even able to realize what is happening, the team was already creating havoc in the camp.

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were swinging their bats. Fluttershy was poking the enemies with the spear. Mortimer and Rarity had their blades widely used. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle after shooting down two maretonians, started to cast spells on the rest in the camp.

The battle was soon over. Around twenty opponents were halved in less than a minute. Those who were still alive, after coming to a realization that they were attacked, tried to bring up some kind of resistance, but it was in vain. With the fire support of two battle magician, the group quickly suppressed the last bits of enemy forces.

Mortimer during the battle proved to be the fearless combatant. After jumping into the fray, he immediately started swinging just like when they fought skeletons. He even received a wound, a slightly gushing gash on his arm.

Nevertheless, he was the first to notice the ending of the battle.

“All done!” He shouted. He then looked around and commanded, “Gather the bodies and tie them up somehow.” He then turned to two unconscious maretonians. “Get ready to carry these two straight to the mayor’s…”

“No need for that,” Twilight interrupted him. “There is a cart. We can take it.”

“Great!” Mortimer nodded. “Now…”

“Now we will take care of your wound,” Fluttershy immediately joined the conversation.

“It’s nothing,” Mortimer tried to wave away Fluttershy.

“No, it’s not, mister,” Fluttershy retorted. Mortimer was about to retort in reply and be replied by retort when he zoned out for a moment.

“I believe… We have time for that,” Mortimer agreed. Soon, he was made to sit and Fluttershy quickly started to look for medical supplies. She tore away a piece of fabric from the tent, washed it in the barrel with rainwater and bandaged the Mortimer’s wound.

When the wound was treated, the smugglers, both dead and alive were tied up and the cart was ready to move, the group went in the direction of the city.

“Cover the cart with something,” Mortimer commanded. Rainbow Dash immediately flew back and brought a tent, but Mortimer replied the unasked question. “We will go through the city, so let’s not cause any suspicion… And by the way, how long the stun spell works?”

“The strongest version of the spell makes anypony unconscious for around fifteen minutes,” Sunset replied.

“You need to recast it when we will be near the city gates,” Mortimer said. He then looked at the team and asked, “Questions?”

After getting negative headshakes, he nodded and made a gesture to start moving.

Amidst their way, Twilight came up to Mortimer. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go on,” Mortimer replied.

“Back in the camp…” Twilight reminded him. “Was it me or did you fight too selflessly?”

“Why have you thought that way?” He asked.

“Well,” Twilight mused a bit. “You were the only one who got wounded. You also went right into the middle of things, while girls were always near the edge of the forest, um…”

“No need to continue,” Mortimer said, already understanding what Twilight meant to say. “That… is a habit of mine. The one that master Reaper tried to get rid off.”

“Huh?” Twilight raised an eyebrow to that revelation.

“You see,” Mortimer sighed. “I just… I can’t help it but the battle always made my blood boil. I lose my head all the time… And now…”

“What is special about it?” Twilight asked, after Mortimer stayed silent for a longer period of time.

“That was…” Mortimer gathered his thoughts. “At least, it was meant to be a repeated test. He wanted to know how good I learned his lessons?… And it was, of course, a punishment.”

“A repeated test? A punishment?” Twilight asked.

“Why do you think, Reaper didn’t go with us?” Mortimer asked in reply. “Don’t think he has some important business there. He wanted me to overthink my ways, because I failed the first one, back when we had to fight the Jack’s risen bodies. I was supposed to think, to keep the head cool and that sort of things… But I just started to hunt down the undead, letting my strength slip away.”

“That’s cruel,” Twilight replied, horrified by what Mortimer said to her.

“That’s Reaper for you,” Mortimer smiled at that. Then, his face got very serious and he lowered the volume of his voice, “Twilight… May I ask you a favor?”

“Go on,” Twilight parodied him, but lowered her voice nevertheless.

“Twilight,” he began. “I wanted to ask if you can help me out with the business, Reaper was talking about?”

“The one that you wanted to do by yourself?” Twilight asked for reminding.

“Yes…” Mortimer replied, but he realized something right away. “Actually, no… Right now, I have changed my mind. After that fight, I believe I should start to be more cautious and sensible… Besides, the last time, I went there, I was almost caught.”

“Alright,” Twilight agreed.

After that, nothing extraordinary happened during the road. Just as they agreed, more stunning rays were cast on the guards in the cart, when they were coming close to the city. Mortimer led them to western city gates, which were guarded by Mortimer’s friends. In the city, they immediately headed towards the mayor’s office.

There, ponies saw Farshire’s mayor for the first time. Beforehand, however, Mortimer asked them to wait a little and look after the cart, while he was trying to make an arrangement.

They weren’t waiting for long, though. After a couple of minutes, Mortimer appeared followed by another maretonian. White fur, mane of fresh hay’s color, blue eyes and a prominent stomach that revealed the owner’s lack of troubles with nutrition were his characteristics. Judging by the classical stallion’s suit and the fat, he had, Twilight guessed that that stallion was the mayor. Twilight also noted the strange mix of emotions, which could have been seen on his face.

At first, a feeling of anticipation could have been read there. This was no surprise to Twilight due to circumstances. What Twilight was surprised to see was the expression on his face when he glanced towards Mortimer. It was an expression of pure disdain and hatred. It was barely hidden.

He however managed to keep himself at bay and even continue to speak with Mortimer without much scenes. Not that there was anything special about it. Mortimer and girls just passed the crime associates to the mayor and the city guards and parted away.

What they eventually arrived to the house, Reaper met them by the door. He smiled at them and asked how things went during the mission. Mortimer blurted a brief replied and entered the house. Girls didn’t say anything at all and just followed Mortimer, though Twilight noticed a slight smirk on Reaper’s face.

In the house, girls encountered something unexpected. A young maretonian mare was sitting in the kitchen. She had a little basket with her with almost eaten meal. Weathered hay, solid as rock hardtack and a waterskin, with who knows how much water in it.

Mortimer, who was not as surprised as much as other girls were, immediately came up to the table and took one of the pieces of hardtack. Immediately a cracking noise appeared and it wasn’t clear whether it was the hardtack or Mortiner’s teeth. Judging by what came next, it was actually the latter.

“Ah!” Mortimer screamed. “Ouch… How were you able to eat these?”

“Try to put ‘em into some stew and you won’t even notice how tasteless they are,” she replied and turned to Reaper, ignoring other mares, who were standing in front of him. “Teacher, your task is done. Here is what you were asking me for.”

She pulled out a bundle from under the table and stretched her hand with it over the table. Mortimer immediately grabbed the bundle and passed it to Reaper. The old maretonian quickly untied the bundle and after a brief check, he nodded confirmatively.

Only after all that, she turned her attention to other mares in the room. “So… Reaper told me about you. Had helped us with those smugglers as I can see. Well, thanks… By the way, my name is Ysabell… Hey, Mortimer! Where are you heading to?”

“I have something to prepare for!” Mortimer immediately replied when Ysabell noticed him heading to his room upstairs. “Master, there are no troubles with that?”

“Of course,” Reaper nodded, though he was probably more interested in the bundle brought by Ysabell.

Ysabell only sighed at that. Twilight suddenly noted to herself how strangely she was looking at Mortimer until he left the room.

Nevertheless, Ysabell turned her attention to the ponies in the room. The maretonian mare had her questions and she asked them. Overall, they had a great time together.

By the night, all of them got tired and went to sleep, all while Reaper promised them a meeting with Strider.

Twilight however couldn’t sleep. In the dead of the night, she met with Mortimer.

“I knew, I can be confident with you, Twilight,” were his only words before they headed somewhere.

At first, they went to the western gates, but once they crossed them over, Mortimer lead Twilight to some place in the forest.

They began their way by walking a good distance by road. After they disappeared from the view of the guards though, they quickly changed the direction of their movement and went to forest.

Soon, the moonlight started to shine through the woods. When the clearance could have been seen through the woods, Mortimer asked Twilight to look around for unwanted guests and just stay on guard in general.

Twilight agreed to that, but after a moment, she immediately peeked through the bushes.

As she expected, a moonlit clearance was there. The scenery in front of her wasn’t awe-striking, but it had its beauty. The mass of flowers, among which were dandelions, chamomiles, cornflowers and buttercups, basked in bluish light of the moon. The looks of them would have been better though, if the flowers would have blossomed.

But all of them were closed, deep in slumber, waiting for the sunlight to bring them back to life. The two maretonians though, who nestled under a tree on the other side of the clearance weren’t sleeping nor waiting for something.

Mortimer as well as other maretonian were simply enjoying the moment. Twilight couldn’t really hear that, but they were talking and laughing.

Twilight wasn’t able to see Mortimer’s protégé at first, but fortunately Mortimer stood aside, revealing a young maretonian mare.

Twilight, looking at two happy maretonians, remembered Ysabell and how she was sighing at him.

She wasn’t sitting in her hideout for long. Quickly remembering of what Mortimer had tasked her to do, she rose and started to go around the clearance.

After one complete circle, Twilight was about to start another one, when she noticed how two maretonians began to walk in her direction and therefore in the direction of the road to the city.

Twilight quickly stepped away and after two maretonians walked past her, she followed them.

Maretonians weren’t moving in the straight line, like she and Mortimer did. They were constantly changing the direction of their movement. Their zigzagging wasn’t pointless as Twilight first thought. At one turn, she almost head-butted into someone.

The maretonian’s look reminded Twilight of nobles’ lackeys from older times. He was dressed if not in the latest fashion, then still stylishly, but those clothes weren’t providing any additional functions. The blade in his hand wasn’t looking as useless as his clothes though.

Twilight managed not to encounter that lackey only because of her luck, keen sight and reflexes.

When she ran after the maretonians, at some point, something strange happened. A couple of birds flew almost into face of Twilight and they came not from the direction where she was running.

Twilight immediately noted that, which made her wonder. An interruption made her stop there for a moment.

That moment allowed the aforementioned lackey to come closer. The bushes started to rustle, making Twilight startle and jump away behind the closest tree.

When lackey at last came into sight, he started to look around. Twilight was acting without thinking and she threw a stone in the direction from where she came from.

To Twilight’s dismay, lackey didn’t follow the source of the sound. To Twilight’s even further dismay, he turned his head in that direction thus noticing the trail left by three ponies, one of whom was nearby.

Twilight without even realizing that she had made a mistake, jumped out from her hideout casting the stunning ray.

Only after the body of the lackey fell to the ground, ruining the chic garments, Twilight was finally able to continue to run after Mortimer and her companion.

Twilight was hard to keep up after the two maretonians after that moment. A little stop wasn’t enough for Twilight to catch up her breath, so she had to run the long distance with little to no energy.

The trio didn’t run immediately for the western gates. They ran around the city, so they crossed a little industrial zone in the south, big fields in the east and the road in the north known by Twilight all too well.

However, a nasty surprise was waiting for them at the western gates.

Mortimer stopped at a safe distance from the gates, murmuring curses under his breath.

The four guards that were forming the two pairs, the day shift and the night shift, were well known by Mortimer and Reaper and other necromancers in town and all of them were constantly using that fact.

That time, however, the gates were guarded by the two completely unknown individuals.

Mortimer, being a creature of action, wasn’t cursing everything for long. He turned around and went in the different direction and since he still was holding the hand of the mare, she followed.

Twilight was surprised by the change of direction, but followed them nevertheless. Since Twilight was behind them, she couldn’t see the reason for the change of direction of walking, and therefore she wondered why. After a moment of wondering, she came to the right conclusion that something made it impossible to pass through the western gates.

She also wondered about their destination, but she quickly witnessed it, or rather smelt it. In the little ravine, there was a small stream, which was coming from a small tunnel.

Sewers. The smell couldn’t be mistaken with anything else. Even though, her experience with sewers was small with the latest being back in the Trottingham, she still cannot mistake what is about to come.

Nothing happened on their way back to the city down in the sewers, except for the whining of Mortimer’s companion that echoed through the corridors of the sewers. Twilight only smiled at those complaints.

Nothing happened in the city likewise to be honest. Mortimer was taking some dark back alleys until he eventually stopped near a two-stored mansion in the middle of the city.

Mortimer and the mare, still unknown to Twilight, were standing in front of that mansion for a minute or two as both of them didn’t wish to part ways.

When they actually did part ways, Mortimer still stood there, waiting for something. At that moment, Twilight came by.

“Mortimer,” she said, making him startle. “Goodness… What’s up with all the running?... And who was that mare?”

“She…” He breathed out heavily. He didn’t even realize that he was holding his breath all that time. Besides, just like Twilight, all the running took a lot of energy from him. “Oh… Her name is Keli… And she is the daughter of the mayor.”

“Oh…” Twilight nodded. “That certainly explain everything.”

“Explain what?” Mortimer looked questioningly at her.

“Back when you brought the two guards to the mayor, he was looking at you in such way…” Twilight revealed her observations.

“Eh… Well,” Mortimer mumbled in confusion. “Alright… Shall we go home?”

“You did everything you wanted to do?” Twilight asked.

“I guess…” He started to look around searching for something, but after a moment, he nodded to his thoughts and followed Twilight. On his way, he was turning his head around, searching for something. When the mansion was about to disappear from sight of Mortimer, he finally saw what he wanted.

Keli looked out from her window. She inspected the mansion’s surroundings and quickly finding the maretonian stallion, she was looking for. She didn’t do anything except for a smile. The one, which Mortimer would remember for a long time.

Soon, they came back to Reaper’s house. Much to Twilight’s surprise, someone was actually waiting for them.

Ysabell was sitting in the dining room and from her spot, she immediately noticed both Twilight and Mortimer. Twilight and Mortimer noticed Ysabell as well.

“Ah… Twilight,” Mortimer said quietly, looking how Ysabell was looking at them both. “You can go. I have business to attend to.”

“Fine,” Twilight replied and went to her bed. She didn’t had time nor strength to do anything, so she swept aside all the thoughts about Mortimer’s sudden business.

The next day, Reaper, as he promised, brought Strider to them. After a little chat, he learned why ponies were looking for him and he agreed to go with them and bring the rest of the caravaneers. None of the ponies bothered to ask why the caravan ended up in that situation, as they weren’t tasked to do that.

After the caravan made it safely to Griffonstone and ponies were on their way back to Equestria, Gruff invited Strider to a dinner.

Eventually, the two gryphons were alone in Gruff’s workroom. Gruff immediately pulled out a bottle of beverage, which he had prepared beforehand. When he filled up the mugs, he began the conversation.

“So, Strider…” Gruff looked straight into Strider’s eyes, as he pushed one of the mugs to him. “What can you tell me about… That?”

“That?” Strider smiled and took a sip.

“That…” Gruff sighed, as he understood what he wanted and pulled out a small purse with coins and shoved it to Strider.

“Well… Where should I start?” Strider nodded, as he settled down the story he is about to tell. “The caravan was doing its route… Until we were stopped in Maremouth. Some of my gryphons were even arrested.”

“And why?” Gruff asked away, but Strider only smiled at that. Gruff sighed once again, that time louder and with more emotions. Soon, another purse was in claws of Strider.

“We were accused of aiding the rebellion,” Strider replied. “We were able to convince the government that we have nothing to do with the rebellion, although we had to leave a couple gryphons behind. As for the rebellion…”

The prolonged silence after that sentence was a hint, but Gruff didn’t sigh that time. He silently tossed him a coin, which he had previously brought up. Strider clenched his beak, but continued his tale, since he knew that he already was asking for information more than it should have costed.

“The information was hard to get…” Strider admitted. “In Maremouth, we were under surveillance and we didn’t want to raise any more suspicion. In Farshire… Rebellion was not present there, so all that we learned came from rumors…”

Another coin was tossed to Strider. Meanwhile, the old gryphon started to remember things from the past.

Strider had a nasty personality. He was capable of selling his own parents, if he had any. Gruff took Strider from the orphanage when the orphan was mature enough to developed aforementioned personality.

Despite his arrogance and commercialism, Strider was still brilliant and gifted gryphon.

“The rebellion is led by someone, who is called… Bastard,” Strider meanwhile continued to tell the story. “Since the name was given by the government members, no one can say if that Bastard is bastard indeed. His rebellion organized a couple of attacks at governmental structures, guard’s barracks and other important places. Because of that, the country is brought to the brink… This is it.”

“…Thanks,” Gruff said after a moment of thought.

They had a little conversation afterwards. When the two gryphons, they finally said their goodbyes and parted away.

“Rebellion?...” Gruff mumbled under his breath. “Need to keep abreast of the whole situation.”