Canterlot Academy Trials

In the dead of night once everyone was asleep, nobody could predict what was about to happen within the hallowed halls of the Academy. Blue Blazes had returned to Grimrose’s room that night and the latter somehow had acquired a bit of the griffon’s blood that she had already began to use for her cursed ritual.

“...Lemme guess,” Blue would take a stab at just how she managed to acquire the blood, “You snuck up on her.”

“How else would I do it?” she asked rhetorically, then shifted her focus to a different part of the subject. “Alright…now we have to be absolutely sure that we’re ready for this. There’s no telling what we’ll find once we get inside her head.”

“I am, though I have a question,” Blue went on, “Won’t she recognize us as soon as we step in? It’ll create a massive hole in our plan if we aren’t careful.”

There was a rare, small grin on Rose’s face in response to the dragon’s concern. “I’ve already thought ahead and added an extra contingency to the curse. When we enter someone else’s mind, we’ll don outfits that completely mask and hide who we actually are. That way, the individual in reality can’t tell that we’ve been inside their mind.”

“Interesting…wonder what kinda stuff I’ll get to wear once we’re in,” Blue wondered aloud, then cricked his neck to loosen his joints up. “Well, we won’t find out just by sitting around. Let’s do this.”

Once they were both in agreement, Grimrose inscribed the parchment of her spellbook with the blood of the griffon, followed by Blue’s blood as well as her own. Soon enough…

Poof.

Just as it worked with Blue before, they eventually found themselves transported into what felt like another world entirely. But of course, one major difference was what they were now wearing…

Both the pegasus and dragon opened their eyes and looked at each other.

“...hot damn,” Blue muttered upon seeing what Grimrose had on.

Grimrose was now wearing a purple dancing dress and an equally purple veil over her face that prevented anyone from seeing who exactly she was.

“...If Nebula could see you right now, he’d be drooling,” Blue commented as he noted her appearance.

Rose took a look at herself and gave a satisfied nod. “Hm. I like it.” Then she took a look at Blue…

The dragon was now wearing what appeared to be an orang-ish-brown hooded cloak that gave him the appearance of a wandering nomad. His face was covered by a facemask that only left his eyes, but no other defining features, visible.

“You look really capable. Almost like a rogue of sorts. Mei would love it,” she remarked with the slightest hint of a teasing tone in her voice.

“Can you not,” Blue rolled his eyes as he looked himself over and raised his arms. “But this is a pretty sleek fit, not gonna lie. Though, before we move forward, I think we should drop the use of real names in here.”

Rose nodded in agreement. “Good idea. Codenames would probably be the best bet from here on out.”

“Oh, like spies? Siiiiick,” Blue trilled with joy as he thought it over. After a moment of looking at her, he already had one in mind. “Ah. I got the perfect one for you: Priestess.”

“Priestess…” she muttered while tapping her hoof, “I like it. And for you…how about something simple: Wyvern. The legendary dragons that are use for combat.”

“Wyvern, huh? I can dig it. Wonder if summoning our familiars still works in here…” Blue muttered then shook his head. The dragon then took time to look around and observe his surroundings. “Alright…now where exactly are we?”

That’s when the environment of the griffon’s inner thoughts started to form around them as if by magic. Firstly, they would be able to see a young griffon female grow up in a deserted shack all by herself with only occasional visits from an older one.

“I see…” ‘Wyvern’ Blue mumbled as he watched the memory unfold. “This must’ve been Gaea when she was little.”

“Let’s keep going,” ‘Priestess’ Grimrose trotted forward through the infinite expanse of the griffon’s mind.

Eventually, they’d come across another memory. A slightly older Gaea was now in school, but was actively causing fights in order to pre-emptively defend herself from being attacked as a reactionary measure from being alone. How could our duo tell this?

“...she’s shaking constantly,” Priestess said with a sigh as she watched it play out. “It’s as if she doesn’t want to do this.”

“That’s the environment they were raised in, unfortunately,” Wyvern added. “It was the same way with dragons for a while until Ember took over and got them to realize that intelligence was just as important as strength. If not more so.”

Priestess’ wings fluttered open all the sudden. “...the emotional attachment to her memories. It’s getting stronger the further we go. This way.”

The pair continued and they were now in an era of Griffonstone in which they had been visited by the Elements of Harmony and shown how to treat each other better. This was not long after Gallus had left to join the School of Friendship.

The now teenage-Gaea could be seen sulking in resentment over the fact that the griffons had warmed up to each other as they followed Gallus and the ponies’ example. No more unnecessary fights, no more pointless bickering and constant arguing…it filled her with disappointment.

It got so bad that the very next time a pony liaison visited the region…

“Outta the way, kid. I’m busy.”

“You ponies ruined our kind. You don’t deserve respect.”

“Excuse me? I don’t believe you know who you’re talking to. I have more important things to do than talk to a child. Now get out of my way.”

Overtaken by anger, Gaea then charged him down with her claws out, “Leave before I make you!”

“W-wait! I don’t even know you!” the freckled emissary stallion screamed, narrowly avoiding her and just barely escaping.

“GET OVER HERE SO I CAN BEAT YOUR ASS!”

And it was because of this outburst that the Elder Griffons sent Gaea away to Canterlot Academy College…

“...this is so unfair!” she screamed upon packing her things and leaving. “Everyone’s gone soft…”

Priestess and Wyvern watched the memory play out, remaining silent until it was completed.

“...Huh,” the dragon muttered, “So that’s why she hates ponies. Her reaction to one is what caused the Village Elders to send her down here to learn about them.”

Priestess would wax poetic. “Imagine being so pathetic and ornery that you get kicked out of your own home--a home that’s known for rather ornery and prickly individuals. She was such a bother that not even other griffons wanted to deal with her.”

“...yikes,” Wyvern whistled as he scratched the back of his head. “When you put it like that, it really speaks volumes about how shitty her attitude is. Granted, I do kinda feel bad for her since she was kinda forced to come here. And the pony ambassador could’ve been nicer. Still…doesn’t excuse anything.”

And the last memory that they viewed…

“Stupid pony with his stupid freckles on his stupid face. I’ll bring him down to my level…just you wait. We’re no different.”

And then they could see the memory of Gaea purchasing the enchanted, explosive peppers from a zebra vendor at a local market in Canterlot.

They had their evidence.

“...That’s it!” Wyvern yelped. “I knew she was behind this. But how we gonna peg her for it in real life?”

Priestess took a closer look at the memory, noting the black-and-white striped paper bag that the peppers were sold in. They matched the zebra’s stripes!

“...if we can get a testimony from that vendor,” Priestess commented, “We’ll have what we need.”

“Good eye, Priestess,” Wyvern replied, “C’mon. Let’s get outta here before--”

A familiar voice cut him off, calling out to them from beyond the mindscape’s horizon. “...Hey! Who the hell are you two?!”

“...before exactly that happens.”