The psychotic gentlegriff

Anubis’s POV

It was the next day and Graceful failed to ask that mare out, he chickened out. I was just sitting on my chair in the corner of Graceful’s office reading a book on how unicorn horns work, so I could try and study magic. Celestia then trotted in with a frown and began to speak with Graceful, I could make out a few things but it was apparent that she was not in a good mood today. I put my book down and slowly inched forward as to see what the matter was, she was complaining about a noble by the sounds of it and she wanted to order an investigation on him.

He must have done something real bad to have Celestia this worked up but what? I’ll find out later right now she needs to relax but how…. Wait study’s show that stroking a dog or cat can lower the heart rate of the subject but I haven’t see any cats or dogs in the castle. Mhmm I’m kinda like a large cat compared to her and I’m apparently soft too, ah fuck it! She’s done so much for me already it’s the least I can do.

I brushed up against her and gave the kindest smile I had, I don’t know how affective it was but it’s better than nothing. “Hi Celestia, you look a little stressed out, are you okay?”

“Oh of course I’m fine Anubis, nothing to worry about.” She subconsciously began to stroke her Wing up and down my back. The sensation was odd but not unpleasant although I don’t think I’d be allowing her to do this again.

She began to continue to converse with Captain Graceful about an individual whom she knew had been filtering funds from a small orphanage. She had given a name and complete description of this individual, although I didn’t care much at first it began to annoy me that this pony had caused Celestia to become this desperate as to order a private investigation into him. So she could get justice for those who had been wronged, that didn’t matter to me tho. What mattered was that Celestia was actually angry as far as I could tell, she was hot to the touch but not enough to be painful.

I had everything from a description and an idea of his cutie mark, even an address. Celestia had pulled me closer and I felt like I was getting crushed, must of been that Alicorn strength. I didn’t say anything tho, she probably needed this and it wasn’t as if I was in any real danger.

She finally released her hold upon me and took her leave whilst I began to concoct a way to remove her problem from the equation. It turned out that this Pure Purpose lived around the block from Graceful and by the sounds of it, has plenty of enemies. It was almost perfect but I couldn’t just leave when Graceful fell asleep, what if he wakes up? I’ll just come up with something but right now me and the Captain were now heading towards the training ground.

The rest of the day was uneventful, other than princess Silverfeather who was swiping at my tail. I’ll admit that I was pestering her with it but the first time was an accident, she had no right grabbing it although I started to think she was having fun. Now that I think about it what would happen if I used a cat toy on her? She’d probably think I’m being a prick. Anyway we were now heading to Graceful’s home and I had a solid plan for the night.

We made it back and Graceful immediately started to prepare dinner, it turned out he was a great cook. He just knew how to make good fried fish and I was looking forward to eating but right now I was having a shower and going over my plans. All I need to do was make a decoy to leave in my place and make this quick and clean.

Dinner was uneventful and we went to bed, so I laid there waiting for when it felt right. I got out of bed quietly and placed some pillows in my place. Graceful was out cold, I made sure by giving him a shake but he just rolled over. So I decided to leave through the bathroom window.

In the bathroom I decided to modify my hight and appearance so I wasn’t recognisable. I took a look in the mirror and the results were perfect. I was really short now, my fur and feathers were a soft blue whilst I made my eyes larger and orange. I hoped this would not only make me less intimidating as well as make it easier to sneak around. I then proceeded to glide out of the window down to the ground and looked for a street sign as a point of reference.

I found a street sign and swiftly made my down horseshoe lane all the way to home number 43. It was less of a home and more of a mansion that had the noble in question’s cutie mark on the front gate. I slipped through the gate and snuck towards an open window at the right side of the building. I peeped in and checked if it was clear before climbing in, I found myself in a dining room and immediately went to the door. I pressed my ear against the oak door, listening out for movement and conversation.

After a minute or so I heard the house keepers leave the main hall and I proceeded to sneak my way up stairs. I didn’t have a clue on the building’s layout but I used my excellent hearing to lead me towards my target. I followed the smug rambling of a stallion whom I believed to be Pure Purpose, so I closed in on him and I began to feel excitement. The closer I got the wilder my grin became until I stopped outside of a large open door, I could see him just casually counting coins.

He had no idea that I was behind him, so I examined him as to insure that I did indeed get the right pony. I casually walked up to him on free legs whilst I began to morph my left foreleg into a scythe like blade made out of calcium. I really need to better understand the atomic structure of high carbon steel but that doesn’t matter right now.

I closed in but a creaky floorboard gave me away and he spun around, so I pounced at him and tore out his vocal cords with my right claw. He frantically backed up into the desk, the panic in his eyes as he struggled to breathe. He tried to offer me money but I didn’t care and I smacked the bag of bits out of his hoof. “You honestly think I care about money you stole? HAHAHAH!!! God you are stupid but you should feel honoured because you’re going to become an example for the others.” He tried to get up but I pushed him back down.

Tears started to stream down the stallion’s face. “Oh no no no, don’t worry it won’t be painful well…. Except for the few seconds of agony before death.” Oh there it is, that primal fear. Oh these ponies are so expressive, I love it.

I then slowly proceeded to disembowelled the greedy noble and done my best to keep him alive for the procedure…. Yeah he died as soon as I showed him his intestines. I then proceeded to write out a message on the wall in his blood, reading.

BE WARNED ALL, FOR I WILL FIND THE CORRUPT AND GIVE JUSTICE TO THOSE THEY WRONGED.

I also took out his organs and neatly arranged them on his desk but I completely crushed his heart and something in the back of my mind told me to drink the blood. I chose not to listen and went looking for the shower, which was conveniently closed to the office. After scrubbing every inch of my body clean and I then took my leave.

About 4 minutes later I flew back into the bathroom of Graceful’s castle like home and changed back. I gave myself a once over in the mirror and went back to bed, Graceful was snoring which was a good sign. It didn’t take long for me to drift off to sleep and I found myself in the void. “ZODIAC!?!”

“Yes mortal?”

“We’re back in the void, what happened?”

“I found an exit.”

“Ah okay well that’s good, so do you think I could know the location of one of the other Necrovine artefacts?”

“Actually yes I’ll give you its location now.”

“Oh I wasn’t expecting that.” A long inky black tendril wrapped around my body and then proceeded to attempt to force itself into my beak. I struggled but Zodiac quickly stated that if I struggle, it would be more painful when I woke up. I wish he could just describe the location but I don’t really have a choice, so a relaxed and allowed this unplanned procedure to happen again. Darkness invaded my vision and I allowed my mind to take in the location of the Necrovine artefact, it was the green one and it’s in a large tree that glowed a sickly green, inside of a dark swamp.

I just needed to find the swamp and get my claws on the artefact, easier said then done.

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Graceful’s POV

I awoke before my alarm went off, it was 4:59am and I was determined to ask Coffee Creamer out today. “I’ll force the words out of me if I have to, yeah that’s it.”

“Oh shit.” Anubis is still asleep thankfully, the griff deserves to sleep in. I slowly pulled back the blanket and found him soundly sleeping, cuddling with his pillow. I’ll have to let him know that’s not how you use a pillow but when I went to leave, my alarm went off and his eyes fluttered open.

He then rolled over onto his claws and stretched out like a large cat and then his wings followed suit. I believe this was the first time I’ve ever seen him wake up peacefully. I guess he had a nice dream for once, I’ll let the princess know.

“Good morning Graceful.”

“Good morning Anubis, you sleep well?”

“Yeah actually, never slept better. Why’d you ask?”

“Oh no reason other than that’s not how you use a pillow.” He looked at me with a confused expression before his gaze fell upon the pillow he was now sitting on.

“Oh um well I have no idea how that got there heheheh.” He laughed nervously and quickly jumped out of bed before making it. I could tell that he was clearly embarrassed. “I’m gonna get cleaned up Graceful, I’ll be downstairs in a bit.”

“Hey Anubis.” He turned to me and gave a nervous smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anypony that you like to cuddle with your pillow.”

The look of relief quickly replaced his nervous smile. “T-thank you Graceful, I really appreciate that.” Then he went into the bathroom, I made my way into the kitchen and made breakfast.