Author's Note

Sorry for the delay but I’ve been busy with life. Nothing serious but no less annoying.

I hope you enjoy this chapter

C51 psychological evaluation and Jernick.

Silverfeather’s POV

When I woke up I found myself wrapped up in a tomb of comfort and warmth, my initial reaction was to climb out and see what I was covered by. But then a familiar scent hit my senses, it was Anubis! He was back! Celestia did it, she brought him back.

Shooting to my talons I jumped out of his grasp and climbed onto him, nuzzling and kissing his sleeping form. My eyes began to water but I was to overcome by joy and relief, he began to awaken thanks to my bombardment of kisses.

“Oh Anubis you’re back, you’re really back. Please tell me I’m not dreaming!”

“Yawn* No you’re awake…. Silver you’re crying. What’s up?

“Nothing. I just thought that I’d never see you again…. Or something horrible happened, like what if you had died?”

“Oh my dear, I’m fine. I promise to do my best to not be sucked into another dimension on accident again. Come here, Celestia said that you worked tirelessly to find away to save me…. Both of you deserve a reward, I’ll think of something….”

“Sniffle* you’re terrible.”

“I know I am but that’s why I have you and Swan Neck, to balance it out…. And because you’re both hot.”

“Oh shut up…. Can we stay like this just a bit longer, please?”

“Of course…. So do you know where the royal Swan has disappeared to?”

“Nope I’ve just woken up…. And I don’t remember going bed in your room either.”

“What? Wait, neither do I for that matter.”

“Well since we’re here, you might as well give me that reward you spoke of….”

“Hahahahah oh did you miss me that much, well I think you can wait. Trust me you’ll like it even more.”

“Oh now I’m interested. What is it?”

“Can’t say….”

“Huff* fine then but it better be worth it.” He wasn’t going to tell me but I had an idea of what he had in mind.

Then the door swung open and I jumped off of him, grabbed whatever I could to cover myself with. It so happened that I grabbed Anubis’s wing, the sudden contact must of hit a nerve because his wings shot up, knocking me over.

“Heheheheheheh! So what were you two up to?”

“Well nothing believe it or not….”

“Mhmmmm sure, it so happened that your wings are just stiff for no reason and Silver’s on her back with a blush.”

“Sigh* yes it looks bad but we didn’t do anything…. Yet.” I completely agreed with him up until the yet part, he didn’t need to say that.

Then i got up and jumped off the bed, taking a long stretch upon landing and raising my tail high. Looking back I saw a wide grin accompanied by a crimson blush on his beak. “So um what time is it?”

“It’s about 12, so go and get something to eat Silver. Anubis here has an appointment with Dr Tender Care.”

“Oh really? What for?”

“Just a psychological evaluation.”

“What’s that?”

Then he butted in. “They’re just going to ask a few questions to see if I’m alright up in the head, nothing to worry about. But I didn’t know Tender was qualified to do that.”

“He isn’t but his wife is.”

“He’s married!! Woah…. My mind is blown.”

“Why’s that such a shock to you Anubis?”

“Not entirely sure…. It’s just surprising is all, so do I have to go now or can I get something to eat?”

“I’d prefer to get it over and done with, it’ll only take a few minutes at most.”

“Very well then let’s go.”

I gave him a kiss and went the opposite way down the hall, towards the dining hall. I started to wonder if telling Celestia about Anubis and the Dreamscape, was a good idea or not.

———————————————————————

Anubis and Celestia entered the medical wing, the griff got looks from the staff and the occasional guard. That had a training accident or two, as the closed they distance between them and Tender’s office.

Nurse Sweet Tone approached them, she gave a bow to the princess and the turned to Anubis. “I thought I told you to stay out of trouble, not to mention that your claw is broken. Speaking of which, where is your sling and cast?”

His eyes widened as he took a step back, Celestia turned to him with a glare. “You broke your claw?”

“Well broke is a strong word, it was more like.” Sweet cut him off.

“Me and Dr Tender spent about an hour or so, rearranging the bones…. But he seems to have made a miraculous recovery, not only is his claw better but his wings look flight worthy.”

“Okay look ladies, I can explain…. So when I got sucked up into that thing…. I came out the other side Healed?” His tone wasn’t very convincing but the two mares could tell that he was uncomfortable, by his body language.

“Sigh* I guess that could make some resemblance of sense. I know very little of what actually happened to you.”

“Princess, not to be rude but I don’t understand.”

“I’ll explain later Nurse Sweet Tone but Anubis has an appointment with Dr Mind Care.”

“Oh so that’s why she’s in today, I was wondering why she was here and not at Canterlot general hospital.”

“Yep, Swan neck here thinks that I’ve got issues with my head.”

“Excuse me but I do not, it’s just that I’m worried.”

“Awwwwwww you have a pet name for the princess, oh that’s so sweet and of course she’s worried. I mean you haven’t had the most pleasant experience’s, Anubis.”

Celestia began to flush pink whilst Anubis looked like a coat that had just been lectured by his mother. “Sigh* I understand but I’ve been fine so far…. Oh don’t look at me like that, come on you too Celestia?”

“Look Anubis but when I first met you…. You weren’t in the best state and you weren’t handling the situation well…. I believe that you’ll be happy once you open up a bit more.”

“But I’m fine and remember when I did open up before.”

“That wasn’t opening up, it was more like a breakdown Anubis….” The look on his and Sweet’s face told her that she had just said the wrong thing. “I didn’t mean it like that.” The griff cut her off.

“No…. Just stop. You’re right, I may not like what you said but it wasn’t incorrect…. Look let’s just get this over with, please….” He then proceeded to walk over to the doctor’s office whilst Celestia and Sweet tone just looked at each other.

The white Alicorn felt awful whilst the Nurse just offered a sympathetic smile. “If you want a little bit of advice…. Your highness. He already feels alienated as it is, so being this blunt is only going to make him feel even more of an outsider. I mean I don’t see him socialising with others to often and he doesn’t have another of his own kind to hang out with.”

“I-I know but…. I’ve been thinking about enrolling him into college, in an alchemy course. he has an extremely gifted mind but he’s asked me to help him with opening a cafe…. I mean he can make an incredible cup of tea.”

“Speak to him about college, and see if there’s a course he wants to do but I’d recommend that you don’t enrol him in a college without asking if he’s interested….”

“I see your concern but I wasn’t planning on springing it up on him, I’ll bring it up tonight…. That’s if I don’t get distracted.”

“Oh and what may be distracting her highness tonight?” Sweet Tone had a knowing smile.

“Huff* oh shush you, it’s totally natural and healthy.”

“Can’t argue with that, you haven’t been as stressed out as you usually are…. Well except for when he disappeared.”

“I haven’t?”

“Nope your highness but if you don’t mind me asking, what do you plan on doing during heat season?”

Celestia’s white coat burned crimson, the Alicorn was caught by utter surprise. “I um well…. I believe that the best thing to do would be to have him…. Set up camp in the Whitetail woods…. And for me to stay here.”

“I suppose that’s the best way to go about it but what’s stopping you from teleporting to him?”

Her mind went blank. “I’ll have the guards set up an anti-teleport shield to stop all forms of teleportation.”

“But your highness, what’s going to stop you from just taking flight?”

“Oh well I’ll come up with something….”

“I sure hope so…. For his sake.” The nurse muttered that under her breath before saying goodbye and carrying on with her work. Leaving Celestia to mull over her words.

Meanwhile Anubis had already started his psychological evaluation, which he was not terribly pleased about.

“So Mr Grimgost, could you tell me what you see in this image?” Tender’s wife, Mrs Care was subjecting him to a Rorschach test.

“A disproportionate butterfly.” To him it looked like a mushroom cloud.

“Okay and this one please?”

“That is a face…. A unicorn’s face.” What he really saw was a head on the end of a pike.

“Good good, okay and this one please.”

Looking at this new card, his mind raced to come up with something similar to what he saw but nothing came to mind. To him it was like he was looking at an X-ray of a brain but he couldn’t say that…. Could he?

“Anubis?”

“Sorry, but I see a…. Flat slice of a brain….” He was screaming at himself for wording it like that.

“….and why do you say that?”

Thinking fast he remembered that he has a biology book in his room. “Um well I had read a biology textbook and that looks similar to the diagrams.”

“Oh okay thank you and now this one please.”

“That’s…. That’s….”

“Are you alright Mr Grimgost?”

“I’m fine! Sorry that’s just a family of ponies having a picnic, so is that all.”

“Fortunately for you yes but I’d like to see you tomorrow around about the same time please, can you make it?”

“Um yes I can…. So am I free to go?”

“Yep so off you pop.”

Anubis left the office and bumped into Celestia and Dr Tender. “Oh hi there…. Um so I’ve been told to come back tomorrow at this time, is that a good thing or not?”

Dr Tender smirk. “Don’t worry Anubis, it just means that she’s trying to get a read on you. So I’d imagine that my beloved wife is preparing a file on you.”

“Sigh* so a bad thing then, yay….” The sarcasm made the two ponies feel bad for the griff.

Then almost as if on cue, the door swung open and Mind Care trotted out. She began to scratch Anubis’s side and Celestia saw his hind leg twitching. “Your highness, honey, if you don’t mind. I’d like to speak with both of you about Mr Grimgost?”

“I’d imagine so.”

“Why of course Doctor.”

They all went to follow her back into Tender’s office but she stopped Anubis and told him to skedaddle. The griff just patted his fur down and walked off to find Silver.

“Okay your highness, from what I’ve gathered…. Anubis Grimgost is…. Definitely traumatised to a large extent but from what I’ve been told, that is to be expected of. But what I was informed about his dark imagination doesn’t seem to match the results.”

Celestia began to think about him and what he said to her this morning. “Sigh* so for the most part he’s okay?”

“Yes your highness, well other than a lack of reaction to violence and gore. So I’d recommend that you make sure that he’s disciplined enough to not have any outbursts…. Especially a griffon of his size and let’s not forget about the medical account.”

“I’d have to agree with my wife on this matter princess but we can’t discredit the possibility that it might just be how his breed are wired. So the best thing we could do for him is to insure that he’s well disciplined and understands that violence isn’t the answer.”

“Yes but don’t you think it could be bad for him if we try to force him to go against his nature? So if you don’t mind, please could I see what he said about the cards?”

“I’m sorry your highness but I can’t do that…. But don’t worry, he didn’t say anything truly concerning.”

“That’s a relief but why do you want to see him tomorrow?”

“Because I’ve never encountered a psyche like his before and his eyes are confusing, he’s simultaneously expressive but cold…. Almost as if it’s a mask that stops you from seeing what he’s hiding.”

“Mhmmm I have noticed that but I wasn’t sure on how to get him to open up to me.”

“Well hopefully I can make a bit of progress, after all it is my special talent princess.”

“Well that’s a relief that my Anubis is not losing his mind….” The room went silent and Mind Care just stared at the princess.

“Your Anubis? That sounded a little possessive princess, so mind telling me why you used that type of language?”

Celestia felt her cheeks warm up as blood filled them, Tender suddenly found the window behind his wife very interesting and Mind caught on. “Oohhhh I see, well this will surely make the nobles lose their minds…. Wait Tender sweetheart, you knew didn’t you.”

“Look my love I can explain, you see I was sworn to secrecy because her highness wanted to keep Anubis out of the eye of the nobles.”

“Huff* I don’t care, when you are sworn to secrecy so am I. So i expect you to at least inform me.”

“What no I…. It was patient confidentiality.”

“That…. You may have won this battle but I’ll have the last laugh. Huff*”

“But I wasn’t laughing?” All this was happening whilst Celestia just stared blankly at the bickering couple.

“Excuse me. But now that you know, I must ask for your silence.”

“Of course your highness, it goes without saying.”

———————————————————————
Jernick’s POV

I had been messing around with my abilities and discovered that I can produce hive resin, even shaping them into blocks.

I had been working over time but it was worth it, I now laid in a large resin structure that was big enough to fit all 51 of of us inside comfortably. I had went to lay my head down but instead of the cold ground, my cheek pressed up against one of the hens that had taken up the roll of servant.

She seems to be happy but it feels weird to be coddled like this but she was soft and I dozed off fast, thinking about how Anubis will be impressed by the progress we’ve made.

Upon waking up I found that my self appointed servant was still supporting my head and that Anubis was here. “Yawn* How long was I out for?”

“My lord you’ve been asleep for the past 5 hours, should I have woken you up….” I was confused as to why she stopped but then I saw her drooling, I knew that must have meant that my brother had gone hunting and brought back something good.

Getting up i stretched and helped the hen, who now that I think about it I don’t know her name. But that could wait because her hind leg buckled, most likely from supporting my skull.

So I lifted her up onto my back and we made our way to the outside, upon exiting I found that everyling…. I meant griffon was watching intently as Anubis dished up a feast for them.

Once he was done, he grabbed a large leaf and wrapped up a bunch of meat. He approached me with a grin. “So Jernick my brother, why are you carrying that hen on your back? Is she your hen?”

I felt my cheeks heat up and the hen jumped off my back, her hind legs buckled and she fell back and into my side. “Wha?! Anubis no! It’s not like that!”

“Oh really because it’s not looking to good for you, I mean the poor thing’s legs are wobbly.”

“N-not for those reasons!”

“I know, i know, she doesn’t have your scent on her. It was just a prank but judging by that blush on her face, she wouldn’t mind being your mate.”

I was speechless, I looked back at her and saw that he wasn’t wrong but I couldn’t focus on something like that now. I had a duty to do, so I looked at her. “Um well I have to focus on making sure that everygriffon is happy and healthy, so as nice as it sounds. I can’t unfortunately, sorry.”

Her eyes fell to the ground and she sagged both in posture and mood, ears folding back. “B-but my lord, please may I continue to be your servant?”

As much as I felt weird about it, I could see as clear as day that she really liked being of help to me. “If that is what you want, then I have no objections.” Her mood switch up and she was back on her wobbly claws.

Oh yeah I should ask for her name. “So do you have a name or….”

“Oh my, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before my lord…. It’s Rosie Thorn.”

“Well that a lovely name Rosie, I’m Jernick Grimgost.”

“Heheheheh I already knew that king Jernick.”

“Oh heheheh….” That was embarrassing, of course she knew but it just made sense to tell her. What do I say now?!

Then Anubis came to my rescue, by unwrapping the large leaf. Exposing an assortment of meat, there was ribs, steaks and thinly cut pieces of fatty shavings. It smelt divine, I believe the expression was. “Here you two are, dig in. Oh and there’s plenty for all so do help yourselves.”

“T-thank you king Anubis….”

“Mhmmm this is amazing dude, oh wow this is good….” My taste buds were in heaven, it was an explosion of delicious meat juice that flooded my beak and judging by Rosie’s expression, she was loving it too.

After we finished eating, Anubis pulled me aside and I was wondering why? He spun around and ruffled the feathers onto of my head. “So the others said that you created all this on your own, so I take it you’re getting used to your new found abilities. I’m impressed with how strong that stuff is Jernick, good work.”

“T-thanks Anubis but I only did what I could, the others basically constructed it all, I only made the blocks.”

“And you should be proud of that, if you hadn’t of done that. Then how would they have had the resources to build this.” He gestured to the large makeshift building that was our first new home. “Not to mention that changing the atomic structure of a material isn’t easy, especially if you’re making a few hundred in a day with no experience. So get yourself comfortable and enjoy the evening, you’ve earned it.”

Hearing that made me grin with pride and we turned back, walking towards the house like structure. Upon entering I decided to listen to my brother and dropping myself to the soft ground, I slowly began to doze back into peace, dreaming about the future…. That was a first, never have I ever looked forward to the future…. But I did and it was a great feeling, I think it was called hope.