Author's Note

It’s a little late but this is the “Hearth Warming” chapter even though it doesn’t really focus on the pony holiday. But please enjoy and pay attention because there is some family bonding, friendly visits and raised suspicions.

C62 cold soul but warm heart

Anubis’s POV

Once I made it to where Silver was leading me, I entered a room that I had never seen before. It was a gigantic living room with glass cabinets full of all sorts of stuff. Some reminded me of Egyptian artefacts, others were Roman in style and even Nordic and is that a crystal dragon skull on the bloody wall? Oh there’s a tree in the corner with decoration on it….

“Anubis has arrived!!”

“Heheheheh, sweetie you don’t need to announce it. We have eyes you know.”

“Sorry mum….”

“Awww don’t apologise but shouldn’t Anubis be resting right now? I couldn’t imagine that it feels good to be kicked by a Alicorn.”

“Dr Tender said not to put too much pressure on my chest and forelegs…. And in comparison to what I’ve experienced, it’s on the lesser side of agonisingly unbearable.” As I said this I laid down and leaned into Celestia, she wrapped a wing around me and nuzzled behind my ears.

“I’m sorry….”

“Oh stop apologising mare.” But then I was caught off guard by Silver who had decided to help herself to my wing and start preening it. “Hey that tickles…. Oh….”

“Excuse me?”

Silver immediately jumped up and panicked upon seeing her dad’s face, the griffon king got up and put his mug of coffee down.

His daughter jumped in between us and began sputtering and gesturing wildly with her talons.

“Silverfeather. I want an explanation, why were you preening his feathers?” I could almost feel the venom in his words when he said “his.”

“D-Dad I-it was b-because I-i…. saw some loose feathers and t-they were bugging me….”

“Don’t lie to me, I want the truth and secondly. Why can I smell the tiniest hint of your scent on him?” He sat down in front of us and I noticed silver’s eyes narrow.

“Fine! I’m preening him because he’s my griff-friend, my scent is on him because we’ve already done the deed! So what!! I’m old enough to make my own decisions…. Dad? Hello Dad? Um he’s not blinking?” Her father had completely frozen in place with a blank stare.

“Heheheheheheh honey, did we bring my sword?”

“Um Silverbeak? I think you should come over here and calm down a bit.”

“Oh but i am calm…. And you don’t seem to be surprised by this, why is that my love?”

“Um well arhahah, I might have found out earlier…. About an hour ago….”

“And why was I not notified by the guards I left here?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Silverbeak? Why would they know?”

“Private Glacier, get me my sword. Now!” The hen quickly ran off without a word and I was getting nervous, Celestia pulled me closer to her.

“Dad! No! Don’t kill him please!!”

“I’m not going to kill him my little Silveey, I’m just gonna make sure that he can’t mount you ever again!!”

This was bad…. So I did the most logical thing I could think of, and that was to get up and look the angered king in his eyes. “King Silverbeak, I don’t ask for your forgiveness. And yes I did not ask for your blessing or approval but please don’t make Silverfeather cry. We both want her to be happy, so don’t be the reason she upset.”

He looks to her and his eyes softened upon seeing the teary eyed hen. “Oh my sweet little baby girl, I’m sorry but I’m just trying to protect you. You understand, right?”

She nodded before pressing her head against his chest, he wrapped her up in his wings and began to rock side to side.

“J-sniffle* just don’t hurt my Nubie please daddy, I-i love him. I really do sniffle* you’re not allowed to hurt him.”

“Sigh* I’ll think about it….” He looked me in the eyes and glared, I guess it’s an improvement.

“Silverbeak you did ask Anubis to protect our daughter, remember and she’s chosen him as a suitor. I believe she made a good choice.”

“Honey, I have to disagree with you.” Blackfeather cut him off.

“Are you saying my judgment is wrong? Because I chose you and I think it was a good decision, was it not?” He fell silent.

Celestia pulled me back down to her and I got comfortable, Silverfeather wiped her tears and got cozy with me. Her dad just glared at me.

Queen Blackfeather broke the silence. “You’ve always wanted a son to train how to use a sword and teach all of your skills to? So why don’t you and our future son in law go and get to better know each other?”

“W-what? Honey but.” She cut him off again.

“No. How about you two go and have a laugh, let us girls have some girl time.”

Celestia turned to me and sent an unsure glance at the griffon king.

“I’m down to hang out if you want to king Silverbeak.”

“….argh fine.”

“King Silverbeak.” Celestia started. “I’d advise against castrating my Anubis, that is if you value your own undercarriage.”

“O-of course your highness.”

“Good.”

I couldn’t tell if it was my proximity to the fire or Celestia’s simmering rage but I was beginning to sweat and I noticed that I wasn’t the only one.

“So should we go and find something to do, king Silverbeak.”

“Yes let’s go and do some bonding or something.”

We quickly left the room and closed the door behind us, I looked at Silver’s dad and things got really awkward real quickly.

“So…. Um I think the training grounds are empty, should we go there?”

“Yeah…. But let’s wait for that hen I sent off to retrieve my sword.”

“Oh um yeah Glacier, she’s Silver’s friend.”

“She is?”

“She wasn’t on duty, Silver invited her.”

“Oh well that’s nice of her to do.”

“Your daughter is very kind and sweet….”

“Y-you really like her don’t you…. Sigh* look if you do anything to hurt her I’ll kill you, even if it means the end of my own life.”

“Woah woah you made your point by threatening to chop my bits off and you’re the one who made her cry.”

“Me!? You took my daughter’s innocence! And now you threaten to take her away from me!”

“Wha? Well I did but I’m not trying to take her away, I’m just trying to do what’s best for her.”

“Oh really! Because all I see is a giant griff that’s not thinking with his head! You don’t know what’s best for her!”

“I know more than you!”

“Oh really because if my memory serves me correctly, I’m her dad! I literally raised her!”

“Well I’m her griff-friend and I’m the one who makes her laugh, smile and feel loved!”

“Hey i make her feel loved!!”

“Not as good as I do!!”

“How can you love her more than her own family!!”

“Because our love is different from family love.”

“So what!! I still love her more! Her and her mother are my world!!”

“Yeah well I’m going to be apart your world then because she loves me!! And I love her back!!!”

“Oh yeah!!!”

Swung*

Crash!*

“Will you two go and play cards or something before you both spend the blue moon festival in a hospital bed!! And don’t think just because I’m pregnant, that I can’t give you two a spanking!”

We both stiffened up and said. “Yes ma’am.”

She had startled me so much that I accidentally healed my entire body out of instinct. Me and the griffon king walked down the hall and I decided to work on some more projects. To my dismay King Silverbeak was just following me, so working on my projects was out the window.

“Why are you following me?”

“Sigh* because my wife is sort of right, you are a better suitor for my Silveey than any of the griffons back home…. But what has princess Celestia been feeding you, you’re nearly as big as her.”

“I just have good genes, eat a lot and train when I can.”

“Mmmmm do you know how to use a sword?”

“Yes…. Why?”

“Do you want to spar with me?”

I thought about it and thought why not but after I got everything ready for Celestia, I still need to show her the blueprints and the miniature magic-tech crystal engine. Thankfully I won’t need to explain how it works because Silver already knows. And I’ve made a surprise for her.

“Yeah I’m down but first I need to quickly head to my room.”

“Okay I’ll follow, I’m curious about your room and how tidy you keep it.”

Yay…. Just what I wanted but I’m not going to argue about it, if Queen Blackfeather hears us…. Well I don’t want to find out what she’ll do. “Fine let’s get going….”

I walked into my room and Silver’s dad followed me in, I turned to look at him and noticed that he was nodding to himself. Probably judging my room or something, anyway I went over to my desk and grabbed the blueprints and a small jewellery case.

Placing them on my bed and grabbing a folder for the blueprints that Silverbeak decided to help himself to. “Excuse me? But those are for Celestia, so put them down.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to cub?”

“I’m seventeen and who said you could just read that because I certainly didn’t.”

“Sigh* fine, here. We’re meant to be getting along, so have your model airship drawings back.”

“Thanks…. So you also like model airships?”

“Not just models but I want to build an airship dock and have a trade fleet…. But the Empire isn’t financially stable enough to begin such a project.”

“That sucks but at least the quality of living is getting better for the common griffon.”

“Slowly but surely…. So are these your models that you built?”

“Yeah…. In fact I think I have an unopened model if you’re up for that after we have our session.”

“Honestly that sounds good, I haven’t had the time to make any model airships since I became a king.”

“Really? Wow that’s unfortunate.” I placed the blueprints into the folder and hid it and the jewellery box under my bed. “Let’s head down to the training grounds.”

“Finally…. And don’t think just because you’re bigger than me that it’s going to be easy cub, I’m gonna teach you a thing or two.”

“Yeah sure thing King Silverbeak.”

———————————————————————

Twack!*

Smack*

Thud*

I was laying on my back, the whole world was spinning. Then a smug smiling prick slowly came into my vision and offered me his talon, I took it and he helped me up.

“Listen, you’re big so you have reach but because you’re so big. It means that you’re a larger target, you have to protect your sides and use that massive tail of yours to balance on your hind legs.”

“T-Cough!* thanks I guess…. Just give me a minute, my brains are still spinning.”

“Hahahah sorry, it’s just been a bit since sparring against somegriffon.”

“Nah it’s fine, I’m just happy I got a few good hits in.”

“I’ll give you that, you have really good instincts but you need to train and not rely on your instincts so much Anubis.”

“Sigh* you’re right but my instincts have gotten me through so much, so I trust them a lot already.”

“Yes and that’s not a bad thing but you need technique and then you need to turn that technique into instinct.”

“But you said not to rely on my instincts?”

I did but you need to learn the technique first and for that to happen, you need to not rely on your instincts.”

“Ohhhhh…. That makes sense now.” I picked up my training sword and took an offensive stance, Silverbeak grinned and took a relaxed one.

I lunged forward and struck at his shoulder.

Clang!*

Clash!*

Shing*

I jumped back and regained my grip on my sword, he blocked every strike with ease, it was getting frustrating but I cooled my nerves and I side stepped left before lunging under his blunt blade.

Digging my hind claws into the ground and twisting my hips, I swung my sword with explosive force at his exposed barrel.

Clang*

Twack!*

“Ouch~ fuck.”

“Hurts doesn’t it?”

“Yeah it bloody well does, my claws are stinging.”

“Hahahah well you nearly had me there but even with your freakish speed, I still blocked and countered you.”

“Laugh it up old timer, I’ll get you this time.”

“Hopefully you last longer than 30 seconds, princess Celestia must be a disappointed mare if this is your best.”

“Hey that was uncalled for Silverbeak, I keep her more than satisfied! And let’s not forget that I also keep your daughter pleased too.”

“Grrrrrrrrrr fine then, if you can deal a lethal blow to me. I’ll warm up to the idea of you and my daughter being a couple but if you can’t then you have to brake up with her, deal?”

“Oh you’re on gramps.” My tactic was to aim for that sword of his and make an opening to hit him over the head with my own.

Without wasting any time I shot at him like a bullet and he raised his sword up to block mine.

Clash*

Slash*

Clank*

He went to swing for my hind legs and I jumped up, he went to bring his sword up into my gut but I used my wings to dive over him. Getting back up to my claws, he gave me no time to breathe.

Shing*

Clank*

I blocked his attack and went to thrust my blade at his chest but he dipped under and shoulder checked me onto my back. I rolled back, narrowly avoiding his blade.

I stepped forward and slipped passed his sword, he went to punch me but I grabbed his talons and switched my grip so the blade was flipped around.

Shing!*

Thwack!*

“Arrrrr grrrrrr.” He kicked me in the shoulder but how?

“Good but not good enough cub.”

This time he lunged at me and I got low, planting my left foreleg on the ground and coiled up before releasing it.

Smack!*

Thud!*

He was on his back, now was my chance. So I sprinted at the disorientated griff and brought my sword down on his chest.

Twack!*

“Ooof!*”

“Get fucked!! Yeah! Woo Wh! I win!!! I fucking win!! Hahahahahah!!”

“Cough* Cough* darn it…. Hey…. Anubis, you’re not so bad you know…. And a quick learner too…. But if you hurt my daughter, you’re dead.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Hey how old are you again?”

“Seventeen.”

“Ahhh screw it, let’s grab a bottle of brandy and get started on that airship.”

“Oh I think Captain Graceful keeps some in his office, I have a spare key.”

“Now we’re talking, let’s go.”

We had gone back to my room and grabbed the airship model and key to Graceful’s office.

“Sssshhhh~ just act casual and nopony with bat an eye.”

“I hope you’re right Anubis, if my wife finds out. I’m dead.”

“Yeah I don’t want to see Celestia’s reaction either but I know Graceful has good taste.”

“Hey Anubis! What’s up?”

“Graceful!? Hey what’s up dude?”

“Nothing much but why are you trying to get into my office?”

“Ummm well I left something important to me in there….”

“Dude don’t lie to me, what are you after…. K-King Silverbeak, I’m sorry I didn’t notice you before.” Graceful bowed and the griffon king just waved it off.

“Rise captain, by any chance do you know where a griff could get a good bottle of brandy?”

Graceful looking around before leaning in and whispering to us. “I have a few bottles hidden away in my office, I’ll give you one but don’t say a word to anycreature.”

“Our beaks are sealed.”

“Okay good, normally I’d be against you drinking at this age Anubis but then I’d be a hypocrite.”

Yes!!!!! I knew it, I knew that Graceful wasn’t as stuck up as he let on. I was cheering in my head.

3 hours later both griffs were completely wasted in a spare dining room trying their hardest to properly construct a model airship. But said airship looked like it had been put together by children and not two adults.

It was getting late but they didn’t care and had given up on the model, now they were waffling about nonsensical stories and babbling about how much they cared about each other.

“A-hiccup* Anubis, y-y-your like the son I always wanted, you know.”

“Awww man that…. That’s one of the kindest things anycreatures ever said to me that wasn’t from Silver or Celestia, you’re the best!”

“Ah you’re just saying that, you’re t-the best.”

They continue to waffle on until they dozed off to sleep. Anubis had fallen asleep sprawled out with his head resting on the model airship whilst King Silverbeak was cradling the empty bottle with his head on the larger griff’s stomach.

Meanwhile in another part of the castle Celestia, Silver and Blackfeather were wondering around looking for the two missing griffons. Celestia was getting nervous and started popping her head into every room she passed.

“Sigh* please could you slow down, some of us are a little weighed down.”

“Sorry Blackfeather I’m just worried, i can’t find them anywhere?”

“Look I trust my husband enough to know better than to try and hurt him after he said he wouldn’t.”

“Huff* well I’m just going to search for his magical signature.”

“What!?”

Both Celestia and Silver looked at the confused hen and then to each other, they shared a look and Silver just shook her head.

“Mum, Anubis can use magic….”

“Sweetheart don’t be silly, griffons can’t use magic.”

“Well he can….”

Her mum just looked even more confused and just shook her head. “Come on let’s catch up with our worried Alicorn before we loose her.”

“you’re right, she’s leaving us behind.”

They followed Celestia and they were led to a large oak door, she opened it and froze. Silver and her mum tried to look past her but couldn’t, then Celestia closed and reopened it before walking in and falling to her rump.

“Celestia what’s wrong….” Silver saw what had shocked her herd member and rubbed her eyes questioning what she saw before her, then the strong aroma of alcohol hit her senses.

“Heheheheheh awwwwww, I told you that they were fine~ but I’m disappointed in Silverbeak, sigh* I guess it is the blue moon festival after all.”

“But Anubis isn’t old enough to drink….”

“Oh cut the griff some slack, so who’s gonna wake them up?”

“But mum they’re so cute together, I didn’t know dad liked to cuddle?”

“Oh there’s a lot you don’t know about your father dear, so I’ll wake him up…. Cough* Cough*”

“Yep they had some strong stuff for sure.” Celestia said with a slightly annoyed tone.

“You two wake them up, I’m gonna leave and get some rest. Silver send your dad up to me once he’s awake.”

“Sure thing mum.”

The two griffons were sound asleep holding each other and Celestia decided to wake up king Silverbeak first by shaking him in Anubis’s grasp. This woke him up with a panicked expression on his face.

“Hey!?!” Celestia cut him off by wrapping her aura around his beak, Silver giggled at her father.

“So dad, isn’t Anubis a keeper or is he a keeper?” A smug undertone in her voice.

“Mhmm, king Silverbeak. I think your wife said to get along with Anubis not get drunk, so do you mind explaining this?” She levitated an empty bottle and the king’s panicked expression turned to one of dread.

“P-princess he only had two or three glasses of the stuff, I’m sure it was nothing the lad couldn’t handle.”

“Grrrrrrrrrrr this is really strong. So how are you still somewhat sober?”

“I can hold my liquor better?”

“Just get that dreadful smell off you, it’s far too late for this…. Have you two even had anything to eat?”

“Umm no….”

“Argh~ just leave king Silverbeak.”

“And mum is waiting for you in your room!” The royal griff took his self out on wobbly legs whilst grumbling, he knew it was a losing battle to try and defend himself in this situation. So he prepared himself for a stern talking to from his wife.

Celestia laid down next to the remaining griffon and gently woke him up, she had gotten a little too close and was hit by the smell of concentrated brandy. She had pulled away from him and covered her muzzle with her wings.

“Yawn!* mmmm h-hi Ce-Hiccup!* Celestia, heheheheh mhmm you smell sweet~ argh~ why is the room spinning?”

“Sigh* because you drank something you’re not supposed to sweetie, can you stand?”

“Yeah I think so.” He went to get up but nearly fell forward but Celestia caught him and levitated him onto her back. “T-thanks swan neck….”

“It’s no problem Anubis, let’s get you to bed. Come on Silver.”

“Oh nubie, you poor thing,~ a good nights rest will fix you up.”

“I hope so, I can’t imagine brandy being any good for him especially after waking up from a three day coma…. I’m going to be speaking with your father about this tomorrow Silver.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm but dad can be very competitive, I’d Imagine they try to out drink each other.”

———————————————————————

The next morning Anubis awoke with a hangover and attempted to Bury himself under a feathery appendage. Celestia let out a small giggle before nuzzling him.

“Please tell me the castle has headaches tablets or there’s a spell?”

“Headache tablets? Um I know a spell but you brought this upon yourself, so I’m sorry sweetie.”

“Argh~ can I choose death instead?”

“Heheheh~ sorry but no and quite down, Silver’s still sleeping.”

“But she should be in her room?”

“Well she’s not.”

Then all of a sudden a very energetic hen bounded over Celestia and landed on the grumpy griff’s back.

“Tomorrow’s the blue moon festival!!!! Anubis get up!!!!”

Celestia’s ears folded back from the volume and Anubis dug his claws into the mattress. All whilst the excited hen bounced up and down on his lower back.

Meanwhile in a royal guest room king Silverbeak awoke with a smile because his wife let him off the hook and his daughter wasn’t attacking him from over excitement. “Ahhhh~ this is nice.”

“Mmmmmm morning handsome, can I get a wing massage?”

“Sigh* of course dear.”

———————————————————————

Silver and Celestia had gone down to the dining room to get some breakfast whilst Anubis groggily walked out of Celestia’s bathroom. As much as he wanted to go back to bed but he was also hungry.

Lumbering out of the Alicorns room he was greeted by a small menace in a maid uniform. “Oh my, morning Anubis you startled me…. Oh you don’t look so well, what happened?”

“Shush maid, I need food.”

“No need to be so rude and I have a name, you know.”

“I don’t believe you, you never told me it to begin with.”

“And I’d prefer that you don’t know it, thank you.”

“Sigh* why are you grinning at me?”

“Oh it’s just funny.”

“What’s funny?”

“Well if you think about it, I’m the only mare that’s slept with her highness’s griff-friend. Although you weren’t as tall and definitely scrawnier back then.”

“Quieten down, Celestia already knows that I’ve slept with one of the castle maids. You’re lucky she isn’t still actively looking, especially with how she acts when any mare she doesn’t know speaks to me.”

“Oh um well…. I like my job and most certainly don’t want to be banished to some forgotten island, so good bye mister Grimgost.”

“Good bye…. I’ll find out what your name is mare.”

“Good luck Sir.”

Pinching the bridge of his beak Anubis just took himself down to the dining room, where he was met by Silver digging in to her breakfast whilst Celestia was waiting patiently. But he noticed that she had small bits of fried chicken in her salad and a large stack of pancakes but what caught his eye was a plate of smoked salmon bagels and a similar bowl of salad with large chunks of chicken in it.

“So are you feeling better Nubie?”

“No…. But once I get some food in me, I’ll be as good as new.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“So~ Celestia, how’s your salad? Is it any good?”

“Oh shush you, it’s great so eat up…. Oh and apparently you have some visitors waiting to see you, you’re friends from college. They’re in one of the lounges on the north wing of the castle, waiting.”

“Cough* what?!”

“Did I stutter?” She raised one eyebrow. “Oh and why do the two mares in your friend group seem very eager to see you?”

“Um the hell if I know, they’re just friends Celestia.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be going with him. I’ll make sure they get the memo.”

“Good thinking Silver, so I take it you and king Silverbeak are on good terms?”

“Huff* yeah…. Do you two even trust me?”

“Well of course….” Silver began.

“We do but we don’t trust other mares or hens that we don’t properly know.”

“Sigh* I guess you two have a point even if it’s a very blunt and paranoid point…. Look I can assure you that I’ll tell them that I’m not looking to expand our herd but only if Silver gets rid of one of her personal guards.”

“Argh…. Honestly I have to agree, the way Streamline looks at me…. Is unnerving.”

“What? Oh why didn’t you just tell us before?”

“Because he hasn’t done anything wrong, it’s just I don’t really want him around. Especially since he is one of the nobles that was trying to marry me.”

“Okay so we agree that killing him is the best choice, right?”

“Anubis!? Wha? No! We’ll just send him back to the griffon kingdom.”

“Works for me, I’ll let my friends that are mares know that I’m not interested…. Even if they already know.”

“Good and Silver can make sure you do.”

“Yep.”

30 minutes later Anubis and Silver stood out side of the room where his friends were waiting in. With a soft breath he opened the door and walked in.

The idle chattering came to a halt as Anubis walked in and sat down, Silver followed but carried herself with a lot more elegance than he was used to. She walked around him, flicking her tail at his beak before seating herself under his wing.

“Um hey guys?”

The only two to bow were Spring and Galeyus, the other two had no idea what was happening.

“Psssss why are you bowing?”

“T-that’s p-princess Silverfeather dude, so be respectful.”

“Oh shoot?” Razor Wing and Flame Sparkler both joined the other two and Anubis let out a sigh.

“Get up you fore, this is my hen-friend Silverfeather. So what brings you all here.”

They slowly rose up and looked to each other. “Um well we just wanted to say hi and give you your hearth Warming gifts but Galeyus tried saying that griffons don’t celebrate hearth warming.”

“Because we don’t…. We celebrate the blue moon festival but it’s still good to see you all.”

“Heheheheh~ well my Nubie doesn’t really celebrate that either.”

“Pffffffffff N-Nubie! Hahahahahahahah!!!! Oh sweet Celestia, that’s amazing!!” Razor and flame both fell to the floor laughing, Spring and Galeyus giggled at the pet name.

“God dam it.”

“Oops sorry I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s fine…. I’m glad you’re all finding this funny.”

“Oh it is but I know how we can have more fun.”

“By playing Ancient Arcane?”

“No, by playing pon-opoly!” Galeyus’s ears drop.

“Oh I love that bored game, have you ever played it before princess?” Spring exclaimed.

“Um no….” That once elegant exterior she had disappeared once Silver was presented with something unknown.

Anubis just sat there lost, trying to wrap his head around this knockoff version of monopoly. He shook his head and began to set up the pieces, they started and a small grin appeared on his beak.

2 hours later and it was just Anubis and Silver left but the hen who had been taught how to run a nation was losing, she was lost on how but Anubis held over half the real estate on the bored and Silver was in debt to him.

“Argh! How? How do you have so much money? It’s stupid! You’re stupid! I quit!”

“Oh Silver dear, don’t get mad.” He cupped her beak in his claws.

“Huff!* go away, I’m not talking to you right now.”

“Excuse me? Heheheh~ fine then.”

She turned around but was picked up by Anubis, who was now cradling her like a baby.

“Hey put me down!”

“Are you going to keep acting like a baby?”

“….no….”

“Good girl.” He put her down and stole a kiss before declaring that he was the winner but when he turned around, he found three of his friends had fallen asleep whilst Spring Torch had her hooves together.

“Awwwwwwww you two are adorable~ I think my heart is going to explode.”

“You’re right, Silver is adorable.”

“Hey you can’t talk, last night we found you cuddling with my dad.”

“….” Anubis’s face went blank

“Gasp* ohhh my~ Anubis you dirty griff.”

“Oh shut up Spring.”

“Even Celestia thought it was cute.” Silver stated with a smug undertone.

“Awwwww I’ve got to wake the others up and tell them that you’ve been cuddling with the griffon king.” They both had impish smiles on their faces.

“Please don’t…. Sigh* I’m going to make lunch.” Silver just nodded and made herself comfortable whilst Spring began to clean up the bored game.

On his way to the kitchen, Anubis bumped into Glacier. He just pointed her to Silver and went about his way.

He was carrying the gifts his friends had got him on his back and dipped into the main lounge, placing them under the tree.

Nothing else eventful happened and the day flew by, they were getting ready for bed but Silver was bouncing around the room and Anubis decided just to head to his own room. Leaving Celestia to deal with the restless hen.

The tired griff quickly wrapped up his gifts to Silver and Celestia, taking them down stairs and swiftly sneaking back into his room for a good night’s sleep.

Anubis and Zodiac were going over combat strategies when he was suddenly torn from the void.

“Wake!! Up!!”

In a split second Anubis had grabbed her by the throat and shot out his scythe like bone blade, it was nano meters from the terrified hen’s face. Realising that it was Silver he pulled away and brought her into a tight embrace.

“Oh dear I’m so so sorry Silver, a-are you alright? I didn’t hurt you did I?”

She was breathing heavily but steadied her breath and hugged Anubis back. “Y-you nearly attacked me…. Anubis what’s wrong? You’re never this on edge.”

“I-I was just having a bad dream, everything is fine just please don’t wake me up like that again.”

“O-okay I won’t…. But it’s the blue moon festival and we need to get down to mum, dad and Celestia. So come on.” Even though she was smiling, Anubis could tell that she was a little more than shaken by what just happened.

‘I-I nearly killed her…. I nearly killed my Silver…. Am I really stressing over this lesser god? No! No! I’m not and I’d never severely hurt Silver, get a grip Anubis.’

He made his way into the room and Silver beckoned him to sit with her, so he did and she passed him a present before taking one with her name on it. Celestia took one with her name on it and Silver’s parents traded their own gifts.

Anubis opened his and was presented with a deck of cards that were most likely from Galeyus. “I guess I’m going be hanging out with him more often if I’m to learn how to play.”

“Okay my turn! And it’s a box?”

“Open it nimrod.”

She did and her eyes went wide, her beak dropped and she pulled out a stunning light blue crown with hints of purple and glistened like a night sky filled with stars. In the centre was a brilliant dark blue gem that Celestia immediately recognised had magical energy stored inside.

She jumped at him, giving him a bone crunching hug. “O-oh my gosh! Anubis! Eeeeeeeeeee! Thank you!!!! Thank you so much, it’s beautiful.”

“Heheheheheh~ that is quite impressive, where did you get it from?”

“Oh um I made it…. For her….” Anubis was blushing.

They went back to opening everything up but Celestia just stared at the two gifts from Anubis, she had no clue what it was but Silver was more than happy to explain. She had asked Anubis but he had said that he was going to put away his gifts first.

She was taken aback by what Silver was telling her, the implication and usages of this magic-tech engine were unbelievable. But she felt something off about Anubis and wanted to check on him.

“Sigh* Sorry Silver but I need to check on Anubis.”

“Oh then I’ll come with you, he doesn’t seem to be himself today.”

“I think I should speak to him one on one.”

“O-okay sure, I’ll just spend some time with my parents then.”

Celestia teleported herself to his room and found the door left slightly open, she peered in and found her beloved just pacing around muttering to himself. She only heard a few words but then.

Smash!*

“Argh for fuck sakes, why am I so on edge? I just don’t get it….”

“A-Anubis, are you alright? What was that noise?”

“Celestia?! Um it was…. Sigh* I punched the mirror, sorry.”

“You know that’s bad luck….” She tried to lighten up the mood but failed. “Is your claw okay?”

“Yes I’m fine, I just feel so…. Tense.”

“Talk to me about it.”

“Nah it’s nothing serious.”

“Anubis Grimgost.”

“Celestia please, I don’t want to talk about it…. Sigh* listen to me, I’m just tense. I need sometime to relax is all.”

“Then do you mind if I join you?” She didn’t want to press the matter.

“I…. Think I’d like that.” Anubis climbed onto his bed and raised a wing, Celestia climbed on and settled against him.

She immediately noticed that his heart was racing and his body was cold to the touch, nuzzling him she realised that he hadn’t even grown his winter coat like everycreature else did. This unnerved her, she began to wonder if Anubis could grow a winter coat but that didn’t matter now because his heart was beating at a steady pace.

“How about we get under the covers and snuggle?”

“Mmmmmmm please, you’re really warm.”

Anubis swiftly dozed off whilst Celestia kept him warm but she began to notice that he was trying to squeeze under her.

After a few hours passed she softly got up and went to leave but something caught her eye, on his desk was an opened journal with the name Dreamscape. She took it and left, she was going to find out what he had written about it.

“Sigh* I trust Anubis but…. He’s keeping something from me, I just know it…. Come on Celestia, it’s probably nothing major. I hope.”

Meanwhile anubis was in the void with Zodiacrdanals, the great one was trying to teach the mortal minded griff how to condense the atoms and turn them into a blade of super heated plasma.

This wouldn’t have been a problem if Anubis could get over the fact that what he knew of making plasma was a less efficient method and just incorrect.

“So mortal you need to consciously pull an unholy amount atoms to your claws and concentrate on the form you want them to take.”

“Grrrrrrrrrr- like thisss?”

“Yes, good now picture the shape and command that no atoms pass through that shape. Then you need to begin to heat them up, now.”

KABOOOM!!*

“Don’t lose focus….”

“Ouch.” Was the only word said after reforming his upper body.

“Let’s try again.”