"We're here."

Shining Armor and Cadance's reverie of thought was interrupted by Hakato, who merely motioned to the wall of torches and wooden fortifications not too far ahead of them. As their horses came to a stop, foot soldiers clad in green and white helped the Prince and Princess down from their mount.

"The Gryphon expects you in the command tent. Straight ahead, in the center. You can't miss it." Freyja said, as she, Alanna, and Hakato dismounted. The foot soldiers then led the horses away, and Shining Armor gently grasped his wife's hand as they followed Freyja's directions. As they walked, they got a few odd looks, but no one seemed to want to, or was willing, to disturb them.

"These soldiers seem uneasy." Cadance murmured. "I wonder why that is."

"Perhaps there's more to it than we see." Shining replied. "I agree that they seem to be on edge, but there's something else to it. Perhaps this "Gryphon" will tell us more."

As they approached the center of the camp, Shining's ears twitched at hearing the clashing of weapons, and they turned to see that a Knight and a Viking, each armed with a broadsword and longaxe were sparring quite avidly in a fighting pit, with large stones for seats.

The Knight wore steel, leather, and mail, and his armor was painted a pale green, blue, and white. The design of the armor itself was made more for combat rather than ceremony, and had been clearly altered for such purposes. The Knight's left pauldron was larger than the other, and emblazoned with the logo of the Chimera Alliance, and three small pouches lay across his chest on a leather sash.

Shining was shocked to see that the Viking wore only leather and furs, with no plating whatsoever. He wore a large horned helmet, with a leather harness and fur-lined pants and shoulders, with shoulder bracers and greaves.

"Why doesn't that one have armor?" Cadance wondered out loud. "Won't he need to protect himself?"

"Raiders have no need of armor, or of fear, as their fellow Vikings say. They prefer a more…mobile style of combat, seeing as their main tactic is charging headfirst at the enemy. Quite simple and straightforward, yet very effective.."

The two of them turned to see a man who could only be the Gryphon. He wore a set of plate mail, made from a silvery-white metal. The armor itself was a puzzle of different pieces worn together. However, the weapon he carried on his back was what made Shining Armor raise an eyebrow.

It was a polearm of some sort, with a long, curved blade instead of a traditional axehead. It had a blunt pommel, but the blade itself had both a cutting edge and a piercing tip, designed for versatility in offense.

"You are the Gryphon, I presume?" Cadance asked.

"Indeed I am. My name is Holden Cross, but I would very much prefer to be called by what my allies know me as. Thus, call me the Gryphon." he replied. "Come inside, I imagine my spies told you there was much to talk about."

"They did." Shining replied as they entered the large tent, and sat down on proper wooden chairs.

"Good. Because there's more to talk about than you think." Gryphon sighed. "I suppose that you'll want to know about your Queens' whereabouts first?"

Both the Prince and Princess nodded in response.

"I have good news and bad news." Gryphon replied. "They are alive and well, and King Sombra has hosted them as his personal guests. The negotiations are coming along smoothly between them. The bad news is that they still can't return just yet."

"What? Why? Do they not know what's going on!? What Blueblood and Gladmane have done and are continuing to do?" Shining said, standing up with a start, feeling very much dumbfounded.

"As a matter of fact, they do know, so calm yourself." Gryphon admonished Shining, who sat back down. "However, they assured me that the exact moment their negotiations are complete, they will return, but not a moment before that. They also have their own problems to deal with in the Crystal Empire, so don't assume the worst."

"However, they did send us along with a message for you both, and for your eyes only." he continued, handing a sealed scroll to Princess Cadance. She unfurled it, and breathed an immense sigh of relief at seeing her aunt, Queen Celestia's handwriting.

To my dearest niece, Princess Cadance, and Prince Shining Armor…

I…don't know what to say to you both right now, so I suppose I must start at the beginning.
When King Sombra invited us to the Crystal Empire, as part of negotiations for them to join us in an alliance with Equestria, both my sister and I knew that acceptance would not come without consequences. I also knew that the exact second that we both left Equestria, Blueblood (I refuse to address or refer to him as a Prince anymore, now that I know the treachery he has committed) would seize the throne and rule in our stead. I have heard all of the terrible things he has done, and make no mistake, when we return, he will receive no mercy in his punishment, whether it be from us or another.

However, it would be too simple and yet too…complicated to return now. You see, my sister, Luna, has…well, become quite close with King Sombra, and I know it's only a matter of time before they admit their love for each other. I am certain it was true love at first sight when he laid eyes on Luna, and I imagine it won't be too long after they confess that we'll be hearing wedding bells…but I digress. He has been a wonderful host, and I can see why the citizens of the Crystal Empire sing his praises in the streets.

Anyway, what I was most intrigued and surprised by was when envoys of the Chimera Alliance arrived, having heard of Blueblood's treachery along their journey from Heathmoor. Their offer to deal with Blueblood for us was surprising. I was uncertain of their intentions at first, but after learning of their origins and their own struggles back in their homeland...well, let's say that my mind was settled after only a few hours' discussion and bargaining.

I know that the situation is dire, likely beyond the scale that word can describe, but please, believe me when you read this, that we are moving along as fast as we can. For now, Cadance, Shining, the Chimera Alliance has agreed to host you and keep you safe, and I am holding them to their word on that.

Stay strong, and with the grace of heaven, we will endure and return to our realm to right what has been made wrong.

With all of the love in my heart, from your aunts,

Queen Celestia and Queen Luna, the Royal Sisters of Equestria.

Cadance felt not, fresh tears starting to fall down her cheeks as she finished reading the letter, and Shining gently wrapped his arms around his wife. The Gryphon stayed silent, and when the couple turned back to him, Gryphon merely motioned to the outside of the tent.

"I suppose we should get you fed, and then we'll find you a tent to bunk in. We'll continue our meeting in the morning." Gryphon said, holding up the tent flap up for the couple to exit. As they did, the smell of seasoned meat grew stronger by the moment. Gryphon led them to the sparring pit they were at before, which was now apparently a dining area. As they sat, the Knight they saw sparring earlier offered them both a plate of seasoned meat, with some roasted potatoes, two full canteens of water, and a knife and fork.

As they took the offered plates and began to eat, Gryphon looked over and gave a small smile, remembering some of the earlier times in Heathmoor where such a meal was a scarce and treasured opportunity for a mercenary. Even after he had regained the trust of many as the Gryphon, Holden was still a little wary of what he ate. After all, there were still those that would've slipped poison into his meal, for some still saw him as Asmodai, a Lord of the Blackstone Legion.

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, he took up his plate and began to eat, comforted by the presence of his fellows, both new and old.

Author's Note

Update!

Yeah, I may be diverging a bit from the Tail of Robin Jack with the Sombra/Luna ship, but I think it's a nice touch.

Anyway, next time...rumors begin to spread of Cadance and Shining Armor's escape, and the Merry Mares take notice...