Back on Duty

Greg remembered why he didn't like the idea of his Baltimare visit as soon as Celestia led him to the pegasi-pulled flying carriage. Of course, he couldn't spend several days getting there and back again. It was a necessary evil. He prepared to climb aboard with a heavy heart when several ponies came running into the courtyard.

"Please don't leave!" Blossom yelled as she barreled into Gregory' legs and clung on for dear life.

Greg managed to keep his balance by grabbing the edge of the carriage. He couldn't turn around at the moment, but he saw a bit of yellow out of the corner of his eye.

"Sorry!" Fluttershy said as she followed the distraught mare. "Blossom wanted to see you and we asked a guard and he said you were going to Baltimare..."

Greg reached down to pat Blossom's head and she licked his fingers in return. "Aw, I'm not going away, sweetheart. Blossom, can you let go so I can talk to you?"

With Fluttershy's help, the distraught mare was able to release Greg's legs and he turned around to face them both. He saw Celestia smiling in the background, but ignored her for the moment. Blossom looked on the verge of tears. "I'm not leaving, Blossom, I promise."

She pointedly looked at the carriage, then transferred her gaze to Greg.

"I know what it looks like, but it's just a business trip. I'm not even taking any luggage, see?"

Again the mare carefully inspected the vehicle and was forced to admit that Greg had a point. "P-Promise?"

"I promise," Greg replied, giving her ear a scratch since his hand was already there.

"I wa-wanna come with."

He looked at Fluttershy, who shrugged, then at Celestia who gave a barely perceptible shake of her head. "I don't think that's a good idea, sweetheart. It'll be cold and noisy and then I have a whole day of meetings. It's going to be boring."

The mare was about to shake her head, but Greg cupped her muzzle with his free hand. "Hey, how about I hurry back and bring you something sweet, huh? And while you wait, Fluttershy and the Princess will find something fun to do, right?"

The last question was directed more at Celestia than the other two mares.

"Promise you'll c-come back?" Blossom insisted.

A very strange promise came to Gregory' mind and he smiled at the absurdity of it. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Now that's a Pinkie promise, right?"

Fluttershy was smiling widely at the words and nodded, even though Blossom wasn't looking at her. "P-Pinkie promise?"

"Fluttershy will explain. No one can break a Pinkie promise, you know?"

It seemed to be working. After a glance at the yellow pegasus, who nodded, Blossom sniffed and wiped her muzzle with a fetlock, before closing her eyes and inclining her head. "O-Okay," she agreed.

That seemed to settle it and Gregory stood up. The four pegasi who were going to pull him to Baltimare and back kept their eyes forward, the epitome of patience. They didn't even look back when he climbed aboard.

"Okay, I guess I'm all set."

"Don't worry, sir, we won't let you fall out," the lead pony promised. Greg quickly recognized him by his voice, if not his face.

"Thanks, Silverwing. I promise I won't scream this time."

The comment was unexpected enough that all four pegasi tittered a little before they could get their amusement under control. The helmets hid their ears, but Greg knew ponies well enough by now that he could clearly imagine how they flattened out of embarrassment. He sat down, buckled himself into the seat Celestia had installed for him specifically, and waved to the Princess. Blossom was almost near enough to touch and when Greg held out his hand the mare stepped closer for a quick mane tousle.

"I'll be back soon," he repeated. Blossom nodded and managed a faint smile before pulling away, just in time as the carriage started moving. Another bit of old memory surfaced and despite his fear, Greg murmured to himself. "On Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen..."

The pegasi looked at one another in confusion and Silverwing glanced back at Greg for clarification. Greg blushed, being reminded again that pony ears were a lot sharper than human.

"Never mind, a bit of an old Earth story."

The corporal gave him a nod and focused back on his task. The other three guards took their pace and direction from him, ensuring a smooth ride. Greg risked a glance backwards at the receding courtyard where Blossom and Fluttershy were both waving their hooves. He wanted to give them a wave back, but his hands were gripping the edges of his seat and weren't entirely under his control. It'd be a terrifying hour and a half to Baltimare and then another on his way back, but the man had to put that out of his mind and concentrate on the meetings and the spying.

Partly to distract himself from the flying and partly out of 'due diligence', Gregory started thinking about a casual-sounding excuse to see Comet Roll once he reached the Baltimare garrison. Celestia had sent a fast pegasus ahead with a message for the commander. The official story was that Greg wanted to interview the garrison leader about any border infractions in the recent past, which would help him codify some sensible rules about that sort of thing in the foreign policy.

The best Gregory had been able to do during the nerve-racking flight, was to come up with his approach. He'd decided on a cool, slightly bored, highly-professional government inspector. He drew his inspiration from some vaguely remembered movies. Luckily, the pegasi team landed the carriage outside of the city proper and drew it in on hoof, giving the man some time to get past his fear of flying and to compose himself. There were curious looks directed his way, but Gregory was used to that by now. Here and there ponies pointed him out to their friends or children as the pegasi guards pulled the carriage through the outskirts of Baltimare.

Very soon they were at the garrison, made obvious by four armored ponies standing in front of a large, wooden door. They were expecting him and pushed the gate open at a brisk order from Corporal Silverwing. The streets with all the onlookers were quickly blocked from view while Gregory climbed out of his chair and looked around with some curiosity. He'd never been very interested in soldiery even on Earth and this was an entirely different species. He had a very vague, imprecise idea of how the ranks worked and which were supposed to be higher, so the man was hoping like hell there would be no embarrassing questions. The best thing to do was try and control the situation from the get-go. He focused on one of the ponies in a plain, green uniform, who had wandered closer to inspect the newcomers.

"You, uh, private?" Greg guessed from the lack of any stripes. "Take me to the commander!"

The pegasus saluted smartly and turned around. "Right away! This way, sir! Commander Vigil is expecting you!" she said.

Good thing Celestia had remembered to send a fast scout in advance to announce his visit, Gregory thought. Most Equestrian ponies would know who he was, of course, but he probably wouldn't be allowed to snoop around a military establishment without a royal permission.

"Thank you."

Gregory had been hoping that Silverwing would follow him and offer at least a semblance of support, but a glance backwards told him that it wouldn't happen. The corporal had already unlatched himself from the harness and was giving some brisk orders to his squad.

Steeling his resolve, Greg matched his pace to his guide's and glanced around the place. The garrison was like a little extension to the city proper. There was only one main entrance and it was surrounded by walls on all sides, even though those probably didn't do much when an invading force could fly. To that end there were a number of towers along all the walls, each one peopled - or 'ponied', as the case may be - by several equines.

"Are the defenses manned around the clock, private?" Greg asked, trying to play the inspector role.

"Twenty-four seven, sir! Pegasus and unicorn per tower."

"Why one of each?"

The mare glanced back as if trying to determine whether Gregory was testing her, then replied anyway. "Pegasus because of our superior eyesight, sir, and unicorn for defense and to send messages, if necessary."

"Good. That's good."

Gregory was thinking up his next question, but they reached one of the buildings. The pegasus mare, whose name he hadn't thought to ask, just barged in. On the inside it looked like a regular office, except that the hat rack held helmets, rather than hats, and there was a shelf with several pieces of armor. An older-looking unicorn was sitting at the table, writing with a quill held in his magic. He looked up at the intrusion and his eyes narrowed when he spotted the man.

"Inspector Gregory, sir!" the private announced a bit louder than Gregory would have preferred. "Commander Silent Vigil!"

The commander stood up from his low stool and saluted, a little less sharply than the mare had done. "Dismissed, private."

She left without a backwards glance, as if getting a human visitor was something that happened regularly.

"Uh, good morning," Greg offered.

The pony looked him up and down, not immediately replying. When he finally opened his muzzle, he just asked: "Tell me, Mr. Gregory, why does Princess Celestia suddenly want you to conduct an inspection of this garrison?"

It was a valid question and one Greg had practiced in his mind on the flight over. "Two reasons, Commander. First, she wanted someone to look at your operation with a fresh eye - someone without a military background. Second, I could use some information for the laws and policies I am preparing."

Silent Vigil just grunted noncommittally. "Okay, so what do you want to see first?"

Gregory invented rapidly: "A quick tour of the place would be good. Then I was hoping I could ask you some questions about the griffins."

"Okay, come this way. We can do both."

The commander went to the hat rack and grabbed his helmet. There was a plume on it, but Gregory couldn't tell from which bird. He decided not to ask.

The stallion led him outside, where a group of soldiers were just marching past. They stopped and threw a salute, which the commander returned. No one spoke. Gregory was just wondering if he should salute as well, but the squad, or whatever it was called, marched off.

"So, do you want to see the inside of each tower?" Vigil asked as he began walking.

Greg had to hurry up a few steps to catch up. "No, just one. What else do you have here?"

"What do you mean?"

Again, Gregory had to invent on the spot: "I assume there's a mess hall and sleeping barracks, right?"

Vigil stared at Greg's face for a few seconds, then nodded. "Yes, we have those."

"How about training?"

"There's a physical fitness course, an archery range and a magic training area. All strictly adhering to regulations."

Pretending like he knew about those, Gregory nodded sagely. "Good. That's good to hear. I'd like to see the archery range, then. How about prison, or holding cells. Do you have any?"

"Currently unoccupied."

It made sense. Equestrian society was, on the whole, a very peaceful one. Even the Canterlot dungeons didn't have any occupants, at least not since ambassador Bennett's unfortunate imprisonment by a misguided Princess Luna.

"No, wait," Silent Vigil corrected. "There is one pony in the solitary at the moment. I nearly forgot."

"Oh?" Something told Gregory he knew who the pony was. His heart was beating faster. Was Silent Vigil in on the whole conspiracy thing, or was he simply fulfilling orders from Lemon Slice.

"Fourteen day solitary for insubordination and conduct unbefitting a royal guard, sir."

"I want to speak with... him? Who is this?" Gregory asked, inserting a pause before his guess.

"Yes, it is 'him', but I'd have to check my paperwork for the name. A pegasus private, recently demoted from the Canterlot Castle guard."

It all fit, so Greg repeated his request. "I want to speak with him. We don't get many delinquents in the Castle Guard."

The commander stopped suddenly and turned around. "I'm afraid that's not possible," he said.

"What?! Why not?"

"Solitary confinement is exactly what it says on the tin, sir. You can come back in thirteen days," Vigil explained with a note of finality in his voice. It didn't seem as if he would budge from this, at least not without direct orders from Celestia.

Greg decided not to push it for the moment and ask the Princess for advice when he was back in Canterlot. If the commander was in on the conspiracy, then insistence to see Comet Roll would look mighty suspicious.

"Fine, fine. It's not really that important," Gregory lied.

They reached the nearest guard tower and Vigil pointed to the door. "Care to take a look inside?"

Gregory did so, but it was an automatic gesture and he wasn't really seeing anything. He was thinking furiously, trying to come up with a way to confirm who had put Comet Roll in prison.

"Hmm, it seems to be in order."

The unicorn took the announcement without any change in expression on his muzzle.

"Take me to the mess hall next."

"This way."

As they walked, Gregory decided to pursue his other topic for a while before circling back to Comet Roll. "So, the other reason I'm here. Have you had any altercations with the griffins lately?"

The question obviously wasn't one Silent Vigil had been expecting, because the unicorn blinked in surprise and fixed Gregory with another piercing stare. "Not recently, no," he said. "It used to be a matter of course a few decades ago. Before my time."

"I see. Fatalities?"

"Not usually. A few, here and there, but not regularly. Scrapes and bruises, perhaps a broken leg."

"Why would the griffins keep coming if they couldn't get through?"

Commander Vigil's lips tightened and Gregory had a feeling it was a stupid question, but the unicorn was duty-bound to answer the silly human. "Well," he began, picking his words with care, "I would assume because the griffins are a warlike race and are always on the lookout for easy conquest. They were either 'trial' attacks to gauge our strength, or, more likely, some kind of maturity rituals."

"Rituals? What do you mean?"

"When a griffin comes of age, it is customary for them to attempt a daring feat to try and increase his or her station. Most of them go searching for lost treasure, but some decide that conquest of land would be more their style."

"I've never heard about that," Gregory admitted.

"Like I said," Silent Vigil pointed out, "the practice ended decades ago. A peace treaty was signed and things have been quiet ever since. These days, hunting for treasure is the norm."

"That's good."

The soldier didn't answer, making it clear that he would have preferred more action to just sitting around and keeping eyes on the sky. It was a very eloquent silence.

"Okay, so you train fresh recruits here. Do all of them eventually go to Canterlot and join the royal guard?"

"No, not that many. Most of them join the force nearest their home town, so they can be with their families."

"Yeah, makes sense."

"It takes special dedication to join the Princesses' castle staff."

This was his chance! Greg returned to the topic he was really interested about. "Strange that one of them would foul it up in his first week. Do you think I could speak with the ponies who trained this- um, whoever is in your prison." Gregory felt a tiny bit proud of himself for not slipping up and mentioning Comet Roll's name.

"I'll see what I can do. Anyway, this is the mess hall. Do you want to see the kitchen?"

"Yes, let's go have a look."

The griffin thing was also interesting. If they were so territorial, then it would make sense to think up some kind of sanctions for unprovoked attacks, even if committed by young birds out to prove themselves, in case the custom ever came back.

"Do you have records of the griffin attacks? How many attackers, how often, their targets?"

"Yes, the old files should still be around somewhere. You!" the commander pointed to one of the soldiers who was just putting his empty tray away. It was an earth pony who quickly threw a salute, even while his eyes strayed to the human at Silent Vigil's side.

"Go into the archives, tell whoever is on duty to bring me reports of any griffin attacks in the last thirty years."

"Yes, sir!" the pony barked and rushed off.

Silent Vigil looked at Gregory for a few seconds, then blinked and shook his head. "It'll take a while."

"That's okay. Let's check out the kitchen and then I'd like to see some maps."

"Maps of what?"

"I'd like to see the exact border between Equestria and Griffinstone. I also want to know how far you patrol and how often. Oh, and I'll need copies of the maps to take back."

He had an idea. It wasn't directly related to the reason he was there, but Gregory wanted to compare pony maps of the Griffinstone border with griffin ones. Any disputes should be worked out before he referenced the border in a new set of laws and policies. At the same time, he was hoping that one of Comet Roll's old commanding officers would know why he was in prison. At least, Gregory hoped, they would know the fake, made-up reason. If they didn't, then he could demand the guard to be immediately released. Last time he checked, Celestia didn't approve of chucking people into prison for absolutely no reason.

"I think I can arrange all that by the time you leave," Silent Vigil said, bringing the man out of his thoughts.

"Oh. Good. I'll be sure to mention to the Princess how helpful you've been."

This finally earned Gregory a small smile from the commander. "Thank you, sir. This way to the kitchen."

He'd have to fake that he knew what a military kitchen was supposed to look like and then he could go and check out some paperwork. Any paperwork. He'd be on firmer ground there, Gregory felt. Not as productive a visit as he'd hoped. He had really wanted to speak with Comet Roll, but unless he could prove that the pegasus had been imprisoned on false changes, he couldn't simply demand to get him out of prison. Celestia might be able to do that, but not her human lawyer, even if he was her lover. It probably meant he'd have to visit again, soon, but Gregory had made his peace with that. He'd just have to get used to flying in a pegasi-pulled carriage.

"Oh, one more thing, commander - could you arrange for corporal Silverwing and his ponies to get some food and drink before we leave?" Gregory said, reminded by the sight of cooks stirring big pots of what looked like vegetable stew.

"Of course. I'll see to it."

"Splendid."