Feb 19 Friday.

I check another rune and add a few more notes to my illusionary notebook inside of my bracelet as I go over a spell matrix and make sure it's working properly.

The past few days have been uneventful and boring, which is a good thing because I don't want things to ruin my fun or my peace. I've spent those last few days working on a new spell and enjoying the city.

Griffonstone has many good restaurants that actually know how to cook and season meat properly, I even found a few new seasonings in the local markets. Although the residents of this city aren't the most hospitable, they mostly just get annoyed looks and a few mild insults from the rougher Griffons.

But they never said anything to my face and no one caused me trouble, it kind of reminds me of Earth actually. Overall I've spent my time exploring several parts of the city and finding new things to eat and enjoy, I even found a new magical plant in the markets, although I'll get to that later.

I've also been working on a new spell for security, mostly because I'm paranoid and don't trust this quiet and peaceful mood. But, we have several dozen guards and they are all doing a good job so I'm not really sure what I could do to really improve security.

So I defaulted to what I'm best at, spells. After a lot of thought, I decided on something simple, a detection ward that can cover a single room. It wouldn't do much to stop anypony, but it would give time for others to act and prepare for an intruder.

I only took two small rubies with me so I'll have to use those, but something like this is just very finicky. The scanning spell I made works fine for the detection part, but specifying the scan has proven difficult. As an example, I used a rune of protection as the scanning focus for this spell.

It would detect all threats, but that includes threats for everything in the area of effect. Are there termites eating some furniture? Then it would go off detecting a threat to the furniture. So I need to limit it, but I don't have my rune collection with me, and that ironically limits my options.

So I had to limit it by rough weight and size, not the best because I had to set a vague upper and higher limit for both. Still, it should work, and now I just need some way to limit the other problem. The spell would probably go off from any threat, including verbal ones.

So I once again have to limit the spell, and after even more thought I decided I'd have to limit the spell's scope itself, now it will only be used at night when we're sleeping. Sure it can still go off by accident but eliminating being awake helps a lot with stray problems.

Now there is only one thing left to do, how do you wake somepony when it goes off? Well, I settled on a simple vibrating bracelet. It does make noise but it's the best I can do at this time. I brought a few Iron Oak seeds for materials so it was simple to make a bracelet for Cadance.

Honestly, I find it unlikely I'll be in much danger, I'm just a scribe after all. But Cadance is a ruler of a powerful nation far away from home, she might be protected and she is probably able to protect herself, but since when has that stopped my paranoia?

So one of these rubies has been enchanted with the new spell and the bracelet is properly sized for her leg, and the other is enchanted with a weak shield spell around my room. not the best but it gives me time to act. Now I just need to give it to her without making a mess or attracting more attention, and that's where a certain shadowy friend comes in handy. "Hey, girl."

Entropy has spent most of the trip in my shadow or flying around as I walk through the city, I've also made sure to spoil her with food to make up for the confinement. She looks up at me and I scratch her with a smile. "I need you to g-" But before I can ask I hear a knock on my door.

Entropy immediately goes back into my shadow as I deactivate my illusionary notebook and the shield around my room before walking over to the old wood door. Once again a guard stands at my door with a neutral look, "You're needed by the princess Sir." A slightly respectful tone is held by the stallion as I nod and grab my saddlebags along with the ruby before following them through the mansion.

Over the past few days, I've kept running in the morning with the guards and even fought that mare guard recruit again. These actions seem to have earned me some respect from the guard, not a lot but none give me even a little bit of trouble and a few have even joked around with me during meals.

My mind moves in from that and wanders to the new plant I bought yesterday at a local market. I was probably overcharged and it was an expensive purchase but I could honestly care less about all that. The plant is called the Water Tree, well that's the best translation from the Griffon name to the pony language.

It's not a very good name, but it gets the point across well, much like the horrible names I make. The tree has a water affinity and is normally found high in the mountains. The tree itself has a light tan dusty-colored bark with twisting branches, the leaves are light green and grow in a flat plain on top of the tree giving it an odd look.

The tree's magical effect itself is simple, it converts neutral magic into water affinity magic and uses it to efficiently collect large amounts of water from the air before condensing it and excreting it out of its bark. It normally creates small waterfalls or ponds in isolated places high up, and as a result, animals and other plants will come to drink that water in such an extreme environment where a reliable source of water can be hard to find.

Animals leave behind their droppings and plants rot into more soil that feeds the Water Tree, the end result is an oasis in the mostly barren mountain tops. It's a hard tree to find normally because it is both rare and sought after in other countries, but here it was much easier to find, and I can think of several uses for this tree.

I can't see many opportunities to crossbreed it because it's so specialized for what it does, but the tree can still prove useful in something I've had to make a spell for in the past. It can remove a lot of moisture in an enclosed space, and it can be a source of water for other plants and animals.

I leave those thoughts alone as we move through a few hallways and arrive at the room Cadance is staying inside. Cadance seems to have been rather busy over the past few days and we haven't had time to talk since the train ride. Two guards are at the door but don't pay me much mind so I just enter the room and close the door behind me and look around the room quickly.

Cadance is the only one in the room and seems engrossed in a pile of paperwork in front of her. She hears me enter and smiles at me. "Shade, thanks for coming. And don't you dare bow! I've had enough over the past few days." She says with a slightly serious tone.

I unbend my legs slightly as that is just what I was about to do, but once again it seems she caught me. Although, she looks like she doesn't need my madness right now so I just nod and walk over. "Fine, I'll just give you work then. Here, make sure to read that thoroughly." I dump two pages of instructions for the new spell along with the bracelet and ruby on the table.

She gives me a glare and just slumps back while moving the papers over to her. She skims it and gives me a smile again. "Aunty really didn't overstate just how paranoid you are, you do know we have guards for a reason right?" She seems more amused than anything at my gift.

I just nod back. "Yes, and I can think of three ways to break into this room, four if you didn't put protections on that window." I point to a small window at the top of the room that lets smoke escape. It's not that large but someone could fit through and get inside.

She looks up at the window and with a thoughtful look. "Alright, I'll admit I never really noticed that, and I'm going to have to ask Shining about it. Well, thanks then, I hope it isn't needed but it can't hurt." She doesn't have a teasing tone and instead looks plain happy. "Have you been enjoying Griffonstone? And what is this about fighting the guards? You're supposed to behave." There's the teasing I was expecting.

I'm happy to know she'll use it and that my work was worth the effort. "Well, your stallion did invite me, and yes. So many good restaurants and delicious meat dishes." I emphasize my words as she cringes a tiny bit.

She just smiles. "He is mine, but enough tit for tat. Here, enjoy your work." She gives me plenty of sarcasm while passing me a few pages.

It's an invite list for an upcoming diplomatic meeting at the palace later today. I honestly expected this a little sooner, not like I can avoid work forever. That doesn't stop me from complaining for the sake of it, "Ugh! Fine, what do I actually need to do anyway?"

She gives me a side smile. "Not much, the meeting will be handled by everypony else so you only need to work on the documents, a lot of documents. Basically, you'll sit in a corner and copy things before waiting there bored, sounds exciting doesn't it?"

I roll my eyes. "Can I bring games then? Because if not I'm just going to meditate." I ask back while thinking of what I could do.

She just shrugs. "Can't see why not, there's probably going to be Griffons also watching so you could also play with them, like the colt you are." She gives me a babying look and tone while trying to look cute.

I give her a deadpan look. "Do you like philosophy?" I ask levelly.

She shows a nonplussed look. "No! Magic no. I get enough of that from Aunty... Wait." She stops and gives me a small glare as I smile back.

"Have you ever contemplated fate? It's such an interesting thing." I add some fake excitement to my tone.

It's her turn to groan this time. "Uggg! No! Stop! You're supposed to be the fun one!" She starts to complain as I laugh at the annoyed tone.

I stop and smile at her. "Fine, I'll settle for you and me getting some work done then." That gets me a new glare. "If you do, I'll make you a quill that never runs out of ink." I offer and she immediately smiles widely.

"OH! Like Auntie's?" She's now all excited and happy like a foal on Hearth's Warming, that was a fast switch.

I raise a brow at that. "She told you about that? And, yes? I could use a smaller gem if you'd prefer but it would work all the same." I offer with a little confusion.

She just smiles wider. "Yes, she did! What was it she said? Right! It was one of the most thoughtful gifts she's ever gotten." Despite my calm mood I can't help but feel some heat in my cheeks at the compliment I never knew about. "Also, can you make it out of emerald? And the wood of course." She switches from teasing to serious pretty quickly while moving her other work to the side.

I'm a little overwhelmed by the quick change but still try to answer. "... yes? None of that is hard, although the emerald will have to be a decent size to hold the spell, or I could find a better quality one? But I'd probably have to order that. As for the wood trim? It's easy enough, any designs you'd like on it?" I distract my horny mind by focusing on the new project that just fell into my lap.

She smiles wider somehow and it's at this moment that I remember that one of Cadance's interests is fashion. This might take a while.

time skip

I watch as Cadance takes a ride in her carriage up to the palace, but unlike the last few times, I'll be following her up. I could fly but that is too much attention for me so I just start walking up the tree like the others. It took two hours and several sketches before we agreed on a design for her new quill.

But after that we were able to get some more work done on the love rune project and if we meet a few more times we might be able to actually start on the rune when we return home. It's a calm walk and I ascend the last step, looking out over the land as I stand atop the tree's highest branch.

The top branch is only for the royal family and their relatives to live on. Beyond the impressively sized palace, there are several high-end mansions and some smaller buildings for other things. Along with a metal gate and stone wall with several griffin guards standing watch as we walk closer to them.

They check us one at a time but make sure to do it quickly. When it's my turn a guard looks me over, "Name, reason for entrance, and do you have any weapons?" The tone is bland and the pony isn't spoken perfectly but I understand them just fine.

"Shade Evergreen, translation scribe. And yes, do you need them?" I keep a neutral tone but try to show some respect to them in my tone as well.

They stop before looking me over again and spotting the dagger I have. "Just that one?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Another in my bags, both daggers, and both less than seven inches." I don't hide a thing and give more context as I feel my nerves try to distract me with worry.

They shook their head after looking at me one last time. "No, but keep them sheathed, if you don't we're not responsible for what happens." She keeps the blunt and serious tone, I just nod before they let me pass. After that, it's a relatively short walk to the palace.

Large stone walls with mixes of light and dark blue paint covering them, a great many magical lanterns with smell gems inside that are off at the moment. It's a little surprising to see one of my creations all the way out here but they are a major trading partner so it does make some sense, and gives me a small smile.

The large wooden doors are already open with several well-dressed Griffon staff members that are telling us where to go. The inside has tall ceilings and thick wooden beams as rafters with even more colorful lanterns lighting everything up. Thick carpets line the floors as we walk to a large hall room.

The large hall has two areas, the back half has a section guarded by both ponies and griffons that keep everyone not involved out of that side of the hall. While the front side has many tables with upper-class ponies and griffin nobles talking to each other and mingling.

There are staff constantly moving drinks and foods into the hall while a group in the back plays music. It's not a bad song and adds a nice feeling to the lively gathering. While the back area is walled off with a short wooden wall that blocks sight of all the side tables besides the main one where the negotiations is being held that's raise up for all to see.

I'm not really sure where to go, but all the other translators are heading to the back area so I just follow along with them. The guards see me and let me in after looking at my badge for a second. The back area is a lot more calm so I just sit at a table to the far side and leave everyone alone.

I look over to see Cadance and a very important-looking Griffon with a gold crown and gold scepter. King Thelis The Third, a middle-aged Griffon with deep brown feathers, bright white feathers around his head, and deep green eyes that remind me of my own. He holds himself well and seems to draw attention and respect from everyone in the room.

I can't hear anything they or the translators are saying, some type of sound barrier probably. After that things went as planned, a pony brought over a large pile of documents, and a nice griffin asked if I wanted anything to eat or drink, I just politely refused.

I ended up just making my own tea and starting my work, and like Cadance said it would. It takes almost two hours to translate everything and I fail to notice another person entering the private area as I finish sorting the paperwork and the copies I made. Once I was done with the work I just copied everything again and left it to the side before someone else sat down opposite of me as I copied the last page.

An old griffin in a nice plain suit stares back at me with deep ash-gray eyes that show a calmness most would never have. I smile as I recognize the face in front of me. I move the last of the finished paperwork to the side and smile before giving them a nod of respect and greeting the familiar face. "Phelix."

Author's Note

Thank for reading. :D
Current year is 994

As far as remember the show never said anything about a current king of Griffonstone. If that isn't correct please inform me so I can correct it.

I planed to wrap this all up in one chapter, but I try to keep these under 3k if I can, and I fail at that regularly, so I'll have to make this a to be continued chapter.

So, TUNE IN NEXT TIME ON, SHADE'S MAGICAL ADVENTURES IN PONY LAND!!!