Author's Note

This chapter has one of the first semi-major changes.

3: First Stars I See Tonight

Friday, October 29, 1007 A.L., Gryphonia

“Okay,” Gregory said as he reached down with a gloved hand to grab at an old corroded metal pipe that had been recently excavated by a small group of gryphons from underneath a demolished home. “First of all,” he began as he held the pipe up for them to see, “we need to replace these lead pipes with something less dangerous.”

One gryphon, the town’s only overworked plumber named Gary, frowned. He stood on his hind legs and put his claws on his hips, something that he’d apparently picked up from Gregory. “And just what’s wrong with the pipes we have?” he asked stubbornly.

Gregory pulled out the small device he carried around with him and turned on the light. Shining it through the pipe, he asked, “What can you see down there?”

Gary approached and looked into the pipe. His frown turned into a scowl. “Hmm…pipe’s corroded inside…there are flakes of pipe material coming off…and-PHEW!” He covered his nose with his claws. “It smells like shit!” That had been another expression several gryphons had learned from him.

“In most human nations, newer constructions use anything but lead pipes for those reasons,” Gregory said as he tossed the pipe aside without a second thought. “You told me that the pipes in the city are at least a hundred years old now? We’re gonna need to overhaul each and every pipe.”

“You’re asking the impossible,” Gary said defiantly. “I’m just one gryphon!”

“I know, and I’m not expecting you to do it on your own,” Gregory said, “but you need to train others on how to do your job. And we need new types of pipes.”

“What kind??” Gary almost shouted. “We don’t have that plastic material you told us about!”

“Copper pipes,” Gregory explained calmly. “They are corrosion resistant and can last decades.”

“Bearer, that’s going to be a problem,” one of the other gryphons, Gertrude, said with a frown.

“How come?” Gregory asked.

“Gryphonia’s only copper mine has been drained dry for the most part,” she explained. “We don’t have copper we can use, and even if the copper mine was full, it’s too far north near the bugbear territory to us even risk a mining operation. Even if we could get the copper we needed, transporting it back would be a monumental task.”

Gregory frowned and stroked the stubble that had been growing on his face. He had not had the time to shave, as he had been busy lately. “Okay,” he muttered, “so copper’s out-”

“Unless we go to the Dragon Lands,” Gary muttered.

That caught Gregory’s attention. “The Dragon Lands…yeah, they would probably have plenty of copper with all that volcanic activity…”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Gavin, one of the other excavators, said with a shake of his head. “It would be seen as desperate on our part to go asking the dragons to mine in their territory.”

“I’ve got news for you, Gavin,” Gregory said with an unamused smile, “we are desperate. Good plumbing is needed to help prevent disease from spreading as rapidly as it has.”

“We could ask Crystalia,” Gabby, who had been helping excavate the old plumbing in this property, suggested. “I thought I heard that they have their own unique ways of using plumbing.”

Gary frowned. “They use magic of some sort,” he explained, “and magic is weaker here than it is in, say, Equestria or Crystalia. And not to mention that the few bits of plumbing we do have are older than anygryphon here.”

Gregory nodded in understanding. “Well, this isn’t my decision, but I really would recommend a trade agreement with the Dragon Lands,” he said. “Maybe there’s a dragon over there who knows where we can find some copper.”

“What about that council I keep hearing about?” Gertrude pondered.

“That’s just a rumor,” Gavin said dismissively.

“It would be nice if it’s true,” Gabby said.

“Sure it would,” Gavin agreed, “but like I said, it’s a rumor.”

“Let’s get back on topic, everyone,” Gregory said. “My point is, lead pipes are much worse in the long run than copper pipes.”

Gary picked up the discarded lead pipe and made a face. “Okay, yeah, I see your point, but like I said, we don’t have enough copper. What do you want me to do, shut down what little plumbing we have?”

“Hmm…” Gregory stood and thought. He didn’t know much about plumbing aside from the little bit that he’d researched back on Earth before coming to Gaia, as he now knew the planet to be called. He had a fully downloaded copy of Wikipedia that he’d downloaded to a flashdrive back home along with an app on his phone called Kiwix which had all of Wikipedia downloaded to it. He looked up the plumbing section and skimmed through it. He saw mention of brass, but when he looked that up, he saw the same problem.

“Finding anything interesting on that little gadget of yours?” Gertrude asked teasingly.

“Nothing useful,” Gregory admitted as he put his phone away. “I’ll look through the information I have later and see if I can find another way to upgrade the plumbing.” He then stopped and began sniffing the air curiously.

“Gregory? What is it?” Gabby asked, wondering what he was smelling. She tried inhaling as well, but didn’t smell anything new.

“Rain’s coming soon,” he said, “so we should get these pipes out before we start to get wet.”

“How in tartarus do you know we’re gonna get rain soon?” Gertrude asked as they resumed digging out the damaged and corroded lead pipes.

Gregory looked over at the female gryphon and smirked, tapping his nose. “I can smell it.”

Sure enough, half an hour after he’d smelled it coming, rain had begun falling down across the city. It started as a light drizzle, then became a shower. When that happened, the gryphons who had been working on the abandoned neighborhood called it early and dispersed, either to go home or the bars. Most chose the latter, including Gregory, Gabby, Gilda, Gallus, Gertrude, Gavin, and Gary. The latter three had gone to another bar, but had wished the other four a good night.

“Hey, Gregory! I bet I can beat you in an arm-wrestling contest without even using a quarter of my strength!” Gilda shouted.

“Is that right, Gills? Care to put your talons where that beak is??”

“Fifty talons says I beat you in…oh, what’s the phrase I’m looking for? Ah yeah! Ten seconds flat!”

“Oh, it is fucking on!”

Gregory and his companions were all sitting in Gobbler’s Groggery. The Groggery was one of the most popular taverns in Gryphonstone, run by the aforementioned Gobbler, a gray furred, dark green feathered and yellow eyed gryphon female about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Like most taverns and bars in the city itself, this place was bustling with business and one of the cleanest spots in the city. It resembled a typical medieval tavern, with lantern sconces on the walls illuminating the booths where the roaring fire in the main fireplace couldn’t. There were candles

Outside, the shower had become a steady rainfall. After the impromptu library cleanup two weeks before, and having seen that Gregory had started it, the populace had only doubled their efforts to rebuild their homes and clean the streets. Gregory had even seen a few younger gryphons tearing down some of the ridiculous city rule signs, such as the ones depicting the no singing rule. Nobody seemed to care about it anymore, not even the city watch, a handful of whom were actually in the bar currently.

Gabby and Gregory had set aside a few hours each night after their work to help the rebuilding efforts, starting with Gabby’s house, a single person hut. After that, the two moved to help with the restoration or even reconstruction of some abandoned homes for the returning gryphon former colonists from the Southern Badlands. These returning gryphons, now out of work, quickly formed a unit of workers whose sole purpose was to help rebuild and repair the many dilapidated buildings.

“Get your human ass over here and let’s have a duel, then!” a partially drunk and unusually jovial Gilda shouted, holding up her mug fast enough that some of her ale spilled out, splattering on the table and floor around them. “I’m gonna drain you dry!”

“How naughty!” Gregory laughed as he stood fast, sending his chair sprawling onto the floor behind him as he stomped over to the neighboring table where Gilda was drinking with Gallus. When the four had arrived, all the booths had been taken so they’d found two tables, each only able to seat two gryphons, and pushed them together. They’d ordered a round of the best ale along with a platter of fried shrimp and scallops, both freshly imported from the sea.

“Not like that and you know it, fucker!” Gilda sputtered as her cheeks flushed. Either with embarrassment or just from the alcohol flowing through her system, the tipsy Gregory couldn’t tell.

Nor did he care. A challenge had been issued, and he would not let his pride as a human take that. Gallus, who’d been nursing his ale, quickly vacated his seat so that Gregory could sit opposite one of Gryphonstone’s best upcoming scone makers. Gryphonstone’s lone human put his elbow on the table, hand outstretched. “Get that greasy claw over here and let’s do this! I’ll match your bet! Fifty talons says I last against you more than ten seconds.”

“Yeah, right!” Gilda scoffed as she took a long drink from her mug, slamming it on the table where Gabby watched this with some amusement in her eyes. She got prepared, sitting on the chair opposite Gregory and put out her own arm. “You’ll be eating those words!”

“Bring it on!” Gregory roared with a grin as he took Gilda’s claw in his hands. Despite what he’d said earlier, he knew that her claw wasn’t greasy. In fact, it was actually quite smooth and oddly pleasant to hold.

Even though she was drunk and in a competitive mood, Gregory noted that Gilda was still careful not to dig her talons into his hand. A few scabs on his hands had quickly told the gryphons that human skin was a lot softer than a gryphon’s hide, so they’d been trying to be careful around him. But Gregory was tipsy and feeling on top of the world that night. “What, not gonna grip my hand hard enough to win? Your loss, then!”

Gilda’s grip on him tightened instantly and he could feel the painful jab of her talons on his skin. However, he didn’t feel skin being punctured, so he reasoned she was still being careful. “That better for ya?”

“Awww, young love,” Gabby, who was the least drunk out of all of them, still had drunk enough to get loose a bit more, enough to become a tease. “Cute, isn’t it Gallus?”

Gallus rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say,” he said, still trying to maintain his attitude of detached coolness.

Gilda sputtered and glared at Gregory. “You ready for this?”

“Ready for everything you can dish out!” Gregory shouted.

By now, their ranting and raving against each other had gathered a large gryphon crowd, all of whom were watching the two and placing bets on who would win. It fueled Gregory’s pride when he heard most of them betting against him, so he pulled up his shirt and showing off the muscles he’d built up before coming to Equestria. It wasn’t too much when compared to human bodybuilders, but it had been enough for him to keep up. He’d done this and taken a few self-defense classes back on Earth in order to better prepare for the transition to Gaia just in case he found himself somewhere dangerous, like the Everfree Forest.

“Pff, j-just because you have some muscles means nothing!” Gilda sputtered a bit. “Ready whenever you are!”

“Someone give us a countdown!” Gregory said.

Gallus, in a practiced bored tone, began counting down. “Ten, nine…”

“I’m gonna enjoy watching you flip over,” Gilda sneered.

“Eight, seven…”

“Ain’t gonna happen, Gilly,” Gregory replied with a large grin as his grip tightened around her.

“Six, five…”

“I swear, you’re insufferable sometimes!”

“Four, three…”

“Then do something about it, Giggles.”

“Two, one…”

“YAAAH!”

Gilda’s muscles flexed as she put everything she had into the match. Gregory was impressed by the amount of strength she had, but he wasn’t going down without a fight. He leaned to his right and pulled hard against her ironlike vice grip so he would at least last those promised ten seconds. All around the two, the crowd had begun counting as Gregory used all the strength he had just to hold his arm up for at least ten seconds. He’d learned just how strong gryphons could be during his time in Gryphonstone, and it was no joke.

The ten seconds passed by like an eternity, and beads of sweat were forming on Gregory’s brow by the time they eventually did pass. But he had done it. He’d lasted twelve seconds against Gilda, the longest he’d lasted against any gryphon. Still, when those twelve seconds were up, he found himself flung through the air, landing on an empty table and flipping over it. He landed on his front, groaning.

“Gregory!” Gabby’s worried voice shouted as she flew over to his side as a couple other gryphons helped him to his feet, “Are you alright?”

“Whoo! That was the closest I’ve come to flying since coming here!” Gregory said with a laugh as he took a few shaky steps forward. “Thanks guys,” he said, looking at the gryphons who’d helped him up.

“You had me worried!” Gabby shouted, smacking him in the chest with her fist.

“I’m fine, Gabs,” Gregory said reassuringly, stroking her head gently. He turned to a frowning Gilda. “I believe you owe me fifty talons.”

“You got lucky, bitch,” she said with a scowl as she grabbed a bag of talons and tossed them onto the table in front of her.

“That wasn’t luck, that was pure strength!” he laughed as he grabbed the bag, reached in, grabbed a handful of talons and placed them on the counter in front of Gobbler. “Break out the ale! These gryphons are thirsty!”

This got a loud cheer from the gryphons in the tavern as they rushed to the bar to receive their free drink. Gregory returned to his seat and took a seat, grabbing his ale and taking another long drink before placing it back on the table. He was sore all over, and his arm felt like it was on fire, but he was having a really good time.

Gabby rejoined him, a frown on her face. “You do that again and I’ll put worms in your eggs,” she threatened. Ever since she’d learned how Gregory’s stovetop had worked, she would come by and use it to make breakfast using local ingredients. Eggs was one of the staples of their breakfasts together, since they were incredibly delicious with how she made them. She’d given similar threats before, but had never followed through.

Gregory giggled but gave her a salute. “Aye aye, cap’n,” he said, then when she frowned more, he turned a bit more serious. Picking up a shrimp and dipping it in their tartar sauce, he said, “I’ll be careful, Gabs.”

Her expression softened and she smiled a bit. “Good. I don’t like seeing you hurt.” She looked down at the small punctures in his hands where gryphon talons had accidentally punctured him.

He followed her gaze, then chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t either. But it’s all in good fun. After the hard work they’ve been doing all day, they deserve to be a little rough and blow off some steam.”

“They don’t need to do it to you, though,” Gabby said worriedly.

Gregory took another bite of fried shrimp and nodded. “I need to blow off steam too, sometimes,” he said, “and besides, we both had fun. Look!” He pointed over at Gilda who had gotten her somewhat free ale and was drinking it with a scowl. “You’ve never seen a wider smile.”

Gilda glared at him and flipped him off, a gesture she’d learned from him. “Fuck you,” she said with a growl, but without any bite.

He flipped her off right back, laughing. “No, fuck you,” he said.

Gilda’s scowl broke and she finally smirked as she raised her mug. “Here’s to you, you old bastard.”

“Who you calling old?” Gregory asked as he raised his own mug. “Here’s to you though, Grinny. And to the rest of you too!” he said, turning to Gallus and Gabby. “Here’s to three of the quickest friends I’ve ever made in my life!”

“Eh, sure,” Gallus said in a bored tone as he lifted his mug, but Gregory could see a small twinkle in the young gryphon’s eye.

“I’ll drink to that!” Gabby said, raising her mug. And with that, they all took a long swig of their ale.

Gregory put his mug down hard, then leaned back and let forth a long belch, which got him a laugh from the crowd. Feeling suddenly emboldened, he grabbed his nearly empty mug and stood, raising it above him. “And here’s to everyone in this room!” he shouted. “You’ve all been working so hard to rebuild this city, and it’s showing! You’ve all been doing such a fantastic job! Pat yourselves on the back! You’ve earned this! CHEERS!” The crowd went wild as each gryphon raised mugs or glasses to the toast. When they’d all finished drinking, Gregory decided to try one more thing. “Hey, there’s one thing missing from the tavern, barkeep!”

“And wot’s dat, den?” Gobbler asked.

“Drinking songs!” And with that, Gregory stood on his chair and began clapping, a silly grin on his face. “What will we do with a drunken sailor? What will we do with a drunken sailor? What will we do with a drunken sailor ea-rly in the mornin’?” he began singing. All around him, a few gryphons began tapping the table with their mugs, following along with the beat. Encouraged by this, Gregory continued. “Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

To his surprise, Gabby joined in. She’d heard the song a few times back in camper and had actually liked it. “Shave his belly with a rusty razor! Shave his belly with a rusty razor! Shave his belly with a rusty razor ear-ly in the mornin’!”

Together, the two sang the chorus, standing and bobbing a bit to the beat as more gryphons began hitting their tables with their mugs or clapping. “Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

“Put him in a long boat till his sober! Put him in a long boat till his sober! Put him in a long boat till his sober ear-ly in the mornin’!” Gregory sang as he jumped up onto an empty table and began doing a silly jig as he clapped his hands and stomped his feet to the beat. “Everybody now!”

The tavern full of gryphons began singing the chorus. Some of them might not have been able to hold a tune to save their lives, but nobody cared. “Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

“Stick him in a scupper with a hosepipe bottom! Stick him in a scupper with a hosepipe bottom! Stick him in a scupper with a hosepipe bottom ear-ly in the mornin’!” Gregory sang to the beat that the gryphons were keeping.

The gryphons joined in louder now with the chorus. “Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

Gabby joined him on another nearby table, standing on her haunches and clapping her claws to the beat as the two of them sang, “Put him in the bed with the captain’s daughter! Put him in the bed with the captain’s daughter! Put him in the bed with the captain’s daughter ear-ly in the mornin’!”

“Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

“That's what we do with a drunken sailor! That's what we do with a drunken sailor! That's what we do with a drunken sailor ear-ly in the mornin’!” Gabby and Gregory both sang before pointing to the crowd. “Two more times!” Gregory shouted.

“Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises! Way hay and up she rises ear-ly in the mornin’!”

With that, Gregory jumped off of the table, landing on his feet and stumbling a bit only to be caught by an equally stumbling Gabby. The crowd in the tavern was going nuts, laughing and applauding the impromptu duet between him and Gabby. He sat back down, panting heavily with a large grin on his face. “Whoo! That was fun!” Gallus was staring at him curiously, so he turned to her. “Something on your mind, Gallus?”

“You’re a really strange guy,” he said. “You work hard here, and everygryphon follows your example. You don’t really let things get you down, do you?”

“Hey, even I get sad,” Gregory said as he took a couple scallops and popped them in his mouth. As Gobbler came over and refilled his mug, he continued, “I mean, you know that I learned something that upset me and it took me a while to get over it, but I’m learning to accept it. That, and I can never go back where I come from, so that’s a bit depressing when I think about it.”

Gallus frowned. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Gregory waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’d rather be here in Gryphonstone than back home anyway. Anything’s better than a place where your parents fucking hate your guts and you have a girlfriend who spreads her legs for any guy who shows her the least amount of attention while you work your ass off to provide for the apartment you share. A job that exploits you if you’re good and rewards laziness.”

“Shit, that really sucks,” Gallus said, eyes wide in astonishment.

“Hey, it’s all in the past now!” Gregory said with a wide smile. “I’m in a better place than before! Got three really cool friends! Got a much better job that pays better, at least that’s what I’m assuming since I don’t know how a bit translates to my old currency, but hey! I’m not gonna complain! Money’s money!” He took a swig of his ale again. “Now then, let’s enjoy the night! Hangovers are for pussies!”

[he]

“How the fuck are you still standing?” Gilda asked an hour later as the human and three gryphons walked down the wet streets back towards the residential district. “You had so much!”

Gregory was walking beside Gabby, the latter of whom was pressing herself against him just in case he fell. The rain had stopped and a waxing moon hung in the sky above them. Unlike the one back on Earth, this moon was about three or four times larger in the night sky, but that didn’t stop the stars from shining brightly around it. The constellations were eerily similar to the ones back on Earth, as well. “Heh…I guess I can just hold my liquor,” he boasted.

“Yeah, until you throw up,” Gallus said with a small smirk.

“I actually feel fine, thanks,” Gregory said with a smirk back. “Unlike you, mister Woo The Ladies While Making Yourself Dizzy He Has To Puke Himself! You’re lucky you didn’t throw up on those gryphon ladies!”

Gallus scowled. “Don’t remind me…it was the ale talking, not me.”

“Someone’s got a cruuush,” Gilda snickered in a teasing tone, causing Gallus to blush.

“Oh, shut up, Gilda,” he growled in embarrassment.

“Hey, leave the poor kid alone,” Gregory said with a small smile, putting a hand on Gallus’ head. “Nothing wrong with him trying to find someone to have that special connection with. Besides,” he said, turning to Gallus with a smirk. “Teasing him is my job.”

“Fuck off,” Gallus groaned.

“Hey, could be a chance for you to finally get some action, little dude,” Gregory teased, nudging him with his elbow.

“I’m not a little dude!” Gallus said, face flushed more now.

“Hey, it’s not about the size, it’s how you use it, right ladies?” Gregory asked. That got him the satisfaction of the girls in the group blushing a bit. He couldn’t help himself now. He laughed loudly. “So uptight! Relax, I’m just having fun with y’all!”

Gabby smacked his legs with her backside, glaring up at him with a small smirk slowly forming on her beak. “You’re lucky you’re my friend,” she said.

“Heh, I’ll be quiet now,” he replied.

“Some night, though,” Gilda said, stretching her wings and trying not to fall onto the ground in her tipsy state.

“Hey, everyone’s been working super hard for the past couple of weeks,” Gregory said, “and it’s the weekend, baby! We should be celebrating all we’ve accomplished!”

“Okay, yeah, you’ve got a point,” Gallus said with a somewhat drunken smile. “My body aches in places I didn’t even know had muscles. It felt good to let loose.”

As the group continued, they began walking past a number of now darkened taverns which had closed up. As they approached another alley, they heard the sound of something falling onto the ground from that alley. The group paused and tilted their heads, Gregory putting his hand to his ear to try and get a better sense of what they might have heard. They stood still for a while, listening to the night around them. All he could hear was some dripping water from a few nearby roofs onto the ground, a few crickets chirping and some distant sounds of gryphons talking loudly. They were near a few closed restaurants now, walking passed alleys where they’d placed garbage cans they’d recently made instead of just tossing them into piles as they had before.

After a bit, there was another noise, then they heard what sounded like two voices whispering in the alley, both sounding haggard and angry.

“…ing here,” a voice whispered with frustration in her voice.

“Maybe the next one?” another female voice asked.

“Yeah, maybe,” the first voice said. Then, the group heard the unmistakable sound of hooves clopping softly on the ground.

Instantly, any alcohol induced brain fog lifted as he tensed up, slowly going to his pocket and grabbing a pocket blade he’d brought from Earth. Slowly and quietly, he brought it out and held it just in case. Gabby saw this and looked at him worriedly, but he just gave her a reassuring look.

Gilda, who had taken the lead, came to the edge of the restaurant which led to the alley where the noise was coming from. She peaked around the corner and her wings bristled. She held up a fist, halting them all. Turning to Gregory, she motioned him forward with a quick gesture. He approached, leaving the three concerned gryphons behind. She motioned for him to be silent and only to look.

What he saw stunned him.

There was a strange non-gryphon figure digging around in a dumpster. A pony figure, to be precise. Next to the dumpster was another pony, this one hidden in a hooded cloak. He couldn’t see what exactly the ponies looked like in the dark, but what he could see was that whoever they were, they were gaunt, presumably from lack of food. He watched the ponies carefully. They’d taken no notice of Gilda or Gregory. The pony next to the dumpster walked back and forth with what seemed like an anxious posture. Finally, the first pony came up, “Nothing…damn it…” the first pony whispered.

“Maybe the next alley?” the second voice said.

“Yeah…Celestia-damn it all! I hate this!” the owner of the voice said louder now, no longer whispering. Gregory frowned. He couldn’t be sure, but he felt that there was something unusually familiar about that voice. Something that he’d definitely heard from My Little Pony.

He put his hand on Gilda’s back. “Stay here,” he whispered. She frowned, but took a step back, albeit reluctantly. Gregory walked out, slowly putting his knife away as he approached the pony in the alley. He took a deep breath, then said in a quiet and disarming tone, “Um, excuse me?”

This did little to apparently assuage the ponies, the one who had been in the dumpster jumping up and facing. In the dim light, he saw a horn on her head, meaning she was a unicorn. “We found this first!” she hissed angrily, lowering her horn at him. “Back off!”

“Easy there,” Gregory said, moving away, “I’m not here to try and steal your…dumpster,” he said. “I’m just wondering what you’re both doing in Gryphonstone and if there’s something I can do to help you. You don’t look so good.”

The mare snarled at him, and lit up her horn with an aquamarine glow. “I said this is mine!” she repeated

“Wait,” the second pony said in an even more familiar female voice, removing her hood to reveal another horned pony head. Another unicorn. “You’re not a gryphon.” And with that, the second unicorn lit up her horn.

In the light of the magical glows, Gregory finally caught a glimpse of their features. And he finally realized where he’d heard the voices before. He took a few steps back, hands still raised. “No, I’m not. I’m a human,” he said. “I live here.”

The first mare’s eyes narrowed at him, and in the dim light of her magic she looked like she was gazing at him suspiciously. However, a few moments later her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped to the ground, hitting her head very hard on the stone. The second pony looked at the collapsed mare in fear. “Starlight!” the light blue mare said with fear as she rushed to the collapsed mare’s side.

Starlight Glimmer? AND Trixie?! Gregory put aside his surprise and quickly approached her, pulling out his phone and turning on the light on it for more illumination. He looked at the mares in horror, as both looked even worse in the light. “Holy shit…how long have you two not been eating well?”

The light blue mare gave Gregory a look of fear and mistrust, but those emotions soon changed to desperation. “Please…Trixie is begging you to help help Trixie and her friends,” the mare said pleadingly. “Starlight and Sunset are all that Trixie has.”

Sunset? Wonder who that could be? Gregory thought. I only know one Sunset, and I doubt that she’s here. “We’ll do what we can,” he promised.

“There’s another pony in Gryphonstone?” Gabby’s voice said from behind as she approached as well.

Trixie moved back in fear, but Gregory spoke up. “Don’t be afraid, miss,” he said, “she’s a friend of mine. She’s a good gryphon.” He looked around the area. “Is there another pony with you?”

Trixie looked a bit reluctant to answer, but Gabby further assuaged her fears. “We have a doctor who can help treat you,” she said. “She knows how to help ponies.”

“S-Sunset’s not too far away,” Trixie said.

“Gilda, Gallus, come out,” Gregory said as he stepped aside. Trixie was a bit nervous as the other two gryphons approached, but didn’t move. “Can one of you take this pony to the hospital and ask for…” he turned to Gabby, not sure which doctor she had been referring to.

“Doctor Gabriel,” Gabby explained. “She trained in Equestria on how to treat not just gryphons but ponies and a couple other species.”

“Got it,” Gregory said.

Gallus approached first and carefully lifted Starlight. His eyes widened. “She’s pretty light,” he said with surprise.

Gregory walked over and lifted one of Starlight’s. He frowned at how light she felt. “Fuck…this isn’t good.” He turned to Gallus. “Be very careful when carrying her,” he said, “and don’t fly too high. If you accidentally drop her-”

“I’ve been carrying garbage bags lighter than this for two weeks,” Gallus said with a smirk, “I can do this.”

“Okay, got it,” Gregory nodded. “Go, and good luck.”

As Gallus flew away, Trixie led the rest of the group out of the alley towards a backstreet. She still had her horn illuminated and Gregory’s phone light was still on. When she reached an alley a few buildings back the way we’d come, she stopped, looking at a small mark on the wall. “Down here,” she whispered, leading the group down into the equally as dark and smelly alley towards what looked like a bundle of dirty rags.

When the group reached the bundle, Trixie removed the few small blankets covering what was underneath. Gregory was in even more of a shock than before. he took one look at the flank on the pony he was carrying. The cutie mark there was just like the one he’d expected to be there. As the group fell into silence, one thought was on his mind: Why the fuck was Sunset Shimmer in Gryphonstone?!