On The Cliff's Edge

Situated above the vibrant splendor of Canterlot City lay a grandiose mansion, with palatial beauty that put most every other building in Equestria to shame.

Taking heavy influence from the gothic styles of earlier ages and built into the mountain for extra space, the estate was considered one of Canterlot's most greatest and most beautiful buildings by many, including a fair percentage of the nobility.

The interior was no slouch, either, and reportedly Celestia herself wished to hire the architect who designed the mansion's immensely dazzling collection of ornaments and furniture.

Sitting behind a polished maple desk, on a silver-lined office chair crafted specifically for his needs, a unicorn stallion stared at the scowling gryphon opposite him with a thoroughly unamused expression of his own.

The stallion, a refined specimen of noble blood, was of medium size with a sleek silvery-white coat, a flowing blonde mane, and sharp, piercing blue eyes. The cutie marks on his flank were covered, along with most of his back, by a dark violet robe that evoked the ancient royal dynasties of centuries past.

The enormous stained glass window behind him, depicting the gargantuan ice-breathing figure of a windigo, normally had an enormous psychological impact on those who sat where the gryphon was now, but seemed to have no effect on the chimaera, much to the stallion's private disdain.

"Edgecliff." The gryphon's utterance of the stallion's name was full of loathing and bile.

"Spiro." The stallion's utterance of the gryphon's name in kind was equally loaded with distaste.

"I'm sure you remember our little arrangement, Spiro." Edgecliff began, not taking his eyes off of the crime lord.

"Of course, Dauphin. How could I forget?" Spiro replied, placing a snide emphasis on the stallion's title.

"Considering how much money I was paying you, I have no idea. Somehow, though, you managed." Edgecliff said, uncloaked disgust rising in his voice.

"I coerced your pawn into chasing after Byron. If he isn't dead, he will be soon. You have nothing to worry about." Spiro said, his unlit eyes boring into the blue orbs of the Dauphin.

"I have nothing to worry about, do I?" Edgecliff repeated, holding the gryphon's gaze. "What if after she kills him, she comes after me? After all, you used my name in your orders. And even if she doesn't think of that, what if she fails and gets captured? What if Byron gets my name out of this whole debacle and tells his mother? I'll be dead within a day."

"That's your problem, Dauphin, not mine." Spiro replied apathetically, sharpening his left talon on the chair's armrest.

"Oh is it? Remember, Spiro, I may not be the biggest fish in the sea, but I still have enough pull to see your little criminal empire burned to the ground." Edgecliff spoke, slamming his hoof down on the desk to emphasize his point. "If I drown, I'm going to ensure you go down with me."

Spiro looked over the Dauphin's shoulder at the window behind him, ignoring his employer's furious exclamation. "Dread Lord Malus, am I right?" he said, half statement and half question.

Edgecliff gave a genuine smile, distracted from his anger by Spiro's knowledge of the obscure historical figure. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I'm surprised you are familiar with ancient history, considering your.. occupation."

Spiro shrugged modestly. "I come from a family of scholars. It's hard not to pick up a few things. It never hurt a man, or pony in your case, to have a thorough education, either."

Edgecliff nodded in agreement. "Indeed." he said. "I'll tell you what, Spiro," he began, looking at his employee with an increasing amount of respect. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. As long as Celestia and her cadre of boot-licking sycophants don't get wind of my involvement in this scheme, I'll keep my hooves off. Do we have an agreement?" he finished, extending his hoof over the desk.

Spiro, after a moment, shook Edgecliff's hoof. "Yes, this arrangement is more than suitable. Byron will be taken care of, and you have my word that nobody will discover your plans." The firmness in his voice left no doubt in Edgecliff's mind that the gryphon was being sincere.

"And if they do?" Edgecliff asked, already knowing the answer.

"I will kill them myself." Spiro replied.

"Good. If I need to speak with you again, I will contact you. In the meantime, you can go back to Manehattan. A certain chief of police has been sacked from his position, as you requested. You won't have any more trouble with your shipments." Edgecliff said.

"Understood. Arrivederci, Dauphin." The crime lord uttered his goodbye, performing a mock salute before standing up and walking out of the office, closing the large set of double doors behind him.

As soon as the gryphon left the room, Dauphin Edgecliff let out a soft sigh and looked at the ornately framed picture on his desk. A smiling, young, and happy daughter stared back at him, her beautiful auburn eyes vibrant and full of life and love.

"Celestia protect you, my child.." he whispered quietly, his voice barely loud enough to be heard even by his own ears, before laying back in his chair as the city of Canterlot awoke to the rising sun behind him.

"Stars know she isn't protecting me.."

Bronze Ribbon opened her eyes slowly and looked around. Byron lay snuggled up next to her, sleeping soundly.

Spiro's letter echoed in her head. "Give Byron a stern talking to for me."

Bronze looked at the sleeping griffon. His body was bright, healthy, and full of youth, unlike the scarred and sickly body of the other griffon Bronze had been acquainted with, Spiro.

"He looks so innocent, so carefree. What he did to incur Spiro's wrath?" she wondered.

Byron's eyes opened slowly with a contented sigh and looked up at her. "Oh, hey. I just thought since you looked kinda cold that I would use my wings to, you know, keep you warm. I hope you don't mind." he said kindly.

"It's okay. I appreciate it." Bronze said, a small smile on her face.

"So, I must ask," Byron said, gazing at Bronze with the golden eyes characteristic to most of his species. "What is a mare like you doing in a joint like this? No offense, this place just doesn't seem like it's for you, Ms..?"

"Bronze Ribbon. Like I said earlier, I'm looking for Byron.. you, I guess." Bronze replied, avoiding the gryphon's eyes.

"Well, here I am, Ms. Ribbon. What can I do for you?" Byron asked.

"Uh.." Bronze mumbled, not wishing to disclose the reason for seeking him out.

"I assume you're here because you want me to put in a good word for you with Mom, like all the others." Byron said, boredom present in his voice.

"No, no, nothing like that. I just.. wanted to.. uh.." Bronze stuttered, nervousness preventing her from forming a comprehensible response.

Byron smiled gently at her. "I'm just teasing you, Ms. Ribbon. It's perfectly fine." he said cordially, the boredom evaporating from his tone.

"Oh." Bronze said, relieved. "You can call me Bronze by the way." she added. "It's not like we're nobles or anything."

Byron looked away from the mare's mud-colored eyes. "Yeah, nothing like that." he said distantly, looking off towards the horizon.

"Huh?" Bronze mumbled, questioning.

"Nothing." Byron said, staring off towards the far-off Canterlot, his back to the curious gaze of Bronze Ribbon.

"Nothing at all."