Tales of a Griffon.

"Wake up dweeb!"

"Ugh, where am I?" I said slowly opening my eyes.

My vision was hit with dull gray rocks. A look around exposed that I was in some type of underground military sleeping quarters. Another look around showed me that all the sleeping cots were empty. The walls looked as if they were hastily carved out.  On the them were propaganda posters with a griffon pointing forward with the words “Your empire needs you” across the front. Every sleeping cot was identical to the one next to it. Thin, green, wool covers, a basic white pillow, and lastly a very uncomfortable mattress which was barely supporting me. A foul stench reached my nostrils. The smell of blood, sweat, and sorrow combined into a dense fog of despair.  Besides the smell, one can not help but notice the blood that stained each and every bed. Some had more blood smeared upon them while others looked fresher than the rest.

"I don't remember signing up for the military." I sighed as my daily habit of rubbing my eyes and scratching my back with my talons commenced.

TALONS! Why in the Tartarus do I have talons? I scanned my body for something unusual and found that everything was well...unusual. 'This is pretty confusing' I thought. My torso was completely covered in brown fur and I HAD WINGS! I immediately rushed to the mirror located in the latrine. Soon my gaze escaped me and was met by the eyes of a frightened reflection. Its irises looked to be flaming orange. Along its neck, the fur began to uniformly convert to white eagle feathers with the outer most feathers outlined by scarlet. The ones upon the head of the creature were puffier and outstretch further than the rest casting a shadow upon its face. The scarlet on them spread a little further onto the feather. The creature’s beak was huge, curved, and ended with a point...while talons were also the same color, but didn't end with sharp killing machines. They were instead dull and cracked. Also, there was a patch of scarlet on the right eye.  The other side of its face bore no patch. It only contained white feathers.

"Well, what a series of unfortunate events. Maybe Count Olaf will adopt next.Anyway...I guess I'm a Griffon. Half eagle and half lion" I stated as calmly as possible trying not to loose the little sanity that remained.

"Of course you're a griffon,"came the mysterious voice again, "Are you dumb or something?"

I froze in place. I recognized that voice. What’s Gilda doing here? No, wait...What am I doing here? If Gilda is here ,that must mean I'm in Equestria. Equestria mean ponies. Ponies mean friendship. Friendship equals the Elements of Harmony. That means the mane six.( See what I did there..."mane" instead of "main"). So even in my paralyzed state, I managed to see Gilda getting worried that she may have killed me on accident. Then her expression changed into her regular, nonchalant face and she began to walk off.

"Where am I? Why did you wake me up?" I hollered grabbing her attention which I most likely did to aggressively.

"Listen here dweeb. Stop yelling. You'll get us both in trouble for skipping flying practice. I woke you so you wouldn't get caught by the patrolling guards. Wait a sec... You don't know where we are?"

"Flying practice? For what? You already push Dash to her limits when racing, so I'll say you’re already a pretty good flyer. And no I don't know where we are."

"LAME! How do you not know where we are? Did you just wake up from a coma or something?" yelled Gilda in a hushed whisper.

"It is....just a test...answer to pass" I said with a really bad poker face.

"I'm surrounded by idiots! We are in Equestria. More specifically, we are at Griffon Rock. A super secret military training ground."

I could see Gilda growing steadily impatient by the second. She had the look in her eyes that screamed she needed to get moving or else something bad would happen. She began to shuffle from one talon to the other getting increasingly anxious. Her eyes began to dart in every direction like she was looking for something.  Finally she found what she was looking for- a clock.

"That doesn't make since. Why are the griffons training?" I asked.

"I'll explain later. If I don't leave right, I'll be in a mess of trouble."

"The cool griffin, Gilda, afraid of getting in trouble. I say you are the real dweeb"

"UGH!!!! I don't have time for this. Cya around."

"Anytime, sweet cheeks.”

"UGH! This guy is almost as annoying as Pinkie Pie" Gilda grunted under her breath as she flew away.

Now that I was alone, an idea popped into my head. Why not explore this place? So I decided to walk around this underground facility before something else could happen. A couple steps brought me outside the sleeping room into a slim dead end hallway. The walls seemed to have been carved in this mountain making a series of tunnels that lead who knows where. I needed to go up towards Celestia's sun.

***

Gilda( Best Griffon)

Gilda flew to her usual hiding place- A simple cumulus nimbus cloud.  Nobody would be able to find there. Even if they tried to catch her hiding, she could hear the flapping of wings coming for her. That would give her precious time to fly away and hide again. This was the perfect hiding place.

After settling down, her mind was at piece. It she played her cards right, she could slip right back into practice unnoticed. Out of nowhere, her mind began to wonder about the new griffon guy.  What was his name? 'He seemed a bit confused when I woke him up,' she thought, ' Maybe he truly didn't know where he was.'

"Whatever. It doesn't matter. He was and forever will be a lame dweeb." she said in a lone tone.

As relaxation began to retake her, her eyes shot opened.

"How did he know my name?" she thought considering the possibilities, ‘How did he know about Dash and me?'

Quickly she arose to go find the eccentric griffon. She posed for flight position then took off. She didn't get far and landed face first back onto her secret cloud. The problem seemed to have come from her left hind leg. Something had snagged it. One quick glace and the problem was revealed. Sharp talons were tightly wrapped around her leg. Frantically, Gilda tried to escape, but the monstrous grip on her leg only grew more powerful the more she struggled. Without warning, the body that the talons were attached to slowly rose from the cloud revealing  a truly frightening sight.

"Gilda."

"General Warclaw..."

"Tsk. Tsk. Young Gilda, why must you miss out on all our practices? They are here to make you better." stated Warclaw while simultaneously using his strength to completely flip Gilda upside down holding her up by her trapped hind leg.

General Warclaw was a griffon of great age even though he didn't show it. His muscular body covered in light brown fur which easily showed the old and new wounds he acquired over the years. Punctures from spears, ripped flesh from talons, and in some cases burn marks where the skin didn't quite heal correctly. The most noticeable scar was one that went right across beak. It was small, but it stood out like a huge trophy. Today he decided to wear sunglasses paired with his military green suit coat with a white dress shirt underneath. Decorating his shirt was every medal that he received in various battles. He also had a tobacco pipe in his beak where after every puff he would blow the smoke into Gilda's face. His face beared the same unemotional expression as always, but today Gilda could see some disappointment starting to sink in.

"This facility was built for young griffons ,like yourself, can train, so you all can be able to fight. This is to make sure that the griffon kingdom can be brought to its original glory."

"Sorry old man, but those days are gone. Ponies are at the top of the ladder now."

"HOW DARE YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY SUCH A THING?! Griffons were meant to be at the top of the social hierarchy since the beginning of time! Ponies are nothing but prey to us" Raged Warclaw, squeezing Gilda's leg tighter. The sunglasses upon his face drooped lower to show the veins starting to swell.

"If they are nothing but prey please explain to me how they came to be the most powerful beings in this land. They can use magic. Their princesses raise and set the sun and the moon. Six of them can harvest the power of friendship and use them as a weapon of mass destruction. Did you not hear about Nightmare Moon or Discord? What can we do that is so amazing that we can suddenly start preparing for w-" Gilda barely managed to finish before she felt sharpened talons sink into her lion flesh. The blood started to ooze out around the general's powerful grip, yet that didn't stop him from tightening his grasps and sinking his knives deeper into her leg.

"Remember this...and remember it well. Griffons will rise again. “Stated Warclaw matter- of-factly while carelessly dropping Gilda and wiping blood onto the cloud." As you punishment for missing practice... I'll say 500 flying laps around Griffon Rock. Oh and don't forget to get bandaged up first. That looks like a nasty puncture you got from combat practice...right?"

With fear running cold in her veins, Gilda silently agreed to her punishment and the false story that came with it. The general straightened his sunglasses and proceeded to jump off the cloud. He allowed himself to free fall, feeling the joy of the wind in his feathers and fur. In an instant, he opened his wings to gain more altitude.  He circled around the cloud he had just come from then deciding to land again. Gilda was terrified. She knew this respected griffon could end her with no problem and not a soul would ever ask why. No matter her dilemma, she made sure to look the general straight in his eyes.

Warclaw landed with grace, not intended for his size, only to say a simple sentence.

"Remember Gilda...Next time...I won't be so lenient."

***

The Cave

"So let me review my situation.. I am a griffon. Check. I am in Equestria. Check. More specifically it’s a training camp." I reassured myself. “Now how do I get out?"

Wait. The full realization of my current state hit me. I'm in Equestria for Celestia’s shake. PONIES! Think about all the fun I can have. I can party with Pinkie. Fly and race Rainbow Dash. Design dresses and diamond hunt with Rarity. Spike will be so jealous.  Maybe take care of the animals with Fluttershy. Why not apple buck with Applejack? Hmm I don't think that is going to be a good idea with my lion hind legs. I'm pretty sure they are not meant for bucking. Last ,but not least, I could study magic with Twilight. Oh wait no horn. Whatever happens, it’ll still be enjoyable. Maybe Twilight might even let me meet the princesses. I'll earn their trust. After they accept me as one of their own, I'll strike! Next I will become the ruler of Equestria after defeating both Celestia and Luna. Muahahaha!

My little insane moment faded, and I walked down the hallways eager to find a way to get to the surface. Unfortunately, all the paths looked exactly the same. Every wall was the same gray rocky color and held no signs about where to go. Also, I am pretty sure I walked past this griffon sized crack in the wall several times. I wonder how it got there. Soon, I gave up looking for an exit.  In my defeat I pulled out my phone to check the time.

"Whoa! I still have my phone! This is amazing!" I'm wondering how it get here. Well, How did I get here?

"Halt! Who goes there?!” A griffon guard began to peek around the corner. CRAP! I need to hide somewhere…THE CRACK IN THE WALL! From my location, I could tell he is about the size of Big Mac and came with muscles to match.  He looked young to be a guard, but still a menacing scowl etched into his face. Like every other griffon he had a fur coat of some variation of brown. Wait. Something didn't seem right. In some weird Equestrian way bruises somehow showed even if they're under the fur. Even from my hidden location I could see that his face contained small cuts and a black eye. How bad was this griffon training anyway?

Moments passed and this guard doesn't move an inch. Not even a muscle twitch. He just constantly stared down the hallway expecting something to happen.  Of course this meant I couldn't move.  Then out of now where he pulls out his lunch and starts to eat. WTB! How long am I going to have to hide?! FUUUUUU!!!  I guess I'll let him enjoy his meal for now.

Whatever he is eating it smells delicious. Smells like roasted chicken with garlic seasoning. My mouth (beak) is starting to salivate just at the thought of it. It’s just so juicy, moist, and succulent. Just like mom use to make. Anyway, I'm so glad that I received the sense of o a griffon instead of the inferior human one. Chicken... that's an animal. Roasted...that means cooking. So we griffons eat meat. Well that's going to be awkward if and when I meet ponies. How was it when Gilda and Dash hung out? How did that work?  Fluttershy and I might never get along? Never mind. We will cross that bridge when it comes.

"Azure! What are you doing?" Looks like another griffon, this time a female.

"S-sorry Phoebe, It's just I needed a quiet place to eat my lunch" stuttered the now frightened male griffon.

"You know we can't do that." she scolded, but then started to become compassionate, "Look what happened to you just because you asked the director to repeat his sentence."

Azure and Phoebe. These two seem interesting. Still better not blow my cover. I can certainly see why they call him Azure.  Those eyes reminded you of being outside on a bright, clear, sunny day while holding your sweetheart's hands and never wanting that moment to end. Is it weird if those things come to mind while looking in a male griffon's eyes? Phoebe on the other hand looked to young to be in a place like this.  She was no bigger than Twilight (maybe even smaller) learning the delicate arts of combat. That’s almost as bad as Kony. I joke. I joke. In reality, this place is turning out to be a real mad house.

"It was my fault. I should have been listening." He responded, defending whatever had happened to him. Could it have been those bruises?

"Azure, it will never be you fault. The director clawed your face then proceeded to punch you. All you for asked for is that a sentence be repeated. That does even make bad sense."

I guess training here is pretty bad. Pain for questions. What a way to go.

"Come one Phoebe, It'll be okay. Let' just leave before we're caught." You could see Azure trying to give his best reassuring smile (trying to also hide a slight blush.), but just like a used condom, No one was buying it.

"Okay Azure, Lets go." They finally flew away. I wonder if I can fly. It’s something to test later. After some moments passed I actually felt comfortable leaving my spot. One step. Two steps. Three steps. So far so good.

Maybe If I follow Azure, I’ll find away out! The optimism has been doubled! Finally, the sunlight will be mine. What then followed was a slight choking sensation.

***

Medical Room

"Ms. Gilda, How exactly did you receive these wounds again?" Questioned an elderly female griffon nurse who was patching up Gilda's wound.

With her eyes beginning to fill with the fear of her traumatic experience, Gilda looked away from the Nurse's glare. "Like I said. Hand-to-hand combat practice got a little to rough, okay." A small tear began to form in her right eye, but she quickly wiped it away.

With great troubles, the elderly nurse barely managed to walk over towards her patient to say a simple loving statement." My dear, if anyone is harming you, do not be afraid to tell me. I may be old, but this bird still has some tricks for revenge."

"Listen here old lady. Nothing is wrong with me. Practice just got rough. That’s it! Nothing more! Are you done patching me up? I have things to d-"

"I was once a young griffon like you. Thought I was cooler than everyone else. I was on top of the world. I had all the cool friends. Everyone wanted to hang out with me. We would bully other griffons for no reason. Take there lunch money. Pull out feathers. Even tape their wings to their own backs. Good days. After a while, everyone started “maturing”. They stopped acting all tough and bad and found new friends. Soon, I realized that I was alone. No wanted to hang around big ole Redtip. Some said 'She's too immature', while others said 'She thinks she is so better than everyone’. One person even went as far to say 'She'll kill you if you don't do what she says.' I found myself crying into my pillow one night wondering where it all went wrong."

Gilda obviously getting bored asked without hesitation," What does this story have to do with anything?"

"Didn't your mom tell you not to interrupt your elders? Sigh. I guess my rambling was going on for quite some time. The point is Gilda...Don’t be afraid to change. Sometimes you have to just go with the flow of the river. Do you understand?"

"Yeah.Yeah. Now if you'll excuse me. I have to go to some laps. Bye old timer." hurriedly said by Gilda as she rushed out of the medical ward.

"Bye dear. And stay off your left hind leg for a while"

With her departing words, Gilda took off into flight so she could start in those 500 laps. Lame laps. Her foreleg still stung from Warclaw's iron grip, but the pain would ease away with time. Usually he would just give her a scolding, yet this time he was 20 percent more aggressive. She starting to ponder what could have set him off however what eventually took over her thought process of what the Nurse had stated. "Flow like a river...What a bunch of malarkey"

***

The Cave

"Look at what I found lurking around my camp"

Can you believe this? An elderly, behemoth sized griffon just grabbed me by the throat and slammed me back into my hiding spot. I actually felt some rocks puncture my skin. This griffon guy is mentally insane. I mean, who just slams somebody into a wall by the throat?! No one does. He doesn't look angry nor does he look surprised. More like delighted than anything. This is frightening me. His talons, which are already covered in blood, starts to pierce into my skin. Is this the end?

"I know every griffon in this facility and you do not belong. State your business."

"Uhhh ummm uhhh" Yours truly couldn’t help, but to stutter in the presence of a venerable and frightening griffon." uhhh ummm I'm here so...”

"Don't worry lad I know exactly why you're here," His eyes started changing into a menacing glare. His lips morphed from a delighted to a fiendish one." You're here to join the fight against ponies, so griffons can reclaim what's rightfully ours."

"Well actually-"

"Don't worry. I have everything planned out" He stated this while pushing harder against my neck. His talons dug deeper until a warm liquid dripped down my neck. . It felt like Applejack, wearing shoes with nails attached at the bottom kept on bucking me in the neck nonstop for two hours. Shut up you perverts. It felt like Darth Vader was force choking me and sticking mini light saber into my neck. It bucking hurts is the gist of it.

“Since you missed a lot practice, I say you should do 253 flying laps around Griffon Rock. You also need the exercise. You're kinda pudgy."

"Actually sir...I was thinking..cough... that I could go home," I gasp through every breath I could barely manage to get in.” I’m… not… pudgy”

His grip around my throat became tighter than anything I have every experienced. I didn't know pain of this Level could exist in Equestria. A barrier between my lungs and musty air has formed and I couldn't do anything about it. "Home...You are home. You’re around your friends and family. Why you all will train, eat, and sleep together. If that's not a family then I don't know what is." He stated.

I knew this lack of oxygen is not good for the body. I began to struggle to release myself from his talons with no avail. My body sensed what was happening and began trying to receive as much oxygen as possible though deep breaths. Slowly the world began to fade away. Shapes and colors fused as time began to slow. My breaths became shallow and useless. Convulsions began, but soon subsided as my body ran out of oxygen. Sleepy. I felt sleepy. One final look into this devil’s eyes and anyone could see he felt no remorse for what is doing. With my final breaths released, I leaped into unconsciousness. Consequently, blacking out only earned me a slap to the face.

"I see we have a lot of work to do with you. A weak one. Soon you will be strong like the rest." He mumbled

He let me go. My body swooped towards the ground like a rag doll. Automatically, my body began to breath in and out worshiping the air it oh so loved. Afterwards, I looked my attacker/savior in the cold, dead eyes. Maybe some kind of joke or something will cheer this guy up. "Do I really have to do the laps?"

Unfortunately, I still did since he disregarded my statement, punched me in the face, and commented on my feathers." The feathers on the crown of your head are puffier than the rest. Your name shall be 'Puff'. What do you think Puff?"

Afraid of physical brutality, I hastily agreed to his choice of a name for me.  Puff is not actually a bad name,on the other hand;I wish I could have named myself. A name like Pain, or Thunderwing, or Lion’s roar. Sigh, Puff will do. Reminds me of the old hair I use to have back when I was a human. Eh doesn't matter now. My main objective is to survive this horrid place and maybe talk some ponies later. Correction. My main objective is to talk to some ponies then survive this horrid place. However, with this Frankenstein griffon in my way I don't thing that either of my goals will be accomplished.

Just when I think it is over this monstrosity decides to stand up on his hind legs and kick me repeatedly.  Ten time to be exact. Ten steam engines crashing into my abdomen. With each blow, I felt something crack. I'm thinking it was my spirit.

"It's to toughen you up," He declares somehow managing to make the kicking seem reasonable. "Now fly along. Your laps are waiting. Oh and before you leave, I personally would like to thank you for so nobly joining our cause."

No. I'm not taking this. He is not going to bully me. Miraculously, I stood up even though my body told just to lie down. Deep breaths rose out of as the adrenaline started pumping. My whole being screamed for sweet revenge.  Being blooded or battered wasn't going to stop me. Hidden instincts showed themselves.  In an instant my body was in and out of the pouncing stance and dashing towards the huge griffon with my fists blazing.

Have you ever had that moment where you wish you could reverse time and take a different approach to events in your life? Well I'm having one. This abomination lifts up one talon and used all his strength to thrust his knife into the left side of my forehead. That along with the force of my running assisted his talon in sinking deep into head. Blood shot out covering the feathers around my head and neck in red. Depressingly, he wasn't done. While his finger was inserted into my head, he twisted his it inside of my wound over and over again. A painstakingly awful scream arose in my throat, but when I was about to release it he forcefully wrapped his free hand around my beak. He told me to quiet down or I wouldn't survive. The look in his eyes showed that he was having fun. The sick bastard. Leisurely, he began to extract his talons, however; he stopped, so the tip of his terror tool was still inside. A sick wicked smile formed across his lips. What was this psycho about to do? I'll tell you. With one quick swipe he carved a line into my skin.   Blood gushed out my face like a fountain the second he was done with the cut. Instantly my battered body fell onto of the cold stone floor. The vision in my left eye started to fill with red before completely darkening out. From my right eye I could see freshly torn apart flesh and a pool of blood spreading across the floor. It felt really warm.

"HAHA! It's glad to know we have a fighter within our ranks. I thought you were just some street trash looking for a place to sleep ,but it seems I was proven wrong." From what I could still barely managed to see was that his faced transferred back into a nonchalant emotion. Oddly enough, he picked me up and hoisted me unto his back.

"Let’s get you to a doctor."

The last words I remember mumbling were  "You...sick...bastard. I'll kill you." Of course I probably didn't mean it at the time.

"Save it for training ,lad. And you will have to complete your laps after your doctor’s visit." He suggested. "Oh. I almost forgot. The name is General Warclaw. Have you heard of me?"

He never got the answer to that questioned since I had passed out from blood loss. After awhile of lying on his back, his clothes were drenched in my blood. The only sound he tells me that I made was a gurgling noise as if I was choking on my own blood. With this in mind 'General' Warclaw began to fly towards the medical ward. If you were there that day, you could have seen the trail of blood leading from my first skirmish in Equestria all the way to my first hospital visit.

"Yes. This one will need some training indeed."