Feathers and Chains

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Hunt
Chapter 2: Friend or Enemy?
Chapter 4: Among Assassins
Chapter 5: Will you wake up?
Chapter 6: The proposition
Chapter 3: Remembering the Past

Chapter 1: The Hunt

It was night in Canterlot, Luna raised the moon just a few hours ago and the streets were deserted, the bustle of the residents of the great city transformed into a deathly silence, no citizen was out at this hour but there are some that like to creep in the night, where they can´t be seen.

That´s the way you work, nopony has ever seen your face and if they did, they never lived to tell, your profession wasn´t well seen by everypony but you never cared, work its work and someone had to do it, you had a troubled past and when the opportunity appeared you didn´t hesitate by taking it.

They found you and trained you as an assassin, you knew some other assassins, including your trainers because you trained with them but they weren't the friendly type.

You were silently running and jumping from roof to roof, thanks to your training and that you didn´t have hooves, yes you didn´t have hooves your front legs were those of a bird and your hind legs of a lion, you were a Griffin and were focused on just one thing, complete your mission and get the hell out of there, your destination, some noble’s house, the order, kill the noble, no collateral damage no casualties, the reason, he was secretly selling weapons and slaves to the diamond dogs and one of your boss's client wasn’t happy with that.

You never doubted the orders you got and if they tell you that someone has to die and give you a good reason, there was no reason to doubt their veracity, the way they communicated the orders to you, were through letters that were left where you could see them.

When you reached to the noble´s house, you saw a two floors house surrounded by a fence and four guards patrolling every side, two earth ponies and two Pegasus, that was an ability you had, as a predator, you can see in the dark and have a sharp sight.

“No casualties just kill him and disappear”. You thought, and with a powerful jump you flew to the house's roof.
You had done this for so long and learned some things that you only learned the hard way, like that the Pegasi can distinguish the sound of a flapping, you knew that and not wanting to alert the guards, you flew using the air currents until you landed on the roof of the noble´s house.

Your natural colors could betray you even under the dim moonlight, another trick of the job, just some soot and a black bandana on your face, made difficult to the guards to find you, the costumes are a less messy but restricts your movement and in a fight that can cost your life.

Looking for a way to enter into the house, you spotted an open window, poking your head you looked for any enemies, was a little room, some toys, a desk and a bed, on the bed was sleeping a little filly, another reason of why not everyone wanted to do this job, the thought of leaving children without parents to protect, but you never left this bothered you, you always kept your emotions controlled and carefully you approached the door.

Again you poked your head through the door, looking for a potential threat and any indication of where was your target, there was no light in the hall and your informant told you that he would be at home at this time.

“He should be downstairs then”. During your trek to the stairs, all your senses were alert for a trap or ambush, when you reached the stairs there was only one room lit, silently you descended the stairs and went to the room.

The room was an office with bookcases on the sides and a large wooden desk in the center, behind that desk was a pony with gray fur and black mane, he was focused on some papers on his desk and didn´t notice your presence.

After some seconds, he realized that someone was in the room with him and raising his view he saw you but before he could call the guards or grab any weapon he could handle, you pounced over him and stabbed your claws on his neck.

He struggled and kicked trying to separate from you but only make you to tighten your grip, after several seconds, his struggles ceased, you retracted your claws and left him in a pool of his own blood.

Capitan shining armor had been awakened by a guard, who informed him about the murder of a nobleman and was heading to the crime scene, already in the scene he saw the corpse of the noble on the floor, already pale from blood loss.

“What do we have?”. Asked Shining to the medical examiner.

Still checking the body the examiner replied.
“Mr. Quill, one of the main weapons vendors of His Majesty”.

“Cause of death?”.

Carefully the medical pony examined the wounds.

“Several stab wounds to the neck, if I’m not wrong those wounds were made by a griffon”.

“That blasted assassin, this is his fifth murder”. Said Shining, hitting the ground harshly.

“I don’t know why he´s doing this, but all his targets were powerful nobles and diplomats”.
Shining Armor just sighed and replied.

“I do not know either, but I have to find out, thanks for your help”. Then turned around and returned to the palace and to his office, inside his office were several records of murders, but he just grabbed five, five murders in less than three months, five influent and powerful targets.

He took a seat and started to read the files. “What are you looking for?”. Shining said while he was reading the records for a second time.

On the other side of Canterlot, in a safe house took place a meeting between some ponies and griffins, several of them was arguing angrily.

“How can this be possible!?, We can´t do business knowing that there is a murderer on the loose”. Said one of them.
“We must seek him and kill him”. Said a griffin.
“For what? For being suspected of murder”.
“You know it's worth the risk” answered the griffin.

A white Pegasus on the head of the table lifted his hoof to notify everyone to be silent, he was the most powerful of them and when everypony were silent he stood up and said.

“Friends, we are here because we have a mutual enemy, I know nopony wants to get their hands dirty, so my proposal is that we leave this to the royal guard”.
“And what the royal guard could do where others have failed”. Quickly replied another pony.
“They're going to catch him”.

Everypony exchanged confused glances and after seconds, one asked.
“How?”.
“We will tell them where to find the assassin”.
“This is ridiculous, how we are going to tell them where to find him, if even we don´t know?”. Coldly said a brown Pegasus.
“Oh but we know, he will try to murder one of us and if we alert the guard, they will be waiting for him”.

Everypony began to consider the plan and then all agreed.
“What we have to do?”.
“This is what we will do…”.

You woke up by the sound of your stomach whining, but you had nothing to eat, since you decided to sleep in different places in order to avoid being tracked you were staying at an diferent inn every night, so you decided to go out and find something to eat.

Outside the tavern, you were on the farthest district from the castle, where was a restaurant that you visited a few times because there was less presence of the guards on the area, on your way to the restaurant, a cart that fell caught your attention and without realizing you bumped with somepony else.

“Sorry”. You said quickly, without stopping to see who bumped you.
“Wait!”. A female voice replied.

When you turned to see who she was, you were astonished to see soldier griffins in Canterlot, they were two males and one female, examining them more closely you realized that they were imperial guards.

The female who had white feathers, watched you closely and you prepared yourself for any type of confrontation, after a
while she said.

“I didn´t know there were other griffins here in Canterlot”.
“There are a few, but they aren´t the friendly type but tell me what brings you here miss…?”.
“Captain Aria of the imperial guard and you are?”.
“Gavin”. You quickly answered, of course that wasn´t your name, you have had different names throughout your life and
after some time was easy for you to have a false identity.

“So Gavin, we´re on official business of the empire”.
“And could I know what kind of business are?”. You said with a curious expression.
“Sorry Gavin but that's classified, also I don't know you enough”. Aria finished the last sentence with a wink, the other griffins were angry to see their captain flirting with you, with a cough one of them interrupted and told her that they had to leave.

“Sorry Gabin I have to go, I hope to see you again”.
“Me too”.

When she was leaving, you couldn´t help it and examined her flank, she looked back knowing that she caught you looking and shook her rump, making you to look away blushing.
After they left, your stomach reminded you were was you going and turning around, you went to eat something.

Aria on her way to the castle, for his audience with the princess Celestia, couldn´t take out of her head, the griffin she had just met.

“I recall seeing that griffin before”. But she could not remember where she had seen him, so she dismissed that thought and shrugged.

When they reached the castle gates, two guards stopped them and after identifying them, one of the guards led them to the throne room.

In the throne room there was some nobles, including our conspirators and Princess Celestia who received them with a smile.
“Good to see you here”.
“We came as soon as we were told”. Replied Aria
“And you are aware of the delicacy of the situation?, it's a griffin we are talking about and it is better that you take care of him”.
“Of course Princess, we will take action on the matter and we will catch him as soon as possible”.
“Seem right but some nobles are afraid for their safety, so I will assign Captain Shinning Armor and several royal guards to you”.
“Thank you Princess”.

When Aria was reunited with Captain Shining and the guards, she began to explain the plan.
“We will take some soldiers and guard the noble´s houses and I don´t want anyone around the houses or the murderer will not attack”.

Everypony nodded and were with their respective leaders.
Captain Shining approached to Aria and asked.
“Are you sure he´s going to attack?”.

You were on your way to your next target, a pony that destroyed an entire wolf town to keep their lands, lands that are of interest to some clients of your bosses, when you reached to the house, you saw a window on the second floor illuminated, making sure no one was around, you walked to the wall below the window, but before you could climb and kill your target the area suddenly lit up and a Pegasi guard tackled you.

While you and the guard were rolling, you pushed yourself with your hind legs and landing on top of the guard, you hit him as hard as you can, leaving him unconscious.

“Surrender!”. Shouted Captain Shining Armor.

Without thinking twice you tried to fly but a barrier prevented your escape, Captain Shining had put a shield around you.
“Don’t move!”. He shouted again.

Seeing you were surrounded by eight Pegasi guards and two unicorns, you had no other choice than to stay still, before you knew it an unicorn cast a sleep spell and you fell unconscious.

Author's Note

I apologize in advance for my poor grammar, i'm still learning.
I expect that you enjoyed the first chapter and also tell me if i miss italics.

Chapter 2: Friend or Enemy?

When you wake up, your body lay on the floor, your left wing way for bearing your body while you were asleep, when you lift your leg to try to relieve your pain, you realized that you had shackles, but not only in your legs because you couldn't move your wings.

You tried to take off the shackles, until a sound caught your attention, quickly you laid down on the floor and pretended to be asleep.

“We have caught him”.
“And where is he?”.

When the noises were close Aria appeared with two griffins and looked at you in shock.
“Gavin?”.
You lifted your head to see her but didn´t say anything.

She was in shock, the griffin that had flirted with a few hours ago, was the murderer that was causing tension between the griffins and ponies.
“Why you did it?”.
“…”.

Then a guard angrily said.
“She asked you a question scum”.

Aria knew you would not talk with her with the two guards present.
“It´s ok, Thunder, Jhol leave me alone with him”.
“Are you serious?”. Asked Jhol.

Aria looked at the two griffins with an annoyed look, they just waved and left.
Looking to you again and with a serious look, she asked.

“Gavin, if that´s your name, tell me why did you kill all these nobles and diplomats?”.
You knew only one thing, whatever you did, you were dead man once an assassin is caught, this must die to avoid revealing any secrets, although he has not spoken.

“…”. You were sure this was your end, all yours “Friends” would deny knowing you, but you never would talk because despite being a murderer, you weren't a rat.

Aria frowned, took the key and entered the cell to interrogate you.
“I'll tell you once more, tell me why you did it?, who you work for?”.
“…”.

She then punched you in the face, you just received the blow but you didn't answered or changed your expression and she angrily shouted.

“If you don´t tell me in this instant I will kill you”. She said bluffing.

You didn´t say anything, your cheek began to turn red by the blow that I had given, she looked at you with a murderous look.
She raised her paw to hit you again but stopped when she heard the two griffins calling her, she turned to see them and while was distracted, you took the key from her belt.

Aria turned to see you again and said.
“This isn´t over, I will see you in the trial”. When she turned you knew that she would realize soon that you had the keys and quickly opened the shackles of your legs.

You charged at her, but not to kill her, there was no reason to do so, even the Princess knew your face now, your whole life you kept a low profile and everything was ruined in one night, when you were next to Aria, you pushed her, causing her to lose balance, you ran through the door and closed it behind you.

Thunder charged at you, but you bent down on your back and with your hind legs, you launched Thunder against the cell bars knocking him, the other guard charged too and you dodged him and with a kick, he crashed with Thunder.
“If I manage to get out of here, you´re done!”. Shouted Aria behind you.

Approaching to her, you said.
“I have nothing against you, but if you do not leave me alone I'll have to kill you”.

She threw you a swipe in response, but you dodged, she continued yelling things to you, which caused the two griffins be awakened from his sleep, so you ran out of the dungeon.

Running through the halls of the castle, you tried to find a way out but all there was were hallways and closed doors, after
several minutes running, you found an open window a few feet from where you were.
You tried to open the shackles on your wings but could only open one, because in a hallway near to you Shining Armor appeared.

“Hey you!”.

You looked at him, then to the window and then he realized what you thought, shouted.
“Stay where you are!”.

You ran towards the window, with one wing still shackled and jumped off hoping to fall in soft ground, flapping your free wing you tried to stop your fall speed, until you landed on the stone floor on your right side, coughed some blood and tried to get up, but a sharp pain in your right leg did you fell back, our right leg was broken and your wing severely hurt.

Hearing the guards approaching to where you were, ignoring the pain, you opened the other shackle and flew toward the Everfree forest.

Aria approached where you've landed, followed by some guards when she arrived Shining captain was already looking at the place.

“Where is he?”. Aria angrily asked.
“I do not know, but he can´t be far away, he's bleeding”.

On the place where you crashed, there were some feathers and a bit of blood, the footprints that you left didn´t help to know where you headed, because you took flight.

“Captain Shining you know this city better than I, take the royal guard and seek him, I will go to the forest and will try to find him there”. Replied Aria.

Everypony took their respective directions and the hunt started, when Aria and his two guards reached to the forest, she motioned to them to spread to cover more terrain and she headed to a nearby lake.

You were flying but you could not go on like this for a long time, the intense pain in your wings made you land in a nearby lake, and decide to examine your wounds, two ribs and a broken leg, internal damage, your right wing was not fit to fly and some minor cuts on your right side, after examining your wounds, you approached to the water to cleanse you a bit.

She spotted you and landed a few feet from you.

“Surrender and come with me”.
“I told you to leave me alone”.

She didn´t care and started walking toward you.

Then you turned to her and replied.
“I´m warning you”. You stood in an aggressive position, without standing on your broken leg.
“And what are you going to do?, you can barely stand up, you are still bleeding and had an sprained wing and broken leg”.
Then she stepped forwards and continued.
“You´re going to be judged for killing those innocents”.

You started to laugh and she arched an eyebrow.
“What's so funny?”.
“You called them innocents but I call them enslavers and murderers”.
“Do you think I’m going to believe that, you are just a cold murderer”.
“I could have killed you back in the cell, but I didn´t”. You retorted.

Aria thought for a moment and then replied.
“You made a valid point but you still are under arrest, so come with me”.
You just growled at her and replied.
“I can´t go back there, if they find me they will kill me”.
“What? Who?”. Asked Aria with a surprised look.
“Everypony who had a connection with me or to whom I have ruined their business, now that everypony will know who I am, they will try to silence me”.
“I’m sure we can protect you”.

You were starting to get angry by his insistence and angrily replied.
“No you can!, they have ears and eyes everywhere and have more power than you and me”.

Aria was taken aback by your angry response, when you realized, that you were scaring her you lowered your head and you coldly said.
“You can let me go right now or you will need to end my life”. Aria watched you for a while, trying to find some sign of lying in your eyes or a reason to just kill you right there, after a while she sighed and replied.

“Wait here”.

She went to a nearby tree trying to find something, your instinct told you you escape but something stopped you, you did not know what it was but you decided to pay attention, while you expected for her, you started to lick your wounds like a wounded animal.

When she returned with something in her beak that seemed like a plant you asked.
“Are you going to kill me?”.
“What!? No, I was looking for this”. She had a kind of moss and began to chew, putting it on a leaf, you indicated that you gave your leg, she carefully took your leg and put the moss where the fracture was and applied pressure, you closed your eyes tight and you stiffened while your leg screamed in pain.

“You can open your eyes now, Tough boy”. She said with a smirk.

You didn’t notice but she managed to bandage your claw, seeing this you feel confused, “is this what ponies mean by kindness?”.

You were seeing your claw and looking at her you asked.
“Why?”.
“Pardon?”. Aria made a confused look.
“Why do you help me?”.
“Hey, I’m trying to be nice”.
“No, what I mean it’s that no one helped me before”.
“Don´t say that, I think your friends would have helped you”.
“When you do what I do, nopony want to be your friend”.

Aria was silent and with a smile she replied “I still don’t trust you but if you promise me to be a good griffin, I will try to be your friend”.

You stayed surprised by his words, you knew that you could not escape in these conditions and even if you could make it, she would try to catch you again, so you opted for the only option you had.

“I Promise”.

She approached her claw to you but before you could grab her, a brown blur tackled you and sent you flying into the lake.
“Why you did that!”. Aria angrily shouted to Thunder.
“What?, he´s an assassin”.
“But he wasn´t trying to escape”.

Thunder just shrugged and Jhol appeared on the scene, landing near them.
“Where is he?”. Asked Jhol
“I tackled him and now he´s into the water”.
“Thunder?”. Asked Aria.
“What”.

“He´s not coming out”.

Author's Note

I didn't have time to write a long chapter, but I hope you like it

Chapter 4: Among Assassins

Previous Chapter
(She grabbed your head. “And this is”. You shut your eyes preparing for the incoming pain but instead of pain, you felt her beak met yours with a kiss.)

Your mind stopped working, you had been in love with some Griffins, even a few mares, but what you felt when she kiss you, you couldn´t describe it, you felt your heart trying to get out of your chest, seconds seemed hours to you and a few seconds after she broke the kiss to catch his breath.

“For saving me”.

You had a goofy expression, Aria tilted her head with a confused look and waved her claw in front of your face.
“Hello, its somepony there?".

You didn´t respond and after some intents to try to get your attention she shrugged and said.
“I think I broke you”. Then she reclined you on the bed and said.
“Goodnight see you tomorrow”.

Aria walked outside, happy to meet a griffin that wasn´t trying to dominate her, like the others, she felt good to be around you, she knew too that you are a prisoner, but that doesn´t discourage her.
"Maybe I can persuade the Princess, so he will be with me".

That thought filled his heart with emotion and made her jump in the air.

You woke up by the sound of somepony walking into the room, when you opened your eyes, you saw a pink mare with green mane and tail, she noticed you were awake and said.

“Good morning, I’m Nurse Lily and I will take care of you, if you need something at night just call for me”.

You nodded, she smiled and asked.
How do you feel?”.

You returned the smile and replied. “I’m fine thanks”.
“Good, I’m going to change your bandages and then you can rest, breakfast will be ready at ten”.

She carefully removed the bandages that you have on your midsection and wing, your injuries were healing quickly, not quickly enough because some white griffin, after she finished putting some fresh bandages, she said her goodbyes and walked outside to cheek others patients.

Since you was still chained to the bed, there was nothing you could do, so your mind wandered thinking about yesterday, remembering Aria kiss made you blush, you dismissed that thought thinking about anything else.
“I'm still trapped here and if an assassin decides to strike, I'm vulnerable”. You thought.

“What if Aria is an assassin, or that nurse, she seemed to kind, I can´t trust anypony”. There was an hour left until breakfast, and being chained to a bed doesn´t let you do much, so you decided to take a quick nap to clear your thoughts.

“Good morning sleepy head”.

You slowly opened your eyes to meet Aria´s face just a few inches from yours, you just yelped in surprise making Aria giggle.
“And I thought you'd still be like last night”.

“I need to concentrate, I have to know if she´s an assassin”.

Aria saw that you were with a blank expression and said.
“Don´t you remember?”.

You were thinking in a way to avoid her, but your train of thought was stopped when Aria grabbed your head and said with a grin.
“Maybe I can help you remember”. She leaned and kissed you, again your mind went blank, but this time your instincts reacted in time when you heard somepony opening the door.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t know that your marefriend was here”. It was Nurse Lily, who was bringing your breakfast.

You broke the kiss and blushing replied.
“What!?, she´s not my marefriend”.

Aria saw how embarrassed you were, a malevolent thought came to her and quickly she threw herself at you.
“After what we have done all these nights you still deny our love?”. Aria said with fake sobs and tears.

You could see Nurse Lily blushing.
“Err… I will come later”. She hurried to the door.
“Wait! That’s not true”. You replied but she didn´t hear you and left the room.

When the Nurse left the room, Aria was laughing on the floor with tears in her eyes.
You looked at her with anger and said.
“Why did you said that?”.
“To see the expression on your face, it was priceless”.

You just looked aside outraged, but quickly looked at her when you felt her climb on your bed, she was on top of you, she carefully leaned with a seductive face, drops of sweat were falling from your forehead and approaching to your ear she whispered.

“Also I wouldn't mind making that true”. She licked your ear and you froze, because you felt something waking up down there, she felt it too and with a devilish grin said.

“And I think you wouldn´t mind either”.

With the little will, that those comments let you. You weakly replied.
“no”.

“No? And you think you will stop me?”. Said Aria while pointed to your shackles, she just laughed and leaned to caress your neck with her beak, kissing and licking it, you tried to keep focused.
You didn’t realize. But after a moment, you were moaning.

“So you're starting to enjoy?”. Asked Aria.

You closed your eyes tight and shook your head, trying to concentrate and regain your control.
She giggled and said. “A tough guy eh, I can change that”.

Aria was about to kiss you again but you rolled your head aside, every time she tried to kiss you, you did the same, this was a game for her and she was enjoying it.

After several tries, she grabbed your head and she kept it in place, then she slammed her beak against yours, she was rolling her tongue against your beak, but you refused its entry, with a slight poke on your side, you yelped by the sudden pain and her tongue entered in your beak, her tongue memorizing every part and rubbing yours.

Everything around you disappeared, you and Aria were moaning, and after a while she broke the kiss, a thread of saliva connecting yours beaks, She was heavily breathing.
“That… that wasn´t bad, maybe I can keep you chained”.

You just tried to regain your breath and your senses slowly were coming back, then you could feel Aria getting off of the bed.

“That was fun but I need to meet Captain Shining”. She headed for the door but before she crossed the door, she turned and winking to you, said.
“But you could be sure I will return soon”.

When she left the room, your mind started to argue with you.
“What the buck just happened, can you control yourself please”.
“It´s no my fault that she acted like that, also her eyes, lips and well built fla… ughh, I need to stop thinking about her”.
“If you continue like that, you will get you killed!”.

Aria walked to Shining office, when she entered she was greeted by Princess Celestia who was talking with the Captain.
“Tell me Aria, how´s the prisoner?”. Asked Celestia.
“He´s recovering”.

“And he has said something?”. Quickly asked Shining.
“I interrogated him twice but he still resists, but I think that I´m doing some progress”.

“Maybe the Princess can use a spell to look in his memories”. Retorted Shining.
Aria froze at the thought of Princess Celestia discovering about her little encounter with you and hesitantly replied.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, if the griffin authorities knowing about this, they will be angry”.

Celestia arched an eyebrow and looked at the griffin, Aria felt her legs like jelly and the Princess replied.
“Fine, because I see that he trust you the most, you will take care of him”

Aria sighed and relaxed.
“But if he tries to escape again or hurt any of my ponies, no law or king will save him from me, it´s that clear?”.
“Yes Princess”. Aria bowed and walked outside, heading to your room to tell you the news.

You were unable to stop thinking about Aria, the way you felt when she kiss you, the way she acted in the morning, your heart started the beat faster just by the thought of her but your thoughts were dissipated by somepony walking inside.

A white Unicorn mare with red mane in nurse suit entered into the room, you had a bad sensation about this mare and asked.
“Who are you?”.

She turned and with a smile replied.
“I’m Nurse Mary”.

Then she started to close the windows, you could see that was already night and you Remembered what nurse Lily told you, if you needed her at night, you would have to call her.

“What happened with Nurse Daisy and Doctor Needle?”. Those names were fake, if the nurse looked confused then she was fine but if she recalled those names then your fears will come true.

“They had an emergency and they had to leave”. Said the Nurse with a smile.
Your fears were confirmed and quickly replied.

“Really?, because I just made up those names”.
The nurse´s smile faded and she turned to see you.
“You made some ponies get angry… dangerous ponies”.

You knew that you couldn´t do anything and leaning your head on the pillow, you closed your eyes and said.
“If you are going to kill me, do it quickly”.
She approached to you and floating a pillow with her magic pressed it against your face, at first you were calm, but when you started to suffocate, the desperation builds up on you and started to struggle.

Chapter 5: Will you wake up?

Aria walked into your room, happy to see you again, She wanted to tell you how she felt about you and was determined to tell you., but when she entered all her dreams broken by what she saw, before her were you, lying motionless on the bed with a unicorn mare pressing a pillow on your face.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”. Aria shouted as loud as she could.

The unicorn looked at her, she smiled and with a flash was gone, Aria rushed to your side and retrieved the pillow from your face.

“Wake up, please… Wake up!”.
Aria was crying, she put her ear over your chest, your heart beat was weak and by the sound of it, you wouldn't make it.
“Nonononononono!”. Said Aria, already panicked and tried again to wake you but you didn't respond.

“Help please!”. Nurse Lily and a guard that was being released rushed to the door at the sound of the screams.
“What Happened?”. Asked the guard.
“Someone tried to kill him, call Captain Shining now!”.

The guard ran to notify the captain and Nurse Lily called for a doctor.
When the doctor arrived they started the reanimation procedure and the nurse requested Aria to wait outside.

Aria was curled on the hall, crying from seeing you dying on the bed, she only could hear the doctor trying to reanimate you and every time he stopped talking, Aria contained her breathing, before she could break on that hall a hoof rested on her shoulder, she looked at the hoof owner, only to see the Princess.

“Princess?”. Weakly asked Aria.
Celestia nodded.

Aria forgot all the norms of behavior with royalty and hugged her crying on her shoulder, Celestia was surprised by the sudden action but after she started to pat Aria´s back.

“There, there, don’t worry he will be fine”. Despite how much Celestia defended her ponies, she still cared for all the creatures on Equestria.
“That´s not true, he… he’s dead”.

Celestia broke the hug and lifting her head, asked.
“Do you love him?”.

“What?”.
“I suspect by how you behaved in the captain's office, now tell me, do you love him?”.
“Yes”. Aria replied weakly, trying to undo the knot in her throat.

“Then do not lose hope”. The two waited for five long minutes, for Aria was a torment, which worsened when the doctor left the room, his face drained..

“How is he?” asked Celestia.
The doctor fell silent for a moment and that didn´t help Aria.
“He will make it, but he will be in observation by a nurse and I want somepony watching him all day”.

When the doctor finished Shining Armor appeared with a dozen of guards.
“Where is the prisoner?”.
“He´s fine Captain and the killer gone”. Replied Celestia
“Also I want you to transfer him to my personal room in the medical center”. She added.
“Immediately”. Then he turned to the guards and said.
“Lock the castle, no one can enter or go out and I want somepony guarding the prisoner at every time”.
“I think that won’t be necessary Captain”. Said Celestia.
“Pardon?”.
“Captain Aria will take care of that”. Then the Princess motioned to the griffin, just to find she was missing.
“Where is she?”. Asked Captain Shining.

Sobs and cries coming from the room caught everypony attention, when they went to look the source of the sobs, they found Aria on the bed hugging you, snuggling against your chest that was now rising and falling faintly.

“You can go Captain, I will teleport them”. Commanded Celestia.
Captain Shining and the guards bowed and rushed to look for the assassin.

When everypony left the room, Celestia approached to the bed and Aria looked at her and tightened his hold.
“Calm down Aria, I will teleport us to my personal medical room”. And with a bright flash they were in a bigger room, on a massive bed.

“I have to go now, take good care of him”. Celestia disappeared with another flash leaving Aria and you alone.
Aria puts a blanket on you, took one of your claws and put it around her and with a final kiss on your cheek she fell asleep.

Aria woke up feeling soreness in his throat, yawning and scratching her eyes then she realized that she wasn´t in your room, desperately she examined her surroundings, when a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention, there were you, sleeping peacefully, she sighed and quietly whispered.

“I’m sorry, I will not leave you again”.

Then she leaned again at your side and saw how you slept, she kept seeing you for minutes until someone walked in the room and made Aria jump off the bed in a defensive stance.
“Oh sorry dear, I didn´t want to wake you”. Said Nurse Lily.

Aria relaxed and returned to the bed.
“I will bring you something to eat and then I need to change his bandages”.

She just nodded and the nurse went for her breakfast, when the nurse entered in the room again, she saw Aria standing on a defensive stance again.

She let out a small laugh and said. “Relax sweetie, there´s nothing to worry, if anypony want to reach to this room, first has to pass through four guards and only Captain Shining, the Princess and I, are allowed to enter this room”.

The nurse placed the breakfast on a nearby table and looked to Aria.
“There´s a bathroom in the left door, go and take a bath, I will change his bandages”.

Aria looked at you, trying to decide if she could let you alone with the nurse, resigned she got up from the bed and went to
take a bath, she entered into the shower and let her worries go away with the water.

When she finished, she went to the Bedroom and found that Nurse Lily had finished putting the bandages and wasn’t here, she looked at you, seeing how peacefully you were sleeping, your feathers were a mess and your breathing weakly.

Aria couldn´t do much more than wait for you to wake up, so she ate her breakfast and then she lay by your side.
“Please wake up, I couldn´t tell you how I feel for you”. With tears eyes she looked at you with the hope that you'll wake up, nothing happened and she sniffed and kissed you.
“I love you”.

Your eyes were tired, every breath burned and your head ached, like if somepony has been screaming to you for hours, slowly you opened your eyes to find yourself in a dark room, this room was bigger and seemed more expensive, you examined your surroundings.

“Where am I?… I´m dead?”. You said to nopody.

Then a shadow suddenly appeared on a nearby door, it was Aria with tears in her eyes.
“Aria! What a…”.
You were stopped by a white blur, embracing you tightly, a pain on your right side confirmed that you weren´t dead, you were shocked and didn´t know how to react, so you copied Aria´s action and hugged her back.

“What happened?”. You asked.

She didn’t respond, just tightened the hug and started to cry, you were confused so you broke the hug, you could see her with a streak of tears on her face with red eyes and holding Aria by her shoulders, you asked again.
“Aria what happened?”.
“Someone tried to kill you”. Replied Aria quietly, not wanting to remember the traumatizing scene.

As you hear her words you remembered everything that happened with the assassin.
“And who saved me?”.

“I caught the assassin in your room trying to kill you but he escaped and when I rushed to help you, you…”. Aria said, choking the last words and tears falling again.

You wiped her tears with your claw and hugged her.
“It´s ok”.
“No!, it’s not ok, I was scared, seeing you dead on the bed, I tried to wake you but you weren´t responding... I believed that had lost you!”.

You were taken aback by Aria´s burst and quickly replied.
“You were worried for me?, I’m just a murderer, why do you care about me? ”.

She lowered her head and weakly replied.
“Because I… I love you”.
“What?”:
“Because I love you”.

You leaned to hear better and asked again.“What do you s…”. Before you could finish, she gave you a quick kiss on your beak and said.
“I love you”.

You were dumbstruck by her words, thousand of thought crossed in your mind and caused you a headache, you grabbed your forehead with your claw trying to ease the pain.

“What´s wrong?”. Asked a worried Aria.
“My head hurts”. you winced by the pain growing in your head

Aria leaned on the bed and put your head on her chest and began to caress your head, you were blushing and hesitantly asked.
“What are you doing?”.
“It’s something my mom did when I had a headache”.

The pain in your head started to disappear, so you didn’t complained again, you closed your eyes and with the gentle touch of her, you fell asleep.

Chapter 6: The proposition

You were in your old room in the hospital, but you weren´t in your body, when you approached to the bed you could see yourself lying on, you grabbed a pillow and pressed against you or your body, you were shocked by the view, you were killing yourself and you tried to stop.

After you tried several times, the control returned to you and removing the pillow to see yourself, you gasped by seeing that you weren’t behind the pillow, there was Aria with a look of horror.
Everything started to get dark and you fall into a void.

You were mumbling and sweating, causing to Aria to wake up, when she realized that you were having a nightmare she tried to wake you.
“Hey, wake up”.

You suddenly opened your eyes and you got up, screaming and breathing heavily, when you looked to Aria you realized that was just a nightmare and embraced her as tight as you can.
“Can´t… breathe”. She said while was patting your shoulder.

You quickly broke the hug and holding her by her shoulders, started to check if she was injured, when you confirmed that she was fine, you sighed and replied.
“I´m sorry I had a nightmare and thought that you were dead”.

Since there was nothing to worry, the adrenaline started to fade and the result of your sudden burst started to pay back, maybe you were alive by a miracle, but your now new condition, was not the healthiest and you started to get dizzy.

“You need to be more careful”. Aria noticed that it was morning… *grumble* and that you hadn´t eaten in a day. “I´m going to find you some breakfast and don´t try to get up or I will bring the shackles again”.

You blushed remembering the scene that you shared with her two days ago and blurted out.
“You were lucky that I was unconscious”.
She turned and arched an eyebrow.
“What do you say?”.
“Nothing”. You said with an innocent smile.
“That´s what I thought”.

When Aria returned, you ate your breakfast and chatted about your hobbies and likes, after an hour Aria noticed your dirty and uncombed fur and said.
“I think it´s time you take a bath”.

You refused and you hid underneath the blankets, she giggled and crawled under the blankets too and started to tickle you with no sign of mercy.
“Please stop jajaja I will bathe, I swear”.
She stopped, you were lying on your back, and she leaned and kissed you.
“That´s better, now mister to the bathroom”.

You got up off the bed, but in the first step you did, a pain in your leg makes you trip over and landed head first, groaning and swearing your fault of memory, Aria said.
“You have to be the world's dumbest griffin”.

You threw her a glare and tried to get up, but the damage was done and you limped to the bathroom followed by Aria.
When you were in the bathroom, you saw a big mirror on the wall and took a look at your wounds, your wing, midsection and leg were still bandaged, but your minor cuts had disappeared, then you heard the shower turning on and looked to Aria.

“What are you doing?”.
“Well, you didn´t think that with a broken leg you could bath yourself”.
You started to protest and threatened to not take a bath.

Five minutes after you were in a bathtub and Aria was washing your head, you just stayed focused on the wall frowning because you lost against her, she motioned you to lend her one of your wings, of course you refused again, wings are very sensitive and you don´t lend just anypony to touch them.

“Could you make this easier please”. She said while was trying to grab your wing tip.
“Could be easier if you let me do it”. You replied, turning yourself to look at her.

She taped the edge of the tub and frowned, you keep glaring at her like a little griffin and after some seconds you sighed, you were aware that you could not beat her, so you reluctantly extended your left wing to her.
She started to hum and was washing your wing, taking extra care of your wing joints, that is a sensible place to every winged bean, so the pleasure started to build up in your body, you tried to entertain your mind with other things, the last time you visited the gryphon kingdom, your encounter with the assassin, but everything failed and you unwittingly let out a quiet moan.

“Someone is enjoying his bath?”.
You face were red, and glared at her over your shoulder.
“I’m just tired, that’s all”.
“Sure”. She giggled.

When she finished, she changed to your injured wing that was folded, when she grabbed the wing and started to unfold it, a sudden pain made you wince and to tense your body.
“Please be careful”.

She nodded and let free your wing, then she started to massage your wing joint, again the pleasure started to build up in your body, she keeps massaging making her way through your wing, until she reached to your wing tip, at that time your wing were fully extended but you didn’t feel any pain and she washed trying to not put much pressure on your injuries.
After she finished and make sure you were clean, she approached the tub and said with a mocking tone.“At least you don’t stink anymore”.

You started to mumble something.
"What?". She leaned over to hear better what you were saying and taking advantage of her carelessness, you grabbed her by the neck and threw her inside the tub.

You walked out of the tub and limped out the door, screaming. "I don´t regret nothing." looking for a place to hide, you found the only option, a closet big enough for two ponies.

Footsteps and dripping water could be hear near where you hid when a shadow cover the light filtering through the holes of the closet, you kept your breath, after a few seconds the shadow moved from where you were hiding, you breathed again. "I can´t believe this worked." you thought.

But before you could celebrate your victory, the closet doors were abruptly opened, revealing Aria with a wet and angry face.

You put the most innocent face you could.
“Hi… whoa!”. She grabbed a hind leg and began to drag you to the bed.
“Aria I’m sorry”.
“…”.
“Really, I’m sorry I will make up to you”. Despite being a bit smaller than you, she had strength and lifted you and put you on the bed without saying a word.

Aria took some sheets and use to tie your hind and front legs, not caring by your broke leg. She tied them tight.
“Aria you starting to scare me, pleasmmhmhmhh!”. Before you could finish apologizing for the third time, she took a blanket and gagged you.

You lowered your ears because you could see that she was smiling, a smile that disturbed you.
“Mhhh mmmhhh mhmhmmhhmmm”.
She held your head with her claw.
“Shh, I will go and dry myself and then we can talk about making up to me”. She said the last sentence with a seductive voice, drawing an imaginary line on your chest with her claw, until she stopped on your belly, a shiver ran through your spine and you started to struggle.

“Don’t move or you will regret it”. She began to move his claw below, you froze and shut your eyes tight, but before she could touch you down there, she stopped and retired her claw, when you opened your eyes, she wasn´t there and the bathroom light was on.

After half an hour that were a torture to you, but you used this time and you thought what you were going to tell her, she walked out of the bathroom, with her feathers perfectly groomed, you looked at her and struggled again, trying to lose your ties, she walked towards you and put a claw on your chest.
“Now, what about making up to me?”.
“Mmh mmmmmh!”.
“Oh how clumsy of me, I will take your gag and you have to convince me to not hurt you”.

Carefully she removed your gag, you opened and closed your beak, to lighten the pain that the gag was causing you.
She looked at you impatient. “I’m waiting”.

You looked into her eyes and said in a submissive voice.
“Can you untie my front legs, I promise not escape”.
She had a skeptical look and wasn´t convinced.
You lowered your ears. “Please”.

She rolled her eyes and began to untie you, when you were released, you grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the bed.
“You promised to not escape”. Aria replied with a disappointed tone.
You put your claws on each side of her head and looked straight into her eyes, trying to make her understand that what you were doing was sincere.

“I will not escape”.

“So what now, you will do another childish prank?”.

You approached to her face, until your beaks were about to touch and you could feel her breathing increase.
“I told you that I will compensate you”.

She closed her eyes and waited for the kiss, but you put a claw on his cheek, making her to open them again, you could read her corporal expression begging you to kiss her, but this wasn´t just another lustful moment and with a gentle tone asked.
“Aria will you want to be my special somegriffin?”.

She said nothing, just looked at you, you thought she was going to reject you and you chickened out, you were getting out of bed when she grabbed you by the neck and hugged you.

“I would like… I love you”.
You returned the hug.
“I love you too”.

Author's Note

I didn´t have much time to make a full review of this chapter and I have some choices about asking a proofreader for help, but i will do it when I finish my exams.

Chapter 3: Remembering the Past

The three griffins exchanged faces of concern and started to search for you on the shore of the lake.
“Great, now we need to look for a dead body, thanks Thunder”. Said Jhol.
“Hey, it’s not my fault that he tried to escape”. Replied Thunder.

When they were distracted, you jumped out of the water, landing on Thunder with your claws on his neck, raised your claw to kill him but Aria stopped you.
“Gavin stop!”.

You stopped and looked at your Aria. "but he atta..." But before you could finish speaking, a claw hit you in the stomach close to your broken ribs, the pain you felt was the worst of your life, you could not bear the pain and collapsed on the ground, coughing blood.

The blow Thunder gave you was not fatal, but your inner wounds bleed again.
“Do you need to kill him again?”. Sarcastically asked Jhol.
“He attacked me”.
“But you tackled him first”.
“Shut up you too”. Aria said, annoyed by their discussion. “Thunder because you seem to like him so much, you will carry him to the castle medical center and I don’t want him to be noticed, then you are dismissed”.

Thunder murmured something while carrying your weakened body and put you on your back.
“What you say?”. Asked Aria with eyes that seemed like daggers.
“Yes ma´am”. Then they took fly heading to the castle, your newly opened injuries drained the little energy you had and fell unconscious on Thunder´s back.

“That scum should be in a cell”.
“He´s a griffin citizen”.
“He´s a monster and will try to escape again!”.

You were waked by the Captain Shining shout, when you saw him, you growled at him and tried to escape but you couldn´t get up, you were lying on a bed with shackles on your claws and paws and tried to take off your shackles but the pain on your right claw proved that it was a bad idea.

“See, he´s trying to escape”. He threw an accusatory glare to you.

You were angrily growling but a press on your chest snapped you off your fury, you looked at the owner of that claw, it was Aria.
“Relax, you promised me to be a good griffin”.
You relaxed and rested your head on the pillow, still angrily looking to Captain Shining.

A yawn of you confirmed that you were still tired because of your wounds, Aria looking this, Said.
“Captain Shining my prisoner needs to rest, could you leave?, I will see you later”.
Shining with a snort replied. “The last time he was with you, he escaped”.

Aria just rolled her eyes. “That was an accident and if you do not trust me, you can take the key”.
The captain looked to Aria for a moment and shook his head then he turned and walked outside of the room.

When Shining was gone, Aria noticed that she still had her claw on your chest, blushing she quickly retired her claw, you still were watching at the spot Shining was standing seconds before.
“Umm… are you hungry?”.
“No… *grumble*, Yes”. She giggled at the sound of your stomach betraying you.

“Ok I will bring you something to eat, don’t go anywhere”. She chuckled at her joke and went to get you some food.
She didn't take too long, so that your stomach doesn't have to keep complaining, when Aria returned, she was carrying a bowl in his beak.

She approached with the bowl and said. “Here, let me help you”.
You grabbed the bowl and replied. “I can eat by myself”. And you tried to lift the bowl to eat but the shackles were too short and you couldn't reach it.

“But you can´t… “. Before she could finish his sentence, you reclined to reach the bowl, but the pressure on your broken ribs made you scream in pain and almost drop the bowl.

“I told you to let me help you”. She then took the bowl and lifted it to your face. “Here, eat”. you gave a little bite, but the taste was horrible and you spit it.
“It tastes awful”. You said while you stick out your tongue.

“They don´t let us eat meat here, so this is the closest thing”.
“And what is?”.
“Mushrooms now eat it or I will make you eat them”.

You closed your mouth and shook your head like a little griffin.
She arched an eyebrow and had an evil smile. “Is that so”. Then she slightly poked you on your right side, making you yelp and quickly shoved some mushrooms in your mouth.
You swallowed the mushrooms and your eyes watered, when you could control your urge to puke, you glared at Aria, who had an innocent look.

“You see, you liked”.

She was enjoying your company, you instead were angry with her and didn´t want to see her.
After you finished your meal, an awkward silence reigned, you didn´t want to talk to Aria and she was nervously fidgeting with her claws like if she wanted to say something.
You were watching through the window, watching some Pegasus flying through the sky.

“You know”. She said, catching your attention, you turned to see her
“I recall seeing you somewhere but I can’t remember, where did you live?”.

You made again your blank face to avoid her to interrogate you, one thing the assassins taught you, was to never speak or bad things could happen to you.

“Oh come one, the face again? I trusted you and you should trust me, please”.
You looked at her and saw her big puppy eyes and tried to resist, you were an emotionless assassin dammit but at the end she won.

“Okay! But I will only respond the questions that it deems necessary”.
“Yay, tell me where did you live?”. She said as she sat next to you.
“In the city of Talos”.

“What!? I lived in Talos too!, do you went to the griffin elementary?”.
“No”.

“The Stormclaw flying school?”.
“No”.

“Then which school you went?”.
“To any”.

“What?, Your parents didn't send you?”.
You keep silent for a moment and then answered.

“I never knew my parents”.
“… Oh I’m sorry, I didn´t know”. She felt sad for you and continued
“Who took care of you?”.
You looked at her and replied. “I can´t answer that”.

She rubbed her chin thinking in another question.
“What did you do before being an assassin?”.
“Beg on the streets, eat from the garbage and steal what I could”.

Something in Aria´s head was trying to tell her that she knew you from someplace but she couldn´t remember, maybe you were a friend of her childhood or her remember you for the wanted assassins records, she was lost in thought and didn´t hear you asking her.

“Aria?”.

She kept trying to remember where she knew you, but she was brought to reality by your shout.
“Aria!”.
“What!”.

I need you to scratch my ear, I'm itchy.
“Why don´t you do it".

You lifted your claws, shaking your shackles so she could see them.
“Oh, yea sorry”. Then she started to scratch your ear, when she began to scratch, you closed your eyes and started to fall asleep, and involuntarily started to purr, she giggled and whispered in your ear.

“Enjoying yourself?”.

You were taken off from your sleepiness by her commentary and blushing you answered.
“Of course not, in fact you can stop”. But she didn´t stop.
“Aria I told you can stop”.
“But your ears are so fluffy”. She started playing with your ears, you tried to get away from her but because you were chained, you couldn't do much, she spent some time playing and laughing, until you got tired and infuriatingly said.

“Can you stop now!”.
She frowned “Oh come one, you are a grumpy griffin”.

You rolled your eyes and turned your head to the other side, trying to sleep but Aria had other plans, bringing her claws at your side, she began to tickle you.
“Aria jajaja… please stop”. You yelled with the little air that you had, but she ignored you and increase her pace, you tried to get away, but it was useless, she just stopped until one of her seizures make you hit your wounded side making you yelp.
“Sorry sorry”.

You looked away and didn´t say anything to her.
“I'm sorry for hurting you”.

“…”.

“Please could you forgive me”. She then made the sad puppy eyes.
You tried to still be mad at her, but you couldn´t do it and with a sigh you replied.
“Ok I forgive you”.

She suddenly embraced you and didn´t noticed that she was hurting you again, you gave her a pat on the back and she broke the hug.

You knew that after you tried to escape the last time, she wouldn´t leave you alone and you didn´t want to suffer again, so you decide to make her to tell you a little about her.
“I told you a little about myself, what about you?”.

“Well, my parents were merchants and they wanted me to become a merchant like them but when I finished the school I went to the military academy and became an Imperial guard”.

“Why?”.

“Because when I was a little griffin, some griffins bullied me and I wanted to be strong and stand by myself”.
“I know what you mean, when I was younger I usually protected little griffins from bullies, like this griffin that I stole her bits bag”.

A memory in Aria´s mind awakened and hesitantly replied.
“Why do you did it if you protected griffins?”.

“Because I hadn´t eaten in three days and was desperate”. You answered
“But I felt bad for her and one day when she was attacked by some bullies I helped her to escape”. Then you frowned and added “And those bullies used me like a punching ba…”.

She slapped you, you were confused by her sudden change of mood and she had an angry face, also your legs were chained to the bed so you couldn´t do nothing.
“That´s for stealing my bits”.

You realized was she was meaning.
“You were that…”. You hesitantly replied.

She grabbed your head. “And this is”. You shut your eyes preparing for the incoming pain but instead of pain, you felt her beak met yours with a kiss.

Author's Note

Another quick chapter, Exams Exams everywhere D:

If i can i will publish another chapter today or tomorrow