Once Upon a Time

CHAPTER 1

I slowly opened my eyes and Immediately regretted it as I got blinded by sunlight. It seemed like I had cried myself to sleep. Moving my hand up to shield my eyes from the bright light, I quickly noticed that my body wasn’t numb anymore.

I closed my eyes and slowly breathe out. "Astra..."

The past is past, let it go. I always tell myself. She had her last request, and I'm going to do it. I'm gonna do my job and I'm not gonna fail...

Realizing that lying down here won’t solve anything, I began to stand up. I felt my legs wobbled and gave out, giving myself an embarrassing faceplant on the ground. “Fuck.” I cussed with a mouth full of dirt and wiped it off of my face. My body wasn’t numb anymore, but it seemed my legs still are.

Standing up slowly this time, I drew out the Benevolence, extended it to its maximum length and used it as a walking stick. Out there in the open I saw a bird flying, it looked at my direction and zoomed towards me.

I scratched my head in confusion, and squinted my eyes. I noted that it wasn’t a normal bird, it was an eagle with a body of… a lion? It was a griffin. Gripping the Benevolence tighter, my heart started beating faster. I can’t use my spear this time because it was the only thing that keeps me a balance.

Hastily reaching on my sleeve to draw a dagger but I dropped it as soon as I felt an excruciating pain emitting on my busted hand when I gripped the dagger. Looking ahead I saw the griffin only a few feet ahead of me.

Soon enough it collided with me. Getting the wind knocked out of me, I barely managed to brace my head as it struck the ground. I hissed in pain as I attempted to throw the griffon off of me, but with only one hand I found myself unable to.

It grabbed me by my collar and held me up close to its face, bearing an intent to kill before changing into a confused look. “Wait, you’re not a Minotaur," He said dropping me. I assumed it was a ‘he’ because his voice had a low muscular tone on it.

Reaching for the Benevolence I tried to get myself up again. “No shit," I said glaring at him.

He held a hand..er talon to help me, and I gladly took it. “I..uh—sorry about that, dude. I thought you were a minotaur. We griffons are quite….um hostile towards to minotaurs.” He said giggling. Looking at him I saw that he strips of blue on the edge of his feathers.

I recalled on what Astra said about the griffons, she said that the griffins and the minotaurs  are on a verge of war. It was only a matter of time before it a side draw a first blood. But why is that? I dismissed the question because it wasn’t my damn business.

“You okay dude?” he asked me. I nodded. “Sorry again for trying to ki—“ he stopped as soon as I punched him in the beak with my good hand, knocking him to the ground.

“Apology accepted.” I said smirking, and shaking my hand on the blow. Note to self never punch a griffon in its beak, it will hurt like hell, and better not break my only good hand.

He gave me a dirty look as he stood up, before laughing “Well, I guess I deserve that.” He said smiling. “By the way, the name’s Glide Streak,” He held up a talon. “you can call me Glide, and you are?”

“Michorean Vesper.” I said, dusting myself, getting rid of the grass and dirt off my clothes.

“Nice ta meet ya Mike, we cool now right?” I nodded as we shook hands…or claw.

I looked around to the mountain I saw the orbs flew, sadly I only saw where the gold one went. A moment later I felt my legs returning from its paralyzed state, I smiled at this. The thought of being able to walk without using the Benevolence as a walking stick eases me.

Glancing at Glide, I noticed him staring at me blankly. “Dude, what’s wrong with your hand?” he said pointing at my busted hand.

I raised my eyebrow in confusion before looking at my wounded hand. I finally noticed it was shaking. Rolling up the bandages I grimaced when I saw that the wound and the surrounding areas were black. The griffon behind me recoiled in shock as he saw the damage on my hand.

My eyes widened and I rolled up my sleeve and look at the cuts that the goblin gave me were in similar state. “Shit, the knife was poisoned!” I said out loud.

Glide gasp at my outburst. “Poison?! Dude, we need to get you to a healer fast!” he exclaimed. “C’mon, follow me I’ll lead you back to my village I think I know someone that can cure you." Glide said, taking off the ground.

“Wait, isn’t it dangerous to me to follow to your village?” I asked.

“Why, is that?”

“Well, if you had mistaken me for a minotaur, surely you griffon friends will and I don’t plan on getting beat up today.

“Just stay close to me, I’ll handle it. Don’t you trust me?” he asked smirking.

“No, I don’t.” I deadpanned.

The smirk on his face faded and he huffed. “Just do it okay, I’m doing you a favor here and you just turn me down.”

I don’t really trust this guy one bit, but being poisoned means that I had no other option than to trust him, even for a little bit. If I hadn’t had any nanites on me I would surely be dead by now. I sighed. "Fine," I said, gesturing to him to lead the way. He smiled and nodded, then flew away with me trailing behind.

“So,” he started, looking back at me. “You are pretty quiet over there. What are you anyway, I haven’t seen your kind here, and what’s with the fancy clothes?”

“Why should I tell you? Hell, I don’t even know you other than your name.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so!” He said as he raising his claws up as he flied “You already know my name so I guess there is no need for that. I am a forager, I am one of the griffons in our village that gathers and hunts food us from starving. I was out hunting when I saw you standing there. I thought you were a minotaur so I rushed on you.” He laughed at the last part.

“Why are you griffons and minotaurs fighting anyway, is it about land, beliefs, or you simply hated each other?”

He gave out a laugh. “You are only right about the first part, we are fighting about lands. You see minotaurs are a warrior race they thrive on conquering lands of their resources, eventually when they exhausted the land they move on conquering the next one. We griffons are similar, but we treat the land with respect. Eventually we clashed, we claimed this and that, the minotaurs said it was theirs. One this leads to the another and here we are.

"Sadly, the said lands was the village my family used to live. One night while the village was sleeping, the they attacked us, killing everygriffon in sight and burned the village down. I managed to escape, but my parents didn’t. Those minotaurs are cold, heartless, they only care about their land, nothing more.” he said tearing up.

I looked at him with pity, but my views about the minotaurs didn’t change. I’m not someone who immediately assumes something before hearing the other one’s side. Heck, he might be lying about the whole thing and stab me on the back when I’m off guard. You might think I was just being paranoid, but being paranoid help save my life countless of times. I was even wondering about why did he told me about his family in the first place.

Wiping the tears off his eyes, he looked at me. “So, what about you, what are you anyways?

I began to think about this. What hell am I going to say to him, that I’m just a clone, a science experiment… a lab rat? “A mercenary.” I said, looking forward, I saw that we were nearing the village.

“A mercenary?” he repeated, with a raised eyebrow. I nodded.

He shrugged and looked ahead. “Oh, hey we’re here!” He said, as we entered the village.

Looking around me I saw the griffon villagers stopped on their tracks as they saw me, some slowly backed away and the others shift into fighting stance.

I gripped the Benevolence tighter, ready to strike anyone that dare to attack me. On the outside, I wore a hardened gaze, to let them know I wasn’t gonna back away if they attacked, but inside I was freaking out. The thought of a whole town of beating me up rustled my jimmies. I hope they take it easy on a disabled person.

Glide Immediately flew in front of me franctically waving his ar- er, talons. “Guys, guys, chill, he is with me and relax he’s not a minotaur. Just a deformed monkey.” He said as he tried to calm the griffon villagers down. They looked at me, and I casually waved at them smiling, trying to be friendly.

I sighed in relief when they shrugged and returned to what they were doing before. Looking at Glide, I glared at him for calling me a ‘deformed monkey’, but stopped as soon as I saw a griffon walking towards us.

The griffon looked older than Glide, he was wearing some sort of a headdress. I’m guessing he was probably the village elder. Stopping in front of us, he looked at Glide, he sighed and rubbed his temple.

“Glide Streak,” he started, shaking his head. “Please tell me you didn’t befriend our food again.”

“Um, no Dust, sir. He’s not really food. I brought him here so the doctors can heal him. Because you see” he pointed to my hand. “he is poisoned.”

The griffon named 'Dust' nodded and turned to me. “So, who might you be, stranger?”

“Michorean Vesper, and you are?”

“Dust Wing, I am the village elder, and may I ask where did you get your wound from?” he eyed my suspiciously.

I shrugged. “I got it from a fight.” He raised an eyebrow “and before you ask, no I’m not here to harm your village. I am just here to get my poison problem fix, then I'll be on my way.”

Dust Wing eyed me suspiciously before nodding. “Very well, we shall head to the healer, but heed my warning Michorean, if I see you harm the village in any way, then I’ll make sure you don’t leave here alive.” He said to me coldly.

I nodded, not affected by his threat and followed him to the healer’s hut. We arrived at the hut shortly. Thanking the elder as he left, I entered the hut, Glide not following, he said something about getting banned here for accidentally breaking the healers potions, and not paying.

Looking around the hut I saw bottles and herbs that I didn’t recognize. I saw the healer on the back walking towards me. I told him that I was poisoned on a fight and held out my hand for him to see, he grimaced when he saw the state of my hand and began to look for an antidote.

Minutes later he returned with a flask in his claw, the healer told me to raised my hand, I obliged and he poured some liquid on the wound. As he poured the liquid on my hand, I became confused as I felt nothing. “This poison is more powerful than I expected,” the healer said, as he examined my hand, still the same as before.

The healer shook his head dejectedly after he examined my hand and go as far as poking the spot where the blade went through, I began to worry about his expression and the feeling on my hand. “It appears that even if I managed to heal your hand, you will probably never regain the movement, or the sense of touch ever again.” He explained.

That hit me hard, the feeling of never being able to move my right hand struck me. “C-can’t you think of anything?” I stuttered.

He shook his head. “No I’m sorry, but I think I can still cure the poison in your body.” He paused. “Then again, I think the unicorn ponies can heal your hand with their healing magic, but I’m not too sure about that.”

Relief washed over me, when he said that there was a chance to save my hand. Finding the unicorns wouldn’t be so hard. Wouldn’t it?

He pulled another bottle, I couldn’t read what it said. “Drink this,” the healer gave me the bottle. “If this cannot help you, then there is nothing I can do.”

I drank the bottle, almost choking on the bitter taste. As I drank the black spots on my hand starts to recede. I smiled at this and emptied the bottle.

“The potion appears to be working. You are not in danger of dying anymore.” The healer then stitched up my hand, feeling nothing as the needle pierced my palm. Okay, this is gonna be awkward to deal with.

As the healer finished stitching, he left me as he tend to another griffon that just came here sporting a broken wing. I glanced at my left hand and shook it. It looked awfully like dead meat and bones. I couldn’t feel anything beginning on my upper forearm.

I left the hut and saw Glide waiting at the door. He looked at me and smiled... which is weird since he had a beak and all. “You good now, Miko ‘ol pal?” he asked me.

“Yeah a little bit, the healer managed to cure the poison, unfortunately he couldn’t save my hand, It’s paralyzed now.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Well don’t be, he said that the unicorn’s might be able to heal it, which reminds me, do you know where the unicorns live?”

“Well, from what I heard, they are pretty far from here. I think they are across the ocean. But we can’t be sure since everygriffon who sailed there didn’t return. Rumor says that there are evil spirits that freeze their boat and eat them alive.”

Guess they are the windigos then. If they are powerful as I think they are, then I need to find a way around them.

“Do you know any other way I can pass the ocean without getting killed by the windigos?”

“Heh, windigos… I like that name. Anyway you can’t seriously be thinking on crossing the ocean. Its suicide!” He exclaimed. “It’s just a hand, dude. It can’t be worth more than your life.”

“That’s why I’m thinking another way of crossing.”  And that I need to kill those sons of bitches, but who needs to know that.

He sighed. “There is no way I can stop you in this, can I?”

I grinned and shook my head. “Nope.”

“Well, then I guess we need to ask Dust Wing. I think he is old enough to know this land front and back.” With a nod, we head to the hut of the elder.

“Where did you get that awesome spear by the way?” Glide asked pointing to the Benevolence.

“It belongs to a friend, I kept it as a token to remember her by when she died, same to this medallion.” I winced as I recalled the painful memory.

“Oh, but wait didn’t I saw that like ten feet long a while ago?” he asked, while I was waving on the griffon villagers, trying to be friendly so they won’t stab me in the back while I’m not looking.

“Technically it was seven feet, but yes it was longer a while ago," I told him. ”It’s one of the powers of the spear.” It was the only power I could use, since I’m not a Valkyrie like Tyrande; And the only reason I could use the power because she gave me some control of the spear.

“Whoa, dude do you think I could borrow it?”

“No, not a chance. If I see you lay a hand on it, I’ll skin you alive.” We stopped at the elder’s hut, it was on top of the tree so we ha—or I mean I had to climb it, since Glide could just fly. That cheating bastard.

It wasn’t hard since they were nice enough to had a ladder for non-griffons, but climbing the ladder took time since I had to climb it with using only one hand.

Woe is me...

“Jeez okay dude, no need to for a death threat. I just want to see this thing on action, you know.” He said to me as I climbed on top of the tree where the elder’s hut was.

I rolled my and entered the hut, I saw Dust Wing talking to what I think one of his advisors. He turned his gaze on us and quickly dismissed his advisors.

“Glide Streak,” he turned to look at me “and Michorean, what brings you to the hut? Oh and it is nice to hear that you’re behaving on your visit. I guess we don’t need to run you out of village after all.” He said in a mocking tone.

Yeah, funny...“I just came by to ask some questions, and what’s with the change of attitude? Finally realizing that I’m one of the good guys, eh.”

“Not really, the locals deemed you friendly enough when you were waving your hand around town like a drunken diamond dog, and I see you are not that bad.” Dust Wing chuckled. “So, what is your question?”

Glide patted my shoulder, to which I shoved off. “Mik’o here was thinking if there was any other way to cross the ocean.” Glide butted in.

He looked at me quizzically. “Why is that? You do know that the sea right now is a very dangerous place, especially with those spirits lurking around near the pony lands.” The elder said stroking his beard.

I raised my paralyzed hand. “I need someone to fix this, and the unicorns probably can, so I’m going.”

Dust Wing snickered and shook his head. “Even though I admire your determination, there is no other way around the ocean. If you really wish to go there, then you must fend them off. I heard that once they sink your ship it’s over for you.” I kept a straight face but I was slightly bothered by that thought, but that doesn’t gonna stop me.

“Do you know where the nearest port is around here?” I asked.

The elder gave me an approving look. “Brave warrior we have here, I wish more my griffons would be as courageous as you.” He chuckled. “Tell you what, I'll tell you later. In the meantime, Why don’t you join us for supper?”

I nodded since I wasn’t gonna turn down free food, and I haven’t eaten since I got here.

Dust Wind smiled and clasp is talons. “Excellent,” he turned to look at Glide. “why don’t you show Michorean here around town while we set up the feast.” Glide nodded.

An hour later, I found myself alone, sitting on a stump, eating, watching griffons feast at the table. A couple were dancing by the bonfire in some tribal song. It kinda reminds me of South American tribes before they were wiped out. Taking a bite out of the limb on what I assumed was a deer, I looked around to find a female griffon gazing at me.

She smiled when she saw me looked at her direction, and waved at me. Being bored eating alone, I waved back and gestured to her to come sit with me. She beamed and quickly flew to the stump next to me.

“So you’re the hornless minotaur everyone’s talking about.” She said, sitting beside me.

I took another bite and swallowed. “Not really a minotaur, but I guess you can call me that.”

She smiled and moved closer to me. “So, what are you then?”

I shrugged “To be honest, I don’t really know.”  I took a bite, finishing the meat and casually throwing it behind. “So, why is a gorgeous griffin hanging around with a hornless minotaur?” I asked, changing the topic.

She blushed. “Well, I just want to get out that griffon over there.” She said pointing to Glide, who was staring blankly at her. I swear I could see hearts on his pupils.

I grinned. “Looks like someone is having a bad night picking up chicks.” I muttered to myself. “Well. You’re welcome to stay then, besides It’s nice to have someone to talk to, and I believe I haven’t got your name.”

She smiled. “Thank you, and my name is Hayde, I’m the Village’s Oracle, and I assume your name is Michorean correct?”

I grinned and nodded. “Sounds like I’m pretty popular around here.”

“Actually, I just heard you from Glide, he told me that he saved your life from a manticore, and flew you to the village as fast as lightning when you got stabbed by its tail.” I shrugged not knowing what a manticore was. “I am curious, is that true, A big strong warrior like you got beat by a manticore?”

I frowned. Really, what is he nine? That kid is hopeless. “As a matter of fact, the ‘flew me to the village’ is somewhat true, but not the manticore part, heck I don’t know what a manticore even is.”

“Hmm, why would he lie to me?” she pouted.

“If I had to guess, I’d say it sounds like has a crush on you.”

She sighed. “I feel sorry for him then, he’s cute and funny and all, but I don’t think he’s just a type of griffon I want on a relationship.” Ouch.  “But enough on him, have you been in a relationship, Michorean?”

“I had, but that’s a long time ago. I’m not gonna lie; I haven’t move on from that.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“Let’s just say that she passed away, and it’s partially my fault. I don’t think that I’ll even love someone again.” I answered. Why the hell do I keep getting ask about this topic? Fuck that. I sound like an emo.

She gave me a sympathepic pat on the back. “Come on let’s get a drink, let’s continue this conversation at the table.” She said as she grabbed my arm and flew towards the table.

As I sat on table. Hayde left my side as she grabbed us something to drink. Looking around I saw Glide walking towards me giving me a dirty eye.

“Dude, not cool. She’s mine! I’ve been trying to get her for years and you just stole her from me?!”

I raised my hand up. “Whoa, relax I was just talking to her, I’m not trying to steal her from you,” I said. “I may be an asshole, but I am not a cockblocker.”

Glide sighed dejectedly, looked down for several second before turning back to me. “Mik’o, ” he started, “do you know how to get Hayde to like me?” What the hell?

I looked at him like he was stupid. “How old are you?”

“Um, seventeen.” He replied.

I shrugged. So that’s why. “Well, to answer your question, I really don’t know, I just met her a while ago, I haven’t got to know her that well, and I’m not a griffon. But if you want to get women to like you, just follow the golden rule, this is the easiest thing to do." A dramatic pause. "Be yourself, as simple as that.”

His face scrunched. “I already know about that!" he whined. "Everygriffon I asked said that to me, but give me something to work on here, please.” He pleaded.

“Okay, okay, sheesh.” I groaned. “Well first things first; Don’t lie.” He flinched. “Yeah, I heard about your little stunt, but chicks don’t like that, what are you twelve? Okay, Now that’s over with; Just talk to her, ask her about anything and hopefully you’ll find something in common.“ Now I know what you all are thinking. What makes you think you know all about women? You’re not Dr. Phil. Well, I got an answer for that… Fuck you.

“I’ve tried talking to her, but she doesn’t seem to be interested when I’m talking about me."

“Don’t just talk about yourself, don’t be selfish, compliment her, talk about her day, show her that you are interested in her and not just yourself. Women like to talk about what they do too. And another thing; Be confident. Sometimes you see really hot chicks going out on fugly ass dudes. You know why? The main thing they have is confidence. Don’t doubt yourself, but don’t become too cocky. And from what I could see, Hayde likes confident dudes.”

“Thanks dude, you’re the best.” He smiled holding up a fist.

“No, problem” I said as we bump fist.

He stood up. “Well, I gotta go enjoy the feast, see ya.” He flew away and I waved him on.

There was suddenly a claw on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Hayde holding two mugs. “So, what did loverboy want?” she said as she sat down.

“Just some advice on women.” I answered.

“Did you tell him that I’m not Interested?” she gave me the other mug.

“Thanks.” I said grabbing the mug. “Not really, I’ll just let you be the one to tell him, besides It’s not my problem.”

She sighed, and rubbed her temple. “I was hoping that you’d tell him so he’ll leave my hide alone.”

I chuckled and took a swig. “I’m not gonna be the bearer of bad news, and he’s not going to believe me even if I said that, probably. By the way, why are you so keen on getting rid of him, the kid is not that bad?” I asked, taking another swig.

She smiled slyly. “That’s because I’m not Interested in him.” She said, giving me a sultry gaze. “I’m interested on you.” Before I could respond, my vision started to blur, I turned to look at Hayde, giving me a half -lidded gaze, and a seductive smile.

I grinned at my mug. “Oh, I get it,” I snickered knowing what will happen next. “Well, shit.” I said as I took another swig.

That was the last thing I remembered that night before waking up in a bedroom I didn’t recognize with a pounding headache. I was laying on a bed, on my right I saw a lump. Looking closer I saw that it was Hayde. I looked at my body and saw that I was naked. I also saw that there were stains on the bed sheets and the room smelled like sweat and sex.

“Damn, guess we had sex.” I muttered in a calm manner.

However, inside I was pissed at her for drugging me, but more pissed at myself for being careless and easily getting drugged. I was confused for a moment on why the drug easily took effect on me, but I guessed that the nanites in my system was just recovering from the poison.

With a groan, I hopped out of the bed and began looking for my clothes to save whatever dignity I had left.

I found my clothes beside the bed and put them on. I noticed that there were covered with feathers’’. What the hell did I do last night?

I heard Hayde stirring for a moment before slowly opening her eyes. “Good morning, Mikee, slept well?” she said to me lovingly.

Village Oracle my ASS!

I glared at her. I was determined to know everything that happened last night. “What the hell happened last night? And why the hell did you drugged me?”

“We just had fun no big deal, after you the drunk the mug, you insisted that we make out infront of Glide just to piss him for making false gossips about you.” She giggled.

“Did we?” she nodded. “Fuck, and all the talk about being confident and all that shit just went down the drain.”

She giggled. “Oh, don’t be mad, I’m sure he’ll get over it. He was mad at first but he just flew off without a word. I'm just glad that's over with. Besides, that’s not the only thing we did last night.” She gave me a wink as she stood up and look herself over the mirror. Whore.

I just shook my head and prepared to leave the room, I glanced around and saw a painting of Hayde when she was young, and to his right was a large griffon. He just looks like a younger version of Dust Wing...Wait, a thought suddenly clicked to me.

I nervously turned my gaze to Hayde. "H-hayde." I stuttered.

"Hmm?" She hummed, not looking back from the mirror.

"Are you related to Dust Wing?” I said pointing at the picture.

She nodded. “Well yes, I’m his daughter and I’m also the Oracle of this village.”

Shit. “Did anyone saw us together last night, besides Glide?”

“Actually almost everyone saw us when we made out. I don’t see what the problem is.” It's your fucking father, dumbass!

“The problem is I don’t remember a fucking thing from last night, and if your father find out that I slept with you, he’ll throw a fit and probably claw my balls off!”

And speak of the devil, after I said that I heard someone entered the hut and the voice that made my heart beat a hundred times faster.

“Daughter! Daughter! Are you awake?!” I heard the voice said, and it seemed angry.

Oh, shit!