My Little Pony: The Broken Branch
Chapter 1: A Humble Griffon
It began with a riddle. A simple sentence. Yet the most unlikely of creatures can change the course of the future. I am Genève Von Falke. I am a Knight of Griffonstone. One will think that such a title brings with it prestige and merit. Sadly, we griffons do not have anything to call our own. The line of kings is broken, and our kingdom in shambles.
Yet I have a faith that one day the Griffon Kingdom will return to it's former glory. Among a few friends that I do have, I am called Genève the Snowbird because of my pure white feathers and pelt. My head is that of a bald eagle, but a birth defect left my beak in a silver grey instead of a golden yellow. I am protected by chainmail and plate armor.
My sword is a part of me like the sting on a scorpion's tail. As one can forge their own destiny, I forge my own weapons and tools for I am a blacksmith by trade. Some say that I make the finest swords in all Equestria, yet I am not one to let such words inflate my ego. I do what I do because it is my craft, and I put my best effort into each piece.
My sword is called Fang. It has an overall length of 39 inches with 33 of those inches being the blade, and 2 inches in blade width at the guard. The width of the guard is 7 inches, and the sword weighs 2.5 pounds. Make no mistake, this is a knight's arming sword. This sword is my one treasure, and has served me well in battle against many a foe.
One morning while tempering the steel of a felling axe, a royal guard approached me, "I am looking for one Genève Von Falke," he requested,
"That would be me, what can I do for you today?" I asked, dipping the axe in the water bucket, this Italian felling axe can cut down trees, and foes.
"Hmm...I would've expected more 'bite' to come from a griffon," said the guard, I took no offense to his assumptions. I lightly chuckled to him,
"Not all griffons are like that, my good stallion, now then, could you kindly state your business?" I asked of the pegasus guard in golden armor,
The pegasus nodded to me, "Pardon me, I have been sent to inform you that you have been summoned by her majesties Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to Cantorlot for a very important task, and you are expected to be in Cantorlot by tomorrow morning at the first rising of the morning sun," said the guard, and made his leave back to Equestria,
The next day, I prepared to travel. Every part of me is covered in armor except my haunches and wings. My head is protected by a chainmail coif and a steel gorget. My front legs and talons are protected by a surcoat plus a short-sleeve hauberk of chainmail and plate armor protecting my front legs. It takes a certain strength to fly at speed in full armor.
I bowed to the two princesses of Equestria. Princess Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, and Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night. It is quite an honor to be in their presence. My armor clinked and rattled as I showed my respect to the Alicorns, "Rise, my good and humble knight," requested Princess Celestia, "we have summoned you for a very special task,"
I tilted my head slightly at the thought of that. Why would they have summoned me? Could there be anyone else up to such a task? Surely there are brave ponies among her guards, "What might that be, your majesties?" I asked, I followed them from the throne room to the Everfree Forest and legendary tree of the elements of harmony. There was a problem,
"How odd, one of the branches seems to have been broken off, is such an act even possible?" I asked the two princesses, they shook their heads,
"The branch to the tree has never been found, yet it is said that the missing branch holds a secret," stated Princess Luna, "an Element of Harmony,"
"That is not possible, it is common knowledge that there are six known Elements of Harmony," I replied, Princess Celestia used her magic to bring a book,
"While that maybe true, our sources tell of a Seventh Element, a lost Element of Harmony," said Princess Celestia, "the only evidence we have is a sentence,"
"When other lights go dark, one eternally shines bright," I read, looking at the only piece of evidence to this mystery, as I looked at the images detailing the Elements of Harmony. I noticed that a pages has been torn in the upper right corner. I looked to the two princesses as we returned to Cantorlot, "my question now is why me? I am only a griffon,"
"Why do you hold yourself in such low regard?" said Princess Luna, "I believe there is no better blacksmith in the whole of Equestria, look at the very armor you wear, and the very blade at your side, I believe you are more deserving of higher praise, Lady Genève Von Falke," I held my head up, looking up with a light grin to the princesses, "much better,"
"Also of note, I believe that Ponyville is looking for a village blacksmith, I believe you can use a change of scenery that better fits you," said Princess Celestia, I dare not refuse the offer of the princesses. This was a big change for me as well. For the first time, I found a way out of Griffonstone. I bowed to the princesses, and made my leave of the grand palace.
I returned to Griffonstone, and looked at the forge and bellows of my shop. To think that I will take my trade to Ponyville. The bellows that benched fire like a dragon, and the hammer that sings in the forge of iron into steel. Yet that one sentence, that riddle, and possibility of finding the lost element. This leave much on my mind, and much to look forward to.