The Second Knight:
As I entered the old castle, all seemed quiet. I waited in the front entrance until I heard another stone break. It sounded like a deliberate throw as opposed to one simply falling, so somepony had to be here. Now was just to make sure they were aware of what they were doing. It could always just be some random creature that wandered in for the night. As I followed the noise ever closer, I found that I was nearing the old Elements room.
As I was about to round the final corner, a rock flew in front of me and smashed into the wall. I also heard a malicious voice follow.
"And that's for ruining a great friendship with your constant bugging!" A female voice snarled. I took one of the larger pieces from the ground and examined it.
Upon its face, it was engraved with the old emblem for the Element of Laughter, a laughing pony. The rocks that were being smashed were the ones I had fashioned.
"I saw that, unicorn!" The voice called. "Show yourself now before I come over there myself!" I lay the rock fragment down and strode around the corner to see who would disrespect such a place as this. As it were, both parties were in for a surprise.
"Princess Luna?"
"A griffin?"
There before me, stood one of the most ragged griffins I had ever seen. She had obviously not groomed herself in the longest while, which surprised me, for the griffins I knew took pride in their appearance. What I saw next equally shocked and enraged me.
The griffin was standing in front of the Element's stand, with all but one of the orbs destroyed, scattered around the room. As I looked closer, the remaining orb had the old insignia of Loyalty, a shield, much like Shining Armor's.
"And what exactly do you think you're doing here, griffin?"
"I could ask you the same, Princess. What business do you have in a ruin like this?"
"This happened to be my home." I began.
"So much for house keeping." The griffin scoffed.
"And I like to visit every now and then." I glared. "I ask again, what are you doing here."
"Just passing by." The griffin said nonchalantly as she examined her talons. "I saw a place to crash for the night and made myself welcome. Who would care about this old place anyways? And then I found this." The griffin spat as she looked back at the stand. "I know my history well enough to know what this is, and some idiot decided to put some fake Elements of Harmony in their places. So I decided to let off some steam."
"Well, for your information, I put those orbs there in remembrance." I stated as I marched up to the griffin. "And I would appreciate it if you would leave before destroying the last one."
"Fine, I was going to anyways. I thought of starting with that one first but I just couldn't bring myself to." The griffin huffed as she began to leave. But this made me curious. If she knew these were just simple rocks, why couldn't she destroy the Element of Loyalty?
"Why couldn't you come to destroy Loyalty?" I asked. The griffin stopped and looked back at me. She looked conflicted.
"Just…just for no matter how much I hate her, I kind of feel like that would be the last straw for Rainbow Dash." She sighed. I began to sympathize, but she immediately stamped on some of the remaining rocks. "But that doesn't mean I can forgive the pathetic ponies who stole her from me."
Why was this feeling familiar? Where had I read about griffins recently? It was after the hunting ground dispute between them and the trolls, but where? And why just this situation?
"So you have a personal connection with Rainbow Dash?" I inquired. I didn't know the current Bearers all that well, but I would not let anypony with a connection to them become a hindrance. Especially if she would do something much worse than smash a few simple rocks.
"Yeah, but why do you care? You just want me out of your pathetic and rotting castle, right?" the griffin sneered. "It's not like you or anyone else really cares."
"That depends greatly on who you're talking to."
"And you wouldn't be one of them. Why should you? You're royalty after all. Even better, your royalty of a completely different species. My problems are of no concern of yours in any manner."
"Then how about relations of nations then?" I proposed as I walked beside her. "We can start with your appearance."
"What's wrong with the way I look?" She shot at me.
"To put it bluntly, you look like a wreck." Stated simply as I took in just how unkempt her fur was.
"Did it ever occur to a high and mighty like yourself I prefer to look like this?"
"Please, that's your pride talking." I said as I pulled a few twigs out of her back and hovered them in front of her.
"So I haven't had time to clean up, so what?"
"A griffin could only get like this after many moons of neglect. If you had been keeping proper care, these shouldn't have gotten stuck in the first place."
"So I've been traveling for a bit. But why do you even care? I'm not anyone that would matter to the Griffin High Council; you should just get back to whatever you were doing and let me get to sleep. If it'll make you feel any better, I'll even take a bath."
"You know, you have got to be one of the most depressing beings I have ever met."
"I was going more for annoyance to get you out of my hair." The griffin shot.
"And you'll have to do more than take a bath do that." I shot back.
"Nice." The griffin said with a small smirk. "But in all honesty, what do I need to do to make you leave?"
"Me leave? I thought the entire point of this conversation was to make you leave."
"Yeah, and great job, I'll do it in the morning, after I've slept. Now will you please leave?"
"Fine, but I will be back tomorrow night to make sure you're gone." I said as I began to leave the way I came.
"Thank you!" The griffin sighed irritably.
Honestly, even for Rainbow Dash to be the Element of Loyalty, I wouldn't even know how she could deal with such a griffin. She practically brushed off any attempt at help. She couldn't possibly be any more prideful. And if I couldn't say any better, I would think she needs to learn to be a better friend.
Friend. Friendship. Twilight Sparkle's reports!
That's where I remember griffins! And she already confirmed to be connected with Rainbow Dash. If I remember it right, that griffin's name was…was… ah! Curse my memory. It definitely started with a G.
Giselle? No. Grizelda? Possibly, but didn't quite fit. Gilmer? No. Gilda! That was it. So this is what happened to her. A bit sad really, of all the places she could wind up, it was out here in a forest. The Everfree Forest no less. But why? It made no sense why she simply wouldn't simply return home.
"One more question though." I said as I turned back around.
"Ugh! What now?" Gilda groaned as she faced me.
"Why aren't you home? Why are you here in the Everfree Forest?"
"Does it matter how I answer?"
"It does in fact." That seemed to shock Gilda a bit.
"Really? Fine then, I decided to go on a hike and lost myself in the beauty of nature. Before I knew it, it was dark and I found this castle. Happy?"
"Horse apples." I looked down upon the stunned griffin. "Don't think I don't know anything about griffins. I have to deal with them constantly, and I know more than anything about a griffin's pride. And one thing you pride yourselves over more than anything is your ability to fly."
"But we do walk." Gilda tried to counter point.
"Yes, but for extended periods of time, like a stroll? Griffins only do that when immediately necessary."
"What? You don't think a griffin can appreciate beauty?"
"Honestly? Not really." I said plainly. Harsh truths always seemed to get through to griffins faster. "The only time I've seen a griffin 'appreciate beauty' was when he was appraising a troll's club. And that was only to flatter him. No, I think that little 'stroll' of yours would have to have been a bit forced."
"Well, whoopee for you. You find me suspicious. You're not the first, and probably not the last. But please, just leave me in peace." Gilda said as she turned to walk away.
"Oh no you don't." I said as I cut her off. "I know that look. That's the look of bitterness."
"And again I ask why you care?" Gilda snapped at me. "I already told you I'm no one important and that you shouldn't bother, so why is a princess like you keep pestering me."
"Because I know that look, and it won't lead to anything good. So tell me, why were you forced to walk?"
"You want to know why?" Gilda started to raise her voice. "You really want to know? Fine! I got chased out of my home! Happy? Now leave me alone." Gilda said as she spread her wings to take off.
"Oh no you don't." I closed her wings and locked her feet in place. "If you had to be chased out, I want to hear it. Griffins never act so rashly without reason."
"Let ….ugh… me go you…mrf… stupid pony!" Gilda tried to bite me. Glad to say, I was well enough away.
"And none of that." I sealed her mouth closed. "Now, the next words out of your mouth better be telling me why griffins, one of the most prideful races in Equestria, would go to such lengths as to drive out one of their own." I glared down at her.
She struggled for a bit, trying to lift her claws, spread her wings, or even open her mouth. I could keep this up all night if I had to. If this were to lead somewhere, I would know about it immediately. The longer she struggled, the easier it was going to be for me to restrain her. Then Gilda did something I truly did not expect from a griffin.
She started to cry. And these were not false tears; these tears made her stop struggling all together and simply lie down. I was just so shocked by this reaction that I simply stood there over her, motionless in awe. Eventually, I lay in front of Gilda and undid the binding upon her mouth.
"I did not mean to be so harsh child, I merely wanted to know."
"Well, grand way about doing that princess." Gilda shot through her sorrow. "But hey, what else can I do now? It's not as though anyone would care what you would do to me here."
"You keep saying that, that nopony would care. Why do you say such things? Surely-"
"It's because it's true!" Gilda snapped. "From since I was a hatchling my parents detested me. As soon as I was old enough, they shipped me off to every 'flight camp' they could think of to keep me out of the nest. I detested each and every one of them. All of the rules, the strict schedule, and those horrible meals. My parents always said 'it was the last one', but then as soon as I came home, they would just ship me off again. When they finally found out I had passed every camp imaginable did they finally say that they didn't want me anymore. When I said I wanted to stay, they called the Wing Guards on me!"
"And then you ran here." I summed up.
"Yeah, that's right. I couldn't even grab any of my things before I had to run for it. And that was about a week ago. But once Wing Guards get called, they don't let up until they find you."
"For what?" I asked, thoroughly confused. "You're out of their hair, why continue to track you?"
"You said it yourself, we're prideful. They won't let anyone get away, no matter how small the call is. Heh, I guess they shouldn't have sent me to all of those flight camps." Gilda chuckled. "But now, I guess you'll turn me in, for relation purposes, of course." She waved, and then realized I had let go of her.
"No, I don't think that's necessary. In fact, I think you'll do perfectly to help me with a project of mine."
"Oh no, I'm not becoming some lab rat of yours." Gilda said, backing up away from me.
"Oh not at all. All I want you to do is help me overlook a class." That made Gilda just stop and look at me.
"A class?"
"Just a class." I nodded.
"And why would I take you up on such an offer?" Gilda asked, still looking very skeptical.
"Because one, you'll have a place to stay. And two, I can make sure the Wing Guard leaves you alone."
"Are you sure you can do that? Ponies don't have all that much sway on the Griffin High Council."
"Oh, I'm sure I've made a few, eh hem, 'friends' in the ranks. A suggestion here, an order there, and you'll be fine. All I ask is that you help me with a student."
"And what do I really have to do?"
"Just stand in the room with her." I smiled.
"And that's all? I just need to be in the same room with her?"
"Yep."
"Consider it a done deal." Gilda held out one of her front claws. "My name's Gilda by the way."
"Oh, I know." I smiled as I placed my hoof in the stunned griffin's claw. "Don't think I haven't done some of my own reading."
"So, how do you know of me?"
"A simple report from Rainbow Dash." I fabricated. Recent reports had been coming in from all six of the Bearers, even Twilight Sparkle's assistant dragon Spike, but the one I referred to was when Twilight Sparkle was the only one reporting. Gilda didn't need to know just then though.
"R-Really? She actually wrote to you, a-about me?" Gilda seemed to shy away.
"Well, my sister is the one who collects them, but I read through them. She did report some, ah, rough behavior, but I'm sure we can work on it."
"Work on what exactly?"
"The way you respond to ponies. You need to learn to open up a bit, instead of penting it all up for some innocent rocks." I smiled as I collected all of the fragments from around the room and placed them under the pedestal. "But enough time for that later, I believe I am long overdue to relive my temporary support." I said as I began to leave.
"Princess Luna, are you sure it's okay? I mean, to come with you to Canterlot?" Gilda asked. I looked back to see her taking one last look at the old Element of Loyalty.
"Trust me Gilda, if anyone knows who should belong there, I'm one of them. Now come, we have a bit of a flight ahead of us."
"Bet you I can make it there before you!" Gilda called as she ran past me.
"You don't even know where you're going!" I called after her, chasing her out into the old courtyard and into the night sky.