I was nervous.

I shouldn't have been, I knew that. I was finally getting out of the hospital, moving into what Sveti had taken a lot of trouble to get me to understand was some sort of gryphon-owned building where I would, at long last, actually have a place to live. She was trying to hide it, bless her mythological heart, but I could tell that she was glad to be getting me out of the hospital room where I'd spent the last month, and quite frankly I adored her for it.

And it felt singularly good to be wearing clothing again. My own clothes had probably been either ruined by all my falling down things during the chase, or cut off by the doctors afterwards; the ponies had provided me with something akin to a T-shirt and sweatpants both in a light-grey color, as well as underwear, socks and a strange pair of sneakers that felt more like those weird foot-hugging shoes I'd seen some freerunners wear in videos. It all fit me pretty well, thankfully. I didn't know what I was going to do to replace the rest of my clothing, though- since it seemed that a good number of creatures here didn't even bother with clothes, and those that did usually wore at most half-suits or vests, just dropping in on a clothing store wasn't likely to be the solution. I'd have to ask Sveti what I could do about the situation.

And I was even given to understand that the rest of Sixie's friends would be around as well. While my first meeting with them had been... well, bizarre, once they'd gotten used to me they seemed a fairly decent lot. Apple seemed to be a forthright Southern sort- I'd swear there was a Texas twang in that voice, even if I couldn't understand more than one word out of a dozen- while Diamond sort of came across as snooty and overbearing at times, but affable and approachable at others, and Pink was... well, at her calmest she was a twelve-pony sugar rush in one body, and she occasionally did things that baffled her friends as much as they did me, but her cheerfulness was infectious. And Rainbolt didn't seem to hold anything against me from what happened during our chase, and if she was willing to let it go, I supposed I could do the same.

So why was it that, while I stood there in the bathroom of my hospital room and looked at myself in the mirror, that I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as if I'd been locked in a cage with a dozen starving jackals?

The nightmare I'd had the previous night wasn't helping anything. I couldn't remember very much of it, but one part stood out in my mind- I'd been trapped in a hanging cage of barbed wire, swinging precariously over a pit of absolute blackness in which I somehow knew lurked a horrible monster that was slavering for my blood. And next to the cage stood Tent, levitating a whip made of twisted and rusted barbed wire, snapping it at me and slicing chunks out of my flesh. His eyes had begun to glow a dull red and his wicked grin had grown wider than his face should've allowed- and then he snapped his whip against the hook holding up the cage, making it fall. The cage was just plummeting into the darkness when I'd woken up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath like I'd just run a marathon.

I felt like an idiot, letting a mere dream get to me so strongly, but I just couldn't shake the imagery and the lingering sense of being under threat. I sure woudn't mind if that dreamscape pony started showing up again to chase the nightmares away, I mused, realizing that the strange night-patterned mare hadn't appeared in my dreams since the night I'd been captured. Heh. I want my night mare to get rid of my nightmares. Yes, Pete, you've well and truly gone loco.

There was nothing left to it but to get through it, so with a little splash of water against my face and a shake of my head, I turned off the bathroom light and headed out.

(-)

“Tell me what you think of this, Sveti.”

The hen looked down into the box as Twilight's magic popped open the lid. Inside was a selection of bladed implements, as well as a few other objects. “Is this a grooming kit?” she asked.

“That's right. He seems to prefer to keep his face clean-shaven and his hair short, so I thought it would be a good gift for him. The shears there are sized for griffin talons as well, if you wanted to lend a claw.”

Carefully, Sveti plucked the scissors out of the box and slid them over her talons; the holes were a tiny bit small for her, but not overly so. “I think he'll definitely appreciate this, Princess,” she said as she replaced the tool.

“I hope so. I'd like him to know that we all support him and hope he does well as part of the Embassy staff.” Twilight smiled brightly. “And since he'll be under your authority, it'll be your decision- do you want to keep his language lessons at the same time as we've been doing?”

“That'd probably be for the best, yes. I don't need some formal writ or something to give you access to the building, do I?”

Twilight giggled for a moment... then stopped, her brow furrowing in thought. “...I don't think so,” she said. “Maybe I'd better look that up, just to be on the safe side. With how things have been going lately I wouldn't want to risk some sort of international incident just because of language classes.” She shook her head and chuckled. “I'd swear that Peter is an agent for Marephy's Law- everything that can go wrong around him seems to do so.”

“I don't think he'd argue that,” Sveti chortled. “But here's to hoping that all turns around for him once he's settled.” She went quiet for a moment. “So you said that you've got something you want him to see before he heads over?”

“That's right. There's some possessions of his that we've found that we'd like to return to him, but there's one in particular that's... well, sort of impractical for him to take with him. We'd still like for him to see it and know that it's being cared for, though.”

“Ahh, I see.” Sveti considered for a moment. “Is everything he owns as strange as his weapon?”

“Yes! And we can't even tell what most of it is for! I am ready to get down on all four knees and beg Peter to explain it to us. I just feel like we're on the cusp of understanding some amazing things here, and-”

A muffled shout up ahead caught their attention. Twilight broke into a canter with Sveti close behind, approaching the conference room where they were to meet up with Peter and opening the door- to find Shining Armor and a pair of guards inside, facing Prince Blueblood and what seemed to Sveti to be a number of other nobles, if their clothing and snobbish demeanor were any indication. Everyone inside the room looked angry, Shining most of all. “Twilight! Thank Celestia you're here,” the captain said. “You aren't going to believe this.”

“When we asked for the attention of one of the Princesses, it wasn't this one we'd hoped for,” someone in the group of nobles murmured.

“Okay, everypony, please settle down.” Sveti knew Twilight had to have heard that comment, but apparently chose to ignore it. “What's going on?” the alicorn asked, pointedly directing her attention at her brother.

Shining gave the group a glance. “Prince Blueblood and his... associates apparently learned that Peter would be discharged today and are making demands that he be shackled for however long he'll be outside the hospital wing.”

Twilight turned to the Prince, who was looking at her with a weird mix of disdain and predatory opportunism. “I'd hoped to bring my case directly to Auntie, but I suppose you will do, Princess Twilight,” he said. “The hospital staff is intending to release a dangerous animal who has already made one attempt on my life! And everypony seems absolutely intent on letting it roam around unrestrained!”

“Now, Prince Blueblood, see here-”

“I will say my piece, thank you!” Blueblood snapped; Sveti barely repressed a snarl, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Shining take a half-step forward before composing himself. “This is an effrontery which I cannot allow to stand,” the Prince continued. “If the safety and security of this nation's nobility are not a priority to its 'stalwart defenders', then we will take matters into our own hooves.”

Twilight's expression hardened. “And just what do you mean by that?”

“The choice is simple, Princess Twilight. Either that beast will be shackled the entire time it is within the castle grounds, or my associates here and I will petition Parliament to have it forcibly confined to its hospital room until it is deemed safe by a third party to be selected through jointly-chosen committee.”

Sveti barely realized that her talons were digging into the floor. She knew enough about Equestrian politics to see what was going on here- Blueblood was essentially threatening to keep Peter locked up indefinitely; the Prince could hold up the process of choosing a committee as long as he pleased with rejections and demands. You petty, feather-plucking, overstuffed excuse for a male, she raged mentally. I could wish Peter had actually done as much harm to you as you think he tried to, because I am sorely tempted to do so myself!

Twilight was obviously doing her best to pull off Celestia's brand of calm neutrality, but some cracks were showing. “Now see here, Prince Blueblood. You are being entirely unreasonable about this entire situation! Peter has been absolutely compliant and docile throughout his stay at the hospital!”

“With all due respect, Princess Twilight, your track record for judging threats is somewhat less than stellar.” The stallion practically dripped sarcasm. “The conditions are non-negotiable. One way or another, that beast will be secured and rendered a non-threat.”

Twilight had opened her mouth to speak- and Sveti was on the verge of telling the royal just where he could stuff that pompous ego of his- when Shining cleared his throat. “If you'll excuse us, Your Highness,” he said, “I'll consult with the Princess on how to best see to your wishes.”

A look of surprise flashed across Blueblood's features, quickly covered by a smug grin. “See that you do so, Captain,” he replied smoothly.

Shining led Twilight, Sveti and his guards out of the room; the hen almost couldn't repress a snicker when she heard one of the guards mutter “plot-hat” in the Prince's direction on the way out. Once they were well clear of the area, Twilight let out a growl of frustration. “How dare he!” she muttered. “That... that ignorant, speciesist buffoon! He doesn't know what Peter's like!”

“He doesn't care, either, Twily,” Shining replied. “And he's got us bridled- he could keep Peter in that room for months if he wanted, and Parliamentary rules wouldn't allow Princess Celestia or Luna to interfere without a direct royal decree- which they don't like to use for anything but extremely dire situations.”

“But we can't just chain him up like some criminal! He doesn't deserve that! And what about all the trust we've managed to build up with him?!”

Sveti blinked in surprise when the Captain smiled. “It's okay, Twilight. I've got an idea... I'll just need yours and Sveti's help in running it across Peter to get his okay.”

(-)

As strange as the human's physiology was, it was clear from his expression that he did not like the look of the heavy-looking golden shackles that Shining placed on the table- not that Shining could blame him, especially considering his previous history with being imprisoned by ponies. But if the human understood the lengthy explanation Twily and Sveti had given him, he'd understand the significance of what he was about to see.

“Watch,” he said, rolling one of the shackles over to reveal a tiny lever. With a deliberately exaggerated motion, he snapped the two halves of the shackle together with a loud click- and then nudged the lever with a hoof, letting them separate again.

“False shackles?” Sveti asked. “Where did you get these things from?”

“They're a museum piece, believe it or not,” he told her. “Part of a faked coup attempt in Stalliongrad in the 4th century PB. I remembered them from when I was showing Cadance around the exhibits one day; she got the idea of using them for....” He trailed off, catching himself, and cleared his throat. “Never mind that,” he said quickly, catching a snicker from the griffin. “Blueblood and his cronies want shackles; they'll get shackles. But nopony said they have to work.”

He glanced back up and saw that Peter was already clamping one of the restraints to his forelimb; the sight of those strange fingers at work gave him pause. No wonder some of the mares go goofy watching those things, he thought. I almost feel like I ought to be jealous! When the release lever worked just as Shining had shown, the human actually shackled himself, testing his range of movement with the restraints on, and easily managed to trigger the levers to remove them. He stared at them for a long moment, then took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before once more clamping the shackles onto himself, then nodded to Shining.

The stallion couldn't help but smile, reaching up to pat the biped on the back. “Thanks,” he said. “I appreciate it.”

Sveti came up to the human's other side, staring at the shackles distastefully before putting a claw on his shoulder. “Peter,” she said quietly. “Are you sure you're okay with this?”

He gave her a slight smile and a nod. “Is okay, Sveti,” he said. “I want to go.”

“Then let's go ahead,” Twilight said. “The sooner we get going, the sooner we can take those things off of him.”

(-)

One thousand, two hundred and twelve. One thousand, two hundred and thirteen. One thousand, two hundred and fourteen.

Farris Wheel could only bounce a ball against a wall so many times before he got bored with it. That point had come six minutes ago; now he was nearly catatonic from boredom.

“Wheelie, would you please stop that?” came Wisk's voice from the other side of the dormitory.

“Yeah, sorry.” He dejectedly let the ball bounce past him and roll along the floor, hearing it tap against the far wall before Wisk's hooves clopped towards him, stopping next to the bean-bag chair that he was lounging in.

“Sweetie, are you alright?” she asked.

“No.” He frowned at the wall. “I almost wish we'd gone to prison rather than took Princess Twilight's offer. At least we'd know how long the sentence would be!”

“Don't say that, Wheelie!” He watched her trot into his line of sight, looking at him with a stern expression. “You've never been in prison. It's not something you'd enjoy in the least!”

“Yeah, well...!” Wheel crossed his forelegs over his barrel and huffed. “I'm sick of being stuck here, Wisk! How much longer do we have to stay here? When is Princess Twilight going to let us loose? She's already said she doesn't even need our help with the yeti anymore!”

“I understand, believe me.” She looked pensive for a moment. “It's not going to be much longer, sweetie. Just trust me on this, okay?”

Wheel covered his face with his forehooves. “I don't even know anymore, Wisk. I just don't. I want to get out of here; I want to go do something with my life! I want to forget Big Top and the yeti and Canterlot and go find a place where I can start things over.”

For some reason Wisk frowned at that. But as she opened her mouth to speak, there was a heavy knock at the door; both of them turned. “Come in,” Wisk called out.

The door opened, showing a pair of golden-armored guards standing behind it. “Farris Wheel, step forward please,” one of them called.

A cold wave of nervousness washed over him as he scrambled to his hooves. “Uh... I'm right here,” he said, trotting as slowly as he could without making it look like he was stalling. “What did I do?”

One of the guards chuckled. “Nothing, lad. Your presence is requested by the Undersecretary of Employment. There was a decision that you four should be given gainful employment while under detention, and a potential job opening was found for you- you're being brought in for an interview.”

“Oh! Oh. Um.” He found the idea actually appealing- if he had to be stuck here, at least he could do something with himself. “Okay, I guess,” he said, putting a little more speed in his steps.

Behind him, he heard Wisk call out “Err... good luck, Wheelie!”

“Thanks,” he responded before trotting out the door.

The two guards began leading him through the mazelike corridors of the castles. “Sorry for the abrupt visit,” the guard who'd spoken earlier said. “I heard that this was supposed to be later in the day and you were supposed to get advanced notice- but something bucked up the Undersecretary's schedule, and it was either bring you in now, or make you wait another two weeks.”

“Oh. Um, I don't really mind... my calendar was pretty clear either way.” The comment got chuckles from both guards, and everything went quiet again... though Wheel could tell that the pair were giving each other looks as they all trotted along. Probably just making fun of me, he thought, just like everypony else around here.

As they approached a grand doorway, the guards stopped. “Hold on,” one said.

“What?” asked the other.

“Isn't the Chartreuse Corridor closed off today? I heard they were refinishing some of the fixtures and filigree, and the fumes from the stuff they use are dangerous to ponies not wearing safety gear.”

“Huh. Glad you said something; we'd lose time going that way if we had to turn around. Let's take a shortcut.”

Wheel furrowed his brow as he followed the guards along a much less grand-looking hallway. Their conversation had sounded stilted, almost rehearsed. I guess that's just how guards talk sometimes, he reasoned. I never really understood the kind of pony that could dress up in metal plates and stand around unmoving all day.

Left without conversation, Wheel let his mind wander, not really paying much attention to where he was being led.

(-)

“Why the hay has he got chains on him?!”

“Dash, please calm down,” Twilight said. “It's a long story and it's got Blueblood mixed up in the middle of it. It's only for the time that Peter's in the castle until he goes to the embassy, and he personally agreed to it.”

“He did?” Dash glanced over at the human- noting how weird it was that her habitual hovering height put her at about eye-level to him- and spent a moment looking him over; he seemed uncomfortable, but determined. “Are you sure you're okay with this, tough guy?” she asked.

He nodded briefly. “Yes.”

“Well, he may accept this, but I certainly do not,” Rarity practically growled. “Blueblood has crossed the line between mere boorishness and outright wickedness! I've half a mind to hunt him down and express my disappointment in him in a manner that involves my hooves and his sorry flank!”

“Whoa, Rare.” Applejack put a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. “Not sayin' that the low-down rattlesnake don't deserve that, and not sayin' that I wouldn't love watchin' it happen, but causin' a scene like that ain't gonna help anythin' right now.”

“Thank you, Applejack.” Twilight gave her a slight smile. “You're right. Believe me, I plan on speaking with Princesses Celestia and Luna about his horrid behavior today, but now isn't the time to instigate a fight.”

“That's right!” Pinkie Pie nodded. “We're not gonna let Prince Meanypants ruin Petey's 'Glad-You're-Out-Of-the-Hospital' party! He- oops!” She blushed an even brighter shade of pink, covering her mouth with both forehooves. “It can't be a surprise party if I give it away!” she practically wailed.

“Calm down, Pinkie,” Sveti said. “I don't think he understood most of what you said anyway.”

Not that most of us do, half the time, Dash joked to herself. “Yeah, guys, Twi's right. We'll have plenty of time later to yell at Prince Jerkface- let's hurry up so Peter doesn't have to stand around with those things on all day.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, and she and Sveti gently ushered Peter forward, while Dash hovered just above and behind the human, spending no small amount of mental energy imagining the best ways to knock a certain so-called “prince” into next Tuesday.

(-)

This was, without a doubt, the strangest escort assignment Stalwart had ever received in his entire career. It was bizarre enough that he was escorting a member of a previously-unknown species- the first new species encountered since the minotaur four hundred years ago, he remembered- but now for some reason that very same creature was shackled, and the very Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, one of them also being an alicorn Princess, saw fit to follow along. And were they ever livid... not that he could blame them in the least after that absolutely shameless display by Blueblood.

Stalwart had heard of what had happened with the creature and Aircolt Swift Wind, of course; not a single guard in Canterlot didn't know by now. But Stalwart was of the old-school mentality of “innocent until proven guilty”, which meant that this “Peter” was still under the protection of the law and due all the rights it gave him. Watchtower, his partner and long-time coltfriend, was the same... but not everypony in the Royal Guard agreed. There had been a lot of arguments in the barracks, away from the watchful eye of the Captain, as to what should be done with the creature- and a disappointingly large contingent had already judged him guilty and advocated for punishment.

Politics. Intrigue. Stalwart felt the urge to spit just to get the imaginary taste out of his mouth. I joined the Royal Guard to get away from that kind of thing. Apparently it followed me!

Unfortunately it didn't take long for them to catch up with him again. The escort party had reached an antechamber leading towards one of the restricted wings- and there was that same crowd of nobles as before, quite literally blocking the way the group meant to go, Blueblood at the head of them all and staring at Peter with a look of disdain mixed with fear. If contempt could start a fire, this creature would be an inferno right now, Stalwart thought.

Twilight came up short, staring at the noblestallion with her own increasingly plain look of irritation. “Prince Blueblood, what are you doing here?” she demanded. “Entry beyond this point is restricted to R-5 rated ponies or above, and that does not include you!”

“Oh, we weren't planning on entering, Princess,” Blueblood replied. “We just came to make sure that the monster there was properly restrained, as per our agreement.”

“Though don't take this to mean that any of us are happy about a murderous beast wandering the halls of our beautiful castle,” added a noblemare Stalwart didn't recognize.

The guardspony frowned inwardly. There was something... off about this situation; he felt his hackles rising, reflexively moving closer to his charge to offer more protection. A quick glance upwards showed that the human's face was set like stone, but his small eyes flicked rapidly back and forth across the row of ponies that blocked his way, and he seemed to be breathing much more quickly than necessary. Fear reaction, Stalwart realized. He is not comfortable here.

“Now tell us, please, Princess Twilight,” said another in the crowd. “Exactly when is this creature going to stand trial for attempting to murder a member of our beloved Royal Guard?”

“Alright, see here,” Captain Armor interjected. “The investigation is ongoing pending certain developments, but no charges have been laid, and an agreement has been made with the current administrator of the Griffin Embassy to house him until such time-”

“Oh, you mean the estimable Miss Windwhisper here,” said another noblepony, with absolutely nothing that sounded like respect in his voice. “Princess Sparkle, are you certain you trust this griffin to be impartial in regards to this creature? I mean... given her family history.”

The hen's head practically snapped towards the pony, her eyes wide and her pupils and irises shrinking. “...what did you say?” she practically snarled.

“Let's just say that word of your father's... predilections has spread, my dear,” the pony replied, cockily trotting towards the obviously-furious griffin, practically leering into her face. “So perhaps we're not ready to believe that you can be depended on to turn over this creature should our government demand it... that is, if you'll even let him out of your bed, or whatever you hybrids sleep in-”

“Hey! Back off, chump!” Rainbow Dash shoulder-checked the advancing noble, sending him reeling back- to bounce off the side of one of his compatriots and then stumbling into the griffin- who shoved him roughly off of her, sending him sprawling.

The mare he'd bumped against stepped forward, angling herself between the griffin and the guards. “Did you see that?!” she screeched. “Violence against a member of the nobility of this nation! Captain Armor, I want this griffin arrested immediately!”

Several others of the crowd of nobles spoke up, their voices combining in a cacophony of demands, with a few of the Bearers beginning to shout back at them, and Princess Twilight calling for everypony to back down. Shining gave Stalwart a meaningful glance, and the guardspony understood. “Tower!” he called to his partner. “Exfil the VIP, rightward!”

The human was glancing around in a near-panic, apparently not even realizing that the two guards were literally herding him towards one of the other doors of the antechamber. A brief glow came from the direction of Watchtower's horn, and the door they were backing the human towards swung open; they carefully guided him through it, closing it behind them. “Where are we taking him?” Watchtower asked in his quiet, baritone voice.

“I don't know, just somewhere that isn't here-” Stalwart practically whirled in place as he caught motion and sound behind him.

(-)

I could actually feel my heart pounding in my chest, hear the blood rushing through my ears. The room seemed too small for me, too crowded, and I found myself fighting the irrational urge to lash out at these unknown ponies and their all-too-familiar ringleader. I almost felt as though I couldn't breathe, my throat tight and the air feeling thick and heavy as I struggled to draw it in.

I was only vaguely aware that my two escorts were nudging me out of the room, away from the hostile ponies- but also away from the only creatures I remotely trusted in this place. It was only when the doors clicked closed between them and me that I actually realized what was going on... but before I could reason out what to do next, one of the guards spun around, bringing my attention to another pair of doors nearby that had just opened.

I felt my heart literally skip a beat when I fully understood just what I was seeing before me. Two other guards, these ones staring up at me with undisguised expressions of aggression, flanked one of the last ponies I'd ever wanted to see again- Ferris, one of the ponies from the sideshow, seeming frozen in mid-stride coming through the doorway, his eyes locked on mine.

Images of cages and whips flashed through my mind in the space of an eyeblink. I had to get away from here, back to Sixie and Sveti, before these ponies could do whatever it was they'd come to do- but even as I turned to run for the doors I'd just come through, they flew open, that insane Prince striding through with Rainbolt just behind him- both of them with furious expressions on their faces. The guards to my sides pressed in against me, limiting me, trapping me.

I snapped.

The shackles were off of me in an instant. I brought my fists down on the back of one of the guards closest to me, hardly even noticing the armor as the blow took him off his hooves and laid him flat on his belly; the chains became an impromptu bolo, tangling up the forelegs of one of Ferris's guards as he advanced towards me and sending him crashing snout-first into the floor. I jumped over him, roughly shoving Ferris aside as I sprinted past, and I was in the halls of the castle a moment later, my shoes slapping against marble, and my mind telling me only one thing: Get away. Get out.

(-)

“Wait! Stop! Peter!” Sveti shouted, her voice almost completely drowned out by the cacophony around her. “Of all the plucking-” She tried to spread her wings to take to the air so that she could follow him, but the mass of ponies around her was too close to manage.

“Sir!” came a much louder shout- one of the guards who'd been escorting Peter. “VIP on the move, solo! We've lost him!”

“What-?!” The Captain took in a deep breath. “Everypony shut up!” he hollered; amazingly, every last living being in the room immediately went silent.

Except for one. “...and I said, 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy?!' ...oops.”

Once Pinkie Pie had quieted down, Shining glanced around. “Watchtower, get to the barracks and raise the alarm,” he ordered. “Protocol 'Lockdown'. Get guards on every exit-”

“Don't worry, I've got this!” Dash was gone in an instant, leaving a trail of rainbow colors in her wake.

“...but don't confront him,” Shining finished lamely.

“Dangit, Dash!” Applejack shouted. “That girl never sticks around t' find out what to do!”

Shining turned to one of his guards. “Stalwart, what happened?”

“Sir, we were exfiltrating the VIP to remove him from a stressful situation when we encountered another guard team escorting somepony that the VIP was apparently frightened of-”

Sveti stood up on her hind legs to look over the crowd- and saw the terrified face of Farris Wheel. “You!” she roared, pushing ponies aside to get to him, watching him shrink before her like a mouse in front of a manticore. “What the pluck are you doing here?! Do you have any idea what you've done?!”

“No!” he shouted back, tears streaming from his eyes. “I don't know what's going on at all! All I know is that I had guards bringing me somewhere and then the yeti was right there and everything went crazy!”

“You-” She froze in place, the heat of anger in her blood quickly cooled by confusion, leaving her almost shivering in a strange combination of spent rage and fear- not for herself, but for her human friend. I'm wasting time with Wheel, she realized, turning towards the others. “Captain... I need to go find Peter. What do you want me to do?”

Despite the situation, he gave her a brief smile. “Find Dash if you can, and have her link up with one of the pegasus squads to coordinate a search pattern, then please do so yourself. If you manage to find Peter before that... well, I think you might be the only creature he trusts right now, so do what you can to get him to stop. If you can't, signal us as to where he is.” He gave the nobleponies an angry glare that actually got a few of them to step back. “Give this griffin some room to fly!” he ordered. The rest of the group- even Blueblood- obliged, and Sveti spread her wings; a moment later and she was soaring through the halls, zipping past guards already moving to their stations, one objective foremost on her mind- to find Peter and get him to stop before he got himself hurt... or worse.

(-)

Well! It seems we're all caught up to where we started, aren't we? Settle down, now, there's plenty more story left to go. Though perhaps the tale might come quicker if you were to buy me a drink, hm?