The lake was actually quite nice and toasty, like a hot tub. "We need to come back here sometime, even if this is in griffon country."

“Maybe we can find a way to make a hot spring at Canterlot, there’s a waterfall there, we just need to find where it is underground.”

"It just wouldn't be the same. Look around you Ribbon, this place is peaceful, and serene. The glowing moss, those crystals, and then theres the ceiling, its like the night sky."

“That doesn’t mean I can’t try to recreate it. if we can, it might even bring in some money.”

"Yes, I like that idea. Where is everyone, anyway?" I let myself sink until only my head was above the water, a content look on my face.

“At the entrance. They’re respecting my privacy. I told them to join us, but they said ‘It would be improper my Queen.’ and it got a little hard to argue.”

“Really? I mean, who would turn down something like this?”

“Imagine if Princess Celestia was here, do you think anypony else would be?”

“Pinkie, nuff said.”

“Wendy, nuff said, and even she’s staying out.”

“...how the fuck was she with our group without me noticing?”

“You didn’t notice? How could you not? She kicked the dragon in the rear before we left.”

“Wow, I really need to pay more attention to what's going on around me.” Ribbon chuckled at that before she yawned. It was probably pretty late. She stood up and climbed out of the water.

“I’m gonna get some sleep.” Once she was out, she shook all the water off. I felt too lethargic to get out and follow her, and instead just laid there staring at the ceiling.

I awoke to the feeling of being underwater, and something pulling on my torso, dragging me. Opening my eyes, I realized, I had fallen asleep underwater. Not needing to breath really does have its benefits, doesn't it? Whatever was dragging me let go, as I turned around and stood up, being greeted by a frantic Ribbon.

“...” oh, right, I need to breath first. “What?”

“Stop scaring me like that! Were you asleep in the water?!”

“Apparently, yes.”

“Well, stop! I keep forgetting you do that and it freaks me out.”

“sorry…” Ribbon gave a heavy sigh, and fell over into the water. I hope she’s not turning into Rarity. “Uhhh… You okay?... Ribbon?” I quickly went over to her and pulled her head out of the water, when I pulled her up she blew water in my face.

I gave her an unamused look as she laughed.

“I think I have ousted Rainbow as the most extreme sleeper, also...” I poked her snout. “Boop!”

She chuckled for a moment. “Come on, lets get the others.”

“One sec.” I shook myself off, spraying water everywhere. I was still damp after, but at least I wasn’t dripping water everywhere. “Now I’m ready.” She glared at me, as she was now rather wet, having been standing right beside me. “Really? You didn’t see that coming? I’ve been soaking in there all night, of course I’m going to want to get at least somewhat dry!”

She shook the water off and we went up to see the others waiting for us. Rushdown, however, was giving us a look that could be best summed up as ‘what the absolute fuck’

-Why is he staring at us?-

’How should I know.’

“Ribbon, Chi, what the Tartarus happened down there?”

“I… uhhh… Kinda… fell asleep underwater.”

“Sometime Chi, you make less sense then Wendy.”

I gave him a shit eating grin.“I try.” He gave a ‘why do I even bother’ look, before resuming whatever he was doing earlier.

I turned to Ribbon. “So, whats the plan when we hit our first griffon city?”

“First. There’s a trade caravan with over thirty captive changelings, that’s first. Second, we’ll enter the city through the water drainage system. Once we’re in, we’ll hit two major houses at once. Rushdown and five others will enter the Caw household. Wendy, I want you and the others to enter the Nin house. Chi, you and I will be making a distraction at the barracks by setting fire to the store houses before rescuing the changelings at the whore house. Once we’re done, we leave the way we came in. If you’re found out, we’ll all leave and try again the next night”

“Think like Flint, got it. And how the hell did you think of this anyway?”

“Most tacticians work solo, being the best they can be. With a hivemind, I have over a thousand minds working on one problem with about two hundred moles leaking information, the captives are still connected to me after all.”

“...Brilliant, bloody brilliant! Ribbon, you magnificent mare!” Ribbon blushed at my compliment, even as I pulled her into a hug, a small ‘squee’ escaping her.

’Please, stop embarrassing me!’

-Never!-

’... I love you.’ I felt Ribbon hug me back.That’s only the second time I’ve heard her say that, and it made me feel warm inside.

-We've still got to free those changelings though, and I think we need to send a message that the changeling race has had it with what griffons have done to them.-

’Right.’ Ribbon made some crude drawing in the dirt that resembled trees and the Blob. “For the sake of the two non-changelings here. We’ll have three changelings here and here, blast the griffons in the rear on my go.” She points the part of the road closest to the ‘city’. “Rushdown. You, me, and Gary will be here, and I want six more changelings here, we’ll all attack the caravan at once.” She pointed to the sides of the road closest to the griffon blob. “Chi, you’ll turn into a griffon and play dead here, with two changelings for support.” She finished pointing at the end of the road. “Is that clear?”

“Fast, brutal, and efficient. I like it.” Rushdown gave a satisfied grin, while Gary barked in agreement.

“Understood my Queen!” Wow, they all spoke at once, that still catches me off guard when they do that.

This was going to be good.

I could hear them approaching. Taking the opportunity to still my breathing, I closed my eyes and waited… It was taking forever for them to come down the road… Finally! they stopped.

“Gena, go check it out.”

I heard wings coming closer. When she landed, she walked all around me before laying her head on my chest. I heard Gary smash into the other two griffons, and my eyes snapped open, before I immediately plunged my claws into the griffon's chest, surprisingly going quite deep, a look of surprise frozen on her face.

I took my claw out of the female griffons chest as she fell to the ground. Everything was quiet. I looked over to the caravan and noted that the griffons in front were the only ones dead, the others were K.O.ed by the changelings. Meaning we had three hostages and three dead. Letting my form revert to normal, I took a moment to arch my back and work out the stiffness from laying on the ground like that.

-Did anyling get hurt?-

’Nope, all good. Griffons didn’t even have time to yell ‘Ambush!’’.

-Good. So, we gonna try and get some intel from our 'guests'?-

’Do you want the first go?’

-I think you should try.-

’I’ll give it my best shot.’

We loaded up all the stuff we could use while the others stayed to clear away the evidence of anything even happening. Swords and leather armor, but food made up the most of what we got. Once the roads were cleared and the dead buried, we headed back to the caves with the griffons in tow.

I admit, I’m curious about how Ribbon will go about interrogating them.

I had positioned myself in the shadows so I could watch Ribbon without the griffon seeing me, and was now simply waiting for him to wake up. His arms were bound behind him, as was his wings.

“Wakey wakey, sleepy head.” Ribbon rocked the griffon back and forth, trying to wake him. He groaned as he awoke and immediately his eye shrunk to pinpricks. “Oh no no. Don’t be scared, you’re quite safe here, as are… most of your friends.” Said Ribbon as as she stroked the side of his face in a caring manner. Was she going to try and befriend him?

“What are you going to do to us, bug!? Going to prepare a grand feast!?”

“It can hardly be grand when nearly my entire hive is in slavery. And besides, you’re far more useful alive. Please, won’t you tell me about the bigger picture here.” Ribbon walked around him, trailing her tail under his chin, when she was behind him, she held him. “Please, tell me who ordered the attack on my hive when we were minding our own business in Equestria?” She said in a sensual voice. She wasn’t going to befriend him, she’s going to seduce him!

... Is it bad that I find this incredibly hot?

“I’ll tell you nothing, you rouch! You’ll get nothing from me or my comrades.”

Ribbon backed away a little at his insult, but didn’t stop touching him as she held his shoulder. “Oh, don’t be like that. Maybe we can trade, question for question? Answer for answer? If not, how about money? Everyone wants a little more coin.”

“I'll never tell you, parasite! Keep your money."

Must. Resist. Urge. To kill. Ribbon just giggled at his reply and seemed unfazed, as long as she isn’t upset by it. “I won’t deny what I am, and we’ve been called far worse. But, if we’re so bad, why not kill us off, why bother keeping us around, much less enslave us? All you needed to do is ask, there’s always one changeling in need of a meal.”

“...”

Ribbon laughed at his lack of a reply and let go of him. Circling around to face him as she talked. “Come now, no need to be shy. There was a reason I wanted to talk to you first. The elegant dress, the small stature, she’s a beautiful young scout, isn’t she?” What?

“How did you know!?” A look of disbelief appears on his face. Wait, the hivemind! But that means... Oh, he is dead when I get my hooves on him...

“Don’t be so surprised, she’s one of mine, and you did order her, didn’t you? I can hear everything they can… Tell me, why hold us against our will and force us to have sex with you if we already do so to survive, well some of us. We do have preferences and feelings.” Oh god, this is really starting to turn me on.

“...” He didn’t say anything, but looked at her curiously.

Ribbon saddled right up to him, her face mere inches from his. I can only hope she won’t take this too far. “What’ll it be ‘big wings’. That’s what you wanted her to call you, right? Big wings?
Will you answer my questions and enjoy your stay?” She moved in closer to whisper to him, his eyes wide. If I strained myself I could still hear her. “Or do we need to get… creative? I’ll get my answers which ever way you chose. Either way, I hope you have a nice pair of lungs.”

“...”

When she still didn’t get an answer from him, she pushed him over and straddled him, giggling as she did. “Come on Big wings, what do you say? You could still get... something out of this.” She gave him a half lidded stare, waiting for him to reply.

Goddamn Ribbon, are you trying to get me to jump you?!

“I'll talk, just stop! This is too Ziz-damned creepy!”

“I try my best!” Ribbon removed herself from him and pulled him up into a sitting position, and gave a truly innocent smile. “Now tell me, who told your higher ups where my hive was?”

“You’re creepy, and I don’t know but my employer might! I’m just a guard, I do my job and I don't ask questions! Find a griffon named Stel Singer, He might know!”

“Thank you, and please understand, I just want to protect my changelings. This might sting.” Without warning, Ribbon bit his shoulder. He slumped over soon after. “Hey Chi? does my flank look good from the shadows?”

*Meep!* "I-its not funny."

“No, but apparently it’s hot.” *growl* Ribbon held her stomach and blushed a heavy green.

I think we both knew what was happening next.