I grunted as I pushed forward through the snow, breaking a path for the others to follow. Despite my cloak, and the heating enchantments of my armor, the cold still found ways to bite through to the bone. While it did wonders for my broken limbs, I’d come to miss feeling in my hooves. More than once I’d stumbled like a drunkard because I couldn’t tell difference between a good step and a bad one.

Of course it wasn’t all bad. Right now the seemingly endless snows of the North had paused, leaving the air crisp and clear. Had our situation been different, I might have appreciated the view from the mountainside a little more. Up ahead, Orchid was “swimming” through the snow banks and sliding down them. For the first time in days she smiled and laughed effortlessly like a foal might enjoy their first snow. Of course for all I knew, it was.

I felt safe assuming that she’d probably seen and played in the snow before now, but then again, this was a mare that’d seen a beach only but once in her life. I shrugged. Regardless, it mattered little whether this was the first time or the hundredth time. She was enjoying herself and looked the happiest she’d been in days and that was perfectly fine by me.

That, and there wasn’t any way for me to really stop her.

“Can we take a break yet?” a reedy voice called out from the back of the line. “My hooves are really starting to hurt.”

I repressed the urge the groan. That damned voice rapidly was approaching familiarity and for all the wrong reasons. Where Orchid’s antics tended to raise my spirits...other’s gave me headaches.

Fang put a hoof on my shoulder. “I got it this time boss.”

I gave him a grateful nod and he flew off to go tell the whinge-happy stallion on my behalf, to kindly shut the hell up before I rammed a hoof so far down his throat that I could massage his hunger pangs. Granted, I had my doubts Fang would explain it quite that way, but trusted that the core of the message would be passed on in some fashion.

Penumbra nudged my flank from behind. “Patience Captain, patience.”

“Hmph. Easier said than done.” I pushed forward, sinking further into the drift as the ground leveled beneath me. “I don’t blame him for being miserable, but just wish he’d shut up. We’re all tired, hungry, and cold. We don’t need the reminder every half-hour though.”

“That’s fair,” she nodded as we pushed forward against the snow-bank. “Just bear in mind, I doubt he was prepared to be doing this.”

As she talked, I sunk to my chest in the snow bank. If the ground continued to even out a bit further, we could hollow out a small den and pile in for the night. It sure wouldn’t be as warm or comfortable as my bed at home, but it was a place to sleep.

I glanced back at the number of ponies behind us, each huddled up to the next for heat. Straps and scraps of cloth were wrapped anywhere and everywhere in desperation to block out the pervasive cold. “I don’t think any of them were prepared for this.”

Fifteen...sixteen...seventeen... I counted again and then once more to be sure, hoping that I’d accidentally skipped somepony. My ears splayed back. I hadn’t.

“You noticed too, huh?” she said. “Noticed myself about twenty minutes ago...I think.” She pulled her cloak closer to herself. “This damn cold makes it hard to think, much less keep track of time.”

I sighed and looked at the empty space where her hoof should’ve been, and a wrapped stump was now. “How’s the leg doing?”

“Can’t feel it,” she waggled nub. The bandages were ruddy and sodden, and desperately needed to be changed. “Frankly don’t know whether that’s a good or bad thing right now...don’t much care to dwell on it either.” She laughed darkly. “I mean, what’s the difference if I lose part of it or the whole thing at this point?”

“A peg leg.”

She glared at me through half-lidded eyes. “Really?” She wasn’t asking if it was possible, as so much asking me if I liked staying on this side of the shadow realm.

I grunted, deciding to drop the subject for now and broach it later. “Well, this is as far as I think we’ll go today. Get a shelter hollowed and build a wind break from whatever you pull out.” I turned around to face the way we came. “I’m going to go back down and see if I can’t find our missing pony. Hopefully still alive.”

She nodded and started delegating as I began my trudge back. As I reached the end of the line, I stopped Fang. “Before I get back, make sure Penumbra changes her bandage. We don’t need infection setting in.”

“Understood boss.”

“Just, uh, don’t mention peg legs.” I quickly added and continued down the mountain.

“I can’t believe we made it up that.” The mare sighed as she stared down the side of mountain, a furrow in the snow marking our path.

I hummed. I certainly could. My sore hooves wouldn’t be letting me forget anytime soon. I traced the furrow as far down as I could, and then guessed at our path when it disappeared. Far in the distance, I could barely make out the expanse where the Crystal Empire used to lay, amid the wasteland of white.

A few more days, and it’ll be like it never existed. The snow buries everything up here.

I turned away and counted heads. The invisible weight of the yoke of responsibility hung around my neck even heavier. Of the arduous trek to the top of the mountains, only eight of the Crystal ponies survived. Compared to a week ago, the herd that had set out from the empire had been thirty-one strong. I knew in advance that the odds wouldn’t be good. Everypony was underdressed, and unprepared. Even after dividing out my teams remaining food and gear, there still wasn’t enough.

I just hoped for better than this.

“Boss!”

My ears perked up as I looked back at Fang.

“You okay?” He said softer this time; his eyes studied mine. “Been talking to you for the past five minutes and you haven’t said a word.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’m...” The lie died on my lips. “...I’ll be alright. What can I do for you?”

He stared a second longer. “If you say so.” He didn’t sound entirely convinced, but was willing to let me be for now. “We found a scraggly tree on a rock. Right now I’ve got a few of them chopping it down. See if we can’t make some bark soup of it, or at least get a fire going.”

I nodded. “Good idea. Once you get those flames going, see to melting some snow into drinking water too. We’ll need it for the trip down. And if you get some kind of dinner ready, come get me after you all have been served.”

“Yes sir.” And with that, he walked off.

At this point in our trip, a fire would be a great boon. In addition to guaranteeing a small rise in everypony’s hopes, it’d also be a good chance to boil some of the used bandages. Get them cleaned and sterilized for reuse. Penumbra’s leg was starting to worry me more and more. While she was showing no external symptoms, the wound looked like it was starting to develop...something. A foul odor emitted from it, and certain areas looked puffy and oozed. I was no medic, but clearly extra steps needed to be taken.

I knew instantly that those steps were not going to make Penumbra happy. For starters, Fang would need to hold her down while I cut away any dead tissue and then cauterize it. Neither part was going to be any better or less painful than the other and I wished I had some whiskey or dullweed to help Penumbra through it.

I pushed that to the side for now. Before tending to Penumbra’s wounds, I needed to treat one of my own. One that had been festering in my heart for a few days now. I turned away from the camp and began scouring the area for a decent sized rock face. Spotting one, I set off.

I leaned back and checked my hoofwork.

While the charred and mangled tip of my left wingblade made an imperfect chisel, it got the job done. Using another rock as a hammer, I’d managed to chip a small message into the stone. It’d been difficult. Without the use of my left leg, I was forced to hold the chisel in my mouth. That, of course, had the added effect of making it hard to see what I was doing as well. I managed however, and now sucked on some snow trying to soothe my aching jaw.

“Doesn’t say much does it?” said Orchid, surprising me as she sat down beside me.

I shrugged. She hummed and leaned into me as we continued to stare at it.

“I suppose it is a bit understated. All considered though….” I sighed and leaned back against her.

She wrapped a leg around me, saying nothing. Instead, her ears turned towards me, and she was ready to listen.

“Do you think I made the right decisions back there?” I glanced at her from corners of my eyes. “I can’t help but think that so many of these ponies would still be alive had we not intervened. Had we done just what Celestia tasked us to do, maybe...maybe things wouldn’t have turn out the way they did. Sledge would be alive. Penumbra would still have her hoof. I wouldn’t be in such a sorry state. Hell, by now we’d probably all be back in Canterlot by now and I’d be back at home being hounded by Breeze for all the details from my trip.” Despite the dour subject, I couldn’t help the slight upturn of my mouth at the thought of my daughter pestering me and bouncing around as foals are want to do.

She pursed her lips in thought, mulling my question other. “I think you did what you knew to be right in the moment. Had we known then what we know now,” she gave me a light squeeze, “you might have done something different, you might not.”

The wind whistled around us as we thought. She squeezed me tighter with her wing. “I don’t hold all the answers Waxing. Just because I’ve seen what’s on the other side, doesn’t mean I was suddenly granted other worldly wisdom too. In a lot of ways, I’m still trying to figure things out myself.

“What I do know though, it that you wanted to do the right thing and that’s all there is to it. You had good intentions. That’s the best anypony could have when trying to do anything. And you can sit here, and reflect or second guess yourself all-night long, trying to figure out all the better things you could have done. That’s okay. Healthy even.” She turned her head, putting our muzzles inches from each other and forcing our eyes to meet. “And I’ll wait right here while you do. Just...just don’t forget that there’s a number of ponies that still need you to lead them and help them off this rock.” She smiled sweetly. “So don’t dwell too long, okay?”

And so we sat there, resting against each other saying not another word.

I could say that everything resolved itself then and there. That I buried my guilts at that markerstone. If I did though, I’d be lying. What I did feel though, was better. And that was good enough.

The downslope portion of the journey went much better. Fang discovered an area where the melted runoff ran down the mountain, carving a more gradual slope in the harsh rock. Still, it was far from perfect terrain and in more than a few spots Fang and Penumbra had to fly our group down one by one. Obviously this made the going a little slow, but with each descent, the air became warmer, plant life grew, and moods improved.

And then we touched down on the valley floor.

I never thought I’d see the day I would be excited to graze on grass, but when we touched down next to a creek, I did exactly that. Best tasting grass I’d ever had too. Everypony else joined me aside from Fang, who apparently had other plans. He wasted no time diving in the water. A short slam of his hooves later and boom, there were fish.

Well, at least fish for us thestrals. The crystal ponies were both horrified and disgusted to see us filet and roast them. Not that we cared too much. Their feelings wouldn’t fill the holes in our stomachs.

And so it went for a few more days. In the mornings. we’d follow the creek and in the afternoons, we’d rest during the hot hours until it was time to setup camp for the night. After the second day of this, the creek fed into the river which told me we were getting closer--although a pony could’ve just as easily picked out the Canterhorn from the landscape and learned that. The downside of following the river was that it led us back to the campsite we had stayed the first night we set out. It was a strange feeling staying there without the other members of our initial party present. The only thing that gave me solace was that I was within a day’s flight of Canterlot. Sure, my wing was still busted up, but it meant the journey was so close to completion that I could nearly taste it.

That also meant it was a good time to talk to the Crystal ponies about their options.

“So,” Topaz sat there, digesting what I’d told them. “You want us to follow you all the way up another mountain, to meet your Princess Celest, all in the hopes that she’ll have a better idea of what to do with us?”

“Princess Celestia-” I added extra emphasis on the part he’d missed. “-and yes. While I do own a large enough piece of land in the city that I could help each of you build a home on it, I’m sure she could offer you more in the way of locations, including outside of Canterlot, as well as know how to best help you get started with jobs and the sort.”

Topaz scratched his chin. “Even so, I can’t say I’m too thrilled about climbing another mountain.”

My jaw clenched as I tried to restrain my frustrations with the stallion. While I didn’t necessarily wish him dead, I couldn’t help but wonder why fate deemed that he had to be one of the survivors. “Sir. I’m offering you the best chance at a new start here in Equestria. And the trek up the Canterhorn, while no lazy walk, will be nothing like the hike we just finished. Over the years, a road has been built up it with plenty of switchbacks to help keep it from feeling too steep.”

He hummed once more, “I don’t know...I’ll have to talk it over with the others.”

I glanced at the assorted stallions and mares around the fire, wondering when Topaz became the spokespony for all of them. Or if he just assumed that responsibility.

I went with the later as most looked as if their patience with the stallion was as worn as mine. One, her name was Frost Gem I think, leaned over and whispered. “Don’t worry about him. We’ll be happy to join you.”

I nodded slightly and stood up. “Very well. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

Turning my back, I rejoined my troops in a small copse across the camp where we’d set our gear.

“So how’d it go?” asked Fang, barely looking up from his filet.

Antumbra smiled already guessing based on my expression, as I sat down and buried my face into my hoof. “I swear that stallion could be given ten-thousand bits, and all he would do is complain about how heavy they are.”

“Well, on the bright side,” he said. “At the rate we’re going, you’ll have to deal with him another two or three days, and then you can dump him off with the princess!”

“I see exactly two problems with that plan. The first is-” I scratched the back of neck. “I….may have offered up some of my property for them to rebuild on…”

I couldn’t help myself. They’d need homes after I inadvertently made their old disappear, and I had it available.

Fang doubled over with laughter as Antumbra snickered before breaking into a coughing fit. I scrutinized her, concerned that she was getting worse.

Finally she recovered. “Stop staring at me like that. What’s the second thing?”

“The second is that I see the princess nearly everyday. So much so, that her problems eventually become my problems, and my problems become her problems. Dumping Topaz off on the princess wouldn’t do much to remove me from the situation. Either I’d still end up seeing him, or I’d hear about him through the Princess.”

Fang snickered quietly to himself and muttered something. I didn’t catch all of it, but what I did sounded a lot like “married couple”.

I turned away ignoring him and focused back on Penumbra. It seemed that Fang and I hadn’t gotten to her leg soon enough, as she seemed to be getting more sickly by the day. While Penumbra stood a good chance to recover, even yet, it still worried me.

Hopping over, I put my hoof to her forehead.

“Uh...sir?” she asked, eyes locked on my hoof. “What are you doing?”

“Getting your temperature.” I said flatly.

“Why?”

“To see if you have a fever.” She doesn’t feel too bad. Maybe a bit warmer than normal though.

“I can see what you are doing sir.” She said, sounding more annoyed and swat away my hoof. “I’m asking why you are doing it.”

“Because your health matters to me.” I said like it was the simplest thing in the world. “And we don’t have a medic to do it for me.”

Fang laughed from the sidelines. “Damn boss, when did you get all maternal?”

“Well, I don’t know Fang.” I cast a sidelong look at him. “It must have been somewhere around the time I adopted a daughter, but realized once I got home, that in all the excitement, I forgot to get a wife too while I was out looking for a family.” He only laughed harder and I rolled my eyes. “Just wait until you two have kids.”

“Wait!” Penumbra’s eyes grew wide with genuine surprise. “You aren’t married?”

Fang bust out laughing even harder.

I sighed, seeing that this conversation was clearly heading in a direction I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. “No. I’m not. And before you ask,” I cut her off, anticipating her next question. “I haven’t really met the right mare in that regard.”

“Sure you have!” Fang said. “She’s white, tall…” His trademark grin grew along his muzzle. “...first name’s Princess.”

I deadpanned.

“Come on, I may live at the top of the mountain, but I still hear rumors.” He waggling his ears back and forth.

“Rumors are for idiots and fools.” I said.

He shrugged. “Mom never said I was the brightest. But still, you can’t sit there and tell me that you and the princess are on strictly professional terms. I mean, come on boss! I heard how she doctored you back together after...you know.”

Penumba jumped in. “And then there’s the fact that you spend a lot of time around each other at night~”

And it went right back to Fang who said, “And, if what an adorable, precocious pegasus filly that I bumped into the castle kitchens before leaving told me is correct, and I quote here, ‘My daddy is going on some super important mission for a while so I get to stay with the Princess while he gone!’”

Penumbra and I stared at him. I was less disturbed that he quoted my daughter, than by the fact he tried to imitate a filly’s voice while doing so. “Fang, do me a favor and never do that again. That was just creepy.”

Deciding to escape the conversation right then and there, I bid them a good night and left them around the fire. Finding my sleeping roll, I curled up in it and closed my eyes. I didn’t lay there long before Orchid joined me, pressing herself against my back.

“Hey Wax,” she whispered in my ears.

“Hmm?”

“Just curious, but, have you even tried finding a wife? Or a mother for Breeze?” she asked.

I sighed, having hoped that this was over. “No, no I haven’t. Sure the thought has crossed my mind, but every time I consider it, I realize that one day I’ll have bury them. I figure it’ll be hard enough doing that to Breeze, without me bringing on additional heartache for myself.”

“Oh.”

She looked pensive, but didn’t say anything else. Sensing the conversation was over, I closed my eyes, and fell asleep.

I awoke the following dawn to the stars and moon still over head. I couldn’t shake the feeling that, even high above, Nightmare Moon was staring down on me. I wanted to dismiss it off as foolish, but being a living testament to Nightmare Moon’s power, I imagined peering down from her prison couldn’t be too great a stretch.

Unable to sleep with that thought rattling around my head, I stirred the others and in a few minutes, we had packed up and set out. Due to the early start, Orchid opted to ride on my back and continue “sleeping”. I did find it tiresome when she kept flicking the tufts of my ears, causing them to twitch. I could understand her being bored, but that was no excuse to take it out on my poor ears.

As we walked, I breathed deep the autumn air, enjoying the clean brisk crisp feel of it. It was perfect weather as far as I was concerned. I would have thought that even the remotest of chills would have sent me scurrying for the nearest blanket or cloak after as much time as I’d just spent in the cold, yet here I was plodding along at ease. I guess comfortable was just comfortable, no matter what.

Not that everypony seemed to feel as I did though. Especially Penumbra, who had wrapped her cloak tightly around herself. Every few feet she’d sniff or cough and, despite her protests to the contrary, she was not okay. She needed both medicine and rest, neither of which were plentiful at the moment. Sure, she could probably soldier on a bit, but the sooner she was properly tended to, the better.

Once we got to the base of the Canterhorn, I’d look at getting a cart to haul her up in.

Before too long, the sun was high overhead. The river shimmered beneath its rays, and shafts of light pierced the canopy overhead. All around us, birds chirped and squirrels darted among the branches or along the forest floor. It was all a bit idyllic and I couldn’t help but laugh at the expressions of the Crystal ponies as they pointed at animals they’d never seen before, or stared slack-jawed at the beauty of it all.

Maybe someday, once Breeze was much, much older, I could see building a small cabin in these woods. My own little retreat for when I needed to get away from it all. Come out here with a fishing pole an-

A sound.

My ears twitched and perked upright, searching. I wasn’t the only one as Penumbra and Fang did the same, each alerted to something just at the edge of our hearing.

It was faint and indeterminable at first but grew clearer each second. Rhythmic yelling and the splashing of water in time.

Boat.

Something in my gut knotted up. Ponies didn’t travel the waterways a whole lot. Too many of our cities were landlocked or in the clouds for it to be viable. Those few on the coasts might use boats to journey out on the waves, but never this far north or inland.

“Quick, everypony in the woods. Get out of sight and don’t make a noise.” I commanded in hushed tones.

Orchid exchanged a single look with me, and hopped off my back, charging off towards the source of the noise while everypony else galloped for the underbrush. We knelt down behind some chest high berry bushes. The crystal ponies pulled sleeping rolls and blankets from our packs, covering their colorful coats with the drab gray and green cloth. Satisfied they were properly camouflaged, I made preparations of my own. The steel of my right wingblade whispered as I stretched my limb, just in case things went poorly as the ever tightening knot in my gut said they might.

I hoped they wouldn’t though. My left wing was still nowhere near healed enough for use. Not to mention my own movement was further limited with my broken leg still healing in its sling. Penumbra was far from full strength and hobbled in a similar manner to myself. Which left Fang as our last best line of defense.

I waved Penumbra over and ever so quietly, she crawled over to me, panting from the exhaustion.

“Yes sir?” she whispered.

I cast a discerning eye over her, considering thoughtfully what I was about to request of her. “Penumbra, listen carefully. Depending on what happens here next, I might need you to fly to Canterlot for aid. Could you do that? Could you make that on your own?”

She nodded tentatively.

“Very well. If I give that order, you go only as fast as you can without compromising your health any further, okay?” I rested a hoof on her shoulder. “If you need to take a break, take a break. If you need to sleep, sleep. Got it?”

She hesitated, but nodded again.

“Okay.” I gave her a slight squeeze with my hoof and turned away to continue watching the river through the brush.

“Um, sir?” she said. “What are you expecting that’s so bad?”

Up ahead, I could see Orchid coming back. Behind her through the tree branches, I could just make out the top deck and sails. The yelling became more distinct and took the form of coxswain’s chant, keeping the rowers in order.

By now the other ponies had taken notice of the boat. Topaz stood up down the line.

“We’re saved!” He cried out and began stumbling toward it. “We’re saved!”

Several of the other started to rise and join him.

“Get back down!” I growled. “And Topaz! Get back here! You don’t know if they’re friendly!”

He turned back to face my bush.. “Psssh! And you won’t either unless you talk to them! So let’s go say hi and see if they’ll let us aboard. If they do, then we won’t have to hike anymore! Doesn’t that sound amazing!?”

Of all the possible reasons he could’ve given...

I turned aside. “Fang! Go get that stupid idiot and drag him back here!”

Fang grinned and shot forward from the bush. Topaz’s eyes grew wide as he lurched forward in a gallop to the shore.

It was quickly apparent who was faster as Fang’s hooves closed around Topaz’s neck, dragging him to the ground. Unwilling to give up on a potential rescue and free ride, Topaz began to cry out.

“Get off me! Help! Hel-”

Fang wrapped the fool into a chokehold and held it, tightening it as he could. Topaz struggled and thrashed futilely before growing still. Fang loosed his grasp and drug him behind a nearby bush where he checked Topaz’s pulse. Satisfied, he nodded back to me.

I turned to the other ponies, who were staring in horror at me or at Fang. I held up a placating hoof. “Don’t worry. Topaz isn’t dead, just unconscious.”

Unfortunately...

They settled down a little, but were clearly unnerved.

That’s when I heard something else. Something that deeply bothered me.

It was deathly quietly.

Orchid came charging through the bush and stopped next to me. “Griffons.”

Ahead, the ship came float to a rest in a gap in the treeline. Three silver slashes gleamed on the ship’s hull.

“Dammit.” I hissed.

“What?” Penumbra asked.

“See those?” I pointed at the slashes.

“Yeah.”

“That’s the sign of the Silver Talon aerie.”

She stared at me, a blank expression on her face.

“Of all the griffon aeries, they are the one’s you go to for only two reasons. If you have plenty of money to spend, and you want slaves.” The mood became incredibly uncomfortable in an instant. “They’re mostly known for taking over smaller aeries, capturing them and selling off the inhabitants, but it isn’t unheard of for them to travel to find new ‘products’ to offer.” I said darkly.

She looked upon the silver markings with newfound horror. “What are they doing in Equestria then?”

“I don’t know.” I muttered. “Could be hunting for new stock but that’s rather unlikely, especially this far inland. I’d wager they’re meeting a client. WHoever they are, they’d have to be promising a lot to persuade them to come. Celestia made it very clear in the past that their aerie was not welcome in our borders.”

Further discussion was cut off as seven griffons landed on the bank. Their torsos were well armored behind thick metal plate, but wore nothing in the form of greaves or helms. Two had crossbows strapped to their backs, whereas the rest had long swords hung their sides.

The one in the middle cleared his throat. “Is anyone in trouble out there? Heard somegrif-” The subordinate to his right leaned over and muttered something. “Er-somepony’s cries for help.”

Silence greeted him as we held our cover.

“We are here to help! Come on out!” he tried once more.

Nopony budged. Thick rivulets of sweat ran down my neck. It was a foolish hope that they might jump back in their ship and leave, but I hoped nonetheless.

The lead griffon motioned with his talon and two griffons each went to the left and right, while the remaining three set straight into forest.

My hopes sank as I closed my eyes and hung my head. “Penumbra, now would be a good time to slip in the shadows and get to Canterlot.”

She hesitated. “Sir, I can help fight them! There’s only seven of them-”

I shook my head, cutting her off. “And however many more on the boat? No. Thank you, but no. I need you to go for help, understand? I need to know that somepony is coming back for us.” I looked at her, pleading.

“I...okay.” She swallowed.

I reached out to her before she disappeared. “One last thing. Tell Celestia that...tell her I’m sorry.”

She gave me a solemn nod. “Good luck sir.” And Penumbra melted into shadows.

Okay. That’s one thing. Now the next…

I turned back to the refugees. Their eyes shined bright with fear. “Listen up. I’ll do my best to hold them here and keep them distracted. Once I start fighting, count to twenty. Then stay low, and out of sight as you escape further back into the woods. Avoid the river from here on out. Just make your way to the giant mountain in the middle of the land. You can’t miss it.

“Also, here.” I shed my saddlebags with the rest of my supplies, tossing them over the nearest mare. “You’re going to need these more than I am.”

Not waiting for their response, I turned back to see how Fang was doing. He was drawn back into his bush as far as he could go; the griffons were almost upon him. Further out, the flanking griffons were passing through the forest, curving in towards the center. Carefully, I drew my cloak over me, insuring that it covered my left side and kept my right wing free. No need to expose my weaknesses early on.

Taking one last breath to steady myself, I exhaled, feeling a measure of peace wash over my nerves as I put my helm on. I counted down the distance as they passed by Fang’s hiding spot.

Five...four...three...two…

“Halt!” I stepped out from my bush. “Identify yourselves and state your business!”

The effect was immediate. The griffons stopped and in a hiss of steel, unsheathed their swords. From the flanked edges suddenly both crossbows were aimed in my direction.

The central griffon I took for the leader smiled and gave a small wave to his troops. They slowly lowered their weapons, but I noticed they did not bother to re-sheathe them. “Why hello there! As I said on the banks, we heard somepony in distress. We’re here to help.” He and his griffons took small steps to advance towards me. My eyes darted to the edges, taking note how they were trying to encircle me.

Despite his kindly tone and words, I regarded him coldly. “I said halt!” The enchantment in my helm activated, empowering my voice. “Advance no further! Identify yourselves and state your business in Equestrian territory!”

My voice blew past them, battering them. While not quite the Royal Canterlot voice, it still worked. The leader stuck a talon in his ear and dug around. “Well damn. You could’ve said so earlier.” He turned to his lackeys. “Seems to me that he have some sort of guardspony on our claws, eh lads?” They chuckled and he regarded me once more. “Say guardspony, where is the rest of your squad? It appears you’re out here all by yourself. That’s kind of dangerous isn’t it?”

My lips snarled and snapped my right wing open at my side, the wingblade shimmering as the light caught it. “You have yet to answer my questions, trespassers.”

The leader hesitated, wasting his seconds. I raised my wing, signaling to ready for attack. In my peripherals, I saw Fang nod.

“Wait! Wait!” The griffon raised his claws placatingly. “No need for that.” He stepped forward a little more. “Now these good griffons call me Gunter and we-” gestured broadly to them in a sweeping motion, “are of the Stoneclaw Aerie and are here simply to trade. Last I checked, we were on friendly terms, so surely there’s no need for such animosity between us, right?” He gave what was probably his most winning smile.

“Then why do you sail under the sigil of the Silver Talons.” I cocked an eyebrow.

His expression deflated into a deadpan. “You just had to go an ruin the fun of it all didn’t you?”

My feathers bristled. “You’d best get back on your ship and return to your lands. Now.”

“Hmph. Well.” He snapped his talon. “I tried this the easy way.”

I dropped my wing.

Fang flashed from his bush, his wings driving him above nearest griffon. He raised his hooves high, horseshoes sparking to life, and slammed them down square on the griffon’s back.

His hooves crashed like thunder against heavy plate, and sickening snap came from beneath as the griffon crumpled to the ground, seemingly bent in two. He screamed. His wings flapped about aimlessly. Forelegs scrambled for purchase against the ground. But his rear legs...they didn’t move. They didn’t twitch.

For a brief second, his hesitated, regarding Fang’s hooves warily before diving beneath him, scooping up his friend and carrying him back to the ship.

Fang snorted and let them go turning to face Gunter. “Who’s a pretty birdy?” he smirked. “Certainly not you, you whoreson.”

I didn’t catch the rest. A bolt soared over my head, telling me I’d been watching too long. I threw myself to the side, stumbling slightly, as a second bolt flew by. Their owners were already busy reloading for another shot while the flankers moved forward on me. A quick glance back at Fang showed he was keeping Gunter busy, darting in and out of the reach of his sword looking for an opening.

With a flick of my wing, I popped the clasp and shed my cloak. Last thing I needed was for it to get tangled up under me. The grins of the griffons’ faces grew at the sight of my splints and bandages, clearly anticipating an easy fight. For all I knew it might be, but I wasn’t without a few tricks at my disposal.

I drew my wing in front on me like a shield, not that I was really counting on it to deflect much. I cast my thoughts back to Luna’s tutelage, to when she’d told me that pegasi--and by extension thestrals--could be true masters of the air. While flying lay at the core of our magic, we could also manipulate the weather, control the winds. Truly, the sky and all it held was our domain. She told me of legends of ponies who had mastered their abilities that could summon lightning from their wings. Call forth tornados and hurricanes with a single flap. Steal your very breath away if they so wished.

Unfortunately, in practice we’d discovered I had no great aptitude to master such things. Regardless, Luna managed to teach me a few things.

I concentrated, focusing the extent of my power on my wing. The membrane tingled as it brushed the air, bending it to my desires.

The two swordsgriffons drew closer and closer, unwittingly stepping into range.

I swept my wing in front of me in a wide arc, sending powerful gust along the ground, casting dirt into the griffons’ eyes. They squawked in surprise. My magic wasn’t quite finished though as a wispy mist followed behind the gale, blanketing us.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. I’d been aiming to form a dense fog, but I supposed anything was better than nothing. I lunged forward while they were still rubbing dirt from their eyes. The tip of my blade sunk deep into the unprotected throat of the nearest griffon with a gurgle. Pushing my initiative, I whipped around, cleaving my wing along the ground, striking the back leg of the other griffon.

His leg collapsed under his weight; his tendons cut. I danced away as he swung his sword wildly in my direction, the blade whistling overhead.

Thwack-thwack

I ducked as two bolts whistled overhead and impacted the dirt behind me.

The mist was already beginning to thin. By the time those crossbows were reloaded, it’d be little more than vapor in the air. I side-stepped away from the griffon’s blade as he swung it downwards at my head, watching him embed it in the dirt. Before he could recover, I bolted forward, slashing across his face.

He cried out in pain as my blade claimed his sight; his sword remaining the ground as he clutched at the useless husks that were his eyes. I spared him a pitying glance and my blade flew once more, and he was silent.

A solid thwack of a crossbow rang out again followed by a pained yelp from Fang.

The mist had cleared enough for me to see him fall to the ground; a shaft pierced his armor and buried itself deep in his barrel, just in front of his rear leg. He flopped and fumbled, barely able to stand. I bolted forward, as fast of my hooves would carry me, as Gunter stalked forward at him at a relaxed pace.

Gunter looked at me, a disgusting smile plastered on his beak.

I redoubled my efforts; I wasn’t going to make it.

He plunged his sword down, pinning Fang’s front left hoof to the ground, keeping him from backing away.

Fang collapsed swinging his remaining good hoof at Gunter from his position on the ground as the griffon stood over him.

I stared in horror; Gunter seized him by the back of his neck, his sharp talons sinking into his flesh.

Gunter looked back up at me, winked, and gave his neck a sharp twist. And like that, my friend hung limp in his grasp. No last words. No goodbyes.

I was torn between heartache and rage, the latter filling my head with fire. I roared as I barreled headlong at Gunter, my gait uneven and awkward, but chewing up the distance.

A biting pain struck my right flank mid-gallop. I stumbled, then tripped, flying ass over teakettle. Dirt sprayed everywhere, my armor crunched as I skid along the ground.

The world was pain. The fall had done my broken wing and leg no favors as they protested. And now my rear was killing me too.

The weight of a sword laid itself across the back of my neck. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think that’s enough out of you.”

Not moving my head, I glanced back at my flank. Half of a broken bolt stuck out of it, where it had pierced the plate of my croupiere. The whole area around the barb felt like molten iron had been injected beneath my skin.

The cold tip of Gunter’s blade realigned itself under chin, guiding my face to look up at my friend’s killer. His head turned side to side, calculating eyes appraising me. “Hmmm. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t even consider claiming such damaged...goods. Might cost me a lot of time and coin to fix you up to be of proper service. But!” His voice grew excited as looked back at the bodies of the two griffons I killed. “It seems to me that you might just be valuable enough to be worth it. Don’t get me wrong-” a backhanded talon smacked across my muzzle. “-I’m very angry. But it is worth mentioning that your skills impressed me enough to spare you. Speaking of which, before we get too far ahead of ourselves...”

A quick flick of his blade severed the straps of my wingblade, and it fell away.

“That’s better. So hard to have a polite conversation when everyone is armed.” He reached down and picked up the blade, turning it over and over in his talon. “Such an interesting design, especially where it bends at the joint.” He peered over it at me. “How long did you have to train to use such a thing?”

I responded with a baleful gaze.

He gave a soft snort. “No matter.” He tossed it over his shoulder and grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, pulling me into a sitting position, much to my body’s protest. “Now, I’ve given you my name, but can’t recall getting yours.” He paused meaningfully.

I spat at him.

He sighed, wiping at his face. “You ponies never were very gracious in defeat you know. Oh well. I’m sure we’ll get it one way or another. For the time being though, I guess I’ll call you Bat. Seems appropriate en-”

He was cut off by the sound of frantic hooves scrambling along the ground. Topaz bolted from his cover and was taking for the deeper wood. Gunter whistled, snapped his talons, and pointed at him. In a short matter, Topaz was seized, bound, and thrown beside me.

I cast a sidelong glance at the quivering mess of a stallion, whose eyes were locked on Fang. I wanted to tell the tell him right then and there that this situation was his fault, that I blamed and cursed him. That if it were up to me to do it all over again, I’d have left him back in the frozen wastes of the Empire to die. That I’d gladly sacrifice his worthless hide a thousand times over if it meant Fang would still be alive and kicking.

Still, I said nothing.

Gunter looked him over. “And who do we have here?” He jabbed at the crystalline coat. “Well isn’t that just peculiar. Looks like a sparkling gem, but still feels like a pony.” His smile grew wide. “I think you’ll fetch a pretty price. Know just the buyer, I think you’ll like her. She’s a wonderfully odd diamond dog that goes by the name of Dirtpaw and loves to collect shiny things and new toys. I’m sure you’ll get along famously!” He turned to his lackey. “Get him on the ship.”

They dragged Topaz away, and he returned his attention to me. “So...any others out there I should know about?”

I continued my silence.

“Eh, fair enough I suppose. Lucky for them that we’re on a schedule and haven’t the time to really hunt them down.” He scratched his beak. “Though if they are anything like your friend there, they could make up for any lost revenue.” He pondered a minute. “Nah. A sure deal is better than a potential. Plus having only one makes it a rarity and thus worth more. Well! Let’s go you!”

He grabbed me again by the nape of my neck and dragged me along the ground, over Fang’s corpse, anything he could find. Dirt matted itself to the blood on my coat. I grit my teeth and waited for it to be over. Finally he reached the bank, where he tossed me over the side of the ship like a sack of grain.

I landed hard on the deck and groaned. Wasting no time, pair of griffons seized upon me and stripped me of my armor.

Gunter landed beside me with a thud after they finished. “Patch him up and chain him with others. And, uh…” He pantomimed something jerking on his neck. “Make it a short leash. He’s been a pain in my neck and I’d like to return the favor.” He flashed his cruel smile and left.

I was dragged over to a small blood stained table and tossed upon it. My escorts began pulling out straps and rope to tie me down when a sharp voice cut across the deck.

“That’s enough. I don’t think he’s in any shape to be going anywhere.”

The restraints disappeared beneath the table and they left. I watched a young griffoness step over, and deposit a heavy-looking bag next to the table. She gave me cursory look over before digging around in it and returning with a stick, wrapped with what I could only assume to be leather. She offered it before my mouth.

“I recommend it,” she said. “Lest you want to bite your tongue off.”

I stared at her, trying to read her intentions. She didn’t seem wish me ill. If anything, she seemed pitying. I huffed and bit down firmly on the proffered gag.

“Smart choice,” she said and set about removing the bolt from my hide.

I winced as she worked. She wasn’t intentionally trying to cause me discomfort, but it sort of came with the territory. It surprised me though. Considering the nature of my “host”, I had expected more of the same harsh treatment at this stage. Instead, she operated with the same kind of care I’d come to expect from the medics in the guard, or the physicians in Canterlot.

I let my eyes wander the rest of the ship while she worked. Up on the stern of the ship, Gunter stood over the griffon whose back Fang had broken. I couldn’t hear over the coxswain’s calls, but the two seemed to be going back and forth. A snap of talons later, the injured griffon was tossed over the railing, still in his armor. Others looked away while Gunter looked on, waving goodbye at the water; damnable smile plastered on his beak.

I looked away too, disgusted.

There was a final jerk on my flank and the bolt came free and I moaned, as much from the pain as relief.

The griffoness’ head filled my vision once more, a red hot poker in her grasp. “Really bite down for this part.”

I nodded. Searing pain scored across my flank, followed by the stench of burnt fur and flesh. It sizzled while I jerked and thrashed, my screaming muffled by the stick. Finally the wound was cauterized and she diligently wrapped the wound.

“Done back here, so you can spit that out now. Unless you prefer it. Your choice.” She gently pat my side. “Roll over.”

I spat out the gag and shifted to expose my other side.

She checked my left wing, unwrapping the limb and slowly extending it.

She whistled softly. I offered no resistance as she took my wing into her grasp, guiding it so she could inspect it better. I knew how bad it looked. The raw surge of power from Sombra’s horn arced straight into my wing, scoring across it like lightning. The mana burn looked like a root system had been pressed into my flesh, with smaller burn tendrils jumping between the bigger ones.

“Can you feel this?” She traced a tip of her talon along the breadth of the membrane.

I shook my head.

“How about this?” She pricked the skin forward edge along the bone structure. A little blood ebbed forth.

Again I shook my head.

Her brow furrowed and she lay my wing on the table. “Please lift it, fold it, then extend it and lay it back down again.”

I tried to do as she asked, but it wouldn’t cooperate. It fluttered and spasmed, not really doing one thing or the other. Finally I stopped trying and looked at her.

She sighed. “I’m afraid I can only treat the surface burns. The nerve damage will have to work itself out. You may gain control once again, you may not. It’ll be up to your body to fix that I’m afraid.”

“That’s okay.” I said. “As it stands, I don’t think I anticipated doing much flying in the near future anyways.”

She gave me an odd look. “You have a sense of humor.” She stated blandly and set about applying salves to the burns.

I studied her demeanor a bit more closely. Clearly my comment had made her uncomfortable. While I wouldn’t immediately call her sympathetic to the plight of those under the Silver Talon’s claw, at least to the point of aiding escape, she could prove useful in the future. Provided I could get her on my side, or course. To do that tough, I’d need to establish some facts; find some common ground to work with.

“I must admit, you surprise me.” I said.

“That so?” She didn’t look up as she continued to slather my wing.

“Yeah. I hadn’t expected this level of attention when Gunter said to patch me up.”

She hummed appreciatively. “I expected as much. He does not leave much in the form of high expectations in regards to compassion or kindness.”

I raised my eyebrow at that. There was a sort of deep bitterness just beneath the surface of her words. A bitterness that didn’t quite belong there.

Finally she glance up. “Did I surprise you again?”

“You could say that.” I replied.

“Hmmm. Let me tell you a story.” Finished with my wing, she began wrapping it in gauze. “There once was a small aerie. It was a pleasant, peaceful place, led by a kindly king. He had a gracious wife, who gave him a daughter.”

She paused, setting my wing down and moving onto my broken leg, unwrapping the sling and splint. Seeing the fracture, she looked up at me, an eyebrow rising. “I’m guessing this was after the wing?”

I shrugged my shoulders slightly. “Had to get down somehow.”

She regarded me curiously. “I’m sure.”

She continued her story as she examined the limb further. “The king’s daughter grew up to develop an appreciation for medicine and healing, and studied under the court physician. The physician taught her many things, before finally declaring her a healer in her own right, and that he’d taught her all he knew. Shortly thereafter, the old physician passed away, having lived a good and fulfilling life.”

She placed a new splint on the mending section and tied a new sling around my neck.

“Then one day some traders came in from the north. They offered many things, but the king wanted none of them. The traders grew angry, and threatened the aerie. The king sent his warriors, but they defeated. Having surrounded the king, the leader of the traders offered an ultimatum. He would spare aerie if the king gave away his daughter’s talon to him in marriage. He saw the benefit of having a skilled healer with him, and better yet, onw he did not have to pay.

“The king loved his subjects, each like extended family to him, and they loved him in return. But he also loved his daughter and could not do such a thing to her. The trading griffon saw the king’s hesitation and plunged his sword through the king’s heart. He razed the aerie, enslaved its occupants, and took the king’s daughter as his wife anyway. While the buildings burned, they sailed away.”

She came to a pause, her talons fidgeting with the wrinkles in the wrap she’d placed around my leg. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was really saying. A stray tear ran down her beak, and fell on my leg, soaking the fabric.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

She sniffed, and pat my hoof. “I’ll tell you one last thing. It’s a secret few realize.” She looked up at me, her eyes pools of pain and horror. “Only one creature aboard this ship lives free. Everyone else is trapped, in one way or another. Some of the cages are more gilded than others, but they are cages nonetheless.” She gripped my hoof tightly. “And short of dying, there is no escaping them.”

She broke away quickly, drying her eyes.

“Alright, I’ve done all I can!” She announced, and walked to the railing. “All yours.”

A large burly griffon lumbered over, and slapped a collar with chains on me.

My handler jerked on the chain, as I chanced a last glance at the griffoness. My talk with her left my head as heavy as my heart. The big guy lead me down to the cargo hold. As we walked into it, Orchid rejoined me out of nowhere draping herself on my back and hugged me tightly.

“I’m sorry about Fang.” she said. “I...thought you might like to know that the others made away to safety and are on their way to Canterlot.” She buried her nose in my mane.

I hummed my assent and appreciation as we were led along. I’d take any good news I could.

Down beneath, the air was cloying with the smell of sweat and excrement. I cast my eyes among the captives as I was walked by. Plenty of fellow ponies of all kinds, a zebra, a hoofful of griffons and diamond dogs. Just by looking in their eyes, I could gain a fair idea of which ones wills were broken and which ones had some fight left in them.

I snarled as I passed Topaz. He looked absolutely wretched, chained between two diamond dogs.

A jerk on my collar pulled me along. “Here we are.” The handler slid the chain into place and locked it in place. Just as I thought he was through, he rammed a fist into my gut, causing me buckle. It was about this time that I noticed, with some dismay, that the collar and chains didn’t allow my to lay down fully. Sure, I could kneel, but the short chain choked my neck in this position. And sitting, while giving my neck relief, made the bolt would flare. The only other recourse was to stand. A quick look at the other chaining arrangements told me that this was special and unique to me and me alone.

The asshole laughed and left.

I rest my head against the wall and closed my eyes. My emotions were in turmoil. Grief, anger, sorrow, weariness, the need to do something to escape. They all tumbled over each other, clamoring for attention.

It all threatened to overwhelm me. It would’ve been easy to let it too, but...now wasn’t the time. I focused on making even breaths, the comfortable feeling of Orchid against my back. Slowly, my mind began to clear and I forced calm into place. As it washed over me, I felt only one thing. Tired. So very tired.

As I drifted off, one last thought slipped through my head.

Is that a hippogriff next to me?

Author's Notes:

Bound:
adjective
Heading towards somewhere
verb
To place within certain limits; restrict

---

Y’all would not believe the trouble this chapter has given me. At it’s conception, it was only 3,000 words long. Then as I added details, conversations, thoughts, and interactions, it just grew into the tiresome thing to edit it now is.

One of my biggest struggles throughout it is keeping Waxing’s immense desire to go home, despite the consequences, in the forefront of his mind without beating y’all the audience over the head with it too much. Secondly, there is the matter of keeping Orchid relevant. Trouble is, since she is effectively a ghost, there’s very little action for her to take part in, aside from acting as Waxing’s emotional vent and security blanket. I have much greater plans for her and promise that this isn’t all she will be.

Also, in this chapter, I brought in a little of my own headcannon involving pegasi and thestrals, regarding their weather capabilities. They way I figure it, each pony species has their prodigies that wield remarkable power that exemplifies their tribes traits. With pegasi (and thestrals), you can have two varieties: the super fast or the ones who when they sneeze, there’s a 50/50 chance a tornado is barreling down the street. Now any pegasi can practice and with some time be able to use more direct forms of weather magic (sort of like a unicorn studying something like teleportation, it’s possible, but difficult), but the results are usually so underwhelming not many do.

Anyway, I hope that y’all’ve enjoyed this chapter as I continue chugging away at what is to come. Please, call out any typos (I’m sure I missed a few), and leave feedback or questions down below.

Thanks for reading!

Edit (19 Sep 17): Fixed formatting errors and some typos.