"HAHAHAA!!! Hold on, and don't touch the wings uless you want to know what a pancake feels like!" Griffin cackled, barrelrolling in the air without a care, "WOOOHOOHOO!!!" He dives downward into a roll, my paws clutching into his feathers for a solid grip, vertigo sets in almost immediately, making me disoriented and nauseous.

"I know you do this every day, but ease up on the tricks." I wanted to yank out his feathers right then and there if it meant him stopping.

"Right... sorry. It's kind of a Griffin thing... actually, it's a pegasus thing too. You just..... need to fly you know? Ever wonder why birds sing, even when they're not looking for a mate?" He continues without giving me a chance to answer, "It's 'cuz they're happy. I mean, if you could fly, wouldn't you be?"

"Well, I don't know about flying..." It was too unstable, too rash, "but whenever I make a great escape, falling from a skyscraper, or simply running across the rooftops..." I pause to think of the countless times that I found myself running, often fleeing the scene, but more often than not for no apparent reason at all, "It feels... liberating..."

"High up, wind in your hair, or in this case, feathers... It's the whole world, right there at your fingertips. To be able to just... go whenever you want. From up here, I can see forever. Can't believe I used to be afraid of heights." I snickered at Griffin's last remark.

"I learned not to be afraid..." I said remembering an old proverb, "If fear is your only option, then you've already lost."

"Well, I guess I wasn't really afraid of being high up as much as I was that someone was going to push me off, seeing as how they've actually tried a couple times," he said uneasily. I gave a deep sigh, remembering a politician I had killed that lied through his teeth about helping others, when behind closed doors he was simply a miser counting all of the money he had embezzled in his penthouse apartment.

"... I always felt a little pleasure, in pushing some people from a great height. The look in their eyes as they realized the irony of them, high and mighty, looking down to others below, now rushing down at great velocity to kiss the ground that they spat on before dying."

"Hmm..." He seemed lost in thought. "Hey Aoi, have you heard of the express elevator to hell?" I assumed by that he meant a long drop.

"I took it a few times, actually," I said, playing along to the metaphor.

"Well I hope you enjoy the Tartarus Drop!"

"Nani?" was all I could say before he flipped over, my grip not holding long upside down. I started to plummet, head first towards the distant ground below. Griffin dove until he was right next to me.

"Not too much fun, is it?" Never expected to trust him in the first place. I'll bite...

"Actually, just like the old days," I said against the G-Force, "Ever try fighting like this?"

"Not in a free fall..." He thought for a second, "I like your style!" I pivoted and drew Kokuryu, clashing against hades, sending a flurry of blue sparks. I skid the blade off of hades edge, giving a smirk before kicking the flat of the blade away from me, saluting before heading into free fall. I grab the edges of my dobuku with my toes, creating a drag chute to slow me down, to a position above Griffin. I let go of the edges and go into a nosedive again, sword straight forward to stab the captain. He rolls over and brings up his sword, the spade like flat causing me to slam into it with a loud, dulled clang. I roll off to the side and go into a skydive position.

'What is he thinking?!' I ponder to myself, wondering why he dropped me off him, 'A test? A prank?' Time to think was cut short by a stab with the large blade, I bring my sword to parry with the boshi of Kokuryu, skimming the tip of the blade along Hades' flat. I give an overbearing kick to Griffin's head, knocking him away. I dive down, then roll towards the sky, holding out Kokuryu to bait him into diving towards me. He dodges as she swoops past me, scraping the flat of Hades against Kokuryu's blade. The ground get's dangerously closer and closer.

'Free fall position, need to create more drag, but where to land?' Griffin starts to fly back up towards me.

"Ground's getting close... need a lift partner?" He asked, mimicking a country accent. I glare at him before spotting the tower below. I found my landing zone.

"Oh yee of little faith!" Was he trying to mock me by pulling this half-brained stunt? I brushed the thought aside as I pulled off my dobuku, spreading its full length across my shoulders. The cloth opens up like a parachute, the sudden drag threatening to rip my arms off. I hold it steady, steering towards the window of the tower.

"I don't wear this just for looks you know..." I said jokingly, concentrating on controlling my drop speed to reach the window at the right moment. At the very last second, I feel a sharp pain shoot up between my legs. I look down to see Griffin catching me on his back again.

'Nuri kabe, Unko no nioi kagu hito, BAKA YAROU! (Plaster faced, shit sniffing, STUPID ASSHOLE!) ,' I thought to myself, reassessing the pain of landing on the captain's back, I groan from the impact, nearly tearing out some of the captain's feathers with a firm grip.

"Well, that's enough, let's get going before Celestia gets pissy. The ship is moving away from the castle as well. That way, it doesn't have as far to go when we make our escape, and it enforces that we're not gonna try and bail." He said through the blur of the wind rushing past us.

"Oww...." I croaked out as we continued onward. The pain slowly recedes as we arrive at the main tower, where the two princesses and the six ponies came to welcome us to the ceremony. I jump off onto the balcony, glad to finally reach solid ground, leaning forward to alleveate the aching in my pelvis. Rainbow Dash trots up to both of us. I stand up straight, the last of the aching fading away.

"What the hay was that all about?" Her remark catches my attention. I share a glance with the captain, the same thought in both our minds.

"It's called falling with style," we answer simultaneously. Fluttershy creeps towards us hesitantly.

"But, it looked so... dangerous..." She whimpered. I glanced in her direction, only to have her flinch and hide her gaze behind her pink mane. I wondered why she was so shy...

"What, THAT? Naw... We do that all the time..." I shot an angry glare at the captain's nonchalant answer.

'Bull... fucking... shit...' I thought to myself, maintaining a bloodcurdling stare at the captain. I sheath my blade as we walk up towards the ponies.

"Y'all are nuts!" The food vendor said to us.

"A lot of people have said that about me..." I deadpan, making her pause for a moment before responding.

"Though, I can't say I dissapprove of your eating habits," she says with a soft chuckle." Griffin leans towards her and whispers something in her ear. I continue on towards the two princesses.

"Griffin, I'm glad you arrived in a timely manner... for once." She turns towards me. "And you brought Aoi with you." I bow slightly.

"I hear you wish to knight us?" I hesitate on the word, a tinge of doubt in my mind. I dismiss the thought, knowing she could read minds. I look past her to see a statue of one of the old royal guards, adorned in Gladiator-esque like armor. I look back at her to see her eyeing me suspiciously. I emptied my mind of all thought, a rather 'innate' psychological habit of mine that came in handy when facing those who were skilled in reading emotion. I couldn't afford to give the plan away. The princess soon dropped her interrogating glare and formed one of utter cheer.

"You are correct. I did not inform Griffin as I assumed he would not come if he knew..." She noted, turning her gaze on the captain. He started to act coy.

"What, and NOT get KNIGHTED?" I resisted the urge to facepaw, "Being knighted is a HUGE honor. It means influence in the courts and everything. I would technically be a noble. As if I'd give that up, manipulator that I am." I shot a glare at him, blinking twice.

'Ease up, you're lighting up brighter than Chichibu Yomatsuri in Saitama.' Thankfully, he get's the message, acting normally again.

"Anyway, the ship is over in the town square of the north section, going through the volunteer paperwork and junk. As soon as we're done here, we'll get on board and head out." Much better.

"You came to the knighting ceremony to get out of paperwork, didn't you?" Luna asked with a flat tone.

"Maaaaaaaaaaybe?" I roll my eyes at his reply, at least it was good enough for them to get them off the subject.

"You're taking Aoi with you?" Celestia asked, looking at me.

"I'm simply hitching a ride with him to Gem Fido..." I change my tone to one of urgency. "It's important we get there as soon as possible."

"I see." I go off to one of the columns adorning the atrium, comparing them to those of Doric structure, yet different due to it's overly gilded capital. Griffin and Celestia dissappear into a nearby room, mumbling about having a private word while the other 6 ponies go into what I assumed was a dressing room, leaving me alone in the room. Or so I thought.

I soon hear hoofbeats along the resounding marble floor. I merely glance over my shoulder to see Princess Luna, the moon princess, approaching me. I turn around and lean on the column, meeting her gaze.

"Princess Luna vi Everfree, I presume?" I spoke softly to avoid the echoes that rebounded off the walls.

"Yes, we are, I mean uh, I am. And you must be Aoi Myoujin, the one I've heard so much about," she spoke rather loudly, in contrast to my own voice.

"Oh? I wasn't aware that I had a reputation that well known."

"Well, my sister has told us all about thy appearance in our fair city of Canterlot. I wanted to give you my thanks for talking with her about... the events from a thousand years ago."

"Don't mention it..." I said bluntly, "I mean it, don't, It's in the past now..." I remembered my outburst in front of the Princess. After an awkward silence she changed the subject.

"Let me congradulate you on your accomplishment. Being knighted is an extremely prestigious honor."

"... like all the rest of the awards you give away freely."

"Excuse me?"

"If you seriously consider a single battle as an eligibility for knighthood, then there must be a multitude of knights in your ranks. We simply just did what comes naturally, a mere whim. Well, for me at least." I scoffed like it was nothing. I wanted to get off this subject immediately, but when dealing with one as old as she was, she didn't let it go.

"Is there something troubling you?" She looked straight at me.

"Yes." She would know if I was lying had I said otherwise. "As a matter of fact there is. In the words of Malvalio of Twelfth Night: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

"I fall under the third clause of that quote. I assume that your sister has already told you, I'm from the same world Griffin is from. What she hasn't told you you can find out from Rainbow Dash, because I'm tired of having to repeat the same story over and over agai-" she held up her hoof to interrupt me.

"I know... I only have one message, remember to keep this message close: Although now you may seem hollow, never let hatred once again fill the void you now have left in your heart again. Trust me on this one." She started to turn around and leave, "You should probably get ready for the ceremony," she reminded me, and left. Another confusing piece to add to an unknown puzzle.

"Alright, that's the last one. Now, just stand with me behind the stage to let the gems read our positions." We stood still at the center of the backstage in a neutral standing position. "Aaaaand, we're good. There, we have a ten minute copy of us that will activate when I snap my claws together. I'll turn it on, then use a spell from my sword to make us appear as shadows, and we'll head out the back. Just have to wait for the right time. They won't move or say anything, they'll just stand there, and anything that touches them will pass through. It's basically a hologram." I thought to myself whether or not this would work. As a precaution, I slipped a hand in my dobuku to make sure the case was still there.

"Alright you two, the bearers and Knightmare are already out there. Just wait back here for the curtains to open, then come forward when I call your name," She whispered under the din of the commotion on the other side of the curtains.

"Got it," Griffin said coyly. As the princess disappeared behind the other side of the curtains, I wondered if she had any idea what we were about to do. The Captain turned to me with an anxious smile, "Are you ready?"

"Ready..." After all, all I had to do was stand still. I held my breath for a few seconds. The captain snapped his fingers. I stepped backwards, feeling a slight tug as I pulled away from a completely identical clone of me. I was distracted for a moment, tilting my head to the side.

'Is that what my hair really looks like from the back?' I shook my head and turned back to Griffin, taking a quadruped stance, flaring out his wings.

"Climb on." I took no hesitation on climbing on, hoping that he wouldn't take off in a blaze of speed. Surprisingly enough, he simply flapped lightly, the gust rolling over the floorboards as we lifted off not even an inch off the stage.

"Umbra." Shadows creeped along the walls, enveloping us in a translucent cloak of magic. "I am one with the shadows." We floated through the backstage exit, my muscles tensed as a few times a pony or two would almost graze us, even more so when someone gave us confused looks, but mainly shook their heads and moved on. A few times, I felt Griffin slack under the weight, probably having trouble maintaining the spell.

A few more yards and we were out onto the courtyard, the sunshine lifting off the cloak of magic cast on us. Griffin felt visibly relieved, but didn't let down his guard as we kept going, crouching under windows and dashing from bush to bush. With some close calls and exhaustion apparent on the weary Griffin, we had the Possibility in full view. He burst into a full soar, dragging me along with him back to the ship's deck; a trip no more than 30 seconds long.

"Okay, let's get moving people, I wanted to be gone 10 minutes ago!" he squawked as we landed on the ship, "Haul loose the mooring line, tighten the jib and all that good stuff." He sweeped the feathers on his crown, clearly relieved. Crew members scrambled to get the ship underway. The ship groaned as the lines were released, the ship bearing a complete turn away from the tower.

"Breeze, you and some of the other griffins on your detail cover our escape, I want our entire ship covered in clouds in ten seconds flat, GO!" The griffin he ordered took no time in taking off, bringing with her several griffins and taking surrounding clouds to cover the ship. The ship becan accelerating into full speed, leaving the castle behind us in a thrust of speed, toppling over some of the crew members. I held onto the banister to prevent me from falling backwards. Griffin adopted a faux carribean accent, swinging his sword forward with a deep cackle.

"Haul your wind and hold your water, BWAHAHAHAHAA!" The only thing he was missing was a plumed hat. I turned around when I heard a familiar, very audible yell coming from the opposite direction. Griffin came down to the deck and laughed as he leaned over the banister.

"Too late princess..." His laughter died down a bit, "For once, FOR FUCKING ONCE! I actually got to stick with plan A!" He turned to me with a smile, "I think you're a good luck charm Aoi, I've never had a plan pan out on the first try." I scoff and look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh really?" I didn't believe him for a second. His response however surprised me.

"Yep. Every plan I've ever made, the first has always failed. I always had to go to plan B or C, and... occasionally plan D. Heh... it's a good thing too, because I didn't have a plan B this time, other than just run our asses off." I laugh, keeping my thoughts to myself. Wow, he calls out his own bullshit. Not the first time it's happened. I turn back towards the castle slowly disappearing over the horizon. I slip my hand into my dobuku, pulling out a few of the smoke bombs form the case, holding them between my fingers and showing them to the captain.

"This was MY plan B." He tilted his head in response, then chuckled.

"Smoke bombs?" I nodded. "Nice, and you said you weren't a ninja, liar," he remarked, turning around to leave.

'Since when did I ever called myself a ninja?'

"Even if I was one, in all technicallity, ninja and samurai are the same thing... and If I WAS to call myself one... I'm just the modern kind." I said with a childish grin.

"Well, anyways it's still WAY too damn early to be up after having such a late night. I'm gonna hit the sack and try to get my sleep schedule somewhat back ot normal. Welcome aboard." He yawned before leaving.

"Pleasure..." I look across the clouds surrounding the ship, the outlines seeming to fade across the ship the further I looked, "Hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from here."

A distant overcast hung black over in the direction of Gem Fido, haunting me of what dangers might arise for everyone once we arrived there. I thought to myself whether I would have the resolve to see this through, or whether I was biting off more than I could chew.