Author's Notes:

Hello readers,

Happy triple chapter posting!

In this one Ari enters Equestria and runs into somebeing that may not who he thought they were. Also paranoia, lots of that.

Next two Chapters are strictly the princesses.

Happy Reading!

****

Above Equestria

Ari

Warm air turned cool against my skin, almost trying to soothe the nagging thought to return to the ship, and I almost did. But the world wouldn't save itself.

So I continued.

My fur was blown back as I streaked over the literal paradise below me. I had almost forgotten how deep the greens went. With the canopies practically a hoof length away as I traveled at a low altitude it was hard not to notice the swampy forest. It soothed my urge to flee, aside from the smell that is, that rotten egg like scent was jarring to say the least.

Of course, there was the fact that I was traveling this low to begin with. I had started up in the clouds to be able to watch my ship and such; however it occurred to me that I didn’t want to attract too much attention as the only black dot in the blue sky. I had descended rapidly after that.

After staying hidden for so long being in the open had me a little tense, not that this was completely open, but I didn’t trust the environment. The surrealism of a dry desert being right next to this controlled micro climate didn’t sit well with me. The only saving grace so far being that I could hide in the canopy if something flew overhead, which was possible since the full scope of predators was still unclear to me. But the word dragon still hung in my mind.

Dragons, they were still an unclear vision of scales, fire, and teeth. I didn’t want to test that, they had sharp teeth and that was that. Better to stay on the safe side when I considered that as an option, especially if they are anything like Sea serpents.

Faint croaks reached my ears as I glided along on a wind.

My mind was occupied with trying to work through the imaginary conversations with faceless mares, and I was failing at it. I just wanted to blurt out the truth when I thought of the scope of the destruction around me.

How were they ignorant?!

I needed to calm down.

Below me the oddly familiar yet new varieties of trees brought me some comfort as the open sky before made my instincts more active than I felt they should be.

Deep breathes, in and out.

This was the country whose citizens thought slavery was a forgotten fable. It had the tiniest equines I had ever seen, the most naive beings as well. So, excluding the rulers I should be mostly safe. I was huge in comparison, powerful, and I could easily teleport.

Safe…Hydra…Right, and the other creatures my mares had mentioned offhandedly. Still, it was beautiful out, no storms or tragedies were below me.

Yet, I still felt like something was wrong.

Was it too quiet?

Looking up at the fluffy white clouds I didn’t see why I should be worried. There were no monsters in the sky, despite how vulnerable my back felt. That probably was because of how often I had hurt it so far. And they controlled the weather here, not the clouds. Well, the cumulus was part of the weather, but that wasn’t the point. This country was harmless compared to the rest, Azure hadn’t even considered slavers.

Assassins…

I shook my head at that, looking below once more to scan the tree tops as my mind pointed out all the ways it wasn’t safe, especially for me.

Ayomide had traversed through the swamp below me and several countries to track me down…But, no being knew where I was, the air trail didn’t lead back to me. Really, I had no papers, all there was my signature on the forms in Malawia, and those hadn’t been taken.

Of course there were the ponies that I would pass by eventually.

Generally Equestrians were wildcards. The ones that I had met were a mixed group of good, bad, and maybes. Although they were the smallest intelligent species I had met they also were extremely racist, dare I say the most racist. The memory of Azure and Barium still made me frown. A ‘vile bug’ is what they had called Chrissy, when she was in the same boat that they were in then…But…A half smile worked its way up my face at their change of heart, mostly Azure’s, and it gave me hope. Not even a week later and they were working with the same ‘bug’, even if I had put my hoof down a little.

Equestria would hopefully be that easy to change like those two. This really wasn’t just the rulers I had to show, they were just the starting point. Weather manipulation would have to stop. Pegasi would have to do something else for a living…Maybe form a storm watch? I would have to think on that.

That would be hard for them to handle, ‘natural’ weather was unnatural in their eyes, even though it was natural everywhere else...

Did they realize that?

Swerving around the trees as they started to grow taller I felt my fur raise and the feeling of being watched started. Did they know and not want to end their little country of Eden?

But the dark covering of leaves didn’t show anything moving, no eyes looking back.

Looking to my left I saw the vast expanse of Minotaria, the small speck a mountain filling me with determination. My herd needed this. They would see the truth, they had too, and everybeing in this country couldn’t be as extreme as the ponies I had met. Especially, considering the princesses had to deal with the ambassadors from other countries regularly, sign papers, and all the other responsibilities that came with running a country. They had to know.

Maybe they just didn’t know what to do about it? They did have a country to run already…

No.

I sighed, mentally hitting myself for the momentary stupidity. If they knew then why had Kapera, Wekasi and the zebras still been living in fear of enslavement? That didn’t fit the image of the innocent and just mares that Echo knew of. Unless they thought zebras and others were second class beings, which could be a problem.

But this speculation wasn’t helping me, even as a distraction it was-.

What was that?

Swiveling my ears I slowed my flight, pausing to hover as I tried to identify what had caught my attention. It was quiet up here, before me the expanse of trees were broken by a few small mountains, and beyond that there were more forests. The trees far ahead were clearly spaced wider apart, allowing me to see that something had been there recently. Along the bare ground there wasn’t any grass, in fact it was slightly gray from my vantage point. But the rivets in the ground were deep, unnatural, and had me snorting at the thoughts of mythological monsters.

Yet, when I flared my nostrils and scoured the air there weren’t any fresh scents that screamed danger. Not that I would be able to smell any danger with wind blowing away from me.

Predators could smell me.

Keeping aloft, I couldn’t shake that feeling of being watched, and something had made a noise somewhere here. Even if I hadn’t consciously noticed it my ears had picked up a faint noise nearby. It was near me then.

Green leaves fluttered beneath my hooves as I hovered, the few birds that were in the canopy were quiet and hopping around with little tip-taping of their nails on the smooth wood. Somewhere below the birds a muffled rippling sounded, water was below then, and since I was still on the outer reaches of the swamp it might have been a frog.

Just a frog then…

Had I imagined it?

No matter what direction I moved my ears I didn’t hear anything out of sorts, yet my feathers tried to move out of order as the feeling persisted.

Exhaling, my wings moved on autopilot, knowing I needed to head north, and it let me think. My focus was solely on my surroundings as I started off slower. Sure I could have gone faster, maybe out flown my seemly imaginary enemy, but that didn’t sit well with me. It couldn’t have been a frog. I needed to get moving but I wasn’t going to pretend that my ears were faulty or that the area ahead wasn’t the likely territory of a predator. The gashes in the ground were parallel to each other, claw marks to my instinct fueled mind, and I agreed with that deduction.

And I had thought the land was harmless.

For a while longer I felt eyes on me, my ears were in near constant motion as I traveled, and my eyes scanned the paradise before me for snakes. But none made themselves known. As I moved along the border, veering around the now close mountainous forest, I could have sworn I smelled grass. Behind the first mountain were many more rocky spires. None were as tall as the Gryphon Republic but all were worrying in their own right.

What sort of creature could carve up rocks? And I mean shred the sides, I was sure that those matching sets of grooves didn’t just appear midway up the face of a mountain.

I certainly wasn’t going to linger down here anymore.

Quickly climbing higher, I focused on the mountains, noting more and more marks on the light rock as I went. This was defiantly something’s home, the markings almost reminding me of bear claws with the way they were lined up.

As I was clearing one of the smaller precipices that jutted out I heard it, a flap. At least I assumed it was since I was in the air, and I wasn’t sticking around to check when I had irreplaceable cargo with me. My brief curisoty gone as reality hit me.

I had very strong wings, I didn’t need to face off against whatever wanted a Alicorn snack, and my herd was safe.

This was a big ‘nope’.

Starting off with a large flap I shot forward like a bullet, already knowing that this border flight of mine would have to end eventually. Canterlot was at the center most part of the country. Should I just turn now then? As the small mountains came at me I was unsure, the map had a particular forest I was supposed to hit before I turned, ‘Everfree’ forest according to Echo. From there it was a easy, straight path.

No.

Hell no.

Whatever had spotted me was still following me, where they were exactly I wasn’t exactly sure but they were flying if the rapid beating behind me meant what I thought it did.

Evasive manoeuvres!

So I began to turn towards the rapidly approaching woods, beating my wings harder as I heard the predator’s wings go faster. A rapid drumming surrounded me as I looked forward, eyes locked at my sanctuary, there were large gaps between trees, much better than open sky. Not glancing back I secured my bag with my magic and dived for the tree line.

I heard the flapping speed up once more, it sounded like a drum in my ears as adrenaline started running in me, and then I saw the shadow of a wing over mine.

Small, deceiving, and possibly pony if it was accurate.

A cool feeling overtook my back as the creature flew over me, diving just as fast at first, until I gulped and tucked my wings all the way around my barrel. Then I started to creep forward, leaving the shadow behind. First it slipped over my wings, then behind them.

But it caught on.

It literally caught me to be more specific.

Sharp talons that were most certainly not a pony’s gripped my hips, my bag catching drafts of air as I continued the dive. My mind started screaming bloody murder, air was coming to me erratically as panic set in, and that made me change my course.

Wind whipped me as the new target was acquired, my thoughts only on ridding myself of the predator.

The sharp tips of the talons broke my skin as the creature tried to pull me back, backwards and back on the previous track between the trees. But the sound of wings beating behind me only made me bring mine out and beat back, pinning my ears against the air whistling by me as the tree came into a watery focus.

I knew the rough work of the healing spell.

But what had my hips in their talons still held on, burying their tips all the way in as we both screamed into the wind.

Perhaps it was a little extreme, but I wasn’t letting a little blood and pain stop this plan.

“AAAA-,” we were both yelling louder, our focus was on the imminent crash, and my eyes locked on the swirl riddled bark that wavered in and out of my vision. It was about then that my racing mind caught up with itself.

Those talons were no bigger than my hooves.

Pressing my bag even harder onto my back I started to pull up, my face hurting at the velocity I fought against, and eventually flipped backwards. At least I intended to. The action was awkward, really more of a flail backwards than a proper flip, but the sudden change in movement sent the creature scrambling and thus freed my hips from its hold.

A crack followed, echoing with a faint grunt into the woods before me.

With flailing wings and a swimming vision I hovered somewhat in place. Shaking my head I tried to orient myself. Breathing heavily from the rush, flaring my nostrils, and wincing as a wind brushed by my new wounds I hovered there for a moment longer.

Fuck, just fuck. That was intense.

Dark red drops held my sight as I tried to slow my racing heart. After a small while the corners of the small red puddles came into focus, with the warm trickle only a minor distraction as it ran down the outsides of my legs.

“E-easy my ass,” a strained voice said from ahead of me.

My head shot up and my wings stilled for second. Forgetting to move them I landed on the ground with a heavy thump, the couple of feet I had dropped not even fazing me. Pain was the last thing on my mind as I gazed at the being before me.

Sprawled out in an obviously pained position was Bente.

And all I could think of was, “What the HELL?!” It didn’t stay in my head of course.

The dirt hit my rump as I sat back and stared at the hen, blinking rapidly at the scene determine if it was real. It appeared to be. Her talons were dyed red. Silence filled the space as she made no move to get up and I didn’t dare move to help. Both of us taking time to understand what had happened.

Her wincing face was stuck in my vision.

Why was she here? Had I misjudged her intent? Bente went to Zebrica for help, finds out I’m on the weather issue, and appears to leave. That evening she breaks in, doesn’t take anything, and then stows away on my ship. But she left in Shallow Shale, safely arrived home and was able to say an Alicorn was dealing with it. Which was a big deal with how beings reacted to me. Then she appears here, and…I don’t even know why. But my mind went to the office, the only odd piece in the whole story.

Her eyes met mine, narrowing as she tried to get up. Upon falling back several times, Bente clacked her beak at the ground before looking at me. “Well, can a hen get a talon up?”

Blinking away my confusion, I frowned. “You tried to take me out of the sky.”

“N-,”she started, but I interrupted.

“YES,” she had almost seriously injured me, almost damaged the cakes, and we didn’t have any poison left. “You stowed away on my ship, stalked me, and sunk your talons in me!” That last part really stuck with me, I was on her side of things, I had thought so anyway. Yet out of nowhere she comes and attacks me?

Like I can just let her walk off…This had to be handled carefully, something was clearly missing from this picture.

My eyes followed her tail as it smacked the ground and she clacked her beak at me. Both of us seemed to be unable to think of a retort as we watched the other carefully. From my spot I could see her far shoulder was slightly raised, feathers in a state of disarray, and clearly injured in some way. The bare spot on the trunk where she hit it came to mind as a cause, but only a wince came to my mind.

If she had just said ‘hello’ or ‘can we talk’ this wouldn’t have happened.

Still Bente didn’t defend her actions or deny the accusations, which were really facts then. Instead the wind just whistled by.

My time was ticking by as well, “You really don’t have anything to say for yourself?” Her talons dug into the ground as a loud exhale filled the space between us. I didn’t have time for this lolly gagging; I had to make Canterlot before they set the sun.

As I stood she spoke, “I wasn’t trying to take you out of the sky.” Green eyes flicked left and right as I waited, ears perked at the hen, and both of our feathers were ruffled.

“Well?”

“I-,” she exhaled loudly, lowering her rising wings somewhat, “-I was trying to help you.” I snorted at that, help doesn’t usually involve taking a being out of the sky, and she realized how her words sounded with her next ones. “But I panicked,” a sigh, “And I’m sorry.”

Her eyes had been watching mine the whole time, her beak looking more downward at the base, and the small feathers along her cheeks puffing out. Yet the apparent disappointment in my lack of favorable reaction didn’t sway me. My hips hurt and several facts were still unanswered.

“You were expecting some other reaction?” I got a tail lash in my direction as she winced. Taking in a deep breath I continued, “I don’t understand you Bente,” my hooves began to ache and I shifted my weight under her watchful eyes. “Once I thought I had. I thought you wanted help with the weather that was tormenting your home and I told you I was working on that.” Green eyes gazed intently at me, almost through me as she listened. “But you tore apart Wekasi’s office,” I found her gaze, and narrowed my eyes as she cringed.

Somewhere in the forest something cracked, a sound that stole both of our attention for a moment. But as nothing more than a bird fluttered off I returned my full focus on my attacker.

“A-Ari,” she fidgeted her wings, trying once more to rise, and when the hen failed once more she turned to me with wide eyes. The desperation shining in them threw me off, almost as much as what she said next. “It isn’t safe here, f-for either of us,” another glance at around us sent her feathers up in alarm. “P-please, I promise you Ari, there are forces at work here that are big,” I kept my muzzle still as her words half confirmed my suspicions. When I didn’t move she pleaded once more, her voice staying low, fast, and was stridently urgent. “Ari! These ponies aren’t nice, please get us out of here I will explain everything when we aren’t surrounded.”

I glanced around the apparently clear area.

Boulders stood impassively behind me at the base of the mountains, varying in sizes, and quiet. The trees before me were tall, imposing, and covered in a canopy of small rounded leaves that shook in the breeze going by. But that warm wind was just as harmless. As I inhaled deeply I scented nothing that my instincts recognized as danger, the smell of fresh herbs and grass wafting by was actually intriguing to my nose, but nothing was flashing my innate warning bells.

Except for her, Bente was clearly serious, and I remembered her words from the office. Her previous messengers had gone missing when they visited Equestria.

Perhaps we weren’t surrounded but with that fact in my head I didn’t feel like taking that chance.

She could have killed me on my ship and didn’t.

Tossing my head at my decision I walked closer to the panicking gryphon, eyeing her talons and clawed hind paws with trepidation. This could be a trap; it would be ingenious to pretend to be with the gryphon republic if she was a double agent. But as I watched her she didn’t make an offensive move, only stilling as my shadow fell over her.

“Please, please, please,” she muttered, half to herself I think, as she had taken to watching the sky fearfully.

“I just learned this spell,” Bente’s attention was on me, “So I need you to be patient and calm, alright?”

A weird coo like sound was her answer, her breath coming in quick bursts before she relaxed. Making a hopping side step around her beak I ignored my hip’s protests and looked at the space between her shoulder and the trunk. Wow, her hit had been a lucky one, sure it was clearly smashed, but if she had hit it any harder it would have been her neck, and in any other direction it would have been equally as painful. Losing a wing would have hurt and my spell didn’t heal bones, but everything else would be no problem.

Like I had theorized, spells were formed of will, or as they preferred to put it: focus, and a core sound. Or as I called them: magic words. Every magic word was attuned to different branches and therefore intentions, and that was about all I followed when they explained spell work. The healing magical branch favored soft, quiet sounds, and so I had to focus on the word ‘Ah-mm’. Those spells were also easier to perform if your aetheratic channels naturally were attuned to a soft sound, or at least I thought so. Lyric was the best at healing spells and I don’t think it was just her extra experience. My crackling, well, I always thought of it like lightening. Powerful energy that flowed, not a humming or thrumming as my mares described their own channels.

Sorry, right, the healing spell. ‘Ah-mm’ was how they pronounced it for me; they also had me focus on the patient’s wound repairing itself. At as small a scale as I could, focusing on the skin and muscle coming together, and picturing it was easy.

But, as I put my horn to her rapidly swelling shoulder to cast it I paused, narrowing my eyes at her once more. “If you try anything I will stab you with my horn.” Her beak could damage my neck. A quick nod happened before I let my magic crackle to life, blindingly bright as I closed my eyes. I pictured the shoulder looking like her other one, together, and full of healthy muscles. And aside from some heavy breathing on her part I think it went well.

Stepping back with a stiff jerk I observed my progress with a smile. The feathers were a little askew still and the area still looked off to my eye, lumpy almost, but the swelling was gone.

As soon as I had given her space she hauled herself up, gasping and scrunching her eyes shut when the weight went on her lumpy shoulder, “Tha…Thank you.” Bente’s beak hung open in a pant as she stood there, more injuries clearly somewhere else, and maybe some broken bones in the shoulder.

Yet her need to escape this area was more important to her as she attempted to lift off. Hovering in place she seemed to be doing fine until she did another large flap, that caused a squeak to escape her, and she landed in a heap.

Guilt set in, faintly tickling at my mind as I watched her struggle again. I may have over reacted to the sound of her flying.

Somewhere deeper in the forest another snap sounded, closer, and serving as a reminder of the reason for our cooperation. There were worse beings out there. “Stay still,” I splayed my ears at the idea, but didn’t see any other quick way out of here. Bente watched me hesitantly as I moved to her, stilling as I stopped and frowned. “Tuck your wings in.”

“W-what?” She did after a second of my staring, her paws flexing as I moved once more.

“Look, don’t take this the wrong way,” wide green eyes looked up at me. Clearly wondering how she was supposed to take it. “I don’t know if this is okay or not,” my hooves shifted and brushed against her feathers, “But I don’t know any other healing spells so this is the other option.” The gryphon between my legs slowly nodded before straightening out.

With a quick moment to square up I grabbed her around her chest with my forelegs, trying not to breathe in her scent as I rocketed upward. Of course I failed, my nose filled with her fresh scent that sent my heart racing weirdly enough as I also tried not to wince. Both from her grunts of pain and my own pain, still we continued to travel upwards into the clouds.

“So-,” she shushed me.

“Not until we are over the clouds.”

I snorted and complied, the air buffeting us as I flapped harder, and the world became a brief blur. After a short time we broke the cloud coverage. The view was impressive, the sea of green before me nearly captivating, but not enough to distract me from the reason we were up here.

“Did you know I am currently on my way to the princesses,” the feathers on the back of her head rose. “Well I was, but now I have to clean up and deal with you,” muscles squirmed briefly in my hold, “I suggest you start explaining just how you helping me.”

The breeze whipped our feathers around as we continued north, just because I had to learn what was going on exactly didn’t mean I was wasting time flying her to my ship or anything.

She winced in my grasp as her shoulder pressed against my foreleg.

Maybe I would send her there later though…My spell only mended skin and tissue, bones were another mater, and Lyric knew how to handle those.

“We are still learning about them,” she paused, hesitant and quivering in my arms for a second before continuing, “But we found our messengers that went missing.” It was the way she said missing that struck me, not only did she not believe it, but the word was spoken low and quiet like the bold gryphon feared the clouds overhearing us.

The clouds were white and puffy below us, clear of traffic as I scanned the area.

Bente didn’t need prodding, as I opened my muzzle once more she continued. “The minotaurs found them…What was left of them.” As the fact hit me I slowed my flight, my common sense trying to put on the breaks.

I can assume the messengers said something the princesses didn’t like…And now they can’t say anything.

“You are sure it wasn’t-.”

“NO!” Her protest echoed across the sky for a tense moment, “I mean that some parts still had…Had the weapon marks on them, the parts of the swords in them.” That admission had us both gulping. Yes, I believed her. Sure I couldn’t read minds or sense emotions but I could tell, no, I could feel the truth in her reactions. This fact scared the hen in my arms and quite frankly scared me too. If several trained ambassadors, well, she said messengers, but I assumed they were trained in politics. If they couldn’t handle the Alicorn princesses then what hope did I have?

I spoke like a dirt muncher and loved a mare that I knew had to be very wanted, both mares were probably on the wanted list.

Hesitantly I pressed on, “So, these equestrians,” there was no nice way to say this, “They killed the gryphons your country sent to ask for help?” Her head dipped and rose below me, a fact that didn’t help my case. “And they were specifically asking for help with the weather problem, not anything else.” I could hope.

“Yes.”

Fuck.

“O-okay,” stay calm, positive, “And you’re sure it was the equestrians that killed them? Not a vengeful minotaur?” I doubted it. “Or perhaps a robbery gone wrong,” I added. Highly doubtful, robbers in this paradise didn’t sound right. Alicorns sort of had that effect.

“They bore our flag on their bags, our official letters of permission and the proper permits of sanctioned air travel allowed by the treaty between our nations. There was no way anybeing would risk attacking them unless they had the power to back up the repercussions.”

Which the Alicorn sisters did, they didn’t have any power higher than them, save the god, at least not any that I knew of.

“You don’t have any bags or permits on you.” And she didn’t, both times I had seen her she was naked, which we all were, but the essential ‘protections’ she spoke of were missing.

“My fellow ambassadors had them and look where that landed them.” I hummed my agreement, she had survived this long. Of course she hadn’t gone to Equestria as far as I knew or Saddle Arabia for that matter.

“Saddle Arabia wasn’t an option?”

Her silence fueled my racing heart, as did her scans of the area.

“No,” another shift below and a bigger wince, “They…Aren’t speaking to any of our representatives.” That sounded like there was more to it but she didn’t explain, instead sucking in a big breath and screeching, “Higher!”

Although I didn’t see the source of her distress I gave several strong flaps upward, not really paying attention to what was ahead anymore as my mind had a lot to chew on, racing at the sudden panic in her voice. There had been gryphons in Saddle Arabia; in fact there had been a whole mix of species, including Minotaurs. But there was no rule that said all beings must live in their own country.

This didn’t explain the office though.

“Can you explain your actions in…?” I swiveled my ears as my own paranoia set in. What had she heard or saw that I missed?

Bente understood though, “I needed a copy of your form.” Before I could form the appropriate question to the need for such a thing she filled me in, “Vegard offers a home in the mountains…Especially if you can offer what you have offered them.” The vagueness of her words kept in tune with my instincts.

Somebeing was watching us.

“That is not a decision for me to make alone.” My eyes flitted along below me as the clouds seemed to form strange shapes. “Distance is important to us.” I can’t be anywhere near the princesses.

“I understand.” Although she probably did, her voice went low with what I assumed was disappointment. “Would you consider traveling? A target is harder to find when it is on the move.” Bente’s head turned so our eyes met, her eyes were wide as her tail moved closer to parts that would be better left alone.

Keeping my thoughts on the world ending I tensed, whipping my tail and gazing back. “The answer remains the same, it is not a singular decision, and I have more pressing matters to take care of first.”

“What I heard from their gossip is true then?”

My eyes widened before I shook my head and focused on the strange clouds. Of course, “Perhaps, time is of the essence though.” I needed to get back on track. “Is there anything you can tell me of the forces against me?”

Our eyes scanned the clouds below us.

Pony shaped clouds in my paranoid scanning.

After a moment her throat cleared, “Don’t trust Anypony with power.” Feathers rose and tickled the bare patches on my chest, “The ponies you met before…They appear to be innocents of the country, maybe even rebels, but they had no real power from what I overheard. Bakers, florists, cloud pushers…Other grunt work.” A clack from her beak filled the pause, “Please be careful,” another scan of the white cumulus below us showed no enemies, “And be quick about your plan. Nothing you have to say will be welcome.”

Didn’t I know that! The whole ponynapping part came from that fact.

I hummed my acknowledgment, thinking on the heavy information I had just received, and tried to still my heart. Bente could hear that, I was sure of it. My suspicions were sounding more and more accurate to my growing dread.

Celestia sure had a lot of ambassadors die for being a peaceful country.

But, “You are sure it wasn’t-.”

“Yes. The blade tips were confirmed as magically infused steel, the pommels were in a style typical of solar guards.” Perhaps only half of the diarchy was in on this then? At least I hoped so, that could explain the whole ‘Nightmare Moon’ fable, and give me something to work with. The gryphon hen suddenly wiggled as she squinted at the horizon. I followed suit as she began whispering into the wind, “You can drop me off here.” Raising an eyebrow down at the gryphon I found her beak clamped tight and her gaze set on a far mountain top. It was just a speck in the far right from here. “I don’t want to be any closer to the capital.”

“Oh,” I said quietly, understanding what that mountain must mean. It must have the castle in the middle of the map.

Did I believe her still? Yes, I did. Sure there were reasons not too but they paled in comparison to the reasons to believe her.

Bringing my wings and chest up I slowed our momentum till I was hovering, “Can you fly?” she clacked her beak and swished her tail before nodding. “Okay…If you still need healing,” I might not come back, “Then please stop by my home.” Bente was peering up at me; green eyes watched me carefully for a few seconds more, before looking down with a shake of her head. The next words wouldn’t come at first as I gulped, stuck on what I had learned, and trying to contain my plan that was trying to jump overboard. “And tell everybeing about this, please Bente.”

All I received was a nod, words seeming to fail both of us as I released her. I couldn’t help but feel wholly unprepared for the distant mountain as I let go of my new…Ally, of sorts. For lack of want for the worse reality I wanted her to be an ally.

My herd was very capable.

Watching the Gryphon clumsily fly left, into the northern reaches of Minotaria, and hopefully to my herd, I couldn’t help but wish I had fingers to cross.

This felt like all sorts of wrong. Not just sending a injured, drunkenly flying hen into the open air space alone, or even sending her to my herd, that was a small concern oddly enough. It was what I was flying into that scared me the most.

Warmth caught my attention as I stopped myself from scenting the wind after her retreating rump, my instincts not fully understanding the loss of my herd mates and probably looking for comfort in all the wrong places. I wanted her to live, not get torn apart by two pregnant mares.

But this warmth trailing its way down my side took precedence.

I was still bleeding…A trail through the sky and by default the ground it landed upon.

Casting my gaze around the clouds I found them devoid of life, puffy, and deceivingly innocent. I didn’t believe it. Slowing my beating I lowered through a gap among them.

And wow, Equestria still amazed me. It took my breath for a second anyway; my nerves wouldn’t stay down though, already they were on edge, more so than before with the clashing realty around me. If it looked nice it wasn’t always safe. I was paranoid that pegasis were hiding behind every cloud and mountain, the trees below me too, and seeing that there were no ponies under the clouds didn’t change my belief. This view may have made it hard to believe that I was in a dangerous country, but not impossible.

Something had made those groves back at the mountains.

Below me was a wide expanse of trees, that wasn’t the part that had amazed me. From this altitude I could see the rises and dip of the land before me, the colorful settlements dotting the vast expanses of virtually untouched nature. It was something I would see in National Geographic or the pictures of the past, surreal was the best word for it. And Paradise, that was still very accurate at the surface level.

As I looked at the foreground, just beyond the lush canopy below was what appeared to be an orchard. My stomach growled insistently as I spotted the distant red on the perfectly parallel fruit trees.

Just a bite couldn’t hurt…

Shaking my head I moved on with my gaze.

I needed a source of water…Farms had water…And ponies. Ponies that probably were fit, possibly armed, and definitely wouldn’t react well to a thief. Alicornism didn’t give me a ‘get out of jail free’ card, I’m sure if I pissed off the citizens enough I would get a warrant, bounty or whatever else just like any other being. And I didn’t want to see any ponies; my nerves couldn’t handle any more surprises.

Assassin farmers wouldn’t surprise me at this point.

No, I needed water and a safe place to land…The small town beyond the farm didn’t look safe either, going by the assumption that all ponies needed caution with approaching and my luck allowed for anything bad to happen. Murphy had my number it seemed.

Really, who else gets assassins sent after them or captured by pirates, slave driving pirates at that?!

Perhaps something closer then, some source of water had to be nearby for this canopy to stay so thick. No one was in the sky. Lowering myself closer to the canopy I smiled as a flash of blue greeted my eyes.

A small gap in the branches showed an odd drooping tree and a water source.

But caution was needed still, I squinted my eyes at the gap as I let myself drop. I would have to be very careful, Chrissy worked very hard on getting my feathers in place, and I was probably already in deep trouble for doing that lift with Bente.

Dodging the branches I went down, marveling at the amount of wooden obstacles that fit in this space till I was forced to tuck my wings in and perch on a branch to travel lower. I watched the damp floor with an uneasy feeling, the encroaching shadows and darkness promised predators. But the pond was only a couple branches away, serene looking green pads floating, and the water as clear as a spring day.

Nope, stop scenting the air. She is gone!

I could have used a companion for my nerves at least, these instincts were like whispering voices in my head, and right now they wanted to find that hen…I ignored them, replacing them with curses at god.

Landing with a squelch, I quickly swiveled my ears in the descending gloom, tense as the few calling avians hidden among the branches grew silent. But nothing appeared and soon they started up once more, high pitched chirping that was soon joined by the droning of dragon fly like insects. The only differences being that these ones had three sets of brightly colored wings and were fearless as they approached my still form to rest.

Nothing popped out still, despite what my paranoia said.

The willow-like tree at the far side of the pool stirred in the wind but nothing else moved. The wind held the scent of herbs, mostly foreign, but still very soothing. Moist undergrowth registered in my mind as mildew, the source hidden in the numerous trails coming from the muddy sides of the pool.

Still, I waded in quickly, levitating my bag up as I rinsed my haunches in the pristine water, and of course watching the tree line attentively. As dragon flies danced from the disturbed water I almost relaxed. Little red streams shimmered across the surface, catching my eye, and further creating a sense of flowing peace.

Then damp squishing steps echoed into my ears, the source as unknown as the cloud’s reflections on the water’s surface, and both my instincts and I agreed to hurry up. Channeling the healing spell I flexed and arched my neck, moving from one hip then the other as quickly as my magic would allow.

It was on the second hip that I heard it…Or didn’t hear it to be more accurate. The steps that had traveled across the pond had ceased. Quiet descended for a second as I held my breath, neck stuck in a turned position, and knee deep in water.

On my open flank’s side something cracked, followed by a whispered curse. Whipping my head from its vulnerable position at the same time I couldn’t tell if that was a word or a growl, but blue eyes looked back at me wide and unblinking as I finally gave in to the screaming of my instincts.

Predator!

Branches slapped and whipped me, covering the sound of a splash as I rocketed upward and away from the threat.

Of course…Echo would be rolling his eyes at me. This had to be Everfree Forest since I could see the central mountain from here. Yet, I was more worried about the water than the predators then. At least I could kill or run from the beasts below me, I couldn’t do either with my current mission.

My eyes wandered once more to the blue below me, seriously considering facing a predator rather than the princesses.

What? You learn that the racist leaders you have to talk to about horrible topics kill ambassadors that bring up difficult news and see how you feel before you meet them! No, I needed to be strong, to appear invaluable beyond the whole ‘only hope for purebred Alicorns’ bit, which would probably be important to them since they hadn’t gotten with anybeing since…Ever, I think from what I heard.

And they were expecting me!

Several strong flaps and I cleared the clouds once more. Nothing followed me.

Adding an increase in speed as the sense of urgency pounded in me I barreled forward at the speck of the mountain.The paranoia was back in full vengeance from the darkened paths around the river, well, and the words of Bente. Those didn’t help at all.

The wind buffeted my face as I flew as fast I could. And my fast was very fast apparently; I hadn’t really tested this before, and then briefly wondered why I hadn’t. However that was quickly brushed aside, not changeable, and it was probably for the best in the long run. I wouldn’t have met Gennady if we hadn’t walked.

Beating my wings actually quieted my instincts.

Orchards, towns, and forests blurred momentarily, filling my veins with adrenaline at the knowledge that I could do this. The world seemed to disappear, and with it my concerns. I flapped hard and frequently against the suddenly strong winds that prevailed in the higher altitudes, not even feeling a chill like when I was on my deck.

I didn’t think at all in that time, just feeling the sensations as I released my energy, and reveled in the mental image of my aetheratic channels overflowing with light. From the watering of my eyes to the erratic gusts that tried to enter my forward momentum, it was all so exhilarating. Warm updrafts would pass by under me at times trying to lift me as I turned around them , birds and other colored blurs that I didn’t linger on would squawk in alarm as I whipped by, and my heart thumped a steady beat to this feeling of speed. Not even out of breath or tired I felt like I was winning some race. All over I was strangely happy, light, and refreshed, even as the gray mass grew into focus.

Slowing the rhythm of my beat I smiled absently, no thoughts really present as the bright blue regained detail. I felt like I could have done it for hours more but my reality was coming at me sooner than I had expected.

And ponies too, there were ponies above the sparse clouds with me, they hadn’t been quite as noticeable when the world was a kaleidoscope.

Chariots were almost frozen in midair as I went by them at a leisure pace, trying to ignore the cloth wearing unicorns in them that weren’t even complaining as the pegasi pulling them faltered and dropped slightly.

I tried not to do the same as those drivers

But they were making it very hard; I couldn’t even see the castle yet. Although I knew it must be close, somewhere below and ahead of me I supposed.

The sights up here were very odd for me to take in.

Yellow, purple, pink, and more feminine colors were present in the dresses that the mares wore. Their male counterparts matched them in sophistication with tuxedo tops of impeccable ebony and ivory, yet they didn’t wear the bottoms. Their bows matched the mare’s dresses; of course, I could practically smell the upper class aura coming off of them.

All the pegasi pulling them or otherwise hanging around the incoming stream of traffic wore a form of armor. Some were silver, but most were a polished gold, and all looked to be an almost Greek or Rome inspired ensemble. Part of it covered their haunches, withers, while the rest of the armor consisted of a tufted helmet and metal horse shoes. The only part breaking the look was the dark collar pushing back on their wither armor. Their chariots made me think of Rome, looking almost exactly like what you would picture a horse drawn chariot to appear, except they were very decorative. What appeared to be coats of arms or house symbols adorned the sides of the shiny metal vehicles. I cocked my head as I passed some as it stayed aloft, even when the driver had trouble coordinating their wings. All of them must have been enchanted, it fit with their attitude. Thank goodness for safety features I guess.

The chaos that I was witnessing already didn’t sit well with me. I had a feeling this was just the beginning of the Alicorn shock. According to everybeing in Equestria there shouldn’t have been me.

I used to agree with that.

But dooming a world where I could actually have a successful relationship, have ki-foals, and do amazing magical feats seemed a little hasty.

Of course letting me buck the god in the face wouldn’t hurt…Hint, hint god.

Speaking of a doomed world, I should probably land somewhere, I had to get to the castle, and stop ogling the racist’s magic. But that proved to be more complicated than I had originally thought. It didn’t take me long to eliminate landing in the castle grounds, the implication of just landing in their yard was beyond acceptable disrespect. Yet landing at the edge of Canterlot and making my way through town seemed too long and hard on my hooves.

For even as I was thinking of my best route I was descending, down past the sparse covering of clouds and towards the common ground.

Pausing to hover as I scratched my chin absently and considered the sight before me, it somehow suited the racists. Medieval Europe wasn’t any better…Which is what I thought of as the parallel of this city.

Canterlot was certainly a capitol; it wasn’t shy about letting the world know either. The dramatic show of wealth that was expected for such a title was seen in the propensity for cobbled streets and a tall, wide wall made of white stone, and as if that wasn’t impressive enough it was bordered in gold leaf. Not just the impressive entrance arch greeted me, but pastel colored clothing I could see it from here told me Canterlot held the ponies that had wealth as well. No fishmongers or baking gryphons graced the streets, it was all equine, and a little strange to my senses after traveling.

In fact, it set me on edge when I digested the reason why. Powerful ponies, my opposers from what Bente said, and they were all I could see.

Keeping my ears forward, I slowed down even more, of course watching the wide eyed ponies with an equally cautious eye.

Would they attack in broad daylight or were they of the sneaky variety?

My thoughts were derailed as I saw a new reaction to my presence.

One chariot was descending rapidly from the cumulus as the armored pegasis fell into a faint, dragging the cart with it, and several fans were levitating now as I scanned the frozen display of air traffic. Their eyes bore into mine, some of the braver mares were letting them traveling along my body.

All of the attention was completely unwarranted, and more than a little much. I hadn’t done anything yet and this was how they reacted?!

I wasn’t walking through the city, no way.

Changing my course I flapped harder, forward, and past the ogling mares. I flew right into a whole new form of torture. Never had I thought of attention as torture before, but they made me feel like an object with their stares and excited whispers. It was clear where their thoughts were going as I flew over them. No being needed to stare at my undercarriage that long with half lidded eyes.

Mares were really common here…

And I missed my mares more than ever, but if they scared them off it might cause mass panic, still I was almost eager for that over the bedroom eyes.

Look at the stallion right next to you lady!

I’m sure most guys or girls wouldn’t mind being looked at with desire but I was freaked out inside then. The sounds of my possible attackers would be muffled by the excited crowd, as would the sight. My killers would most assuredly be an equestrian pony. And smelling them was out of the question.

Jasmine, roses, and many more floral scents assaulted my nose. None of them was calming me in the slightest.

Below me they flowed like one rainbow mass, gold armored guards marching along with the clamoring crowd. My pace was easy, ears were the very picture of ease, and my bags were lumpy but secure. Still it felt off, like I was the lady wandering towards the killer in the woods. Except here the woods was a bright white washed city out of the middle ages, and the killer’s hide out was the oddly jumbled looking white castle at the furthest part of the city.

It ended in a cliff with a waterfall…Perfect for dumping dead bodies.

Possible corpses aside, the Canterlot castle was a work of art. A slightly Picassoesque piece with the way the four towers took sudden ninety degree turns before going straight up, and there were several peaked chambers popping out of the stone home with no apparent symmetry. But the main chamber that they were sure to hold their courts in was clear as it sat in the center most point of the structure.

As I left the city’s limit and flew over the long cobbled path leading to the castle gate flapping joined me.

Stilling my reaction to fly faster, I first craned my head to see a squadron of armored pegasi rapidly flanking me. Grim lines under their helmets told me they were all business, as did the sheathed roman swords at their hips, but I only raised an eyebrow.

Be cool.

“G-good day sir,” the deep voice of the guard leading the formation spoke, sounding slightly winded as he accelerated to get parallel with my head.

“Hello,” my voice seemed to quiet the crowd trailing below us. When nopony responded I asked my only concern I could verbalize. “Am I allowed to be flying in this area? I can walk if that is easier.” But I would rather fly.

The stallion blinked and exchanged a wide eyed look with his companions as they got into a diamond formation around me, “Oh, no sir…May I ask for some privilege with yourpony?” I nodded slowly, trying to follow where this was going.

More pegasi were rising to flock around the squadron.

“You may have heard but several months ago we had a security breach,” Changeling protocols, “We have to follow the new protocol since then.” Called it…

He was waiting for some sign that he could continue but all I could see in my mind was thousands of miniature Chrissy’s being sent flying, turning into green puddles as they hit trees and rocks, and I didn’t have polite words with that imagery stuck in my head.

Breathing out to calm my instincts, reminding myself that this was more than thousands of lives, it was whole countries and many living families on the line.

It must have been louder than I thought because the next thing I know, the captain of sorts was closing in, and growing some balls. “Sir,” I couldn’t find the words as I watched him enter my bubble, although the urge to bat him down did pop up briefly. “Please allow us to clear you before you enter her majesties grounds!”

Sighing I looked him dead in the eye, “See, no green shine.” Shoving my anger down, I continued at a softer tone, “Anything else?” He was watching my eyes, a sweat drop forming, and his ears rapidly wilting as I didn’t sugar coat my eyes well enough it seemed. I couldn’t tell if it was the lack of green going over my eyes or the intensity of my eyes but he looked backwards, and I was reminded of Saddle Arabia’s other anti-changeling measure.

Luggage checks…

My heart started to race as I realized I didn’t have any mare in heat to distract this guard, nor any coins to bribe him, and clocking him wasn’t the best course of action.

“Look at his flank!”

The mare’s shout made my feathers rise midflight, pulling at odd angles as I fought to control my heart. Okay, I could work with that. My guard was losing focus and the will to continue the search; I was an Alicorn for crying out loud. For him it was probably the closest thing to talking to a god.

“Let’s make this a easy procedure,” I glanced below, “I am not stopping to land when I am quite possibly late to a meeting I set three weeks ago and you don’t really think I’m a changeling.” I paused for effect, “Do you?”

“His mane,” another voice whispered from one of the pegasis flying outside the diamond of guards, the tone was shocked and almost…Hopeful, and that was silly.

The stress was already getting to me.

“Of course not sir,” the white stallion exclaimed, sounding shocked that I would suggest it.

“Exactly, glad to hear that.” Very glad, “Now I will save you the acrobatic work of searching my bag midflight if you don’t tell the princesses what is in there, deal?” He narrowed his eyes, frowning as he glanced at the ponies around him, all of which were watching me with perked ears.

And he was in, “Deal.”

For once I was grateful for the stereotypes I had learned, “Cake,” his frown slowly turned into a smile. Almost as if I had told a joke every pony around us started to giggle, some laughing, and I just shrugged.

“It’s a surprise,” a mare’s voice called from the crowd.

Nodding I focused on the destination once more, my feathers back in place and the captain breaking to the side to give me a little space.

More questions flowed around the group, even some chariots adding to the strange procession, and I breathed deeply as I pictured my marefriends smiling faces. This was going to end.