The door to the private study didn't look that much out of place from anything else in the castle. Simple, rugged. Built for the purpose of being a door.

Where Celestia's palace overwhelmed with opulence. The castle of the King, Guardian of the Watch, seemed designed specifically for war, the banded thick iron straps that also served as the hinges toward the door jam itself. He liked it. Made more sense to him.

Then again, Canterlot palace was designed to impress. To display wealth and majesty. In and of itself, that was intimidating if you looked at it from the point of another nation leaders.

King Bloodbeak's castle was more utilitarian. Designed for defense.

On the walk over to the private study, Orion had taken note of the battlements. The way the tower was set up with kill slots in the halls and in the walls to the outside. This fortification was designed to be difficult to breach, and make the invaders pay for that in blood and lives every step of the way. This place would not fall so easily.

At the door was two guards, both looked identical to the asshole that guided him to his room. Both clearly shared the same humorless birth as well. Orion made faces when his guide wasn't watching. Nothing.

Gilda announced themselves and their purpose at being summoned. He was told to go in, alone. Oh joy, he was going to meet daddy. The door slammed close behind him with a squeal of the iron hinges, they needed to be lubed something bad.

Orion squared his shoulders, and walked to the center of the room. Heart suddenly picking up speed, it had been occurring a lot lately, since the nightmares had returned. He couldn't stop his eyes nor the rising paranoia from making him take in every detail of the room. Any chance at potential escape. Or a impromptu weapon to be had.

He had done the same when he was tossed into that cell inside the base. Even then he knew it was pointless, but after being locked up with very little light and the voices of those you wronged, he could not help himself. As he couldn't help himself now.

The massive desk in the rear of the room, in front of a wall full of bookcases, caught his eye. It was about the only thing ornate in the whole castle, and even it was heavy looking. A quick glance showed financial documents, many with large red marks and writing on them. Another sign of the kingdoms falling fortunes.

A low, deep voice spoke out from the corner of the room yanking him from his observations, near the windows. He was proud he didn't jump out of his skin.

"Your eyes haven't stopped moving since you walked in here." Bloodbeak Fairheart, who seemed to only embody the first part of his name, stood in the shadows of the room looking out the window. His eyes reflected, looking at him. They had locked eyes almost instantly. "If I didn't know better, I would say you're a veteran."

The first thing he took note of was the very eyes he stared into, golden in color they looked strained, he had been having sleepless nights if he was to guess. His beak seemed to be a fading orange red, giving him a fierce expression even as age waged its war on him. It certainly gave a stark reminder of his name. The feathers themselves that crested his head and neck were also showing signs of graying. The blacks and tans beginning to look faded. They were also thinning. He was under heavy stress indeed.

This could be a good sign. If the he was desperate and tired enough, he might jump on what Orion was offering.

The royal garments had seen better days, military dressed that had still been cleaned and pressed to uniform detail. The gold filigree was only a touch. Much like his castle he chose to dress spartan. No frills. But it was looking worn, the cost must be too great, or his majesty didn't see it as anything other then a waste of money to replace it.

Orion sketched a bow, the same one he gave to Celestia anytime he saw her, which wasn't much of one if he was honest with himself. "Your Majesty."

Bloodbeak turned from the window, never taking his eyes away from him. "Is that how you are taught to greet royalty?" There was more then a little touch of irritation in his voice. It was tight, just like the compression of his beak. Seriously how in the hell did their beaks bend like that?

"If its good enough for Celestia, than it is good enough for you." It was a gamble, but if this man was a nonsense as he suspected, he would ultimately not care. He got a huff of amusement in response. Dry, dry amusement.

"You bow to the Princess of Equestria like that? And she allows you to get away with it?" Coming into the light he got a clear look at the drake before him. The verb actually fit this guy. He was not anywhere near as tall as Orion was, but he was built heavily.

The jacket he wore showed signs of a breastplate recently being there he walked the halls of his own castle armored up, that was disconcerting. He was a bit portly in the mid section but he had expected him to be of a stress eater. Those arms of his, ending in hands of fur and featherless fingers with claws filed to weapon levels of danger, did nothing to make the man look soft.

"I offered her to toss my happy ass in jail. She has yet to do it for whatever reason." He chuckled. Bloodbeak did not share in the chuckle. He had been steadily approaching him, the neck tilting back the closer he got. Clearly every cock in the nation was molded out of the same cast of humorless apathy.

"My niece had told me you were shorter then her. I certainly don't see that in evidence now." Even with his neck craned as it was, he seemed to be looking down at Orion, judging his every movement. Celestia had the same trick, only she seemed to judge his every crime with a look.

That had made him inwardly cringe back in the day. For awhile he believed the rumors true about her being able to see into your very mind with a look.

"Seven years and a lot of miracle grow helps, that and the entire time I spent eating meat for protein and the working in the gym." Before he could react, the old man's clawed hand shot out grabbing him by the mouth drawing him down and prying open his mouth at the same time.

"You would strike a King?" His eyes were still peering into his mouth, Orion's fist just shy of blasting him in the face shaking inches away from his head. With the return of the nightmares he found it difficult to let anyone get near him. He relaxed, and dropped his hand but scowled down at the the ballsy royal.

"Not just you, anyone who grabs at me like that. The last one to do so got used as a weapon." His jaw was released, not bothering to try and adjust it.

Bloodbeak turned around and slowly approached his desk. "So I was informed." He stopped and pulled a packet of papers from the corner, off a mountain of other paper work. "I have heard rumors about you from, sources that shall remain nameless." He began flipping through papers, calling out what he regarded as important. "I will confess, I did not quite believe the stories on you eating actual meat." The unspoken 'till now hung in the air'.

"You appeared in Stalliongrad with no history. Found eating a rat. Raw." He flipped over, Orion chose to remain silent. The eggshells he was now on were very fragile indeed. How long had this guy been watching him, when did he begin?

"In Manehatten, you were involved in several altercations with fledglings your own age. Winning every one, even if you received punishment for their actions against you. At that point you showed," he looked at him then, an eye cocked, "impressive academic scores in all courses. Well beyond your age group." He flipped another paper. "But due to a final altercation in which you hospitalized three colts, you were then moved to Canterlot. The reason was never found out. Though there are rumors."

"In Canterlot, most notably in Celestia's school, you again out performed your age group. A careful look at your scores and points of study showed you nearly on par with her protege of all ponies. Who has since been seen around you regularly." Flip.

"The first time you interacted with the Princess was due to another altercation with a student. One that had sought you out as the papers and eye witnesses reported. In that meeting rumor has it you rebuked her, rebuked her and was proven correct, the subject matter never actually being recorded." Flip.

"You were sent to Ponyville for the punishment of striking Princess Blueblood, with his own son." He smirked at that. A almost unheard chuckle briefly filled the room. Flip.

"There you interacted with the people there, amicably."

Something occurred to Orion. It had been tickling the back of his mind since griffons started getting on the train with him.

The griffons in large part spoke like him. Everyone, someone, no one. All the words he purposely stuck to. They spoke inclusively almost exclusively. "Huh, that is something." Flip.

"During a return trip to visit a family you had grown close with during your first stay, you were involved in another violent event. The family had suffered the loss of the two parents in an attack by timber wolves." Flip. "You chose to systematically bait, lure, and slaughter one hundred and thirty three to their rather destructive deaths." Flip.

"One thirty two."

A look. "No, one thirty three. You had formed a storm cloud above and struck one down trying to run to the forest. I believe I have the recording of that event somewhere." He had agents inside Celestia's nation, inside her very castle walls if had his hands on that. Shit, just how much did he know. "Oh fuck, did he somehow know about the enchanting."

Another thought. "I formed a storm cloud? How?" He knew next to nothing about magic involving weather itself.

"Since that last incident, that had hospitalized you for several days with reoccurring night terrors, you have been relatively quiet. Now, you are here. In my study. Because my niece invited you. Though you had no idea who she really was or her station. And the only thing you could say was, 'No way is that fair. Where in the hell is my crazy noble family looking for my ass.'" He had delivered that the same way he had the rough summary of his life in crazy horse world. Dry, monotone. Just stating the facts.

"Hey, that was a good line. Plus I was a bit weirded out. I just found out my pen pal hadn't bothered to let me know the minor thing that she was part of the royal family. You know, not a big detail." Not even a laugh.

"Yes, I suppose that is true. Just as you never told her of your violent exploits." Touche. "However, I wish to know your plans while being here. Why should I allow someone so closely connected to royalty to roam my lands without a watch set?"

This was not how he had imagined the meeting to go. He expected the whole dad speech- "And what are your intentions with my niece?" Ah there it is.

"My intention is to hang out with her for a month or two and then return home. I haven't seen her since I was a kid, and I did want to see Griffonia itself while I was here. I haven't been to the beach in years, so some swimming is definitely in order."

Bloodbeak returned to the neutral angry expression, "That is all?" His head cocked to the side in a very bird like manner that disturbed Orion. The combination of bird tilt with very human looking eyes was a bit off putting. "You are not here to seek a more, romantic entanglement from her?"

Expected but still left him reeling at the suddenness of it. "Uh yeah, no. I have no plans in actually engaging anyone in that way for quite some time. I have to finish school first then establish myself. Honestly, the mares kinda scare the holy hell out of me back home. They are so herd obsessive its insane. And please do not get me started on Celestia trotting my ass out for the newly formed herds in the city to come ogle at. So yeah. No thank you."

"I had received a report on that. Heh, well Screaming may have other plans Mr Falls. The way she would go on about you to my wife and I, we worried she might attempt to make claim to you the moment she saw you." Now he was laughing. A slight glint to his eye.

"Thus Gilda. Informant and enforcer all in one." A grinning nod, apparently once assured that he didn't intend to take Scream to pound town voluntarily, he became much more amicable. Then he frowned.

"What else do you have planned?" He was moving the paperwork he had on him into a hardwood case it looked like some sort of filing box. "I can't imagine just swimming and touring my broken land will keep you entertained. You must want more."

What Orion wanted to do was toss the book inside the satchel hanging from his body onto the desk. But during the conversation, or more accurately the talking to and recital of his life, he got the distinct impression that words and pretty drawings alone would be the only thing to motivate this man.

There was no way in hell the old buzzard was just going to buy what he was selling. Not without proof. A merchant would have no problem buying as they can sell the idea, a king would want proof. He needed a testing ground. Someplace he could spend the summer. Someplace desperate enough to try his ideas.

"Really, that is actually it your majesty. Screaming had wanted to see me for the longest time. So I plan to spend time with her, do the hanging out I put off with her." He looked down.

He was actually ashamed about that. He constantly put her off for his studies. It made sense to him at the time, the whole purpose behind it was so he could better prepare himself. His grandma enforced the very same thing on him, all was secondary to knowledge. His grandfather taught him survival and how to build what he might need. Anything after that was conditional. They were a rather paranoid couple.

He was, at first trying to survive. No, he was trying to thrive. Everything he had been doing, though often times poorly executed, was to that goal.

In retrospect, he was failing. He drew to much attention to himself way to often, but in the heat of the moment, it always seemed the right course of action. Even now he knew going after those wolves was idiotic. But he never regretted it. They deserved some type of closure, even if he was not banned from Sweet Apple Acres.

But now, those goals altered course. The realization of the disaster of other nations economies, those poor kids on that train, only served to change his plans.

Thankfully, Bloodbeak pulled him from his musings. "Never imagined my nation would become a tourist grounds for foreign ponies. Are you gonna need a stipend to travel about?"

"No I brought my own allowance and budgeted well. I should have no problem paying my own way. I will be happy to pay for whatever I need." He patted his coin purse, one of three he had brought with him. They were massive, Celestia paid wards of the state well. In this case his research showed him just might be able to buy a large town with what he brought. "So no need to be my sugar daddy." He chuckled at his own joke, and was surprised when the King followed suit.

"That is good, for once a foreigner not demanding special treatment. Though, the bits you bring will just be a drop on a nearly dead stream." He grew sober, staring at his desk as his expression became that of a scowl. "No matter at this point. Mr Falls, enjoy your stay in my kingdom. Such as it is. Thank you for your time." He did not get up to shake his hand. There was still a rather large gap of trust between the pair.

Orion figured he knew he was lying. Anyone who spent that much time researching an individual had big trust issues.

"And thank you for being creepy and spying on my entire life your majesty." He chuckled and shut the door behind him before he could respond. He laughed at slapped the guard on the left shoulder. Ignoring the squawk of indignation. "The King looked pretty fucking beat, he may need a drink, a strong one."

Without waiting for a response he proceeded back to his room. He needed to find a map. Then choose a town that would be convenient for his project. Research the hell out of said town, and somehow make his way there. He didn't want to play with peoples lives but he needed to know if his ideas could actually work.

Bloodbeak stared at the door where the stallion had left through. Just as Gilda had said. This was a Stallion, not a colt despite the age. He was also up to something. That something he could not fathom. Orion was clever, with just enough honesty to be believable. He was a born liar, a politician, if he had ever seen one.

Shuffling through the papers on his desk he pulled out several reports on Celestia watching him. Reading over them he began to sort his own thoughts, she was dedicated to watching him off and on. The reasons were always after an incident, either involving him or the city itself.

Those copies his agents had managed to smuggle to him of the two events of major violence he was involved him showed him much. Orion, for all his smiles and jokes, was highly dangerous.

He could see why She was watching him so closely. But there seemed to be more to it. Her reasoning, as in the past when others of his fore bearers watched her, seemed to be erratic. As if her attention could never remain focused long enough. The recent reports coming out of Canterlot showed her scrambling to find an enchanter that had appeared. The very thought made his blood run cold.

An enchanter in her ranks would mean the end of his nation. The ancient air fleets he had heard only stories through his family absolutely terrified him.

He too had agents in the city looking for them. But not to recruit. No. Like many in the past, he intended to have them put to the blade, as regrettable as it was. That whore can't have another avenue of power. She was already crippling his kingdom economically. An enchanter would make it so much worse, thus killing them off seemed to be the only option available.

A habit that every ruler in the known world enacted. They had no choice. May the spirits forgive them.

He was pulled from his dark thoughts as the door squeaked open again, his wife entered the room closing the door behind her, carrying a goblet of what he was hoping to be a very stiff drink.

His wife, Gabriela Fairheart, was still as beautiful as the day they had married. Her feathers still that smokey gray that had caught his eye in his youth, the vibrant golden eyes that seemed to glow in the failing evening light. She had chosen the red makeup and dress, likely in solidarity with Screaming's attempt to get Orion's attention.

The language of colors was ingrained into his citizen's very lives. They announced intentions and moods of his people. Red in his peoples culture was a sign of the amorous, of both love and desire. In this case she was showcasing her desire for a courtship with him.

The red tips of her ears and around her eyes quickened the pulse in his veins. The dress hugged her in just the right places, and it began to stir another area on his body. She was perfect. He gratefully accepted the goblet, a drink made him chirp in approval. Mulled wine with a mixed berry aftertaste. One of the better vintages they had left.

"Thank you my heart, I needed this more then I can put into words." Another sip as he watched her, she was looking over his reports. He chose not to be like the rest of his family line, he never hid anything from her. Choosing instead to let her in, and accept whatever council she had to offer. He often found her to be correct in many approaches to problems he would wrack his mind over. They may just be able to pull a little out of the hole this year. The first in many years since he took up his father's mantel.

"Do not thank me, my dear, thank the young colt. He had told the guard that a certain monarch was in need of refreshment. That guard informed me, and I decided you needed a particular brand of drink tonight." She smiled as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck, sitting into his lap to hold him. Something he needed a lot of as of late. "I trust the meeting with him went well? What are my niece's chances?" Right to the gossip. He smiled.

"Your niece? By marriage my dear, I don't think I am entitled to give you anything on that." It was a game they would often play, it relieved the tension in his heart for a time, and often preluded to them not leaving the study for a long while.

She clucked her beak and bit at him in the neck lightly, the night was definitely looking up if she was feeling that feisty. "You know she loves me more then you. Thus, My niece." A weak argument to be sure, but he gave her the mock battle she desired.

"And whose agents, who with their sponsor, worked tirelessly to find her? Hmmm I hadn't heard anything about you recruiting." He smiled, accepting the light slap. A signal she was done with the game but not disappointed in the loss.

"So, will you answer me? Are we gonna have a nephew-in-law in the future?" She had a sparkle in her eye. Bloodbeak hated the idea of dimming that.

"I'm afraid this is one stallion not to be netted by any trap." That sad expression, he despised that. "He doesn't seem to be interested in pony or griffon. He seems completely focused on a future only he seems to see. There is a lot of drive, I just can't see where it leads. He is an enigma. He has ambition, rather admirable."

"Admirable? My little hatchling is gonna have her heart broken while he is here. That is not fair. She had been pinning away for him for years, and now the drake of her desires won't even look at her nest. That is not fair." She crossed her arms and leaned away, but had not left his lap yet.

"My heart, you cannot make anyone fall for another. Unless you are that mare Celestia hides away more often than not. That one breaks rules that should be ironclad." The hidden Princess, many knew of her but not much was known of her. Reports spoke of her taking interest with a new Lieutenant that had been promoted in the Royal Guard. "Besides, it is not fair to force our intentions on him. Besides I am not so sure about a union between those two."

"What do you mean? He seems like a good fledgling, very selfless. Brave too. So what has you so against it?" She had loosened her grip on herself, now slowly stroking his arm.

"Because he lied to my face. I know he did, I just could not call attention to it because I had no substantial proof of it. He is a born politician if I have ever seen one. He is no colt, no he is a stallion and whatever his goals are, they will effect us. I have no idea what he is planning, but there is more then just visiting our niece. I do not like that."

He took another sip from his goblet. "His ambition is dangerous. As you know, Celestia's eyes are on him as well." He though of something. "I just realized something, he speaks like a native of our lands, not as a pony. That is alarming."

"Considering his past, and the reports on his behavior, my concern is more to who could have left him. There is nothing on him before Stalliongrad, no sighting other then that one prostitute, Stone Mark. He claims he just appeared there one morning. Though there are reports of seeing him coming in from the north of the city. But those are as of yet unconfirmed." She sighed pushing the papers back to the center of her husbands desk. "In the end, your agents couldn't find much beyond that."

"Yes, and they couldn't be obvious with their observations. Celestia had one of her own following closely." He thought. "I wish I could have gotten one of them inside that orphanage. He is doing something in the basement. Never got a clear idea as to what, and the agent didn't want to expose our interests."

"Bah! He is here and I have time to ask him questions." He pulled her closer to him rubbing his beak along her own. "Enough of our latest visitor. I believe my time can be better spent with you."

The giggling coming from the room put a smile on both guards faces, their wish for the King to have a good evening, seemed to be coming true.

Celestia's morning was going exceptionally well. By all reports the trouble with the line going out to Appelosa was solved, a few visits to the local buffalo population freed up the path for the rail line to be completed. The buffalo were not truly happy, but once the benefits became apparent they would soon be as happy as her very own ponies.

"Maybe they would see fit to finally move out of those smelly tepees." Truly those 'homes' were not suited for actual living. Yet, the buffalo made due, even seemed happy. "Filthy."

The nobles had fought her for a time, but that little war was over with now. The PR she had built up using Orion, and well placed reporters in her pocket, had allowed her to use public pressure in quieting down the dissenters. Celestia was going to have to send Mrs Heart a gift of some sort. Something expensive.

True, she was now having to deal with more petitioners as of late. But she had managed to make a schedule of sorts so she would not have to be hounded at every waking moment. Just a few hours in the morning, and if she was being completely honest, she was actually rather enjoying herself in that regard. It was nice to solve easy common pony problems.

To add the cherry on the proverbial cake, and he cake last night, she got to try a new type of pancake. Belgium waffles, from the province of Germaneigh. They were delicious, all twelve of them. She had her's piled high with wild berries. Today, was going to be an amazingly wonderful day.

Earlier she sent a few members of her royal guard to retrieve Orion from the White's Orphanage. She had all summer to maneuver her student and him into each others arms. Maybe she would have Candace give her a little hand in that. The filly could use the practice after that last fiasco a couple years ago.

"Oh this is gonna be so much fun, and I get all the benefits, well Twilight will get some herself I suppose." She wiggled in her chair with glee. She took a sip of tea and sighed in contentment. Today, nothing could dampen her mood.

Just then a quiet knock at the dinning room double doors drew her attention. Using her magic she opened the door and spotted her current Captain of the Guard, Broad Blade, standing there nervously. "Now what has him looking so uncomfortable?"

"Come in captain. I was just about to request a fresh cup of tea, would you like one?" Her eyes glanced behind him. She was expecting Orion to pop his head out and say some ridiculous thing. "Have you not gone to get Mr Falls from the orphanage yet?" She smiled pleasantly. The colt may have been playing hard to get and hiding from her.

He saluted, stiffly, eyes widening in panic. "No your highness, I must decline. As to Mr Falls, well....he...he wasn't there." He gulped audibly.

A frown graced her features, that wasn't unusual though. Orion was often doing odd jobs in the city to earn more money, despite the fact that he was getting a monthly stipend to make sure he had enough necessities. He had been doing it since he was ten. But her guard captain was not acting in accordance with his office. Nor with the same cool reserve he normally had. Something was wrong.

"Perhaps he is on one of his courier jobs, have you checked with Master Forager? I understand he was one of those who often employed Mr Fall's services." She took a sip.

"That, that won't be necessary, we know where he is....just can't get to him." His voice had gotten quieter toward the end. Can't get to him? How was that possible?

"I'm afraid I don't understand Captain, if you know where he is, then why not just scoop him up?" She was staring full force at the poor stallion now, her face darkening a touch even if she didn't know it herself.

Captain Broad Blade had trouble meeting her eyes. "It's because two days ago he left a message with Daisy Evergarden, and hopped aboard a train heading to Griffonia, your highness."

The tea left in the cup flash evaporated, the Saddle Arabian porcelain cracking. "I'm sorry, I must not have heard you correctly, he is where now?"

"He appears to be in Griffonia, your highness. Apparently he is visiting a friend, one Screaming Rush. Mrs Evergarden said he had been getting invites from her for several years, and always turned her down. This year however, he took her up on the offer and simply left. He did not get permission from what we have gathered, just left a message on Mrs Evergarden's desk." By the end of his recount he was back to his stoic self, but there was sweat lather on his forehead and neck.

The temperature in the room had noticeably picked up at this point.

Celestia had not realized that her hair had changed until it was too late, willing her body back to normal she quietly spoke. "Thank you Captain. You may go."

Captain Broad Blade quickly shut the doors, and walked swiftly away. A resounding crash reverberated from the room behind him. He did not stop, when the Princess was upset it was best to be elsewhere. His predecessor had told him that she may get truly angry once every few years. Once it took an entire decade before she expressed any anger.

For Blade this was going to be the fifth table the castle coffers were going to have to replace. The fifth this year.

After his meeting with Bloodbeak, Orion had settled into a routine of the next two weeks. In the morning he would rise before the sun. His goal was to keep in as much physical shape as possible while in Griffonia. So the butt crack of dawn found him on the garrison's only training field running laps with a burlap sack full of rocks.

He was amused when a Major Greenquill, master at arms, came marching over, steaming cup of the piss water the griffons called kaf in hand, demanding to know what the tartarus was he doing on His training field.

It almost broke down into a fight between the two at first. The Major had a better idea, and for the next three hours Orion trained with the raw recruits in full battle rattle. Marching, running, going through numerous obstacle courses.

It was hell, and strangely he loved every fucking second of it.

After that three hour period he simply got a nod from Major Greenquill, and was told to report in again tomorrow morning at the same time. He was going to tell him to piss up a rope. But his tired mind told him he might get some training in. Actual combat training. He nodded tiredly and headed back to his room to clean up.

After that, he went and grabbed breakfast from the dinning hall. The look on those guards faces as he scarfed down an entire plate of fried ham and bacon, coupled with six eggs, bread and milk, was priceless. Putting his dishes in a bin he just winked grinned and walked out of the room. What was silence before, the room exploded into conversation when he left.

He caught snippets just before the door shut. It was mostly about him, and the horrible way he ate food. Though a few seemed to remark on the fact that he was eating meat as if it was nothing. He chuckled at the tones used.

His next stop was the library, of which he spent the next two hours pouring over cities and towns of the nation, the geographical makeup of the country itself. He even took a brief trip to the public records in town that he had spotted on the walk up to the castle. Walking be damned he was teleporting.

Screaming found him back in the library, fury etched across her beak.

"Are you bucking kidding me?!" She screeched. Jesus fuck was she loud. She had also slipped back into the pony way of swearing. That got a smile from him.

There she stood, in the door of the library. The librarian, who liked like she was turtling, was hiding behind her desk. Orion just stared at her for a moment trying not to laugh. Then he looked back to his irate friend.

"Okay first off, this is a library. Keep your voice down. Secondly, are you really that surprised? Or are you mad that you got your hopes up thinking I would not be in here. Come on. How many places did you check before you here?" He grinned.

She just huffed. "I went to your room first. Then came here."

"Hahaha, so you knew it was going to happen. I trust you got plans for us today?" A curt nod was what he got in return. "Cool let's go do something fun then." The surprise look almost made him double over. He put all the books and maps he had been looking over back into their places swiftly with simple levitation spells. "What? I came here to hang with you feather head. This is just to pass the time." He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room.

He had lied, but she didn't need to know that yet.

"So? Where to?"

Screaming had a whole day planned for them, how she thought they were going to get through it all he had no idea. But her flying them, or asking him to just teleport them to certain places, easily quickened the pace. She dragged him to shops that looked like they were on their last legs. A restaurant, whose menus had items crossed out as no longer available.

Every place they went to was a reminder of the nation's failing fortunes. Prices were ridiculous. The clientele few.

"Jesus H. Christ, how in the hell am I going to fix this mess."

It had been a reoccurring thought in his head for most of the day. The amount of people hidden in alleyways was worse then he realized. Nearly half the city was on the streets. Homes boarded up with for sale signs tacked out in front.

Screaming's face often would look stricken with worry when she would see the same things he had seen. She would give herself a shake, and smile. Each time that smile seemed harder to come by. The stress of her eyes made that smile a lie.

At his suggestion they went to the seaside cliffs to relax. For a time, the cares just melted away at the beautiful expanse of the sea. They leaned together as they watched quietly, the ocean battered itself against the cliff's bottoms.

It was an afternoon of reflection for him. Plans pouring over in his mind as he thought furiously on how to go about repair an economy on the verge of collapse. Then spent a few hours just looking over the scenic view before them.

Quiet sniffling pulled his attention from his own thoughts. "I don't want my nation to die...." Orion's head jerked over to Scream, she was crying, tears streaming down her face. He did the only thing he could think of, and hugged her as she broke down completely. He looked over at their shadow, Gilda. She too held unshed tears in her eyes.

"How in the absolute hell am I going to fix this mess." The pressure just increased.

Two weeks.

Two weeks of him pouring over every public report. Every scrap of rumors and hearsay. The entire map of the nation.

Two weeks of him dealing with parties, of greeting the King's extensive family.

Two weeks of being dragged around Griffonstone fighting every instinct to help those in need. To having to ignore children starving.

He had found his target.

Avery. A small town northeast of Griffonstone by one hundred and twenty miles. It was very close to the seaside port of Neighbon, the only city of hippogriffs in the world. That city had an absolutely thriving economy in the fishing industry. Word had it that the land was taken from Equestria and Griffonia. A gift of both nations to give a space for a people neither wanted to accept.

Apparently, three hundred some years ago the griffons had attacked Equestria during the estrus season. Thinking the females would be unable to mount a proper counter offensive. A mistake as their soldiers were taken and thoroughly violated by the mares of the seaboard cities. Resulting in the birth of over two thousand hippogriffs.

No one wanted them, thus they were given a run down seaside town set between both nations. Some soft hearted ponies and griffons, chose to live with them, to raise them and teach them to survive.

Now the city state boasted an impressive fifty-six thousand, mostly of hippogriffs but other members of species existed there too. Their fishing market catered to both the locals and those outside who required fish. The problem was no one had figured out how to preserve fish without magic. So it could never make it too far inland to Griffonia's starving people.

They hadn't even attempted to look for another way to preserve meat goods.

What made the small town of Avery the perfect candidate was its geographical location, and the resources surrounding it. The last census reported a massive deposit of rock salt. Salt, that can be used in preserving meat. Making soap, pottery, the list went on and on. Avery was about to become salt lords of Griffonia.

Another bonus, and something Orion was seeing as more then likely. The report on possible Iron deposits. The census had reported that strange grayish stone found in several locations around the town. He would bet all the bits he had that those grayish stones held Iron inside. With the nation having carbon at hand, he could almost see the amount of carbon steel that would be produced from there in short order.

Another bonus for the little town, flat fields that laid fallow due to no farming equipment. The steel they could produce would easily handle that. Making all the gear they would need.

Honestly he was rather surprised that Avery had gone unnoticed for so long, all that ore and resources was an absolute waste. It was however, perfect for what he wanted to do. Far enough away from the border that Celestia wouldn't realize what was going on till it was far too late.

He smiled. Now to convince Screaming that it would be an amazing idea if they both, with Gilda of course, traveled to Avery for a little vacation on the beach. Which there was none. Not that she likely knew that. Oh, and her ever watchful uncle.

He wanted takesies backsies. He really needed a do over this was all a mistake.

They had to walk, fly, and teleport the entire way there. The small contingent of guards that accompanied them Northeast helped with luggage, but having to teleport twenty-three people to save time as well as the walking, exhausted him. His horn ached, his legs wanted to straight up quit the body.

Screaming had initially resisted the whole idea of leaving the capital. Till Orion bluntly pointed out what they all were seeing and not speaking on. How he just wanted to get away to not see that for awhile. Which pulled at her own guilt of ignoring what was happening. She eventually agreed.

Getting her uncles permission to whisk her away further north could only be accomplished by agreeing to take her entire personal guard. Something he still found as odd considering she was only a niece. Twelfth in line and all that. Speaking of his encounters with the rather expansive royal family, he was genuinely surprised by how down to earth they all were. Many were lords and ladies of provinces of land inside the nation.

Others had done their best to ply their management skills in mercantile businesses. Anything to bring money into the kingdom. The whole family seemed dedicated to saving their kingdom. It was touching.

Many were impressed to see him exercising with the troops as often as he did. The first few nights was parties and story telling. Of which Orion had begrudgingly accepted a role in telling how he got his scars. He pulled a full Heath Ledger. It was great. But he could see why they had so many parties. They were ignoring the travesty on their streets, try as they might to fix it they were merely slowing the boulder down.

Another point in his favor of leaving for a vacation within a vacation.

So here he stood, outside the town of Avery, ragged and pissed off. With a group of equally ragged and pissed off griffons. All of whom was pissed off at him. "Piss off we got here."

The town itself was nothing to speak of. Surprisingly it house just over a thousand griffons. The homes were built in uniform with each other. All log style. If it wasn't for the state of disrepair some of them were in, Orion would have said this place was lovely.

The villagers themselves came to greet them. Their chief, or what later he was told, Burgermeister came to greet them. She was tall for a Griffon hen, nearly eye to eye with him. Broad shoulders and strong looking arms showed this mayor of sorts was no stranger to work. It was actually rather intimidating.

"Hello, I am Grendal Plumage. I am the burgermeister of-," Orion stifled a chuckle and got a glare from the offended bird, "Of Avery. We welcome you to our town, to our nest. If I may ask, to what do we owe the pleasure of a royal visit?"

She was looking to Screaming, who was looking to Orion. He made to look to Gilda, but the tired hen just glared daggers at him.

"Oh heh, that would be my fault. We came here to vacation away from the city. Was hoping you had a couple of cabins to spare so that we could bed down and start fresh in the morning. It has been a LONG three days of walking, flying, teleporting....you know general suckatude of travel." His eyes said there was far more then what was being said, doing his best to hint that he had more to speak on privately. "Please tell me you do, these guys are already pissed at me, no need to make it worse."

The bergermeister cocked her head in that bird way griffons did, a trace of a smile on her beak. "We do, we actually have barracks for the soldiers that have come with you. Though they have no been used in many many years. You will all have to take time to clean them." Her voice was surprisingly soft for one someone so imposing, oddly warm and gentle.

The guards behind him perked up and talked excitedly. Apparently someone saw fit to spare him the wrath of his unwilling traveling companions. He said a small prayer thanking whatever deity was responsible. A small white and yellow butterfly landed on his shoulder.

"We also have a few homes that the rest of you can stay, but I must ask? Why here for a vacation? We have nothing to really draw a crowd to us."

He grinned for the first time in three days since they started their march.

"Why my dear bergermeister to have a chance to really relax. A fresh start on a vacation already in motion."

Grendal looked up from the rather large book of notes to reappraise the fledgling siting in front of her.

She did not know what to make of him. He walked into her town, announced they were on a vacation, and the moment she got him in her office his horn lit up silencing the noise from outside. She suspected he had sound proofed her office, that made her very wary of him.

He then sat down and levitated a thick notebook. Full of manufacturing and extracting ideas for her town, and the resources around them. He said nothing. Every time she asked a question he would nod to the book. As if all the secrets in the world could be answered.

Apparently as far as her small world of the village she presided over, it did have all the answers.

He left her to read for better part of twenty minutes.

"You came here with ulterior motives. Why?" She was shocked at all the ideas to turn her town into a production hub. The fact that a pony was just handing out this information like it was nothing made her suspicious.

He hummed, and put his hands together as he slowly leaned forward. To say she was intimidated by this fledgling was an understatement. The air around him at that moment tickled her flight of fight responses. The fact that he was bigger then her at only the tender age of fifteen made her fear how big he might become. The muscles under his shirt rippled with the movement of his body.

"I came here because as I was coming north on the rail line, I got to see this nation, for what it truly was. I got to see the hardships your people face. I watched as kids no older then five having to be carried onto the train because they were too weak from hunger to stand on their own. Me sharing my meager travel rations might as well have been Hearth's Warming Eve for them."

He leaned back, she was quiet as she hung onto his words, mulling them over in her mind. "In a world of magic, we somehow lack the ability to help those around us. I do not see how that is, but here we are." He looked her in the eyes, his grey ones glistened with moisture. "The day we left Griffonstone, I heard a mother cry out her child's name. I heard the anguish in those screams. I can't sit by and do nothing while the world starves. I believe your people have suffered enough."

He paused. "My goal is to teach you and those under you how to innovate. In those notes are ideas. Ideas that still need to be fleshed out with solid work. Most of which I am ninety-nine percent positive can work."

He affixed her with a soft look, one filled with anguish. "I want to give you, and your people a fresh start."

He had her, and she knew it.