In the days following our project, we wasted no time in filing patents and trademarks. After all, I wouldn't want anyone else taking our idea. Honestly, I’m so glad I’m dating a rich girl- her father has all kinds of sway when it comes to things like that. It’s… quite nice, actually.

We really wowed the representatives that day- but there was particular interest from the griffons attending. Many of them being fellow migrants, most of them were overjoyed to see one of their kind making a name for herself.

After talking it over for a while, Dee and I decided we were gonna attend the Fillytonic University in the small city of Aderleth; on the condition that if they had any books in their library called the Necronomicon or anything similar sounding, that she wouldn’t read it.

When she asked why, my response was Don’t worry ‘bout it.

It was a city on the east coast that actually always had a decent sized population of griffons and ponies- and the immigration wave only compounded that fact.

Dee and I had planned to rent an apartment there for ourselves and live together for the school year. One one hand, I was glad to finally have a place all to ourselves… but on the other hand, I was not looking forward to leaving Mamma behind. But still- we had the rest of the summer to deal with that.

I guess deep down, I’d always known I’d have to fly the nest eventually… but it still hurts to think about. I can’t imagine she’s too thrilled about this either.

That’s life, I guess.

The next three months were just spent… relaxing, really. Other than buying supplies and stuff, most of which were paid for by the school anyway, we didn’t really have a lot to do in the meantime. We attended our graduation ceremony, which I thought was a waste of time, but at least Dee seemed happy about it. Mamma also… heavily encouraged me to go as well.

Besides, what else was I gonna do? Sit at home and flick the bean all afternoon?

… You know, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea in retrospect. Oh well.

At least Dee and I got stoned afterwards, so that was nice.

In other news, our still blew up. Dee and I were just chilling on a park bench one afternoon, when a massive BANG was heard from the Whitetail Woods. We just slowly turned to look at each other. I said to her-

“Well… there goes our clubhouse.” She just snorted.

“Maybe it was Scootaloo getting revenge for what we did to hers?” I just chuckled.

“If so, she probably looks like fried chicken right now.” That got a good laugh out of her.

Thankfully, we’d already moved and hid our most recent batch- so we still had a good amount of liquor left.

You know, I never really did get around to making proper flavor infusions. I was gonna see if I could flavor it with anise to make a pseudo-absinthe and jack up the price.

Shame.

This is a bit of a segue, but I realized I haven’t really talked about the current state of the Griffon Confederacy.

Well… it’s still a fucking mess. Last I heard, Vito and Auntie died not too long ago, homelessness is higher than ever, and worst of all, Fertilia’s gone dry.

That’s right- life sucks and people can’t even drown their sorrows in booze anymore. I honestly think that part’s the result of the moral panic I sparked by pretending to be a victim.

Suckers. Still though- there is excellent money to be made in bootlegging. Something to keep in mind, I suppose.

The calls for war are getting louder and louder- and probably would have happened if the Equestrian Crown wasn’t threatening heavy sanctions if we declared war on the mutts. They think we should settle our differences peacefully; well, I think Celestia has a fat ass and has no fucking clue what she’s talking about. The griffons and dogs have been in a bitter stalemate for years at this point. To think things can just get better is fucking delusional.

In time, I’ll show those bastards what for.

Until then? I think I’ll just chill.

Ah, that’s enough of that. Makes my blood pressure spike just thinking about it.

Speaking of griffons and other races in general- Princess Autismo is opening up a “School of Friendship” soon- whatever that entails. It must be the Equestrian equivalent of a Liberal Arts degree or something.

But that’s not the interesting part- what interests me is the fact that I got to see someone I haven’t seen in a looooong ass time.

I could recognize those blue feathers from a mile away.

“GALLUS!?” I yelled. Apparently, he was planning to attend this school of friendship, and decided to move in late summer. I was just walking through town when I happened to stumble across him.

He looked at me confused, cocking an eyebrow.

“Do uh… do I know you?” I blinked- then I realized I was wearing sunglasses. I took them off and his eyes shot open.

“Leona!?” He looked… a little freaked out, for some reason.

“How the hell’ve you been, bud?” I went up and slapped him on the back, causing him to jump.

“I’ve uh… I’ve been good, I guess…” I just snorted.

“You've been raising Hell without me around, huh?” He seemed nervous, for some reason.

“Not… not particularly.” My smile fell. “I’ve uh… I’ve been trying to better myself for a long time, actually.” I just blinked twice then frowned.

“After all I taught ya, you’ve gone on the straight and narrow?” He just snorted at me.

“Oh, and I suppose you’ve been… what? Pawning off cigarettes? Picking pockets?” I rolled my eyes and elbowed his side.

“I haven’t done that shit in years.”

“So then what have you been doing with your life, then?” He stopped, turning around and getting in my face. I scoffed at him.

“I’ve been preparing to take our homeland back from the beasts.” I gave him a smirk. “Unlike you, I haven’t forgotten our roots.” He just rolled his eyes at me and walked off. “Hey, where the fuck you goin’?”

“You’ve got a lotta pride for a nation with nothing to be proud of.” I grit my beak, claws scraping the dirt. I was about to throw hands when suddenly…

I felt a hoof around my back.

“Let it go, baby. He’s not worth it.” I just huffed in annoyance- then sighed in defeat.

“Yeah… yeah, you’re right.” I noticed Dee was giving me a smirk.

“Let's say we go home and… relax.” She began to rub my shoulders and my mood pulled a 180 and we went to her house, locking ourselves in her bedroom.

---

“Oh yeah… keep going… OH! Harder baby, almost there!” You ever have that weird spot that you just cannot reach to scratch no matter what?

For me, it was right above the base of my tail on my lower back- that part cats like when you scratch it. It’s odd how many feline mannerisms and behaviors came with this body.

Dee was using a brush to scratch that spot and I couldn’t help but stick my ass in the air- eventually falling on my side.

“Ah… ohhh, thanks baby.” I gave her a dopey smile and she just giggled.

Man, I love this mare.

---

So yeah, that’s about how the summer went, more or less.

The day that Dee and I were about to get on that train was… difficult. Our bags were packed and stowed away, the train was soon to leave.

“I guess… this is goodbye?” Mamma asked, a glimmer of tears in her eyes. This would be my first time living far away from her… and it just hurt. So fucking much. I just sniffled.

“I-I’ll make sure to write… Don’t ever think I’ll forget about you.” I just put my arms around her and she wrapped me in her wings. I couldn’t cry anymore. We did enough of that last night.

I left her my crossbow, as well. There would be a proper butcher in Aderleth, so I wouldn’t need it.

She pulled back and gave me a kiss on each cheek. “You’re gonna do great things, baby. You make me the proudest Mamma in the world.” I couldn’t help but grin.

“Thanks, Mamma.” She slapped me on the back.

“Now go raise some hell! Preferably before the train leaves.” she chuckled and I heard the whistle- and my eyes widened.

“Oh fuck! Love you Mamma, I’ll write when we get there!” I ran into the car, stopping to wave back at Mamma one more time before making my way to our seat.

I sat next to my darling girlfriend- she was reading a magazine and drinking an iced coffee. I was about to put a wing around her when she stood up.

“Where you going?” I asked. She just looked at me confused.

“To… to use the bathroom? I have to pee.” I just blinked at her.

“Babe… there’s no bathroom on this train.” she tilted her head… then her eyes widened.

She looked at me. Then to her empty cup of coffee. Then back towards the rapidly disappearing train station.

“Oh… fuck.” I started cracking up and she just blushed as she sat back down.

It was bittersweet leaving Ponyville behind. So many good memories there… but, you gotta move on eventually. Who knows what kind of wild shit we'll get up to?

Never thought Leona would fly the nest, huh?

And after so many years... no-one has thought to put a bathroom on those trains. Hopefully the tickets weren't too expensive.

A bit of a short one today- I'll try and make the next one a bit longer, though :3

As always, thank you for reading! Likes and comments are encouraged and appreciated greatly :3