It had taken the better part of three days, but the small rag tag crew of different species had finally made it across the desert in record time. With Charlotte now being able to fly and manipulate the clouds to help shade the group, and Mona being able to use her magic to help manifest water, food, or almost anything else that the group would need, the time it took to normally traverse the plane of sand had been cut into a third of its normal time.

Now the group was slowly making their way back into the Griffon Kingdom, from the land of the dragons. Much of the land was covered in forests and large plains, similar to Equestria. The only real difference was that much of the forest had a low layer of clouds maybe a hundred yards above it, countless holes cascading through the cloud line to let the sun shine through to help the forest grow.

Below, the group was just making it into the city limits. Baron giving a nervous glance all around upon seeing quite a few griffons giving him dirty looks. The minotaur, although normally brash, and quite stubborn, was now trying to avoid the glares he was receiving from the various griffons that were now starting to gain in volume as they pressed through the city gates.

Mona was walking alongside him as they were heading through the gates, noticing his sudden apprehension upon finally arriving at their destination.

“You seem a little nervous big guy, care to let me in on what’s troubling you?” The young maiden asked as she gave him a gentle nudge in the arm. He only gave a soft snort in return as he nodded to Mitchell.

“Griffons and minotaurs usually don’t get along very well love. Always been at each other’s throats, even through times of peace.” The young man stated softly as he glanced to Charlotte as she looked down to him. Mitchell giving a couple of winks and a nod toward Baron. A silent conversation passing between them as she jumped from the back of the wagon onto the minotaur’s head, laying lazily between his horns as her talons scratched the bridge of his snout, his fur immediately puffing out all over his body as he gave a laugh, bouncing his head a little.

“Oy now! Ya know ahm ticklish there!” he chuckled as he bounced the griffon playfully on his head, she giving a giggle as she wrapped her arms around his snout and giving it a hug as her tail flicked playfully back and forth behind her.

It was then that Mona noticed that the glares from the griffons that were all around them began to soften, some even vanishing and being replaced by smiles upon seeing this. She jumped slightly however as Mitchell leaned over and began to whisper into her ear.

“If one griffon sees another accepting a different species as a possible friend, then most of them will forget what they know or have experienced in the past, accepting that being almost fully into their society. You’d be surprised at just how easy it is to be accepted into a culture not of your own on this planet.” He smirked slightly as he nodded to a few griffons he had met long ago, they waving to him as the group continued on through the city.

After a while they came to a stop at a small cafe, pulling the wagon to a small spot near their table outside and quickly setting the parking brake to avoid it rolling off. As they took a seat, Charlotte jumped from the minotaur’s head and took a seat next to him, showing how comfortable she was with the massive beast, in turn causing most of the griffons around them to ignore him instead of just giving dirty looks.

A couple of minutes went by before a waiter finally walked up to the table. A husky looking griffon that seemed to have a little more meat on him than most others, even being dressed in a half tux to improve his already sleek looks.

“Good afternoon, I shall take your orders when you are ready.” He stated with a slight smile as he looked to the group.

After placing their orders the waiter left, only to appear again a few moment later, bringing back a few drinks for the group before leaving once again to take another tables order.

“This seems like a pretty fancy place, and I... really don’t have any currency.” Mona stated giving a sheepish smile. “Are you sure you don’t mind paying for my meal?” She asked.

“Not a problem love, it’s the least we can do for yer help. I mean, ya did manifest that big meal and heal may daughter. This’ll be a drop in the bucket compared to what ya have already done for us.” Mitchell stated with a smiled and a wink.

‘I can sense quite a bit of hate coming from these griffons.’ A small voice stated within Mona, causing her to stiffen up for a moment, but quickly relaxing so as to avoid any unwanted attention.

‘Who and what are you? How care I hear you in my head?’ Mona mentally asked the voice only to make it chuckle.

‘Heh heh heh, I’m part of you idiot, don’t you see that? Or rather, the bracelets?’ It stated mockingly, causing Mona to glance down to the bracelets as they gave a very soft glow for just a moment.

‘I... I recall something... something from long ago...” She stated in thought, trailing off as it began to slowly surface. After a moment the voice spoke up once again as the memories of the past began to flood into her mind.

‘That’s right... we took all of those lives human. Countless lives to further empower us and bring down that accursed sun Goddess Celestia but we never got the chance, did we?’ It stated angrily, as if scolding the human.

‘I wouldn’t let you take the life of those children, you have no right!’ She growled back only to make the voice cackle.

‘I have no right? Let me tell you something worm!’ It growled back causing Mona to visibly tense up as pain began to shoot through her body from an unknown source. ‘You are the one who put on the bracelets all those eons ago. You are the one that made the pact with me in order to get back home.’

“And you promised to send me home once you had accomplished your goal. Had I known at the time that you would take countless lives in order to do such a thing, then I would’ve never agreed to...’

“You ok love?” Mitchell spoke up causing the pain to stop and her attention to snap to him. “You seemed like you were in pain a moment ago. Not feeling well?” He asked, only to see her shake her head slightly.

“No, I’m fine. Just a little nauseous from having to wait so long for our order.” She sighed, knowing it was a lie.

“Nauseous? Ya ain’t sick are ya?” Baron asked as he reach a huge hand over to her and pressed a single finger to her forehead, surprising her and the others at the gentleness of such a huge creature. “Naw, ya seem fine teh me...” He stated as he pulled his hand back to his own head and felt of how warm he was compared to her. “Then again, ah don’t right know much about medicine’n such things.” He chuckled.

“No, I’m fine, I’ve just been thinking a lot about going to Equestria. I need to make it there as soon as possible, and to see the princess as well.” She sighed as she rubbed her head, trying to remove the images that the demon was projecting into her mind from the past.

“Well, we don’t have much further teh go love. There is a port not far from the entrance to the city that has some dirigibles teh take non flying folk from here teh yander.” Mitchell stated as he nodded from the table to his side, giving no specific direction.

“I’m glad, maybe now I can put all these feelings to rest once I get there.” She sighed softly as she leaned back in her seat, only to scrunch up her face as the voice echoed softly in her head.

‘And once we kill her, take over the nation of Equestria, and maybe kill off some of the populace. We can find another suitable host for myself before I release you.’ The voice cackled softly, echoing off into the distance within her head.

‘Not before you send me home you sick fuck.’ Mona growled out within her head, ending the conversation.

A few hours had passed by before the small group of travelers had finally made it to the sky port within the Griffon Kingdom. All of them looking at it in awe as a row of floating stone stairs made their way up to a large floating building that was anchored to the ground, the distance between the two ranging around a hundred yards. A large floating blimp slowly made its way toward the building, several propellers halting their spin as they began to drift slowly toward the large building.

The group watched as the large blimp tossed multiple ropes from the sides, and into the talons of several flying griffons that began to slowly tug it sideways into a vacant port.

“Looks like we made it just in time love.” Mitchell stated as he looked up to the large floating behemoth, then back to Mona with a saddened smile. “It’ll be a shame that yer leaving us though, was nice having ya travel with us. Even if’n it was fer a short time.” He stated while rubbing the back of his neck gently, a sheepish grin slowly spreading across his face.

“We will meet again, in time.” Mona stated with a blushing smile of her own. “I’m sure of it.”

“They’re startin to unload the passengers, better get a move on.” Baron stated as his eyes never left the blimp in port. Many different species of creatures all beginning to unload from it. Some were even flying from it and into the massive floating building.

“Right....” Mona stated with a sigh as she looked from Baron to the stairs that led up to the building in question.

“Here...” Mitchell stated, causing Mona to turn her head back to him, he was holding a small bag of coins in front of him. “I’m sure this’ll keep ya for a while, and pay fer the ticket teh Equestria.” He smiled sheepishly only to pause as her hand came up to his, wrapping gently around the bag and the hand holding it and bringing it to her bosom lovingly.

“Thank you, for your kindness.” She stated softly before looking up to him with slightly watering eyes. He smiling softly to her for a moment before his eyes went wide as she pressed forward and up, pressing her lips to his for a moment. After what seemed like an eternity, they parted. Mitchell stood there in stunned silence as Mona gave him a warm smile, then ran off with the small bag of bits, up the stairs and into the floating building.

“I think she might have a slight crush on him.” Baron stated with a loud chuckle toward Charlotte whom was now puffed out and trying to fly after the female human, only to be held back by Baron as he wrapped a large hand around her tail.

“YA THINK?!” Charlotte stated angrily as she attempted to attack the minotaur to get him to let go, he only pressed his other hand toward her, wrapping it around her head; her beak poking out between two of his large fingers.

“Now calm down ya git, ain’t no need teh be getting all excited. We might not ever see that youngin again. Sides, yer poppa looks a little down.” Baron stated as he let the griffon’s head go and let her swing upside down by her tail in his other hand, she crossing her arms and puffing out slightly in annoyance.

“Fine, but only because dad needs me right now.” She huffed as she was let go and flipped upright before landing on the ground.

As she walked over to her father, she smiled softly seeing his sad face. It had been such a long time since she had seen him look like that, years even.

She smiled to herself as she moved to the front and took a seat as she looked up to him for a moment, mentally berating herself for doing what she was about to do.

She took in a deep breath to steady herself as she puffed out her feathers along her head and wings, then putting on the biggest puppy dog eyes she could, she extended her taloned hands forward as if wanting to be picked up, and then she did something that made Baron snicker. She cooed like a dove to gain Mitchell’s attention.

Once he heard the coo he looked down to see his daughter in the most adorable pose he had ever seen.

“Oh... my.... God...” He stated as he slowly knelt down and wrapped his arms around the young griffon. She gave a soft sigh at the hug, but was also giving a death glare at Baron who was now laughing very hard, but silently as all that came out were squeaks.

After a few minutes of watching the platform leading to the oversized blimp, the group noticed Mona finally walking along the platform and onto the ship. She looked down just in time to see the group waving her off. She smiling down to them and waving back before finally making it into the ship.

“Well then.” Baron began as he latched himself to the wagon once again. “Times a’waisting. Bout time we get going. Gonna be a long trek back to the Minotaur lands.”

“Yea.” Mitchell stated softly as he watched the air ship slowly begin to pull away from the dock and start up its engines. It silently moved away from them toward the ocean. “Sure hope we get to meet again love. It’s lonely being the only human’round.” He sighed as he turned back to his friend and daughter. “Well then, let’s get to it!” He stated quickly as the group began walking, their journey to their destination, beginning once again.

Author's Notes:

Edited by ReFro