LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME

Chapter 14: White Wedding

As he set up the tripod for his camera, Buried Lead couldn't help but look around suspiciously, despite his cover story of wedding photographer. And why shouldn't I be nervous? Here I am in the Ursa's den about to poke her sleeping cub with a stick. I keep telling Newsie to be cautious of the deals she accepts, but she is just sooo eager to get the big scoop.

He sighed as he brought out his pride and joy and delicately set it upon the peg of the tripod. The pegasus fiddled with it using his wings until it sat just right. News Flash had been urging him to get a new tripod. She was especially pushing the new ones that magically hold the camera, allowing the user to just plop it on without adjustments, but he preferred doing things the way his mentor- no, her father taught him, and he wasn't about to change just for the sake of changing.

At the thought of her father, his oldest friend, Buried Lead sighed again and sat down heavily on the metal case he used to cart around his studio equipment. What am I going to say to them? I promised to take her under my wing the way he did for me; to watch out for her, and protect her, and now this! I know she says that they'll be okay with it, but...

A hoof landing on his shoulder from behind sent all thought scattering, and had the pegasus sprawling on the ground in shock. Ending up on his backside, he turned and saw Plain Sight smirking at him, hoof still raised where she had touched him. “Skittish little cuss, aren't you?”

Buried Lead laid a hoof on his chest and could feel his racing heart. “Only when ponies go out of their way to sneak up on me.”

“Bad experience in Griffonia?” she asked.

Buried Lead raised an eyebrow at her. “How did you know about that?”

Plain Sight inspected his camera setup without touching it. “You think I don't look into the background of everypony who comes into regular contact with her?”

“But the only one I told was...”

“And your therapist remained admirably close-mouthed about it, even under threat of jail time.” The earth pony sat down on another metal case and patted the one he had been sitting on earlier. When he sat down again, this time facing her, she said, “I was unable to get anything from him, so I had to use more... circumspect routes to find out everything about you.”

Buried Lead never felt so exposed before. Just the way she looked at him made him feel... naked. Running a hoof through his mane, he asked, “So you know about me and...”

“Newsie?” Plain Sight asked, making it sound more like “Nosy”.

He gulped and nodded, and she smiled at him. “I know that she's had a thing for you ever since her father introduced you to his family when you were just a cub reporter. I know that she's been dropping not-so-subtle hints which you've been ignoring up until...” She put a hoof to her chin as she looked skyward, “two weeks ago.” She tilted her head as she looked at him, seeing the question in his eyes. “What is it?”

Buried Lead scratched his forehead, trying to frame his question. “It's just... nothing important. I was just thinking, that since you already knew...”

Plain Sight arched an eyebrow at him and looked shocked. “Wait, you want to ask me for advice? Romantic advice? Me?” Buried Lead just looked off to the side and nodded. The gray mare blew out a long breath and leaned back. “Wow. This is a first. So... what was it you wanted to ask?”

“Er, What... how do you think I should approach her parents?” the reporter asked. “You seem to know just about all the salient points; so how do I tell my mentor that I'm dating his daughter, when I'm... well, maybe not old enough to be her father, but old enough to have a noticeable age gap”

The spymaster chuckled. “My first time giving romantic advice, and it turns out to be a doozie. Don't that figure.” She scratched her head and readjusted her cap again. “Well, from what I've seen, she makes no bones about how she feels about you, even in public. Does she act any different around her parents?”

“Now that you mention it,” He replied with a wry grin, “She's always hanging off of me, even around them.”

Plain Sight waved a hoof at him. “Then I think you already have your answer. It's likely that they've known for longer than you have, and are now waiting for grandfoals to start rolling in.”

“Grandfoals!” Buried Lead asked in shock. “Whoa, whoa,whoa! One thing at a time here!”

Shrugging, Plain Sight replied, “Well, parents are like that. Once they know that the apple of their eye is bound and determined to settle down with a particular pony, and will treat their Prince or Princess like royalty, they start thinking along those lines.” She smiled cheekily at him, adding, “I'll bet you bits to beignets that as soon as you two come clean with them, you're going to find that conversations will begin to stray into that particular topic, more and more often.” Buried Lead just sat there in shocked silence, contemplating this new dimension to his life.

Plain Sight glanced at the early morning sun, and got to her hooves. “Well, I better get going. Got lots to do still before the ceremony starts.” She started walking away, but paused and stood there as if she had forgotten something. Without turning to look at him, she said, “By the way, I'd appreciate you not making any side deals with Limnear anymore; especially if it involves more boudoir photos. She's... there is more going on than you know, or even want to know.”

She left a stunned Buried Lead behind, who just stood there with a dropped jaw until News Flash came up and nudged him. “Hey, you okay?” she asked him.

Shaking his head to clear it of the mental images that had sprung up, the pegasus replied, “Yeah. Just thinking about inter-species relations.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Golden Bit swaggered into the business-like conference room, making sure to not let any of his misgivings show. Immediately, the assembled ponies quieted, but an undercurrent remained palpable. Taking his seat at the head of the table, he looked over the small crowd and smiled; not even the glares from several notable members of the gentry dissuading him. As he sat down, Captain Rugged Peak (ret.) of the Frontier Guard rose to her hind legs and leaned on one hoof on the table, her single wing spread in obvious aggression. “'Ere now, what's all this rubbish about banning us from movin' up the ranks? 'Oo are you to tell us 'ow far we can advance, eh? Not even me own Da would say boo to me over this.”

Golden Bit made placating gestures with his hooves. “Captain, please. This sort of behavior is precisely the sort that gives military officers a bad name. Commoners such as yourself simply cannot grasp-”

“Bollocks!” Rugged Peak replied. “You're 'iding something. You don't do nuffin' unless it benefits you in some way, we just 'aven't twigged to it yet.” She leaned over farther and glared at him. “So tell us, 'Your Grace', wot benefit do you get out of this, eh? Or is it for your li'l boy, Prince Blueballs?”

“I advise you to watch yourself, Captain,” Golden Bit said in a dangerous tone, which she shrugged off. “Being elected to the House of Commons does not protect one from prosecution for defamation of character.”

An old earth pony stallion rose, leaning heavily on his cane. “Disrespectful or not, you still haven't answered her question, Your Grace. What do you gain out of this new law that can't be had any other way? And more importantly, why should we support something that even I can tell is bad for our nation in the long run?”

Golden Bit nodded to the old pony. “But it is for the good of the nation, Gramophone. I have distributed the findings of a team of psychologists, as well as reports culled from our neighboring countries to everypony, and-”

“Those doctors are quacks!” This came from a unicorn mare still young enough to have avoided gathering the wrinkles commonly called Parliamentary Lines. “I checked their credentials. Two of them were sued for malpractice, and a third not only barely graduated last in his class of over two hundred, but has a patient list I can count on my hooves! The last doctor hasn't hasn't had a practice in over twenty years, because he's been too busy running- and failing- for political office!”

“Those doctors,” replied Golden Bit, “are highly esteemed ponies in their fields, and deserve respect.”

A suave and carefully coiffed stallion cleared his throat. “As interesting as this all is, why don't we get down to why we should vote for this law of yours, Your Grace?”

Golden Bit carefully hid a smile at Scarlet Fish's well-timed, and well-planned, interruption. “As you wish. Should you pass this law, I would be in a most favorable position, true, but that position would allow me to reward my friends; and as some of you can attest, I am always lavish in rewarding friendship.”

Several ponies nodded in agreement, already seeing the potential benefits. Not all were as amenable, however. Most vocal among these was no surprise to anypony. Rugged Peak shouted, “You tosser! You think we'd put our own interests ahead of our constituents, let alone our children? You're daft!”

Scarlet Fish held up a hoof in a stalling gesture. “Now hold on there, Captain. You've never been on the receiving end of His Grace's well, good graces, if you'll pardon the phrasing. I don't think you realize just what sort of opportunities you're throwing away out of hoof just because you don't like the string attached.”

“Shove off, Scarlet. Everypony 'ere knows that you've been in the Duke's pocket so long, he's attached a fob to your arse and uses you like a watch. If we want to know the time, we'll bloody well ask you.” Rugged Peak turned her attention back to Golden Bit and pointed her remaining wing at him. “As for you, you can take your offer and-”

She was stopped by a gnarled foreleg placed on her wing which brought it back down to her side. Gramophone slowly shook his head at her. “There's a time and place for firebrands, girl, and this is neither.” He looked to the Duke and said, “Your Grace, I find your crassness to be offensive and a black mark against your title. Your proposed law is a bad idea, and no amount of doctors or reports you buy can convince me otherwise.

“Common sense alone will tell you that an accident of birth does not necessarily make for good officer material, but even if you ignore that and only looked at the evidence, facts show otherwise. Nopony would say that Commander Easyglider was anything but an exemplary officer. Once you start limiting your pool of candidates to just those of noble birth, that pool starts looking more like a puddle. I cannot in good conscience condone this unintended attack on Equestria.” He rose from his chair, both forehooves over his cane, and looked over the assembled Ministers of Parliament. “I won't tell you all to stay away and not bargain away your souls for his favors; it's not really my place to do so. However, I believe that it's time for this old pony to go.”

He turned and started slowly walking out, and Rugged Peak turned to follow, grabbing the foreleg of the young unicorn mare next to her who had spoken up earlier against the doctors. “Come on, everypony. Let's go-” She got a few steps away, and stopped as she felt resistance from the mare in her grasp. She looked at her and said, “Public Health? What're you about, lass?”

Public Health looked at her with worry in her eyes. “Look, Peak. There's no harm in just listening to what the pony has to say. It's not the same as tacit approval. We can still walk away whenever we like; and a lot of us have projects that have been awaiting approval for decades.” She looked over the rest of the assembled Ministers and saw most of them were seriously considering the offer. She turned back to Rugged Peak with a wink and whispered to her, “Besides, we need somepony on the inside who knows what he's planning if we're going to counter it. I can swallow his rhetoric well enough to do that, while hopefully pulling some back to our side.”

Rugged Peak gave her an almost imperceptible nod and yanked her hoof away. In a loud voice, she proclaimed, “Fine. Stay. Listen to 'im. Let 'im turn your brain to mush like 'ee did Scarlet. Just be sure to collect your thirty bits.”

As she walked out, two more joined Rugged Peak, but she hardly even noticed them. Her thoughts were centered on the friend she had left behind in the manticore's den. Just don't do anything daft, you great 'arpy.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

“Hold still Twilight, or this saddle will never sit right!” Rarity exclaimed. She knew Twilight, she loved Twilight, but if she didn't put down that checklist long enough to get dressed, she was going to- “Darling, please!”

Not one to be quelled, Twilight retorted, “Rarity, I need to finish this list for Spike, or he'll forget something for his trip, and this one is super important for him. He's never been to the Celestial Realm before, and he-”

“Twi, why don't yah at least let the poor mare finish dressin' yah?” Applejack asked. “We're all feelin' a mite peaked after last night, an' we're all on edge, but-”

“Yeah, Twi. Just chill,” Rainbow Dash said from behind the cloth partition that separated Twilight from the rest of her herd as they got dressed. “The little guy will be alright. Besides, he'll be with his Mom, right?” A sharp rapping sound was heard, followed by a loud “Ow!” from Dash.

Spitfire brought a hoof to her lips and glared at the Weather Pony. “Shh!” she quietly hissed. “She's still sensitive about that!”

It was uncertain if she even heard Dash, as she had never stopped talking. “- So of course he's going to need six yards of chicken wire, a gallon of paste, and a dozen hamsters. I mean, really! How am I supposed to find all that when the pet store rarely stocks more than a couple of them at a time?

Applejack arched an eyebrow at her in confusion. “Wait, what? Hamsters? Twi, Ah really hope that was a joke.”

Twilight grabbed Applejack's head in her hooves, squishing her cheeks together. “Joke? Joke? Who has time for jokes? He's going to need a containment field and normal unicorn magic doesn't work well there without lots of time to study it, so-”

Celestia walked into the tent at that moment and came up to her student. “Twilight, breathe. In...” she inhaled deeply, motioning with a hoof in demonstration, which Twilight followed, “... and out.” She exhaled, Twilight again following her instructions. They repeated this several times until the twitching in Twilight's eye completely calmed down.

“Now, Twilight. Whatever it is that's got you so worried can't possibly be important enough to ruin your big day,” Celestia said in a soothing voice. “Where are your wives?”

“We tried to calm her down, Princess,” Trixie said from behind the curtain, “but when we started to go over there, she just got worse, saying that it would be bad luck. We're lucky she didn't put a force wall like she had threatened to do.”

Celestia looked down at the unicorn, who had the good grace to look sheepish. “Twilight, I thought you believed superstitions to be, what was the phrase you used? 'Whistling in the park'?”

“Dark,” Twilight replied morosely. “Whistling in the dark. And that was before I met Pinkie-Pie. She has a way of shattering your world-view.

The pink mare in question peered around the cloth barrier dividing the tent. “Hey, I wasn't the one who put that ladder over the litter of black kittens next to the mirror shop. Besides, I only opened that umbrella to keep the shower of salt off of us-” A sky blue hoof wrapped around her mouth and dragged her back behind the curtain.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I wanted to take no chances today, so I decided to follow them; at least for today, that is.”

Nuzzling the nervous mare, Celestia replied, “Well, just remember that most of those were based on old myths and fairy tales. They have about as much scientific grounding as a Mother Goose bedtime story.”

Twilight leaned into the embrace, taking solace in the familiar gesture. She looked up at her with one eye while remaining in the alicorn's affection, and asked, “Why did you come in here though, Princess? Is there news we need to know?”

“Yes, but it was mainly because I sensed my Faithful Student was becoming more than a little harried, and wanted to lend a hoof.”

Twilight backed away enough to look her in the eye. “What is it? Is it something that will stop the ceremony?”

The tent went deathly quiet, awaiting the Princess's reply. “No, nothing like that, My Faithful Student. Just a tidbit of unimportant news. It can wait until after the ceremony.” Mentally checking her internal clock, she nodded. “I better go practice my lines. It's been a few centuries since I was last asked to perform one of these,” she said with a warm smile.

Twilight gave her one last nuzzle before letting her go. “Alright, Princess. And thanks for... well, everything.”

On the other side of the curtain, Spitfire, Trixie, and Cheerilee gave each other worried glances. “How is it that she always is able to get to her, when all three of us can't?” Trixie angrily hissed at them.

“Don't forget that the Princess has been with her since she was five,” Spitfire said. The look in her eyes told them just how unconvinced she was with her argument.

Trixie arched an eyebrow at her. “If that's the case, then why do you look so worried?”

“Because she's just as worried as you and I are about keeping her happy,” Cheerilee said, causing all three of them to frown.

“Not to mention how... touchy they are with each other,” added Trixie. “I don't think we have to worry about the Princess stealing her from us, but aren't you two just a little bit... jealous?”

Both of them looked away, unable to meet her gaze nor refute her question. Pinkie-Pie popped up and gathered all three of them in a tight hug. “You silly fillies. What the three of you share with Twilight is something the Princess can never have, just like what she has you can never possess. That doesn't mean that Twilight loves her more than you; just differently.”

Cheerilee sighed. “I know that up here,” she said, tapping a hoof to her head. Moving it to her chest, she added, “But here is another matter. Don't you feel a little left out when you see Dash sharing a moment from her past that includes another pony, but not you?”

“Trixie wants to be involved in all aspects of Twilight's life, not just this. She wants to consume her thoughts, just as she consumes Trixie's.” She frowned angrily at the floor and scuffed a hoof at it. “Trixie knows how foalish she sounds, but cannot help it. Twilight Sparkle, along with these two, are her entire world. She wants to know what it's like to be somepony else's entire world.”

“I have to admit,” Spitfire chimed in, “there is a certain appeal to knowing that you play so big a role in a pony's life. Unfortunately for us, the role of Princess-Mentor has already been filled.”

“That's the great part!” Pinkie said excitedly. “You get to play a whole new role! One that only the three of you can fill, and even then, there's going to be differences in how you do it! And just think how great it will be when babies come into the picture!” She rubbed Cheerilee's belly for emphasis, but stopped as she felt movement from within. Gasping, she hugged the mare tightly around the neck. “Oh, Cheerilee! I'm so happy for you! When are you due?”

Cheerilee looked at her fearfully. “Pinkie, please! You've got to keep this secret! If the education board found out I got pregnant before I got married, let alone by a mare, there would be so much trouble. Promise me, Pinkie- no Pinkie Promise me you won't tell anypony about this until we say it's okay!”

Smiling, the party pony made the motions as she uttered the infamous words. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Don't worry, Cheerilee. I won't tell a soul about this.”

“About what, Pinks?”

Rainbow Dash flew back into the tent holding the reins that would soon be attached to their bridles. Pinkie playfully waved a hoof at the pegasus hovering above her. “Not gonna tell! Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise! Not even Pinkie!”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Onyx put the final few cards back into the long, narrow drawer, and sighed. He looked over to Nyx, who was reading a book in a beam of sunlight that streamed in through the window behind her. Though many would call her countenance “stoney”, he knew her better than that. A few millennia with a being will do that. “You sure you don't want to go? There's still time if you teleport, you know.”

The sphinx remained silent as she turned a page, not bothering to look up from her reading. Onyx sighed again and turned to the next pile of cards that Kat had made for him while she restored and repaired the shelves in the library. Naturally, he was quite surprised when Nyx's voice cut through the silence. “Would you want to go, if you were in my position?”

He considered for a moment, then conceded the argument. “I suppose not.” He shuffled around some more cards, putting them in order according to Nyx's arcane method of sorting. He could almost swear he thought he heard an echo of crying somewhere in the library, but Nyx's face was dry.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Twilight waited at the altar with her brother, Shining Armor and Cadance on her side, while Berry Punch, Soarin', Freaky McFreakerson, and Twilight's friends filled out the bridesmaids positions. She was resplendent in her heirloom wedding dress, while the rest of the wedding party wore dresses similar in style to hers; except for Shining, who wore his best, old military uniform. Her short veil ended just above her muzzle, and the live golden finch Fluttershy had coaxed into nesting on it brought a playful bit of color to it.

Celestia and Luna stood behind the pulpit, smiling serenely enjoying the light music as they all waited for the brides. Octavia's group suddenly ended their song with a quick segue tune, and the orchard went silent. A moment later, they began playing the noble strains of Clerk's Trumpet Voluntary. A small, very familiar gray unicorn filly walked out, scattering flower petals from her basket by shaking her head from side to side. She reached the pulpit, but Dinky still had some left, so she upended it, letting them pile up at the steps before walking off to sit with her family.

A moment later, three mares walked out side-by-side wearing dresses similar to Twilight's, but with differing accent colors. Veils covered their faces as well, but they supported each other with a gentle nuzzle, to make sure they followed the right path. Sunlight filtered through the clouds just then, shining a beam down on to them, that made it seem as if they descended from the heavens. All three moved with a well-practiced pace that let them end their walk just as the music finished.

Celestia cleared her throat and loudly proclaimed, “My little ponies. We have gathered today to witness the herding union of Countess Twilight Sparkle with the Baronesses Spitfire, Cheerilee, and Trixie née Lulamoon.” She smiled as she reached the next line, her personal favorite of the traditional herding ceremony, especially considering the circumstances. “Should any pony here have any cause, just or not, why these ponies may not herd together, let him hold his peace, as the time for that has long since passed.”

Luna looked to Twilight and asked in her most serious tone, “Countess Twilight Sparkle. Dost thou pledge thy life, thy love, and thy soul to the protection, the prosperity, and the continuance of your herd for as long as you all shall live?”

Twilight solemnly bowed her head and smiled, all traces of fear and nervousness gone from her face. “I do so pledge.”

Turning to the other mares, Luna said, “And do you, Baroness Spitfire, Baroness Cheerilee, and Baroness Trixie née Lulamoon pledge thy lives, thy love, and thy souls to the protection, the prosperity, and the continuance of your herd for as long as you all shall live?”

“I do so pledge,” they simultaneously said around the bits in their mouths, as they too bowed their heads.

Celestia nodded to Shining armor. “The reins, please.” Levitating the red, velvet pillow from Spike's grasp, he moved the cushion holding the leads over to his sister. Celestia's horn lit up to lift the veils of all four ponies as Twilight lifted the reins in her own magic. She solemnly looped the reins through their bits and back to her own, which she took into her mouth.

As this was done, Celestia said, “By the powers vested in us by the cosmos, we join thee in the most holy of sacraments.”

Luna came in with the next line. “What these ponies form today, let no being rend asunder.”

Together, the two alicorns crossed horns and mingled their magical fields. The combined fields enveloped the reins and bits, permanently bonding them. The four mares turned to the audience gathered under the pergola and smiled widely. The diarchs said together, “We are proud to present to you, the Sparkle herd!”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Plain Sight watched Twilight dancing with her herdwives in the Apple family barn with a carefully neutral expression. Even though she didn't turn to acknowledge her, she said, “Stay out of sight, Limnear. A griffon at the reception would draw too much attention.”

Poking her head out from behind a curtain, she smirked at the mare. “Like your sour expression isn't out of place here. I'd have to say that you've actually improved over the years, my dear. There's no way you would have known I was here five years ago.”

“Are you here to report something?” Plain Sight asked tersely.

“Only my undying affection,” the griffoness quipped. “Well, that and my apology for the other day.”

The earth pony shook her head. “I already told you the first twenty-three times, you have nothing to apologize for. I should never have let the situation get that far.”

Limnear sighed. “I was hoping that an even two dozen times would be the charm. But I'll keep saying it until it sticks.”

Keeping her eyes on the scene in front of her rather than the griffon behind her, she stonily replied, “Return to your post. This should be over within the hour.”

Limnear silently left, unable to see the tear working it's way down Plain Sight's cheek.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(")(")

Grumbling deep in his throat, Cunning Eye answered the door to the house he had appropriated as his own for the duration of the occupation with far more vigor than was strictly necessary. "What? It's six! Some of us are trying to sleep!"

A young griffon saluted smartly, nearly knocking his helmet askew. "Sir! Movement from the front! Corporal Strongarm's forces have been engaged by the ponies, and are being pushed back. He reports that some sort of machine using the tracks has broken through the barricades erected. He was setting charges to blow the tracks before retreating into the forest to await reinforcements." He noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye coming from further in the house, but kept his attention on his superior officer.

Cunning Eye growled and slammed a fist into the door frame, shattering it and part of the wall. "Tirek take that fool's eyes! I told him not to touch those tracks, no matter what! Rouse one of the griffon scouts and have him take a message to that idiot to hold his position and not blow the tracks. If I find so much as one rail out of alignment, he'll be replacing it with his own body!" The griffon saluted again and ran off. Cunning Eye turned to the darkened interior and said, "Stay here, my dear. I'll be sure to fetch you should we need to pull back. If I find you've wandered off without me..." He let the threat hang unsaid, and left the door hanging open, since it would no longer close with the damage.

Almost five minutes passed until the door was opened again, this time by the griffon who had reported earlier. He poked his head in and looked around. Seeing nothing, he moved inward and whispered, "Evening Falls? Are you still in here?" A whimper from further in guided him towards the bedroom, where he found the mare on the bed, her rear end up in the air and her forelegs covering her face. Bruises and cuts covered her pale yellow coat, and her rose mane and tail were in complete disarray, testifying to the abuses she had been suffering. Light curse me, I should have done this long ago. She shivered and gave a small yelp of fear as the griffon laid a claw on her foreleg. "Evening Falls? I'm here to get you to safety. I'll fly you to Trottingham, but we need to leave now, before Cunning Eye discovers my lie."

Evening Falls seemed glued to her spot, so the griffon said, "Sorry, Miss, but I have to get you out of here. I can't stand to see that monster torture you any more, so please pardon my claws." Using her raised rear end to his advantage, the griffon crawled under her until her whole body was splayed over his back with her legs going around his wings. The mare had gone so still, even her shivering stopped, making his task that much easier. The two snuck out of the house, sticking to the shadows between the houses until they reached the edge of the tiny town. The griffon looked around, and seeing no one, took to the skies.

The mare shrieked as they left the ground and started flailing around, almost falling until the griffon grabbed her forelegs. "Would you please shut up? If someone hears us, our escape will be over before it's even begun!"

"It already has, Auric!"

Craning his head back, Auric spotted three familiar griffons now on his tail feathers. He gave a laugh as he continued to pump his wings. "Oh, it's only you and your bookends, Agni. I was worried he might have sent somebird competent."

All of them gained speed and altitude so that when the rising sun peeked over the horizon, they could all see the ocean straight ahead, but Auric was slowly widening the distance. Agni and his two compatriots could see that they were losing him, so he nodded to them and all three pulled out crossbows. Loading bolts with blunted heads, they took aim and fired. All three went wide, aleting Auric and Evening Falls to the danger. While the mare started screaming again, Auric started weaving, hoping to outmaneuver their aim, but with a full grown mare on his back, agility wasn't exactly his strong suit.

Agni saw his target looking desperately to the skies and gave a loud squawk of laughter. "No clouds for you to hide in out here, Auric! Make sure to say hello to Catrina for us!" They loosed another volley of bolts, this time, one striking Auric along the temple, knocking him unconscious.

As they fell, Evening Falls screamed, refusing to let go her rescuer, and the pursuing griffons laughed. They continued to laugh until they spotted an airship heading their direction from Equestria; whereupon, they turned tail and fled.

Author's Notes:

I promised myself I wouldn't do it. You had to go and do it, didn't you? Damn you Muse. Damn you to Pony Hell. I apologize for the lightness of the chapter. My muse apparently went on vacation, leaving her understudy in charge of the inspiration. Let me tell you, good is not good enough. Luckily she came back in time for me to put out this, so the week's not a total loss.

The usual disclaimers go here. I own the arrangement of the words, Buried Lead, Plain Sight, News Flash, Golden Bit, Rugged Peak, Gramophone, Public Health, Scarlet Fish, Onyx, Nyx, Kat, and finally, Limnear. All else belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.