Gyphons

>You wake up with blurry after images of the bar you went to last night.
>The Prancing Pony, you bet it was a low ball attempt at catering to college basement dwellers who had nothing better to do with their income.
>So you fit right in.
>Though you thought it was also a cosplay bar with that one guy in the hoodie and walking stick.
>Was smoking some weird pipe and then someone bought a round for everyone at the bar.
>Drank it figuring might as well not waste someone's generosity.
>Then...things got blurry.
>"Oi, get yer horn in gear boyo."
>Feeling a stick prod your side you give a groan when the prodding becomes a painful poke.
>"Git ya sleaze ball!"
"Fack off..."
>The splash of cold water was not appreciated.
>Nor was it when you flailed about trying to get up only to fall into mud.
>You simmered there for a moment before sweeping up in a hay maker only to fall again, on your face.
>Fcuking.
>Poked again you swipe at the offending bit before hearing a curious mix of laughter and chirping.
>Pulling your head up you look to see...is that what happens when a bird and lion fuck?
>Wait...
>It looks famlier.
>Talons reach under your arms and hoist you up.
>"Right then, up ya git loafer."
"What the fuck is going on?"
>Checking your arms you pale realizing that shit has gotten into the FUBAR situation.
>You have horse legs, you have hooves, you have a bushy tail that gleams with teh speckled mud in it.
>You are a horse.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!"
>The outburst you made is stared at and commented on by a few of the other horses, catbirds, was that a unicorn?
>The fucking wat.
>"Oi shut yer gob loafer, you've got work ta do now."
"What are you, hey!"
>A shovel is shoved into your arms- hooves?
>"Use dat pretty horn of yer's fer something and follow me to the dig, we've got plenty of work fer ya."
"But I d- what magic? I'm human!"
>"Not now yer not." The griffon fucker says before grabbing you by the scruff of the neck.
>"Now let's move it!"
"Shit, hang on I c-huh?"
>After stumbling out after the bird you had tried to throw out a hand to hold yourself up, or grab the shovel before it fell out of your grip, anything from tasting the mud again.
>"Well I'll be damned, looks like you just might survive out here Loafer."
>With a grunt you slowly lower both your hooves down to stand shakily still staring at the hand imprint as the mud and water starts to slowly wash it away the amber glow about it disappearing as well.
"B-but that doe- how?"
>"Yer a unicorn what else, now git movin' the baron and baroness want this place runnin' quick as a whip. Don't think we won't bring em out either."
"Haha...funny whipping people..."
>Seeing the beak scowl in an even fiercer look you pale.
"You're serious?!"
>"Only if the workers don't want to work."
"That's barbaric!"
>The griffon shrugs before pushing you towards the long line of other quadrupeds.
>"That's life and then you die, get over yourself Loafer."
"Quit calling me that I have a name you know."
>"Oh yeah, well what is it then."
>You start to answer her ready to shove it in her face when you pause, then start to panick.
>Why.
>Why can't you remember your name?!
>Kathleen, Jason, Grams, Shayla!
>Mother, brother, grandmother, sister-in-law.
>You can remember them all clearly, but, but your name!
>A whack to the head brings you out of your panick.
>The griffon looks down at you as rain starts to drip down over heavy storm clouds, a somber expression on her face, "I am sorry, but you probably won't remember your name, lot's of others rename themselves, usually they change after being made fun of, but they move on. You should too."
>Panting you stare at the catbird incredulously, does she not know what it means to loose your own damn name?!

>The griffon starts to say something more before a whistle is heard from the line of ponies.
>"Look just think about it for now, in the meantime let's hurry up. Yer in luck meal time just started."
>Seeing the griffon hold out a hand- talon, to you, you grit your teeth and mutter back
"Why are you even helping me?"
>A pained expression crosses the griffons face and it lowers the talon.
>"Because I've been where you've been, lost, scared, unsure of what's even going on. Just give it some time, and don't be a dick eh?"
>Leaning down to eye level the griffon's tail you notice twitches from side to side like a cat about to pounce.
>"Now how about that meal time eh?"

>Stumbling and leaning on the griffon you follow along until you reach what could be generously called a cafeteria.
>If a cafeteria was mud for floors, picnic tables for tables and a huge banquet table where cooks slop food onto metal tins for their customers.
>"Git yer slop 'ere! Git yer slop!" Cries out one of the cafeteria workers banging a metal tin with a spoon.
>Ponies, griffons and all other races quickly make tracks towards the line as they grab plates and move along.
>The griffon, you really should ask her name, pulls you along towards the back of the line.
"Is the line always so long?"
>"Used to be worse before they relocated a few settlers a few months back."
"What do you mean relocated?"
>"Don't know, guards started rounding people up, usually keeping families together before carting them off in the carts you arrived in."
"Well don't I feel special."
>"Might want to lower the sass, had a few shit posters earlier talk about some of the guards like that, they got lucky when their captain came by."
"What like beatings?"
>"The soldier's here are trained in how to fight, not to mention they can actually move without acting like a five year old toddler."
>You frown at her at the comment.
"Hey."

>"Call it like I see it, now use your magic to hold the tin."
>The griffon holds out the metal plate expectantly watching you.
>You stare at it then slowly look up at it.
"How? What I did back there was a fluke."
>"Wasn't a fluke, you best hurry before we get there or else you won't be strong enough for some of the harder luck. Trust me on this."
>This fucking...
>Sighing you nod before looking at the plate.
>Concentrating every single iota of your brain power towards lifting that plate.
>Come on.
>LIFT
>LIFTDAMNYOU!
>"Snrk..."
>You snap your eyes up to look at griffon whose holding his? beak close.
"Shut up."
>You move to grab the plate only for him to bop you on the head.
"OW! Hey what was that for."
>"Cuz you looked like you were two cents shy from shitting yourself that's why. Now just /reach/ for the damn tin."
>Aggrivated with this cat you just grab the tin from his talons and ho-
>Staring at the amber colored magic as it floats the tin you simply stare at how easy that was.
"Wha- shouldn't this be hard?"
>"Wait for it."
>Wait for wh-ngh...
>Like a sputtering balloon the amber light begins to fade and feel a dull ache in your forehead.
>The light returns, but looks fainter before disappearing all together to be caught by a talon.
>"Easy there champ, now you know."
"Know what, ow aside from the aching headache..."
>"That you can use magic, and you need to build it up like a muscle." Offering the tin back to you the griffon grins. "And now you need to work for it!"
"Great, I have a cheerleader in the form of a catbird."
>"Griffon."
"Same thing."
>"Just take the tin in your mouth unless you want mud in your food."
>Grumbling you grab the tin from her talon and wait in line.
>Though the line is long, the wait is mercifully short, helps when all your serving is either biscuits and gravy or oatmeal.
>It's hard to tell, when overly plump mare drops a scoopful of the stuff on your plate.
>"Enjoy sweetum's it was made with a 'special' sauce!"
>Godwhy.png

>Before you can drop the plate the plump mare is booped on the head by griffon.
>"Grezel! No bad! Stop scaring the new meat, take that /b/ tier shit and fuck off or else I'll have you cleaning this shift's dishes!"
>Grezel huffs putting a hoof on a hip, "Please I'm already doing that, don't spoil my fun."
>The griffon a blue bird looking number merely narrows her eyes, "Without the dishwasher."
>Grezel quickly looses her confidence as she whips back to look at the griffon. "You wouldn't!"
>"Try me."
>The stand down is strong with Grezel as she breaks away to get back to work.
>You meanwhile set the plate down on the table
"So no /special/ sauce then?"
>"No idiot, now keep moving."
>Your 'guide' quickly pushes you after that comment leading you to one of the few empty picnic tables.
>"Seriously you're from 4chan, how can you be so gullible?"
"Hey it never hurts to check again."
>Rolling his eyes the griffon looks down at his meal and grimaces before using a talon to pierce one of the soggy bread bits.
>Scarffing it down with a head bobbing motion you watch as a smile starts to cross your face.
>"What? Did I get something on my face?"
"Nah, it's nothing."
>Changing the subject you look around seeing ponies of all creed and breed.
"So, what happened, forgive me if I'm not all that clear on the details, but how'd you know about 4chan? Or even the stuff from before? If I didn't know better I'd say this was..."
>"Equestria," The griffon spears another chunk of bread, "Well part of the world Equestria lives on."
"What do you mean?"
>"Most everyone showed up around the world, some as far north as the crystal empire, supposedly. All I know is that the ones that showed up in Gyphonia got take out of the country by the local nobility and put under the authority of a bunch of different nobles."
"So, what we're just peasants?"
>"You going to eat that?"
>Looking down at the plate you notice one of the biscuits is already gone and in the maw of your guide. "What?"

>Holding you plate close you lower your head guarding your plate.
"Didn't say I wasn't going to eat it."
>"Sure about that, you seemed pretty grossed out about the special sauce."
>Frowning at the griffon you look down and take a bite of the gravy coated biscuit.
>Fucking jew birds didn't even give you a fork to eat it with.
>Course how you do that with hooves...
>Wait!
>Chewing down the bite you focus on the soggy bread reaching with your 'hand'.
>A trickle of amber starts to surround the soggy bread and you think you start to get i-
>Byoing! Byoing! Byoing!
>Ow fuck god why?!
>"Stop that, you'll burn yourself out before you get anywhere."
"The fuck was that about?"
>The griffon merely ignores you and begins to clean his plate off with his tongue.
>Disgust.png
>Seeing you not eating the bird reaches out in a fake swipe at your plate.
>You get the message and get to brass tacks.
>Bending down you munch on the biscuit and quickly swallow it.
>Despite starting later you manage to finish before your guide.
>"You've got some on you're...everything.
>Wiping at your face with a foreleg you lean close to the griffon putting on as much seriousness as you can in your tone.
"What did you mean by burn out?"

>The griffon opens his mouth to answer only to be cut off by another whistle.
>"Look let's just put it as a VERY bad thing to do unless you're going to die other wise, alright?"
>Standing up with his plate then your own he starts to walk towards the collection bin.
>God damn it all...
"Hey wait up!"
>Following after the griffon you pant knee's wobbly as you hold on to the shovel as a crutch.
"What's your name anyway?"
>The griffon gives a little huff under her breath looking back at you, "Bri."
"That your real name o-"
>The sharp look that question shuts you up.
"Right then, what'd that whistle mean?"
>"Mean's it's time for everyone to get back to work. So come on."\

>Falling in line with the line of humanity, or would it be ponanity, no that's retarded, you soon see a lake that spans the horizon.
>Reminds you of a great lake to be honest, though you've never seen one in person.
>Seriously though this thing is hu-
>"Move your ass!"
>Some one shoves you in the butt pushing you forwards into Bri.
>"Easy there Champ, welcome to the Town."
>Stretching around the natural harbor of the lake you can make out the burned out husks of houses, businesses and even a few multistoired buildings.
>Near the center of town you can make out a patch worked town center where a large contingent of griffons can be seen.
"Whose that?"
>Bri squints at the distance and grunts, "Part of the prince's guard, don't get near them if you don't want to be beat."
"Not a very friendly bunch are they?"
>"Well considering that some /b/astard thought it would be funny to be edgy fucks and try to hold the prince hostage for money, the guards didn't appreciate it."
>You stare at Bri for a moment as you walk.
"Someone tried to do that? What were they retarded?"
>"It was someone from /b/, what do you expect?"
>Shrugging you adjust the shovel under your arm.
"I don't know, maybe some one crying out muh waifu and then crying in their own tears?"
>"If only..."
>The people around you start to divide up into different groups, some of the foundations that lay in stone have the skeletons of buildings being worked on by a crowd of earth ponies.
>Unicorn's levitate up tool boxes while pegasi and griffons alike start to hammer in nails.
"Where are we supposed to go?"
>Bri nods ahead towards a podium you hadn't noticed, it was just a couple of boxes next to a pile of supplies, "Talk with an overseer and get an assignment, you work you get food, you don't you get the whip."
"How often has that happened?"
>"Only once or twice, usually when someone tries to steal the supplies."
"Don't people just try to run?! This, this isn't right."

>"They could, they have the choice to, but the thing is, not many come back."
"Well duh, why come back when you can try to make it on your own?"
>Bri hums non-commentedly at you before you both stop before a stooped and aged griffon with a monocle and a red capped hat.
>Shaking with rummy eyes the griffon overseer squint's down and mumbles under his breath.
>"Let's see...one flyer and one magic head, take the green tool box and head to plot D-24. They uncovered a few wrecked ships on the shore, plenty of salvage to use. Hail Gyphonia."
>"Hail Gyphonia..." Bri half heartedly says in reply before nudging you in the side.
"What?"
>"Ahem."
>Turning you get an in depth view of the wrinkled rummy eye of the old bird.
>Jumping back in surprise the old bird cranes his head left and right, "What was that sonny, didn't sound like you gave praise to our great country."
"Wha- O-oh, Hail Gyphonia..."
>"Hmph, this is why Donald Duck will make our country great again, lousy illegals..."
>"Thank you Overseer," Bri says brightly before grabbing the tool box and nips you in the ear. "Come /on/!"
"Ow! Alright, abusive freakin..."
>"Look just grin and bear with it alright? If you don't things get worse for you."
"Like how?"
>"Less food, crap for sleeping space, not enough blankets to keep warm things like that, under the treaty they can't outright /kill/ you, but it never said anything about hurting you."
"Who the hell came up with a naive idea like that?"
>"Who do you think? The ponies did, Princess Fucking Sparkle strikes again."
"Wh-what? But she's too smart to do som-"
>Memories of the yak episode come to mind.
"...Well fuck."
>"A naive little princess hoping to do well for her mentor in international diplomacy sounds alot like a shitty deal for the rest of us."
"She couldn't have know th-"
>"Just let it go, it's done and we can't do much now come on, the dock's are this way."

>Following after Bri you find that the workers are guarded by griffons in armor, though it consists mainly of short swords, leather armor and maybe a few pieces of chain mail.
>What draws your eye however is that everyone is working without much of a fuss...
"I thought you said that everyone gets whipped if they don't work?"
>Bri trills out a note, "Yes, but as long as your working the guard's don't care."
>Looking to where you are staring Bri points out an elderly pony pulling a cart.
>"That guy is still working, he's moving as slow as a snail in the desert but he's still working."
"So...the guard's don't /want/ to hurt us?"
>"Not unless you want to cause trouble and bring the attention of the nobles down on us."
>The hill slopes down towards the lake and you can start to make out burnt out husks of warehouses and docks.
>Ahead you can see a few work gangs already cutting down the wood and hauling the debris off.
>"D-24, d-24..." Bri mutters to herself eyes following the wooden posts along the harbor, "There it is, come on."
>You look and watch as Bri spreads her wings before hopping up on a pole to glide down to a small ship that is keeled over and on it's side.
>It might be a schooner?
>FUck if you know the techinical terms, you do however see a pegasus shouting orders to the workers.
>Light blue coat and a vibrant yellow mane the mare continues, "Bring down the mast first, we're going to need to replace that!"
>Noticing you and Bri the pegasus raises an eyebrow, "You my new workers? Good, you bird brain go with the other fliers to get the remains of the sail, could use that for all sorts of things."
>Bri gives a nod before taking off towards the mast where a ?Murder? of griffons continue to work.
>"As for you horn boy, you're going to help by taking that shovel of yours and tapping along the hull, find any weak spots in it and mark them with this chalk."
"Wait you want me to go inside that wreck?"
>The pegasus scoffs, "Yeah, what are you chicken?"

"No I-"
>"Then you'll just get in there and find any spots that are ruined, now hop too!"
>Chalk shoved into your mouth you can only stare at the pegasus before she turns to talk with someone else.
>Grumbling you gingerly hold the chalk away from your teeth, don't want that shit in your mouth.
>Using your 'hand' you use the amber magic to hold it up.
>Huh, it's not as bad as before, might have something to do with the weight...
>Looking about you do notice a few guards nearby, why are there so many soldiers around to begin with?!
>Shaking your head you move past those thoughts and try to figure out how to get into the small slope.
>There's the hole under the water line that would be good, but you'd need to climb up to get to the hole.
>There's also the deck which is closer to the ground, but some of the doors might have swollen shut as well.
>Decisions, decisions...
>The ship gives a mournful creak in the wind as the sprinkling rain add onto the spooky effect.
>Decks it is!
>Going around you avoid the fliers as they work and start to climb up the deck towards the door leading down.
>There's not that many nonfliers here... wonder why that is?
>The door is in sight and you try the knob, it turns amazingly enough but doesn't open the door.
>You shove it a few times, it gives a couple of centimeters.
>The wood must have swollen or something.
>Only one thing to do!
>Throwing your body against the door you hear it rumble, but it stands strong.
>Again and you can spot a crack in the door.
>One more time and you fall in.
"Fuck!"
>Straight past the steps and into a wall that creaks alarmingly.
>Winded you hold your side at the pain and try to get your breath back.
>From the meager light from outside you can see that your in the mainhall way, there are tw- no three hallways that leads off into the darkness.
>Can't s- wait.
>Focusing on your 'hand' again you start to see everything in a amber tint.
>Hah! I cast magic missle at the darkness!

>Nearby in the glow you can see the chalk you had dropped.
>Scooping it up you look around for your shovel as well.
>Shit must have fallen down deeper...
>Peeking over the edge you look and see a small glint of something shiny.
>Might be your shovel or could be something worth while!
>though that's a pretty steep drop...
>Looking back down the hallway you can see that you can walk down the wall towards the end of the ship, might be where the captain resided.
>You look back over the edge again and try to reach with your 'hand' to grab the shiny.
>A faint glow starts to emerge in the dark and you can see your shovel outlined!
>You can feel something stretch in your head, stretched so far it's near painful...
>Leaning your head down lower to the shovel you strain as far as you can, before getting a decent idea of the grip and yank your head back!
>Tumbling onto your back you let out an explosive gasp as something lands on your stomach.
>Looking down you see your shovel looking innocently up at you.
"Fucking tools..."
>Standing up you start to walk down to the captain's area tapping on the wall as you go.
>A few spots sink in with the metal spade and are given a wide berth and a chalk mark.
>When you come across the moss covered door you sigh before turning around and kicking at it.
>It squeals under the pressure.
>You give it another kick which sends it flopping backwards with a slam.
>Nodding happily you turn back and start to climb in, using the door as a ramp.
>Everything that wasn't bolted to the ground is piled up towards the side of the ship.
>Including...is that a corpse!?
"Oh shit that's metal..."
>Carefully climbing down to the pile of junk you land with a huff atop of some molded over books coughing from the dust released.
>Creeping closer you squint down and look to see the remains of a foppishly dressed griffon, he looks to be dead for years!
"Well, sucks to be you mate, thanks for the ship though."


>Scrounging around the pile of things you grin as you find a felt sack.
>Hearing the clink of stones you quickly open it to find a trio of rubies within!
>Fairly good size ones at that!
>Just as you finish tying the sack close and loping it around your head you freeze.
>A clatter sounds in the cabin making you look back to the corpse.
>Come on there isn't any wa-
>It's gone.
>Where the f-
>"Return the rubies...."
>Jumping in fright you see movement out of the corner of your eye when a line of pain laces across your stomach.
"Fuck!"
>Falling back on your side you scrabble back as the clinking and clanking of bones come into your light.
>The grinning skull of the captain leers at you from the shadows!
>"Return me rubies, boy..."
"Piss off the dead don't need it!"
>You grab your shovel that had fallen beside you and swing at the creature.
>A loud pop echoes in the cabin as you send the skull flying off the skeleton's head and it bounces off the wall with a muttered curse.
>"You'll pay for that boy! Oi headless! Gut him!"
>The body of the captain moves to swing it's cutlass at you but trips over the surrounding debris letting you get a chance to get up!
>Taking that chance you quickly scurry after the skull.
>Body without a head can't work right?
>Tucked under an overturned oak table you find the skull and grin savagely at him.
"Try and gut me, eh? How about I crush your skull!"
>Reaching over you grab the skull and roll it out ready to be smashed by your shovel.
>"Oi now, let's be reasonable laddie, ain't no reason to go crushing upstanding citizens like meself."
"You're a pirate."
>"I take offense to that! I'm a privateer!"
"A legal pirate, good bye!"
>With a wild swing of your shovel you bring it down on the skeleton's head just in time as you feel a lash on your back.
>Crying out you fall forward on your face to look back at the now inert form of the privateer.
>Must have struck you in the back while you were getting it's head.
"Christ..."

>Not even a day in and you're almost dead.
>How the hell are you going to survive out here?
>Wincing as you get up you take stock of your wounds, two of them then give a small grin at your sack that dangles from the twine cord around your neck.
>Least your three rubies richer now.
>"Oi! Loafer you alright in there?"
>Looking up you squint at the daylight that leaks in from the door outside.
"Yeah, I fell down the hallway here. Is that you Bri?"
>"Who else would check on your lazy ass?"
"Well fuck you too bitch."
>"Keep being rude and I'll just let you stay down there for a bit to learn some manners!"
>You keep silent for a minute debating on being an ass and having to climb all the way back up to the doorway or swallowing your pride.
"Oh great and glourious bird of cats would you lend me aid?"
>"Great you've bumped your head as well, just my luck."
"Look I just need to make the jump to the stairs to get out, did you and your murder get done already?"
>You watch as Bri looks back outside, "More or less, how's the hull?"
"Do I look like a ship master? I don't know, I only managed to mark the hallway for rot, I don't know if it's going to be useable or not!"
>"Bitch bitch bitch, is that all you can do?"
>Clambering up onto the hallway you jerk your head back towards the cabin.
"Well I also found some sweet digs in the cabin, but I call salvage rights on it."
>"Good luck getting that to fly, everything is being used to repay the debt we owe."
>As you walk back you carry your shovel normally as your head starts to ache again.
"What debt? I don't owe anyone anything!"
>"Uh duh, the debt that the empire is using to fund this little colony, that one? Jeez how drunk where you when you started?"
"I literally woke up in the mud, you tell me."
>Bri brings a talon up to her face and sighes pinching her beak, "Of course I get stuck with the idiot..."
"Hey I resent that comment!"
>"You should! Now do you need help or not?"
"...I could use some help getting lower..."

>Bri rolls her eyes before she grabs you and beats her wings slowly lowering the both of you down the hall until your hooves settle atop of the outer hull.
>At least judging from the seeping mud that is coming through the port hole there is any judge.
"Thanks."
>"Don't mention it, now you wanna explain why you're bleeding?"
"Wh- Oh this? Uh, I got it from falling down a bit, that was what the big shuffle was all about."
>Bri stares at you for a few moments before eyeing your back, "Looks awfully ragged for a few scratches."
"Hey sharp corroded metal will do that to ya."
>"Sure...Now let's get this finished, after that we'll be reporting back to Zephyr and seeing if this thing is useable or not."
"Are you kidding me? This whole thing is a junk heap!"
>"Better than having to increase the debt by buying a used one."
>The sheer naivety in that sentence makes you want to strangle this bird.
"That doesn't it's /still/ going to increase the debt to fix this anyway!"
>"Eh, not as much then we'll have a ship to use for trade!"
"Trade for what, we've literally nothing to trade."
>Walking down the hull you tap your shovel on the floor.
>"That's some negative talk if I ever heard some, try thinking in the future."
"Yeah hopefully far from here."
>A spot sinks under your shovel and you quickly mark it down with the chalk.
>"Do you always bring such hopefulness to the party or is that just extra?"
"Gee I don't know maybe I should be all sunshine and rainbows about being ripped from my home, I was actually doing well for myself!"
>Bri levels a look at you and you feel the need to defend yourself.
"Hey I was making bank and living well enough alone, but damn it I was making my way through life!"
>"Well the card's been dealt and you got a shitty hand."
>Waving a five fingered talon Bri gives a smile, "At least I kept mine."
>With your own 'hand' you reach over and hit Bri in the head.
"So did I!"
>Feeling woozy you kneel down to catch your breath.

>"Hey, are you alright?"
>Shaking your head you nod standing up with some help.
"Yeah, think I used too much magic...weird huh?"
>"Dumbass you're going to wind burning yourself if you do that."
>Walking again you start to reach the end of the boat.
"You mentioned that term again, burn out, what do you mean?"
>Bri flinches and looks away, "Look, I'm telling you this only one time; you can keep using magic, but it costs you. Some people around here didn't think the cost wasn't worth it. They wind up loosing their magic and falling into a coma. The few doctors that know about unicorns say it's a healing trance unicorns can do when they use too much magic, but thing is depending on how much you use, you might be under for years."
"Damn...That's pretty heavy."
>"Yeah, though a few can even die, but they can pull off some amazing tricks with it when they do."
"Like what?"
>"Well there was a moment when the sun and moon switched spots..."
>You stare at the griffon mouth slack jawed.
>Bri grimaces, "Yeah, same guy died shortly after that from the shock."
"Daaaamn."
>Finishing with marking down the soft spots in the hull you find it riddled with weak points.
"Think we're done here now, let's head back and tell, what was it Zephyr?"
>"Yeah, that's here."
"Well tell her shit's fuck senpai, only thing to do would be to haul this whole thing back up and put it in a frame to be worked over again."
>Snorting you turn tail and start to head back.
"Good luck with that we don't even have the machines to do that."
>"No we just have hard labor is all."
"Lovely..."

>>26979337
>You and Bri begin your trail back to the hall way.
>Grabbing you by the scruff of your neck Bri lifts you up near the stairs.
>"Were you always so heavy?"
"Hey, fuck off I don't have wings."
>"I /know/, god it feels like my wings are about to pop."
>Rolling your eyes you look back at her and put on a mocking tone.
"Daw, is the poor little bird too tired to finish?"
>Feathers bristle and Bri is suddenly in your face, "Hey, I can carry your heavy ass just fine, you want to go? Let's go!"
>Before you can protest Bri drags you back into the hallway and you ascend again.
>Coming to the last bit of the boat you are dropped on the wall with an alarming creak of wood.
>"Ha...ha...there, told you I could."
"Yes, yes you have a big and impressive wing span...but thanks."
>A savage grin is all your get in answer before you continue on your way knocking your shovel against the hull.
>You have to stand on your rear legs to even reach the damn thing however.
>Yet progress is made and you soon are able to finish up with this side of the boat.
"That should about do it..."
>"Good I'm getting paranoid in these enclosed spaces…”
>Chuckling you adjust the shovel in your grip using it to slowly walk back avoiding the rotten spots in the walls.
“What you claustrophobic or something?”
>”You’d be too if you were used to the air all the time.”
“Yeah I suppose so…”
>Coming to the drop off you look over at Bri and raise your hooves.
“Uppies?”
>”What are you three?”
“I’m a marshmallow horse, humor me.”
>”Whatever…”
>Grabbing you again Bri brings the both of you down to the stairs out into the, when did it get so dark?!
>”ALRIGHT! THAT’S IT FOR THE DAY! YOU LOT HEAD BACK FOR YOUR RATIONS! ALPHA AND DELTA LEADERS TO ME!” Cries Zephyr, you don’t see her, but damn does that mare have some lungs on her!

>”Nice, time to get some grub I’ve been starving since lunch.”
“You ate like half of mine!”
>Bri chirps at you before gesturing at herself, “Hey when you look this good you gotta work for it!”
“That doesn’t even…”
>Clock goes your hoof.
“I’m not going to question it, let’s just get the food.”
>”Yep!”
>Before either of you can move on however you’re stopped by another griffon, it’s just raining kentucky fried chicken around here isn’t it?
>”You’re the unicorn that checked the hull, what’s the result?”
“There’s more than twenty spots that need patched up, I’m not a ship guy so take that with some salt.”
>The bird grunts and scratches behind his ear, you think, with his rear leg, “We’ll check it out once the ship’s uprighted, Zephyr needed an update. You two are free to go, make sure to return the shovel new meat.”
>Watching as the bird takes off again you turn to look over at Bri.
“Do I really look that new?”
>Bri shrugs, “It’s a griffon thing you smell different from the rest here, same as any new batch does, don’t worry a few weeks of mud and rain water will wash that out.”
“Oh, joy.”
>”That’s the spirit, now let’s go! Food’s calling!”
>Taking off Bri sends you sprawling to the ground.
“Hey wait up you crazy ass bird!”
>Running off after here you start to grin, maybe things won’t be so terrible?

>You were wrong, things are shit around here.
>You managed to trade your shovel in and got a tent.
>A tent
>As in singular.
>”Now I know what you’re thinking, but we can totally make this work!”
>Bri is not helping carrying your meal for the night.
>Oh it’s even better, instead of getting jerky which you actually liked back home, you instead get hard biscuits and oats, not even proper granola oats, literal /oats/.
>Bri is still talking, should probably pay attention to that, “-at’s why you never go to sleep without the soap!”
“Sounds great, so any idea on /why/ I can’t eat the jerky?”
>”Well it’s mine for one.”
“Not hearing a good reason yet…”
>”Number two, ponies can’t into meat, not anything worth a meal at least.”
>Gazing longingly at the strip of jerky hanging from Bri’s mouth, you lick your watering mouth.
“Can I at least taste it some?”
>Bri sighs before bringing a strip of the meat goodness out for you to try, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
>Taking the strip you begin to munch on it and hum happily.
>Still salty, still tend- ack! Why does it burn!?
>This is worse than that time you bought off brand hyper spicy salsa from Mexico!
>Eyes watering you chew and chew before swallowing down the meat feeling it burn as it goes down.
>”Told you.”
“Oh god it /burns/!”
>Twitching in agony you feel something tap against your side.
>Turning you peer through the tears to look at a small earth mare with a violet color scheme and blue mane, holding salvation, a water skin!
>”H-Here, you l- whoa!”
>Grabbing it thankfully you drink and drink of the life giving fluids to quench the burn.
>Once it’s simmered down to a dull ache you bring the skin down and hand it back nodding with thanks.
“You are my one true love.”
>”Wh-what?!”
>A whack to the head makes you fall forward, “Ignore him he’s an idiot, what do you need kid?”
>”O-oh uh, I’m Starflower, I, well I was hoping that you m-might let me c-camp with you? I don’t know that many people here and...well some of the bigger ones make me nervous.”
“Well I don’t see the problem, what about you Bri?”
>Bri squints at the mare making her shuffle her hooves trying to look innocent, not that she has to try hard mind you, she’s has a cute innocent waif type vibe.
>”Why do you want to camp with us?”
>”W-well you both don’t look th-that scary…”
“Oh well than-”
>Waitaminute.
“Hey we can be totally scary!”
>”Girl do you even see these claws?”
>Starflower raises her hooves up in apology, “I didn’t mean it like that I meant, meant that you guys seemed nicer than the others!”
>Mollified you share a look with Bri before shrugging.
“Yeah, alright. Come on let’s get to the edge I hate the crowding on that’s going on here.”
>That decided as you just kept walking despite the other’s protest that it would be warmer near the center you eventually find your small group of three secluded inside of a burnt out husk of a house missing it’s roof but keeping three of it’s walls.
>It looks like a small one story cottage only missing most of the furnishings that makes it cozy.

>As you start to pitch tent grumbling at how hooves make everything harder th-
>You hit your face again.
>”Remembered you have magic again didn’t you?”
“Fuck off Bri.”
>”I-is this normal?”
>”Oh definitely, Loafer there is a little masochist!~”
“I will shove my shovel up your ass Bri, I swear to god…”
>Focusing on your ‘hand’ you use it to start pitching the tent properly now.
>Seeing at how Bri manages to pound the pegs down into the soft soil while you hold the props up you give a little grin.
>Releasing the magic you giggle at the squawk of outrage that comes from Bri as she emerged from the other side of the tent.
>”The hell man?!”
“Oh no my poor horn, I am famished and in ne-urk!”
>Chewing around the hardtack shoved in your mouth you glare hatefully at the griffon who chirps back at you in smug bird noises.
>”U-um Bri..please don’t choke Loafer…”
>Chewing furiously now you choke down the mushy lump of bread and shout.
“That’s not my name!”
>”O-oh, s-sorry, what is it?”
>”He doesn’t know yet, still deciding.”
>”I see…”
“Well, what kind of name is Starflower anyway?”
>”Uh...well I, when I was little I really liked Super Mario Brothers and I thought why not a Star and the f-flow- this is dumb isn’t it?”
>Daw…
>Dis mare.
“Naw it’s cute!”
>”Snrk…”
>Catching the griffon biting her claw you glare at her.
“/Right/ Bri?”
>”S-sure it is!”
>Starflower grins happily back at you both, “Th-thanks! H-hey let’s get this fire started I’m getting really ch-chilly…”
>After a fruitless five minutes of trying to start a fire with the steel and tinder given to you, you are about to lose your temper.
“FUCK YOU! STUPID WOOD! BUUUUURN!”
>Fwoosh!
>Hey look fire!
>Hey look darkness!
Thud.

>When you wake up, you hear screaming.
>Naturally you get up, only to flop over.
>Damn you’re exhausted.
>Bri and Starflower are already up craning their necks to peek out the ruined remains of a window.
>”Wh-whats going on?”
>”Don’t know, just be quiet, I think I can hear them…”
>Too tired to stand you watch Bri and Starflower who are watching something else.
>You feel like there is a joke in there somewhere, but fuck if you know it.
>”It’s a bunch of workers from the woods…” Bri mutters squinting in the dark.
>”There were cutting trees...some of them came alive? Then they ran for it.”
>”B-B-Bri…”
>”What?”
>Starflower shakily points a hoof out of the window, “A-a-are those eyes?!”
>”Shit, get down!”
>Seeing the two duck away under the wall you struggle to get up, but you’re so tired…
>Feeling the creeping dark once more crawl over you, you hear the faint sound of panicked babbling.
>”The tree picked Joey up!”
>”It was a deer I tell you! A deer!”
>”So many tendrils…”
>”It’s cursed! The whole place is cursed!”
>”Game over man, it’s game over!”
>The last thing you see is Bri and Starflower creep back into the tent.

>A blaring horn is what wakes you up.
>Jerking awake you look around in confusion hair in your eyes.
>Swiping at the bangs with a hoof you pause to stare at the appendage as the events of yesterday come to bear.
“Ah fuck, it’s real…”
>A yawn beside you makes you look over to see an adorable sight.
>Bri is curled around Starflower hugging onto her as a personal teddy bear.
>Part of Starflower’s mane is being nibbled on by Bri making you grin.
>The hunting horn sounds again through out the camp causing the duo to waken as well.
“Sleep well love birds?”
>”H-huh?” Starflower asks opening her eyes to peer at you through sleep.
>Bri is frozen as she looks around then finally at her beak, spitting it out the griffon tries to pretend nothing happened.
>”B-Bri!? When di- why is my mane wet?”
>”Nothing!”
>You can’t hold your sides any longer laughing at the duo as they frantically seperate.
“Oh god, your face! Hahah! I’m dying…”
>”I’ll show you dying!” Bri snarls running at you with her talons at the ready.
>”Bri! Don’t!” Starflower interjects throwing a pillow at Bri sending the surprised bird to fall over with a squawk.
“Wow, didn’t realize that you were a light weight Bri.”
>”Oh shut up! What is this thing filled with, rocks?!” Bri fluffs the pillow a few times as if it would reveal the secrets of the universe to her.
“Right well, what’s on the agenda today? More work at the boat?”
>”Yeah…” Bri murmurs distractedly tossing the normal pillow on the sleeping rolls watching it land with a soft pomf.
>Starflower jumps on the topic change with vigor, “W-well we best get to w-work then!”
>”Don’t you already have a site to work at?”
>”W-well no, I-I needed a new site to work on, the last one got done…”
“Awesome more help, let’s get working, we are getting breakfast first right?”
>”Yeah, it’ll be in the same spot from last time.”
>”I just hope it’s s-something better than yesterday.”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath for that.”

>Turns out that morning fare was essentially the same as before, only there was a single apple for the breakfast!
>Such sweet delicious fleshy fruit, no wonder ponies go crazy about apples!
>Bri managed to get a small hunk of cheese to go with her jerky and biscuits.
>After the first attempt you declined the offer for another bite.
>You know that first bite from last time is going to haunt you later you just know it.
>As you return to the ship you see Zephyr already shouting to the workers there.
>Timbers are brought from the town center, saws ring through the air as the wood is cut.
>”Make sure to measure twice, cut once! I won’t be wasting more timber than we need to!”
>Coming up to the mare, Zephyr turns to regard the three of you, “Oh our handy little scout, good that your here, the ship is still workable according to the griffons here so we’re going to start fixing it up. You and the bird are going to help hammer in the frame, whose that?”
>Starflower starts at the abrupt question, “Uh, um I-I’m here to h-help.”
“She got done with her site already and wanted to help us out.”
>”Hrm,” Zephyr walks around Starflower who stands still as stone unsure of what the mare is looking for, suddenly she jumps up with a yelp as Zephyr slaps her rear! “Good stock! Have her help you both, we’ll need those legs to get it into the frame, now move out!”
>Blinking at the brashness of the mare you slowly look over at Starflower whose blushing bright red.
>”M-My butt’s not b-big is it?” Starflower asks looking over her rear with shame.
>Must.
>NOT.
“Dat ass tho.”
>You fucking idiot.
>Starflower wilts at your words.
>”Loafer shut up and let’s get to work already.” Bri rolls her eyes before hugging Starflower, “It’ll be fine, now come on.”
>So begins the fun job of hammering in the wood into the wooden frame.
>Much yelling is had as ponies don’t know how to build, you sure as hell don’t, but from the overall picture you can piece together that Zephyr wants to build first one half of the frame then move the boat over into it and start to finish the frame.
>Fuck if you know if it’ll work.
>You need to be able to move the whole damn thing and since yo-
>!
“Shit!”
>Holding your hoof close Bri looks over at you holding nails in her beak.
>”Mfmgm?”
“Hit my hoof with the hammer…”
>”Y-you could use your m-magic to hold the n-nail you know.”
“Then how would I hold the hammer?”
>Bri takes the nails from her beak and quirks an eyebrow, “Can’t you use both?”
“You can do that?!’
>”Dear lord, you’re an idiot.”
“Hey now, let’s not be mean I thought it could only work one at a time!”
>Starflower sets down the tool box and looks between the nails and hammer, “Can’t you just imagine it or something?”
“I don’t have a clue, lemme…”
>Focusing on the nail and hammer you try to imagine two hands to reach out for the tools.
>The hammer illuminates up readily enough with a normal hefty weight, the nail however flickers and perks up then falls over.
“Shit.”
>Squinting harder at the nail you lift the nail into the air only to hear a thunk of the hammer.
>Okay, maybe…
>It’s like looking cross eyed as you give both items your attention.
>However the amber colored magic slowly wraps around the two and lift up into the air!
>Giving a happy cry you set the nail and bring the hammer down.
>Tink!
>For fucks sakes, so you don’t have as much strength if you don’t focus entirely on it…
>Nearby you look to see Bri and Starflower watching with 3D glasses intently at your antics.
>”The visuals are amazing”
>”It’s a-almost like it’s real!”
>Grumbling you just turn and slam the hammer down after letting the nail go at the last moment.
>Pulling it away you grin at the small round head that peaks out of the wood.
“Ha! I can too be useful!”
>A hooful of nails is thrusted in your face, “Neat, h-here’s more!”
>Looking around the hoof you level a deadpan glare at Starflower.
>Seeing her smile with a squee you just sigh and take the nails in your magical grip.

>The work continues as the day passses, what you notice is that there looks to be a tide as water continues to draw ever closer to the ship.
>Zephyr encourages and cajoles the ponies and griffons to work harder to get the frame up and ready.
>”We might be able to get the ship up with the tide!”
>You really don’t think that moving a ship during the tide is a smart idea…
>”Hey Loafer Starflower, what’s with the water?”
>Turning you look at where Bri is looking, small eddies that travel on the surf stretch out laping more of the shore.
“What are we looking at?”
>”Thought I saw something coming out of the surf…”
>”It m-might have been seaweed.”
“Don’t we need to be near the sea for that?”
>”W-well I mean like, plants under water…”
>Shrugging you move to get the next timber for work.
“Not our problem, let’s just get this done I think lunch is going to be soon.”
>Bri and Starflower continue to stare out at the lake before they too decide to get back to work.
>Grabbing one end of the finished timbers you nod at Bri and the both of you lift up grunting.
>Before you travel back to your site yells and screams of surprise travel through the moist air.
>Exchanging glances you and Bri drop the timber following after Starflower towards the noise.
>Skidding in the shoreline you come to a stop watching as chaos unfolds before you.
>Small droplets of water whirl around ponies and griffons buzzing with an angry noise that reminds you of a bee hive.
>Left and right the workers flee from the frenzied droplets of water that fly through the air.
>Some are banished off by swatting at them as everyone starts to group up.
>One pony runs by chased by the demented water!
>Running forward you swat at the water itself sending it flying off.
>It splashes against your hoof, but it felt like hitting gel.
>”Thanks! Those things stung!”
“What are they?!”
>Shrugging the pony runs off with some of the others.
>Eventually the crowd of ponies form up away from the ship, you’re amongst the crowd after helping Bri chase more of the droplets from Starflower.
>Questions are asked that you can hear, but the summary is what the hell is going on?
>The droplets that had bounced and harried you all swirl together to form a small squat fishy looking thing.
>”Is that a murloc?”
>”A what?”
>”Water demon, I think?”
>”Wouldn’t that be a grind-”
>”MORTALS!”
>Everyone’s attention is drawn to the squat figure as it undulates.
>”YOU HAVE TAKEN WHAT IS OURS. THIS IS OF THE LAKE. NOT FOR MORTALS!”
>Near the front you can see Zephyr force her way through, “No it’s not, that’s our property!”
>”IT WAS CLAIMED AND BELONGS TO THE LAKE.”
>Ponies and griffons around you mutter angrly seeing how the frame you’ve all been building was /almost/ done.
>The squat figure turns and takes a deep breath before a blast of water shoots forth knocking over part of the frame.
>”RETURN TO LAND SURFACE DWELLERS! DO NOT TREAD UPON THE LAKE!”
>At seeing the water power a lot of the group are disheartened.
>Zephyr tries to reason with it, “What do you want for the ship? Gold?”
>”KEEP YOUR PETTY METALS, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED.”
>Before the murloc, gwindyloud or whatever it is can start to knock over more of the frame a hammer bounces off it’s head.
“FUCK OFF YA SHIT!”
>Like a switch had been flipped the mob that had been on the verge of fleeing from the ship suddenly are invigorated.
>”Yeah! That’s ours!
>”I got splinters from that!”
>”Fuck this thing!”
>Drawing tools and wooden planks from the site the mob of griffons and ponies start to get closer towards the creature.
>Though they falter a touch when the thing suddenly splits into it’s own little crowd, but each of those grindylows were smaller than the original.
>Bri flies at the top of the mob and caws angrily, “Get them!”
>With a roar the two sides crash at one another!

>You manage to scoop up the hammer you threw and give a roar of your own.
>Not that it helps when you bring it down upon one of the creature's head.
>It splashes around your blow soaking your coat.
>Giving the foal sized elemental a push to knock it over you soon spot Bri dueling with one of the things.
>You start to move on when the limbs of the creature strike at you!
>A muffled grunt is your response as it leaves a dark bruise on your side making your scratches from yesterday twinge in pain.
>Magic encircling your hammer you bring the wooden mallet down again!
>Water flies into the air, but before it can start to reform you swing once more!
>It weakly brings up it’s arms to try to block your blow, but you barrel through it’s defences once more connecting with something solid within it and knocking it free!
>Whatever it was, took away the will behind the creature as the water suddenly collapses in a spray of water.
>Wincing at the splash you look around to see many a pony fighting for their lives against the creatures yet unable to get a finishing blow.
“KNOCK THE CORES LOOSE! THAT’LL GET RID OF ‘EM!”
>A griffon nearby attempts it and manages to snag some weed looking thing from the body of his opponent.
>With a startled oath the bird is splashed by the creature’s death theros and left looking unamused.
>Grinning you see more ponies start to take your advice and soon spot Bri still struggling with the same creature as before.

>Frowning you make your way towards the fight noticing something off about the elemental.
>For one, it’s larger than the rest of the same size as yourself, wielding actual weapons; a shield made of wooden planks and driftwood while in it’s other appendage is a piece of rock covered in algae.
>Bri screeches diving at the thing trying to claw it only to miss as the thing swerves around her attack!
>It slams the shield forward knocking your friend down to the ground bouncing before sliding to a stop before you.
>Cracking an eye open Bri spots you, grinning through the pain the bird gives you a thumbs up, “Bout time ya showed up, let’s get him!”
“Gladly!”
>Charging forward you swing your hammer at the elemental, only it’s shield comes into play deflecting your attack!
>”FOOLISH MORTAL, BOW BEFORE THE LAKE!”
>Claws rend elemental’s back before it can continue, “Shove it up yer arse!” Bri snarls ripping out small stones from it’s back when she has to quickly move to avoid the retalition.
>Only it was a feint as it’s shield comes up with an upper cut that sends Bri flying up into a heap.
>She’s not moving…
>HOLY SHIT!
“DIE MOTHER FUCKER!”
>You scream enraged beyond measure at seeing how still her body is.
>Your hammer which had already been glowing amber, turns a bright orange as your magical grip tightens before you bring it down again!
>The damned thing raises it’s shield up to deflect!
>Fuck.
>That.
>With a savage twist of your head you bring your hammer down hard with your magic!
>A crack echoes on the shore line.
>”IMPOSSIBLE!”
>You can barely believe it yourself.
>Yet your hammer flies true and continues /through/ the makeshift shield into the unprotected face of the elemental scattering his essence across the shore.
>The rock sword drops into the sand nearby as the will behind it fails.
>Panting you watch the water to make sure it’s dead.
>Once it is you drop your hammer and stumble towards Bri sight blurring from the magic use.
>Starflower is already there cradling the griffon’s head in her lap checking her over.
>Before you can ask Starflower answers you, “I-I think she’ll be fine, s-she was just k-knocked out. T-that blow really sent her packing.”
“She’s not dead?”
>Seeing Starflower’s muted no you let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank god…”
>”I-I thought you t-two didn’t like each other?”
>Slumping down to lay in the sand you shrug.
“Doesn’t mean I want her dead either...think I’m going to pass out now…”
>”W-wait d-don’t do that!”
>Too late little pony, sorry…
>The last thing you hear is the sounds of cheering from the ponies and caws of victories from the griffons.