Thread 70: Stories 46-60

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 >AJ
"Spike"
~~~~

>Anythin' weird happen while Ah' was gone?

"...Nope."

>Ya' just got shifty on me.

"Nope."

>Yer' doin' it again.

"Noooope."

>What did ya' dooo?

"...Nope."

>DAMN IT, SPIKE!

"You don't even know what it is."

>Do Ah' need ta'?

"I'd just figure it would be important."

>Does it fit regardless?

"...Maybe."

>DAMN IT SPIKE!

"...I wish Twilight would invite me to go have fun with her and Celestia."

>DAMN IT!

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 >AJ
"Dadling"
'Batmom'
~~~~~~~

>Ah've got some concerns 'bout how ya'll been acting.

"NO REGRETS!"

>Really. Ya' don't got no regrets ya' broke a bottle o' milk and then threatened someone with it... despite the fact it was plastic.

"NONE!"

'He really doesn't.'

~Giggle!~

'She finds it funny, in case you were wondering.'

>Ah' noticed. Also notice she's chewin' on...

'I think they called it jerky.'

>The buck is jerky?

'I have no idea, but it's kind of sweet and chewy, so she likes it.'

"Soooo... am I arrested?"

>Hm? Nah, guess it's kinda accepted when they tell the robot ta' scan fer' potential targets and they make sure to point it at yer' kid.

'Speaking of, they patched that! They don't scream 'hostile creature detected' when they see her.'

>Neat. Ah' made a note o' that.

"Guess they didn't want to be known as the guys who shot a baby."

>Baby shootin's pretty bad, Ah'll give ya'.

"...Soooo-"

>Are ya' gonna stop?

"No."

>...Whelp, appreciate yer' honesty, have a nice day.

"Can do!"

>...Seriously, that stuff smells great, what is it?

'Dunno, but the gryphon who sold it said it was safe to eat, so I don't care.'

>...maybe ya' outta-

~GRRRRRRRR!~

>Point taken.

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>AJ
"???"
~~~~

>Fricken... course this ain't right. Course he's still gone. Dang it, Ah' thought Jetset was 'sposed ta' be a freakin' wiz at this, and ya' can't find 29? It's freakin' 29! He can't be that hard! Print a flyer that says Luna's got a thing fer pompy changelings and he'd break his dang legs runnin' over here!

"Nuh uh! He won't go for Luna, 56 says he promised!"

The apple princess paused in the hallway. Slowly, she tilted her head back up, and up, and up... alll the way up to the ceiling.

>...Well, ya'll have been pretty quiet here lately.

The spider-ling up above shrugged, unsure what to say.

"I've been helping Mr Blueblood and Mr Haymaker around the castle. It's been great! With Miss Rarity not in her room hardly anymore, I can do pretty much what I want!"

>...She ain't been in her room?

"Nu uh! She's been off with Princess Caddybutt!"

>It's Cadence.

"...56 has lead me astray..."

>Warned ya' bout that. So, ya' been listenin' bout not going near Chitania?

"Yeah! I've been avoiding her, just like you said!"

>Well... good. Don't need nobody thinkin' yer' on her side. Ya' still doin' well?

"Um, actually... I was looking for you to ask you something."

>Shoot, ya' know Ah'm here fer' ya.

"It's just... since she doesn't live over here anymore, and she's going to be mad at you anyway-"

>Ya'll can go to the ballroom iffin' ya' want.

"No no! Not that... it's just... since she's not going to be mad regardless, shouldn't we tell her... what we saw?"

>...No.

"Are you sure? I think it-"

>No, Arana, we ain't gonna tell her what we saw. That's between her and the biggun, that's it. Iffin' said biggun wants her ta' know, she'll know.

"...It's just... you said that Twilight said she doesn't know why Auntie Chitania is so mad-"

>Don't call her that, folks'll get the wrong idea yer' directly related ta' her.

"...Right."

>Like Ah' said, no, we ain't gonna tell nobody.

"...Well, I mean, I told Celestia about... about the first thing?"

>ARANA!

"I'm sorry! I didn't tell her about the second thing, just-"

>Arana Ah' cannot believe you! Ain't right ta' be tellin' folks that Chitania messed up so bad her kid... ya' know what Ah' mean! That ain't right, and it ain't right ta' make her relive it!

"I"m sorry, but... I wanted to help her."

>Arana... Ah' told ya', she ain't the aunt ya' remember. Move on already.

"...Can... can you ask her?"

>Ask who, what?

"Can you ask Au-... Chitania if we can tell you-know-who about... you-know-what?"

>...It ain't right ta'-

"I'm just saying ask, that's all!"

>... Fine. Ah'll ask, and when she turns me down that's the end of it, ya' got it? Change yer' dang mind with magic iffin' ya' have ta', no more talking bout what we shouldn't never have seen in the first place!

"Okay, Princess Applejack, thanks..."

>Anything else?

"...I like your mane."

>...Thanks.

"...Can me and Spike race down the halls with silk parachutes?"

>........................Yes.

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>Chrysalis
"2"
'??'
~~~~

"Hey, not-mom? Gots a question."

>Go for it.

"Did ya'll ever go to school?"

>HAH! No! Only schooling I ever got was from my mom... And those three infiltrators.

"What'd they teach ya'?"

>Judging by what happened with me and Shiny, nothing useful-OW!

'NO!'

"...where'd that book come from?"

>....He's not even in the room...

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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NC
~~~~

>...Gonna try something... see, my MOM always thought I should-OW!

'NO!'

>But Mom was great with-OW!

'NO!'

>...Hey! Want to hear some more stories about Momsie?

"YAYYYYYYYYYY!"

>...

"..."

>...

"...Uh, what'cha waitin for?

>...Really? THAT one is fine?

'That's fine!'

>...This is some bullshit right here, that's what this is.

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>SP
"41"
'???'
~~~

>...So, uh, should we say something to her?

"I really don't think we should."

>I'm just saying, she looks off.

"I know, that's why we shouldn't."

>I just feel, as a guard, that I should-

'FUCK! I NEED A DAMN CIGARETTE!'

>...Not get involved, because she is clearly an addict.

'No! Shut up! Don't fucking talk to me about my health! FUCK YOU BUG THING!'

>...Though of what, I'm not a hundred percent anymore.

"Hey, it's all on you man."

>...

'FUCK! YOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!'

>...Wow, this is some good pizza.

"Isn't it?"

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>Sunset
"Store pony"
~~~

>WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T SELL THEM!?

"...I don't know what that is."

>TOBACCO! YOU ROLL IT INTO A LITTLE STICK! YOU SMOKE THE STICK! NOT! THAT! COMPLICATED!

"We don't grow tobacco around here."

>THEN IMPORT IT!

"From where? I don't even know what tobacco is."

>I NEED MY FIX!

"Miss, please stop choking me."

>I NEED MY FIIIIXXX!... SHUT THE FUCK UP BUGGY!

"Okay, is this a drug? Because you're screaming at your reflection."

>NO!

"..."

>...I mean, okay, it is a drug, but not the drug you're thinking of.

"..."

>SHUT UP!

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>AJ
"Dash"
'Fleetfoot'
[Soarin']
~~~

>Hey, Dash, how's it goin' with the Bolts?

"I feel like they're trying to tell me something."

'Why do you say that, LEADER!?'

[Yeah, what could we be trying to tell our LEADER OF THE WONDERBOLTS!]

>...

"See? I get this weird tick, and it's confusing the hell out of me!"

'Nooooo, we love our CAPTAIN of the WONDERBOLTS, because you know...'

[She's always HERE FOR US! HERE! IN THIS PLACE! BEING CAPTAIN!]

'DEPENDABLE! THAT'S WHAT SHE IS!'

[SURE IS THE ELEMENT OF LOYALTY!]

'TO THE CORE!

>...

"...See? Confusing, isn't it."

>...

"...Damn it, did you get the twitch too? I told you! There's something there!"

>...Ah' may have jumped the gun regardin' certain matters.

"Don't you start too!"

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Scootaloo"
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter and people get nap attacks! Now for our main guest...SCOOTALOO

"Hi!"

>So now that you can fly maybe you'll get more screentime. If you did though, would writers initialize it to SL? Do you think they'll confuse it with Screwloose?

"Who's Screwloose?"

>You don't need to know! That's the end of the episode. I hope folks have a good day!

"Your show is really short."

>Eh, that's the price of being a daily thing. The answer is noble gas by the way. Don't do drugs.
Scootaloo wakes up.

"Oh uh...the answer is...noble gas?"

'No, Scootaloo, the method of propulsion for an alicorn's flight is not 'Noble gas', and-... and my voice has been completely drowned out by all the laughter. Yay.

"...Damn it Pinkie.."

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>AJ
"18"
~~~~

>...Sooo, Ah' noticed ya've been sendin' back a lot of stuff Ah' asked for help on with a big old stamp that says 'nope'.

"The fire I feel for you right now could melt dragon scales. I say with no hyperbole that if you were made of stone and it were legal to end your life by eating you, I would damn myself to a life of mush just for the chance to chew your face off. If the option existed right now to give up my left hoof to eternally bind a beartrap to your own, I would gladly do it and I would tapdance with joy. There is no limits to the rage I feel for you in this moment, a containment of rage that if wielded would allow me to beat Discord within an inch of his life and turn him to ash with no effort. I could power all of Equestria if only there could be a five to one conversion of power in the favor of the drain, not the energy, and it could be used. In this moment I feel nothing but sheer, utter hate."

>...

"..."

>...Is it cause Ah' hit chrysalis?

"Nope."

>Made 42 mad?

"Involved, but not part of it."

>...They're buggin' ya' fer stuff, ain't they?

"THE ENTIRE HIVE YOU BIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTCCCHCHHHHH!"

>Ah.

"I WAS FREEEEEE! FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

>...Sorry.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

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>SA
"Chrysalis"
'Celestia'
~~~~~

>Okay, are we all clear on the rules?

"THIS IS SO STUPID!"

'I normally do not argue, but Shiny? Are you feeling okay? You know I'm normally quite okay with whatever strange thing you wish to do, but this seems like a bit much.'

"Yeah! You know as well as I do I'm down for anything, no matter how weird or potentially painful this goes. Usually, you say "I want to try this" and I say "I'll get the ointment!", but this is just plain crazy."

'It's fucking insane, is what it is.'

"WE HAVE LIMITS!"

'Why don't we just do that thing we did last time, you like that! That was fun, wasn't it? Well, eventually.'

"I got used to it faster."

'And what does that say about you?'

"PLPLPLPL!"

'Point is, what the fuck? If this is your way of saying you're bored with me, there are kinder ways to do it.'

>...Girls? It's just Monopony.

"YOU UNHOLY-"

>Two edition.

"..."

'...Come again?'

>Two thought that Monopony was too mean, so she remade it, and wanted me to test it out for her.

"Why didn't she just test it out with you?"

>She said it would be biased because she doesn't totally understand the concept.

"Huh..."

'...I'm curious.'

"Me too. Scared, but curious."

'...What's the safe word?'

"There has to be a safe word here."

>Uh... "Oh dear faust make it stop"?

"DISCRIMINATORY! I do not believe in that particular higher presence."

'Don't believe? IT'S MY MOTHER!'

"That's just a theory. I'd prefer an expletive that is hivemind related."

'Oh, sure my PARENT isn't likely, but this interconnected network of souls for changelings exclusively, that makes sense!'

"You have your beliefs, I have ones that are correct. We can co-exist."

>..I'll just say the safe word is "Cadence has a nice ass."

"Of course!"

'The one thing we'd never say by accident!'

>...See, this is why she doesn't hang out with us.

"SHUT UP AND PLAY!"

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>AJ
"Fluttershy"
~~~~~

>...So Ah' take it the chaos thing's goin' okay?

"Oh no, it's a terrible nightmare that leaves me in constant fear I'm going to destroy everything and ruin lives."

>Huh...

"Why, what made you think it was okay?"

>Mostly the fact there's a bear entertainin' children back there.

"Ah. I can see why, just looking at that, you would think this was good."

>...Is it not?

"It is not."

>Okaaaayyy...

"...Those aren't children."

>What're ya'-.... ohhhhhhh....

"How good are you with diapers?"

>Pretty darn, why?

"..."

>...

"...I notice you're not offering to help."

>How about that.

"..."

>...

"...Shoot."

>So, the bear, is he actually-

*VRRRRRRRRRRRRR!*

>That chainsaw's makin' me think that's a no.

"Cannot guess where you got that idea from."

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NC
>SA
"Cadence"
~~~~

>At what point did I become a metaphorical carrot on a stick?

"Thread three."

>...

"..."

>...

"...I mean, if you want to be exact about it..."

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>Applejack
"Celestia"
~~~~~

>Tia? Got a question.

"And I've got a... you know what? I'm not even going to freak out at this, it's probably really reasonable, go for it."

>Is Tartarus our dungeon?

"...What?"

>Tartarus, giant holding pit, that our dungeon or what?

"Oh... well, yes, obviously I use it to contain normally very dangerous individuals-"

>With one guard.

"...What?"

>One. Ya' got one big dog guarding it. Just one. One who can wander off, apparently.

"..."

>..

"...Well, I'm not exactly going to station a bunch of others down there-"

>Really.

"I mean, it would be kind of cruel to-"

>Really.

"...He's a good dog-"

>REALLY.

"...Oh, fine."

>Also, Ah' was wonderin', since ya'll are the one in command o' the guardian o' the underworld, don't that mean-

"DO NOT EVEN GO THERE!"

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>Gwen
"???"
'Vekir'
[Siegfried]
~~~~~~

Normally, the Queen of the Gryphons was very blunt, very cruel, very uncaring.

However, on this day the third son of the house of Al Gryphonia got to witness a rare sight. The sight of his mother... being very, very, very patient.

>No, Vekir, it is not on that mountain.

'Oh! Vekir sees!'

>Do you really?

'...Maybe.'

[You know, Hilda actually found you endearing back when... I don't see it.]

>Be silent.

[Oh, of course, be cruel to me, but not the one who tried to steal pottery.]

'VEKIR WAS TRADING!'

>They are literally in the midst of their first year not being savages, I am making concessions. You, however, have been going on for decades being an idiot, I have long since given up any leniency.

[Clearly, you should have had another girl.]

>HA HA!

'...What? Whyfor Catbird laugh? Was something funny of female? Vekir knows thing or two about females, and them coming after males is not of laughing.'

[...What the fuck did she just say?]

>Don't curse.

[Okay, she just got through describing how she eats the eyeballs out of a.... what did you call it?]

'Shlup slhup!'

[That thing. She eats the eyeballs out of that because it tastes funny, no other reason, and you don't want me to sully her poor little mind with cursing?]

>No, I just don't like it when you curse. Reminds me I failed to hammer in the King's Manners.

[Papa curses all the time!]

>Not in front of guests.

[Oh for the love of-]

'Catbirds! Sorry for the stopping, but Vekir still does not understand the laughs!... Very sorry for the stopping, please don't be mad. Here! Vekir gives shiny stone!'

[...Is that a fire emerald-]

>Thank you, Vekir.

[...And I am now understanding.]

'Vekir is not!'

>Well, Vekir, you remember my other children, right?

'Correct! Vekir remembers Zep Ray Us and Hills-Da!'

>...Close enough for now, but yes. Well, you see, my daughter Hilda was born less than a year after our eldest... because my mother was totally wrong and you can, in fact, get pregnant immediately after you give birth.

'Vekir knew that!'

>R-... right... anyway, my daughter knew she wasn't going to be Queen because of this, realizing very quickly that little more than a lottery of birth had sealed her fate, and became rather melancholy in her earlier years, and rather bitter towards Zephyrious as a result. Nothing myself or my husband said to cheer her up sufficed, and she just tended to spend her days going through the motions, not really putting any effort into anything.

'...That does not seem like Hills-Da that Vekir met.'

>Indeed. Because you see, one day, just before her fifth birthday, my son came up to her and he said 'Can you help me with this? I don't think I'm holding this sword right'. And I swear, it was like a light went off in her mind. She immediately ran up to her father, and asked him if she could help in Zephyrious's training. At first, he said no, not wanting to put too much strain on one so young. But then Zephyrious came forth and he begged him to help, saying he saw the potential of having one like her help him out, and thought it would be good for him. She, of course, was shocked. She had been nothing but cruel to him for all their lives, so

'...And then?'

>Uh... well, my husband, despite his kinder points, does tend to get quite bitter when someone challenges him in front of a crowd. So, he, well, he handed her this... stick, and-

[You ever seen someone hold a sword for the first time and then be told they can cut up whatever they want?]

'...'

>He's being... generous.

~~~~~~

SMACK!

"A KING CANNOT SLOUCH! No bending! How are your subjects supposed to look up to you if you're slouching!?"

SMACK!

"A KING EATS WITH HIS RIGHT CLAW! How are you supposed to reach your blade if your claws are full of cake!?"

SMACK!

"A KING HAS TO KNOW HOW TO FIGHT! I mean, this one is obvious, right?"

SMACK!

"A KING DOES NOT SHOW FEAR! You get out there and you stab that manticore right now!"

SMACK!"

"A KING CAN BENCH PRESS AT LEAST TWICE HIS BODY WEIGHT! You think this is heavy now? Wait till you have the weight of the kingdom on your shoulders!"

SMACK!

"A KING DOES NOT USE A DAGGER! BIGGER! YOU NEED THE BIGGEST SWORD!"

SMACK!

"A KING KNOWS THIS HISTORY BOOK FRONT TO BACK! History is important!... BECAUSE IT IS!"

SMACK!

"A KING ACCEPTS GUESTS MORE FORMALLY! You are not being formal enough! BE MORE FORMAL!"

SMACK!

"A KING HAS TO KNOW HOW TO DANCE! Now, after me, one two three for- STOP SHUFFLING YOUR PAWS! Kings do not shuffle! And stop waiting for me to lead! Kings are leaders! IT'S IN THE DAMN NAME! Now, dip me!...WHAT DID I JUST SAY!?"

SMACK!

"A KING DOES NOT FLY SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT! A king is level!... No I am not just adding on this because I am running out of things to criticize!"

SMACK SMACK SMACK!

"A KING DOES NOT TELL ME NOT TO CRITICIZE HIM!...SHUT UP! It is not hypocritical compared to what I said before!"

SMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACK

~~~~~~~

>...

'...Uh... Catbird just kind of... just kind of looked over there... and smiled. Is this-'

[Father still laughs when he hears someone go 'KER-CRACK!']

>Yes, my husband was rather... amused by all that. But I suppose it worked in regards to his poise, his strength, and his culture.... Too bad spine remains something no muscle can strengthen.

[Don't think that's medically correct-]

>Silent.

[Just saying, she's the one who held a knife to you, thought you'd be more angry with her.]

'Hills-Da pointed knife at Catbird? That sounds dangerous.'

[For her, maybe.]

>Please, like this is the first time she's threatened me with a blade.

[...Come again?]

~~~~~~~

"NEVER!"

The kitchen of their grand castle was famously soundproof. Once upon a time, it had not been, but after one too many times being caught with her chest to the tables and Idris on her back in their honeymoon phase, they had decided that it was better just to fortify any place that might pose a risk, and apparently Idris gained wild ideas watching her eat meat.

This was fortunate, since Gwendolyn very much doubted the sounds of cutlery being tossed her way by the ragged looking princess was something she wanted the general public to know.

"You hear me, mother!? NEVER!"

>You seem to presume you have a choice in the matter.

Normally, a gryphon pulling out two steak knives and expertly twirling them before lunging at her would be cause for alarm.

In truth, it just made her proud.

Not proud enough to keep herself from easily backhanding her away, but proud nonetheless.

She was even more proud when her daughter shook off the bits of whatever glass she had shattered in her collision, and snapped right back into a fighting stance.

"I would rather die."

>Again, you think you have a choice in the matter.

"I do."

She stood, tall and proud, those blades still pointed right at her mother's face.

"Either you back off, or I shall march out there and challenge you both in combat for the crown right now."

In the blink of an eye, the Queen was before her, clutching her claws in her own talon, nearly breaking the bone with but a simple squeeze.

>We'd simply kill you.

"Well then, sounds like no matter what, I get what I want."

She still to this day remembers thoughtfully regarding the raging, angry eyes. Still remembers thinking to herself how it was true... her little Hilda was not a child anymore.

>An alliance like this would give us a talonhold in the entire southern kingdom. We could have it all within a couple generations.

"If the land is worth that much then we should obtain it the right way!"

>This way has less bloodshed.

"I am not some bartering chip."

>Are you quite certain?

She did not need to answer. That she even asked was an insult, she knew. But she took it in stride... well, as strideful as one could while holding a blade pointed at their own mother.

>...Your father turned him down after you left.

She relaxed, noticeably and fully in her grip. Growing quite less stable, less forceful... Just long enough for the Queen to strike her right in the chest, winding her.

While she was on the ground, gasping for air, the Queen easily brushed off any glass that had landed on her, and regained her composure.

>Very well. You have made your stance... abundantly clear, and we never shall again bring up the subject of you being married off for political alliances. To be honest, your father and I never really intended to do so, but it was important to look like we were considering it. We know you do not wish to be with another kingdom, do not wish to leave any of us. You are our daughter, Hilda, you are not our backup Queen or our bartering chip. You are our daughter, and we would never hurt you like that. That said...

Her hind paw lashed out, sending Hilda clear across the room.

>If you ever point those knives at me again, I will break your talons and force Zephyrious to feed you with soup and a spoon for the rest of his life.

That was her final words before she started to leave, to leave her to wallow in pain for the brief moment before her brother noticed she hadn't come back in a whole five minutes and rushed off to assist her. Those were her final words before she started to leave.

But not before she left.

>...A Queen must fight for herself as much as her Kingdom, Hilda... I am proud of you.

And then she was gone.

~~~~~~~~~

>...

[...Mother?]

>Hm?

[You uh, you kind of looked off again and smiled really creepy. Now, just in case you didn't hear, I said "Come again"? As in, what the hell do you mean she threatened you before?]

>...Do not concern yourself.

'Done! Vekir worries about very little!'

>Now, in regards to the trading route...

The Queen paused, growing still as her eyes locked onto something in the distance. A tiny shape flying towards her at rapid speed, unseen to any but ones with eyes like herself... and her son.

[...Is that a messenger?]

Regally, she rose to her full height, giving Vekir only one brief, sudden look, before turning back.

>...Vekir... how would you like to see my Kingdom up close?

'VEKIR WOULD LIKE THAT!'

>Good... I have a feeling we are needed over there.

~~~~~~

Were it not for the band on his beak, the screaming would have been unbearable.

The princess of the gryphons watched the shape before her thrash about in pain and in agony, body twisting into unnatural contortions as vibrations of withheld wails of pain slipped through the corners of his well bound beak.

She did not move to her brother, not yet. She knew he would strike out, lash out in any in a blindness of pain and misery. Were his beak free, he would be her, plead her with anything to make this stop, say anything he could out of a sheer desperation. He would reach out for her, beg for her, but she dared not come close. Not like this.

Her talon clenched tightly around the vial in her claws, enough to make even the thick steel from which it was made warp ever so slightly. She did not move... no matter how much she wished to.

She did not know if it lasted a minute, an hour, it felt so long it may well have been a day. All she knew is that time slowed down to an unbearable crawl as she waited, and waited...

Waited for the moment his breathing finally began to slow, his painful writhing began to give way to tired heaves, and his wracked, barely contained wails lowered into a dull hum. She let him rest, counted the seconds until a full ten minutes had past, waited with slow, steady breaths. Soon, she moved forwards, and helped him up

He gasped for air as the metal band was pulled away, thankfully leaving no mark due to it's placement on the hard beak, just as intended. He clawed at her to steady himself, and she let him, gently keeping him aloft.

A rag swathed over the side of his head, to where the wound that had been struck by his mother had once been... but now held nothing, not even scars.

When he looked up to her, she could not help but sigh in relief. The potion she used was an effective one... but a costly one. It sped up any healing a thousand fold, but at the price of compounding all the pain one would experience over the entire healing process, into a single, unholy point. He was not spared a single bit of pain he would have felt, a thousand times over given back. Many succumbed to madness from even minor injuries. A simple cut could break a hardened soldier's mind... but there was no madness in his eyes. He had held fast, and remained...

Or at least, she hoped so.

Gently, she tilted his head back, retrieving another vial and dropping quick drops of a clear liquid into his eyes. The red veins that had colored them melted away, leaving only clean, clear eyes. Tenderly, she brushed away the streaks of tears from his cheeks, and wiped the drool from the side of his mouth and chest. Only then, when he was at his most presentable, did she finally hold his gaze.

"...A king does not show weakness."

His talons gripped her shoulders, almost painfully. He continued on, looking into her eyes, just looking... before at last he spoke four simple, ragged words.

With those four words, she knew... her brother had returned.

~...Bring me my sword...~

She could not help but smile.
Those fools thought they could take her kingdom...

They did not know the power of the house of Al Gryphonia.

He would be strong... just as she had made him.

"Welcome back."

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