Dawn of Midnight

by TheApostate

The Visitors

In the modern age, Griffonstone, and the eponymous kingdom it is the capital of, are synonymous with degradation and precarity. The once great and proud kingdom fell to, vulgarizing it, a lack of faith in the ruling house in the aftermath of the loss of the ancient chalice that had been utilized by the first of the imperial line to found the Griffonian Empire – the first of its kind, having united nearly all Griffon nations under the rule of one. An Empire that, if no turn of faith would occur, was itself on the verge of total collapse. Though blaming the reason on simply the loss of the Icon of Boreas was childishly sidelining the myriad of problems that had come to plague both Kingdom and Empire.

The loss of such an icon served only to represent what is rarely associated with the Griffon: dedication of belief.

While associated with the gathering of wealth above any means and asserting their position in whatever theater they find themselves in, it is faith that is the guiding principle of the species. Be it expressed in political or religious beliefs, they, more than any other, are willing to defend their creed with great zeal.

Religious might differ from region to region, but most of Griffons were united by the belief in their three main deities: Boreas, Eyr, and Arcturus. The first gave the Griffons the concept of the value of a nation, wealth, and having a friend. The second gave them the concept of family and camaraderie. The third taught them and gave them the means to defend themselves. Each branch ruled by an archon since times immemorial. And with the gradual decline of Griffonstone and the rise of the Empire, the archons were dispersed, their unity questioned by worried voices.

Even still, Griffonstone was not the first capital of the Triarchy.

Nestled on an elevated plateau on the western mountain range to Griffonstone, abandoned with time following its sacking by a weird alliance of Griffon and the non-Equestria aligned Pony tribes, declared holy ground by the three Archons with any reconstruction prohibited, Anih was “the City that Was”.

Two figures strode the strewed ruins of the City of a Thousand and One Temples – an impressive name for a village of fewer than one thousand inhabitants. Little was left of those one thousand temples except lone standing arches and walls without a house or temple to call its own. Few relatively intact buildings remained still, with only one, standing on the edge of what was once the central plaza, appearing to have lost little of its past majesty.

The two figures continued toward the nature-conquered gardens of the Royal Palace. No roof covered the castle, with only a few columns protruding out of the long grass growing between the pavements. The rulers of Anih were never truly the Archons, though they held near unparalleled temporal power, it was the King of Anih that ruled the city, acting as a mediator between the Archons. With time, the position had morphed into a symbol of the unity of the Three and an integral part of the Triarchy.

When Atlida moved in during the Centennial Crisis of the Arantigan Empire, Anih was devastated beyond imagining. The temples ruined and sacked, the inhabitants forced to flee or taken into slavery, and the ruling dynasty slayed as it defended the Griffon Gate – of which, only the statue of warrior remained. But for the Archons, letting go of the city gifted by the Gods was simply impermissible. The Archon of Arcturius, after receiving news of Altida’s forces disengaging to descend the mountain, mustered forces and came down with righteous punishment on the accursed raiders.

In the aftermath, the Three declared that Anih would never be rebuilt. The sacking showcasing that the Gods no longer favored a city that had fallen from its height.

Luna concluded her brief retelling of the history of Anih. The winds raged stronger, penetrating the confines of the ancient palace with a freezing breeze, heralding the upcoming night.

Eufrimia and Luna tucked their heads instantly. Eufrimia took her orange mane and wrapped it around her neck. The foal that she once was had shed all the vestiges of her early life. Her fur was of a light-dark color, with a strip of white descending from her ears, passing by her a sharp jawline, towards her wingless back. She possessed small, almost unnoticeable fangs and clear, intensely orange eyes that Luna liked but always seemed to divert her gaze from. A hard task; Eufrimia grew to slightly pass her in height.

‘Why wear all of this?’ bitterly asked Eufrimia, pointing out the thick clothes Luna had insisted they both wore for their trip – Eufrimia’s first outside Equestria. Her father would have joined them, sticking closely to his only. For all had found themselves infertile with no cure for it.

Her natural mother had died before the curse. Perhaps simple instincts for the level of care Luna presented to the girl was more than she did for any of the tribe. Eufrimia’s decision went against her father’s wishes, and so both he and Luna rarely spoke in turn. In fact, he did not exactly like her. Respect for she was, but nothing more – and he made it known. While in front of her, Luna would keep calling by the name the corrupted child had given, with the father alone Luna referred to Eufremia by her first name. Eufraty Mia suspected it was the only reason he had not seethed completely against Luna.

Eufrimia had been reunited with her father after New Year. But like most of her tribe, he was aloof, apprehensive, and fearful of venturing out of their hold within the castle’s empty dungeons. Other than her and Luna, everyone else had been prevented from entering. The Batponies could venture out at their hearts’ content, but few ever did beyond the confines of the castle. Of them, only Eufrimia’s father had traveled truly but never out of pleasure, though he cherished every moment spent with his daughter.

‘Because it’s more fun this way,’ Luna pleasantly answered, raising back her head.

‘Being cold is not fun, though…’

‘It is, for me.’ Luna kept her smile.

Eufrimia winced, reducing the glow of her eyes, feeling almost infuriated by her blissful smile. Luna’s concept of fun had always felt awkward and out of place for her. Her almost constant denial of utilizing her powers for the sake of simple amusement when it could have been far simpler and more convenient to use them was a point of frustration for the young Batpony.

She could see the reasoning behind it, but Luna’s not-so-hidden constant sarcastic tone put doubt on how much she could reason about the Alicorn’s attitude.

Luna continued to add on the history of Anih and the region to distract Eufrimia from the cold.

‘It was once part of the great Arantigan Empire.’

‘What happened to it?’

‘I thought I was obvious with the raids, economic collapse, and rebellions…’ said Luna, like stating the obvious to a petulant student. She could not blame Eufrimia to think so; after all, Equestria was standing still. ‘Nothing that should surprise you. Anih, however, is relatively more recent. As I said, the Archons used to call it home before taking briefly Griffonstone as a new residence. It was during our time, not prior – just to reiterate. Aaand to be sure. Focus more next time.’

‘Yeah, yeah… It’s old. I get it.’

‘Hm,’ Luna agreed. She pointed to the horizon. ‘The “trade” “city” of Sisia still exists, perhaps we will visit it after finishing here. Usually, pilgrims stay there instead of resting in one of the “hotels” and “inns” of current Anih.’

‘Odd.’

‘Yes, it is,’ she laughed. ‘But, hey, it is expensive here and the people are not very welcoming either. Plus Sisia has some amazing gardens… And a quick road to the Fortress of Oblivion!’ Luna cried the name out.

‘Damn!’ laughed back Eufrimia. ‘What happens there? Dark magic? Those things from your early reign imprisoned there? Deranged writers?’

‘Just a prison… for bandits and the occasional usurper – which is basically the same but with a more fashionable name.’

‘Not wrong. So torture is implied?’

‘Wrong! Well, the wind currents are so horrendous that flying is practically a death wish there, but otherwise, for having been a prisoner there once, it was alright.’

‘They imprisoned one of the Princesses of Equestria and did not notice!?’

Luna proudly nodded.

‘And why were you imprisoned?’

‘I am very good at disguising myself.’ She nudged Eufrimia. ‘As for the reason why: I stole water and was pestering a local herder by playing around with local wolf packs. They were very cute. And her dog was very cute too.’

Eufrimia laughed, carving a wider smile on Luna’s expression.

‘Stealing water,’ the mare repeated, cleaning her throat from laughing. ‘You can do worse.’

It had rained the day prior to their arrival and the air still retained that distinct smell. Turning her head toward the partially demolished wall, opening to a cloud glimmering in the distant light of the setting Sun. It extended in length from the bottom of a distant valley to its flat upper edge. From its side, a rainbow appeared shyly on the cloud’s right. Its colors dissipated behind a nearby peak covered by eternal snow. She had never witnessed such a site. Then again, it had been a long while since she had taken this much notice of the landscape around her.

Maybe the work of Cloudsdale, she laughed to herself.

‘In retaliation, I made it rain. The bastards were grateful, regretfully.’

Eufrimia stifled a laugh.

‘Then I made it snow, and then battle ensued. Someone named… Carlos? Yeah, him, won. But he had cheated.’

‘Like you don’t.’ Eufrimia punched Luna. ‘You were made cheated.’

Luna laughed loudly.

Getting past the still-in-use aqueduct, Luna sat down and made upon her talent. It had become a mundane thing for Eufrimia, it had lost its impressiveness to her. She would have vastly preferred staying around to talk with Cherry Aurora, a servant’s child with no particular future entailed to her except inheriting her mother’s position, rather than staying with Luna. Once she did and Luna worried sick about her absence. Luna had found both mares simply discussing whatever book Cherry had chosen to study as part of Eufrimia’s attempt at teaching her literature. She turned out better than her, and the Thestral felt inferior by it. Though her father had taught her to not let jealousy be the defining feature of her life, the gnawing feeling did not subside completely. However, in discussing the deeper meanings of writings, Eufrimia prided herself on being unsurpassed. And it was during one of her tirades that Luna came to liberate Aurora from what had started about flowers to the existentialism of investable decay – somehow.

Luna had been worried, yes, but that factor had not been the one taking Eufrimia to see the Alicorn rise to the Moon. When the Princess had come barreling in, Cherry’s demeanor… shifted. Not in the way expected for a servant meeting with its master, but rather something more…existential. Looking at Luna directly was an effort. Presenting excuses for an error that wasn’t hers was an even greater effort.

At that time, Eufrimia thought only Batpony like her were immune to whatever aura Luna emitted. But a brief trip to the south of Equestria proved her wrong. The unease was universal.

Luna could attune it, and she had done so many times effortlessly. But Luna wasn’t exactly the most diplomatic of individuals and without that… thing, she had to pour more effort. The slight effort, for she still was an Alicorn, but enough to tire her.

‘So it is here everything Griffon was born?’ Eufrimia tried to soften the tense atmosphere.

‘Uhm,’ Luna nodded. ‘It is one of their oldest settlements. If not the oldest. Though more on Griffon’s history can wait. Understand I don’t feel like reciting it at all the moment.’

‘Not that I would complain hearing you ramble.’

Luna loudly grunted, clearly signaling a certain agreement in the wind, trying to concentrate on the clouds disposition.

Suddenly, the wind took up speed, racking its harsh coolness upon the open plateau. Luna continued her walk unbothered, but Eufrimia was halted nearly instantly. Instinctively, she closed her eyes. The the sky cleared, revealing a shy Sun.

Eufrimia felt something gently grabbing her; still with enough force to push her wholly to who-knows-where as she felt her body lightening and flying above the ground.

‘Are you okay?’ worried Luna, frantically inspecting Eufrimia. ‘Does it burn somewhere?’ Eufrimia did not answer at first, still shaken by the experience. ‘Answer me, Eufi!’ her voice edged on an order.

‘Yeah…’ She opened her eyes to a night sky and Luna’s eyes searching for any sunburn.

‘You’re dizzy.’

She scratched her head. ‘Something you did. You tell me.’

‘I had to rush you behind this wall.’ She did not elaborate further. ‘Besides that are you okay? And excuse me about it.’

‘Nothing hurts. The Sun was weak, no worries. Everything’s fine.’

The wind returned again with a vengeance, taking in its thralls Eufrimia’s mane; Luna’s remaining in its ever-waving state, unbothered by the elements.

‘The wind is strong!’ shouted Eufrimia.

‘You get used to it!’ said Luna. ‘We can make this visit a yearly habit if you want?’

‘I don’t mind! But I would prefer dad to come with us next time… Maybe we can plan it for my birthday or something.’

The wind receded.

Luna paused to clean he eyes.

‘Whatever you like. If it makes you happy – that is most important to me.’

‘Yeah,’ she giggled. ‘Yeah… Maybe under the Sun, eh? Why not?’

‘Yes,’ Luna sighed. ‘And that’s…’ She scratched the back of her head, ‘…a problem.’

‘Explain.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Eufrimia wanted to yell at herself.

‘And you,’ coughed Eufrimia, ‘are too melodramatic for my taste,’ she widely smile.

Luna smiled back, ‘I am not fun – am I?’

‘Nope!’ It had exited too true for her liking. ‘I like to not have fun. I adore it.’

‘Sometimes I prefer when you were still a throbbing, drooling thing.’

‘I can still become one, but I don’t like the feel of saliva dripping down, you know?’

Luna laughed profusely as she prepared to rise to the Moon.

Heading close to a cliff in the early hours of dawn, offering a view to a great plain where streams ran directly from the mountains above, the profound sound of bells toned in long intervals a weak wind transporting it through the tall grass. A dog barked and the orderly yells of a family of Griffons joined to fill the silence and add their chores to the serene surroundings.

For a long while, no words were shared between the two mares. Sleep was rapidly conquering them but had insisted for Eufrimia to witness Anih at dawn. The temporary spell cast by Luna was fading but just enough to keep enough energy.

Perhaps the herder had noticed them. Luna did not really care. She knew how disinterested those folks could be in things not directly threatening their animals.

‘Want to eat?’

‘Not particularly. No,’ answered Eufrimia.

‘I’m hungry. Want us to eat now?’

‘If you can’t wait-’

‘I can. But you also have to understand that hunger is a very grievous thing. Particularly for those in my standing,’ she jested.

Eufrimia grinned and jokingly bowed. ‘Excuse me, Princess.’

‘That’s more like it!’

She presented a piece of plain cake; no frivolity, no weird mixture of fruit, but a barely perceivable lemony flavor. ‘I don’t want one.’ Luna insisted, the bag dangling more aggressively. ‘I said no.’ Luna pushed further. ‘No!’

Not bothering to lower her head, Luna dropped the bag on the floor. ‘I know you like those.’

‘That is why I don’t want one. After a while, they stop tasting good.’

‘I-’ she muffled something. ‘Don’t come to me later for them.’

‘I won’t, fatty.’

‘I’m not fat!’

‘Of course, you aren’t. Those with problems are usually the first to deny them,’ she cackled on the side of her mouth.

‘Don’t do your philosophy on me. I hate it!’

Begrudgingly, Eufrimia took out a cake, splitting it for Luna before offering it back to her. All the while, she had kept a malign expression that made Luna puff. The Alicorn was hungry indeed but felt like dividing her meal with Eufrimia.

‘I wonder if they eat well here,’ said Eufrimia while mashing her sandwich.

Luna closed her eyes and waited with a grimace for the ordeal to end. ‘They eat enough,’ she answered, exasperated.

‘Something’s telling me they don’t.’

‘Then go feed them yourself. I cannot provide anything to them.’

‘Why though?’

‘It is not my place to do so. ‘

‘But you have the powers, and it would not be unusual for you to do so.’

‘I know. It is still not my place to do so, here.’

‘Even if you walk around as a Griffon-’ She taped Luna on the arm. ‘Can you mimic one perfectly?’

‘Of course, I can!’ she boasted in a sudden mood shift. ‘Take a gander!’

She shoved down her cake, grabbed Eufrimia, and forced her down to a ruined building, away from any prying eyes. In less than two seconds, the amalgamation of Pegasus and Unicorn disappeared as it was replaced by the half-feline, half-avian form of a tall Griffon.

‘Ta-da!’

‘Damn. Could’ve confused me if it wasn’t for the obvious colors.'

‘What can I say? I am quite fond of those. I… claw too much to them.’ Luna closed and opened her claw. ‘I claw upon them instead of clawing to-’

‘Stop it.’

‘No – I will claw onto my joke.’

Eufrimia paused to think, contorting her visage to see how the Griffon in front of her would react. To put it briefly: she was disappointed by the lack of originality. But she was too tired to bother extracting more out of her. ‘What are- Those Chan-gelin-gs?’

‘Yes. The Changelings,’ she wanted to get it over with.

‘Will we go to the Changeling Lands? It would be fun, no?’

‘No,’ she asserted; she knew the girl would not rest on that. ‘We leave them alone.’

‘Okay, okay.’ She tapped Luna with two hooves, making Luna smile for a reason that escaped the Princess. ‘Make me a Griffon. But keep the orange.’

‘You don’t have to tell me twice!’

Luna’s horn peered out from the Griffon form, lighting up with great expectation behind it. As blue light came to cloak Eufrimia’s body wholly, Luna sensed what was a relatively trivial spell – one she had gotten used to casting over the years – taking much effort out of her.

Eufrimia saw Luna’s unease behind the slowly thickening veil. Her eyes shifted endlessly in position, her wings were raised, and her mouth opened and closed endlessly, repeating the spell she had become unsure of its veracity. The more she recited it, the more her she doubted herself. Were those the right words? The right sequences? Why was she questioning a practice done over and over?

Rarely had Eufrimia observed Luna reacting in that manner. But knowing her, it will go well.

She yelled once. Her mouth refused to move, the words lost in the echo of her inner voice. Gathering all the energy simultaneously dissipating and souring within her, and feeling it would be her last try, Eufrimia bellowed. ‘Do it!’ she managed to get out, getting Luna’s ears to twitch. ‘I’ll be fine!’

For a couple of seconds, nothing changed. Then, like a bright, blue Sun, it ended.

Eufrimia woke up laying on the floor alone. Luna, still a Griffon, was standing, her back turned and their bag hanging on her back.

She turned in place, placing herself belly down. Then she put two… pitch-white claws on the pavement. Startled by the sight, she caressed the black fur. It was as if it could be taken off easily; it was there and wasn’t at the same time. Eufrimia turned her head to see her wings. They were there and she could control them fully. An addition of Luna or simply a part of the spell, the Thestral did not care.

Eufrimia forsook her first attempt; she had wings now, so why not profit from them? Awkwardly, she tentatively rose above the ground through the only force of her wings. But not far enough from the ground for her to not still be able to feel the ground.

Like a child learning how to walk, Eufrimia went toward the familiar things. Like so, she bumped abruptly into Luna, dropping on her claws. She stumbled and fell gently on Luna’s side. The Alicorn barely reacted but turned to face Eufrimia, meeting her red, bright eyes directly. She smirked, edging on a smile, and caressed Eufrimia on the head.

‘See?’ her voice had not changed, but uttering it from something other than her mouth was as exhilarating as it was unfamiliar. ‘You did it!’ Eufrimia hugged Luna.

Caressing Eufrimia’s winged back, Luna told the young mare in a tone similar to the one waiting to be berated for her action, ‘Let’s go to the nearest inn. I am very tired.’

Eufrimia nodded and closely followed Luna.

In a short time, they exited the ruins twenty minutes before dawn. Wanting to see the Sun basking in the ruins, Eufrimia paused, Luna, continuing without her. With the light of dawn casting a full view of the City that Was, Eufrimia noticed Luna had been avoiding the central monument from the start of their visit. She wanted to raise that fact, but her instincts told her to hold on to her words. It might be a while until she would visit the ruins once more but to keep Luna tethered to any sort of positive attitude, better let her question to be buried. In the end, it won’t matter; maintaining their relationship was paramount. If broken, nothing would mend it back together. Too many questions, some too close to sensitive memories, had earned Eufrimia many bad eyes.

There was an old tale in the mountains that Anih calls home. It spoke of a wanderer, one that travels aimlessly. No apparent goal. No explicit intent. The wanderer was described as a Griffon of great height and incredible skills. Swift as the wind and implacable in its mysterious pursuit. Stories of outstanding individuals – be it for unique deeds or their ingenuity and bizzarity – disappearing without any sign of an escape or dynasts reporting a Griffon coming to their court for some purpose that never dented their authority. Regardless, they all described the Griffon as being tall and its presence soothing. Some bowed to it but no cults or occluded worship was ever reported. Some were said to have sprung up in the past, but never more than singular reports with the scant warriors sent would return with empty, clean claws.

That stranger was said to come at random, though nothing to worry the inhabitants. In fact, in the traitorous heights of the range, riddled with the ever-present threat of bandits and the frequent instability, a stranger appearing without notice, was welcomed. It would make for a nice tale, differing from the redundancies of everyday life.

Though the wanderer welcomed itself into the court of the powerful, it had never set claw in a temple or place of worship. Perhaps purposefully avoiding them for reasons ranging from the lingering spirit of a lost soul, haunting the sepulchral peaks for a sort of penance, or speaking with the Gods directly to guide the lost to their light. Or, simply, it was nothing. Just stories tangled together for one reason or another.

Eufrimia followed Luna closely behind, busying herself with exploring her avian body. Luna had slowed down to let her get a hold of it but kept a quick pace. When her sister would finally act, Luna was ready to surge forward.

The young mare examined her beak and claws, mesmerized by their sturdiness; impressed by the dexterity those claws gave her, of the power they offered her. She felt able to cut rocks with them, pull down a tree, and be able to defend herself against any foe. Eufrimia hated snakes, with those claws, she would no longer need Luna to force them out. And with those claws, she would prove to her father and surrogate mother that she did not need to be constantly warned and protected. With an occasional flap of the wings, she felt even more liberated. More whole. When she used to be a foal, Luna would hold her or take her on rides on her back.

Eufrimia liked being a Griffon.

But her instincts begged her to differ. It was unwise. Just making her a Griffon had pained Luna; she should not ask more of her. Her friend was powerful, but she had clear limits. Perhaps not as a mage, but more as a mentally ill individual.

‘I beg you to not push her too much,’ her father had told her before going on their first-ever trip – she was in her early adolescence. They were going to the Ghastly Gorges. He had not joined them back; his body was still too deformed for him to do so. ‘I know you love her and want many things… But the Benefactor is not the perfect idol you see her as.’

‘I know,’ she had vaguely answered, wanting to end a conversation she was already bored of.

‘Look, Eufraty,’ – it was his way to make her accept the name – ‘she will do everything for you. I know she will protect you and not want to disappoint you, but there is something more. I don’t know what exactly. I don’t know how to explain it to you… She is sensitive.’

‘You arguing with her does not mean she is sensitive.’

He sighed. ‘You understand what I mean, Eufraty.’

She had been disappointed in herself for not leeching early on onto her father’s warning.

He lowered himself to his daughter’s level and put his head on top of hers. ‘You’re a smart girl. It doesn’t matter, now. One day, I will join you, and then, we will have fun together. Okay? I’m not mad.’

Those words repeated themselves every time before travel. She knew he lied at the end. She knew he did not like Luna or trusted her, but he believed in his daughter. Though she struggled to understand the dislike he harbored for Luna, she heeded his words. She began to notice things about Luna. She noticed the anxiety Luna lived through; the uneasy creature she was. Eufrimia read about the Sisters’ history. She faulted Celestia. She faulted Luna. She faulted both of them for the complicated miasma her friend was living with. She understood her father’s worries.

In Anih, Eufrimia had observed Luna truly losing that anxiety for the first time. For the first time in Anih, she saw Luna actually “having fun”.

A thing Eufrimia made herself remember.

Luna kept occasionally glancing back toward Eufrimia in a mixture of angst and amusement. A look the Thestral had become familiar with. On occasions like these, Eufrimia enjoyed the attention she was given from Luna.

‘She’s not your mother, Eufraty. You are,’ her farther had snorted before they went off to Anih, ‘a friend, a confidant, but she does not consider you a daughter.’

‘I know,’ she had bitterly answered. ‘But I am friends with Cherry, and she never treats me like that. Me either.’

‘Because, unlike her, you two are mentally sane.’

He always came close to berate Luna. And he once did in their visit to the Rambling Rock Ridge, in the aftermath of an attack by one of the great worm-like, giant creatures that inhabited the land – an attack that they had managed to effortlessly escape but enough to tip her father beyond the edge. Luna had remained quiet all the while he disgorged everything on his mind. She had not the will to challenge his words. Eufrimia always thought it was intentional on her part; by not answering, she made herself lose by default. Like so, she would be rid of Eufrimia.

‘You have to make her take those trips!’ He had yelled. ‘She is not you! I know how magic works – I saw your work with those things. If she gets hurt, I won’t be candid.

‘Don’t think I let her join you freely because I trusted that you will be careful. I don’t trust you will be. You are inexperienced with that concept. I trust my daughter will look up to herself and take the right decisions. She knew when to escape in time. Unlike you, who stayed idly standing for whatever reason! You are the Benefactor, and for that, I am eternally grateful, but I would have never given you care of my daughter. You are mad and, for that alone, you cannot be relied upon.’

Luna had stayed stoic, the words dentlessly ricocheting over her mental armor. An insult hurled becomes just another word. Eufrimia doubted any of those supposed beratings or insults had been so clearly said before. Most likely, presumably, Luna had made herself believe having been deflated. Her sarcasm had to stem from somewhere. She tended to greatly extrapolate at times; to exaggerate the extents things take to absurd levels bordering on paranoia. Once Eufrimia caught her repeating for verbatim and with oblique commentary, a conversation she had. Eufrimia had overheard the self-loathing for things she could perceive right as to what they were. She had seemed to be laughing off some remarks disingenuously.

There is nothing more dangerous than the ramblings of a solitary mind.

Eufrimia might not reverse the course Luna had lumped herself into, but she could, in the minuscule time they would spend together, break the mind fog and melancholy Luna was trapped in. It was, contrary to her father’s protestations, a mother figure, and a close friend. Never would she let Luna fall deeper.

She shook her head. She had to forget for a moment; to let things move by without complications.

‘Everything alright?’ asked Luna.

‘Just getting used to this body.’ She attempted to joke, but nothing interesting came up at the moment.

Luna turned and held on to Eufrimia, taking her like a sick creature. Dawn was coming, a new day was coming; they needed to be quick.

The inn they first came across was nothing impressive; seemingly an ancient barrack built with red bricks, topped by a wooden roof – easy to repair and maintain but barely enough, hopefully, to keep water out of the house. It had a small garden with apple trees and other fruit-bearing ones. Eufrimia fixated on a tree and sprinted toward it. She stumbled a few times but continued undaunted. Eufrimia jumped at the tree and started to rummage through the foliage.

‘Can’t you see there is nothing on it, yes?’ asked Luna, amused by her reaction.

She ignored her; Eufrimia attention was elsewhere.

‘What are you searching for?’

Eufrimia reached her arm into the tree. Her paws was unable to tightly grab on a lower branch. She almost fell before pouncing forward, using her wings to rush at a target Luna could not see.

‘Hey!’ yelled Luna. ‘Get down!’

‘Look what I’ve found!’ exclaimed Eufrimia, shouting with pride as she held something in her claw.

Before Luna could inquire any further, Eufrimia ate the thing she caught and swallowed it whole, happy about her catch.

‘What have you eaten!?’ Luna pulled Eufrimia down with magic. The young Thestral retreated and hid her head from Luna’s aggressive walk. ‘Answer!’

‘A nest of spiders,’ she whispered.

‘Repeat! Louder!’ Luna ordered.

‘A nest of spiders,’ she unintentionally bellowed. ‘I heard something familiar. I was curious…’

‘Idiot.’ Something like a spear pierced Eufrimia’s heart. ‘Why now? Never – never – have you acted like that. Why-’

‘I thought they might taste different… Maybe tastier. I can’t do that in Equestria,’ she tried to explain herself.

Luna sighed. ‘I understand. I really do.’ She sighed again. ‘No matter. If you get sick, you get sick. Get up, now. You just had to flush away my need for sleep,’ she wearily smiled.

‘Sorry…’

‘If you want, they make roasted snakes here. Never eaten it, but maybe you have the stomach for it. If you still can eat after your stupidity.’

Eufrimia shrugged undecidedly. She got up and followed Luna inside.

‘A room for two?’ asked the clerk, transfixed by Luna’s height.

‘Yep,’ answered Luna, speaking in his tongue.

‘It will be one gold for each, madam. Please. If there is anything else you require, please do tell.’

Eufrimia saw Luna’s quick grimace at the mechanical way he had answered. She also saw the way that young Griff was beholding her. She pulled a pointed tongue out, trying to hide her surprise at its feeling.

‘A bit expensive, no?’ questioned Luna.

‘Madam, it is not easy to get things here, and with a renewed bandit presence thanks to that idiot king, we have to have those prices. If it were of my-’

‘-own volition you would have lowered it. Yeah… Heard it all before. Not that I care that much for the price. Take these and,’ she took out a silver coin, ‘this for you. Better you have it than some random thief?’ she winked.

‘Oh! Thank you! May the Gods protect you!’

‘You two, boy.’

She then addressed Eufrimia in a whisper as they headed to their room. ‘I think I’ve just said “two” instead of “to”.’

‘They have that… too?’ she whispered back.

‘Kinda. Though thankfully, it is barely noticeable.’

‘So like for us?’

‘Exactly. Only poor bastards somehow reading a transcription of our conversation will notice it. Though they must be utterly bored to read waste like that.’

Eufrimia stifled a loud giggle, making Luna smile.

‘Now,’ Luna continued, ‘let us hurry up, I don’t want you under the Sun.’