The Second Griffon War (Casual Thread - All welcome!)

Dumbledoof Dumbledoof

Leper would nod, putting her mask back up, and getting a hold of her greatsword, putting it back into its sling, before leaving the room, "Stay safe in your travels" She'd say, nodding to him, making her way down the hall, towards the exit.
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Sleek Sleek

Time was no longer relevant for how long Cassian has been helping around the hospital. Probably hours, days, maybe weeks. It didn't matter to him. Right now, there were many ponies who were several injured or even close to death since the griffon's assault on Canterlot. And the young dragon couldn't just sit around and let them suffer. While the enemy was fended off, many hearts and spirits were broken. Hardly any known medicine could help heal such deep sounds.

Still, he had to do something. Cassian would spent half of his time training and sharpening his skills. But now he' given more of his time to help the hospitals and infirmeries while taking moments in between to keep himself sharpened as any blade. He was no doctor, but his combining skills of healing nature magic and herbology really did wonders. The staff and patients were wary of him at first, but a few kind words from a few soldiers and residents of ponyville made them realize he was no threat. Still, many patients were nervous around him. So he would come back later while they were asleep to help redo thier bandages and cover thier wounds with herbal potion mixtures that worked well with his healing skills. While he would stay and help the doctors nurses in the day time, he would go sneak out of the city at night to find more medicinal herbs. Although he occasionally encountered several Griffon scouts while on his night errands. Which was highly unfortunate for them.

Tonight however, the young dragon still remained in the hospital. His supply of ingredients for healing potions and cures is well stocked. And all the patients were sleeping peaceully. Or so he thought. Every now and then, he would see a couple ponies tossing and turning in thier sleep. And some would have looks of dread and heartbreak on thier faces. Even though he was able to help heal thier bodies, there was both in he could so for thier tortured souls. All he could do is stay at thier sides and make thier they were comfortable. Still....after seeing a young colt barely older than fifteen and a blue unicorn mare missing a leg, the young dragon could only growl in frustration seeing he was no helpless than they were. He sat in a chair across the room from one of these nameless ponies he hardly knew. He pinch the roof of his snout. "First I had to watch a whole town of kind ponies loose thier homes, and now this...foals and mares covered in bloody bandages and missing limbs",he silently growls thinking back on all the damage the griffons had cause. There was no doubt he will show no mercy for these atrocities.

Still, getting angry won't help. He hasn' slept much, so it was no surprise he was having a bit of trouble keeping his anger in check. He quickly dives into his medicine pouch and takes some of his medication to help him calm down. While swallowing his tablet whole, he remembered something a wise mare once told him. 'Music is the best way to calm and sooth the spirit.' Upon realizing, his claws dig into his bag and pulls out his ocarina. He hasn' played since he first arrived in ponyville. But it was worth a try. He looks back at the nameless pony sleeping while making wincing expressions. He slowly brings the instrument to his lips and begins to play a quick tune at a low note so he doesn' wake them.
 
Whisper listened to the Ocarina gratefully, closing his eyes and listening to the tune. The doctors and nurses had eventually found him, and brought him back here. He was too weak to resist considering his body was weakened by the mere act of going outside. His short and threadbare tail jerked every now and again to the rhythm, and he hummed occasional notes.
"This is nice."
He muttered contentedly.
Wylfen Shepard Wylfen Shepard
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
The air was stuffier than usual when Asa opened her eyes blearily, between sleep and wakefulness still. The cart the griffons had shoved them in had given a particularly heavy jump, probably from the wheel hitting some sort of mound. She had no idea where they were and couldn't figure it out there. At least it wasn't outright cold, not that it would probably effect them all that much. She figured the griffons had more to worry about with cold environments than any of they did, except possibly little Flurry Heart. It wasn't cold, it was just uncomfortable. The air was thick.

She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but when the cart lurched again, she sighed and opened them completely, raising her head and shaking off the remnants of sleep. There was no way she was going to be able to with such rough riding. Not that the griffons probably cared; they had their prize. Them, the royal children (with herself being a possible exception, since she was adopted and a dragon), but the real prize was Silvanus, Salacia, and Flurry Heart. Each of them were alicorn foals. You don't get much better than that. She was just a crystal dragon.

Asa yawned. "Is anybody else awake?" She wondered out loud, checking the other occupants of their moving cell. She still was curled around Flurry Heart protectively, mostly geared towards Silvanus or Salacia.
 
Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
"Unfortunately." came the reply off to the side, from a tired Silvanus who was just sitting up staring into space with Salacia curled up beside her. Right now the Nature Goddess was just staring out the side of the cage as the trees and hills rolled by. By this point in time they definitely had to be nearing the ocean, where they would board a ship and sail across the ocean. Never to be heard from again!

By this point, the griffons had them firmly under control. At first they hadn't been sure how long the effects of the anti-magic bombs would render the alicorns powerless, and a few times they had a fight on their hands when Silvanus and Salacia got their magic back... But by now, the griffons had figured out that it was 16 hours before their magic returned. So they bombed them again every 15 hours.
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Asa wasn't doing much better honestly, and unfortunately, she didn't have magic to really combat them. She was surely quite strong for her age, probably even more so than the griffons guarding the, but well ... she had to actually be able to reach them. The most she could do was breathe some light and possibly blind them, but they probably know all about that. It was simple; she look away when she opened her mouth, or even just close your eyes. It was easy to avoid.

She stared Silvanus down for a while and sighed. "How are you doing, Silv?" She asked quietly.
 
Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
"How do you think?" Silvanus snapped, before just sighing and shaking her head. "I'm alright, Asa. Given the situation. I'm not hurt or hungry, so that's fine... but being caged like some animal is grating on my nerves. If only I had a split second to focus on my magic, I would summon some help..." She whispered that pretty quietly, but didn't really care if the guards heard it or not. It wasn't like they would slack on giving the anti-magic bombs to them.
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Asa flinched away at her retort. She didn't know what else to say! They were both stuck in the same exact situation. She wanted to at least talk to somebody but she wasn't really sure if anybody actually wanted to do even that. It already bothered her immensely that the guards were listening to their every word so she couldn't say anything sensitive.

"... I'm sorry ..." Asa murmured, looking down at the floor, dragging her claws along it lightly. She was kind of used to some ponies still thinking of her as an animal. They were out there and were somewhat vocal about it. Not everypony was accepting of a dragon being a part of the royal family of the Crystal Empire. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything at all.
 
Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
"Grow up." Silvanus said, although as she looked over at Asa her eyes were much softer than her tone. Her eyes said something different entirely. They said, 'don't show weakness'. Even at this young an age, Silvanus had an instinctual understanding of nature and its laws... and the primary law of nature was never to show weakness. Otherwise you would become prey. Silvanus knew that, and she hoped Asa would pick up on that rather soon. Showing affection or care in this situation would not help at all.

The griffons on the outside had to be able to look at them and feel some sort of fear. They were a dragon, a demigod and 2 goddesses. They were all powerful. They needed to act serious and try to knock the griffons off their game. Affection and feelings had no place in a time like this. One slip up from the griffons was all it'd take; even if it meant Silva could ram her horn through one of their eye sockets.

She knew they were all to valuable to be seriously punished for an attack. At most they might get a beating, which they could handle. They wouldn't be beat too bad, though; not without the King's permission.
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
The most Asa knew of nature was her short time with her parents before she was adopted by Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. In that time, she wasn't even allowed out of the cave they had been staying in, mother always keeping her close. Father went out often to catch them food. That was until the purple worms attacked, either killing or driving them away, leaving her alone to die. Until Shining Armor had found her.

Hiding her feelings didn't come natural to her, and neither was the laws of nature. She was barely old enough to even understand how to catch food at this point. Silvanus's words stung her deeply and she didn't take it too kindly, her nerves already raw from the fight that had taken place before they were captured, and then being dragged across the country to Celestia-knows where. She didn't say anything in return but the tense of her muscles told that she was mildly angry at that.

She looked between the bars, seeing one of the griffons staring at them. She glared at them, keeping eye contact until they looked away, and huffing before laying her head back down. She was too angry to be afraid at the moment and that was hardly Silvanus's fault.
 
Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
Silvanus winced ever so slightly when she noticed how tense and angry Asa looked to be... But didn't let it bother her too much. It was for Asa's benefit in the long run, and the moment they were alone Silvanus would be sure to explain herself. It was obvious that Asa didn't quite understand, and Silvanus didn't want the young dragoness to think that she was being mean for no reason. That isn't something that Silvanus would do! She could certainly get moody, but not outright rude.

Unfortunately, they didn't actually get along time until it was night. So about 12 hours later!

After the sun had fallen and the darkness had overtaken the sky, their little entourage of guards had dwindled a considerable amount. Their entourage only had 2 carts; one with the cage for the kids, and 1 for sleeping guards. The carts were pulled by griffons who switched out shifts when they got tired, and rotated sleeping; every other guard not on cart-duty was asleep. They had nothing to fear from the kids anyway so they might as well rest up.

That meant the only guards awake, were the ones pulling their cart and the other cart. Two griffons pulled each cart. And they were pretty far away so nobody would hear them talking.

Silvanus made her way over to Asa once she was sure everyone was asleep. "... You doing okay?"

Sleek Sleek
In the bed next to Whisper was a rather beautiful mare, who was currently just staring at the ceiling. She had a light blue body and a white mane with an even lighter blue streak through it... And also no leg right foreleg. She had bandages wrapped around it and a few other places on her body, but otherwise seemed okay. If you could call that okay.
 
"Ma'am?"
He asked, looking over. He didn't care for beauty, considering it a weak excuse at times for certain actions.
Whisper's main concern was the way she was acting.
"Are you....alright?"
of course she wasn't, but he had to ask.

Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Asa had gone silent for the time it took to turn into night. She wasn't exactly pleased with the response that she had gotten from Silvanus previously, which didn't help but put her in a foul mood, plus just ... sad. She hadn't expected Silvanus to just outright insult her like that. 'Grow up' stung a little more deeply than she cared to admit. It was out of character for her friend to do something like that, especially out of the blue and with seemingly no reason. At least Silvanus had gotten somewhat of an intended effect from her.

When night came, her eyes had begun glowing just a tiny bit, but only on the irises. No other part of her eye glowed, which just happened to illuminate the pupils as well somewhat. At Silvanus's question, she turned her head to the earthy alicorn, giving her a cold look. She really wanted to be mad at her. Asa tried hard to be, but unfortunately, she just couldn't do it. She was too drained to do anything. So she just slumped forward and rested her head on the floor.

"About as well as expected," she responded in a hollow voice. She cast her eyes in Silvanus's direction out of the corner of them. "I think little Flurry is doing worse than me though."
 
Sleek Sleek
Anypony who knew Trixie well would know that was probably something you should not ask her. But Whisper didn't exactly know Trixie, and normally she wouldn't be snappy... Unfortunately she was not in a normal situation. She just lost her leg. So yeah, she wasn't exactly thrilled about anything right now. "... What?" She asks while looking over at the stallion, raising an eyebrow. She waved around her severed stump for emphasis. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Great. I just figured if I cut my leg off, I'd have a snack for later, y'know?"

Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
Silva glanced down at Flurry Heart who was asleep on the floor, and frowned slightly. She didn't exactly know the extent of Flurry Heart's powers, but she didn't think that a little cold would bother her that much. Then again she could be totally wrong. Silvanus saddled up next to Asa and gently wrapped a wing around the young dragoness, though it didn't reach all the way around. Close though! Silvanus was a rather large young filly. All muscle and tall as a pre-teen at only a year old.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't actually want to be rude, but I was trying to make you angry." She explained with a frown. "Out here, we have to be tough. You apologizing to me looks bad. These griffons need to be thrown off their game if we are to get out of here. The more they see us as a threat, maybe we can manipulate one of them."
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Fortunately, Flurry Heart had an adopted big sister to keep her warm! While Asa may be just a little bit chilled, her body warm was more than enough to keep the tiny filly warm. She was wrapped around the pubescent filly like a cocoon, warding up danger with her body, her wing draped over her like a blanket. Fortunately, her underbelly and wings weren't thorny with crystals, making them exceptional enough for her to lay with Flurry Heart without hurting her.

Asa turned her head to Silvanus, leaning into her slightly, thankful for the gesture. It seemed to help her tense muscles relax, even just a tiny bit. "I understand, it just ... hurt to hear." She started under her breath. "That I have to grow up and haven't already, and yet everybody else seems to have already. I'm really scared, Silv."
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
Sleek Sleek

Cassian spent an hour or two playing different tunes for each room in the hospital. Surprisingly, it seems to have worked. The music from his ocarina was having a therapetic effect on most of the patients in thier sleep. Before leaving, the young dragon decided to check up on the blue mare known as Trixie Lulamoon and Whisper the colt before either of them were to wake up. He took special care in tucking them into thier blankets and fluffing thier pillows before leaving.

Right before taking his leave, he took one last look at Whisper and gently ruffled his mane with his claw. "Hang in there. Both of you.", he said to him and looked back at the beautiful blue mare with a half-hearted smile before disappear in into the shadow and out to the streets of canterlot.
 
Dumbledoof Dumbledoof
Silvanus chuckled gently, a warm soothing sound coming from the filly as she laughed. "See, that's the difference between you and I. Luna didn't let me stay young. From the minute Salacia and I could walk, it was into martial training, magical training, and political training. She never told me why she took it so seriously... But I understand now. We're all targets. She would rather give us a rough upbringing but leave us able to defend ourselves, than give us everything we want and have us be weak."

That didn't sound very good though, did it? Silva winced slightly and pulled Asa in closer with a wing. "... Not that you're weak, Asa. You know what I meant."

Wylfen Shepard Wylfen Shepard
"Goodbye, strange dragon bro!" was Trixie's only reply as Cassian tucked her into bed, before he disappeared out the window. Her drugs were strong, so despite having met him before she didn't actually remember him. As far as she could tell, he wasn't actually there! This was all just some sort of drug trip and she was imaging giant dragons tucking her into bed...
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
"I don't think I'll be able to stay young after this, y'know?" She muttered. It sounded almost as if she was talking to herself. "This ... I didn't realize we were all a target for other people before. I don't know much about the world, but I guess ... I can't stay young. Weak." She gave a small giggle. "It sounds really weird to say that. I think you know what I mean. I need to talk to Shining Armor and Cadence when we get back."

She scooched Flurry Heart in close to her belly, allowing Silva to pull her in. "I have to get strong like you and Sal. You know, so I can protect little Flurry!"
 
"Joking is a good sign."
Whisper said without taking any of the social cues from Trixie.
"It means that you're actually doing decently for your position."
He'd read it in a book somewhere.
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver
 
Cassian was now outside the city of Canterlot. Standing in front of the flowing river of the waterfall that flows from the mountain with only his casual clothing. He left his coat, weapons and supplies under a tree close by. Now that he was finished in helping the injured for the day, he decided it was time to do some training. But instead of sharpening his fighting skills, he decided it would be a good time to practice his magic. Which was something he hasn't done in a while. Not since he left home. Before his recent change, he had little need to use magic due to his limitations. But now it was no longer an issue. However while using his magic in that last battle, he had some difficultly executing various spells. And with his magical threshold broken, he's does not have a handle on his new power just yet. For now, it was best to start from step one before he can utilize his magical abilities more efficiently in combat. "Might as well take advantage of this.....if I can help them any further. Just like what Rhea said, 'If you'e going to use a weapon, you must first make yourself into one' ", he quoted his Griffon teacher before taking a fighting stance, which most bipedal races such as Minotaurs call Horse-stance.

From what he knew of how dragons use magic, it's far more complex compared to how unicorns do it. Theyre naturals at it the moment they are born. Dragons however, take many years to become aware of thier magic. Most dont even become masters at this craft until old age. However, Cassian was one of the few lucky ones to actually get this far at the age of 22. And also unlike unicorns, some dragons can harness magic through multiple points on thier bodies; depending on the nature and type of spell. It takes years of training and growth to find these points. But it is mostly known to be more efficint through thier centers, which make spell breathes or roar spells. Unfortunately, Cassian can't breathe fire, so he'll have to focus on the other points such as the claws, spines and tail. The only point he was most familiar with was through his claws, so it was best to start from there

He thrusts his hands out and cracks his knuckles. A greenish magic aura begins to envelope his claws. Aura began to spread around his body as small rocks and pebbles within his aura suddenly glowed neon greenish veins and began to hover around him. His first test is to see where is limit is now.
 
A dark maroon mare watched Cassian from a distance, not sure what to make of him. She didn't seem too very concerned he was using magic, but kept her distance regardless. You didn't piss off anyone using magic.
Well...not until you judge their intentions. She judged his decently innocent, and came forward.
"Well...hello there."
She said softly and with that sweet smoothness that only a shy mare could pull off.
"What's a big bad dragon like you doing here?"
Wylfen Shepard Wylfen Shepard
 
Sleek Sleek

Cassian had a good steady flow. No strain. No disturbances. Just a nice life flow like a river. Right as the young dragon was about to take it up a knotch, he was brought out of it by a sweet female voice. The young drake lets go of his magic at glares back with a serious expression, only to settle down when he sees a strange but nice looking mare with a pretty maroon coat. He rolled his eyes at her 'Big Bad Dragon' comment, but smirked back in amusemet instead of offense. True he was no bigger then one of the princesses, but he was still considered small by Dragon standards.

"Nothing.....just getting in on some practice", he replied rolling back his arm. "So what's a 'pretty little mare' like you doing out here by yourself? It's not safe to be roaming about unless you have anything to defend yourself. Theyre tend to be enemy Griffons scouting around"
 
Cyan Hide Cyan Hide
It had been 1 day since the Battle for Canterlot had suddenly been put on hold. The battle had only raged for a single day, yet in that time many Equestrian's (and many more Griffons) had lost their lives. The lucky ones, or perhaps the unlucky ones depending on the injury, made it through. Trixie was one of those ponies. After losing her leg, Starlight Glimmer, Expellix and Princess Luna had quickly worked to save her, with the Princess ordering Expellix to cauterize her leg while Starlight held her down.

It worked, briefly. Long enough to get the mare to the hospital at least. Unfortunately by the time they actually cauterized the wound, she had already lost a lot of blood and fallen into unconsciousness. Losing ones leg was a rather serious injury, obviously. The doctors at the hospital weren't sure at first if they could actually save her, and they had no clerics to spare so healing magic was out of the question. Eventually, to everypony's surprised, Trixie pulled through.

Now it was the day after, and she was just waking up for the first time since the accident.
 
Dreamweaver Dreamweaver

Starlight sat up straight when she noticed Trixie stirring in her hospital bed. She had only left the blue mare's side to eat and use the bathroom. She had even slept here.

"Trixie! You're waking up!" she exclaimed ecstatically
 
Cyan Hide Cyan Hide
To say that Trixie looked terrible would be an understatement. Although her coat kept its brilliant blue shine, the skin underneath that had gone very cold white from blood loss. What she had is what's referred to by the doctors here as a 'Class 4 Hemorrhage', which Starlight would be informed meant that she lost 40% of the blood in her body. That is why the doctors thought she wouldn't make it. Few ponies ever do, but she managed to pull through... For now. Right now the doctors were just hoping that the cauterized wound on her leg didn't get infected or they'd have to do even more surgery.

Trixie reared her head up weakly and looked around wild-eyed for a moment, though she didn't have the energy to really freak out. Her head quickly fell back down on the pillow and she let out a tired sigh. "Where am I?" She asked as loud as she could muster, though it wasn't much more than a loud whisper. Her throat felt incredibly dry right now.

She hadn't seemed to clue in to her leg being gone yet, instead looking around the room blearily at all the equipment she was currently hooked up too.
 
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