>A powerful gust of wind filled the sails of your boat, driving you ever toward your destination
>The waves crashed against the bow, splashing slightly over as your nephew hung excitedly over the edge
>With a deep breath, he took in the salty sea air
>This was the first time you had decided to take him on this trip
>He'd never seen the ocean, much less been sailing on it before
>Mosina hadn't thought he was old enough before, but now seemed to be the right time
>"How much longer till we get to the island?" Radom asked as you tended to the sails
"About ten minutes buddy, you having fun yet?" You asked
>He nodded excitedly
>"You kidding? This is awesome!" He said, rushing from one end of the boat to the other
>In his mad rush, he bumped into Mosina, lost in her book, jarring her as her sunhat was knocked over her face
>"Radom, be careful! This boat's not big enough for all this running around!"
>He chuckled nervously
>"Heh, sorry aunt Mosina..."
>You smiled as you turned your attention back to the island ahead of you
>It's lush green trees...
>The waves crashing off the rocks...
>The glistening sand of the beach...
>"What's on the island anyway, uncle Anon?" Radom asked you, pulling you out of your trance
"An old friend, one we haven't visited in a while now." You replied, readjusting your sails to cut across a rougher patch of waves
>Radom squinted out at it
>"Must be nice living somewhere like that! It's like paradise!"
"It sure seems like it, doesn't it?" You asked
>"We're getting close," Mosina said
>"Shall I ready the anchor or should we leave it up to the first mate?" 
"Think you can handle that, first mate?" You ask Radom
>"Aye aye, Captain!" He said with an exaggerated salute
>He quickly began untying the anchor, struggling to carry it to the side of the boat with it's weight
>Finally, as you felt you were close enough, he waited for your orders with anticipation
"Alright, throw her in." You said, to which he responded with a strained grunt as he tossed the anchor overboard
>You felt the boat tug against the rope as the anchor dug into the sandy bottom, locking your vessel in place
>The three of you disembarked, you carrying Radom on your shoulders as he wasn't quite tall enough to stand above water yet
>Once you hit the beach, you allowed him to climb down
>He ran around excitedly kicking up a hearty cloud of sand as you and Mosina stood there, taking in the sights
>"It looks the same." She said
"Yeah...it does." You replied quietly as Radom ran off chasing a large bright butterfly
>She gave you a knowing look, placing a reassuring hoof on your hand
>You grasped it, your misty eyes turning to hers
>With a deep breath, you steel yourself
"Ready?" 
>"Are you?" She asked
>You honestly thought you were, but the truth was this trip was never easy for you
>Still, you nodded
>She smiled softly and looked around
>"Wait, where's Radom?"
>You scanned the beach, but didn't see him
"Not again..." You groan
>...
>Radom bounded after the butterfly as it weaved between the trees
>His clumsy movements paled to it's grace as it glided over the brush that he had to forcibly plow through
>Suddenly, without warning, Radom felt the earth disappear beneath him
>"Oompf!" He gasped as he hit the ground, sliding through the brush and down a slight hill, coughing as a cloud of dust formed around him
>Still coughing and hacking as he lay on the ground, he heard the laugh of an unfamiliar voice
>"You should be more careful, son. Unfamiliar ground is full of all sorts of surprises." 
>Radom looked up, and was met with the sight of an older looking Griffon, watching amused as he sat on a large stone
>"Who are you?" Radom asked, climbing to his feet
>The griffon smiled at him, his eyes kind, watching curiously
>"It's usually customary for a guest to introduce themselves first in these parts, Radom, or have your aunt and uncle not taught you that yet?"
>Radom was caught off guard by the question
>"Y-you know uncle Anon and aunt Mosina?"
>The griffon nodded
>"That I do. I've known them for many years now..." He said
>Radom jumped excitedly
>"That's so cool! We came here just to visit you!" He said
>The griffon chuckled
>"Yes, I know. They come when they can. I was wondering when they would bring their little one along."
>Radom pawed at the ground embarrassed
>"They said I was too young before, they thought something would happen to me."
>The griffon raised an eyebrow at him
>"Like what, you'd get lost?" 
>Radom nodded
>"Yeah, like that."
>"Like now, you mean?" 
>Radom's eyes went wide as he looked around, realizing he was indeed lost in these woods
>"Oh great...now I'm gonna get it." He said, slumping down onto his rear
>The griffon merely smiled at him
>"I wouldn't worry about it, your uncle is an understanding man, and your aunt was never one to get too upset." He said
>Radom perked up at that
>"So how did you know them? Did you all go on adventures together?"
>The griffon nodded
>"We did. Unfortunately our adventuring was cut short, but it seems things have turned out well for them in my absence."
>Radom looked at him curiously
>"What do you mean it was cut short?"
>The griffon shook his head
>"Oh it's a long story, your aunt and uncle will undoubtedly tell you later." He said, readjusting his seat
>He seemed almost like he was stuck to the stone
>"So, Radom, tell me about yourself. Your uncle clearly thinks the world of you, based on what he's told me."
>Radom blushed
>"H-he does?" He asked
>"Oh absolutely," the griffon said
>"but I'd like to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, as it were."
>Radom scratched his head
>"Well...I mean, what did you want to know?"
>The griffon shrugged
>"How about your interests? What do you like to do?"
>Radom thought for a moment
>"Well, I love listening to aunt Mosina's stories about the lands around Equestria, all the stories of dragons, minotaurs, zebras..."
>"And griffons?" 
>Radom chuckled nervously
>"Well, yeah, of course. But it all sounds so cool, I wish I could see it all."
>"You must take after her in that way." He mused
>Radom nodded
>"Uncle Anon and I also play a lot of sports, he says I need to stay active if I want to be a Royal Guard one day."
>The griffon looked amused
>"Good to know he hasn't forgotten the value of training since we last parted ways." 
>Radom looked at him curiously
>"What do you mean?"
>"I taught your uncle Anon just about everything he knows. Call it narcissistic but it warms my heart to know my knowledge is being passed on to the new generation. The best knowledge shouldn't be lost to time just because I can no longer teach it." 
>Radom beamed with pride
>"I'm glad to be learning from the best then!" 
>The griffon laughed
>"You've got heart, son. That's something every good soldier should have." He said
>"But I do feel I should warn you, that's not an easy life. At your age I can only wonder if you've thought about it at length as you should." 
>Radom pointed to his cutie mark, revealing the sun emblazoned shield
>"I have! My cutie mark even says so!"
>The griffon sighed
>"Are you so sure? I've never really understood those things, but if there's one thing I understand, it's the life of a soldier. And I tell you, son, that beneath the pomp, the parades, the glory...it's hard." He said
>"I'd never try to tell you not to follow your dreams, but I would ask that you constantly ask yourself if that is the path you truly want to take. It's a life of sacrifice, and one day you may need to make a choice you'd trade anything to avoid. Do you understand?"
>Radom pondered his words
>"I think so..." He said
>The griffon smiled, reaching down and ruffling Radom's mane
>"Good. Remember that." He said
"Radom!" You called, your voice echoing through the woods
>"The griffon sighed once more
>"Tell your aunt and uncle to see Shaleek before they head home, the old witch would be glad to see them too for once."
>Radom turned to watch as you and Mosina came pushing through the bushes
>"There you are!" She said, rushing over to him and hugging him
>"You can't just run off like that! We were worried sick about you!"
>"I'm sorry aunt Mosina, I just was chasing this butterfly and then I fell through the bushes and slid down here and then-"
>He stopped short as he noticed the stone the griffon had been perched on was now vacant
>"I..." 
>You put a hand on his shoulder
"I see you've found our friend." You said, looking at the stone, wiping away some of the dirt and dust that had accumulated on it, revealing a name etched underneath.
>"Hugo..." Radom read out loud
>You nodded
"He was on the trip where your aunt and I first met. Big griffon, hated my guts for a while, but at the end we became close friends." You explained as you lay down a small bundle of wild flowers at the foot of the headstone
"He saved our lives back then, we come back here every year to say thanks."
>The three of you stare at the headstone in silence
>"Uncle Anon, aunt Mosina?" Radom asked
>"Yes sweetheart?" Mosina said
>"I think...I think we should visit Shaleek before going home..."
>You and Mosina looked at each other in shock
"How...how do you know about Shaleek?" You asked
>Slowly, the three of you all turn back to the stone, a large, bright butterfly sunning itself momentarily on it before taking off once more, flying toward the bright blue sky as a soft wind blows rustles the trees of Whinnypeg Island around you
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