You sigh as gryphons usually bring nothing but trouble to you.
"Did they say what they wanted exactly Echo?" you ask knowing that you've got to do your diplomatic duties as the leader of the plane ponies.
"No they didn't say. Did you want me to ask?" Echo asked.
"Yes, find out what they want Echo, then come back and tell me what they want." You say as Morgan comes in the back of the shop.
"What's with those odd ones?" Morgan asked as she closed the door behind her.
"The gryphons? I don't know. Wish I knew, so Echo's going to find out for me." You say explaining the current situation to Morgan.
"Oh so those bird/pony/lion things are gryphons. Alright, so why are they here?" Morgan asked you just shrug as you don't have a damned clue either.
"If I knew, would I have sent Echo to find out?" You say as Echo comes back and knocks again.
"Um, they say they can only talk to you about it. So where would you want to talk to them?" Echo asked.
"Probably in the shop, considering I know it and they don't. Besides I've got Morgan and Thunderbolt in here with me. Guess you should send them in." You say as you go and push open the doors.
There's four gryphons standing about 200 yards away from Echo.
"Call them over would you?" You say as Echo goes and brings the four to you.
While Echo is away you have a few words with Morgan.
"Don't do anything to upset them. They can be kinda "touchy" at best. Hopefully these diplomats behave." You say giving a short briefing to Morgan.
"So are you telling me to be quiet?" Morgan asked.
"No, I'm saying don't do anything stupid like make them mad at you, or me or anyone here. I'd like to keep us out of their shit." You say as you check the distance from Echo to you.
"Oh alright. Nothing stupid. I get it." Morgan said as she puts on a light smile and stands behind you.
"Thank you Morgan." You say as you attempt to hug her but are interrupted by Echo and the four gryphons.
"Rex, these gryphons are from the kingdom of Oslo. They will continue the introductions from here." Echo said as she departed.
"Ja, ve take it from here." the first gryphon said without introducing herself.
"And you all are?" you ask.
"Ve are the representatives of Oslo." the female gryphon said.
"Well, I get that. Your names, if you're going to come all this way to talk to me, I would rather have a name to respond to than just say representative." you say showing a little of the same indignation they are towards you.
"I am Leif Stormbarge." the gryphon furthest from you said with you nodding in approval.
"Leif, shut your beak. I vill do talking." the female said again.
"Then introduce yourself madam, or will you offend me with your anger?" You say prodding her into giving her name.
"Sigge Stormbarge. My brother has as you say very bad manners. Vas ordered to keep his mouth closed. My other companions are Rolf Sorrenson and Hannes Ingvarsson. Ve vould like to negotiate vith the one called Rex Tremendae." Sigge said as the other two gryphons nodded acknowledging who they were.
"So you're looking for Rex?" You say as you look at the map hanging on the wall.
"Ja, plane that brought us here said he vas in here." Sigge said as you walk to the map.
"Ah, well he is here, and probably not who'd you expect Sigge. Tell me what do you know of Rex?" You ask as you locate both Equestria and Oslo on the map, considering Avalon's Shadow is in the middle. Both Sully and Mulder made this map with recon photos in their free time for you, even drew the current borders.
"Vhy are you asking? Vhere is Rex Tremendae?" Sigge asked.
"Just answer the question would you Sigge, then I'll tell you vere Rex is." You say almost taunting her a little.
"Ja, Vhat ve know of Rex Tremendae is that he can fight very vell in the sky. Ve also know he has control of all of Avalon's Shadow and the few surrounding strips that are part of the Avalon territory." Sigge said confirming your territorial boundaries.
"Right, but that's just the land, but nothing about Rex. Who is in this room." You say now leading her on.
"Vhat is it you want to know? Ve know very little of him. Ve know he is small, that is all." Sigge said as you laugh to yourself.
"You consider me small do you?" You say as you turn around.
"Vhat? You cannot be Rex. You are filthy! No ruler has ever been so filthy!" Sigge said as you shrug and laugh a little.
"Best believe it Stormbarge, I'm Rex Tremendae. Don't let the clothes fool you more than they have." You say with a smile on your face as she is clearly both confused and frustrated with you.
"Sigge, I believe it is our turn now. You have found us Rex Tremendae. Your task is over ja?" Rolf said trying to get her to back down.
"Rolf you believe this..... thing is Rex Tremendae? That one vith the vhite ving is more fitting of ze title." Sigge said pointing to you as you look to Morgan and Morgan looks to you, in which you both burst out laughing.
"You think Morgan's me?" You ask laughing at Sigge. "Thunderbolt please tell me they're joking. Please tell me that this is a joke." You say laughing as a couple of the gryphons are actually finding a little humor in your reaction.
"Anon, I think she's serious." Thunderbolt said as you force yourself to stop laughing.
"Right then. You all can ask anyone here, they'll point you right back to me if ya ask for Rex. So what was it you diplomats were here for?" You ask as you feel that your sides have launched into orbit.
"Vell, ve vere not expecting a human to be ze ruler of ze Avalon territory. Ve are very much unprepared for it" Rolf said.
"Get to the point Sorrensson, you all are interrupting personal time." You say trying to press them for information.
"Vell, it is good that you have a map up." Rolf said still not to your liking.
"Hannes, spit it out, I'm not liking the skirting. I know diplomats can be slippery snakes, so just say what you all want before I ask you all to leave." You say changing who needs to respond.
"Vhy are you accusing us of being snakes in ze grass as it is said?" Rolf asked
"I didn't ask you Sorrensson. Hannes quit beating around the bush before I have you all escorted from my territory." You say with a little more force
"Vell, I guess ve should get to business. Rolf, you vill not be needed. Sigge, take Rolf and Leif away. Vait outside."
"Leaving you vith him and those two? I think not Hannes."
"Sigge, that is an order. Vait outside vith your brother and Rolf, ve are clearly getting on his nerves and you three are making it vorse." Hannes said as you nod and smile in agreement with him.
"Don't let the door hit ya on the ass on the way out." You say as you point to a smaller door for you and ponies.
"Now for business. Ve have heard that zere is und princess in ze territory." Hannes said as you give him a questioning look.
"Look, I don't know what you're up to but Avalon is neutral.I want nothing to do with any shady deals that's going to bring Sunbutt down on me." You say questioning their motives.
"Ve vould do nothing of ze sort. Ve just want a vord vith ze princess. Ve vould be very generous in our reward for your cooperation." Hannes said as you're now in protect my damned land mode.
"What princess Hannes? I aim to keep a neutral keel with the surrounding territories. I've got the Crystal empire to the north, Equestria to the east, Oslo to the West and Appaloosa to the south. that's four large entities I'd like to keep the peace with." You say adamant on keeping yourself out of things that will cause you harm in the long run.
"Ja, keeping peace is good no? But ve are looking for a princess that is not directly attached to Equestria. Ze sisters are untouchable, as they control ze sun and ze moon. Vould devastate us no?" Hannes said as you got the picture of who they wanted to talk to.
"Look Hannes, this is neutral land, those in it are under my rules, and there's three simple ones. Don't kill anyone, don't assault anyone, and lastly don't do things you're going to regret." You say trying to threaten him out of your territory
"You vould not bring them into this discussion." Hannes said
"Would I? Or am I not meeting up to your expectations of Rex Tremendae?" You ask as clearly your stubbornness and force in verbally defending the Avalon Territory has been one for Hannes' record books.
"Clearly there is no vay to reason vith you. You vould the populace be good vith ze capture of Twilight Sparkle?" Hannes asked Thunderbolt.
"No, you're asking us to put ourselves into harms way for something we gain nothing from. What need of land do we need? All we use it for is sleeping and refueling and rearming. So go ahead make your stupid attempt, we will stop you, and it will be an act of terrorism by Oslo." Thunderbolt said as the two of you are on the same page.
"You are all so stubborn. Vhy did ve bother?" Hannes said as he stepped out with you and Thunderbolt following him right into the other cornered gryphons.
"And this is us asking you all politely to leave." Morgan said without her bloodthirsty voice or her eyes going red.
"Hannes ve should go. Ve have no options here." Sigge said
"Three of these ponies will escort you to the border as a precaution. Once you cross it, they will leave you alone." You say as you motion for them to part and let these gryphons leave to the west.
"Hannes, time to leave." Sigge said.
"You have not ze last from us." Hannes said.
"I believe I have. Good bye diplomats." You say as you wave them off and then walk off to have a word with both Princess Luna and Twilight.
You walk away from them very irritated and are more than ready to inform the other two of the issue at hand.
"Anon wait." Thunderbolt said as she ran about three or four steps to catch up to you.
"Yea Thunder?" You ask as you turn around.
"Back with the gryphons, you handled that differently than I thought you would."
"And?"
"I'm just saying that you did good. You want to keep peace with our neighbors. I can follow a leader who puts his people before their own gains." Thunderbolt said as you just smile.
"Thunder, what the hell am I going to do with land? You all don't have a need for anything more than the strips. Even then, you know I wouldn't put you in harm's way." You say as you give her a playful punch.
"What? But I'm meant for battle." Thunderbolt said almost arguing with you
"So you are, but some of your parts are increasingly hard for me to find. I'd prefer to keep us at the point to where we don't have to run you all on missions. Besides, think of the good this will bring when I tell both princesses about what just happened." You say as you continue to walk with Thunderbolt right behind you
"Do you really think telling them what happened is going to help your standings with Celestia?" Thunderbolt asked
"It's worth a shot. Even if she thinks I'm lying, it's better than nothing. What would I do without you now a days Thunder?" You say as she picks you up by the collar and carries you back home where both Princesses were due to Morgan bringing them there without you knowing.
"You'd be lost Anon. Completely lost." Thunderbolt mumbled as she brought you home.
"Morgan said there was an issue with the Gryphons?" Twilight asked as Thunderbolt dropped you to land like batman.
"Yeaaaa about that. They may or may not have asked if it was ok with me if they kidnapped you. I said no of course." You say standing up and dusting yourself off.
"What?" Both Twilight and Luna said.
"Yea, I told them they could go fuck themselves. My land my laws." You say with a smile
"Well, at least you brought this to our attention." Luna said as she was the first to regain her composure.
"Yes, it is, but Twilight, I'm going to have to ask for your safety that you stay with me here. Until you return to Equestria. after the launch. Right now, Avalon territory is not safe, Avalon's shadow is." You say taking this matter seriously.
"Anon thank you. But what about Buran and the satellite?" Twilight asked.
"They will be safe. The fighter ponies will be patrolling the older ones during the day and the newer ones at night. I would relocate your friends." You say as Thunderbolt sits very happily behind you.
"Alright. Morgan could you escort me?" Twilight asked concerned about her own safety.
"Dad?" Morgan asked.
"Go keep her directly under you, where she'll be shielded from them. Bring them either here or to KC's place. You say as Luna goes with them riding on Morgan's back leaving you and Thunderbolt.
"Well, you look awfully pleased with something." You say as you turn to look at her.
"Do I?" Thunderbolt said with a very playful air about her.
"What are you up to?" you ask as you know there was nobody around for at least ten minutes or so.
"Well, what if just you and I went over to one of the airfields, had dinner or something." Thunderbolt said as you smile.
"That sounds great Thunderbolt. It's kinda about time you and I took some time for ourselves. I've kinda been more focused on everyone else and Morgan. Even then I need help with her Thunder. I know she sort of looks up to you as a mother." You say as Thunderbolt tears up a little hearing that.
"Hey, don't you cry on me." You say as she wipes her eyes and laughs a little.
"Those gryphons are nothing but trouble dear. I can't believe we've been moved into this abode." Rarity said as she and the others came in.
"Rarity ah'd watch ma mouth if ah was you. He might not take you insultin his home too kindly." Applejack said as you smile a little.
"Well Applejack, I'm going to have to put up with it for the time being. Hate to have to impose this on you all, but here is the safest place you can be. Especially since I don't know if there's more gryphons about hiding in the bushes where my ponies can't reach, but can definitely set fire to." You say knowing you can't find everything, not with a few of your best fighters out escorting the four that came to you directly.
"Well, it's a comforting thought that you're going out of your way to keep us safe." Luna said as she had a letter in hoof and was about to send it.
"Well, I hope whatever you're sending is good news Princess, I'd hate to be screwed over by you." You say joking a little.
"Well, it is a letter to my sister informing her of the situation here. I do hope you don't mind." Luna said as she sent the letter.
"Little late for me to complain now Princess. Long as she doesn't see it as a threat to you I'll be alright." You say as you go and sit on the couch before remembering something.
"Shit, I forgot about Mriya!" You say as you jump off the couch and run back out to the shop.
"What about us?" Twilight calls out after you.
"Make yourselves at home. You all really should be going home tomorrow, Avalon's Shadow is safe, but I can't watch everything and they know it." You yell as you run from your home leaving Morgan and Thunderbolt with them.
"Morgan, tell Thunderbolt I'm sorry about leaving the ponies with you two. But just keep an eye out for gryphons. Would you please?" You tell Morgan via your link as you're far from yelling it to her.
"Of course dad. Are you two going to go somewhere?" Morgan asked.
"When I can get all this cleared up yes, don't worry I'll find something for you to do." You tell her as you catch up to Mriya before she knocks on the shop doors.
"Mriya, I'm here. Gimme a sec to get my tools again." You say almost out of breath.
"Oh, no, was going to ask you to move last turbine to tomorrow. I don't want to be burden." Mriya said