>It didn’t go well, you’ve said it before, and you’ll say it again.
>Ponies do not deal with death well.
>Twilight decided to start with you, it was poor choice, your memories and emotions flooded
>her mind. It was not like watching a movie, it was more like reliving the western front.
>Worst part was you could feel her emotions. She was rooting for you until the prison break
>,you could feel her shock at your apparent brutality, you still saw it as necessary. Had to
>make sure the guard was dead right? She actually felt sorry that none of the ponies except
>AJ would talk to you; even then you could feel her opinion of you changing. Not for the
>better. She found it noble that you would run the distraction for the others, you can feel
>the pride start to swell up in her, but once it actually started… Oh, boy. She could barely
>hold the magic connection due to the panic and stress beginning to grip her. What pushed
>her over the edge and forced her to break the connection was the contentment you felt.
>She saw your emotions change from duty and protective, to content and at peace.
>This was too much for her, the thought that someone could be at peace with this.
>She broke the connection.
 
>The spell was costly on the human body and often put you out for a few minutes.
>You eventually come to, forcing your eyes open, eschewing your much needed rest.
>You can hear Pinks voice.
>”Twilight what’s wrong?”
>You sit upright, still in the dining room, but now Twilight is sitting on the far side of the table.
>Her wings are wrapped tight around her, her eyes wide and locked on your form. Pinks
>Lifts up one of her hooves and lightly shakes twilight.
>”Twilight? You’re scaring me, is everypony in on a joke or-“
>”He enjoyed it.”
>These words catch you off guard, sure being content with your actions was one thing but-
>”He… He felt at home there.”
>Well she had you there. You are about to respond when Dash speaks up.
>”Anon did good. None of us would be here if he didn’t follow through with th-“
>”No Rainbowdash… you don’t get it… he well and truly felt at home there.”
>At this point AJ weighs in.
>”Now ah fer one can’t believe that Anon here would find joy in that. Mahbe something
>went wrong with the spell?”
>She has a hopeful look on her face, she just as much as any of them don’t want to hear the
>truth. Well, the cat’s out of the bag now, better to tell them the truth then to hide forever.
“She performed it flawlessly… It wasn’t joy… it was a deeper emotion... Purpose, I guess”
>That seemed to hit AJ harder than any of them. Ponies may not handle death well, but they
>could understand the necessity of it at times. This however, was beyond their comprehension.
 
>Mixed reactions ranging from terror to disappointment decorate their faces. The only
>shared feature is that their ears are flat down. You slowly bring yourself standing upright.
“Well… I can tell when I’m not welcome. Not that dense.”
>With that you duck out the door and back into the main hall, Gerard is over in the corner.
>He’s leaned against the wall still gnawing on his flatbread; he was taken away by military
>command to give a report on how the breakout and border crossing happened. You walk
>up to him.
>”Hey, thought the ponies would be tagging along with you.”
>He spoke through a rather full mouth, or is it beak?
“I… uh, I don’t really want to talk. You got another cig?”
>He swallows his masticated food before responding.
>”Oh, c’mon man. I only got like three left. Can’t you just buy your own pack?”
“I haven’t had the time or the money… do you guys accept bits?”
>You still had a few rattling around in your pocket, enough for a couple of packs in Equestria
>Gerard looks over at you quickly, feathers standing completely out on end. You try hard
>not to laugh at the poofiness of it.
>”You have bits!?”
“Yeah, not a whole bunch though. Just enough-“
>”Your bits are probably worth more than my whole year’s paycheck! The republican dollar
>is useless!”
“How?”
>”Well after the government raised minimum wage and the base pay for privates went up…
>It all kind of fell apart.”
>Huh, that’s kind of telling. Gerard crams the rest of the flat bread into his mouth and points
>a talon at you.
>”We should go out, get some smokes, I can show you around town! And you can stop
>bumming cigarettes from me."
>After possibly losing your six closest friends this might help you. You don a small reserved
>smile and gesture with your hand.
“Lead the way.”
>You’re not concerned about the public rioting again. They only really had beef with the ponies
>Either way you will be sure to test the waters at the gate. Gerard grins and opens the door.
>He leads you through the yard to the gate, chatting the entire time.
>”I actually grew up only a couple blocks from here. I can still show you some of the bullet
>holes from the revolution. I would show you the old flat me and the family used to live in,
>but I think it’s been rented out since we left.”
“You don’t know where your family is?”
>You’re at the gates now, the griffons on duty open the gate somewhat lazily. You step out
>onto the street, there’s a couple of griffons with push brooms cleaning up the broken glass
>and bricks from earlier. Some of the passersbys look over at you, then continue with their
>business. Looks like they have no malice towards you.
>”I haven’t the foggiest idea. Mum died in the revolution, dad died on the front right at the
>beginning of the war. The others, no clue.”
>He begins walking down the street, you follow.
“What? No mail?”
>He shakes his head and jumps up to a low hover, moving alongside you.
>”Not for the first six months of the war. I got leave after that, came back, different family.
>Boy oh boy, was that awkward. I guess it’s sad, but I try –right here- not to think about it.”
>You turn right down an alleyway.
 
>That is sad, but, he seems to hold up alright. It may be off topic, but there’s a question you
>have to ask. You actually stop to ask this, Gerard nearly brushes past you before stopping.
>A quizzical look on his face.
“Gerard… Do you enjoy this war?”
>He chuckles and moves to keep going, but you stay stationary.
>”Oh, you’re serious. I don’t enjoy the water shortages if that’s what you mean.”
>You frown a little at this. He sighs, and looks you back in the eye.
>”I would be lying if I said I didn’t… Lets go, I don’t like this subject.”
>Well… Fuck. The mood was significantly darker, is this what you were like to the ponies?
>You exit the alleyway and Gerard’s mood significantly brightens. His beak curling up for a
>huge cheeky grin, something you would expect to see on a child.
>”I used to come here all the time as a youngling. They have the best mint tea.”
>It’s good that he’s jolly again, makes you happier too. You follow his pointing talon, to the
>small store front. Right as you look over a griffon exits it. Black feathers, small, young,
>female, and a wing in a cast. She stands up on her hind legs and takes a thermos out of her
>bag, and looks up. Needless to say her expression is one of utter shock.
 
>You walk past her giving a slight nod.
“Good to see you alive and well.”
>You and Gerard enter the store he immediately rushes over to the counter.
>The weathered face of an elderly griffon is attending the counter.
>”Well I’ll be a wingless fop, Gerard is that you?”
>Gerard leans against the counter.
>”In the flesh.”
>”Last I heard you were behind bars, mino prisoner and the like.”
>Gerard frowns a little.
>”Well, I got out.”
>”apparently, so what can I… get… yy”
>The elderly griffon is staring at you, attempting to discern your biology. It sets your teeth
>on edge. Gerard looks between the two of you.
>”Uh, this is my comrade in arms, Anon… he’s a uh, what was it?”
“Human”
>The griffon wrinkles his eyes, and resettles his wings.
>”It talks and isn’t a minotaur, good enough for me.”
>Hooray, acceptance. You turn to look at a display with a couple brands of cigarettes, as
>Gerard continues to ask the shop keep about the mint tea. Of which they can only sell the
>blend now, water rations and whatnot. Gerard is disappointed but asks for some of the
>blend anyways. You pick out a couple of packs, two different brands, and turn to the counter.
 
>The black female griffon is there, looking at you, no discernable emotion yet.
>You put the packs down on the counter and reach into your pocket.
>”I-I’ll pay, heh, republic knows I owe you more than two packs.”
>You raise an eyebrow at this.
“It’s all good, I have the money. How’s the wing?”
>”I should be in the air in about two months, until then, I’m on medical leave. Also I’m still paying.”
>You never were really that great at accepting things like this, you can pay for your own
>damn cigarettes!... Fine, just accept this small thing. You silently grip the counter as the
>black griffon places some paper bills on the counter, you immediately take the first pack
>and tear it open. Lighting it in the store, the elderly shop keeper doesn’t bat an eye.
>”I wanted to thank you, but when I came to you and the ponies had left already… I heard
>about the riot earlier today… I hope you don’t judge all griffons badly because of that. It
>was just a small percentage of us.”
“I dunno yet. I’ve only been here for like five hours… Say what was your name?”
>”oh, uh, Elena.”
“Alright Elena, thank you… Gerard, you want anything else?”
>He shrugs slightly and shakes his head.