My Hero's Hero

                Frozen… everything is frozen… my paws, my talons, my wings, the land, everything I can see is covered in snow and ice… I wish I had chosen a better time to return to the Griffin Kingdoms, but I couldn’t stand being near Ponyville or any place where those loser ponies will be. This is all Stinky Pie’s fault! She kept trying to butt in on my and Dash’s fun, then she decides to put together a party and make me look like the dweeb in front of everypony. She’s the dweeb, if it wasn’t for her, then Dash would still be my friend… she was always the cool one. But now… she thinks I'm just a big jerk, while her and her pony friends laugh at me behind my back… making me look like the loser. Now here I am… too cold to fly and getting worse with each step, miles away from home, and if I don’t find shelter soon… I'll freeze to death out here.

                As I continue through this frozen wasteland, I attempt to make it to the top of this hill I'm on, though the frozen ground, my numb paws, talons, and this stinging wind and sleet isn’t helping me in any way. By the time I made it to the top of the hill, I looked into the distance only to see nothing but white all around me. The blizzard is too thick to see anything past the base of this hill. And me without any form of clothing or any way to keep warm… I doubt I'm going to get out of here alive. I carefully started down the hill trying not to trip on the slick ground, but without feeling to the bottom of my paws, I tripped over something buried in the snow. I think it was a rock but I'm not sure. Whatever it was, it caused me to fall down and roll to the bottom of the hill. By the time I got to the bottom, I tried to pick myself up off the ground… but it was no use. My talons and paws are numb, my wings are numb, and I have been shivering for so long, my muscles are aching, it hurts just to be lying here. I knew that if I didn’t get up now… I was dead, but with every inch of my body in pain, I could barely move let alone stand. All I could do, is lay here in the snow… close my eyes… and accept my fate. First, I lost my best friend… now I will lose everything else.

                As I lay there, at some point I must have lost consciousness, because the next thing I knew, I was lying on somepony’s back with a cloak wrapped around my body. When I looked at the pony who was carrying me, he was a stallion with a dark pelt, and a scar on his ear. I don’t know who he was or where he came from, but I was still grateful. Not many ponies have the strength to carry a griffin in the first place, and even fewer would help one who didn’t ask for it. However, this didn’t change my opinions of ponies; they are still losers and dweebs in my book. The pony carried me for a long time until finally we arrived at the face of a random cliff. As he laid me down, I continued to pretend I was asleep so I could figure out what he was trying to do.

                The stallion started to pace up and down the cliff until he stopped and examined the wall. I didn’t know what the big deal was… it was just the side of a random mountain. Then he drew his sword and began taping the blade against certain parts of the stone. Finally he taped the blade against a part of the stone that so sounded a little different than the other parts so he jammed it into the wall causing it to crack up in that area. After shaking the sword around a few times, he picked up a rock and started bashing it against the crack that the sword had made until the crack grew large enough, that the wall in front of him collapsed revealing a cave entrance. The pony smiled as he sheathed his sword, picked me up by scooping his wing under my body, he began to move into the cave. The cave was deep and forked multiple times revealing many different tunnels, but he continued as if he knew exactly where he was going. Eventually, we made it into a small chamber where he laid me down, removed his saddlebag and sword, and started looking through his bag. The stallion then pulled some hay and flint out and started a fire in the center of the room.

                After the fire was started, the pony sat down and started mumbling to himself, “A waste of good food… Oh well, either way I can’t believe after all these centuries, this cave is still here… I guess The Cutters knew how to choose hideouts. Oh… and how long do you plan on faking it miss griffin?”
Feeling a little embarrassed, I opened my eyes completely and sat up, “Fine… I guess I'll sit up if you’re going to cry about it.”
I know what I said was a little rude, but I already showed how weak I was by having him find me on the ground in the blizzard, but what else could I do?… This pony was cold despite how little he complained about it, and still he put his cloak around me and carried me all the way here, completely ignoring how cold he was. I would still like to think that I'm better than him, especially since I'm a strong proud griffin… while he is a lame pony.

                With my hero in mind, I spoke, “So why did you help me anyway? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
The stallion smiled, “I do… but it doesn’t involve watching a griffin freeze to death. Nor does it involve the thought of leaving behind a poor defenseless griffin who needs he…”
“I DIDN’T NEED YOUR HELP!!! I was doing just fine before you showed up!”
The stallion stood up and started looking around the room as he replied, “Whatever… I didn’t expect any thanks from a griffin anyway; your species has never been the kind to be humble in any way. So… are you on your way to Kestrel?”
Watching the pony pace around the chamber, I replied, “As if it was any of your beeswax… I'm on my way to Gryphus.”

                The stallion stopped pacing and spoke, “You were going the wrong way then… you were headed towards Kestrel to the east… Gryphus is on the northwest.”
I didn’t want to admit that I was turned around in the confusion of the storm so I lied, “I know that… I was… um… I decided to go the Kestrel to um… meet somegriffin first. Then I was going to continue to Gryphus.”
The stallion nodded his head and replied, “Oh… so that’s what you were doing then… well far be it for me to question your actions.”
This cocky stallion was getting on my last nerve, I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not so I tried to change the subject before I lost my patience, “So what’s a pony doing in the Griffin Kingdoms anyway?”

                The pony replied, “Just travelling… it’s been a long time since I came through here last so I decided to take the time to see what’s changed.”
Then I started to remember what he had said earlier so I sarcastically replied, “Yea… sure… whatever, because it’s been centuries since you were here last right?... Whatever, you’re hiding something aren’t you? Whatever it is, it better not be threatening the Griffin Kingdoms in any way or I'll…”
“Calm down griffin, as I said before, I'm just travelling through. Besides I couldn’t give two bits about this kingdom or its king… so why would I want to change anything?”
“I HAVE A NAME YOU KNOW!!!”
The stallion replied, “Ok… well then what is it? Then I'll call you by it.”

                I tried to calm down before I replied, “My name is Gilda.”
The stallion nodded his head, “Alright then Gilda, My name is Star Bolt.”
I couldn’t believe the nerve of this dweeb, first he talks to me like he’s hiding something bad. Then he goes and gives me a fake name. It seems like every chance this pony gets, he wants to make fun of me, so I replied, “If you’re going to make up a fake name, at least make it one that’s believable!”
“… Excuse me?...”
“You can’t even think up a fake name on your own! You have to steal one from old pony tails!”
The Stallion was looking at me in confusion as I explained, “Look, any griffin who is a fan of the great Commander Orem knows about Commander Star Bolt of Equestria! I knew him because that was my favorite story as a cub, and the thought that you would disrespect Commander Orem so easily by using that name is nothing more than insulting to the griffin race! Now tell me your real name!!!”

                The stallion smiled as he approached me, “Ok if you want to know my real name then I'll tell you.”
He signaled me to lean in closer as he whispered to me, “My name… is… Star Bolt.”
The snobby pegasus turned around and smiled as he trotted away from me, so I just replied, “FINE! Be a poser! If it makes you thin, you’re cool or something then I don’t care… I know what you really are. You’re just a Loser! A Loser and a dweeb just like all the other ponies in this world!”
The dweeb continued trotting through the cave ignoring me as he replied, “If I had any concern of what anypony or anygriffin thought of me, then I would have gone crazy years ago… wait… here it is!”
the pony started chiseling at the ground in the other side of the cave, “What? What is it?”

                He didn’t reply, he just continued chiseling until finally he pulled a large teardrop shaped piece of metal from the ground. As he tried dusting it off, I noticed that the old rust covered, item looked like it had been down here for many years. The stallion looked at his find and spoke, “I can’t believe this thing is still here. and it looks like this cave has kept it from rusting entirely away. Or was it the metal that made it?”
I couldn’t help but feel curious about the item, “Well? what is it?”
The pony replied, “This was my shield from the Griffin Civil War. I left it here when I escaped with the Cutters.”
“The Cutters?”

                The pony sarcastically smiled, “Oh… that’s right… I'm not who I say I am. So how would I possibly know what this is… right?”
Just because I was curious, I decided to play along, “Okay Commander Star Bolt, what is this thing?”
The stallion smiled as he spoke, “Over a thousand years ago, a war broke out between the griffin king and a few unruly subjects. Well needless to say Equestria stepped in to help them fight the war, and this is the weapon I used way back then.”
I could only look at the rusty only piece of junk and laugh, “That piece of scrap was your weapon? it wouldn’t even pose as a paperweight.”

                The pony sighed, “Wow your intellect seems to suit your species… that was a thousand years ago. Back then this piece of scrap could stop arrows and cut through all sorts of objects.”
“Sure… whatever… if you know so much about this then, can you explain how it got here in the first place?”
“After the war ended Commander Mist, the cutters and I hid here from the king’s soldiers.”
“The Cutters? Who are they supposed to be?”
“They are… were, a group of mercenaries who fought against the king at the time. They helped us escape when we needed them.”
I knew that other name, “Commander Mist? The Commander Chrome Mist?”
“Yea… what of it?”
“Commander Mist was one of the ponies that Commander Orem idolized… right after Co… well.”
The pony rolled his eyes, “Yea, yea, right after me… or Commander Bolt.”

                Something about the pony’s story seemed fishy, “Why would Equestria try to help the Griffin Kingdoms?”
“Because the griffin king threatened us with war.”
“LIAR!!!”
The pony replied, “Call me what you want, I didn’t want to help you griffin, but I only came because I was ordered to.”
This dweeb was starting to get on my nerves, “What? You think you’re too good for us griffin? You think you’re better than us because we aren’t ponies like you?”
The pony replied, “No… I just don’t care to be around negative griffin who care only about themselves.”
“What did you say!?!”
“YOU HEARD ME!!!”

                I tried to stand up but my muscles where still too sore so as I did I fell right back down, then replied, “Don’t think just because you claim to be a hero, means I'll let you say that without showing me proof first”
The pony replied, “Ok, you want proof? Tell me griffin, when’s the last time you helped anypony or griffin without being asked first?... or helped a friend in need… In fact, do you even have any friends?”
“Umm dah, I do!”
“Really can I get a name?”
“Psst… Yea her name is Rai…”
All of a sudden, I stopped myself… Rainbow Dash was my friend… but I don’t think I can claim her as one anymore. After the way she looked at me before leaving Ponyville, she will never consider me a friend again. I tried thinking about any other friends I had… but my mind drew a blank, and with the way, I felt after realizing I had no friends… I couldn’t even say a random fake name to defend myself.

                The pony sighed, “I guess you did have a friend, but something happened… didn’t it? Don’t worry about it, I don’t think Commander Orem had any friends when I first met him either.”
I tried to hold in some tears as I replied, “Really? He… he didn’t?”
The pony replied, “Yep, the first thing he did when I met him was threaten me and my soldiers… He challenged me to a duel on day one.”
“Really? What happened?”
“He lost.. pretty badly too. He tried to burn me with gunpowder, but he didn’t expect me the blow it back into his face. That’s how he lost his eye. Back then, I hated his guts… but I still saw no reason to end his life. Nightmare Moon would have done it if I didn’t stop her.”                                                                                                          
I still didn’t believe him… but the story seemed so believable since I did read that Commander Orem’s eye was taken from him in a duel, but could this pony be the real deal? “So… what kind of griffin was he?”

The pony smiled as he replied, “He was an egotistical, gung-ho, griffin with enough spirit to pass onto an army big enough to conquer the world. But I think he was one of very few griffins that I could trust. And to be honest, even though I felt awkward about him calling me a hero at the end of the war… it was quite flattering to hear it from such a worthy adversary.”
“Wait… I though you said you hated him at the start?”
the pony smiled, “I did… but as time went on I saw better value in him as a friend. The same goes for him… but I think it was my crazy attempt to take on a catapult head on, that won him over.”
“I HEARD OF THAT!... I mean… I read that he idolized you and claimed that you could deflect catapult boulders.”
The pony laughed, “Well I wouldn’t say that… the boulder didn’t hit me directly… but I did get a good taste of it, and not long afterwards, he helped me face a group of thugs in Cloudsdale, so we both saw no further reasons to be enemies.”

                I thought to myself, this had to be him. I know more about Commander Orem than anypony or griffin in the world, he is my hero, and everything this pony was telling me was completely accurate with everything I read in the history book… all except one thing that wasn’t in the books, so I asked, “Say… commander?”
The pony smiled, “Oh… so you believe me now… well at least call me Star Bolt… I'm not a commander anymore.”
“I'm not saying I believe you… I'm… just… I need to call you something right? And if that’s the only name you will give me then that’s all I can use.”
I felt embarrassed, I knew I wasn’t fooling him for a second, but he still replied as if I were, “Alright then, I guess that sounds fair enough, what is it?”
“Well I’ve heard multiple stories about how he died… do you happen to know the real story? I heard that he created an uprising to overthrow the king, but I also heard he died in battle.”

                The pony continued dusting off the piece of metal as he replied, “His ego got the better of him. He wanted to make a second attempt to take control of Equestria, so he could free me from my prison… but when the griffin king found out his plan… he branded him a traitor and executed him for treason.”
“Oh,… that stinks… I didn’t know that.”
The stallion finally cleaned off enough of the rust to reveal a small paint stain in the surface of the metal. As I looked at the stain closely, I realized the image on it, “Is… that… Your cutiemark?... it is! It’s your Cutiemark! YOU’RE REALLY HIM!!! YOU’RE REALLY STAR BOLT!!!”
Star Bolt sighed, “Yea… that’s what I’ve been saying”
I couldn’t believe it… I was in a cave with the pony that my idol called a hero. I couldn’t control myself as I broke out into a series of questions.  “THIS IS AWESOME!!!! You Knew Commander Orem… Oh, this is so cool. What was he like? Did he really throw gunpowder? Was he taller than me? How was he in battle, was he strong?

                I then realized that I was being a little over anxious so I calmed myself down by shutting my beak. Nevertheless, this clever commander didn’t miss a single beat, “Yes I knew Commander Orem. He was a little obnoxious but a good griffin once you got to know him. Yes, he did throw Gunpowder. Yes he was a little taller than you but that’s expected from a male griffin, and yes he was a very strong and skilled griffin in battle despite how overexcited he would get while fighting... anything else?”
I was a little embarrassed about how I acted but the thought that he not only ignored it, but he also answered my questions so casually, made me even more ecstatic about him being right in front of me, “… Cool, cool. So… you’re the real deal right?”
Star Bolt sighed, “You know I can write it down for you if you need me to…”

                I know he just insulted me, but I couldn’t help it… I was just insulted by the pony who commanded Nightmare Moon’s armies and who beat my idol in a duel. “So… what was it like? You know fighting beside him?”
Star Bolt replied, “It was good to know that he was beside me. All the battles were tough but with my friends beside me… I thought we were invincible… only, I was wrong.”
I could see some pain in his eyes, and I knew it wasn’t the best idea… but I simply had to ask, “What happened… that day in Canterlot during the great battle. The only thing that was said in the history book was that Commander Orem was beaten by Princess Celestia, and couldn’t continue the war when Commander Bolt fell in Canterlot. But it didn’t say how you fell.”

                Star Bolt lowered his head as he replied, “That day… that terrible day in Canterlot… I saw my friends fall one by one, while following the orders I gave them. These ponies, zebra, and griffin fell fighting under me. Some had to retreat, like Commander Orem, but others died in combat, to include my lead archer… the pony I loved. She… she died in my arms, with her blood literally on my hooves. Her… her last words… were…”
“How sentimental… I'll take that as a confession!”
The unknown voice caught both me and Star Bolt off guard as we looked at the entrance to the room to see a large group of griffin solders, and their leader, a griffin I didn’t want to see right now. “DAD!?! What are you doi…”
He replied, “It’s alright Gilly… when I heard you were on your way back from Ponyville I got worried. Are you alright?”

                I was completely annoyed with him, “Dad! I told you a thousand times! DON’T CALL ME GILLY!!! Especially in front of your solders! It’s lame!”
Dad shrugged his shoulders and looked at Star Bolt, “So, you’re Commander Bolt? Funny, for a while now, I believed you were really dead.”
Star Bolt smiled, “let me guess… you’re the griffin commander right? And you’re here to capture the great Commander Bolt aren’t you?”
“Actually I'm a colonel, but this will be a very interesting story to tell both the king and Princess Celestia.”
Star Bolt smiled, “And I bet this story will have a very interesting ending.”
Dad shook his head, “Nah… not really. GET HIM!”

                Star Bolt didn’t react as two of dad’s soldiers grabbed him, spun him around and pinned him against the wall. “Dad what are yo…”
“This doesn’t concern you Gilda! This is a matter that has to be settled by the King!”
While Star Bolt was pinned against the wall, He called to me, “Gilda, if you remember my stories, then listen closely! FLASH!!!”
At first, I didn’t understand him but at the last second, I realized what he meant and covered my eyes just in time before he used his legendary Lightning Orb. I did see the cloud appear above his head, but as I covered my eyes, there was a Bright flash that would have blinded me if I were still looking at the cloud.

                As soon as the flash passed, I uncovered my eyes to see everything that Star Bolt did while dad and his soldiers where blinded by the bright flash. First Star Bolt jerked his hoof back and elbowed the griffin that pinned him against the wall. The soldier took a few steps back as Star Bolt quickly pushed himself off the wall and flew around the room, picking up his saddlebag and sword as he flew out the entrance and to the left down the tunnel. By the time he was out of sight, Dad and the rest of the soldiers regained their sight as dad asked, “What? Where did he go?!?”
I replied, “You losers lost him, he went out the entrance and to the right… but I don’t think you’ll catch him… You know how much of a legend he is!”
Dad looked at his soldiers and yelled, “Well… don’t stand there gawking at me like a couple of morons. GO GET HIM!!”
As dad made his way out the entrance, he looked me, “I'll deal with you later!”
With that said, dad and his soldiers left and ran down the tunnel in the wrong direction.

                I stepped into the middle of the tunnel and looked down it, I could still hear dad barking orders at his peons, “… Dweebs…”
Then I heard a voice from behind me, “I didn’t expect to ever be helped by a griffin again… but then again, if you are a fan of Orem… then I should expect it. And you have my thanks.”
Knowing who was talking, I removed his cloak that was still around me and turned around, “No problem… you did save my life earlier.”
Star Bolt took his cloak from me and wrapped it around his body as he replied, “Well you have my thanks either way… I don’t know what you did to have your friends mad at you… but I hope you will accept my friendship.”

                I was speechless; something like this to happen to me could only be toped if Commander Orem himself offered his friendship to me. I tried to act as cool as I could, as I replied, “That would be… Thanks Star Bolt it would be an honor to call you friend. But do I really deserve to have that tittle?”
Star Bolt smiled as he put his hoof on my shoulder, “You’re not a bad griffin... you only overlook your talents and your existence. Once you discover your path… everything will get better for you, I'm sure of it. Till then, remember that you still have one friend out there who believes in you.”
Star Bolt turned and started trotting away, as I called to him, “Will I ever see you again Star Bolt?”
He smiled as he kept trotting away, “I don’t know… but if you do find your place… there is a chance we will meet again.”

                Star Bolt vanished into the tunnels, I bet he got away without being seen by even one of my dad’s soldiers. It wasn’t long till dad and his soldiers returned to the chamber where I was keeping myself warm while studying Star Bolts shield. When dad came in, I had to smile, “Didn’t find him did ya?”
Dad sighed, “Gilda this is a matter that is above you. If we capture him and hand him over to Princess Celestia, then relations between Equestria and the griffin Kingdoms will only get better.”
I had to laugh at that comment, “dad you know who he is, and you know that no matter what, he won’t be caught by the Griffin Royal Army. I don’t even think the king knows who he’s up against. You’re talking about The Commander Bolt, the same commander mentioned in that journal Grandpa left you.”

                Dad sneered at me, but before he could reply, one of his solders stepped forward, “Colonel… We found tracks leading out another entrance to this cave… but the storm is getting worse, we could follow them but they will be covered within the hour, and I don’t think we will catch him before then.”
Dad sighed, “Soldiers! This didn’t happen! When we arrived here, we found nothing more than my daughter taking shelter from the blizzard! You can say what you want… but it’s your word against mine.”
Dad looked at me and shook his head as he turned towards the cave entrance and spoke, “Come Gilly your mother will be worried if we don’t get back before dawn.”
Knowing that my dad kinda helped Star Bolt made me smile so I ignored that he called me Gilly as I replied, “Yes Colonel Orem, whatever you say.”