AN: Welp. Late again. Yay.
The Measure of Truth
There was another clash today in the Crystal city.
A group of Crystal ponies and Griffons had staged a protest directly outside the Growing Maretonia ghetto, demanding that the refugees leave the Crystal Protectorate and the Empire at large, and return to their lands. A counter protest had sprung up in response, composed of said refugees and sympathetic Crystal ponies, and the two groups had confronted each other outside of the ghetto. The Guard had managed to disperse the protesters before it had turned violent but it wasn't to be the last time this happened.
Consul Ivory Rook had condemned the protesters, saying that they did no speak for the Crown, and such prejudice and violent intent would not be allowed against the refugee of Maretonia. But the damage was done. Accusations abound, and tensions grow daily, though kept to the ghetto and outer parts of the city.
Meanwhile, more refugees flooded across the border into Griffonia and the Protectorate, the abolitionist movement had stalled, House White Star was essentially dead in the water,
and House Storm seemed unstoppable, and would soon turn on the Empire, and destroy all in their wake. The Empire Squabbles and argues, with His Imperial Majesty unable to convince the Imperial Court to act. The Empire stands alone, with their so-called allies having refused to aid the Emperor. Beware, to the time is nigh, and the Empire Stands alone against the darkness
Or so the gossip went.
Lies and slander, schemed and whispered the gossipmongers and the doomsday criers, so determined to spread their lies.
Infact, the naysayers are House Storm spies and agents, planted to spread their lies and defeatist attitudes. In actuality, key sources have stated the Emperor, his Imperial Majesty of Nippon, the Royarch of Canterbury and The Yak King have formed a coalition, and stand ready to smash aside the Slaving Despots, and establish true Imperial, free rule upon the broken nation. Maretonian citizens and slaves cry out to be liberated and brought under imperial freedom and protection. Soon, his Glorious Divine Majesty Will gives the word, and the Crusade will begin. All Hail the God Emperor of Griffonia!!!
And on and on it went.
The Emperor was being tricked, the Emperor was tricking them, he was secretly a dragon, no a god, he was all these things, and none of these things, the Maretonia refugees and a million other versions or variations, are whispered in taverns and shouted in public squares throughout the Empire. Each a different version, a different belief. A different prejudice. A million different stories. A million different truths and agendas and lies.
Egwain never cared much for gossip and lies.
He rather preferred to hear and speak the truth, no matter what it was. Pure, raw, brutal and uncompromising truth. It had served him so far, though to his benefit or ill, well, who knew. If people couldn't handle it, well. Not his fault, not his problem.
That attitude was probably the reason for his current situation.
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Egwain ran and slipped through the crowd of evening and morning workers and and townspeople, his dark blue cloak and honey gold coat glowed dimly in the tunnels faint light. His natural skills at running away, having been honed over two decades of his lifeallowed him to easily move through the swarthy Griffons, glimmering Ponies and hulking Diamond Dogs. Unfortunately he still startled those around him with his rush, causing a few Ponies to start and jump away, which caused them to bump into others, which created more commotion. Well shit, that would basically alert his pursuers his presence annnd judging by the yells and calls, that would seem to be the case.
Fantastic.
'Well at least it would slow down his pursuers, he mused sardonically, as he cleared the crowd, 'though it might just kill me in the process.' Running a bit forward more, he slowed a moment to look over his shoulder and seeing that, yes, his little mess had caused quite a blockage of the tunnel, making his unwanted followers have to shove and scramble about. Well, that would hold them, but not for long. He was about to continue on in way, when a shrill cry met his ears, and looking back, and he saw, to his shock and delight, that one of the pursuers had accidentally shoved a small demigryph filly to the ground, scraping her front paw.
Well that solved things quite nicely.
Egwain smilled as the crowd turned into a enraged mob, and unable to resist the temptation, made eye contact with the lead Griffon, who was unfortunately being accosted by a angry female Griffon twice his size, and what appeared to be her Husband, a Diamond Dog, trying to calm her down. He was a squat fellow with a peach gold fur coloring who dull yellow eyes were filled with frustration and panic as the female hoisted him by the scruff of his collar and screamed abuse in his face, the husband trying futilely to soothe her ire.
His eyes made contact with the rather unfortunately inconveniencd Griffon, and as his emerald eyes met dull yellow, he smiled, and rubbed his middle talon on the side of his beak. The Griffon seemed to swell with rage, and started to shout insults and curses, but that quickly turned to panic as he was quickly reminded of the irate Griffonness, who seemed to think he was insulting her, and escalated her enraged squaking, and drew the ire of the previously calm husband.
Egwain smiled, and chuckling, continued on his way at a more sedate pace onwards, listening to the panicked cries and half legible pleas and explanations of the Griffon and his friends as the crowd closed in, and turned around the bend of the tunnel, flowing with the rest of the crowd that wasn't in the middle of the squabble. Soon, the noises died, and were replaced with the regular rhythm of paws and hooves on stone, and the flow and hum of chatter echoing the stone walls. Egwain found himself listening in to some of the conversations, and his smile grew, listening to the events and conversations of every day life.
Such simpleness, such honesty. He had loved it when he first came to the Imperial Capital and he loved it now. What to buy, what not to buy, flirting and jesting, how friends and lovers are doing, who fancied who. Sure, there was gossip, but not the kind that ruined lives. He'd seen what that kind of gossip was.
Was he biased? Probably. Was he wrong? Maybe, but that was par for the course. You didn't survive as long as he had and not have a few biases. But he considered them small, compared to some others he had seen.
Soon, the tunnel opened, and as Egwain passed through the archs at the tunnels entrance and found himself standing above a cliff, he was treated to a familiar, but awe inspiring sight.
Diamond Town.
Built centuries ago by the Diamond Dogs before the unification and integration of the Empire, and it had been carved out of the stone itself beneath the Imperial Capital to serve as the home to the Packs that had lived here for centuries. Originally, it had been small, and consisted only of the Packs and a few Griffons and Ponies. It hadbit of an open secret among the general populace of the Empire, or at least the Griffons.
Being claustrophobic, most Griffons had avoided it, and quite a few noble families with more... racist tendencies had advocated for its destruction, fearing a formerly enemcity literally beneath the Empires boots. However, with the passing of time and fusing of peoples and cultures, ( and, though Egwain didn't know if it was true, gossip that the Imperial Heir Prince Gawain has been spotted coming down here a few times with a favored lady,) it had grown larger, and more crowded, as more and more Griffons and Ponies moved down below to the city for work or relationships bloomed.
He remembered the first time he had arrived here, staring in awe at the sheer size and ingenuity of the city. He had loved it immediately, and it had become his home.
His home.
Shouts came from behind, startlingly Egwain awake from his revelry, and Egwain groaned inwardly as he realized that as he had been standing in place, gawking like a fool. He really needed to stop doing that. Over the commotion, he recognized the familiar squawk of his Griffon pursuers. Well, that didn't last long. Maybe next time... no no, get away now, think later.
Egwain hurried ahead, moving down the stone stairs and path that led down to the city. He slid in and out of the crowd, making his excuses and apologies when he bumped into an old pair of Dogs, the two hunched figures just huffing and turning back to their talk with a muttered youngsters these days, back in this ones day... fading as he moved on past and out of hearing, now running.
Eventually, he reached the bottom, and, looking quickly up to see that, yes, they were still coming and getting closer why are you waiting fool barreled down a stone avenue to his left. A shout from above told him they had spotted him. Great.
He entered another alley, and turned left, and as he ran past a bewildered Griffon and Pony Pair, wondered, not for the first time, why he hadn't just flown down, it would have been much quicker but no he had too- No, No, stay on topic. It should be about... There!!
The alley ended, and he found himself, not for the first time, outside of a large brick and stone worked building. It was larger than he remembered, but as the music and laughter drifted out through the open door and windows, and the smell of roasted meat and good food filled him, he knew it was the place, as sure as the sign above the door.
'Big Mamas'
The slap and padding of running hooves and paws begin him alerted him that no, he hadn't lost them, and he turned and ran into the tavern/restaurant.
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Inside, stone and wood meshed and covered the walls and ceiling, with the floor made of stone plates and covered in small designs. Banners and Tapestries covered the walls, each a different design. Pillars and arches of brick and wood led to the ceiling. A thin layer of wood smoke filled the air, the smell adding to the smell of food. Seated at tables along the wall, patrons and diners were already in their meals and drink, Diamond Dogs, Griffons and Ponies all. Fine, crimson cloth draped the tables and chairs, made of a deep colored rosewood inflayed with small gems, and a small Diamond Dog played a strange long bowed instrument in the corner. Near the back, a large doorway led into the kitchen, where sounds of pots and pans clattered and shouted commands and requests drifted outward.
In the middle of the tavern, the regular crowd of workers gathered around the stone bar, chatting and laughing with joy and delight, and drinking from large, stone mugs, the Griffons amongst them using wooden tankards. In the middle of it all, towering over the crowds, laughing as she poured a drink for her thirsty children, was a massive, comely coal and snow colored Diamond Dog Female, dressed in her dirty apron and simple clothes. Big Mama.
Egwain ran full tillt through the door, almost knocking over the waitress at the door, who let out a squawk of shock, and flexing his wings, jumped over a table, and almost kicking a very surprised and very round pony in the face, soared over and landed directly behind the bar, and curled up into a ball behind the Female Alpha.
The tavern froze, shocked. Then, after a few moments, resumed what they were doing.
The Alpha cleaned a empty mug with a dirty rag, and, not looking down at the ball of shivering Griffon fur at her feet, shifted over a bit, and looked at the door, purple eyes flat, smile frozen on her face, waiting. They stumbled in, panting and out of breath. None of the patrons even do much as looked up from their meals.
There were four of them. All Griffons, all male. All young. A waitress moved towards them, but the leader, a squat barrel of a Griffon, fine clothes mushoved past her, and stormed over to the bar, his fur ruffled and coat out of place. His compatriots followed, having caught their breath. Mama raised an eyebrow, and the conversation around the bar died. The Griffon approached, and flanked by his compatriots, glared at the female Dog. She simply stared back, smiling.
"Where is he?" The Griffon growled, his voice a high timbre of a whine. Mama raised her eyebrow again, and setting down her rag, ponies a massive paw above her to a sign above the bar. The Griffon squinted, and saw that it said:
Rule One of Mama: Say Please.
The Griffon stared, stunned as Mama went back to pouring drinks, the conversation starting up again at the bar, his fellows looked at each other in concern. Eventually, the Griffon, after a moment of composure and internal debate, cleared his throat, and looking at the Alpha, said in a more composed voice, " Where is he... please?"
Mama, after pouring her drinks, looked back at the Griffon, and spoke in a loud, motherly and slightly accented voice. "Whose He, dear? Am not sure who he is?" The Griffon puffed up, enraged. " The Griffon who just ran in here, the scoundrel in the blue cloak, who else could I be talking about!?!" Mama smiled again, and leaned over the counter, looking down at the Griffon, towering over him like a giant. " Am not sure who you mean, child. The only Griffons who just came in would be you five. Speaking of which, can' be getting you anything? This is a business." She motioned to a waitress, a pretty female Griffon, who flew over, smiling kindly.
The Griffons behind the leader started mumbling to each other, unsure. The leader stubbornly pressed on, glaring at the smiling Matron, who was looking back expectantly. " No, I know I saw him come in here. I know you are hiding him!!" Mama raised an eyebrow, and leaning back up, looking at the waitress, waved her away. She turned back to the Griffons, paws on her massive hips. " 'Have no reason to hide anything. This is a mere business, no reason for trouble." Be that as it may, I still insist that you-" "And what did this Griffon do to make you so angry? Why would this one help such a Griffon who makes others so angry?" She interrupted the Griffon, looking with motherly concern and hurt in her voice. Around her, the other Diamond Dogs and Griffons grumbled in anger, looking at the group.
The Griffons behind him muttered and talked, becoming less and less sure. The Leader, on the other hand, puffed up again, though he was still dwarfed by those around him, and seemed ready to explode. "That is House Leadenwings business, not yours!!" He barked glaring at the still smiling Dog, who just nodded. " This one understands," she said, nodding again , resting her massive paws on the counter and leaned over again, looking at them all. "But still, 'cannot help you if this one doesn't know whom you speak, especially if none has been seen." She spoke, looking at those patrons closest to her, who shook their heads. " So," Mama said, again interrupting the lead Griffon, who looked like he was about to say something, " Can this one help you with anything else, or will you be leaving? Can this one get you any food?" The Griffon started again, but at a whispered word from one of his companions, he seemed to deflate, sighing deeply. "No, Madam. It seems not. Good Evening." And they turned, and left the tavern, deflated and defeated.
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" So, what was it this time?" Big Mama sighed as she seated Egwain at a table far in the corner, a plate of food a drink in front of him. The Female Dog looked at him, staring down at the Griffon, who smiled winningly and looked back, blinking innocently. " It was nothing Mama, just a misunderstanding. He took a statement about his sister too seriously that's all." Mama stared, eyebrow raised, paws on hips, exasperation and amusement playing on her face. He stared back.
Finally she sighed, and patted Egwain on the back, which almost knocked him out of his seat. "You were lucky tonight child, but you may not be so again. That honesty of yours may just get you killed one day." Egwain gasped and stared in mock shock, placing a paw over his heart. " Mama you wound me!! I merely speak the truth as I see it, it's not my fault no one else likes it!" The Alpha Female snorted, and shaking her head, and another affectionate pat, walked back towards her kitchen and bar.
Egwain watched her go, smiling softly. A mother of ten, she had built this place from nothing, twenty years ago and had run it with her children and for years. Barely in her fortieth year, she barely looked her age, and was a warming and loving Alpha. She had children of her on yes, and yet that did not stop her from basically adopting all who came into her restaurant, regardless of who or what they were. Even him.
His smiled faded, and he looked down at the plate of food before, and started eating slowly.
Yes, even him.
He had often wondered, in his darkest days, what good his honesty was. What Measure of Truth was he willing to live with. Truth can hurt. It can wound and maim people, and yes, get him into a lot of trouble. But then he remembered the lies. The gossip
He had hated lies and gossip since he was young. He had seen what they could do, especially in his family. The lies and false promises. The scheming and squabbling. Then, it had all crashed down, with him as the result.
It had been inevitable, the maids and servants had whispered and chatted as they moved through his family home, and tore down his life. It had been merely at matter of time, said the soldiers amongst themselves, as they clapped his family in irons, and led them away, leaving him behind. A family of Schemers and liars has no place in the great game, said the preening nobles and sycophants, they should have sided with the right side, they gossiped and prattled.
He believed them.
He could have blamed the Empire, the emperor, the world. But he couldn't. He wouldn't. It was only right.
It was only right that a family of schemers and liars who had supported Brochard against the Emperor should lose everything. They had believed Brochards lies, and it had cost them everything. This was the price for their lies, with him as the end result, stripped of everything and his name. That was the price of lies.
So, as he fled to the imperial City, barely a child, and left it all behind, his name, his title, and the lies behind, he had sworn, to only tell the truth.
And from that truth, he had been reborn. He had found a home. A new, better life. And The Emperor.
Let others gossip and lie, let them argue and squabble. He was happy, having found his Measure of Truth. And if other didnt like the truth, well. Not his problem, not his fault.
AN: Ow.
So yeah. This was a thing. 3300 word thing. Yay?
'Inhale' This Fic Empty, yeeeeet!
'Throws omake through
@Questor Window and runs away.'
