That's curfew for you [Private]

[Hijinks]

5th December, late night 

A thick darkness blanketed the streets on Manehatten. Downtown was empty, save for a few griffon patrols. The curfew was in effect and nopony dared step outside. Nopony, besides one small purple filly currently strolling down the street without a care in the world.

Hijinks hummed as she skipped down the street. She didn't have a certain destination in mind, she just felt like walking around at night. She was well aware of the curfew too, and that's the whole reason why she was outside at that moment. Because she couldn't care less. Rules were made to be broken.

Eventually, Hijinks came to a stop. She just stopped in the middle of the street. There was nothing particularly interesting there. The filly just sat there on the street, looking straight up at the night sky. The clouds blocked any vision of the stars and the moon, but the sight kept her rooted in place.

[PureWrath]

Ivan was finished his shift. For the most part the day had been quite uneventful. He strolled out of the HQ passing a few hello's to his fellow guards. He likes how the streets were quiet...maybe not for the right reason but either way the silence was nice. He walked for a bit. He really did like Manehatten the way it looked it was gritty and he liked it. He strolled into the core of the city just to continue his sightseeing. It was nice not having dirty stares from ponies all day and it was one of the few times of the day where he could walk freely. Up ahead he noticed something in the dark. He continued to walk closer to it. "Hey!" he said trying to get it's attention he was, he never the greatest in the dark. He quicken his pace a bit. Hoping to see who it was before they run off.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks' ears flicked up at the voice of an approaching something. "There's no hay around here, sorry!" She called back to the voice in the dark. Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out a match, striking it against the ground. The match provided a small light, but it didn't let her see into the darkness. 

Hijinks prepared herself to bolt at any second if she needed to, but she wasn't scared of one single griffon, so she continued to sit there on the street, waiting for the voice to show itself.

[PureWrath]

Ivan walked up to now what he could see was a young filly. "What are you doing out here it's past curfew. You could get into a lot of trouble." He said somewhat sternly but it was only a child he wouldn't truly enforce anything on her. He sat down beside her and looked up a the clouds after looking for a minute he looked down at her. "Umm what are you looking at exactly?" He asked as he looked back up to the clouds.

He was a little surprised that she didn't run away from him. Not that he would have chased her anyways. He was more worried about someone else seeing her. griffons could get bored at these hours and like to stick it to whomever they find in the streets at this hour. It was quiet he could see the clouds moving with the wind. "Peaceful isn't it?" he asked.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks raised an eyebrow as the griffon approached her, but didn't make any move to run away or attack him. She ignored him as she drifted off into her own little world again.

Hijinks flew through the dense cloud layer, bursting into the fresh, open night sky. She settled down on a cloud as she looked up at the stars and the moon. She spread her wings out to the full length and admired them for a bit. Everything was perfect.

She was brought back to reality when the griffon began talking to her. "Peaceful? It's clouds. It's just grey and stuff, not really impressive now, is it?" It was what was beyond the clouds that really held her attention.

[PureWrath]

Ivan smiled. "Well what else is there to look at besides clouds. You can only enjoy what you can see right?" he asked. "Where are your parents they must be worried about you. shouldn't you be in home, in bed?" he asked her. Ivan looked around for any patrols but there didn't seem to be any out right now. most of them are probably just about to head out.

He wasn't sure about this filly she was 'different' to say the least most other children saw a 6 foot griffon they generally didn't stick around too long. But she was quite content on doing her own thing. maybe she was sleepwalking...if she was or not it would be a good excuse if they got caught. He started to see little flash lights in the distance he knew they didn't have too much time left. "We should probably move." He said to her.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks laughed lightly. "That's right..." You can't enjoy something you can't see. 

Hijinks sighed as the griffon continued his endless barrage of questions. "I don't think my parents really care." 'Because it's sorta hard to care if you are dead', she mentally added in. 

Hijinks also noticed the lights off in the distance, but she continued to just sit there. "eeeeehhhhhh, maybe later." she replied, lazily. She wanted to see what this griffon will do. He wasn't super grumpy chicken like the others.

[PureWrath]

Ivan smiled "I didn't mean it like that...Do you want to go through the clouds?" he asked her. He smiled. If he could get them into the clouds at least then they wouldn't get caught. He was worried that maybe she ran from home. Manehatten wasn't really a good place for children to be out and about on their own. The guards grew closer. He knew he would be able to shrug them off hoping it was only two or three of them if it was more he was a little concerned. Even being a higher officer there was still a tendency to ignore his orders. "What do you say?" he asked again.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks looked up at the griffon with the largest smile she could manage. "Really?!" She replied, not really sure if the griffon was serious or not. Or maybe it is a trap... No, this is way too important to just pass up. "Yeah! Let's go flying!" She yelled excitedly as she bounced up and down.

[PureWrath]

He smiled as he lowered himself. "Jump on then." He laughed "there we go finally a real reaction out of you. Just hold on tight ok, I don't want you falling off. He was happy he liked bringing joy to the ponies. The guards were closer. He saw a few lights flashing near them he was hoping that they hadn't spotted him yet.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks jumped onto the back of the griffon. She would feel lighter than she looks, but this wouldn't make a large difference for the six foot griffon. She managed to secure a firm grip around the griffons neck. "Okey dokey, I'm ready!" She said to the griffon.

[PureWrath]

He quickly took off, he wanted to make sure they wouldn't be followed. He made his way up to the cloud cover. He soared through the Cloud's until he made his way out to the other side. Seeing the stars and the moon. "I never asked you what was your name?" He said as he drifted though the sky. He watched out for any patrol's or to see if they were followed. He doubted it but it was better to keep up his guard. He smiled as he looked at the stars. He rested on a cloud for now. He enjoyed this Making some pony happy. Sure most saw him as the big bad griffon but times like these made him happy to be what he was.


The moon was a glorious sight. Even if he did know who put it there. He sighed, he liked this moment of semi coexistence. If he and this filly could get along then why was there a need for a war for just short of a decade. Maybe things wouldn't be like this forever. Hopefully some sort of assimilation will happen. He hoped. But he was worried that he would never see it. "What do you think now? beautiful isn't it." he said confidently.

[Hijinks]

"Woo hoo!" Hijinks cheered as the two soared off into the sky. They eventually ascended though the cloud layer, revealing the extravagant display of the beautiful night sky. The griffon moved to a slow glide, allowing Hijinks to just relax and take in the sight before her. In a way, it made her sad. Something like this shouldn't make you sad, so Hijinks put on the widest smile she could manage. But the smile was forced and was not genuine.

"Me?" She responded to the griffon's question. "You can call me Me." That's what she refers herself to most ponies and griffons. "Although, I suppose you can call me, Mimi, if you really want."

As the duo landed on a cloud, Hijinks ignored the griffon's question and leaped from his back. She landed on a cloud and sunk to the middle of it. After a few seconds, her head popped up from the top of it. Her smile this time was genuine.

[PureWrath]

His heart skipped a beat as she jumped onto the cloud. But she didn't fall. He thought for a moment as to why this was even possible. Until he realized what she was. He wanted to say sorry he figured it was probably because of griffons. Only his kind would hurt an innocent child. He was hurting. He was angry. He tried to hide away his feelings for her so that she could enjoy the moment. "So...Mimi, Ugh my name is Ivan." He was having a issue speaking due to a terrible feeling in his throat. With a Mhmm he cleared his throat. He still looked around for patrols. up here they would be easy to spot so he had to use more caution.

He was still steaming. He was worried if they got caught what he would do to his comrades. He tried not think about it. He took a deep breathe as he watched Mimi have fun in the cloud it did make him feel slightly better. At least she was smiling which brought him joy. He might not have always been a good guy but he was happy he was doing a nice thing now.

[Hijinks]

"Ivan? What kind of name is Ivan?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "I-vaaaaaan... You van..." She didn't really like his name, didn't sound quite as cool. "Ok, from now on, you are Soarin, because that's cool." She didn't ask, she just stated that his new name was Soarin. 

She reached into the cloud and pulled out a ball of cloud. "Cloudball fight!" She yelled as she threw the cloud at Ivan.

[PureWrath]

He was pretty confused when the filly up and re-named him. He didn't rightly know how to react to that. Then randomly a ball of cloud hit him square in the face and faded away. He laughed. He grabbed a ball of his own and threw it at her. "Take that!" he laughed it wasn't often he could say that he would say he was having fun. but this filly brought out another side of him, he genuinely liked it too. He was ready for Mimi's counter attack. In the back of his mind he was still worried about being caught. But he just sort of wanted to ignore it and live in the moment of now.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks was ready for the return ball and she ducked underneath the cloud projectile. "Is that all you got?" She teased. She pulled up a piece of the cloud to act as a fort, and she began stock piling cloudballs.

"Get ready to eat cloud!" She giggled as she popped up from behind her makeshift fort and threw two cloudballs at the griffon, one cloudball for each hoof.

[PureWrath]

he laughed as he used his wing to block the cloud balls. He was about to throw one back when he heard a distant screeching sound. "Damn..." He said quietly to himself. "Mimi we have to go. Now!" He ran over to her and dipped down low so she could get on. He was angry that this moment was ruined. He heard another screech. He knew that there was a few of them. He would have to act fast to avoid getting caught. Both of them would be in serious trouble. "Ill bring you back up here another night. I promise." He said.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks shrugged and hopped onto his back again. "I could take em, they're not as tough as they look, ya know?" She said proudly. Though, it's easier back on the ground since there's stuff to hide behind. There's not much cover in the sky.

She prepared herself for pursuers by readying her supply of boom crackle bombs. "Well... yeah, okay." She didn't keep her hopes up though. Chances are, this will be the last time she will see him.

[PureWrath]

He swiftly dived through the cloud cover He kept his high speed straight down into the city. He looked behind to see the patrol's trying to catch up. He pulled up when he was close to the ground he quickly went into some alleyways. "Ok. I hope that lost them." he said as he landed. "This is only half the battle I still got to get you home...Where is your home by the way?" He asked. He checked around the corner he didn't see anything it was foggy which was probably the only reason he got away easily. He sighed with relief. At least down here he can say he found Mimi out of her home. Up there. not really any sort of an excuse for what was going on.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks giggled as they raced down into the city. The wind in her mane, the griffons behind her behind left in the dust, just like old times. As they landed, Hijinks hopped off the griffon and looked around. It was a dark alleyway that looked like it didn't receive much attention."This looks like a good place for tonight." She replied to the griffon's question, specifically to the home one. She found a small trash pile with an empty cardboard box on it. It was large enough, so she jumped inside. "Home is where you rest your head, as they say. So I guess I live in a box." She giggled.

[PureWrath]

Ivan looked at her. "You can stay at my place you shouldn't sleep on the streets. This is unacceptable." He said sternly. He didn't know what to do he was in awe of how deplorable the conditions were for the equestrians....maybe the he was more of a monster then he thought. "I have some warm food. A dry place to sleep. Nice and quiet at least... If you want Mimi." He wanted her to come but figured she wouldn't. She seemed so content with this lifestyle and it just wasn't right in any sort of way.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks raised an eyebrow at Ivan's request. "You're inviting me to your place, and also offering food? My, you do love to spoil me, don't you? What will the other ponies think?" She teased. She sat there, silent, thinking about the griffon's offer. "Well, I dunno...Have you got any candy?" She asked hopefully. Chances are she will sneak out when the griffon was asleep, but Hijinks couldn't pass up candy. And as long as the free food was free of meat, she will take the griffon up on his offer. She wasn't not going through stomach problems again. That was messy.

[PureWrath]

He sighed "I don't think I have too much in the ways of candy. I just feel bad for you...If I can make some peace in this world then Ill do anything I can for it." He was somewhat upset. "I'm tired of being hated for being a griffon, tired of being 'the bad guy'." He sighed as she slumped to the cold wet ground. "Do you want to spend a night or not?" He asked calmly. He was get tired and stressed out from the nights adventure...normally he wouldn't be so worried about his own skin but a filly being there really amped thing up for him.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks looked at Ivan with disbelief. "You're tired of being a griffon? You're tired of having a home and lots of food and basically everything else you could want?" Hijinks shakes her head. "Why do you care? You can do whatever you want!" She exclaimed. She stared off into space as she imagined the possibilities. "Sounds like a case of being unable to count your blessings."

"Bah, I don't really think you would understand." She looked back at the griffon. "So... What kind of food you got? It isn't meat, is it? Last time I tried that..." Hijinks cringed at the memory. "...Messy."

[PureWrath]

Ivan sighed. "What's the point of having everything if you have no one to share it with?" He smiled at her though. "I have some green's around, don't you worry." his smile quickly faded. He looked over at her. "are you coming or not?" he asked again. At this point all he wanted to do was go home. He might of had certain things but he wasn't truly free he was still a slave to other griffons. Being a solider had perks but not many.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks shrugged. It would be silly to turn down a free meal. "Alright, I'll bite." She said as she hopped out of the cardboard box. She ran up behind the griffon and jumped up on his back again. "You can't really share being a griffon though. Not that I would want to be a griffon. Being a filly has perks, ya know?" She rambled. "Like, this one time I went to a doctor zebra and he gave me a lollipop because I was a good filly, and that's pretty awesome."

Leaning into the griffons ear, she whispered. "Adults think they can control me, but I don't listen to them." She giggled. They also underestimate her, which is great.

[PureWrath]

He smiled lightly he liked the way she thinks. But it didn't change anything really. "Sometimes our elders are right thought and they need to be listened to...its not controlling you its just helpful advise." He said as he walked through the cities streets he wasn't too far from his apartment. He walked along undisturbed. The Fog was still in the streets. "why was any of this necessary...Why did a war have to go on for 8 years." he said to himself.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks held on tightly to the griffon as they made their way through the streets. "Maybe you should ask those super helpful elders of yours, right?" She teased. "Clearly, their advice has been great so far." she giggled quietly. She hasn't listened to anypony for years now, and she was doing much better than before.

She yawned lightly. "Nyeh, you need to lighten up." she said, patting Ivan on the head.

[PureWrath]

He sighed. "a taste of my own advise. your a cheeky one aren't you." He laughed lightly. "Lighten up?" he said as he scoffed at the idea. Being who he was is how they weren't caught tonight. He thought it was odd to lighten up after the high stress of avoiding the officials. They were nearly at the apartment. "You need to be a little more serious." He laughed, considering he didn't think she had taken one thing seriously all night. He walked up the building and walked through the door's then made his way to a secondary door it was a empty shaft he jumped into and flew his way up. At the fifth floor he got out of the shaft and walked along the long hallway.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks imitated Ivan's previous sigh. "Serious? Ain't nopony got time for that." She giggled. "Anyway, I can't be serious. Just look at my cutie-mark." She said pointing to her 'cutie-mark', a piece of paper with a crudely drawn clown drawn on it, taped to both her flanks. She didn't really expect the griffon to stop and look at it though, but he probably remembers it. "It's a clown, and clowns are supposed to be fun and silly, which is what I do." She said proudly.

As they entered the apartment, Hijinks became a bit quieter. "So..." She said, trying to break the silence. "Where's all your griffon buddies?" She asked, keeping an eye on the doors as if they could open at any second.

[PureWrath]

"Griffon buddies? What do you mean?" He asked. "hmm? Looks like something that would be silly. I guess. I don't really know what a clown is. But the name sounds silly." He smiled at her. He opened the door to his small apartment. "give me a few minutes to set you up a bed. Take a look around." He said as he walked into the room. He started to move the cushions on the sofa as it folded down into a sort of bed. "There you can sleep there." He sat down on a chair in the room. He slumped back as he finally had a moment of peace.

[Hijinks]

As the griffon entered, what she presumed, was his apartment, Hijinks hopped off the griffon's back and looked around. "Not perfect, but I gotta rate it a chicken out of five." Hijinks' rating system is very complicated. 

Hijinks looked at the couch bed the griffon offered. "Fancy! couch bed is best bed." She jumped up on the bed, testing the strings. "Hmmm.... good bounce." She started jumping up and down on the bed, giggling the whole time.

[PureWrath]

He sighed at least she was having fun. It was nice not being so lonely all the time. He got out of his chair and walked into the kitchen he ate a fish or two then headed out of the kitchen with a small paper bag. It had a few carrot's an apple and a few other veggies. He set it down beside her. "Have at it." He said as he sat back down in his chair. He slumped back down again. He was much happier, but he honestly didn't know what to do with her. He never had a kid...or even a brother or a pet to raise or help raise or anything in that sort of manner. He was always been told how to fight in a war. His old memories clouded his mind as he made a audible sigh.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks stopped jumping on the bed and looked inside the paper bag. "Well it's not a feast, but I'll take it." She began munching on the apple. It was pretty fresh compared to what she was used to. She stopped eating when she noticed the griffon was all mopey and sad. So she started singing, naturally.

"Hey, What's a matter you?"
"Why you looking so sad?"
"It's a not so bad."
"Hey shuttupa ya face!"

She giggled at that last line. It probably didn't end there but she couldn't remember the rest. She also didn't remember where she heard that song. But it was catchy!

[PureWrath]

He smiled at her. "I-I'm fine you enjoy yourself." He wanted to help more ponies though. He liked bringing joy into this war torn world. He heard rumor's of a resistance group but most of his superiors talked nothing about it. mainly just a whisper. Even if such a thing was true they would never trust him. There had to be a few other places where he could go. Maybe it was time he started focusing on moving up the chain of command again. He would maybe get some more insight on what the griffons are doing to the ponies that lived here. "Just thinking about some thing don't mind me." He said as tapped a claw on the wooden chair.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks looked up from her meal and nodded sagely. "Sometimes... I prefer not to think." She looked back into the bag of food, picking out a piece of carrot, she began munching on that too. "Are you still on that, 'hate being a griffon' thing? I always just saw griffons as a cat chicken, but there must be some benefits? wings are pretty cool." She said.

[PureWrath]

He sighed "Wings are nice yes but, what some griffons do to civilians is deplorable, ugh... rude and very bad. I just want to not be hated and make life a little happier for others. Like my mother did for me and her friends." The kid had it right sometimes not thinking was the best thing to do. But he just couldn't stop he had no way of just being able to stop thinking. Maybe to think in a more simple fashion. discard everything what could he do to help. Donate food. Help some orphans....But something more was calling his name and he didn't know what it was exactly.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks finished off another carrot, discarding the green icky part of the carrot back into the bag. "Well, I dunno... I guess you're right, griffons are usually mean. I suppose that means you're not a very good griffon then." She picked out the last carrot from the bag. "Mmm, crunchy!" She said, biting off the tip of the carrot, the best part!

[PureWrath]

He gave her an odd look "Griffons aren't normally mean. We were forced to do this. mainly they get bored so they hassle ponies...But I guess from what you've seen yea I'm not a good griffon if we want to look at it like that." Her way of thought really threw him off. He sighed again. He got up out of his chair. "Only if I wasn't a griffon." He said to himself. He didn't know if the ponies would even like him or trust him even if he tried to ease their pain. He was feeling pretty hopeless about the situation.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks dug to the bottom of the bag, looking for the best bits. "Maybe you're not a griffon? perhaps you're just an overgrown chicken with cat parts." She giggled at that. But that was probably unlikely since chickens can't fly. 

Her ears perked up at Ivan's comment. "Hmm, why not make your own people then? you can be... kind griffons... kriffons? no no no." She paused to think of a good name. "Oooh, how about a griffy? that sounds friendly." She beamed at Ivan, awaiting the obvious incoming appraisal for such an original and awesome name.

[PureWrath]

He smiled at her jokes. "Being a kind griffon doesn't change who I am, griffy or griffon other pony's wont seem to care what I call myself." he sighed. "The only way I could pass for anything would be calling myself a hippogryph, honestly it doesn't look like I have any kind of pony in me so that would be hard to pass off." He said "But i'm not a chicken." he laughed lightly at that. This issue was irksome. But what else could he do.
"I like the way you think though. Not all of us can be upbeat like you. Its an admirable quality."

[Hijinks]

Hijinks smiled back at Ivan. "Thanks! I like the way you think that you like the way I think!" She giggled.

"But let's take a moment to be serious here." She cleared her throat. "Hold on a sec, I'm about to say something really wise and stuff... Okay, I gots nothin." She slumped back down onto the couch bed. "By the way, I don't think you're a meanie... Though, you could work on your appearance. Wearing pretty pink bows always works for me." She grinned, painting a mental image of Ivan in pink bows.

[PureWrath]

He had an awkward grin. "Yea I don't think bows are the way to go...But appearance what would you do to change it?" He asked he might as well see what she had in mind. Children were quite fascinating now that he had a chance to actually talk with one. Most of the time the street urchins would attempt to pull pranks on him and such. "hmm seems ill have to go shopping tomorrow. To get you something maybe we'll go work on that appearance of mine. But still what do you think I should change?" He asked again. He sat forward quite interested in what she would say.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks raised her hoof to her chin, thinking. "Hmm... Well it would have to make you look sophisticated, yet not shady. It can't make it look like you are hiding a weapon, so cloaks are a no-go... Have you ever though about a fancy hat? Personally, I'd stick with the bows but a gentlecolt's hat would work too." She nodded, satisfied with her own reasoning.

[PureWrath]

He was a little shocked. She didn't do anything silly and everything she said made sense. "I-I'd be inclined to agree. Though I don't do hat's. Really a bow? I'm not so sure. I'll look like a bigot rather then humble." He said looking over at her with a slight smile. It was interesting she was almost two ponies. One upbeat and happy the other logical and smart. It was still odd how she jumped back to one or the other but maybe she'll level out when she's older. He thought it strange but he liked it. He yawned. "Maybe it's time for you to get some sleep. You are still young and need rest." He said with a smile. He still wasn't sure what he was going to do with her...or if she would just leave. But that was a problem for another day...Which was odd because normally he would fret now. But maybe Mimi was rubbing off on him.

[Hijinks]

Hijinks visibly sagged. "But... I'm not ti-" She let out a long drawn-out yawn. "Maybe a nap then." She laid down on the couch bed, eyes closed and breathing slow. 

Hijinks liked Ivan, but she was still planning to leave very early in the morning while he was still asleep. She still had some exploring around the city to do, and Ivan would probably get in the way of the fun stuff.

[PureWrath]

Ivan smiled, he got up from his seat he started to walk over to his bedroom. "Sleep well." He said as he walked into his bedroom. He left the door open he wasn't sure why it was either to keep an eye on her or to not leave her. He still felt bad for her. He laid down in his bed. "The Magic of friendship. Didn't save them in the war but at least I know what it is." He said to himself as he tried to get comfy in the large bed. He yawned once before closing his eyes as he attempted to sleep.

[PureWrath]

Hijinks was sitting in the streets of Manehatten, Ivan came along and started to talk to her. Ivan flew them up into the clouds to avoid being caught by guards. But after a while they were still found. After a short run from the officials they escaped and headed back to Ivan's place mainly because he felt bad for hijinks because she is a filly who lives in the streets. Ivan opened up to Hijinks about hating being a griffon because ponies hated him and all he wanted to do was be nice and help. after that they both went to sleep. Ivan learned a lot about himself. While Hijinks got a free look at the stars, some food and a warm dry place to sleep. (And possibly having a ace up her sleeve now that she knows Ivan.)

Ivan knows Hijinks by Mimi
Hijinks renamed Ivan as soarin (because she didn't like his name.)

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