The Kitchen.

[Vaan]

Looking around and removing the hunger from his eyes, the griffin saw the Astral was correct. There was things here and there, but nothing spectacular.

"I suppose that pony from earlier tricked us," Vaan stated, feeling crossed, "She'll get her's...I swear it."

[Astral Midnight]

"Well, she did say the dining room. This looks more like a kitchen to me. Maybe we should look a bit harder?" Astral asked, looking at Vaan but still not making eye contact

[Vaan]

"Well I suppose we cook!" Vaan yelled as a smile grew on his face. It had been forever since he'd been in a fully functioning kitchen. He almost forgot how it felt to make one dish from various ingredients. It's a feeling he would kill for or at most hurt for, "Tell me pal, what are ya in the mood for?"

[Astral Midnight]

Astral's stomach growled loudly as he thought of a freshly-made meal. It had been absolutely forever since he had one. Hearing Vaan's question, Astral replied softly. "I-I'm not really picky.."

[Vaan]

Taking Astral's words into account, Vaan looked around the kitchen for anything worth cooking. Unfortunately, he found nothing to make an extravagant meal out of. He thought the royal kitchen would be filled with all sorts of food. He guessed he assumed wrong.

Fortunately, he did find items to make a simple breakfast. One to fill you up and remind one of a nice Sunday morning.

"Well, how about some breakfast?" Vaan asked, already cracking the eggs into a bowl, "Heat me up some oil ,would ya?"

[Astral Midnight]

Astral hesitated for a moment before getting to work heating up a bit of oil for Vaan. His stomach growled loudly, but he ignored it to help make the food. After a few moments, Astral turned to Vaan and spoke timidly. "The oil's heated up.."

[Vaan]

"Nice!" Vaan cheered as he passed the bowl to Astral, "Just scramble these while I look for some other stuff. Or cook them however you want."

Vaan quickly walked away to continue his cooking spree yet returned to sprinkle some salt into the eggs. Then he left again. He searched around the near barren kitchen until he found more pony centered food. It was decent, but nothing could beat griffon food in his eyes. (Perhaps he was being a bit biased). Though, any meal beat starving. With a sigh, he grabbed some hay and daises along with bread. He supposed eggs would be enough to satisfy his meat needs. If not, there were plenty of creatures outside.

"That's a nice cloak, but I wouldn't wear it while cooking. Might get stained, ya know?" Vaan warned as he struggled to remember how to cook hay.

[Astral Midnight]

Astral nodded and got started on the eggs, scrambling them as he had so many times in the forest. Upon heating Vaan's suggestion, Astral shook his head. "It's been through worse than some food. It'll be fine." He said, motioning to the many various and mysterious stains on the cloak

[Vaan]

Vaan looked at the hay in confusion. He'd never had to cook something so...pony related before. He knew the ponies usually ate it raw, but it wasn't a pony. So, he drizzled a small amount of oil on top of the hay and threw it in the oven. Hopefully, a little crispness would make the item a little more appetizing. If not, eggs would be enough.

"Looks like that cloak has some stories behind it," Vaan said, looking for something else to cook," Mind sharing some?"

[Astral Midnight]

Astral took a moment to pull the eggs off the heat, since they were fully cooked. Turning his attention to the cloak, Astral shrugged. "Most of these are just stains from everyday life in the forest.. Nothing special, really."

[Vaan]

Vaan took the hay and daises out of the oven; he sprinkled them with salt. Quickly finding a pair of oven mitts, he carried carried the hot pan over towards Astral. Noticing something was missing, the griffin went to find a loaf of bread. That's how he saw the ponies eating their plants so he guessed it was the right thing to do with it.

"Everyday forest life? I've been in the forest. Hard to escape certain events," Vaan said, reminiscing about his past. He gathered two then returned to Astral," Well, the food is served, mate. Dig in!"

[Citizens In Equestria]

Crashing through the kitchen doors in a tizzy, the stallion had landed on the floor in large gasps for air. "N-eed water." Picking himself up, the earth pony had been wearing what looked to be an apron. Signaling he worked here, his eyes blinked in realization of his guests. "Do forgive me... it seems this is the safest place to watch the beast... I.. I should have alerted the staff! Look at that thing!" Pointing out of his window the two headed dragon along the mountain pass, he shivered lightly.

[Vaan]

Vaan followed the hoof towards the window only to see a problem he personally didn't want to deal with. Nodding his head, the griffin placed his food aside, found a cup, filled it with water at the nearest faucet, and placed the glass in front of the stallion. Once he finished that task, he went back to his food, still nodding his head. He slowly placed another spoonful of eggs in his mouth; he chewed them slowly as he watched the beast. He knew it could end him within seconds, yet he stayed calm.

"Well, I suppose things can only be good for so long," Vaan muttered to himself as he gathered his bag, "And I thought I could live in this town worry free. I'm such an idiot."

He bit into his sandwich before tossing everything else into the trash. He began to walk and think about places he could go. The way he saw it, Canterlot was about to be destroyed. Then again, he wondered if the Bug Queen could defeat it. She defeated the Princess after all...with help.

"Hey, pony, is that dragon coming this way? If he is, we gotta tell someone and book it. I'm not sticking around long enough to become a roasted griffin."

[Astral Midnight]

Astral had just began to eat his food when the stallion suddenly burst in. Staring out of the window in shock, he quickly ate the rest of it, contemplating his next moves. He began to cautiously reach for his hood, ready to disappear if that was what was necessary. Looking to Vaan, Astral's eyes would ask the question without it needing to be said. What do we do now??

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

[Enters from Hallway]

Max walks through the door and is surprised to see it full of other ponies just looking out the window. "Uhh is one of you the kitchen chefs?" Mathew shut the door behind him and proceeded to the group of ponies "Whats going on outside that has all you ponies so interested?"

[Citizens In Equestria]

Taking the drink from the griffon and eternally grateful, the chef had tried to calm himself down. "Thank you." Standing up and collecting himself, the chef had brushed back his short mane before taking a deep breath and exhaling. "Okay. I know the Queen likes her pets, but this is alittle much. If it gets out of line, I am certain she'll give it a beating.." As if telling himself for comfort, the stallion had begun to walk back to the kitchen when Mathew entered. "A dragon. We are looking at our doom if the Queen and her soldiers dont stop that thing." Simple enough yeah?

[Vaan]

Looking towards Astral in a state of belief, he was too shocked to have an answer. Just moments ago the stallion who walked through the door attacked a guard and was detained; now he was freely walking anyplace he wanted. Truly, this confused the griffon(seeing how he would be in caves again.). Seeing as this was only the third time he met the guy, he couldn't say much about him...except he might be insane. Instinctively, he slowly reached for his crossbow and was ready to aim, yet he stopped. There was no need to cause any trouble here. Especially since he was trying to get out of the city.

"Yeah...there's a dragon over there on that hill, "Vaan spoke cautiously, he wasn't trying to set the pony off, "I figure we go tell Chyrsi before things go from bad to worse."

The Griffon, noticing Astral's hoof to his hood, walked over and placed his talons on his shoulders in a way to calm him. It felt awkward at first, but he needed Astral not to disappear somehow. Though, it seemed the cook might need some comfort as well.

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

Suddenly Mathew took a step back in shock.
"A dragon! The Queen must be informed at once!" Without hesitation, Max spun back around and started to move towards the door.
Max had no idea how he was going to reach The Queen as she was resting in the Reflection Mines the last time he checked.
[Exits into the Palace Hallway]

[Astral Midnight]

At the first touch, Astral tensed up. After just a couple moments, Astral calmed down, trying his hardest to hold himself together mentally. He slowly lowered his hoof to the ground, taking a deep breath and remaining silent.

[Citizens In Equestria]

Turning to the two, the stallion had calmly begun to walk back into the cooking area. Peaking out his small window, he couldn't help but feel guilty for running away. Speaking loud enough for the others to hear, the chef shook his head. "Poor young colt. He's gonna get eaten alive by that dragon. I'd hate to be his father when he gets the news. What does the little guy think he's doing!?"

[Vaan]

"You're telling me...there's a young one out there with that thing?!" Questioned Vaan.

Instantly, thoughts of his own daughter flooded his mind. Everyone since her birth until the last day he last saw her, he felt the memories stab into him like knives from his enemies. He knew he shouldn't get involved. He felt it in his very essence. It could only end horribly his mind screamed. Yet, the memory of his daughter urged him to play hero. Though, if it wasn't a child, he couldn't have cared less.

Okay...okay...okay. If this place is anything like back home, they'll take forever to kick into action," Vaan stated out loud, yet changed to a low tone. It was almost as if he was unsure about his next statement, "I guess we could go give the kid some help. I mean, I'm not fighting the dragon, but...the kid shouldn't be either."


Van walked towards the kitchen doors; his steps were slow and hesitant. He didn't know what he was doing. Why would he risk himself for a kid he didn't even know? The griffin could easily live in peace knowing that the Queen would take care of the problem. He couldn't live with the part that a child may die. So, with one last step, he touched the kitchen door. then turned to Astral.

"I'm not gonna force you to come with me. Especially since once I get halfway, I'll probably turn around and head home. Anyway, if ya don't have a place to crash, my door is always open. And, nice job on the eggs."


[Exit Vaan to Palace Entrance Door/ Hallway]

[Astral Midnight]

Astral simply watched the whole exchange silently. Hearing Vaan's final words, he hung his head low as he thought. He could try and help Vaan and everyone rescue the kid, or he could chicken out like he always did. Cowardice did have the safety aspect, after all. Without having actually decided yet, Astral flipped his good up and disappeared once again. He slowly walked back out into the hallway.

[Exit to Hallway]