Humani Victoria

Chapter 35 ~ The Kingdom of the Sky

                                       “Birds born in cages think flying is a disease,”

                                                                                               ~Alejandro Jodorowsky

Edward’s Glacier, The Northern Unknown, Saturday, 11th of April, 8:13am, 2206 AC

Ed casually licked his thumb as he leafed through the journal while mumbling to himself, he leaned against the wall of ice behind him with his cane hooked on his arm. He was totally absorbed in every word of the book or at least what he could decipher from it, his inner thoughts being hidden from Jason, Celestia, and Luna whom stood waiting. Jason glanced at Luna whom looked back and gave a small shrug, Edward continued taking his time, seemingly memorizing every word in the tattered journal.

“It doesn't look like something a mad person would write,” he finally said. “And the fact that it mentions me by name, alternative name may it be, gives it a significant amount of validity.”

“But what about the other figures mentioned throughout?” Luna asked.

“Ah yes, my fellow “Eternal Men” as they are referred. Yes, there are six of them including myself. And later in this the author describes each in turn, their stories as it were, many are unreadable or complete blather. One does seem to be legible though, and it regards this “Nyxeresith” that Jason mentioned.”

“Yeah, that's the name I.. That I heard in my head, several times actually. And Sombra mentioned him too, although briefly,” Jason added.

“Perhaps further clues can be obtained from this passage?” Celestia said.

“Indeed, let's see…”

“Once, there was a boy who knew only pain and loneliness. He had heard stories of before, when the city was better and the people didn't die, but to him they were only just that; stories. This boy had no home but the flooded and bloody streets that were abandoned by the ruling class, these streets did not exist on any map nor did anyone but those inside of it know it truly existed. Yet, people lived there, and the bodies, well they were dumped there.

None wanted the boy, they called him filthy, tainted, but he was no more tainted then the rest or so he reasoned. The boy knew that the adults could be cruel and he learned that through their shut doors and their harsh words, but it was the other children whom were truly evil. The only escape from the beating, the biting, and and cutting was the darkest of alleyways where the boys only company was the rotting corpses and the rats.

The boy didn't notice as the man approached, only when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder did he turn to look. The man smiled, comforted him, and told him that he could make things better that he could give the boy a better life. The orphan boy believed him without thought and followed the man who took him to the place that was only spoken about in whispers. The adults would talk fearfully of it, a place of witches and black magic, but the boy never believed the stories nor more then he believed the ones of a better city.

He shouldn't of believed the man's stories either.

He didn't feel pain anymore, not as his body was ripped apart and infused with magic, no the boy only knew the darkness that would consume him. The void that would fuse with him, and the power he felt at his fingertips. They boy wasn't afraid anymore, he wasn't alone either, and when the time was right the boy returned to the man whom had given him this gift and he thanked the man for what little life he had left. And as the man's eyes began to weep red the boy would take the man's bones and on these bones he would carve his mark, no child was ever lonely after that day. Always they would find the bones, gnawed and chewed to ovals, left in the darkest alleyways and lonely places that only equally lonely children could find. And those children would always pray and make their eyes weep for the boy whom would always come, just as that man did, and place a warm hand on their shoulders.”

Edward looked up at the dark looks from his guests and he carefully closed the journal and tucked it under his arm. His own thoughts were admittedly in a tizzy, the information he had was so limited yet suggested so much that it drove him mad not knowing a clear answer.

“So what your thoughts, Ed?” Jason asked softly.

“Putting aside the delightful little short story, it seems that this journal suggests that there are other human individuals not too dissimilar to myself. Extremely magically powerful and revered by some form of religious group,” Edward scratched his beard. “I've mentioned this before but… There was always rumours floating around the Academy when I worked there, people would talk about projects gone wrong, unsanctioned experiments, people going missing without trace both from within the Academy and from the streets. I.. I can't say for sure if there's any truth to that.”

“Let's do away with such things for the time being,” Luna said. “There stands the matter of the passage towards the end, the one regarding-”

“Regarding Gryphonia, yes,” Edward said, flipping to the page in question. “Seems that this individual had been planning on returning to a safe house of his order, one located in the Gryphon Kingdom.”

“So now that's two groups I've run into that are linked to Gryphonia,” Jason added. “The Gryphons whom were in Rome and Stalliongrad, who attacked us and killed… Anyway, they have Cain’s Blade remember? And god knows what they want to do with that. Now we have these human worshippers whom supposedly have a presence in Gryphonia.”

“Then the course is clear,” Luna said. “We thank you, Edward, for your input on this matter.”

“Huh?” Ed looked up from the book. “Uh, yeah, sure… You mind if I keep this? Not every day you find a book that you’re in. Gives me something to read too.”

“If you want I'm sure we can get you books to read, I think Twilight’s been begging to meet you anyway,” Jason. “Stay cool, Ed.”

“Always a pleasure Jas- wait was that a pun?” The trio had already teleported away before Edward could finish his sentence. He sighed and turned his attention back to the book in his hands.

“Glalÿir-Hux,” he read aloud. “There was once a man of great knowledge who wanted to cheat death as the Alicorns had. He wanted to freeze death in place so it could not touch him or anyone else…”

Castle of the Two Princesses, Canterlot, Equestria, Saturday, 11th of April, 9:00 am, 2206 AC

“Spike! Where’s To Live in the Sky by Brother Moonclaw the Fourth?” Twilight called from one end of the royal library.

“Right here!” Spike called back from the far side of the library. “What about A Complete Study of Gryphons by Snowbeak the Eighth?”

“Oh! Good idea! Take it!”

Jason rolled his eyes at Twilight’s and Spike’s voices as they echoed down the hall to him, he passed the guards outside the library. Celestia had created a new branch of the royal guards to protect Equestria’s precious knowledge in light of recent events, shadowy groups searching for magical knowledge and artifacts can make one paranoid. This the Masked Guard had been created, and they were creepy as fuck, with a metal mask that hugged their face and hid all expression. The eye sockets glowed with an enchantment that allowed them to see magical signatures of both living beings and artifacts, including Jason which was probably why the creepy fuck watched him walk past.

“You really think you’re gunna need all these books?” Jason asked as he walked in and leaned against a bookshelf.

“Of course! Gryphon's have a complex and unique culture! If I'm going to help Princess Celestia in this visit I'll need to learn all I can about them!”

“Right,” Jason said. “You tell the girls about this trip?”

“Yeah..” Twilight said sadly. “They were disappointed, but understanding. It's weird, we’ve been on so many adventures together it's different not having them around on this one.”

“Well, from what I know relations ain't the best. I don't think having Pinkie there would help much.”

“True…” Twilight said, then sighed. “Some of them… Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, even Rainbow Dash they all seemed relieved. I could tell… They never wanted to go, they… Don't like this lifestyle. Adventures every day, going off without little to know notice… And then there's the danger. I know that Rainbow and Pinkie aren't over what happened in Stalliongrad, they've been having nightmares or so Luna has told me. Jason… They’re just normal ponies and I'm… Well, I don't think I am normal. At least not like they are, before I came they worked, lived, and enjoyed life like any average citizen. I'm not average, I'm not so naïve to say otherwise but I'm afraid that… I'm afraid that as this goes on as my apprenticeship to Celestia comes to a head that I'll only lose them further..”

Twilight looked up from the book cover she was staring at to meet Jason’s gaze.

“Sorry, I know you didn't ask for that.”

“It's okay,” Jason said. “And if it helps, I don't think your friends are going anywhere. Sure, they can't go on every dangerous adventure with you but who could? When you get the chance you should do something more mild with them, get a change of pace.”

“I'll give it a shot,” Twi said. “Right now I want to focus on this visit. You all packed?”

“Yep, got a redshirt.. Er.. Guard to carry my shit to the boat. It's a couple days trip to Gryphonia yeah?”

“Just about, Luna’s asked be to give lessons to her and you while we travel. So we can all avoid insulting anyone by mistake.”

“Oh goody, lectures,” Jason said with a roll of his eyes, Twilight stuck her tongue out at him as Spike came over which a sack full of books galore.

“I think that's.. All of them,” he huffed.

“Great!” Twilight exclaimed, strapping on her modestly sized saddlebags full of books. “Let's head down to the docks, Celestia and Luna should be down there soon.”

“Sounds good,” Jason agreed.

It was a clear and pleasantly warm day outside, the last grips of winter being pushed away by the spring’s warmth. Already Jason dreaded the scorching hot days of summer that made one soaked with sweat, sticky and gross. Jason never liked the heat, couldn't handle it, winter but more so autumn was his favourite seasons. Not to mention spring meant storms, which meant choppy waters, which considering they were embarking on a several day long ship ride wasn't a pleasant thought at all.

The docks were lined with ships of varying shapes and sizes as one would expect it to be, but it was almost immediately obvious which one was to be their transport. It was the largest, with a wide frame and huge sails, the Equestrian standard flying proudly from its mast and the name The Ulysses painted in gold lettering upon its dark blue painted hull.

“Who chose the name?” Jason wondered aloud, recognizing the name after a second of thought.

“Probably the captain,” Twilight answered, with just a hint of sarcasm. “Look, Celestia is speaking to him. Come on.”

Indeed, Celestia along with Luna was standing on the dock proper speaking to a grizzled old Pegasus stallion. He had a dark blue goat and a wild black mane paired with bushy eyebrows and an equally bushy  moustache hiding his lip. One of his eyes had been scratched out by… Something with three claws and was covered by an eyepatch, his other good eye was a piercing green. The captain wore the appropriate black tricorn hat and a lighter blue frock coat which hide most but not all of a long cutlass that hung sheathed at his side.

“…the straight will be gettin’ right choppy this time-ó-the-year, you and yer company be best down below in them waters. Ó-course I can't rightly order a princess to so anythin’ even on me ship…” The captain was saying, his voice accented in a manner that was distinctively of northern origin and spoke of years of travel.

“I'll defer to your judgment on this, Captain,” Celestia replied, she took notice of Jason’s and Twilight’s approach. “Ah, I would like you two to meet Captain Salty Shores, Equestria’s most skilled privateers and explorers. Captain, this is Jason and my student Twilight.”

“A pleasure, m’lady,” Salty said with a courteous bow to Twilight who smiled, the captain then squinted at Jason with an unreadable expression.

“When you sail as I have, Human. You ‘ear a lot-ó-stories and myths about things and a fair few of ‘em are ‘bout the Golden Folk of Old and not all of ‘em are good.”

“Jason has proven himself a valuable asset to me, captain,” Luna chimed in. “You have nothing to fear from him.”

“Ó-course,” Salty said, his gaze unwavering. “As long as ‘e keeps out of way of me crew then we’ll have no problems. Speaking-ó-which I gotta get the lads ready to set sail, we’ll await your word Princess.”

“Thank you, captain,” Celestia said and the captain trotted to his ship.

“Pleasant fellow,” Jason commented.

“Seafarers are over cautious and superstitious folk, I wouldn't think anything of it,” Luna assured him. “I think we should get underway soon, however.”

“I still think we should both go,” Celestia admitted. “If High King Bloodbeak is somehow connected to a higher conspiracy then it would do best to have a more powerful presence there to put a stop to it.”

“Perhaps,” Luna said.” “But, not only do I suspect that the good King has no idea about any of what we have witnessed I also must insist that one of us always remain to actually run the country, sister. You and I both know parliament would burn down Canterlot with both of us gone.”

“True enough, but my worries will not cease.”

“I know,” Luna said and hugged Celestia tightly whom returned the gesture.

“Be safe,” Celestia said softly.

“I always am,” Luna quipped back.

Celestia went over to Jason and Twilight and the shared a hug together which the princess.

“The sea be calm where you sail,” Celestia said. “And may the winds be kind as you wonder in the kingdom of the sky. Return to me safe and tell me what you've learned, that is what's most important. I want no brave challenging of whatever evil shares its bed with Gryphons, I simply want its name. Understand?”

“You worry too much,” Jason said, patting Celestia’s back. “I'll take care of them, they’ll take care of me. It's a round robin of caring, we’ll be fine. See ya’ later Tia.”

“I'll give you a report on modern Gryphon culture when I get back!” Twilight called as the three of them boarded the Ulysses.

“Captain,” Luna said, as she took her place next to Salty Shores whom manned the helm. “Set off.”

“Yes, m’lady,” Salty Shores said before yelling out to his crew, an equally grizzled and salty bunch as their captain whom were already running to and fro preparing to cast off. “Half mast to start and full mast when we clear the bank! Tack the wind and adjust bearing by  thirty degrees! We sail west to Talonguard! We sail to Gryphonia!”

“Aye, captain!” The crew changed back as the sails were unfurled and the Ulysses pulled away from the Canterlot docks towards open waters.

Aboard the Ulysses, The Dragon Passes, The Everwinter Sea, Saturday, 11th of April, 1:00 am, 2206 AC

Jason could feel the ship bobbing softly beneath his feet as they navigated the complicated stretch of sea that the crew called The Dragon Passes, but Jason recognized as the straights from the Baltic Sea, through Denmark, and out into the open ocean. Twilight had called him and Luna below to a large compartment that they would use as a make-shift classroom, it was there they gathered now.

“Y’know, I'm surprised you don't already know all you need about Gryphons,” Jason said to Luna.

“Well, it's been a while and one can always use a refresher,” Luna lowered her voice to mumble in Jason’s ear. “Plus I couldn't handle the moping from Twilight if I said no.”

Jason snorted just as Twilight entered, practically skipping her way past with a bag full of books in her magical grasp. She trotted to the front and turned to face them with a beaming smile that Jason had to admit was pretty fucking adorable.

“Alright! We should start with the basics,” Twilight exclaimed, pulling out one of her books and opening it. “As we all know, Gryphons are a race of large four-legged avians, studies on the Gryphon physiology show that they ultimately have more in common with birds then they do with mammals. Such as laying eggs when giving birth and general natural behaviour.”

“Culturally speaking probably the one thing that anyone planning on interacting with Gryphons at large us to remember that they are a very proud people, there's hundreds of ways to offend a Gryphon’s honour and that can mean harsh words at best and violence at worse. Gryphons conduct themselves according to a struck code of honour, not unlike a knightly code or oath. Naturally there is some variation is how faithfully the individual Gryphon adheres to this unspoken code but many are very serious about it.”

“So on that note, some things to know above all else: When a Gryphon bows to you, you bow back regardless of rank, status, or otherwise. This is their way of greeting, Gryphon’s believe that all peoples even their enemies are deserving of this basic gesture of respect. Imagine someone coming up to you and insulting your family, your friends, your ancestors, and your country all at once in the most insulting and vulgar way they could. That's the equivalent of not sharing a bow with a Gryphon.”

“Similarly but more obviously we should all remember to use the appropriate titles, Your Majesty, My Lady, Ser, and so forth should always be remembered…”

It went on like that for most of the two day trip to Gryphonia, it wasn't terrible or anything in fact Twilight was a half decent teacher whom managed to put enough excitement in her own voice that it rubbed off on her students. They learned more or less what they needed to know about Gryphon’s, a people that Jason learned were like an entire race born of samurai and medieval Knights. Borderline obsessed with honour, chivalrous, prideful, and making sure every waking moment was detected to serving ones Clan, family, country, and King.

“Land ho! The cliffs! Adjust course cap’n!”

“Aye!”

Jason stood at the bow with Luna and peered across the sea, the sun hung high in sky and set fire to the unmistakable pure white cliffs that practically sparkled in the light. And at the highest peak stood Talonguard, a tall tower and castle that gave way to a expansive city made almost exclusively of what appeared to be marble with smaller spires dotted within the city proper. Even from this distance one could see large figures circling in the air, some diving, other flying away in the distance in some errand.

“Rhanor’s Cliffs,” Twilight said in a hushed voice. “Even more beautiful then I imagined..”

“Who's Rhanor?” Jason asked, feeling sad all of a sudden.

“No one knows,” Luna piped in. “They’ve always been called that, even when I was a child.”

“No,” Jason shook his head. “They were called something else first.”

They had to swing south to the only landing spot for several kilometres. A drop off in the cliffs wherein there was an impressively sized harbour and a large town to go with it. As they approached three dots were spotted flying towards them and before anyone could so much as yell the deck was impacted by the weight of three Gryphons landing on it. Two of them were clearly guards of some sort, with silver chestplates, full helms, and spears, the third whom in between the others was cut from a different cloth. With a shiny and intricate steel breastplate, a fine silken blue cape, and a longsword at his side. The Gryphon’s feathers showed care and almost obsessive cleaning to the point where they shined with a glossy sheen.

“Your Majesty,” He said as the three Gryphons bowed gracefully, Luna, Twilight, and Jason were quick to return the gesture.

“It is this ones great honour to welcome you to the great city of Talonguard, Seat of the Winged Throne and His Majesty High King Bloodclaw the Eighth, Sword of The Wind, Lord Paramount of Talonguard, Patriarch of Clan Blood, and the King of the Sky whom welcomes you to his domain. I, Ser Goldbeak, First Knight of the Holy Sky, have been bid to escort Her Majesty Princess Luna of the Night Sky and her companions to Gryphonstone Hold wherein His Majesty the King awaits them.”

“We thank you for your hospitality,” Luna said in a formal tone. “And may I say that it is a great honour to be granted the audience of His Majesty the High King, and to see the holy city of the sky once again.”

“Of course,” Ser Goldbeak said, his eagle eyes shifted to Twilight and then Jason where they lingered. “May this one inquire as to the appropriate titles of Her Majesties companions, as to introduce them properly to His Majesty the King.”

“Indeed, this is Lady Twilight of House Sparkle, First Attending to Her Majesty Princess Celestia of the Sun, Bearer of the Element of Magic, and the Sorceress of the South,” Luna listed, Jason raised his eyebrows. He had heard literally none of those titles before and he wondered how many of them Luna had just made up. Luna then looked at Jason and paused for a moment before speaking. “And this is Ser Jason of the Old World, The Blade of Rome, Liberator of the Lupa Mines, Bane of Chaos, and the Last of the Lost Peoples.”

“This one thanks you,” Ser Goldbeak said, still sparing Jason a fair few looks.

Jason ignored him and gave Luna a raised eyebrow at her impromptu titles, she gave a subtle shrug as Captain Salty Shores began bellowing orders at his crew to prepare for docking. The Ulysses was expertly pulled into port and tied off so it wouldn't float away. The crew lowered a walkway for them, the knight and his guards led them off the ship and through the harbour town to where a long winding road stretched along the smooth green fields to where Talonguard stood.

The city was as large as Canterlot, perhaps larger in terms of the area it covered. Every building was constructed upwards which gave the city the appearance of a series of obelisks clustered together that large birds were roosting in. It only seemed to grow as they approached, Ser Goldbeak escorting them along with more Silver Guards whom joined them to form a large company to guard them. Gryphons of every shape and size flitted between the tall buildings above them whom were bound to the ground, Jason quickly noticed that not all Gryphons were of the token eagle and lion hybrid. Some were all black, they had the head of a crow and the body of a black panther, others had falcon heads and the bodies of sand tigers, and some even more interestingly had the heads of snow owls and the bodies of snow tigers.

Naturally, they garnered stares, ponies were rare here, Alicorns rarer, and Humans the rarest. So soon enough the rooftops were lined with fascinated birds looking down at them like vultures (quite literally as many of them appeared to be part vulture.) Twilight was writing notes furiously much to the pain of Spike whom kept her supplied with parchment that he carried in a big mound strapped to his back, Luna with all the grace of royalty took the attention in stride and kept her head up and her gaze forward which was respectable, Jason just kept his head down and tried not to look like a weirdo.

“Gryphonstone Palace stands before us,” Ser Goldbeak chirped. “Seat of Clan Blood for an era, the last hold to stand against the Imperalists during the Conflict of Talons, the Palace of the Sky, and the grand temple to the Church of the Enlightened.” The knight said the last fact with a backwards glance at Luna and Jason, it was almost accusing.

The palace itself was very impressive, constructed of three levels with the last being the palace proper. Huge polished marble steps that looked like they were made for giants lead up the slop to the monolithic palace, a square tower with four round towers gracing its corners the Palace of the Sky reached up into its namesake for… Well, what seemed like forever. Jason couldn't believe that something so tall could exist, he had heard (and seen) some tall constructs in his day but somehow this Titan of stone and marble dwarfed them as it reached up and pierced the clouds like the spear of a god.

The front entrance was a huge set of beautifully cut and carved stone, with intricate depictions of Gryphon’s in battle covering every inch of it. It took all six of their Silver Guard exports plus the two whom stood by the door to shove the massive slabs of stone open for them to enter. Inside was a large and lavish antechamber, it was wide with a domed roof and tall marble pillars supporting it. At the edges of the room clear sparkling water flowed from small grates into a thin channel that ran around the room. The carvings from the door seemed to continue inside as the pillars and the ceiling were beautifully decorated. As Jason took in the impressive architecture he felt a spark of familiarity from it all, the pillars, the carvings, the obsession with marble yes everything the Gryphons built seemed to be very very… Roman.

Jason pushed the thought out of his mind, he didn't want to think about it.

After they closed the ridiculously heavy door the guards dispersed into doors which lined the sore walls, leaving the Equestrian delegation alone with Ser Goldbeak whom turned to them.

“His Majesty the King awaits you in the throne room, this one bids to be respectful in his presence,” the knight told them before they approached the mercifully lighter set of wooden doors.

The throne room wasn't all that different of the one in Canterlot. Although there's only so much customization one can do with a room that's sole purpose is to host a chair. A short but wide stretch of floor led to a few short steps up to a raised platform wherein the throne in question held the Gryphon they came to meet. The throne itself was metal and tall backed with two carved wings spreading out from either side, which was probably where the “winged” title came from. Then there was the king himself.

“Presenting, to see His Majesty the King, Her Majesty Princess Luna of the Night Sky, Spirit and Guardian of the Holy Moon, Sentinel of Sleep, and Lady of the Eve. With her is Lady Twilight of House Sparkle, First Attending to Her Majesty Princess Celestia of the Sun, Bearer of the Element of Magic, and the Sorceress of the South and finally Ser Jason of the Old World, The Blade of Rome, Liberator of the Lupa Mines, Bane of the Chaos Spirit, and the Last of the Lost Peoples.”

High King Bloodbeak the Eighth was clearly an older Gryphon, his white head feathers were greying and many were silver. The dark mahogany brown feathers that covered his body and wings were peppered with greying ones and many were parted around long scars, the Kings beak was long and sharp and had a noticeable nick taken out of it where one could see into Bloodbeak’s mouth. His eagle eyes were sharp as ever, piercing and with a wisdom that spoke of his years. The right eye was scarred as well with three very defined talon marks from another Gryphon, his head was topped with a splendid golden crown in laid with jewels. Clasped to his neck was a long blue cape which only partially hid a longsword with a golden hilt strapped to his side. A golden chestplate carved beautifully held it all together.

“You may leave, Ser,” The High King said and Ser Goldbeak bowed and left which left them alone with the king.

Bloodbeak climbed from his throne and approached them, once near he bowed low and the returned the gesture as per the custom. When the king rose he peered first at Luna, briefly at Twilight, and then his eyes lingered longest on Jason.

“It has been too long, Luna,” Bloodbeak said, a small smile creasing his beak. “Almost a thousand years I think, and you’re still as beautiful as ever.”

“And you’re still a shameless flirt,” Luna quipped with a smile before stepping forward to embrace the king warmly, Twilight was shocked, Jason raised an eyebrow.

“You've grown old..” Luna said sadly as she drew back.

“Everything does, my dearest,” Bloodbeak said, and looked at Jason again. “But we can catch up later, I believe you come here with grave and somewhat urgent topics to speak of. Most of which relate to your curious friend here.”

“Yes, this is..”

“Jason, yes, I heard Goldbeak announce him,” Bloodbeak said, approaching Jason who stood a little still. Naturally his impression of Gryphons wasn't overly high and having a lion-sized predator approach you tends to set you on edge.

“A Forerunner, gods within me I never would have thought..” The king shook his head. “I know what happened in Rome, and I know what happened in Stalliongrad. Every detail and I must make this clear, I am not the orchestrator of such wanton slaughter but I shall do all within my power to help bring these evil curs to justice.”

“Yeah, forgive me if I don't believe that for  a second,” Jason spat, not realizing how angry he was.

“Jason!” Twilight gasped in horror.

“No, his disrespect is expected and understandable,” High King Bloodbeak said. “But you are not the only ones whom have suffered through strife from these groups whom hide themselves in the shadows and dishonour the name of Gryhonia.”

“What has happened, my friend?” Luna asked with concern.

“Silence, the loudest kind. Seemingly random deaths, threats, and disappearances. My court has shrunk to a third of its usual size from these events, there is discontent and animosity amongst the other Clans towards my rule. And then there are these groups of seemingly independent Gryphons operating with training and supplies, whom seem to have royal funding without my knowledge. Try as I might I cannot find the answer, I am isolated from the goings on with very few allies.”

“But, you’re the King, don't you have your soldiers? Supporters?” Twilight asked.

“Alas my dear, the one whom perches on the tallest peak nests alone. I can't trust anyone, the only ones that I think are loyal are my knights but they are few still and can only achieve so much.”

“So you say that whatever ails us also plagues you,” Luna lamented. “This means that whomever these individuals are they have the courage, or at least the stupidity, to defy your rule. Have you any clues that would lead us to them.”

“Only some, I know that there are at least two groups involved in a larger conspiracy, but even more fascinatingly they seem to be in conflict. Small street fights always resulting is death have broken out, these are no random duels of honour but random and wild aggression. It took some time but eventually we did manage to secure a survivor of one of these brawls, and after some extensive interrogation of the violent nature he spilled his secrets to us.”

“What exactly did he say?” Jason asked.

“First, he told us of his brothers and sisters that resided in a lovely little cult that he called the ‘Followers of the First’ or just the ‘Followers’ for short,” Bloodbeak looked at Jason. “It seems you have admirers, Ser Jason, the gentlemen lamented that they worshiped humanity as a god race. Even mentioned you, and their plan to destroy the group that attacked what they believe is the holy city of Rome. Mostly he babbled about the Eternal Men though.”

“Tis worse then we imagined,” Luna said. “A radical cult, an emboldened one, but that begs the question whom in the world they at arms with.”

“Whom else do religious folk war with? They lash against the Church of the Enlightened.”

“The what?” Jason asked.

“Church of the Enlightened, tis quite possibly the most favoured faith of my people. They believe that the gods, such as Luna here, are truly Gryphons in their godly forms and that Gryphons are the children of the gods not ponies. I believe that their explanation for Luna and her sister is that they are disappointed in the Gryphon people and thus take a weaker form to shame us and it is only through honour and chivalry that we may win them back. Although some branches simply deny the existence or divinity of the sisters.”

“And what do you believe?”

“The goddess of the moon is standing not five meters away from me and is clearly an Alicorn,” the High King drawled. “Call me sceptical, although I realize now my distaste for the religion may have lead to my unpopularity.”

“And so you suffer as we have,” Luna. “In Rome, and in Stalliongrad..”

“The church trying to beat the children to the punch, and succeeding at first, but ultimately failing… except in Stalliongrad, wherein I am told that while yes those dastardly flyers were hunted down one did escape with none other then the fabled Cain’s Blade.”

“Tis the truth,” Luna confirmed.

“So the real question is,” Jason piped in. “Where do we begin.”

“Fortunately, I think I can answer that,” High King Bloodbeak ran a claw down his beak, in a motion that wasn't unlike someone stroking their chin. “There is a den nearby, a den and a safe house for these Followers of the First. I have not made a move on it yet for fear that they would simply catch wind and leave, however I think you Jason may have more luck then a host of possibly corrupted Silver Guards.”

“O-kay,” Jason said. “That takes care of the eldritch God, but what about the moon princess  and the purple unicorn?”

“As I said, my court is littered with betrayal and I must root it out if any action can be taken. My Ladies Luna and Twilight shall attend the Holy Court of the Sky and assist me in weeding the garden as it were.”

“This is a sound plan of action, methinks,” Luna agreed.

“Fine,” Jason said unhappily. “But, I want neither of them harmed understand?”

“Jason, we'll be fine,” Twilight rolled her eyes. “I'm not exactly a stranger to conflict and Luna’s skill is legendary.”

“Not to say that I would die before I allow harm to come to either of them,” Bloodbeak said, meeting Jason’s gaze. “My vices laid bare, and my life on the line, I would defend them. To do otherwise would be to dishonour myself, to relinquish my rights as King, and to make all my fears forfeit. We must work together, unquestionably, so this conspiracy may be stopped before more innocent lives are lost.”

There was a pause, and suddenly Bloodbeak seemed ten times older as he sighed and looked at Jason with real regret and sadness in his eyes.

“I'm sorry for all of them, Green Breeze was a brave stallion I am told, not to make light of the unsung courage of the three loyal agents. Blossom, Sunshine, and Silver Bolt. Four more names I shall remember for the rest of my life, because I am responsible, because I failed to act or to see and while all the fault may be mine I know you cannot deny that you want to hurt the true criminals. Work with me, and I can guarantee you revenge.”

Another pause.

“Deal.”

The Downwater District, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 4:23 pm, 2206 AC

The King had Ser Goldbeak escort him to the safe house. They took the less beaten paths to avoid too many states or people noticing where they were headed, as they went Jason noticed a distinct change in the scenery. The tall spires became smaller as they entered almost a miniature valley. The streets became narrow and claustrophobic and the race texture changed from the grand marble spires to downtrodden stone hobbles, this was where the unwanted, the unheard, and the unseen lived.

The safe house itself was a small hovel of stone with a stars and thatch roof, it looked like it had once been a bar but had been condemned at some point. The windows and door were all boarded up and plant life grew from the cracks in the stone, three other knights awaited them there and after the customary bowing and greeting that these cat-birds seemed obsessed with with they prepared to enter.

“Would Ser Jason like to go first?” Ser Steelclaw asked. “This one has heard of the courage of the Golden Folk, and would like to see it for himself.”

“Ehh, sure why not?” Jason said and drew his blade, he flipped it around in his hand just to show off before kicking the door in.

Inside was an absolute shit show.

At least twenty bodies, Gryphon and Pony alike, were strewn about the place in various levels of damage and decay. Crusted and congealed blood plastered almost every square inch of the floor and the solid smell of death hit Jason’s nose like a punch to the face. He carefully inched his way inside and approached the nearest body, that of a Gryphon, his wings had been torn off and thrown away and his face ripped to pieces by the angry claws of one of his countrymen. Around his neck was a metal chainlink with a pennant of some description clasped to it, upon further inspection Jason realized the pennant was in the shape of a clenched fist.

“Dear Osiris, it ‘Twas a massacre,” Ser Goldbeak commented as he and the other Knights entered behind Jason, swords at the ready.

“Something definitely wanted them dead alright,” Jason said as he moved to the next body, that of a Pegasus mare with a white coat and an ice blue mane caked with her own blood. Her attackers had torn her stomach open and let the guts spill out onto the floor.

“And look here,” Ser Steelclaw spoke up, he approached the far wall where the blood of one of those crow-Panther Gryphons had been used as ink to write a message: Hail Gryphonia.

“Hail Gryphonia” Goldbeak read. “This one believes that is the phrase many of the radicalized Enlightened use. It is clear that they beat us here, the only challenge now is to determine what happened and where they went.”

“I think…” Jason sighed. “I think I know a way but I need you three to step out for a while.”

“May this one ask why?” Steelclaw asked in suspicion.

“You can ask, but I won't answer.”

“Come, if His Majesty trusts that one then this one does as well,” Goldbeak chirped and lead his two knight-brothers out.

Jason steadied his breathing, he didn't want to just flaunt his powers at every opportunity. As Luna had mentioned there was a significant prejudice against Necromancers, and something about the Gryphon code of honour told him they wouldn't approve of this sort of magic.

He focused, and breathed in, then out. There was magic here already, violent death created it, almost like a scar in the flesh of reality. It took the shape of those who had died here and with a little convincing it could be made to show what happened. Jason took a knee and closed his eyes, his entire body glowed with silver fire that danced from his skin as its tendrils reached out to the scar tissue and penetrated through.

Ghostly figures appeared, of Gryphons and Ponies alike, they stood in a rough circle. Their voices came in echoes as if they were shouting down and long tunnel and their forms shimmered however the connection steadied and they began to speak.

“We must strike now!” a Gryphon demanded. “They are heathens with a heathen artifact that must be destroyed. We must strike as soon as possible and without warning, as Nyxeresith commands.”

“Nyxeresith may command the rightful slaughter of the heathen, but Hongwilfion teaches us patience in all things,” a Pegasus mare added.

“Hongwilfion, Peh.. That new wave malarkey is nothing but hearsay and ramblings by that fool Blue Horizon. I don't believe for a second he put one hoof in the fabled lands,” the Gryphon retorted.

“I for one believe every word, but just to appease skeptics like you I hear the masters are launching a full expedition to verify all written in Human’s Imperia and you bet your feathers I'll be on that ship,”

“As will I. If only to prove you wrong.”

“Alright that's enough now,” another Gryphon cut in. “Focus, we need to-“

The figures faded but left with the echoing screams of death in Jason’s ears, not to mention the headache. Jason was frustrated, he didn't learn much and he didn't think he could muster up the energy to repeat the trick again.

“Old fashioned way then,” he mumbled to himself.

Indeed the old fashioned way pulled off, after locating the body of the Pegasus mare who's spirit he had seen Jason discovered a journal hidden under her. It was damp and sticky with blood but still more or less legible. Jason skimmed the entries and focused in on the two most interesting ones.

“24th of Frostfall, 2205 AC

Such wonders! To think that there are seven of the Eternal Men instead of five! How ignorant we were, how blind. Hongwilfion the Man of Many a Faces and Gofanvul the Man of Metal, they shall be added to my prayers indeed! Blue Horizon is an inspiration to as all and folly I say to those whom call him liar!

Indeed, it does seem fantastical that a single stallion could make such pilgrimage to the fabled lost world. However, if my research proves correct he may not have been the first for after reviewing many accounts it can be deduced that none other then the famed mage Starswirl the Bearded may have made the journey prior to Blue Horizon. However, the mage kept what he learned in secret and all knowledge hidden away, it is said that all of Starswirl’s collected research can be deciphered using some form of code. How to possess this code I have no idea but I intend to find out.

For now, I must focus on local battles. The heathens are growing restless and many theorize they are planning a major move, the Enlightened are misguided and don't know they are worshiping Alicorns. A resurgence of Alicorn power cannot be allowed and we must do all we can to block their efforts, not three kilometres from our own safehouse lies a den of the enlightened which we believe may be the location of their vile rituals…

“Why is it always dens?” Jason mumbled to himself as he took the journal and headed back outside to meet with his knightly companions. “Why can't it be a pleasant beach front or a nice cabin?”

His Majesties Holy Court, Gryphonstone Palace, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 4:30 pm, 2206 AC

“Today we welcome two honoured guests to our court, Her Majesty Princess Luna of the Moon and the Sorceress of the South, Twilight Sparkle.”

The lords and ladies of the Holy Court glared at them with the most intense and unwelcoming stink eyes that Twilight had ever seen. Their bowed were stiff and full of bitterness and their beaks were all constantly pointed up in disgust whenever they were forced to speak to the equines in the room. However, they never fully crossed the line of to dishonour their guests, they were still Gryphons after all.

They weren't all bad though, one such actual friendly individual by the name of Lord Nightclaw, Lord Paramount of Skyhold, Patriarch of Clan Night, Warden of the South, struck up a conversation with Twilight.

“It's rather baffling,” he was saying. “Our government systems are so similar, feudal noble rule answering to a king or in your case a Diarchy of princesses.”

“Yes, but…” Twilight added. “Equestria enjoyed democratically elected officials that make up a parliament. This allows everyone to have a say in how the country is run.”

“Which I am unsure of, how can you trust that the common folk can make the most educated of decisions? They are not all taught in law.”

“That's why the crown is there, as a check and balance. Besides, free education like we have assures that everyone understands how their vote can make a difference in at least a base level.”

“I submit that point, however, what if this education is ineffective? What then?”

“Are you suggesting we make stupidity illegal?” Twilight quipped with a raised eyebrow.

“My my, well said my lady,” Nightclaw nodded in approval. “You have won the battle but you shall not win the war I say.”

“We’ll see,” Twilight offered him a small smile, she liked this lord. He was chivalrous in an unobnoxious way, funny, clever, and dare she think it rather handsome with his glossy feathers and polished beak. “Let's change subjects then.”

“To?”

“The King,” Twilight said casually, watching the gryphons face. No sign of reaction outside of intrigue.

“Oh-ho? I did not take you for the gossiping type, my dear.”

“What can I say? I like to listen,” Twilight leaned closer with her chin on her hoof. “What do you think about him?”

“His Majesty the High King? Protector of us all and ruler of Gryphonia?” Nightclaw said with mock pride and a puffed out chest. “He's a muddled old fool.”

“What makes you say that?” Twilight pressed.

“Don't mistake me, I respect our king very much. He is a fine warrior and the only reason that this entire kingdom wasn't drowned in civil war during the Conflict of Talons,” Nightclaw spared a glance to Bloodbeak whom was speaking with Luna. “But the keyword in that statement is warrior. Indeed, in his prime no Gryphon, pony, or Dragon faced the Sword of the Wind and lived to tell the tale. But the years are long and time is a harsh mistress upon the body, it's been some time since that blade has tasted blood and I doubt it would cut with the same sharpness as before.”

“But my grander point remains, His Majesty was crowned, coronated, and is most famed for being king during the majority of the Conflict of Talons. We sharpened his claws in that war and it formed the kind of king he would become. Which isn't a very great one in my humble opinion, he is overly cautious, stubborn, he shall avoid conflict to a bitter end but when force to fight he doesn't understand the concept of reasonable level of force. In short, my dear, soldiers don't make good kings.”

“That's a very strong opinion for a lord in the Kings own court,” Twilight stated.

“Oh the High King encourages us to be candid with him, it is one of his redeeming qualities. He has an unusual high tolerance to personal insult, and thus I have previously made him aware of my… Let's call them comments, upon his performance.”

“How’d he take it?”

“He seemed to take it all in stride, I want the only one with things to say mind you. I swear Lord Ironbeak could write a thesis with the spiel he gave.”

“Oh really? What sorts of things…?”

At the head of the table Luna and Bloodbeak spoke with their mouths, exchanging pleasant chit chat expected of national rulers. Beyond the veil however, in a place only the could hear but not see or touch they communicated through thought alone. Luna maintained the connection without so much as a glimmer of her horn, it was an extremely complex technique to pull of but one can master many a skill with a thousand years of free time.

“Whom do you trust here?” she asked.

“All of them, and yet none of them,” Bloodbeak replied. “They sit around me, puttering, flattering, bribing, vying for power, climbing the latter endlessly. Yet, to a fault many of them would defend me and this country and I cannot deny that their love for their family and clan isn't genuine which in its own way shows their integrity. Now if only it wasn't a pain in my wings.”

“I must say, Your Majesty,” Luna said aloud. “As must as I enjoy it you cannot lead me to believe that your court sessions consist only of pleasant conversation.”

“Indeed,” Bloodbeak took the switch in stride. “My Lords and Ladies let us begin, scribe?”

“Your Majesty,” Scribe Grayfeather responded dutifully and dipped his quill into a bottle of ink and prepared to write.

“Let the records show that the eighty thousandth Holy Court of the Sky convened on the eleventh of Rain’s Claws or April as Equestrians know it. During this convening of the Sky Lords we welcome two honoured guests to our assembly, Her Majesty Princess Luna and Her Ladyship Twilight Sparkle. To their honour we drink, to their lives we chant; hail!”

“Hail!” The court chorused back with mostly feinted enthusiasm.

“Onto business then,” Bloodbeak said. “Lord Silverclaw? Please read the agenda for today.”

“At once, Your Majesty,” an elderly Gryphon at the middle of the right side of the table spoke up, he unfurled a scroll and began to read.

“Firstly, Lord Nightclaw wishes to report that once again the Croui living in the Nightfall Woods have demanded an increase to their borders by at least twenty kilometres to encompass the better part of Old Feather Ridge.”

“I refuse to give it,” Nightclaw stated solidly. “The lowborn have been demanding land since it was first given, they need to learn the authority of the crown.”

“The Croui are a recognized clan no less noble then your own, my lord. Why should they be corralled into the woods like animals I ask? Besides, for what purpose do you need this particular ridge?” The King countered.

“It is a militarily strategic position.”

“Against?”

“…the Croui.”

“Of course,” Bloodbeak said. “Grant them the ridge, I'm sure they shall thank you for it.”

For a moment, a brief moment. There was fury in Nightclaw’s eyes as he gave a death stare to the High King whom in turn met the gaze with calm stoicism. The battle of willpower ended after a few moments with Nightclaw un

“Yes, Your Majesty,” The Lord said thinly.

“Very good,” The High King said dismissively. “Let's move on, Lord Silverclaw?”

“Ah yes, the next item on the list is the tax refunds for this quarter…”

The Gods District, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 4:57 pm, 2206 AC

The Church of the Enlightened clearly had less budget problems then the Followers of the First did.

When the journal described the place as a ‘den’ that's what he expected, something akin to the low end waterhole made occult safe house that he had just raided. However, Ser Goldbeak assured him that this was the only possible location where the Enlightened were held up.

It was a fucking cathedral.

Tall wide pillars of the purest marble supported a towering roof with a tower that reached far into the sky, banners bearing the sigils of lords fluttered from the top. Beautifully crafted stained glassed windows depicted Gryphons of divine bearing captured in moments of glory. Jason focused in on one depiction that showed a female Gryphon with her wings outstretched and her claws appealingly grasping the sun, another similar window depicted a female in a similar pose but with the moon. Jason hummed at that before looking back at the host of knights that waited dutifully, Jason quite liked having armed personnel escorting him everywhere, it made him feel important. No wonder Celestia did it all the time.

“Sooo… Should we knock?”

“This one believes that we can simply enter for it is a public place,” Goldbeak lamented.

“You sure? I'm pretty sure I'm considered a demon in their beliefs, and this is holy ground, won't I burst into flames or something?”

“This one finds that unlikely.”

“Fine, but you’re paying my medical bill if it happens.”

“We have free healthcare for emergencies.”

“Smartass.”

“Twat.”

“Oh-ho?” Jason grinned. “Looks like the prime and proper knight can shitalk too.”

“This one would do no such thing, to do so would be to dishonour myself,” Goldbeak said, the ghost of a smile gracing his beak.

“You win this time, featherhead,” Jason winked. “Anywho, let's kick down gods door shall we?”

“We shall.”

They walked up the wide steps to the front entrance, through the tall double doors that lay open was exactly what Jason expected; lines of pews on smooth floors all facing not one not two but eighteen separate altars arranged in a tight semi circle. Mercifully there was no one praying at this time other then one or two of what appeared to be priests, both hooded and robed in the purest white.

“This one greets the honourable guests to the gods’ holy household,” one of the greeted in a friendly tone. “This one hopes you good fortune and an enlightening time within our humble church, good day.”

“There is something amiss,” Goldbeak commented as the priest shuffled away to go beat his head with a bible or something.

“What's that?” Jason asked.

“As you said you are a demon in the beliefs of the Church, by all accounts he should have cast you out, belittled you, perhaps tried to call upon the gods strength to smite you down. Yet he welcomed you as a friend.”

“I’m glad you’re concerned about someone being nice to me,” Jason quipped. “Clearly this is a disparity that must be corrected, where is the asshole priest?”

“If you would cease your unfunny sarcasm for a few moments you'd see the point,” Goldbeak shot back. “The fact that he did not react to you means he was expecting you, which means they want you here, which means this is a trap.”

“Well you know what they say about traps; find them, poke them, and see what happens.”

“…We are doomed.”

“You’re doomed,” Jason countered. “C’mon, there’s definitely a secret passageway around here if popular fiction has taught me anything.”

They spread out to search the cathedral, the priests paid them no mind and continued doing whatever the hell priests do. Nothing seem out of the ordinary anywhere until Jason climbed up to the altars and looked up at the one in the centre, the statuette accompanying it showed a male Gryphon in flight holding a heart in one claw and what appeared to be the planet in the other. The etching underneath read: Solaire, God of Existence and Sentient Life, Crafter of Worlds, Maker of Spirits, King of the Gods.

Jason walked along the rest of the altars looking at the names and statues of each of the gods, trying to imagine what their actual Alicorn forms looked like.  Morpheus, God of Nightmares. Kronos, God of Time. Mars, God of War and Honourable Battle. Aethra, Goddess of the Sky. Soragnavir, God of Loyalty and Family. Gaia, Goddess of the Earth. Lyr, Goddess of the Sea. Hecate, Goddess of Magic and Forbidden Knowledge. Ignis, Goddess of Flame. Drax, God of Peace.  Conspira, Goddess of Conspiracy. Belivas, Goddess of Beasts and Monsters. Osiris, God of Death. Dispono, God of Order..

Jason paused and took a look at Gryphon Dispono, a bookish looking male holding a shield and nothing else. Jason moved on to the last altar in the row.

Nemesis, God of Revenge

Jason hummed. Nemesis, revenge. The Alicorn that sacrificed himself to destroy humanity purely out of spite, it was his artifact; Cain’s Blade, that the Enlightened currently possessed. Jason looked up at the Gryphon likeness of the God, he knew that wasn't what he actually looked like but still the cruel grin on the statues’s beak and the ugly satisfaction that it's stone eyes conveyed weren't comforting. Jason found himself running his hand along the top of the altar until he heard and unexpected click and his finger hit some sort of concealed button. The entire statue shook violently until it retreated back into the wall to reveal a dark tunnel leading downwards.

”Welcome, brother.”

Suddenly Jason wasn’t standing in front of an altar to Nemesis, but to Jesus Christ. He recognized St Peter’s square, he saw Rome, he saw the dark tunnel leading to the twisted science that his fellow Humans dabbled in, and he saw Roseluck in his arms dying from the last ditch effort of those humans to protect their dark secrets.

Jason blinked as he returned to reality, he heaved a sigh and pushed the images to the back if him mind with deep breaths and the willpower to focus. He looked back at Ser Goldbeak whom thankfully hasn't noticed Jason miniature emotional break down.

“He look,” Jason gave a smile he knew was weak. “Secret passage. Told ya’ so.”

Gryphonstone Palace, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 5:37pm, 2206 AC

After court had adjourned for the day Twilight found herself wondering alone in the long winding halls of Gryphonstone. In hindsight this wasn't a very smart decision but Twilight always found solitude to the best way for her to focus and organize her thoughts.

The palace was large and very airy, there always seemed to be some sort of breeze tickling her fur as she went. That tall wide ceilings and the fact that all the paintings a memorabilia was orientated higher off the ground suggested that one was meant to fly through the palace. Unfortunately Twilight didn't currently possess wings so she was stuck staring at marble tiles and bare walls.

Voices, a lot of them, raised in argument met her ears in a soft echo that traveled down the hall to her. Twilight’s interest was piqued immediately, she usually wasn't the nosy type but in a political atmosphere wherein she was meant to root out treason she had to be a little snoopy from time to time, like now. She stealthily followed the sounds down a side hall and to a small unassuming door that was cracked just a little open, she put her ear to it.

“…anticipate that they would get involved, we should move before they find something incriminating.”

“This was a reckless plan from the start, you can count Clan Moon out.”

“Is that so? And would you have us turn our legions to your hold? Hm?”

“You dare threaten me…?”

Twilight recognized the voices as the lords and ladies of the court, not just some of them but most of them. The more she listened the more it seemed like the entire Holy Court of the Sky was convening without the consent or even knowledge of the King, surely they couldn't all be conspiring against him?

“The pieces are in place,” Lord Sunclaw was saying. “Our allies are preparing the ritual, they can execute it immediately if needed.”

“No!” Lord Moonclaw snapped. “It is premature, we must bide our time to have the greatest effect.”

“Are you scared you cur? I find no honour in this shadow stalking, we must fight like honourable Gryphons to win the throne.”

“Oh I agree, Lord Sunclaw. However, I believe our conversation is no longer private,” Lord Nightclaw’s voice reached Twilight’s ears and she only a quick second to take a step back before the door slammed open and two Silver Guards stepped out with swords pointed at her.

“Ah, the beautiful Lady Twilight, an honour again,” Nightclaw said. “Unfortunately you were not meant to hear that, a shame. I would but have minded a consort when I am king…”

“Why do this? Why betray your king? I was taught the Gryphons are beings of honour. What honour is there in this?”

“You poor naïve child, did you know that this isn't the first time Equestria has interfered with the affairs of Gryphonia,” Nightclaw scowled. “Five centuries ago it twas not Clan Blood that sat the throne but my own Clan Night. My great grandfather ruled that era and he rules fairly, firmly, and honourably for his entire life but quarrelled often with the Two Princesses. So during a diplomatic visit I suppose your dear Celestia decided that enough was enough because she laid the foundation for the bloodiest civil war prior to the Conflict of Talons.”

“Do you want to know how she did it?” Nightclaw didn't wait for an answer. “Just before she left she passed by the court, one of whom was Lord Blood himself and all she said was “Dost he not look tired?”  Then she left. Two days later there were soldiers at the gates and the city was on fire.”

“I.. Don't believe you,” Twilight said uncertainly.

“As you say, but the time has come for Clan Night to regain its right. This Rein of Blood shall cease and it shall cease today, and you shall not interfere with that, my revenge shall be complete. Kill her.”

The two Silver Guards advanced on Twilight with their swords raised, time slowed, Twilight could feel her heard beating hard and fast and her breath quickening. She remembered Stalliongrad, the Gryphon's that attacked her then, never again, never again, never again. She sparked her magic.

A bubble shield bounced the two swords off it like it was made of solid stone, it quickly dispelled as Twilight took a telekinetic grip on the sword to her right and yanked it out of the guards claws before hitting him square in the chest with a force push. He was knocked flying into a wall where his helmet hit the marble enough to crack it but even as the guard slid down to collapse on the ground he continued breathing. Twilight then whipped around to catch the other Silver Guard’s blade with a crude spike of magic, with a quick change that spike became a solid purple crystal spike. It began to grow and spread rapidly down the sword connected to it before binding the guards claws to the hilt with crystal shards. The crystal never stopped and rapidly consumed the guards body, the gryphon became more and more panicked as it neared his head and beak.

“Oh gods please no, please!” He cried.

Just as the crystals neared his beak Twilight cast a simple spell and they stopped just short of cutting of the guards air supply. She then turned to the nobles to see several advancing on her, while the rest escaped, Lord Sunclaw and Lord Moonclaw were unarmed but the damage claws could inflict was nothing to sneeze at. As they lunged at her Twilight blink teleported just behind them to leave the lords stumbling, she then began to whip her head around in a circular motion as a stream of purple magic streamed out and with a flick she threw the magic lasso around the two lords where it pulled them together and bound them tight.

Twilight began running, the other lords – including Nightclaw – had already escaped but that didn't matter now. She didn't know what their plan was but she wouldn't let them get away with it. She had to warn Princess Luna, she had to warn the King!

Underneath The Gods District, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 3:23pm, 2206 AC

Jason held a small ball of magical fire in his hand fir light as they carefully followed the tunnel deeper into the earth, shadows danced across the cut stone walls and Jason on several occasions heard the echoes of… Something crowing from the darkness. He reflected on the amount of times he ended up in a dark hole in the ground and wondered what bad decisions he had made to get to this point.

“This one finds this place to be unsettling,” Goldbeak stated.

“Well dark tunnels aren't exactly pleasant meadows.”

“It is not just that, the air here is different, old, tainted.”

“…We’re underground.”

“You are missing this one’s point.”

“I think you’re just grumpy ‘cause you can't flutter around like a song bird.”

“Do shut up.”

The tunnel levelled out from its decent before leading to an unassuming wooden door stuck into the dirt and loosely hung by rusty hinges, it had been there a while. Jason out his ear to it and sure enough he could hear voices on the other side, muffled yes but they sounded like chanting.

“Let's get a better look,” Jason said, dispelling the light he carried. “With an element of stealth preferably.”

“This constant sneaking is a dishonourable tactic,” Steelclaw growled.

“Your face is dishonourable,” Jason countered. “Now shut yer beak.”

“This one would let it go, Ser,” Goldbeak said.

“See, you are not shutting up despite the fact that I have, several times now, told you to shut the fuck up,” Jason grumbled.

After assuring that the two featherbrains had indeed shut their fucking beaks, Jason carefully pushed the door open and it in turn mercifully didn't squeak. He peaked through the crack at whatever spoopy shit was going on in this hole in the ground. Indeed, the door gave way to a complete vertical cylinder that dug downwards twenty meters into a pit wherein the aforementioned spoopy shit was going down.

Seven white robed Gryphon stood in a circle around a stone altar, they were all holding golden staffs topped with lit candles. Upon the altar, unmistakably, was Cain’s Blade and it appeared to be glowing a faint red which seemed to be slowly increasing with the intensity of the chanting which grew and grew from a low hum to a heavenly choir.

O Deus, captatam, illumina nos ad formam,

O gloriosa fuere captum,

O veterem, et dimitte nobis debita nostra illustrare,

O fortis est ut mors lugentes,

O exaltavi te mane surgere.

“My brothers,” one of the priests announced. “Today is the apex of years of preparation, of searching, of loss, of triumph, and if struggle. Through it all it is only through our faith and our love in the gods that we have achieved all that we have, now let us make history. Let us prove that our race is god chosen to be the leaders of the world, let us set the foundation for the Gryphon kingdom to become the Gryphon empire. Hail Gryphonia!”

“Hail Gryphonia!” The others chanted.

“Bring the accursed scroll! Let the creation of the forerunner’s revive their greatest enemy!”

Without warning another robed priest flew down from above carrying something in his claws, it was only when he landed and presented the item that Jason saw what it was. A scroll, yellowed with age, tightly rolled, and nearly bleeding magical energy, a familiar energy, a very very familiar energy.

“Oh fuck me,” Jason said softly. “Where the hell did they get that?”

The Gryphon placed the Resurrection Scroll upon the altar next to Cain’s Blade which practically burned red at this point, the priests formed a perfect circle around the altar and hefted their staffs.

“Ash from ash, dust from dust,” they chanted. “Rise again, rise again, rise again.”

In unison they lowered their staffs so that the flames of their candles met in the middle and the Resurrection Scroll caught fire. As the flames consumed the parchment the spell was released, magic paused forth and Jason’s own aura reacted, manifesting around him in a bright silver fire. Luckily the priests were too busy bowing to notice, Jason watched in awe and fear as the spell interacted with Cain’s Blade which began to levitate before striking down to penetrate the stone altar. The stone began to glow red and bubble like it was liquid, like blood put to a burner and slowly from the pool a figure began to rise. It was large, tall, it had a horn and wings and as the red liquid fell of it dark fur and a darker mane was revealed.

“-revenge,” Nemesis said, as if finishing a sentence before letting out a chuckle. The Alicorn was tall, more so then Celestia, and had grey almost black coat with a long wild black mane. Nemesis stretched his wings which extended to almost the edge of the pit, then he lit his horn and pulled Cain’s Blade out of the altar to wield it at his side.

“Oh it does feel good to be in corporeal form,” he said, smiling to himself.

“My lord Nemesis, Spiteful God, it is an honour to-“ it was at this point that the Gryphon priest looked up and shock struck his face, horror even. “N-no!”

“Yes,” Nemesis said disinterestedly. “It must be disappointing to discover your entire faith is based on lies. The gods take the form of Alicorns you pathetic sycophant, although despite your impressive stupidity I must thank you for through your arrogance I live to spite once again.”

“Truly, we have been misguided in our beliefs and now we have the proof of that,” the priest said, he sounded defeated and broken. “However, you are still our lord and we shall serve you all the same.”

“Indeed,” Nemesis sounded disinterested. “From what I have seen, it is one Nightclaw that calls upon me. He wishes to complete his revenge, one that is two centuries in the making. One might think that the hatred would cool after so much time but you know what I've always said. Revenge is best served cold.”

“So you will help mi’lord Nightclaw?” The priest asked tentatively.

“Of course, of course,” Nemesis said, casually spinning Cain’s Blade in the air. “But first I have my own business to attend to, isn't that right Jason?”

Before he could react Jason was grabbed by a powerful magic and dragged through the door and into the pit wherein he was thrown violently against the nearest wall and left to slide down and collapse on his backside.

“Do you know what the greatest pleasure is? Killing my enemies, taking my revenge,” Nemesis lamented simply, twirling his blade. “Revenge for what you may ask, well let's see. You and your ilk have done… What? Killed my brothers and sisters, destroyed my home, ruined the glory that was the Alicorn Imperium, had the arrogance to upset the natural order of things and now you have the gall to EXIST?!”

Nemesis breathed heavily, the fury breaking as his red magical aura consumed him in ethereal fire. Cain’s Blade glowed brightly as it morphed and grew, it's hilt and blade both growing until it formed a full length sabre, sharp and deadly. Slowly, almost lovingly Nemesis brought the blade to his lips and gave it a kiss before setting his sights back on Jason and swinging his sword in a deadly arc towards him.

In the seconds he had Jason desperately tried to for, a shield around himself, he knew it wouldn't go up in time but as it happens he didn't need it at all as he was tackled from the side by something large, furry, and covered in feathers. Jason and Goldbeak rolled in the first before coming to a halt, the knight immediately jumping up and drawing his sword, he stood between Nemesis and Jason.

“And who is-“ before Nemesis could so much as finish his sentence there was the screech of an eagle followed by a blur that flew down rapidly, drawing its blade across the Alicorn’s face. Nemesis hissed in pain as golden godsblood weeped from the wound. Ser Steelclaw landed next to his brother, his longsword shining with the Ichor that it drew.

“Hear this one as he speaks, Alicorn,” Ser Steelclaw said. “We have been charged by His Majesty the King with the protection of Ser Jason, while we draw breath no harm shall befall him and on our honour we shall defend him. This one give you one single chance to stand down with honour and avoid bloodshed.”

Nemesis wiped the last bit of Ichor from his cheek as the wound closed itself unnaturally fast. “You shall pay for this.”

“So be it, have at you.”

The two knights split and flew in opposite directions before swimming back rapidly to attack Nemesis from both sides, the Alicorn blocked Goldbeak’s blade with his own and Steelclaw practically bounced off a magical shield that Nemesis put up. They recovered quickly and swiftly counter attacked, Goldbeak landed a solid blow along the Alicorn’s leg which caused a large enough distraction for Steelclaw to slice his ear clean off.

Nemesis screamed and his horn burned with energy, both of the knights were taken into a magical grip before being smashed into the nearest wall and then thrown back towards Jason. They collapsed in a heap by his feat, stunned and shocked to a point where they struggled to recover. Nemesis gave to respite as he charged his horn and threw a powerful blast towards them, Jason didn't think but rather acted as he stepped out in front and threw all his magic into his blade which came out before him. The blast his the gladius and plot along its edge to form to beams on either side with pulverized and glassed the dirt behind them, the struggle lasted only a moment or two but once done Jason could barely stand, his energy spent.

“We need to… Run,” Jason said weakly to his companions.

“No… Retreat, no surrender,” Ser Steelclaw growled as he stood, pointing his blade at Nemesis.

“Brother.. What point is there in dying here? What honour is there in that? We must warn the king,” Goldbeak argued.

The gears turned in Steelclaw’s head, his face contorting and relaxing as he went over the honourable texts and the code he lived his life by. Considering, thinking, reflecting.

“So be it,” he said.

“Jason, on this one’s single you shall jump upon his back-“ Goldbeak began.

“Wait, what?”

“Hush, you shall jump upon this one’s back and this one shall fly you out of here, Ser Steelclaw you lead, Jason please do try to block the inevitable magical fire being sent our way. Or at least give fair warning. On three.”

“I don't like this.”

“One.”

“This is a terrible idea.”

“Two.”

“Can you even lift me?”

“Three.”

“Fuck me.”

Taking the plunge Jason jumped onto Goldbeak’s back and hugged around his feathery neck, he felt the Gryphon’s wings flap as they took to the air and Steelclaw shoot ahead of them. They flew back into the tunnel from which they came but unfortunately Nemesis was right on their tail. They exited back into the cathedral and neglected the front door in favour of the nearest window, Jason felt glass scrap across his arms but ignored it as they gained altitude and flew towards Gryphonstone palace.

Jason felt his skin tingle as magic honed in on them, he yelled over the wind at Goldbeak to dodge and then held on desperately as he spun in the air and banked violently left. The blasts came coming, none hitting their mark but Jason slowly realized that wasn't the point, they were being forced away from the palace and away from the city, soon all Jason could see was forest underneath.

His warning came too late as the blast clipped Goldbeak’s side and carried on to hit Steelclaw’s wing. Falling, they were falling, the wind screamed in Jason’s ears, he held on desperately to the limp form of Goldbeak as they tumbled from the heavens, gritting his teeth Jason reached out with a magical grip to find Steeclaw and hold onto him tight. With all his might he did his best to lift all three of them, to slow their decent, it worked to a degree yet still when they hit the branches they hit hard and fast. Jason heard the cracking of bones and the splatter of blood that he could not identify, they hit the ground and the last thing Jason saw was the azure sky above before he blacked out.

Gryphonstone Palace, Talonguard, Gryphonia, Saturday, 11th of April, 5:42pm, 2206 AC

Twilight found the king and princess in the throne room, six other Gryphon's were there too. In steel armour and blue capes, the High King had gathered what remained of his knights around him.

“Your Majesty, Luna!” Twilight said breathlessly, coming to halt before them.

“Twilight? Whatever is the matter?” Luna asked.

“L-lord Nightclaw, he.. He…” Twilight was beginning to hyperventilate.

“Calm yourself, child,” Bloodbeak said soothingly. “Collect yourself.”

“Indeed, something of great import must have occurred to distress you so,” Luna said in concern. “What could-“

A shiver when through Luna’s body, her horn sparked as if electrically charged and her eyes widened.

“This.. This cannot be,” she said softly.

“I'm afraid it is,” Lord Nightclaw said as he entered the room, with him was what remained of the court and a whole host of Silver Guard which surrounded the king. The Knights formed their own circle around them and drew their blades.

“What is the meaning of this treachery? Dishonourable swine! All of you!” Bloodbeak growled. “I shall have your heads for this!”

“Nay, it is your head that shall roll my king, for you sit upon a stolen throne and pretend your right to it is divine,” Nightclaw drew his own sword. “No longer, false king Bloodbeak, I Lord Nightclaw the rightful King of the Sky hereby challenge you to a duel of honour for the Winged Throne!”

There was a moment of shocked silence as everyone processed exactly what that challenge meant, it was the Knights of the sky that reacted first. They sheathed their weapons and backwards away as the king let out a heavy and very tired sigh, he slowly drew his own sword.

“…but… He can refuse, can’t he?” Twilight asked.

“Books only tell you so much, my dear Twilight,” Luna said sadly. “A dual of honour is the most sacred of rituals, to refuse one is to relinquish all honour and all respect, you become less then alive, an unspeakable, to refuse would mean giving up the throne none the less.”

“But… He would live..” Twilight said weakly.

“We outsiders will never truly understand, to this day I still don't,” Luna explained. “But there is not a Gryphon alive who would choose dishonour before death, no, if the throne is to be lost it shall be lost in battle and nothing less.”

The two warriors approached one another, they presented their swords I front of their faces before bowing deeply to one another, never breaking eyes contact for a moment. They began to circle one another, the king old and slow, the lord young and spry.

It was over in a matter of seconds.

Bloodbeak blocked the first few blows, but weakly and barely, it was the fifth strike that struck home. Nightclaw plunged his sword straight through the High King’s neck and left it there, he then grabbed the Sword of Kings from Bloodbeak’s claws as he toppled to the floor.

“Long live the king,” he said.

“Long live the king! Long live the king!” The Silver Guards chanted.

“Arrest the foreign intruders,” Nightclaw ordered, and the Silver Guard began to close in on Luna and Twilight. Before they could react they were once again surrounded by the Knights of the Sky.

“Your Majesty, we bid that you escape with Lady Twilight,” Ser Windbeak said.

“Indeed, I do believe I have pressing matters to attend to outside,” Luna said. “You are all honourable warriors, your songs shall be sung for generations to come.”

“Go with the wind, Princess Luna of the Moon,” Ser Cloudclaw said. “Tell the world of what happened here.”

“Farewell,” Luna said, as she teleported herself and Twilight away.

The reappeared at the palace steps and saw that the city was on fire, Silver Guards clashed with their loyalist brothers and with Knights of every clan loyal to the king. People panicked in the streets and above it all a figure flew above, occasionally killing someone from above and lazily making his way towards the palace.

“Who… What,” Twilight stared at the Alicorn above in shock.

“My dear Twilight, there is no time, find safety, find Jason if you can, and return to my sister,” Luna said solemnly as her horn glowed and a scythe was summoned into existence next to her. “Tell her what has happened, tell her Nemesis was resurrected.”

“Nemesis, but…” Twilight paused. “Princess what shall you do?”

“I shall stall him, now go,” Luna shot into the air with such force that it shook the ground beneath her. She rapidly flew towards Nemesis and swung her blade in an arc that would've cut his head off weren't it not for Cain’s Blade with blocked it. Nemesis’s smiling face appeared inches from her own.

“Well, well, it has been too long, my dear,” Nemesis said. “I have heard from very nasty things about you, even in the underworld the talk is you've gone soft on Humans. Need I remind you of the countless.. COUNTLESS, amount of our brothers and sisters they have slaughtered?”

“No need, swine,” Luna said, struggling against her foe’s strength.

“Indeed, then I suppose you are just here for a dance, in that case..” Nemesis pushed Luna away and cast a spell with wreathed his blade in fire. “I'm always looking for a partner, shall we?”

“So be it, have at you.”

As gods clashed above, the kingdom below tore itself apart.