Myths and Birthrights: The Archive

Myths and Birthrights

By Tundara

Part One: Awakening and Arrivals

Chapter Two: Out of the Wilds

Gentle moonlight slanted through the soft yellow curtains of the cottage touching the bed sheets that hid a shivering young mare. The cottage itself was warm, the remnants of a fire glowing in the hearth, yet she clutched her blanket tight beneath her chin.

Eyes squeezed shut, she tossed and turned, muttering to herself as she dreamt. Around her bed sat several small birds. They had been awoken by her thrashing and cries. Blue jays sat beside robins as they watched their caretaker moan. A few had tried to wake her, but had been brushed aside by quick swipes of her hooves.

With a great clack the window was flung open, the curtains billowing in an unseasonably cool wind. Ruffling their feathers the birds all jumped to higher perches. Chirping amongst themselves, the birds watched as a soft pink and yellow mist began to leak through the window, down the chimney, and beneath the door. The fire in the hearth died, sputtering in the mist’s cloying talons. Along the floor it crawled, pooling beneath the mare's bed before slowly climbing its way up a bedpost.

Snapping an angry call to the mist, the blue jay fluttered down to the mare and pecked her on the forehead. The mare groaned softly through her muttering a single word before knocking the jay aside.

Hades.

The mist enshrouded the mare completely, engulfing her as it continued to grow. Then it started to act; some flowing into her through her nose and mouth while the rest formed a cloak around her.

The mare sat up in her bed, shifting and stretching her wings, throwing her covers aside, all while her eyes were closed.

The birds all shared concerned looks as, with a strong flap of her long wings, their mistress launched herself out of the window and started walking towards the edge of the Everfree Forest. Flying out the window after her, the birds heard her begin to sing as she walked.

The night of Spring has begun

Play and frolic, all ye young and old

A Goddess calls you to dance with her song

Sheltered beneath the glorious leaves

Stretching out her wings with eyes still closed in dreams the mare wavered from side to side, lifting her voice in an angelic refrain. Birds flitted about from branch to branch as she continued to sleepwalk and sing, each moment taking her deeper and deeper into the forest.

Mother Moon shines so bright among Sister Stars

Dance and spin, all ye young and brave

A Goddess guides you to love with her song

Wander into the forests so bright

The nighttime sounds of the forest vanished beneath the rising voice of the mare, her head tilting back as she sung. A few birds perched upon her back and wings, their voices added into her own in a melodious chorus.

Darkness kept me apart from the world

Yell and shout, all ye bold and strong

A Goddess freed from shadow by her song

Lift up your hearts on tempest breeze to heavens so high

As the song grew low and sad, the mare stepped into a small glade, stars twinkling high above. As she approached the center of the glade, dark shapes circled her; glowing yellow eyes watching her every move.

The night of Spring has begun

Gather and pray, all ye young and old

A Goddess call you to dance to her song

Sheltered beneath the glorious leaves

Letting out a little sigh of contentment, she settled down in the center of the glade, a wing extended over a smallish form. Unaware of the journey she had just taken, the butter-coloured pegasus continued to sleep as the moon sunk behind the distant mountains and the sun began its daily climb, ignorant of the wolf shaped forms creeping into the glade.

* * *

Near the cottage of Fluttershy there exists a narrow, well trod path leading into the heart of the Everfree Forest. If one were to travel down this path for a mile they'd come across the home of one of the most unique inhabitants of the forest, the zebra shaman, Zecora.

A tree-home similar to the Books and Branches Library, Zecora's hut was a simple two room structure constructed inside a living oak. The branches of the hut were heavy with vines and creepers, the air heavy with fog, gloomy even in the brightest day. Very few ponies ever visited Zecora in her home, preferring to speak to her when she came to town for the supplies she couldn't gather in the forest. There were fewer still who braved the walk up to the small brown door past the masks from the zebra's homeland.

Privately, Zecora enjoyed the arrangement.

She was always welcome in Ponyville, and still had the solitude and privacy to practice her craft without constant interruptions.

That morning, however, was not one of those interruption free days.

"Oops, sorry, Zecora," a young, soft yellow filly exclaimed with a hint of panic in her voice. Red mane flying about her head, the filly darted to a vase, yanked the flowers it contained out, and raced back to where she had set a table on fire. Pouring the water in the vase on the small flames, the filly let out a sigh of relief.

Zecora watched with an ever growing look of horror.

"Dear Apple Bloom, you must learn to be careful soon. The plants you so carelessly tossed aside, need constant water or they shrivel and die."

Turning her head to where the zebra pointed, Apple Bloom watched in horror as the bright emerald stems and sapphire petals of the plants began to blacken and waste away. After a few seconds only dead grey husks remained.

"Ah'm really sorry," Apple Bloom said, her ears pressing back and chewing on her lower lip.

"Do not fret or fear, the Starthorn grows rather near. To gather the seeds we must depart, a simple trip to the forest’s heart."

Zecora gave Apple Bloom a reassuring smile as she grabbed a satchel from a peg beside the door.

"Come my apprentice, let's not tarry. For tonight we are invited to a party most merry."

Stepping out into the gloom, the zebra and her apprentice ignored the path, instead forging deeper towards the forest's heart, though heading off the path meant little for the pair as they both knew their way through the forest, as well as knew how to avoid its many dangers. As they travelled, Zecora pointed out various plants, asking Apple Bloom to name them and their uses. It took them but a few minutes to reach the edge of the glade.

After an uneventful trip they reached the edge of the glade.

Zecora's ears twisted, scanning for any strange or threatening noises while Apple Bloom waited at her side. Hundreds of small birds adorned the branches of the trees surrounding the glade, yet the forest was still and quiet.

Narrowing her eyes, Zecora held her hoof out to prevent the excited filly from jumping ahead.

"Dear Apple Bloom, stay close to my side, I fear that nearby a predator does hide," Zecora said, then she stepped out into the bright sun before immediately leaping back into the shelter of the forest.

Rising out of the tall grass of the glade, their bark-like skin creaking, stood almost a dozen Timberwolves. The wood elementals all turned to face the shaman and her apprentice, the golden glow of their eyes narrowing. But they didn't snarl or leap forward, instead they turned away from the zebra and pony.

Standing still, Zecora waited for the timberwolves to settle and she felt it was safe. Heart beating quickly in her chest, Zecora motioned for Apple Bloom to follow her.

Timberwolves weren't a threat unless their offspring were threatened. Most ponies assumed they ate meat because they resembled wolves. But Zecora knew from experience that the timberwolves ignored living prey, and instead subsisted off dead trees and fallen branches. So long as they weren't bothered, they would leave Zecora and Apple Bloom alone to collect their flowers and herbs.

The next creature to step forward, however, wasn't so harmless.

Out of the forest, muscles bulging beneath orange fur, stepped a full-grown manticore. The monster gave Zecora and Apple Bloom a flat glare as it stepped briskly towards the center of the glade, the timberwolves making room for the manticore.

"Something strange is occurring here. It is best we take our leave, my dear," Zecora said.

Her head whipped around when Apple Bloom didn't respond, just catching a glimpse of red vanishing through the grass towards the timberwolves.

"Apple Bloom, come back this instant!" Zecora called, leaping after the vanishing filly.

A moment later she heard Apple Bloom’s voice, "Huh, Ah wasn't expecting that."

Crashing through the ring of timberwolves, Zecora found herself in a small burnt patch of grass. In the center of the ring —with the eyes of the pack of timberwolves, two manticores, and even a chimera watching their every movement— was Apple Bloom and Fluttershy.

The young animal caretaker appeared to be in a deep slumber, with one wing extended over another smaller form.

Too shocked to run, and unable to abandon her apprentice or one of her friends, Zecora tore her gaze from the chimera and cautiously advanced. Lifting Fluttershy's wing, Zecora got a good look at the form, a young filly. Her coat was the colour of clouds at the first hint of sunset, a very soft pink on cottony white. A three toned mane —gold with a streak of cobalt blue bordered by white stripes— draped over the filly's face. Her tail was short and had a fluffy quality, further heightening the impression of clouds.

But the greater surprise was the combination of horn thrusting out from her short ringlets of a mane combined with the wings on her back.

Giving the towering two headed monster above them a cautious glance, Apple Bloom edged close enough to poke the sleeping filly.

"Hey, are yah okay?" Apple Bloom asked.

The sleeping filly's eyes burst open, revealing two eyes as blue as the summer sky. She took one look at Apple Bloom and immediately paled.

"Mneme?"

"Knee me?" Apple Bloom titled her head a little. "What's that mean?"

"It's your name! Isn't it?" the soft-pink filly said, narrowing her eyes and leaning forward to poke Apple Bloom in the chest.

"Naw, my name is Apple Bloom. Pleased to meet you," Apple Bloom said, offering a hoof and a smile.

Zecora slid a little to the side as the new filly looked at Apple Bloom's offered hoof. The filly's nose scrunched up and she stepped backwards, her rump hitting the chimera. Blinking quickly, the filly lifted her eyes from the offered hoof up to the twin heads of the beast above her, then to the pegasus at her side. Zecora braced for the inevitable scream and the monster's attack.

But neither came.

"Artemis?" the filly scrunched up her face as she moved forward, poking Fluttershy in the ribs a couple times.

Eyes flittering open, the young mare looked about for several moments, sleep-drunk, and then she shot upright when she noticed the ring of monsters.

"Z-Zecora? A-Apple Bloom? W-what's going on?" she shivered, then let out a little 'meep' when she noticed the chimera. "Oh my, how did I get way out here?"

"Perhaps it is best for the question to wait, until we are in a far safer state," the shaman said, still watching the monsters for any hostile movement.

Hiding behind her mane, Fluttershy gave a small nod. Slowly the three ponies and zebra left the ring, all of the monsters eyes watching them as the disappeared back into the shadows of the forest. Once they had left the glade behind, Zecora let out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding.

"Zecora, what just happened?" Apple Bloom asked from beside the mysterious filly.

"I am afraid I do not know, why aggression they did not show."

The Starthorn plants had been entirely forgotten. Zecora had only two thoughts on her mind. Why Fluttershy and the young alicorn had been in the glade, and that both needed to be brought to Ponyville. The shaman could think of no pony better suited to providing answers than the town's librarian, except perhaps one of the princesses.

As they approached the forest’s edge, Zecora turned her head to the filly. "I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Zecora, as you may have deduced."

The filly seemed startled, as she had been deep in thought. She gave Zecora a long appraising look, one that felt like it saw beyond skin and bone and into the zebra's essence.

Stopping, the filly gave a short bow, saying, "I am Tyr, daughter of Love and Duty. I thank you for coming to my aid, brave heroes. When I return to Mount Alicornus I will ensure you are all justly rewarded."

The other three ponies shared a confused look before Apple Bloom spoke up.

"Ain't never heard of a 'Mount Alicornus', but Ah'm sure you'll be right welcome in Ponyville until we can find your parents. Maybe you can stay with me and my family. We got plenty of room out on the farm. Oh, then you can meet Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle! We'll be great friends, ah'm sure."

Apple Bloom continued to chatter, her words almost tumbling out on top of each other, as the small group made their way out of the forest and towards the town.

* * *

Ponyville was covered in banners of every colour and shade, happily proclaiming the start of the Celebration of Life. Lampposts were covered in hyacinth and poppy flowers, and the air was thick with the floral scents. Fillies and colts ran about in excited groups, playing, laughing, and generally enjoying the start of two weeks free from school. The flower sisters' stall had a brisk trade as mares hopeful to conceive during the approaching season bought poppy flowers and stuck them behind their right ear.

The flowers were said to bring the blessing of Celestia and increase the chances of conception. An ancient belief pre-dating the war of the Sun and Moon when, in addition to her duties controlling the sun, Celestia had also been revered as a goddess of fertility.

In private Celestia had told Twilight how she was thankful she'd managed over the centuries to curb that particular belief.

Leaving the small ritual of the flowers was harmless, and even made Celestia smile when she'd see the mares with the red blossoms. The custom was a reminder of good days past, and the promise and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Twilight watched as a pair of ponies, a tan earth pony and a dapple grey pegasus, purchased a flower, the earth pony tucking it behind his wife's ear. A little smile touched her lips similar to the one Celestia would always get this time of year.

Turning away from the scene in the town square, Twilight returned her attention to Cadence and her brother. The Princess was receiving a lot of looks, but she seemed to be ignoring them for the most part. One of her wings was extended protectively around her husband. Twilight chuckled, knowing how Cadence could be overprotective. It was something she’d become accustomed to, considering Cadence had been her foal sitter.

"So, neither of you have any idea what mother and father want to tell me?" Twilight asked for the tenth time since they'd sat down for breakfast.

Cadence looked Twilight straight in the eye and shook her head.

Twilight would have believed her sister-in-law, if not for one small detail; she could never see through Cadence’s lies. This inability had been one of the many reasons Twilight had grown suspicious of Queen Chrysalis before the changeling invasion.

It also made Cadence a nightmare at card-games.

Shining, on the other hoof, couldn't lie to her any more than Twilight could lie to Celestia. That he seemed to be as uncertain about this important news wasn't helping Twilight's anxiety.

"When do you think they'll tell me? I hate all this waiting. It gives my brain too much time to conjure the worst case scenario. What if they tell me that they've arranged a marriage?"

Cadence and Shining both gave Twilight a dead-pan look that should have made her realise how ludicrous her statement was, but she was in no condition for reassurance.

"I mean, the practice has fallen out of favour. But our House is old and very powerful now. And I am a Countess, not that I'm a Countess of much. Just an empty forest. And mother used to go on about how important her title as a Baroness was and how it allowed us the privileged access to the School for Gifted Unicorns and the Royal Guard. Oh, Celestia, what if mother has arranged a marriage between me and Blueblood!"

A laugh like the chiming of silver bells snapped Twilight out of her rant. Blinking away the horrible images of herself wearing a wedding dress beside the oafish so-called prince, Twilight shot Cadence a look.

"Twilight, I can assure you that Celestia would never allow your mother to arrange a marriage for you," Cadence reached across the table to pat her sister-in-law on the hoof.

Arching an eyebrow at the statement, a dozen questions whipping around her mind as to why Celestia would interfere in the affairs of a noble House, Twilight instead abandoned the line of thought and plunged into another worry filled monologue.

"You're right, it isn't an arranged marriage. They are going to tell me I'm adopted and am being removed from the House. Celestia will be so—"

"Twilight, stop!" Cadence snapped before Twilight could delve into the anxiety bubbling in her breast. "No matter what happens tonight, your parents aren't going to disown you and remove you from House Sparkle. That much I can assure you."

Nodding quickly, and taking a long drink of her apple juice, Twilight slowly calmed herself realizing that Cadence was right. She was working herself up again. Groaning, Twilight massaged her temples.  It was then that a hoof wrapped itself around Twilight, making her cry out in surprise.

"How is my little Sparky?" asked a deep, cultured voice connected to the hoof. "Not worrying too much, I hope. You've been keeping your sister calm, right Shiny?"

"As much as I am able. I think only the Princesses and mother can really keep Twily level-headed."

Shining shot his sister a wink as their father took a seat between them. Twilight pressed a hoof to her chest to still her rapidly beating heart.

Her father —a blue unicorn with a dark blue mane and two crescent moons for a cutie mark, one inside the curve of the other— gave his daughter a long stare before nodding.

"I'm okay, father," Twilight said, giving him what she hoped was a convincing smile.

"She's been going on about how mother is going to kick her out of the House, or she's been adopted, or how mother is arranging a marriage between her and Blueblood."

"Shiny!" Twilight snapped, a blush blossoming behind her dark fur.

Laughing, Comet Seeker just shook his head.

"Oh, I'm sure your mother would be arranging a marriage right now if she thought she could get away with it."

"You're not telling fibs again, are you dear?" purred a silky voice behind the stallion, wiping the smile off his face.   Velvet Sparkle slipped up beside her husband and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, adding, "Because, if he is, I'll have to give him a stern lecture about tormenting a pony on her birthday."

Turning away from a chagrined Comet Chaser, Velvet Sparkle gave Twilight a hug before settling into the last remaining chair.

"So, are you two going to tell me what this news I had to be twenty-one to hear is all about?"

Twilight's parents shared a deep and worried look, one that did little but rekindle the fires of anxiety that burned in Twilight.

"It is best if we have that conversation tonight, after the party. It's very private and a street cafe is no place to have it," Velvet said, giving her daughter a sympathetic pat on the withers.

Her face contorted as she fought to gain control of her emotions before finally deflating with an exasperated sigh.

"Okay, well, I see that—" Twilight's voice trailed off, her ears beginning to flick erratically.

"Twily? You okay?" Shining asked as his sister's eyes began to dart around the cafe.

For a moment Twilight looked at the crowd starting to gather for the Mayor's speech, but quickly moved on. All around her was a soft chittering chorus of whispers. Twilight knew from experience that she wouldn’t see the source of the whispers.

Twilight had first started hearing the whispers while still a filly and starting her tutelage under Celestia. They always came suddenly, and left without explanation. At first Twilight had thought she was being spied on or made fun by the palace staff, but had quickly disproved that theory. Over the last month the whispers had appeared more and more often. Twilight could never manage to understand what the voices were saying. Comprehension always hovered just out of reach.

"Sparky?"

"Shush!" Twilight snapped at her father, straining harder and harder to finally hear and understand the whispers. The truth was finally so close, she could feel it. Closing her eyes, Twilight began to join the whispering. At first she just made an unintelligible hissing, then she started to speak, "Two mistresses... Shadows and sorrows cloud her heart... They are in danger—"

Twilight was brought out of her reverie as a hoof connected with the side of her head. Crying out, Twilight lost the whispers. Around her tables and chairs clattered to the ground while a few ponies released cries of surprise. Rubbing her muzzle, Twilight opened her eyes and found Princess Cadence right in front of her, the princess' eyes critically examining Twilight.

"Ow, what was that for?"

Smiling sadly, Cadence simply stated, "Twilight, you were starting to have a magic flare."

Twilight snapped upright as her anger dissipated, quickly being replaced by a wave of fear. She hadn't had a magic flare in years. Far from a fool, it didn't take Twilight more than a second to put the two together. Her heart began to race as she started to wonder about the implications. Around her she was receiving fearful looks from the other patrons of the cafe.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out even as she reached inside for her magic to escape the judgemental glares of everypony.

The spell matrix had barely began to form when Twilight noticed something was wrong. Very, very wrong. Her magic felt off. Different. Weird. What was normally a vast, calm pool of aether just waiting to be summoned was instead a swirling, frothing ocean whipped about by a violent storm.

"Twilight, wait!" Cadence started to say, but in a brilliant magenta flash accompanied by crack of thunder, Twilight vanished. "Oh, ponyfeathers!"

* * *

"A new age dawns!" The general cried to the throaty boom of ten thousand voices. "An age of glory! An age free of hungry bellies and the pitiful cries of starving chicks! The Age of Steel and Blood!"

Gilda watched with bated breath as the general strode the lines of griffon soldiers. Many had only weeks earlier been little more than commoners scraping for survival in the aeries of Southstone Spire. None had dreamed of battle or that their aerie would rise again to glory. For them, the aerie was both their refuge and their prison, a prison surrounded by the Zebras on one side, the Camels on another, and the remaining aeries to the north.

Once, so long ago that the memories had faded into dust and shadow, the griffons had ruled all the land they surveyed from the tops of the towers sitting on great Kiligrifjaro. To the north resided the citadels of Bloodrock Spire and Steelbeak Spire. The three aeries had been the united heart of a great empire, one that stretched from the domain of the massive elephants in the land where the sun slept to what was now Equestria. It had been the Pegasi and the Halla, of all the worlds races, that had laid the empire low.

The winged equines' Legions had proven to be a match for the griffons. No two pegasus legions had fought alike, and the constant changes in tactics and strategy had stymied the empire until they were beaten back to their ancestral aeries. Weakened by the pegasi, the griffons had been unable to resist when the subjugated races of their lands rose up to cast off their shackles.

But even the vaunted pegasus legions were nothing to the enraged Halla.

Few knew what had driven the isolationists from their home north of the ponies. Legends whispered in hushed voices to chicks as they clung to their mothers in the cold of night spoke of the Eternal Herd, a great sea of bodies that surged from the frozen forests. So large was the herd that it would stretch from horizon to horizon, an endless sea of proud warriors that couldn’t be slowed, much less stopped. The details varied, but all accounts agreed that the Halla cast down the aerie of Northrock Towers until only the ghosts of walls remained clutching to the mountain's side. With the aerie destroyed, the Halla vanished, and had not been seen again.

But that was all ancient history. Now, they would reclaim what was theirs. The Griffon Empire would rise again, as prophecy foretold. First they had to reclaim their hunting grounds.  It was a shame they were being held by other griffons, wrongfully claimed by Bloodrock Spire.

The general's golden eyes turned to face the larger army fielded by the other aerie. There were almost two of them for every griffon from Southstone Spire.

"We have been driven from our hunting grounds. We have been persecuted, spat upon, and made unwelcome in the world beyond the walls of the aerie. No more, I say!" The general, her mottled grey-brown feather's twitching spun to face her army, the soldiers stamping clawed feet in agreement. "We will reclaim our hunting grounds. We will reclaim our lands. And we will reclaim our pride! What say you?"

The army screeched in agreement.

"Not all of will return to our nests this night. But know this; those of us who die this day give their lives to usher in an age of hope for the aerie!"

Another chorus of cheers erupted from the gathered host.

"Some of you were exiles. Some of you were craftsbirds, or beggars, or labourers. Some few are of the nobility. None of that matters now. Look to the griffon beside you. Today they are your brother or sister! Tomorrow they will be your brother or sister! For all the rest of time, we are all brothers and sisters!"

"Exciting, isn't it, cousin?" chuckled a youthful voice beside Gilda.

Turning her head slighty, Gilda looked towards her younger cousin. She was barely out of her juvenile feathers, with black tipped crest feathers and primaries. Her fur was a soft tawny brown, and her tail darted back and forth; a clear sign of excitement.

"It sure is, Blinka," Gilda smiled wide.

The butterflies and apprehension she'd had that morning, and most of the week, were being swept aside. In their place burned a fire and passion. Gilda was many things —gruff, arrogant, a bit callous perhaps—  but until answering the summons to join the army and seeing the aerie for the first time, she'd never been afraid. That was the past though, and as the general spoke Gilda stood tall and proud.

Gilda felt her own voice added to the rolling thunder coming from the rag-tag army. She knew they were little to look at. The griffons wore a mishmash of armour. Some wore boiled leather, others were covered in chain or scale-mail. A clawful wore the ancient breastplate of the old empire. They'd be the younger sons or daughters of the few noble prides left in the aerie.

Growing up as the daughter of exiles in Equestria, Gilda had seen proper armour. The royal guard of Canterlot in particular were resplendent in their golden-toned plate. She knew that hidden in the armories, true steel platemail was stored for the day the ponies were ever faced with a war. Though noone had declared war on Equestria in centuries, largely due to the Goddess of the Sun who resided amongst the ponies.

Even if an invader won, who'd raise the Sun and Moon each night?

This wasn't such a war. The griffons had no Alicorns that were integral to the working of the world. No goddess lived among their aeries to grant them protection or guidance.

A wide smile was on the young griffon's beak, one mirrored on her cousin's face. For the first time they had looked upon their ancestral home, discovering that it once had been a power to rival that of Canterlot. And now both were pardoned of their ancestor's crimes; welcomed back among the aerie like so many other young hatchlings of the exiled.

The general, finished with her speech, took to the air and joined her unit, one of very few with proper uniforms and matching armour.

With that the entire army tensed, ready for takeoff at the sound of the warhorns.

"Just stay near me, Blinka. I'll make sure those Bloodrock dweebs won't get near you," Gilda gave her cousin a cocky grin.

A taunting laugh escaped Blinka’s beak as she quipped, "Oh yeah, I bet you three mice I get the first kill."

"Settle your feathers, soldiers," grunted a deep voice. "Don't be so quick or glad to take a life. Those aren't prey over there, they are killers and hunters, just like us. Mind yourself, and watch your angles, and you just might return to the aerie tonight."

Gilda and Blinka turned to look at the older griffon behind them. His face was scarred, and his scalemail armour was well worn, having seen many fights. Both just nodded their heads and watched as the veteran moved off to inspire or cajole other young griffons. When he was out of sight, Gilda returned to waiting, rolling her shoulders to keep loose and distract her from the few butterflies in her stomach.

She did not have to wait long.

The brass horns of the captains sounded, one long peal telling the griffons to ready themselves. Tensing her legs and flicking her claws, Gilda stretched her long graceful wings.

Like many among the pardoned, she wore very little in the way of protection —just a simple barding of boiled zebra hide. A part of her, the part that had grown up among the ponies, recoiled at the thought of wearing what had once been a living, breathing, talking zebra. Had it been a he or she? Did it have any children or descendants? Gilda's skin crawled beneath the grisly armour.

The part of her more in tune with her predatory heritage was thrilled, singing for the coming battle. Rending claws would become deadly weapons. A tearing beak would taste blood. She could barely keep herself from leaping to the air without the command of the captains.

After what felt like an eternity, the horns rang out in two quick harsh blasts.

Together, the griffons took to the sky, their opponents on the other side of the valley following suit. The units —flocks Gilda reminded herself— formed into loose wedges. The wedges then came together to form a large cone, with the lightly armoured conscripts and volunteers near the front protecting the crossbow wielding griffons behind, with the heavier cataphract flocks between.

There were few manoeuvres, the two armies simply charging towards each other.

Pumping her wings hard to maintain her position, Gilda pressed towards the enemy with talons flexed and eyes narrowed. And many took their final breaths.

And then, high above the yellow plains of Zebrica, the two armies collided.

The sky dissolved into a sea of madness around Gilda, griffon grappling griffon. The bodies of the dead began to rain from the sky. Units quickly dissolved, the sky becoming a series of smaller fights. Into the madness, the cataphracts swept into the sides, their heavy bodies crushing down through friend and foe alike.

Gilda quickly lost track of Blinka in the chaos. Tucking her wings, Gilda dived, talons flashing out to lacerate the flight muscles of a Bloodrock griffon that looked to be barely into adulthood. She gave out a pained squawk as Gilda's talons found a hole in his armour and tore into flesh. Screaming in pain and fear, she plummeted towards the cold, uncaring earth.

Gilda didn't have time to think or contemplate what she had just done as she beat her wings to gain altitude. She needed to find Blinka. Crossbow bolts hissed through the air between the two armies.

A sharp sting in her flank made her hesitate in a stroke of her wings. Coincidentally, this saved her life as a Bloodrock in heavy plate sailed through the space she should have been in. Screeching, the armoured griffon banked around, lifting a heavy broadsword in his claws. Thanking her lucky star, Gilda gave her wings a quick double flap and then spun down towards her opponent.

At her heart, Gilda was a racer, growing up with her chick-hood friend, Rainbow Dash. Not a sprinter like the pegasus, but an endurance flier. Tucking one wing to her side and flicking the other out in a maneuver Dash had once shown her, Gilda entered a loose spinning roll. Behind the helmet her adversary wore, Gilda could see confusion.

Gilda smiled.

Wings flicking in and out in precisely timed motions, Gilda altered her roll, and swung into a climb. The Bloodrock's sword hummed through the air, the blade lightly kissing the feathers of Gilda's cheek and throat. Then Gilda was on his back, wings spread and straining to hold them both aloft.

Back legs began to kick and rake, scraping and squealing against the hardened steel, while her talons dug into the gaps between the plates in the griffon's neck. Howling in pain, the griffon beneath her tried to throw her off. Gilda gripped tighter, refusing to be shaken from her prey.

"Like buck I am going to—" Gilda's taunt ended in a light howl as a sharp pain cut across the right of her chest, bouncing from rib to rib.

Twisting to her left, Gilda rolled around the Bloodrock griffon and saw that he had reversed his grip on his sword to drive it behind him. Again and again, the Bloodrock soldier drove the sword at Gilda. Sucking in her gut and wrenching herself side to side, Gilda narrowly avoided a second stinging kiss from the blade. Inches from each other, and with their own blood flowing down their armour, Gilda kicking her back legs sideways, rolling around so she was face to face with her opponent. Using the speed and surprise of her maneuver to her advantage, Gilda grabbed at the talons holding the sword with one claw, and her opponent’s helmet with the other.

Tensing her legs and exposed belly for an anticipated raking by the larger and armoured griffon, Gilda was shocked when it never came. Instead, the talon of her hallux found the gap in the Bloodrock griffon's helmet for his eyes. There was a scream, followed by the griffon clutching at his face as he let go of his sword and fell backwards out of the sky.

Grasping the sword before it followed its owner, Gilda turned to see she had fallen to the bottom levels of the battle. Above her, a swarming sea of griffons fought and clawed at each other, a steady stream of bodies tumbling towards the ground. Gilda’s eyes were inexperienced, but she was fairly certain that Southstone Spire was losing. Gripping her new sword tightly, Gilda began to climb back towards the melee, only to stop when she saw four Bloodrock griffons diving.

They weren't diving towards her, but were chasing one of the few griffons Gilda recognised. Blinka swept her wings in fast inexpert strokes only a few lengths ahead of her pursuers.

Out-numbered, Blinka was doing the only thing she could; run. Gilda tucked her wings to her side and began to dive away towards her cousin's pursuers. Blinka flared her wings as she approached the earth littered with the fallen, trying to put on some extra speed. Looking over her shoulder, she saw all four of the enemy still following her, and Gilda behind them.

Over broken grass, covered with the dead and dying, the six griffons sped.

The wound in her side burned as Gilda continued to stroke the air with her wings. She felt her tempo slowing with each beat of her wings. Glaring ahead, she saw that the Bloodrock's had gained almost three lengths on her cousin. She wouldn't reach Blinka in time, Gilda realised. Snarling to herself, Gilda looked to the sword in her claws.

Blinka, looking over her shoulder at her pursuers, saw that they were almost on her. In a last-ditch attempt to lose her pursuers, she swung around a shallow outcrop of stone and clipped the top of a dead tree. Crying out, Blinka tumbled and slammed into the ground, rolling to stop. Gilda's heart leapt into her throat as she stared at her unmoving cousin.

The four Bloodrock griffons landed around Blinka, one laughing as he walked towards her.

Blood pounding in her ears, Gilda screamed as she tucked her wings and drove into the laughing Bloodrock's back, broadsword leading the way. Gilda rolled off the Bloodrock and to her feet between the three remaining enemies and her cousin.

"You dweebs aren't laying one talon on her, got it?" Gilda snarled as she panted for breath.

The three remaining Bloodrock griffons looked at her, and then laughed as they advanced.

"Gilda, go, leave me," Blinka coughed behind her cousin.

Gilda winced at the wet sound in her cousin's voice. Common sense told her that even without the Bloodrock griffons, Blinka probably wasn't going to survive after such a crash. It was a miracle that she was even still alive, let alone conscious. But Gilda refused to leave her cousin. Blinka was the last friend Gilda had in the world.

Setting her shoulders, oddly at peace with what was going to happen, Gilda lifted her head a little and looked past the three griffons facing her and towards the sprawling battle in the sky. As she did she saw a sight that would be seared into her memory.

A massive blue ball of fire was falling out of the western sky directly towards the warring griffons. Long trails of fire and smoke billowing in its wake, the fireball descended in a terrible roar. It was only a few moments before the fireball smashed through the back ranks of the Bloodrock forces. Griffons vanished into the billowing, bright blue flames. The fireball shuddered, and with a resounding crack that echoed as far away as the capitol of Zebrica, it detonated.

In an instant, over half the griffons still airborne were struck from the sky. From the heart of the explosion a small blue light blasted forward like a bolt, screaming along faster than the fireball itself had fallen. Gilda and the three Bloodrock griffons stood transfixed by the sight of grass bowing before a rushing invisible wall that chased the blue object. A pressure wave, Gilda realised, turning at the last instant to fling herself over her cousin, wings spread to shield Blinka.

She had just gotten her claws around Blinka when the object struck the ground, the pressure wave sweeping over the three Bloodrocks and tossing them back into the air. Only the small outcrop of stone that had hidden the tree that felled Blinka spared Gilda and her cousin, shielding them from the worst of the wave. Stones and twigs buffeted Gilda, clenching her beak as she was pelted with debris, her wings taking the worst of the punishment.

Ears ringing, Gilda slowly stood on shaking legs.

"Blinka? Blinka, answer me!" Gilda screamed, though she could barely hear herself through the ringing in her ears.

Heart hammering, Gilda watched, waiting for any sign of life or movement from Blinka. She wished that she had paid more attention during first aid lessons at flight camp. They had always seemed so dull and boring. Now she cursed herself for being 'too cool' for basic first aid.

"Come on Blinka, don't you leave me too," Gilda said, tears creeping into the corners of her eyes as she laid one claw on her cousins shoulder. "Not you too, not you too, you big softy."

"Heh, I'm not the one crying," Blinka moaned, her sudden movement and voice caused Gilda to jump, a yelp of joy escaping her beak.

Blinka protested as Gilda hugged her then moved back and gave her a soft punch to the shoulder.

"Don't you scare me like that again, you featherbrain!" Gilda snarled around tears. Turning her head so Blinka wouldn't see her crying, Gilda asked, "Can you fly? Or at least walk?"

Standing slowly on quivering legs, Blinka looked to the twisted shape that her right wing had become. Crimson coated feathers did little to hide the shattered bones bulging against the skin. Fire lanced through shattered sinew, and it took all Blinka’s strength not to void her stomach. Shaking her head slowly, her eyes clearly showing the pain she was trying to hide, Blinka said, "I don't think I'll be flying for a while."

Nodding slowly, Gilda looked back towards where the battle had raged. There wasn't a single griffon visible in the sky. Not knowing if any had survived, Gilda turned back towards her cousin and sighed.

"Looks like we're hoofing it back to the aerie."

Blinka cringed at the idea of walking the leagues to the aerie, but didn't protest. Shucking off her soiled and torn armour, Gilda began to limp back towards home. The two walked side by side, each using the other for support. If stopped, both would have said that they were merely helping the other. After a few hundred yards Gilda spotted where the object that had devastated the griffons had landed.

“You up to checking this out?” Gilda asked.

“Not much choice,” Blinka turned her beak up into a smile, “It’s in our way.”

For the speed and power with which the object had descended, the crater was rather small. Eyes darting left and right in case it was a trap, Gilda and Blinka slid down into the shallow crater. Stepping around a protruding boulder blackened by fire, the two griffons came across a small blue object.

As one both recognised it as a pony, a filly just out of foal-hood judging by its size. Her coat was a dark blue, like the northern sea, and her mane a soft blue that seemed to shimmer and sparkle. Wings were clearly visible, the tips of the primaries a faded white.

"A pony filly? That fireball was a filly?" Blinka said, a disbelieving note piercing her voice.

"Not just any filly," Gilda muttered as she stepped around the filly. With a sweep of her talons she brushed back the short bouncy mane to reveal a slender horn.

"An Alicorn?" Blinka gulped, falling back on her rump, beak falling open. "Here? And a filly? But?"

Gilda gazed down at the sleeping filly. She looked so peaceful, the griffon thought to herself even as her mind began to dredge up everything it knew or had heard about the almost all-powerful Alicorns.

There were supposed to only be three Alicorns, Gilda knew. They also by their mere presence in Equestria helped keep most enemies at bay. If Southstone Spire had an Alicorn... and with her being so young she'd be impressionable and easy to mold to the griffons purposes. Grinning broadly, Gilda looked towards her cousin.

"Blinka, I think we just found the answer to all our problems."