The ties that bind us

The ties that bind us
Chapter 2
When everything falls into place, the first battle

“Writing laws is easy, but governing is difficult.”
“When one's head is gone one doesn't weep over one's hair!”

“The court is now in session.” Announced the guard as Neon stepped through the door and made his way to his throne; although it wasn't long before ponies began to notice that Luna was not with him and that he was missing his normal foalish attire save for his diaper, and they started gossiping among themselves.

“Silence, we will have order!” Ordered Neon having learned the Royal Canterlot voice from Luna, however when he used it he still continued to talk in modern Equestrian.

“Where is the Princess?... What’s going on here?... What makes you qualified to rule the night in your mother’s place?...” Screamed multiple ponies from the rabble.

“WE SAID SILENCE!” Bellowed Neon his amethyst eyes turning red temporary which muted everypony into complete and utter silence for fear of their lives as Neon took a couple of seconds to take a few deep breaths before continuing; although he was still upset. “You ask what makes me qualified, I have stood at my mother’s side for five years watching her and assisting her with her nightly duties as Princess of the night, and even longer have I been studying. Equestrian laws, history, battles; things that would make your blood run cold. I know the truths behind her transformation into Nightmare Moon, I know just how close the Kingdom lay at the brink of destruction which she and my Aunt faced Discord, and I know the secrets of the times before Equestria was even founded. There is no pony save for my cousin Cadence who is more qualified to do this job, however as both Princess have left, she is taking over the day courts and is not our Aunt she could not do what Aunt Celestia did for a thousand year, nor could I so the burden of ruling this Kingdom splits equally on both our shoulders.” Explained Neon allowing his words to sink in before continuing.

“Now you also asked where my mother is. She and Aunt Celestia have gone to the Griffon kingdoms, I know she would not approve of me telling you this but as it has gotten to the point that even they have had to intervene it will do you more harm than good to continue to keep you unawares, Equestria is in the middle of a war with the Griffons, already many of our brave soldiers have fallen, and so The Princesses have left to join the battles and ensure that no harm with befall you, in the meantime as I have stated before Cadence and I will be taking over the everyday rulings of Equestria, if you have any problems that cannot be addressed to the police, please do not hesitate to bring them forward to us as we will endeavor to help you as much as we can in their place, and please anypony who sights a Griffon within Equestrian lands is to inform a member of the guard at once, and now that is out of the way, please you may approach the throne and have your inquiries heard.

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“So, that is how it stands your Highnesses, the Griffon strongholds are here, here, and here.” Began the general pointing to three black Griffon markers on the map of the mountains. “The largest battles have been here, here, here, and here.” He showed them four spots on the map three of them markers of beheaded ponies, and one of a beheaded griffon. “As you can see we’ve managed to keep them in the mountains as when they fight us out on the plains and flatlands we have the advantage, but when we have to consider the mountains and rely on Pegasus troops we don’t fare so well.”

“Because Griffons are better fliers than Pegasi.” Nodded Luna “However you’ll find Alicorns are better fliers the Griffons.” she smirked and bumped lightly into Celestia their armor clacking together in kind of a weird high hoof.

“Shall I show you the last battlefield?” Asked the General as he opened the flap of the tent for the Princess.

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“So many dead.” Sighed Celestia as she watched the medical team carry away the bodies of the dead and wounded alike.

“The Griffons outnumber us twenty to one as they’re a much more war bound race, but as we have magic and they don’t we've been able to keep from being annihilated completely.” Sighed the grey coated pony as they moved throughout the gully.

Suddenly the sounds of metal on metal and the cries of both griffon and pony carried on throughout the battlefield.

“Quickly Luna!” Bellowed Celestia taking her naginata in her aura and taking to the sky

“I’m right behind you Celestia!” She replied hot on her sister’s tail

“This was too easy...” Cackled a black feathered, grey coated griffon as she pecked away at the corpse of the pony she had just killed before the screams of her comrades reached her ears.

“Fuck, I didn’t believe they’d come!” Screamed the Griffon general as Celestia and Luna cut down Griffon after Griffon as one after another tried to stop the two Alicorns.

“This is for all the Ponies you’ve slain!” Screamed Celestia as she speared a Griffin on the blade of her Naginata, throwing him into the air and beheading him as his body fell and landed with a sickening crunch on the ground.

“Stop them, do whatever it takes and for fuck’s sake don’t attack them one at a time, those are the Princesses you need to overtake them with numbers!” Screamed the General as she too joined the battle grabbing two Ponies in her claws and slamming them together hard enough to break bones, and ripping them apart.

“Celestia behind you!” Screamed Luna racing forward and gutting the Griffon who had been about to swing a claw at Celestia before her life had been ended by the moon Princess’s blade, however in her haste she didn't notice that she herself was in danger as she was caught in the flank by another of the fifty Griffons the two were fighting on their own. Luna screamed as she felt the talons ripping through her flesh, and the warmth of her blood spilling from the wound as the Griffon continued to tear at her with her claws before Celestia was able to get to her sister.

“There’s too many Sister!” Screamed Luna as she tried her best to fight off as many Griffons as she could while blocking out the pain coming from her mangled side.

“There’s only one thing left to do Luna, quickly shield everypony!” Ordered Celestia as she began to gather as much energy as she could into her horn while fighting with her enemies.

“Fuck get away from her she’s going to use her connection to the sun to unleash a solar blast, there’s no stopp...” Began the General before Celestia let loose a huge blast of white fire that engulfed the entirety of the gully, and soon the skies were full of the flaming bodies of the griffons who had not known what she was going to do and escaped in time, and the nearby mountains were full of the screams of those who were caught at the tail end of the attack; as their flesh burned and blistered under the burns caused by it.

“This isn’t over, not by a long shot!” Shrieked the General as she shot at Celestia in her rage at being defeated, but before she even got a chance to so much as raise her claw, Celestia had her by the throat in her aura.

“Return to your King and tell him that he is more than welcome to challenge my sister and I, but know this we will not go down without a fight and so if he intends to win this war he should stop being such a coward and come face me himself.” Spat Celestia her eyes like fire as she held the white hot blade of her naginata against the flesh of the General’s face and listened as the Griffon screamed in pain as her flesh cooked before Celestia let her go, and she flew off in terror to relay the message that she had given her.

“Come Luna we need to get your wounds tended to.” Said Celestia as she took her now weakened sister to the medical tent.
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The next dawn came crisp and cold as winter was beginning in Equestria, but that was not what woke the young Prince of the Night up as a messenger Dragon opened the door and woke Neon up.

“Prince, I have a message for you front the war front, The Princess asked me to tell you herself that your mother has been wounded.” Said the Dragon catching Neon as the young Prince collapsed and fell unconscious.

TBC