Two horned kings

"How could this happen?" Celestia asks herself, pacing back and forth in her private study, an open scroll lying on the coffee table. Now, the scroll itself wasn't what worried Celestia. Rather, it's what was written on it that caused her stress.

For the last couple of weeks, tensions were high between Equestria and Gryphonia, the gryphons pushing for more land to house their "growing population" as they claimed. They demanded Stalliongrad and Trottingham be handed over. Celestia has been negotiating with the gryphon king, trying to make him see reason, but he wouldn't budge. It basically boiled down to "You give us what we want or we go to war" with the gryphons. So, hoping to avoid conflict, she sent one last note stating she would not be cowed, and they would deeply regret war with her ponies.

She got the reply today.

"To war, then."

******

"Are you saying what I think you're saying, Tia?" Luna asks, having been roused from her slumber and summoned to the study. Her ethereal mane, while still flowing in a nonexistent breeze, was still slightly messy. She was wearing her black nightgown.

"I'm afraid so, dear sister. The gryphons mean to start a war on equestria." Celestia explains with a sigh, looking out the window, at the busy streets below. Her little ponies were going about there business, talking, little colts and fillies (whose parents weren't insufferable nobles) playing in the street. Equestia hadn't seen war in a thousand years, and even then it was more of a skirmish than an actual war. Now, the peace they've kept for so long will be broken....

"Sister, our army only has five-hundred and fourteen ponies, and they're the royal guard. Ponies weren't meant for war, but..." Luna trails off, looking away from her sister and biting her lower lip.

"But what, Lulu?" Celestia asks in a reassuring tone.

"Maybe we could send for help?" Luna finishes, looking back up at Celestia, who nods.

"That would be wise. Why are you so nervous, little sister?" Celestia asks in her usual motherly tone. Luna looks Celestia in the eye, having found her courage.

"Because there are few things that can match the battle prowess of a gryphon. Two, actually. The diamond dogs, who don't even have an official government, much less one that would help our country, and..." Luna didn't finish her sentence. But then again, she didn't need to. Celestia already knew who Luna was going to suggest going to for aid.

"The minotaurs." Celestia states for her, her smile lowering just a millimeter.

She never understood her sisters fascination with Minotaurs, they were so much like her little ponies, yet so...tough, warrior-like. They were mostly herbivores, but there was the occasional omnivorous Minotaur...Those became Berserkers, probably the most ferocious warriors she'd ever seen...even she had to admit they were brutal and barbaric.

She let out a sigh, looking at her sister. "If the minotaurs actually answer our plead, I'll be happy to work alongside them." she says, after a pause. Luna's lips twitch upward in a smile, before she composes herself again.

"I'll send the messages, seeing as how I'm up already." Luna suggests, the barest hint of eagerness in her voice. Celestia nods.

"By all means, Sister." Celestia says by way of an answer.

+++++

Bullivia, ancestral home to the Minotaurs was a country shaped like a giant pair of bull horns. Being located up north made sure it was cold year-round. The minotaurs that lived here were battle-hardened, tough, and stronger than even Big MacIntosh.

The government was actually run by Jarls, headed by the king. The title of king was inherited by birth, but Jarls were chosen by battle and accomplishment, along with personal favor of the king.

The current king, King Redhorn, was sitting on his throne, bored out of his mind. Sure, he had free reign of a country of warriors, but even warriors have paperwork if they hold any position of power. His light brown fur was recently scrubbed, appearing glossy in the light of the grand chandelier illuminating the gray stone throne room. His horns still had their usual red tint, his hooves were filed, and his gold nose ring was po

lished.

He stood a solid 8 feet tall (not counting his horns) and was strong enough to crush stone in one hand. It was while he was sitting here, bored out of his mind, that the royal messenger ran into the throne room.

"King Redhorn! A message from the pony princesses!" the messenger, a somewhat short but bulky minotaur announces. The king looks over at him.

"When will they learn that we have no interest in trading? Or peace treaties?" he mumbles to himself, which was still loud enough to be heard by the messenger.

"Sir, it isn't a treaty this time! Equestria is going to war with Gryphonia!" the messenger explains, a smile growing on his face. Judging by that smile, the king already knew what was coming next and smiled as well.

"Tell Jarl pearl-beard that I'll be going away for a while. And when you're done, rally the warriors and berserkers and meet me at the fjord." Redhorn commands, standing up and cracking his knuckles. The messenger slams his fist against his chest, the traditional acknowledgement of a royal order, and nods.

"Yes, my king!" he leaves in a hurry, his two hooves clattering down the hall. Redhorn reaches behind his throne, feeling around for a bit before finding what it was he was looking for. He pulls out his steel broadaxe, sharp as always, and straps it across his back.

"I hope the Berserkers are hungry, for soon they shall dine on gryphon!"

+++++

Unbeknownst to all except Princess Luna, there is another minotaur kingdom. Cape horn, the mining and manufacturing minotaur kingdom. The governing body here was a little different. The king was the only ruler, and the way the king for Cape horn is chosen is odd indeed, but we'll get to that later. The kingdom was located at the sandy base of Mount Taurus, a mountain overlooking the southern sea. The residents here, both minotaur and otherwise were hardy as well, but were more diverse in terms of what was being made, or gathered, or done.

The castle itself looked like a giant, brass tortoise. The pathway up to the castle's front gate was inside the mouth of the tortoise. The king, King iron eye, was sitting at his throne, simply enjoying the ever-present hum of machinery that could be heard inside the castle. His eyes were closed, not that it makes a difference to him.

He's blind.

He was born without eyes in his sockets, and had the sockets cauterized. After he was chosen to be king, he had a pair of glass eyes ,the color of iron, made. After he rose to power years ago, technology advanced at an almost unseen rate in the history of Equis. His horns were small, but sharp nonetheless, and he stood at about six feet and three inches in height. His coat was blue, and his hair was blonde with a black streak running down from the top of his head to his bangs. The kingdom was an epicenter of success.

Not that he cared at all. He just didn't want his subjects to have to go without too much.

Suddenly, his messenger, a young minotaur girl with long blonde hair and a bluish white coat, walks into the room briskly, then bows.

"My lord, a message from the equestrian royalty." she explains. Iron eye turns his head to face her, his unmarked, metallic gray glass eyes seeming to look directly at her before smiling.

"Ah, what does dear Luna wish of me now? Surely her heat cycle can be handled without me this time?" He gives a quiet chuckle, his almost dark chocolate smooth voice echoing through the throne room anyway. The messenger goes red at this,

"M-My lord?" she sound unsure. He gives a small smile,

"I jest, Vivi. Now, what does the message say?" he asks, giving the messenger, Vivi, a chance to compose herself.

"Y-yes, my lord. It says,

Hello, dear Iron eye. I wish I could've sent a happier letter, but dark times will befall Equestria soon. The gryphons have declared war on Equestria, and we may very appreciate your help. We've already contacted King Redhorn, but we have a feeling warriors won't be enough to fight off airborn gryphons. Celestia even promised to work with you, should you show up!

Yours truly, Princess Luna"

Iron eye's smile grows a little bigger. His smiles always seemed so warm...Vivi shook her head, clearing those thoughts.

"Ah, so the gryphons have shown their hand. Or rather, their talon. Yes... Vivi," she jumps as he says her name, "Inform cousin Iron will that he's in charge while we're gone. Then tell the engineers to get us moving, if you please." he requests kindly, facing directly in front of him again.

"Yes, my lord. Pardon my ignorance, but are you close to this pony princess?" Vivi asks, doing her best to hide her disappointed tone. He chuckles again,

"Yes, I guess you could say that."

Later

The eyes of the great tortoise castle of Cape horn started to glow, purple light shining from the sockets of this great, mechanical beast. It slowly raised itself off the sand, standing on it's steel legs, and begins an earthshaking journey north, to Equestria. With every step, the lights in the tortoises eyes flickered ever so slightly.

King Iron eye, still in the throne room, was smiling to himself at the thought of not only seeing Luna again, but being presented with the chance to try out some new "toys" his engineers had created the year previous. He could smell a conflict brewing. His smile drops.

"I'll be there soon, Luny."