A Stellar Affair

This chapter involves a bunch of griffins, and I have no idea what to address them by gender by, so for now I will use she-griffin, She-Council-Griffin, He-Council-Griffin, and he-griffin.  And yes, I know I am naming griffins in a manner different than the show, but I am breaking from canon for that.

Council Hall, Confederation of Griffin Territories

"And I say we attack now!  They are weakened already, and we have seen how powerful Celestia really is!  She is merely an ant against a boot to our Confederation's Armies!"  Argued Legate Sharp-Talons, a large, gruff he-griffin, and leader of the Confederation's armies.

"We have maintained a mutually beneficial alliance for over a millenium!  Should we attack, she shall simply burn and raze our lands with the might of the sun!  We should be assisting them, not attacking!"  Snapped She-Council-Griffin Light-Feathers.

"Both of you are wrong!"  Burst He-Council-Griffin Stiff-Wings.  "Should we fight, we will be annihilated!  Should we assist, our fragile alliance with the Zebra Republic will shatter!  It is based entirely on our shared mistrust of the Equestrians!  We shall stay neutral!"

"No! We fight!"  Sharp-Talons said.

"That is ridiculous!  We shall help them!"  Cried Light-Feathers.

"Just! Argh!  We obviously can't decide, so let us do NOTHING!"  Stiff-Wings ordered as the heavy oak doors flew open, revealing the figure of a massive, imposing griffin.  It grunted with the force of a storm, silencing the room.  Following it was a smaller, almost childish figure.

"We will attack, but after weakening them.  We shall gain their trust, but allow them to ask for our help, do not go to them.  Until then, Sharp-Talons, train your soldiers.  Light-Feathers, gather resources.  And Stiff-Wings, you shall replace Ambassador Twisted-Beak as our correspondant to the Equestrian Empire.  I hereby dismiss the council."  Boomed the larger figure.

"Yes, o-of c-c-course Grand King, your highness!"  The trio answered in harmony.

"I think we should attack now.  They are pathetic."  The smaller figure answered from the shadows.

"No, my dear.  We shall bide our time, and you will see the results of our cunning and power in action."  The Grand King said.

"Alright,"  Gilda said as she stepped from the shadows.  "Dad."

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Library Treehouse, Ponyville, Equestria

"Twilight!  Twilight!  I have a -burp- urgent message from Canterlot!"  Spike said as he raced towards Twilight Sparkle's room.

"Not now Spike, I'm bu-  Did you say Canterlot!?  It must be Shiny and Cadance!"  Twilight exclaimed excitedly, jumping in the air and freezing in place in a joyful pose using her magic.

"Okay, uhh, let me get this open!  Okay, here we go!" Spike said.

Dear My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,

"Aww, it's from Celestia.  I was looking forward to a message from my BBBFF and my BSBFF."  Twilight complained.

"Quiet Twilight, it's urgent!"  Spike said.

There has been an... incident in Canterlot recently.  It would assist me greatly if you could gather your friends and meet me at the Castle.  Shining Armor will arrive at your home with a carriage tomorrow.

"EEEE!  Shiny is coming!  YAY!"  Twilight said.

"Twilight!  Come on!"  Spike complained.

This is very important, please be ready to leave tomorrow.

Your Mentor,  Princess Celestia

"SHINY IS COMING!  EEEEE!"  Twilight screamed, and burst into song.

Yeah, I am just going to switch location so I don't have to create a song.  Assume it was pretty good.

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Royal Castle, Canterlot, Equestria

The tall white creature shot us with a strange, multicolored beam.  I instantly felt better, and pulled myself off of the ground.  I seemed to be... a pony?  Yes!  I was in Equestria!  Just like all of those fanfics I had read!  I got up, rubbed my eyes, and looked around.  The white creature was Celestia!  Ewan, Keon, and James were still pulling themselves off of the ground.  That arch must have been some sort of dimensional teleporter!

"Hi, uh, um, Princess, your Highness, uh, are we in, um, Equestria?"  I said, trying to sound submissed and beggarly.

"Wha- Why are you asking if you are in Equestria?  You just appeared here in a flash of light.  I know nothing more about you than you do."  She replied, gracefully.

"Ergh, where are we..."  Ewan groaned as he climbed up. I trotted over and helped him up.  Huh, this seems natural.  Like I was always supposed to walk on four legs.

"You are in Equestria.  I am Celestia, who are you?"  Celestia inquired.

"Wait, I'm in Equestria?!"  Ewan said.

"Yeah, apparently." I replied.

"YES!  I ALWAYS WANTED TO COME HERE!"  Ewan shouted, and bro-hoofed me.

"Calm down, both of you.  I know not your intentions, and we are in a weakened state.  What is your business?"

"Well, we all came here when..."

Yep, another long part-skip scene cut.  Don't judge me bro!

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Natural Museum of History, Los Angeles, California

The chatter of the radios, the cries of the injured, the grief of those who were fortunate enough to survive.  Why had it have to be then?  Over 200 people were still missing, at least 50 confirmed to be children.  Rubble, collapsed pillars, all splattered with the entrails of the lost.  50 bodies had been found, only four of them children.  There were almost no survivors, just those fortunate enough to be outside or near the entrance when it began.  And then the aftershocks began again.  Ladders toppled, rubble shifted, gas lines ruptured, and a chain smoker lit a cigarette to calm down.  He got out his lighter, and flicked the wheel.  It sparked, and the gas ignited, the flame spread, roaring upwards, outwards, inwards, and consuming everything.

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Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville, Equestria

Twilight galloped into the barn, where Big Macintosh was stacking bales of hay.

"Big Mac!  Thank Celestia!  I need to find Applejack, do you know where he is!?"  Twilight said.

"Eeyup."  Big Mac said, and nodded his head toward the field.

"She's in the fields?  Thanks!"  Twilight said, and darted from the barn.  Twilight bounded over bushes, rushed over rocks, and assassinated the rest of my alliteration on the way.  She flew through the fields, and eventually ran into Applejack.  Literally.  As Applejack was bucking a tree.

"OW!"  Twilight cried, as she was bucked in the face.

"Oh, sorry, I didna see ya there, Twilaght."  Applejack replied in her southern drawl.

"Listen, Applejack, this is really important!  The Princess has requested our presence, and soon!  Can you postpone the harvest a few days?"  Twilight pleaded.

"Sorry honey, but I cahn't.  We 'ave to get these harvested real soon, but I'll be done real quick now, ya hear?"  Applejack said.

"Alright, but hurry!  She needs us tomorrow!"  Twilight exclaimed, and teleported away.