Warhammer Equestria

The princess laid sound asleep in her bed with only the sound of a clock ticking away, it wasn't until she heard the gentle creek of the door that the princess began to stir from her sleep with a splitting headache. Spike had arrived with a fresh bucket of cold water and a rag which he placed on her head.

"Spike?" Her throat was dry and scratchy and her voice was weak.

"Take it easy Twilight. Here." Spike raised her head a bit as he gave her a glass of water before setting her back down. Twilight smiled at the fact that she was being taken care of by her baby brother whom she had looked after ever since he was a hatchling.

"How do you feel?"

"Terrible...how long was I out?"

"Two days."

The princess began to recall the events that got her in this predicament while Spike placed the cold rag on her head. Twilight began to remember the battle against the minotaurs, Flash nearly being killed but then everything went black.

"Spike? What happened?"

"We won Twilight! Thanks to you." Spike praised his big sister as she began to ponder his answer.

"Thanks to me?"

"Yeah. You were all glowing and stuff and POOF!! you took em out in one swipe!"

The rest of the memories began flooding back to Twilight; She remembered feeling a strange power coming from the blade that seemed to fuse with her own and her magic became almost equal to that of Celestia and Luna then she remembered the screams of the minotaurs as they were consumed by a magical fire that burned them to ashes. Twilight was supposed to be feeling proud when instead she felt an unbearable amount of guilt. She had killed.

"Twilight? You okay?"

"No...no I'm not okay Spike. I'm a murderer...."

"That's the last thing anyone should call you." Valiant had arrived to check on the princess as well as give her a get well soon present from Emelyn and Claire which was in the shape of a basket.

"Valiant."

"The men just finished raising their glasses to you, they're grateful for the princess saving their lives."

"But still...I killed so many."

"Not as many as me." It almost sounded like he was boasting had it not been for the tone in his voice.

"Unlike you Twilight I was born to fight...quite literally." Valiant then lifted the sleeve of his right arm to reveal the cutie mark on his shoulder; A warhammer with a shield decorated with the face of a lion and two griffons on the side. Some would say it was the mark of a true knight but for Valiant it was a constant reminder that his sole purpose was to fight until the end of his days.

"When I learned my special talent was for warfare I knew I'd be looked upon by others as nothing but a murderer; A killer who knows nothing about mercy or compassion. But you? You're different."

"How?"

"When a common pony like me deals in war he's seen as a monster before he is seen as a hero. When royalty deals in war they are seen as heroes THEN as monsters."

Valiant then left the basket next to her before heading out the door. Twilight knew the basket contained some kind of baked sweets, judging from the smell and because she had not eaten in some time the princess removed the shroud covering the basket to reveal some freshly baked cookies. Spike of course was also eager to have some.

Meanwhile

While Twilight rested, the rest of her friends were helping around Griffonstone with the help of Rainbow Dashes old friend Gilda and her new friend Gretta.

"Dash! You guys made it!" Gilda greeted her old friend with a hug and looking somewhat relieved.

"I heard Canterlot was sending reinforcements but I didn't think you'd be coming."

"Hey Celestia wanted the best so I'M overqualified!" Rainbow Dash boasted as they shared a high five when Gilda noticed Valiant and his soldiers marching into town, each looking like they had been through hell.

"What happened to them?"

"We took on a bunch of minotaurs trying to storm the gorge. Most of us wouldn't be here if Twilight hadn't stepped up."

"That's good to hear but what I don't get is why the minotaurs are starting trouble now? We've always lived peacefully."

"Not ALWAYS my dear!" A scraggy old voice shouted. It was Gilda's Old Grandpa Gruff who was limping up the street on his cane, coughing as he raised his finger to give another one of his long stories. (For a fair price of course)

"Not now Grandpa! We don't have time for another one of your boring stories!" Gilda told him as she tried to shove him off but being the stubborn old bird he was, the old man refused and conked her over the head before scolding his granddaughter.

"This be no ordinary story missy! it be part of our history!" The others just stared in confusion when Valiant came walking up with a small bag of bits in his hand.

"You the one they call 'Gruff'?"

"Aye."

"I believe you have some information." Valiant hinted to the elderly griffon as he tossed the bag ever so slightly, the coins inside jingling away.

"Keep yer money good knight, This one's on me." He said humbly as he pushed the bag away, surprising everyone including his granddaughter. Gruff took them to his broken down home located near the edge of the city.

The house was a run down looking shack with the doors and windows that had broken hinges followed by cobwebs and dust that filled the place from the inside you, you couldn't even take one step without a dust cloud getting in your face.

"Ugh! This whole building should be condemned!" Rarity said as she used her hankie to cover her nose while the others used their hands. Gilda however seemed used to it and just kept pace with her grandfather who was shambling towards a single room in the back.

"Here we are." He said aloud as the door creaked open to reveal a single book illuminated in a pillar of light, surprisingly this room was the cleanest out of the entire house and had also been lit by several candles. The book was twice as thick as a dictionary and bore the royal symbol of the griffons on it.

"A book? We followed your gramps to his his house for a book?" Rainbow Dash asked Gilda when Gruff turned around, waving his cane at the pegasus.

"This is no ordinary book girly! This be the Dammaz Kron!!"

"The Dumb ass what now?" Rainbow scratched her head in confusion while Gilda and Pinkie stifled their giggles.

"The Great Book of Grudges." Valiant translated the old Griffons words, sounding amazed as Gruff allowed him to open the cover. The book gave off a sour aroma that made the others nearly loose their lunch yet the two in front of the book remained unphased.

"What is that smell?!?" Gilda asked as she covered her beak and tried to wave the stench off.

"The Book of Grudges holds every event where the Griffons were offended or betrayed. Each and every account written in the blood of kings." The others cringed back while Valiant and Gruff began scrolling through the pages, one in particular that Valiant read aloud to the others.

"Aramaspi and The Idol of Boreas."

The account had been crossed out meaning the grudge had already been settled as well as a few others yet they still remained eligible enough to read. After a few more pages Gruff stopped Valiant in his search as he pointed to the account they had been searching for.

"Ah here it is! 'The Assault on Foal Mountain'." Valiant stepped back as Gruff cleared his throat to read the tale aloud. Pinkie sat in front of the old griffon like a kindergartner at story time and sure enough the others followed.

One Thousand Years Ago; Before Celestia and Luna

I remember Foal Mountain as it used to be. It was the center of all trade in the eastern lands of Equestria, from deep within its caverns we crafted many works of art from Jewelry to weaponry. We traded far and wide with all the other races and soon enough our wealth became famous and the envy of all others until one day....all that changed.

A mining crew had finished digging a new cavern when they attacked, they stormed through the caves like insects swarming on a crop. They slaughtered everyone and burned everything in sight as they roared out in triumph, plundering our hard earned wealth!! I'll never forget their leaders name. Even to this day his cries haunt me.

"Azhag The Slaughterer" They called him. It was because of him that many of my kin were murdered and why Foal Mountain remains as a dark reminder of their terrible might. May those who follow in that brutes bloodline be cursed to the pits of Tartarus!!

-High King Grover.

Gruff then slammed the book shut as his face began to tense up with anger before gently placing the book back on its pedestal.

"That was the saddest story ever-AGAIN!" Pinkie said with teary eyes as they left the house.

"You know I wish Twilight was with us. She would've loved to see that book." Applejack looked back to the house while Rarity was still covering her face with her handkerchief.

"I'm not so sure darling. The smell was rather...atrocious."

"Compared to the minotaurs, that book doesn't smell half as bad as them!" Rainbow said in a laid back manner as she hovered upside down with Gilda.

"You girls go on ahead I gotta take care of something." Valiant then raced off towards the town, leaving the others curious before they decided to head back to Twilight for another visit.

Meanwhile

Emelyn and Claire were busy feeding the wolves their daily meals. One in particular Claire seemed very fond of.

"HI FENRIR!" She greeted her furry friend with a bucket of fresh fish. Before the wolf began to feed he greeted her with a friendly lick to her face and a quick nuzzle. Claire laughed as she began to scratch his ear while he fed.

"Come along Claire. We need to get back and start dinner."

"Coming!"

Later that night, as they prepared dinner. Valiant quietly entered the house while keeping a scroll hidden under his cloak when he asked Emelyn to come meet him at the door.

"I'll be right back Claire."

"Okay." Claire went back to fixing the ingredients while humming herself a tune. For a while all she could hear was the quiet chatter of the couple in the next room followed by a joyful scream and Emelyn leaping onto her husband for a kiss when they both came into the kitchen.

"Claire. We have something for you, it's a surprise."

"A surprise?!? what is it?" The young filly hopped up and down as the two laughed when Valiant opened up a scroll. They were adoption papers.

"This document hereby grants custody of one Claire Voyance to Valiant Charge and Emelyn Gemstone." That was the opening sentence on the scroll when Claire gasped in shock.

"I told the princess about what happened after we rescued you and if you want you could be part of our family."

"What do you say?" The couple asked as the filly stared at both of them. This couple whom she had just met took her in, watched over her and cared for her as if she was their daughter. The little foal slowly began to cry before leaping into their arms with a smile.

"Mommy! Daddy!" It seemed Claire had no trouble addressing her new parents as they sat down for dinner that night but while the new family celebrated trouble was brewing near the western edge of Griffonstone.

"Boss. The troops are ready." A soldier addressed his commander who wielded a giant battle axe.

"Good. We attack at first light!"

End.