Weapons clashed and cannon fire rang out in the air as the streets of Griffonstone were now turned into a battlefield. Small squads of the allied forces fought desperately to repel the invaders as they flooded into the city like locusts destroying everything in their path but all the while Valiant and his dreaded foe Ironhide faced each other from across the field, each ready to kill the other.

The two had been fighting for quite some time and had taken their fair share of injuries. Valiant had suffered several cuts around his body and a few bruises while Ironhide had lost his left eye and one of his horns which seemed to fuel his rage, for a while neither combatant moved after having severely drained their strength until Ironide stepped forward preparing to give a mighty swing.

"AAAARGGH!!"

SWOOSH!!

Valiant rolled onto the ground, dodging the first swing and retaliated with a stab to Ironhides thigh while grabbing a nearby shield. Ironhide stumbled from his leg wound for a moment before resuming his attack, narrowly missing Valiants neck as he pushed him back further with another wide swing. For what seemed like forever, both combatants continued to exchange blows with each blocking the others attack.

"WAAGH!!"

"HAA!"

Valiant was able to block almost every swing from Ironhide yet his blows had the force of a battering ram and were starting to take their toll on his left arm. The unicorn staggered back, trying to fight off the pain as he growled menacingly at his opponent while Ironhide grinned wickedly. Savoring the kill to come and delivered one last blow that shattered both Valiants shield and his left arm.

"AAAAHHHH!!!" Valiant rolled to the ground, his arm felt like it was on fire as he began to feel the burning sensation of the broken bones course through him. To add insult to injury Ironhide slammed the sword Bloodbringer out if his hands and into the chaos of the battlefield before slowly crushing his broken arm.

"RRRRGGGHH!!" Valiant tried to fight him off but was too weak from having taken all of Ironhides attacks.

"You know when this is over...I think I'll send that wife and pretty girl of yours to those caribou boys." The warboss spoke as if he was in a casual conversation, confident he had his victim right where he wanted him.

"I hear that Dain especially loves the young ones but don't worry. You won't be around to see it!!" Ironhide raised his axe high, giving a wicked smile as he prepared to behead Valiant when he noticed the gates of the old castle beginning to open and from it came Twilight and her friends leading the citizens of Griffonstone in a thundering charge while carrying the royal Griffon Banner. Gilda was with her grandpa Gruff who was dressed in what looked like an old guards uniform as he gave one rallying cry.

"FOR GRIFFONSTONE!!!" The old griffon carried a slightly rusty morning star and began swinging to and fro. Despite his old age, the former guard still had his combat skills which surprised his granddaughter and her friends.

"Gramps?!?" Gildas jaw felt like it hit the ground as she watched her grandfather smash foes left and right with his weapon before Rainbow Dash blocked an attack from a minotaur coming up behind her.

"FOCUS GILDA!!"

All around Ironhide could see his troops were starting to be pushed back despite their superior numbers but there was one way to turn the tide: Decapitate their leader.

"Say goodbye!!" Ironhide readied his axe once more.

Valiant just closed his eyes as he awaited the killing blow, his last thoughts on Emelyn, his adopted daughter Claire but as the axe came down a magic shield surrounded him and shattered the oncoming blade into pieces.

"Get away from him!" Twilight threatened Ironhide as she and her friends formed a wall while a few soldiers dragged Valiant to safety.

"How nice....I get to kill the bearers of harmony instead! RRRAGHH!!!" The impact from Ironhides axe struck with the force of a cannon and sent the girls nearly flying in all directions.

"WHOA!! that guys got a mean swing!" Rainbow Dash said as she managed to stop herself from spinning.

"It's not just that I think his axe is enchanted. Watch yourselves girls!"

"You die first princess-WAAAAGGGHHH!!!!" The warboss charged Twilight head on, preparing to gore her with his remaining horn until Applejack stepped in and flipped the brute into a wall. As Ironhide began to recover he noticed the girls were giggling.

"What's so funny?!?" He began to feel for his other horn but felt nothing. Applejack was holding it in her hands with a smug grin as their laughter suddenly grew louder.

"AHHH!! MY HORNS!! MY BEAUTIFUL HORNS!!"

"BAA HA HAA!! at least you match now!" Rainbow joked as she held her sides in pain along with Pinkie who was snorting as they continued to laugh.

"RRR WHY YOU!!! RAAGH!!" Once more the warboss charged in only to have Pinkie slam him up into the air with her hammer while Rainbow and Gilda smashed him back into the ground, forming a crater.

"RARITY NOW!!" Twilight and Rarity teamed up and began casting a freezing spell that trapped the minotaur in a giant block of ice and it seemed the fight had been in their favor.

"Not the most elegant ice sculpture but it'll do." Rarity looked at the grotesque figure trapped in the glacier when she noticed that Ironhides hand was forming into a fist.

"LOOK OUT!!"

BOOM!!

"RRRAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!" Enraged even more from being frozen, Ironhide lashed out on all sides ad he began to swing wildly until all the girls were scattered leaving Twilight at his mercy.

"Rrrrr..." Steam shot out from the warbosses nose as he glared down at the princess with his bloodshot eyes. Ironhide had been pushed to the brink and was driven into a blood drunk rage.

"I'm gonna mount your head on a PIKE!! RRR!!" The minotaur raised his axe with both hands while the girls struggled to get to their feet when out of nowhere a Pegasus soldier came charging in. Impaling Ironhide on his spear as the warboss gave a loud cry of agony that could be heard by the entire army.

"Hands. Off. My fiance!!" Flash said angrily as he drove the spear deeper into his chest.

Out of desperation, Ironhide proceeded to choke Flash as he dropped his axe. His attempts were thwarted as the wounds began to take their toll and finally the minotaur dropped dead and the soldiers let out a triumphant cheer as they chanted Flashes name.

"SENTRY!! SENTRY!! SENTRY!!!"

The minotaurs were now in a panic. Their warboss now lay dead on the field, most of the officers were either dead or too stupid to lead.

Having regained most of his strength Valiant signaled his troops for one final attack and they began driving the enemy out of the city; The battle for Griffonstone had been won.

After The Battle

A great celebration was held to commemorate the victory as well as honor the fallen. The griffons had not only been known for their delectable scones but also their tastiest brews and sure enough they brought out the kegs containing their finest wines and ale while the ponies provided the rest of the refreshments for the party.

"VICTORY PARTYY!! WOO HOO!!!" Like always, Pinkie Pie was the bouncy, energetic party pony to liven things up with a conga line and some lively music. Flash was walking over to Twilight while his fellow soldiers kept congratulating him on not only protecting the princess but defeating the warboss and securing their victory. Twilight however was just glad he wasn't hurt during all the fighting.

"You alright?" Flash asked his fiance, still worried about the injury to her head.

"It's just a minor bump, I'll be fine. You seen Valiant?"

"He went to check on Emelyn after he got patched up. I hope she's okay."

Just then, Valiant and Emelyn came walking up the the campfire with Claire. Their arms wrapped around each other and both seemed to be looking rather cheerful.

"Attention everyone! I'd like to make an announcement." The entire camp quieted down so as to hear his speech.

"First off I congratulate all who are now standing here with us; You fought well and for those who cannot be with us we honor you for your sacrifice." The soldiers raised their glasses to honor the dead as he continued.

"And also. I wish to thank Princess Twilight and her friends for if not for them I wouldn't be standing here now and to Flash Sentry for ridding us of Warboss Ironhide!" A quick cheer was given as he began to near the end of his speech.

"This is truly a blessed day for not only have we defeated the minotaurs but.....I have just learned that my wife...my beautiful Emelyn is with child." Twilight and her friends gasped in excitement while the soldiers gave an even louder cheer before the festivities resumed.

Emelyn and Claire decided to sit down with Twilight and her friends as they gathered around the fire but while the celebration went on Valiant walked to a nearby ledge overlooking the horizon and gazed towards the north. He knew that this was only the beginning and that the real fight was soon to come.

End.

Author's Note

One threat is defeated only for another to rise.