Author's Note

THIS IS MY FIRST FANFIC, AND AS SUCH, IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE SUBPAR. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED. I WILL NOT TOLERATE DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OR DISRESPECT TOWARDS OTHERS OR MYSELF IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. ENJOY THE STORY.

Prologue

GRAND PALACE OF THE GRIFFIN EMPEROR:
DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATION ROOM

Emperor Turaxiss Von Feratick breathed heavily as he listened to the ambassador from Sleipnord ramble on. It had started at 8:00AM sharp, a quick look to the clock told him that it was now 12:30 in the afternoon. He was becoming irritated very quickly. In full military dress, he looked very intimidating. A suit of steel and iron armor surrounded his exterior, tungsten tipped daggers adorned his talons and paws, and a sash and sword with the Griffin Empire’s coat of arms hung by his side.

“These terms are unacceptable, we will not allow our small nation to be annexed into the Griffin Empire. It simply will not happen. We will continue to hold our independence through force if necessary. I also request that you withdraw all troops from our common border region. If you do not comply we will view this as an act of war and will res---”

Turaxiss withdrew his sword from its sheathe and was behind the Sleipnord ambassador in a split second.

He roared in his most commanding voice. “THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE OVER!” As he plunged his blade into the ambassadors side and slit his throat with his talon blades. Blood spewed across the negotiations table and treaty on it. Turaxiss looked to one of the guards and spoke. “NURAXI DUBANIK FARESTI!” The guard moved quickly to clean the room and move the body of the dead ambassador.

Flexing his wings and feet, he took off towards his platinum throne and landed upon it. His throne room was a wash of metal and marble. Pillars of pure gold held up a marble dome and steel roof. The walls were composed of marble that was painted to a golden hue and shined to resemble the sun. Banners of the Empire’s coat of arms hung around the room. He turned to a servant and spoke quickly.

“Please bring me a plate of boiled phoenix and a bottle of our strongest whiskey. Send in the top general as well, as soon as you can.” Rubbing his temple with a claw he smiled to himself and thought. So it begins, The Griffin Empire shall rise to glory once more.

High General Karexi Narsovka of the Grand Army of The Griffin Empire walked into the throne room. When he reached the throne room, he bowed deeply to his Emperor. Waiting to be told to rise.

Turaxiss spoke in a voice meant for that of a friend, of which he and Karexi were. “Karexi old friend, you may rise. I have an order for you, you are to take the 51st and 52nd Garrison Divisions on the Sleipnord border: and you are to move towards the capital and occupy it. We are now at war. Respond with force to any armies that get in your way. Is that understood?”

Karexi simply nodded and saluted his emperor before walking briskly out of the throne room and going to carry out his orders. Turaxiss simply flew to his bedchamber to sleep for the rest of the night after Karexi left.

CANTERLOT ROYAL PALACE
THRONE ROOM

Celestia and Luna sat upon their respective thrones, Luna's having been resized to be the same height as Celestia's two weeks prior, as they finished up court for the day. The usual concerns and whining were experienced that day, nothing new. Luna wanted to cry out and simply fly off to her room, but thought better of it. This was part of her royal duties after all and she had to uphold them. Much as it pained her to do so. Celestia simply went through the motions, being used to the whining and bickering of Canterlot's elite.

Finally the court ended for the day and everyone went their separate ways. Luna headed to the Royal Gardens while Celestia went to the library. Luna had just raised the moon as she began to look upon the lush plants in the garden dotting the paths and ponds, when her ears picked up the slightest sound to her left in the bushes. She pretended to simply not notice and continued on her way. She was ready for an attack however.

Just as she finished admiring a pair of Moon Lilies her ambusher attacked. With a quick flash she teleported away and turned around to see her sister land face first into a small pond. Celestia looked around shocked and irked, while Luna simply broke into a fit of laughing and giggling at her sister's failure to ambush her successfully. Celestia looked at her sister and grinned, before teleporting and tackling her sister to the ground.

They both broke into laughing fits and a playful war of attrition over the other, trying to gain an advantage. They were interrupted, when a guard ran into the Gardens. One look at his face said a simple feeling of terror and dread. He bowed deeply before speaking to the princesses.

"I bring grave news your Majesties, The Griffin Empire has annexed the nation of Sleipnord, it is now under occupation from Griffin Regiments and Brigades."

Luna broke the silence. "The Griffins have annexed an independent nation? Why would they do such a thing? What of the Free Griffin Republic?"

The soldier recovered quickly and spoke. "They have rejoined the Griffin Empire."
Celestia then spoke in a soft and comforting tone. "You are dismissed, thank you. Go get some rest." The young soldier departed and was off in a second.

Luna turned to her sister and spoke in a sad tone, with barely constrained tears in her eyes. "There hasn't been a war since before mother and father died. Why would such a thing happen now Tia? Why?!"

Celestia turned to her sister and wrapped her in a comforting embrace of her wings and spoke in a soft tone. "I don't know Lulu, I don't know. We'll keep Equestria out of this for as long as we can, I promise."