Spike awoke early the next morning. They were planning on moving out at 8:00 that morning. The army was already starting to amass.

Gilda and her griffin army had arrived a couple hours before. As for Chrysalis and her army they would be intercepting them on the road.

While Spike was heading to the stables he bumped into Celestia.

“Oh your up early.” Celestia said.

“Yeah I couldn’t get back to sleep.” Spike replied.

“Spike there’s something I should tell you.” Celestia said.

“What is it mother?” Spike asked.

“If I happen to die today I want you to know that...” Celestia began.

“Mother don’t say that! You are not gonna die tonight. We will make it through this fight. We all will.” Spike said putting a hand on her shoulder.

Celestia sighed and nodded.

“Alright.” Celestia replied before leaving.

Spike then continued on to the stables.

Rainbow was over in the armory sharpening her axe.

”Me and Gilda crossing paths again? No wait remember Rainbow this isn’t the Gilda you knew. Try not to attack her you don’t know her Rainbow you don’t know her!” Rainbow thought before she was interrupted by a certain griffin entering the armory

“Oh sorry I didn’t realize this was taken sorry for disturbing.” Gilda apologized.

“Oh no no no I’m done anyway.” Rainbow said rather awkwardly. Rainbow began walking out.

“King Sombra told me you and your posse are from another dimension..where things are better. Are the Griffins still alive?” Gilda asked sollemly.

“Yes..the Celestia in our world is kind..kind of funny Sombra is the cruel monster in our world.” Rainbow chuckled a bit.

“That is kind of ironic.” Gilda laughed.

“This might be a sensitive topic but that day when Celestia attacked the griffins..what happened?”

Gilda’s face dropped to sadness as she turned away to hide the tears.

“I was only 14 years old when it happened. They came in the night. They were lead by Twilight. They burned down the entire village. Slaughtered the men, raping the women, abducting the children to force them to work in prison camps. My father told me and my mother to run before they broke into our house. Me and my mother ran far. As far as we could. Unfortunately we bumped into two soldiers. My mother begged and pleaded with them to let me go and to take her..they bound and gagged me and I was forced to watch my mother be raped and murdered. I would have been next if it wasn’t for another griffin. He killed them both. He helped me escape to the mountains. Last I saw him he was leading a group of soldiers away from me...I never saw him again. I managed to build a small hut in the mountains and over the years survivors of the attack came to me. My village is all that remains of the griffin race.” Gilda explained sadly.

Rainbow almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was her Gilda’s life this shitty? After all Rainbow has never seen her parents nor did she mention even having any. Rainbow put her hand on Gilda’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry..I’m so sorry.” Rainbow said sadly. Gilda quickly wiped away the tears.

“It’s ok. It wasn’t your fault.” Gilda replied. Sombra then entered the room.

“We move out in 10. Gilda and Rainbow your at the front with me and the rest of your entourage.” Sombra explained.

“Yes sir!” Both Gilda and Rainbow said in unison. Sombra then left followed closely by Rainbow and Gilda.

Out in the large castle courtyard the army amassed. Outside in the city a crowd gathered to wish the soldiers good luck on their crusade. The army got into positions when Sombra and Celestia rode out on giant lizards.

“SOUND THE CALL!” Sombra called out. A soldier raised his trumpet and blew the war call.

“MARCH!” Sombra commanded as the army started its trek. The army marched through the city where the crowd was cheering and tossing confetti at the soldiers. Eventually the army reached the outer limits of Canterlot and their trek to Ponyville began...

The hours ticked by during the long march. They would arrive at Ponyville by nightfall. Eventually they stopped for a breather and a refill on water and food. That was when Chrysalis and her army intercepted them.

Sombra bowed before Chrysalis.

“Queen Chrysalis.” Sombra greeted.

“King Sombra.” Chrysalis replied also bowing.

“I don’t have the best of news. Some of my spies reported that The Crystal Empire are making their way to Ponyville. They’ve mobilized all they got.” Chrysalis explained.

“It was expected that they would come.” Sombra explained.

“My army is tired I am requesting an extra ten minutes for them to rest and feed.” Chrysalis said.

“Granted.” Sombra replied.

“WE ROLL OUT IN TEN MINUTES!” Sombra commanded.

The army began packing up and putting out their fires. A few soldiers were generous enough to give some of their food to the exhausted Changeling army. Finally they started the march to Ponyville again.

Out in the front Spike,Ember,and Sunset were huddled up whispering so no one else heard them.

“Mom seems really on edge.” Sunset exclaimed looking at Celestia who did indeed look nervous.

“I’ve never seen her look so nervous.” Spike replied.

“Naturally she would she’s marching to war with us in tow. I may not know my own mother that well but I do know she does care about her own kin.” Ember said.

“I hope your right but I don’t think that’s what she’s nervous about.” Spike replied looking back at his mother.

As night began to fall they arrived just outside the limits of Ponyville. From outside they could see the defenses being set.

“How far was the army when you saw them?” Sombra asked Chrysalis.

“They’ll be here by daylight.” Chrysalis replied.

“Alright. Let’s give them half an hour then we attack. Hopefully we can get everything taken care of before the Crystal Empire arrives." Sombra replied.

"It'll be a hard battle," Chrysalis said.

"And many will die...but if that's what it takes for freedom then by god that's the cost I'll take," Sombra exclaimed.

"Very well..." Chrysalis said.

Back inside the Alternate Ponyville Morgath was watching the army get ready.

"Fools..they don't know about the little mole I put in there. They are walking right into our trap..."

Author's Note

This sure won't end to well will it?