After His Fall

“Ah! Hello, my friends, It has been quite some time!” The alicorn with his white coat and extremely light grey mane called as he walked down the spiral staircase into the nearly empty, underground room, greeted by nine gryphons at a large, round table.

     “You brought HIM here?!” a black gryphon turned to the dark golden gryphon wearing a messenger bag around his upper body and neck as he was standing in the corner.

     “I-I’m sorry! He threatened to rip out my innards and splay them above the old castle dour as decoration!” Both the black and gold gryphons were suddenly frozen into blocks of ice.

     “Please, stop shouting, I have a headache.” The white alicorn mumbled as he flattened his steps and rested a hand against his head. He stood around 6’4” in the standard measurement units, towering above most of the gryphons, a rather tall height for his species.

     “What is it that you want, Winter? You already prove your hostility.” A gryphon sporting an earthy brown main feather color with random grass green stripes and streaks all around said in reply, his lime green eyes staring at the white alicorn coldly, but Winter’s deep blue eyes stared back, far colder than the gryphon ever could.

     “I simply ask that you join me in my siege against Equestria. After I have recaptured the throne, the nation will be yours to ravage.” Winter’s gaze softened.. Most of the other gryphons were still staring at the frozen council member and messenger. The brown and green gryphon mumbled something as to where Winter wouldn’t be able to hear.

    “Speak up!!” Winter bellowed at the gryphon, who had barely flinched, due to his volume and the size of the room, all eyes were on him again.

     “I said, we have a treaty with Equestria, no military personnel is allowed to cross either boarders.” The brown and green gryphon replied calmly.

     "Your treaty means nothing to me, as far as I'm concerned, it's join me or die. Make your choice." Winter replied angrily.

     "You come into our council chamber and threaten us to join your alliance. Yet you provide nothing of what we could benefit from joining you or even an example of your strength." There was a gryphon on a far end of the round table, his feathers were a moderate gold colored with peach, brown, and red streaks and markings all over his feathers, his golden eyes didn't soften his agitated glare.

     “This should be example enough.” Winter’s horn glowed and a sword made completely of ice appeared in his hand. Winter held the blade against the gryphon’s neck tightly, trickling a slight of blood onto the blade. The gryphon let out a scree as he fell back in his chair. As the chair hit the ground as it threw him out and into the nearby wall. “Whatever is the matter? Never had a blade to your neck before? It is a rather compromising situation.” Winter chuckled to himself and the sword melted onto the floor.

     “Now, Now. Let us not resort to violence, my dearie.” A mare’s voice rang out from directly behind Winter “But if violence is what you want, let us not destroy this place, we really should take it outside, it would be rude of us not to."

      "No, we are staying here, the likelihood of you setting a trap outside is too high for me to risk at this point."

     "Oh my, wherever are you taking classes my dear Winter? Wait, let me guess, is it Miss Cheerliee's elementary for mentally impaired foals?"

     "I would shut up if I were you." Winter snarled, turning around to face the ash gray mare and grabbing her dirty-white mane before she could move. He pulled her down, guided by the hair. The unicorn attempted to cast a spell but Winter's free hand instantly went around her horn to prevent the spell "Please, you don't even know what I am capable of."

The mare looked up at him with her purple and white-speckled eyes just as the gryphons began to cough in an uncontrollable fit. The mare joined them and winter let go of her, allowing her to crumple to the ground.

"Fool! You thought you could stop me? Ha! You couldn't even bring your own mask!" The mare paused her coughing fit long enough to speak

     "You bested me, Winter, I cannot deny it. I am yours, as there is no other choice."

     "Good, having a mare of your particular talents shall be useful, i'll have to keep your around." Winter then slipped a ring around her horn, locking it tightly with a key, following up with a collar before giving her a vial, half full with a red liquid. "Drink, then go stand out of the way." She nodded and stood, opening the vial and drinking the mysterious liquid while walking off towards a corner. "Now..." Winter turned toward the gryphons "Shall we join forces? If not, I can just refuse to give you the counteractant and you all will die, frozen in a permafrost." Those of gryphon council that still sat, mostly unharmed looked at each other for several minutes before Winter spoke up again "So. What shall it be?"

     "I.. I think we'll agree to... your terms.." The brown and green gryphon spoke up, his voice shaky.

     "Absolutely perfect!" Winter said in a mock-delight, smiling as if he'd just been thrown the best party ever "I need you to allow me permissions to take control of your military, then we'll be all done and you can have the counteractant." The same gryphon nodded slowly, pulling a quill, inkwell, and parchment from under his seat at the table. He quickly began writing, then rolled it up after it was finished.

     "There.." The gryphon spoke up "If you could just unthaw my messenger, I can send this to the general."

     "Fine, fine." Winter waved a hand as his horn glowed and the gryphon messenger fell to the floor, panting "Get up, peasant!" Winter yelled to the messenger as the brown and green gryphon gave him the letter

     "To the general boy, make it hasty, our lives are on the line." The messenger nodded and quickly ran out, past Winter.

     "Now then." Winter's horn glowed and a box of vials, similar to the one the mare had drank earlier appeared "As promised, your counteractant. Now, If you don't mind, I have business elsewhere." Winter turned and headed up the staircase. "Oh!" He came back down and grabbed the mare by her shoulders, pushing her against the wall as he kissed her roughly, pulling back from her nearly non-existent struggle nearly a minute afterwards "Now, Savina, will you be causing me trouble?"

     "Not at all, my master." The mare- Savina -shook her head obidently.

     "Good, Now let us go, my pet." Winter walked back up the stairs, Savina right behind him.