A Soul of a Monster.

“So, this was your brilliant plan? Surrender!!!” screamed Scaramouch from inside a cage barely big enough to hold her. Next to her was a pair of pegasi, each in there own cage, and both angry at a certain young unicorn. Next to them was Lavender and to her was an earth pony that seemed way to laid back for their current predicament. “I mean you even left our fleet outside pass the borders?!... Why?!...”

“Oh do be quiet Smooch.” Lavender replied looking over at the earth pony. “I just needed Jojo… The three of you weren’t even supposed to be here!”

“Would the both of you shut up!” said one of the pegasus next to Smooch, clearly impatient with the pair. “It’s been nothing but nagging and bickering ever since we started this endeavor.” Meet Rock… Well the pony Lavender calls Rock. The commander of this small party. Blue fur, black mane, a trio of black lighting bolts zigzagging upwards to each other. “Miss Dow, when is this plan of yours going to occur?” He asked.

“It would occur faster if everyone… Every pony would shut up…” all of them but the earth pony glared at Lavender. “And what of you Jojo?” She asked the earth pony.

The colt was older then Dow for sure but still seemed to young to be recruited for a war, snow-white fur covered in dirt, and a dark blue messy as all hell mane covered most his face and neck. He was also quite sickly skinny looking as well. “I’m fine Sensei.” He said moving in a meditative position. “You wish for me to bust every pony out now?” he asked closing his eyes.

“No.” Lavender said bluntly. “You’re here for one reason only, understand Jojo?” finally letting her eyes wonder.

“Oh my Celestia, you’re insufferable.” Smooch said, hissing at the end.

“I know.” Dow replied with a deliberate slur. “But now for the task at hand.” She said looking over at Smooch. “You braking us out or you gonna let a little girl out show you?”

“Oh I know you didn’t just say that!” Smooch said sternly, gawking at Dow.

“Shut up! The Both of You!” the other pegasus barked. A pony with red fur and light blonde hair. A cutie mark of a trio of black moons forming a pinwheel. Lavender dubbed her Roll. “I don’t care one way or the other who the hell does what!” Roll said siting down and rubbing her temples. “Please I’m sick of both you fillies. Hell this Jojo here.” She said pointing to the colt. “Is the most sane one of us all.” Dow smiled at that. “What!” Roll asked.

“You just called yourself insane.” Dow chirped.

“Oh my Celestia… JUST GET US OUTTA HERE!” Roll screamed.

Suddenly a griffon barged in the room, having the door slam behind him. Clearly angry. “Which one of you is this Dow bitch?!” the griffon asked sternly. Every pony looked at Lavender who was acting like a frightened newborn who was staring down an ursa major. “You’re coming with me.” He said stomping his way over to Dow.

“NOOOOOOOO!” Lavender screamed. “Momma Please!” She said slamming herself in Smooch’s direction. “Help me! Please Momma, don’t let the monster take me away!” she yelled, practically blowing out Roll’s ears in the process. Smooch was staring at Lavender in disgust before turning her head with a tsk under her breath.

The griffon in front of Dow by now looked at Smooch then down at Dow. “Looks like Mommy doesn’t love you anymore huh.” The griffon said chuckling at the end as he grabbed the cage and started to drag it back with him. The rest of the group looked onward as the griffon opened the door.

“MOMMMMAAAAAAA! PLEASE!” Lavender screamed one final time before the door slammed behind them.

“Right.” Smooch scuffed. Rock, Roll and Jojo just looked at Smooch. “What?” she asked when she took notice.

“That was awful.” Rock said. “Sure I knew it was just an act but you didn’t even attempt to play along.”

“So?” Smooch asked plainly as she looked at her locks.

“It was way to believable!” Roll added stomping on the ground.

“So?” Smooch asked again. She then looked over to Jojo. “Looks like you’re up kid.”

Jojo in turn just looked back at her. “But sensei said…”

“Sansah’s not here now is she?” Scaramouch said sternly. “And besides these cages are enchanted. Means no magic.” She said sighing as she hung her head down.

“And there’s your answer.” Jojo said looking at the front of his cage. “No magic.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A griffon walking through a hallway, pulling a cage behind him. The cage held Lavender seemingly half asleep. The griffon himself seemed annoyed. He was average built with a hooked beak. A mesh of black, gray, brown and pale yellow feathers riddled his body. “Ok wait!” He said looking behind him. “You were just screaming a moment ago for your mother…” he said stopping and turning around to face Dow.

Lavender smiled evilly at the griffon. “Oh, you needn’t worry about Mother dearest.” She said giggling a little. “No, your worry should be of that earth pony you’re clearly not paying to much mind over.” The griffon started to get a little uneasy. Not by Dow’s warning, but how she presented herself to him. Not at all like a filly but rather a dragon in disguise. “Mind you. That unicorn isn’t one to be ignored either, she haves this nasty temper whenever she’s really pissed off.”

The griffon in turn scowled at Dow. “Don’t you dare pretend little girl.” He then punched the side of the cage in hopes his uneasiness was unwarranted. “Got it?”

Lavender smile just grew. “Got it.” The griffon turned back around and started pulling the cage once more. Lavender laid down, still smiling. “Fair warning kid.” She said, no signs of him listening. “I’m going to Kill the closest thing to me when I’m out of this cage.” The griffon flinched but kept walking. “Better make sure you’re not the one letting me out.”

A few minutes later Lavender was in a room with a pair of griffons in sight. The one that pulled the cage and one staring out a window, standing on just her hind legs. Her claws crossed behind her. She had gray feathers on her head, darker gray for her mane and the rest were black. The room itself was bare. Nothing in it but a desk, a chair, that window and a lantern hanging from the ceiling.

“Garble? Why did you bring the whole cage?” the griffon at the window asked.

“Well… um…”

“No reason then” she interrupted as she turned around and dropped on all fours. “Get her out.” The griffon saw the filly smile and Garble frown upon hearing that order.

“Ye-yes Mam” Garble said hesitantly as he unlocked the cage and opened it up.

Lavender stood up and walked out. “So miss, what I call you?”

“Hold your Tahhuuaaaaah.” Garble started to say but a split second later Dow’s horn was shoved deep in his throat. The other griffon raised an eyebrow and smirked. Garble trying to catch his breath while Dow was bobbing her head to a song she was humming. The sudden shock made Garble forget that Lavender was three to four times smaller then him. Remembering her words from earlier made him realize that she wasn’t pretending at all. His sight went first, and the last thing he heard was the laugher of a little girl currently murdering him before he went limp and both fell to the floor.

“Call me Shadow.” The griffon said looking at her now dead soldier.

“Lavender pulled her horn out of Garble. “No.” she said standing up and turning to the other griffon. “My Name is Shadow.” The griffon laughed a little. “Well Lavender Shadow really, Dow for short.” She said smiling sheepishly. “Try again.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“You know we don’t have all day Jojo.” Smooch said impatiently tamping her hoof on the front of her cage.

“Please Scaramouch. It’s all ready hard enough with conflicting orders.” Jojo said sitting in an odd looking stance. His hind legs were crossed and his front’s were hanging in front of his face. “Just give me a moment of peace.”

Smooch Rock and Roll gazed at Jojo in silence for a moment when the three felt the air around them suddenly became heavy. “Huh, whaa?” Roll said startled.

“Gate of Opening” Said Jojo as he crossed his arms. “RELEASE!” he screamed as he pumped his arms to his sides…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A moment earlier.

“So Dark, there is really no negotiating with you then?” Lavender asked the griffon she was currently standing in front of, blood still trickling down from her horn, smirking all the while.

“It’s rather a vary tempting offer Shadow.” Dark replied sitting in front of Dow. Secretly contemplating on just how to kill Lavender. What she offered was nothing short of utter surrender for the griffon population or your know, death, and Dark wanted no part of it, but with the threat of gods on Dow’s side she was backed into a corner. However before she gave her answer there was a loud BOOM off in the holding cells. Dark jerked her head up and towards the noise. “What the Hell!?”

Dow just sighed. “And that would be the sound of my student disobeying me.” She said tilting her head. “Weird.”

“Your student?!” Dark asked looking at Lavender with some distaste.

“Yes… but before he comes in here and kills you…” Lavender said turning her head back around. Dark wasn’t amused by that threat just now. “I’d like to know why you wanted me?” Dow said looking onward carefully at Dark’s demeanor. “Why a little filly like me huh? Why not our commander?” Lavender noticed a little twitch in Darks left claw. “Meaning you were after me specifically.” The pair of them started hearing screaming from beyond the doors behind Dow, followed by sounds of crashes and booms every which way. Dark visibly getting worried and Dow taking notice. “Meaning still you think I’m special?” Another twitch came from Dark’s left eye this time.

“Quickly Jojo! Ram them through!” the voice of Rock bled through the walls followed by more screaming and crashes.

Dow sighed. “Whelp… Guess it’s to late for your men” she said snickering at the end.

“Fat chance of that kid.” Dark said trying to keep her cool.

“Woh there Jojo! Don’t Kill us too!” the voice of Smooch was heard before a louder boom that followed suit. Dow giggled, and Dark hissed.

“Hhii, Hi’m, Sorry Scara-“ Jojo said, sounding like he was just outside the room

Dow suddenly frowned and turned to the door. “HAY JOJO! YOU FUCKING IDIOT! WHAT THE FUCK YOU DOING!” She screamed.

Dark saw this to be the opportunity to see if she could do something about this monster in the form of a filly. She pounced at Lavender, however it was for not. The moment Dark was half way in the air the door exploded. Shards of wood blasted all over the place. A good number of them cut, stabbed, and lodged themselves half way inside Dark’s front, forcing her backwards. Lavender started cackling as she slowly turned around. Dark on her back, shook her head and looked onwards. First at Dow then at something terrifying behind her.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Week Before…

“How?” Starswirl asked simply. He was standing on a field of white flowers with Lavender, Smooch, and Quinn standing at his sides. A white earth pony stood in front of them with what could only be described as translucent blue flames covering every inch of him, and the colt looked as if he was working out all his life, his muscles were big and chiseled for his size. The three ponies next to Dow were ah-struck, speechless, and terrified all at the same time.

“Meh… I gotta be honest with you.” Lavender said with pride in her voice. “I haven’t the slightest Idea.” She said becoming a little giggly. “But it’s so magnificent.” The three ponies all stared at Jojo for a tik longer then turned their heads to Dow. Her smile was slowly growing as she giggled under her breath. It was making the others quite uncomfortable. Suddenly her whole body twitched and her demeanor changed from being a creepy filly to one with no empathy. “Right right then. Jojo. That’s enough.” She yelled at the colt.

“Yes Sensei.” The colt said as the flames evaporated and his bulk deflated where he looked like he hasn’t eaten in years. When it was over he looked up at the group in front of him then down to Lavender and smiled. “What else ya need Sensei?” he asked.

“Nothing for now. You’re dismissed.” Dow said plainly. Her and Jojo bowed to each other and Jojo walked off. Lavender watched him stumble around a little and waited for him to be out of earshot. Once he was she turned to look at the trio currently looking back at her inquisitively. “I don’t think he’s ready but I think we can use him.” She said with a smile.

“Ok…” Starswirl replied. “Still want to know how?” he said turning fully to Lavender.

“Same here…” Quinn chimed in, following his teacher’s actions. Smooch followed soon after.

“Dow sighed. “I said I don’t know…” she said sitting on the spot and gawked up at the trio. “However, what I taught him was a practice I’ve learned from way back when.”

Smooch and Quinn pondered on that comment for a few seconds. Way back when. “Just how old does this brat think she is?” both thought.

“What I did was teach him about a meditation practice. I call it, the Eight Inner Gates.” She said throwing her hooves in the air. She continued as she stomp the ground. “That, was all his doing.”

“That’s all well and dandy but…”

“We just witness an earth pony that USED MAGIC!” Smooch interrupted Starswirl mid sentence as she kicked the air.

Starswirl shook his head. “How did you know that would happen?” he asked plainly.

“Oh, I didn’t.” Dow said smirking.

“Wait.” Quinn spat out making the other three gawk at him. “So… you’re risking some pony’s life off of a theory?”

Lavender then slowly nodded her head while her eyes twitch from left to right and back at random intervals. “Nnnyyah.” She said standing up and trotting off.

The other three ponies all watch Lavender leave them. They then looked at one another with varies looks of concern of “What the hell have we done?”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“I Surrender.” Dark said standing up from her position before. She then hung her head low. “Please tell me your monster here didn’t kill to many?”

“Oh, no worries miss.” Jojo spoke up. He sounded metallic with a small boom at the start of every syllable. He was currently standing in front of Dark, looming with the air around him slowly becoming heavier with each breath. Smooch was at his side at the moment as well. “I didn’t kill any of your...”

“Jojo…” Dow interrupted.

“Ahh. Apologies Sensei.” He replied and backed away, letting Lavender show herself. Jojo moved to her side. Letting the pair stare at each other.

Lavender noticed blood trickling down every hole the wood made on Darks body. Dow knew right off the back Dark was dying. To Dow, Dark was playing an act. The pride of the griffons fascinated her, however Dow still had a job to do. “So. What are your terms?” She said tilting her head.

“My Terms?!”
“Her Terms?!”

Both Dark and every pony else blurted out.

“You’re dying Dark.” Lavender said with no emotion. Dark then coughed up blood and stumbled a little as if on queue. “I say your final wishes would be apart of the terms of surrender yes?” She said smiling lovingly. Something that Scaramouch knew was fake, glaring at Dow for a moment before turning her head away. “Whatdayou say?”

“Well damn it.” Dark said trying to keep herself up right. Dark couldn’t tell what Dow’s plans were by this point. First this filly walks up to their bases front door and surrenders with more or less no fuss, then once in this room she goes and kills one of her subordinates. Then letting her monster wreck the place up and essentially killing her. Now hearing that this filly is letting Dark make her peace. For Dark, confusing and aggravating. “Who does this filly thinks she is!?” Dark thought. She finally started to feel weaker from all that blood loss. The puddle of blood was big enough to ooze past Dow’s front hooves. It was slow going, but she noticed herself slipping away. “Fine.” She said sitting down. “Find us a place to live.”

“You mean your tribe here?” Roll asked popping her head out from behind the doorway.

“No…” Dark replied.

“You mean all griffons yes?” Lavender asked.

“Yes.” Dark replied keeping herself straight.

“Agreed…” Dow said plainly. Jojo then powered down, becoming his small frail self. Making the doorway big enough for Rock and Roll to peak their heads through. Smooch and the rest gawked at Lavender. “However… only for those of them that want no part of the war.” Dow said. “Like you I take it?” She asked, pointing at Dark. “Agreed?”

Dark managed to let out a chuckle and nodded in agreement.

Dow in turn sat down on the spot. Sitting in the growing puddle of blood. “Then Miss Shadow Wing. I accept your Surrender.” Dark smiled a little as she lost conscious and fell to her side. Lavender in turn just stared at the now dead Shadow Wing. It made every pony wonder just what was going through that head of Dow's.

“Wow?” Rock chimed in.

“What?” Dow asked turning her head enough to look at him.

Rock hovered slowly in the room looking at the pair of corpses. “I’ve only known you for little less then a week now.” He said looking at Dow. “I hate you. You’ve been nothing but a brat to my men and me for all of thus week. We come to call you the Monster of the Heavens…”

“Fitting” Smooch said under her breath.

“But then you pull something like that on me!” Rock gestured at Dow in frustration. Dow then looked at Rock. “Just what in Celestia’s name are you?”

Lavender smirked. “Can’t you tell mister?” She said acting like a child. “I’m just a little filly trying her best. She said hopping up to stand. “To bring peace to this world.” Dow said making her way past every pony and out the door. Every pony else stumbled out the room, some of them seeing Dow trotting down the hallway. Her backside and tail was soaked with blood, trickling down a trail as she rounded a corner. Jojo ended up following her. Slipping of some of that blood before rounding the same corner. The halls were riddled with unconscious griffons scattered all through out. Some looked more banged up them others but surprisingly none of them were dead.

Smooch, Rock and Roll just stared down the hall for a moment. Rock and Roll that turned to look at Smooch. “You had to deal with THAT.” Rock said pointing a hoof down the hall. “For a YEAR?!”

Scaramouch sighed. “Yup...”

Rock hovered to the ground as he rubbed his temples. “Right. Scarlet.” He said suddenly as he looked at Roll. “Mind getting our troops over here. We got to round these griffons up before they wake up.”

“Got it.” Roll said as she zoomed out a near by window.

“Miss Scaramouch.” Rock said looking back to her. “Could you send a letter to the Princes? We’ll be needing a little help with the crowed.”

“Yeah… I can do that.” Smooch said looking around at Jojo’s mess. “There are a lot more griffons here then what we thought, isn’t there?”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Lavender and Jojo were currently walking outside to a nearby river Dow found before that whole event. Blood still dripping off her tail.

“Sensei?” Jojo asked for Dow’s attention. Her ear’s twitch in response. “This place… was where you were born right?”

“Technically…” Dow replied as the pair reached the river.

“Sooo. You thought this mountain would be good for the war?” Jojo asked looking behind him for a few seconds.

Dow jumped in the river. It was a moment later where she popped her head out and glanced at Jojo. “I’m going to stop you right there.” She said with a little higher tone then normal. “Yes. I was born in that vary church.” She said nodding her head to the building they just came from. “But no… this place really is a great place to be for war.” She said as she started to hop around. “Maybe the best vantage point in all the lands. You can see for miles on end.” Dow said before diving into the waters again. Jojo sat down and waited for her to continue.

When she popped her head out she did. “So no, this wasn’t about revenge. I don’t even remember who attacked this place so long ago.” Ending the sentence with a chuckle as she hopped out from the river. She shook herself dry. Most the blood was gone by now. “However we got ourselves a big problem.”

“How so Sensei?” Joao asked.

Haven’t been in this war for more then a week and we already have a traitor in our midst.” Lavender said trying her hardest not to scream that out loud.

Jojo Gasped and was silent for a moment. ”But, wha… um. You know who?” he asked struggling to find the words.

“No.” Dow said plainly as she started back up to the church. “Keep this between us yes?” Dow more so ordered Jojo then asked him.

“Yes Sensei.” He replied as he followed Lavender.

Keeping that secret would’ve been all well and fine if it weren’t for the fact that some pony was listening. Yup, across the river there stood behind a boulder and a few trees was Quinn lurking in the shadows.

“A Traitor huh?”