Author's Note

I'm so sorry for the delay, I was celebrating the return of Equestrian Viking. Now with my first and greatest story of all is back, I can finally write with joy.

Chapter 9

*Outside the ruins on Bullrlin in the Horde campement*

It has been awhile since the siege of Bullrlin that ended in Horde victory, while the city population was set free by the orders of Warchief Sitka. While they were at it Sitka also ordered the interrogation of the surviving soldiers of the ruined city. Warchief Sitka has called for a meeting inside his tent in the campement where his five chieftains along with Queen Chrysalis and Grubber (who's eating his large bowl of apple snacks).

"Do we know more about our enemies?" Warchief Sitka asked.

"According to the Minotaurs we have interrogated earlier, the Minos Kingdom have many allies such as Equestria, Crystal Empire, Griffons of Griffonstone and even Dragon clans. There is no doubt that they had summoned them to aid them against us, the only question is if they will answer it and join our enemies." One of the Brard Chieftain reported.

"Oh, there is no doubts that they will join the Minos Kingdom in this war, if not all then most of them will." Queen Chrysalis answered that.

"We maybe strong together, but they are numerous even for us to stand against. We're gonna need more allies to fight them all." Grubber spoke up before he took another bite of his snacks.

"We will use all the strength we have for now and at the sametime scavenging more as possible. Chieftains, I want all of you to take your clans and move further into the enemy land for more raidings and plundering of their towns and roads. While you're at it, send couriers to all other clans and tell them all to spread throughout the entire Minos Kingdom to plunder and conquer everything in their path. We can't stand still and let them come to us to battle anymore otherwise we would be overpowerd by their world of armies. We must attack in order to defend the very existence of our race, for the future of our cubs." Warchief Sitka said to the chieftains and they all nobbed.

"Grubber, if you know the locations and the names of the warlords of your people, have your Storm Trolls send letters to them all." Sitka looked at Grubber.

"I can do that, but may I ask what kind of letters are you gonna send them?" Grubber asked before he took another bite of his snacks.

"I'm gonna invite them all... to a winner takes all challenge. I'll both tempt them with the Horde and mock them of cowardice. I'll kill them all, become the leader of their Storm Trolls with you as my regent. All the Storm Trolls will be united and safe in the Horde. Will you help me with this Grubber?" Sitka asked him. Grubber seems to get the idea and he nobbed in eagerness. Then Sitka looked at Chrysalis.

"As for you Chrysalis, I don't know anything about you and your race. So before that..... Tell me all about you." Warchief Sitka asked in a kind tone, which cause Chrysalis to blush.

*Outside the Royal palace of the capital of the Minos Kingdom*

When the news about Bullrlin's fall at the hand of the Horde, the allies of the Minos Kingdom has agreed to give King Rock-Charge the support he needs combat the Brard Horde. However, the only ones who still decided to not lend any support is Queen Novo, King Thorax and Dragon Lord Ember.

"Well, so much for 'trying to rebuild peace after the Storm King', I am against this war but these bear creatures didn't make things better." King Thorax said.

"How could they know that we would try to help them. They were just protecting themselves." Dragon Lord Ember said.

"Protecting by attacking?" Queen Novo asked sceptically.

"Sometimes the best defence is a good offence. I'm sure the fall of Bullrlin was the purpose for that." Dragon Lord Ember tried to reason.

"Maybe, but that still won't make things better for them anyways, unless they stop their attacks it will be only a matter of time before the Minos Kingdom along with it's allies will swarm over them." Queen Novo said in sadness.

"There has to be another way to end this madness before it get worse, question is how?" King Thorax asked and that cause them both to wonder that to in worries.

"There is." A new voice spoke and when they all turned to see who spoke they saw Princess Luna approaching them.

"Princess Luna, what do we own this visit?" Queen Novo asked.

"I maybe Celestia's sister but even I am against this war. I come with a plan that can help bringing peace between those bear warriors and the rest of the world. There's no guarantee to it's success but this might give us a chance." Princess Luna offered.

"What do you mean?" Dragon Lord Ember asked.

"While the others send their soldiers to combat those creatures, I suggest we send our own emissaries to them and try to know them, maybe even try an convince them to make peace with us all as we tries to convice others to open up a peaceful negotiation between us all and them." Princess Luna suggested to them.

"How can we be sure that would even work?" Ember asked with doubts.

"This might be our only way to at least put the peace possibilities to motion." Thorax at least agreed with Luna.

"That way, we can at least learn to know them before we try anything bold. If you are right, we might be able to open up to friendship." Queen Novo sounded warmed up to Luna's idea. It took the others a little while but they all have come to an agreement.

They are now planing of how to start convincing others to speak out for peace.

*Back at the ruins of Bullrlin, Grubber's POV*

While Grubber is chewing on a donut he write several letters to other Storm Troll warlords who fight among themselves and others into a winner-takes-all as Warchief Sitka requested. While he still write them, he also look around the ruins and he kept seeing Brards and Storm Trolls become more friends with each other by the minute. On one place he saw a brown Brard and a Storm Troll drink while they talk and laught with each other. On another he saw black Brard spar with another Storm Troll. Then on a ruined house of Bullrlin he saw several Brards and Storm Trolls celebrate their victory together. His smile grew the more he see the alliance and friendship of their two races bare fruit. Right after he finished the last letter he lift his head up and saw Warchief Sitka talk to (or charm) the former Queen of the Changelings herself, Chrysalis as she seems to blush.

'Man, this Sitka guy is very amazing. Not only is he an awesome fighter but he is very nice as well. He even stroke my head very nicely, his fur was very soft. I can't remember Tempest being this nice to me, she didn't even giving me a friendly pat. All she ever did when I serve her was pushing me away, giving me harsh orders, she even zap me for offering her a cake. I can definitely see this guy, Sitka is an awesome and nice guy. Maybe he is a better leader than Tempest and the Storm King, well I will at least let him prove that.' Grubber thought as he took another donut and ate it. He began to take all his letters and brought them to a Storm Troll.

"Make sure you get these letters to the warlords and generals nearby and make sure you still live." Grubber told his Storm Troll as he nodded his head and took those letters from Grubber. He once again looked at Sitka who still talks to Chrysalis.

'If he can manage and deliver what he has promised. All our lives can become much more better then.' He said to himself in his head as he kept eating his snacks.

*On a mountain side near Bullrlin*

In the far distance was two armoured diamond dogs watching the ruins of once a mighty city of the minotaurs before their eyes. But yet they didn't come for trouble, they are but scouts who came for a different purpose.

"What do you make of this?" One of them ask the other.

"What is there to make? These bear creatures are no doubt very strong, mighty warriors. I mean look at this huge city now, it's nothing more than a shadow of what it once was." The other said with his voice full of admiration.

"That I can't argue but you know what our mission is and we can't be sure about them." He said as he seems a little worried.

"I know that the last time they meet our kind it was on bad terms. But they haven't meet us and I'm sure they would at least listen before judging." The other said with confidence.

"Oh well, our orders are to find them and report back to the alpha, let's go." He said as the both of them begun to dig down the ground and disappear.

*Canterlot Castle*

In Equestria, at it's capital of Canterlot. The former commander of the Storm King's military stood on the balcony and looked at the sky. She seems sad at something. What she soon realized is the princess of friendship herself comming behind her now.

"Isn't there a more safer way to end this war more quickly, I hate to think of all the bloodshed that will be spiled." Tempest said as she know that Twilight came.

"I really wish there was but according to princess Luna, it maybe our only way." Twilight said.

"But... haven't we... no, haven't they already been through enough suffering?" Tempest asked again.

"If what you say is true about them. I am very sure those Brards are strong enough to hold out until we can end all this madness." Twilight comfort her.

"I wonder how do we convince others to agree to peace with the Horde?" Tempest Shadow ask.

"According to Luna's plan, all we can do is talking and convincing politicians and nobles to work against princess Celestia's madness. We must use the Storm King's conquest, Tirek's rampage and King Sombra's enslavement as examples to encourage to be against this war. Without their founds and support Celestia will have no choice but to abandon her campaign." Twilight explains to Tempest.

"Are you really that willing to be against Princess Celestia?" Tempest asked.

"She might be meant everything to me. But I am a princess too and being her former student I learned a long time ago that blind loyalty isn't always a good thing. Sometimes you must help those in need even if you must do the opposite." Twilight explains to her.

"Is there something I can do to help out?" Tempest asked.

"I'm glad you ask, come along. I know exactly what you can do that will be very helpful." Twilight said in a good mood and wave her to follow her and Tempest complied.

As they both walk through the halls, Tempest Shadow speaks to herself in her head.

'I really hope that Princess Luna's plan works, Equestria and all other nations can't affort another war. Equestria's military is too weak to fight a single skirmish. The Storm King's empire caused many nations bankrupted and there fore the Brards have a very big advantage. If we manage, I may finally present Sitka to Twilight. He is a very nice bear. He might be somepony that I can call friend actually. Speaking of.... I really miss Grubber. When the Storm King's wind blew away some of his guards, he got caught by it. I wish I could have looked for him, I owe him a lot of apologies for how I treated him. Oh I really hope that he is alive. When I find him, I swear I will make amends to him.' Tempest Shadow said to herself in her head as she kept follow Twilight down the halls of Canterlot.