War of Griffins

Princess Celestia was not having a good day. None of the ponies were in the tree and she had used a tracking charm to find that they were all dead. The griffins were going to destroy Equestria and magic doesn’t work on them. The griffins don’t even believe in a truce or anything. The princess knocked on her sister’s door before opening it.

Luna turned around, “Hello big sister. Aside from the fact that the ponies that we depended on to save Equestria are gone, why the long face?”

Celestia cracked a smile, “I have to ask you a favor.”

“What is the favor you ask me of?”

She took a deep breath, “I need you to raise the dead.” Luna was rather taken aback, not used to being asked to raise the dead. Questions about Nightmare Moon? All the time. Nightmare Night? Yep. Her royal status and her relationship with her sister and some reporters trying to ask questions to make her lose her fans? Too many times to even say in words. Raise the dead? Never.

Luna asked carefully, “Who and why?”

Half expecting this question, the sun princess sighed, “The Mane 5, as they are called. They are needed for this battle.”

Lunas’ eyes darkened, “You want me to willingly use black magic to raise them up when they aren’t allowed to fight in the first place?”

“I need them for the Elements of Harmony and you know that, little sis.”

“It’s not that. Lifting one soul that’s dead per year would be okay but five in a day? That would kill me.” The two were quiet for a moment.

“I’ll start planning your goodbye party and your funeral, if you wish.”

The alicorn of the night seethed, “You don’t care if I survive or not?”

“I do, Luna, but I also care about all the other horses. If losing my sister means that every other pony is saved, then I’ll do it. Will you though? Will you make the ultimate sacrifice that could lift the spirits of the ponies?”

“Like dying would do so much better for myself.”

“Luna. Please.”

“I’ll do it as a last resort.”

The sun alicorn was running out of patience and in a desperate attempt, said, “I’m sorry for saying this but in order to save Equestria, I’m going to make a threat. You either kill yourself while raising the other 5 or... or I’ll kill you!”

Luna rolled her eyes, “I die either way.”

“Right but I’ll make it slower and more painful when I kill you.”

“Whatever you do won’t match the pain of raising the dead sister. You never done it before so you don’t know what you’ve got to do in order to do it.”

“I’ll turn you into my slave and do it then!”

Luna rolled her eyes once more, “I could see why the elements didn’t stick by you now. This war has turned you into a monster Tia.”

“I’m sorry Luna but somepony has to sacrifice their life.”

Luna flapped her wings, “Very well then, for the sake of all Equestria, I will die. Just... give me until tomorrow?”

“Wish granted.”

Starlight thought for a moment, “We’ve been hanging around for some time I suppose. It’s been a month or two since you came back.”

Rainbow smiled, “And I couldn’t be happier.”

Starlight looked at the sky, “It’s going to rain soon so we should get back to our house soon.”

Rainbow smirked, “Race you there!” She began to fly really quickly, going at light speed easily. Starlight galloped behind Rainbow, grumbling under her breath before teleporting to the front steps. By then though, Rainbow was already there, waiting.

The rainbow pony smirked, “Sorry Starlight. I’m still 10% cooler.” Starlight rolled her eyes before using her telekinesis with her horn to open the door. They entered the house before Starlight locked it.

Rainbow sat down on a chair, “Are you ever afraid if the ponies would reject you if they somehow uncover your cutie mark? I mean, that fake mark is easy to wash off and reapply. It’s not too stable.”

Starlight sighed, “We will always act based on instinct when that happens. There is no need to decide for a plan now, when it won’t even happen.” They looked outside the window in silence, wondering what would happen if... just if somepony out there would figure out their true identities.

Somepony opened the door and looked at them, “Oh... I’m sorry but I’m new to this village and every other pony told me to come here. I understand if you’re too busy.”

Starlight gave her introduction speech, “Come right in and close the door please. My name I should Starlight Glimmer, and I’m the nominated leader of our little village. Over there, I have my second in command, Rainbow Dash. Wait... Are you an alicorn?” Rainbow looked at the door from the window and cursed herself from not recognizing the voice immediate.

She bowed, “Princess Luna. No offense, but how did you get in?”

The princess looked at Rainbow, “It is truly you Rainbow? I just saw this place and flew right in. Celestia, my sister, wants to raise the dead and I’ll die from it. I just wished that I could be someplace else to not have anything to worry about until tomorrow evening.”

Starlight forced a smile before muttering to herself, “The borders are failing. Generations upon generations of magic unraveled.” Rainbow didn’t react to that sentences, she already had her own fears of that and was oddly clam.

The unicorn looked at the alicorn, “I’m sorry Princess Luna, for not recognizing you at first. In this little village, all of us are equal. I will show you this town once the clouds clear away.”

The alicorn turned to Rainbow, “Why can’t you clear the clouds?”

Rainbow quickly said, “Umm... Some of the ponies like gardening and in order for their crops to grow, they need water.”

Luna nodded, “Interesting. In Canterlot, we use our horn to water the plants. May I come in?” Rainbow nodded and opened the door completely while Starlight walked to Princess Luna to accompany her to her temporary cottage. Unfortunately, while getting too near the door, raindrops went over them and their fake cutie marks were washed away.

Sugar Belle, who was outside, looking at the new pony in this village, saw Rainbow and Starlight’s cutie mark. She narrowed her eyes before gathering the whole village, minus the two leader’s and the alicorn, and began to discuss it.