The Griffon Warby ihaveofficiallyretiredChaptersPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Prologue“Sir, we’ve found him. He was holed up in the mountains west of here, almost to the border.” “I’ll assume you’ve…detained him.” “Of course, sir.” “Then bring him to me at once.” “Yes sir. I shall return within the hour.” The scout stepped through the door and departed. The captain simply returned to his work. He meticulously studied the parchment in front of him. If this was to work, there was no room for error. On paper, the plans seemed foolproof. However, there was always a possibility of mistake. It wasn’t much longer until the scout reentered the captain’s quarters. “As you have ordered, sir.” On the floor next to the scout writhed the mangled body of a white unicorn, though the color was barely discernible through the blood and dirt covering the majority of his coat. “Ah,” spoke the captain, “very good. You are dismissed.” At that, the scout left the room. “Now then, whatever shall I do with you?” the captain said to the unicorn. The unicorn’s eyes rolled around for a moment, trying to focus on the captain. He tried to speak, but no words could escape his mouth. There simply was not the strength left in him. “Can’t speak then? Very well. I shall do the talking.” The captain circled the collapsed pony as he spoke. “You see, Silver Tongue, I simply cannot let you go back to the safety of your home.” Panic and anger flashed in the unicorn’s eyes. “Oh? I see. You thought that I had intended on keeping my end of the deal. Let me tell you something…pony.” The captain spat the word out with loathing and anger, as if the thought of even saying it would defile him. “I’m a griffon. That’s reason enough for me to kill you.” Tears welled up in Silver Tongue’s eyes. He wheezed, still unable to find the strength to form coherent words. In the back of his mind he knew that there was no way out of this. “Even worse,” continued the captain, paying little attention to Silver Tongue’s futile attempts to talk his way to safety. “You betrayed your own kind. Because of you, we griffons will leave Canterlot in ruin.” He slammed his claws down and brought his face within inches of Silver Tongue’s. “You are the lowest form of being. Betraying your own friends and family at the opportunity of wealth. You are pathetic.” Silver Tongue’s tears ran down his face, mixing with the blood and dirt as they fell. The captain continued to circle Silver Tongue. Whimpering, he could only manage a single word. “Please…” The captain shot him a look of disgust. “Please what? Spare your life? Now why ever should I do such a thing? Let’s just look at it from my perspective for a moment. If Celestia’s Royal Guard were to catch wind of what you told us, then my plans would be ruined. And you are the only loose end that needs tying. But from a moral standpoint, you are a disgrace to life everywhere. You’re a thief and a liar who came to me with information compromising the safety of the very sovereign who works every day to protect you. She sent her very sister to the moon barely a decade ago for you.” The captain laughed. “This is how you repay her.” He grabbed Silver Tongue around the throat and lifted him up. “You truly are a pathetic being.” Silver Tongue was slammed against the wall with such force that the room shook. The captain only tightened his grip around Silver Tongue’s neck. “I almost feel like I should thank you for your assistance, but I simply cannot. It would be wasted breath. Goodbye, Silver Tongue.” The griffon took his free claw and dug it into Silver Tongue’s body, painting the walls with his blood. Chapter 1“And…Perfect!” exclaimed Rosebud as she finished aligning the banners inside the hall. Rosebud was in charge of making sure the Tenth Summer Sun Celebration came together properly. Now that the last banner had been put into place, she could finally relax a little. “And to think, after all that work, in two days it will all get torn down…Oh well. It will still be amazing.” “Hey Rose!” shouted a crimson pegasus entering the hall. Rose jumped as she turned around to face Storm Chaser, her best friend who was also helping her with the preparations. “Oh, Stormy! You startled me!” “I noticed,” he replied, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Anyway, I just thought you should know that the courtyard is as ready as it’s going to be.” “Fantastic. I can’t believe that we are actually in charge of the festivities.” “I know. It’s an honor. Anyway, are you all done here?” The beige unicorn stopped to think for a moment, thinking through everything. “Did your cousin get that rainbow order taken care of?” “Yeah, it will be ready as soon as the princess has raised the sun.” “I still can’t get over the fact that Cloudsdale is manufacturing rainbows now. I would love to know how they do it…” “I’ll ask my cousin tomorrow when I see him.” Rosebud beamed. “Then I suppose we are all done. I want to make sure we get there early. I really don’t want to miss anything. ANYTHING.” Storm Chaser sighed. “Fine, fine. Whatever you want.” The two ponies casually walked out of the Grand Hall, a building almost as majestic and beautiful as the Royal Castle itself. The hall was built after Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, partially because Celestia wanted little to do with the castle anymore. It reminded her too much of her sister. They made their way to one of the many cafes that lined the streets of Canterlot, desperate for a meal after many hours of tedious work. “So, there I was,” started Storm Chaser in between bites of food, “and the two unicorns picked me up with their magic, and just flung me like a sling shot. IT WAS AWESOME.” Rosebud just sat across from him, slightly disgusted with his manners. “Ugh. Must you talk while you eat? It’s just…nasty.” Storm Chaser filled his mouth with food. “Yesh.” “How are we even friends?” Storm Chaser shrugged. It was then that they were approached by one of the royal guard. “Hey. You were friends with the captain, right?” the guard asked, the question directed to Storm Chaser. He spoke up. “Oh yeah, we go way back. I tell ya, he was trouble when we were colts. Lying, stealing, you name it. He really turned his life around when he joined the guard.” “Have you any idea where he might be?” “Uh….Last I heard he was taking care of some family matter out in that new settlement…Manehattan I think. Why?” The guard shifted nervously. “And that’s what the record shows. However, he was supposed to have been back by now. When he didn’t report in yesterday, we all had thought he may have gotten lost or held up from weather. When he didn’t report in today…” “You mean he’s missing?” “It would certainly seem that way.” “No…No, that can’t be. He wouldn’t just…disappear.” Storm Chaser looked off in the distance, not really focusing on anything in particular. He was worried, that much was clear. One of his closest friends was missing. “If you find out anything, let us know.” “Um…Yeah. Okay.” The guard left, his business finished. “Stormy? You gonna be okay?” asked Rosebud gently. “Yeah…I’m sure he’s fine. The stallion can barely find his way around Canterlot. I’m sure he’s just lost. That’s all.” “You still want to go to the Summer Sun Celebration tonight? I would understand –“ Storm Chaser cut her off. “Are you kidding? After all the work we put into it, I am NOT missing it. Don’t worry.” His was careful not to let his true emotions show upon his face. “Hm...Fine then. Let’s start getting ready for the festival.” Rosebud and Storm Chaser paid for their meal (though neither of them actually finished). The news just delivered to Storm Chaser kept floating around in the back of his mind. He and the captain had always been close, almost like brothers. Sure, they were troubled colts, but they turned their lives around. One had become the captain of the royal guard and the other the head of Canterlot’s weather patrol. Since relations with the Griffon Kingdom had become so tense the last few years, they saw each other even less. Storm Chaser could hardly remember their last conversation. “Hey. Storm. You all right?” “Huh?” Storm Chaser was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized that he and Rosebud were already at his home. “Yeah, I’m fine. Go on. I’ll meet you there in a little while.” Rosebud looked at her friend with a worried expression. “You’re sure?” “Yes, yes. Now go get ready.” “Okay then. I’ll…see you there.” Rosebud trotted off, worried about Storm Chaser. After having bathed and taken a quick nap, Storm Chaser made his way towards the Grand Hall. He was determined to have a good time, despite the news he received earlier that day. After a short walk, he found Rosebud standing near the gate of the courtyard. “Hey! You doing okay?” asked Rosebud. “Oh yes. Now, let’s make a night of this, shall we?” responded Storm Chaser, a hint of excitement about his voice. He was determined to make a night of it. Bad news was bad, but a party was a party. No point in going to a party depressed. The Tenth Summer Sun Celebration was full of ponies, of classes high and low, with many various events happening at any given time. In the courtyard a small band was performing various pieces, some jazzy, some classical, all genres. There were games and activities for the fillies and colts (and Storm Chaser). All in all, Rosebud had put together what many considered to be the best Summer Sun Celebration yet (and the opinion would endure for years to come). As the night progressed, many of the ponies found some place to rest, as they did not want to sleep through Celestia’s raising of the sun. There were those who were able to stay up through the night. Storm Chaser and Rosebud were among them. “So, Sunny Day, I’ve been dying to know. How is it that the weather factory in Cloudsdale is able to manufacture rainbows?” Storm Chaser asked his cousin. “Oh, uh…I don’t really know. They don’t let us into that part of the factory. All we know is that liquid rainbow comes out, and all we have to do is set the thing up,” responded Sunny Day, an unnoticeable amount of caution and anxiety in his voice. “Darn. Me and Rose wanted to know…” “Yeah, sorry about that.” “Anyway, that rainbow is all ready to go, yeah?” “Oh yeah. As soon as the sun comes up, the rainbow gets deployed. It is gonna be our best rainbow yet I think,” said Sunny Day, beaming. “Awesome. Well, I’ll see you later, after the raising,” replied Storm Chaser, leaving to go find Rosebud. “Yeah, catch ya later.” Storm Chaser found Rosebud over by one of the many concessions that she had arranged. “Why am I not surprised you’re at the cake stand?” Rosebud gave him a disapproving look. “Ha ha. Very funny. So? Did you find out about the rainbows?” “Nah. He said he didn’t know anything. I don’t buy it. He always knows something about everything in that factory. He’s the freaking assistant director. Oh well. I tried.” “Darn. At least you tried.” Rosebud mercilessly devoured the cake she got from the stand. “Geez. Are you hungry?” “Nope.” “Uh…huh.” Storm Chaser looked over at the clock tower. It read 4:09. “Hey. We’d better make sure the courtyard gets cleared so we can all watch the princess.” “Yeah, you’re right…” The duo gathered the crew who “volunteered” to clear the courtyard and got everything in order. The sun was to rise at 5:30, so they only had a little time left. First came the rolling, thunderous sound that gradually got a little louder with every passing moment. Not much longer, thousands upon thousands of ponies from across Equestria had gathered in and around the courtyard of the Grand Hall in anticipation for this event, now only minutes away. Though nopony even noticed it to begin with, the rumbling sound was all but gone. At exactly 5:30, the sun floated majestically into the sky, the silhouette of the princess visible in front of the sun. There was a monstrous applause from the crowd. The most beautiful rainbow one could imagine shined luminously, arcing perfectly over the sun. It was a sight that few would ever forget. Of course, there would be only a few able to even remember. At that moment, the deafening roar of tens of thousands of griffons washed over the crowd and echoed through Canterlot. Chapter 2Silence fell immediately. There was a moment of confusion, as the ponies still hadn’t realized what had caused the noise they had all just heard. “What…What was that?” “I dunno…” “Is everything okay?” “Was that supposed to happen?” “Um…What’s going on?” Hushed murmurs were going about the crowd. Nopony knew what was about to happen; if they had, they wouldn’t have stood around whispering. They would have fled as fast as they could. Even the royal guards were perplexed as to exactly what the source of the sound was. All were on guard, ready to defend the citizens of Canterlot against any threat that may dare to cause harm. That’s what they thought, anyway. Though she would never allow it upon her countenance, especially in front of so many her little ponies who loved and adored her, a wave of fear shook Celestia to her core. Not for herself, but for the other ponies. She had immediately recognized the griffon’s war cry. Of course, she also recognized that there may be little she could do in such a short amount of time. There was no time to react. The guards were caught completely unprepared. Years of training had done nothing to prepare them for what was happening. As if appearing out of thin air, the griffons began the attack on Canterlot. By the time the first few had realized what was happening, they were already dead. Screams of terror erupted from the startled crowd. The guards immediately sprang into action, fighting off hordes of griffons. The guards were tough and able fighters, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. The griffons attacked mercilessly from all directions. Ponies ran in all directions trying to escape the onslaught. It was to no avail. Razor sharp talons slashed through the helpless ponies. Jagged, powerful beaks shattered bones and severed limbs with ease. Visceral gore flew through the air. Ponies were crushed beneath the sheer strength of the griffons. Those pegasi who thought to fly away only plummeted back to the earth, raining blood down on to those below. There was no escape. It was a complete massacre of ponies. Princess Celestia did all that she could to protect her subjects, but even with all her power she could only do so much. There seemed to be no end to the griffon army. Worse still, there was no way to contact the main bulk of the royal guard; nopony had even begun to plan for such a catastrophe. Still though, Celestia thought to herself as she fended off masses of griffons, where is the captain? He was supposed to be heading the guard for the event and he is nowhere to be seen… The griffons departed as quickly and spontaneously as they had appeared. They were clearly the victors of this encounter; they needed no longer to stay. They had proved their strength and what they were capable of. The message was delivered. The whole ordeal took less than ten minutes. Nopony was shown mercy. Stallions, mares, fillies and colts all fell victim to the barbarous griffon attack. Blood poured out into the streets. In the morning sun, the grass shone crimson. The lifeless corpses of so many ponies were strewn about the courtyard. The few survivors were just barely so, having been left for dead. One of the few guards to survive the attack made his way towards the princess. “Your majesty,” he started, a noticeable strain in his voice, “What shall you have done?” “First, we need to get the survivors treated at once. Send word to the barracks of what has transpired here.” The normally cheery and playful princess was somber and serious. Her ethereal mane was dripping with the blood of fallen griffons. It was a side of her that not many ponies had seen before, and it almost caught the guard by surprise. Out of context, it most certainly would have. “Then gather as many troops as possible. As soon as the preparations can be made, we shall head towards Eyrie.” “Yes…yes ma’am.” The pegasus took off and made his way towards the castle where news of the massacre had not yet reached. It took little time for an entire medical team had assembled at the courtyard. Most of the survivors were badly injured, barely clinging to life. Some of the guards were checking the bodies, making sure the dead truly were dead. The rest assembled into large groups of fifty to sixty ponies, patrolling the surrounding areas in case of another attack. Meanwhile, the citizens of Canterlot, the few who chose not to attend the festivities, had started to gather. Many of them were scared that their friends or family had perished. Most of them knew that they had lost somepony close in the massacre. Friends, family, neighbors, all gone. Within the next week, word had spread across Equestria of what had happened. Ponies from all corners of the map made their way to Canterlot, wishing to help strike back against the Griffon Kingdom. The citizens of Equestria were outraged that something like that could happen. They weren’t upset with Celestia or the royal guard, they couldn’t have known. During this time, only lists of the living were distributed. The royal guard thought this would be the best way to handle the situation, considering the overwhelming number of deceased. In addition, they would only release the names of those ponies that were conscious and confirmed to be survivors. There were a great many of those who survived long enough to begin receiving medical treatment, but were still fighting for their lives. It would have been cruel to tell somepony that their family was alive, only to have them die days later. The medical ward itself was absolute chaos. A great many ponies were very nearly on their deathbeds. Using the word “survivor” would almost have been a joke. A majority of the injuries were not healable. Despite having lived through the initial attack, ponies died every day. It was gruesome. Doctors were rushing back and forth doing their absolute best to ensure the survival of the few who lasted throughout the assault. “Excuse me, what are you doing?” one of the doctors asked a particularly suspicious tan earth pony. “I’m making sure the universe and the entirety of time and space stays intact! What did you think I was doing?” replied the stallion, waving around an odd silver rod with a glowing blue tip. “Yes, that’s all fine and dandy, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You’re disrupting us doctors.” “Oh! I’m a doctor!” “Then why are you wasting your time with this silly contraption?!” “Wait, not that kind of doctor.” “Then please get out.” The medic was starting to lose his patience. “Okay, fine. I’m done here anyway.” The tan stallion quickly turned and departed, his tie flailing around wildly as he dashed out. The doctor (and those who became distracted by the encounter) quickly got back to work. There was so much work to do. “Blast, there goes another one…” muttered one of the doctors. Despite their best efforts, some of the ponies were beyond saving, even if they had managed to survive the last week. One of the ponies began to stir. “Hey, somepony get over here! This one’s starting to move!” The pony continued to move around. “What’s…going on?” slurred the stallion as he started to regain consciousness. “Do you remember anything?” “Ugh….My stomach…” “You were stabbed by a griffon and left for dead.” “Was…I? Wait…what happened?” He was slowly returning to a state of lucidity. More or less. “You don’t remember?” “I…was sitting with Rose…just after the sun…then nothing.” “Griffons massacred the whole celebration. Almost nopony survived.” Storm Chaser looked at the doctor, his eyes still hazy. No, that can’t be…she was right there next to me. “Where is she?” he asked, his voice still smeared slightly. “Where is who?” Storm Chaser focused hard, struggling to speak clearly. “Where is Rosebud?” In the back of his mind he already knew. Chapter 3High in the mountains of the Griffon Kingdom sat Castle Aves, from which the king of the griffons gazed upon the magnificent city of Eyrie. I do wonder, thought the king, if Celestia has the gall to retaliate. She has always taken a pacifistic approach to things… One of the five warlords of the kingdom entered the chamber, interrupting the king’s thoughts. “Your majesty.” “Ah…what pleasure do I owe you this evening Warlord Ares?” The harsh basso of the king reverberated throughout the chamber. “King Balthazar,” started Ares, “I am here to report to you that the attack today was more than successful.” “Fantastic. Ares, walk with me.” The two griffons walked down the dark, twisting halls of Castle Aves. Ares was quite large for a griffon, yet he was dwarfed by the massive king. There was a reason no griffon had yet challenged Balthazar for his crown. “So, your majesty, what is it that you want?” “I want your personal opinion.” The massive king stopped and looked at Ares. “Do you think that Celestia will retaliate and attack us back?” “Of course not, your majesty.” “Hm….I would have to disagree. A decade ago, I would have thought the same thing. But then she sent her own sister to the moon. We should not assume anything.” Balthazar’s fierce eyes shone with intelligence and wisdom, his voice riddled with caution. “Your majesty –“ “No. As much as I want to raze the fields of Equestria and reduce the towns and its citizens to ash, I feel that we should proceed carefully from here. For the time being, at least.” Ares looked at his king with a mixture of disapproval and disappointment. “You’re not scared, are you?” Balthazar narrowed his eyes and stared down upon the warlord. Balthazar towered over Ares, and was at least twice his size. “Never,” he hissed, “would I be scared of a pony. Do not confuse concern for my subjects with fear. Remember this well, lest your head become a trophy upon the walls of my throne room.” “Ye-yes, your majesty.” The warlord cowered beneath his king, realizing the folly of his words in a state of sheer terror. “Now be gone. Give the orders to my soldiers to be prepared to fight on either Equestrian soil or our own. I shall let the princess make the next move.” Ares simply nodded his head, afraid to speak once more. The griffon quickly departed, leaving the king alone in one of the many halls of Castle Aves. The king continued on his walk, headed towards one of several dining rooms. As he walked past paintings of his predecessors, he began to contemplate the coming war. As of now, there are two possibilities…Either Celestia attacks outright or she plays a diplomatic card. Only now, the likelihood of an attack on Eyrie is quite high. The banishment of Princess Luna quite took me by surprise. I honestly hadn’t though it possible of her. However…now knowing what she will do for her subjects, there is no guarantee of anything. I shall have to be careful…His thoughts continued on and on until he had finally arrived at his destination. The chefs prepared him something unmemorable, and as he sat picking the bones of some dead animal an idea had come to him. “SAWYER!!” bellowed the king, summoning a smaller yet still intimidating griffon to his side. “Yes, your majesty?” The king’s chief attendant stood in a dignified manner. “I need you to gather Warlords Odin and Morrigan. Immediately. And tell them to meet me in the war room.” “It shall be done, your majesty,” replied Sawyer. The servant turned and slowly left the dining hall, headed towards the castle gates. Almost an hour later, Odin casually entered the war room. He was covered in scars, and was missing an eye. “Your majesty,” he growled. “Ah, Warlord Odin. How pleasant to see you again. Please, do make yourself comfortable while we wait for Morrigan. I suspect it to be another half hour until her arrival.” “Ugh, she’s going to be here?” Odin made a face of disgust. “Yes, she is. In case you’ve forgotten, she defeated your brother for her title. A feat even you could not accomplish.” Odin grunted. “Don’t remind me. So, why exactly have you summoned me?” Balthazar walked over to a map of the world, staring at it intently. “Patience, old friend. Patience.” Odin grunted again. Balthazar ignored him and continued to study his map. There were many possible paths Celestia could take should she indeed decide to invade. However, the mountainous terrain of the Griffon Kingdom made it easy to discern such paths. Soon enough, a rather small figure appeared in the doorway. “Good evening, gentlemen. Have I missed anything?” The griffoness’ mellifluous voice echoed slightly throughout the room. She sauntered into the war room, shooting Odin a quick, arrogant look. “Ah, my dear Morrigan. How are you?” replied Balthazar. “Mmmm….quite well, considering that I am to be in the same room as that…buffoon.” Odin sprang up from his seat, eyes fiery with rage. “You little –“ “Odin! Calm yourself!” roared the king. The walls seemed to shake from the force of his voice. “Yes, your majesty…” Odin hung his head in shame, and Morrigan smirked in satisfaction. “Now, for the reason I called you both here,” started Balthazar, lifting a talon and placing it on the representation of Eyrie on the map. “I am quite certain that Celestia is going to strike back. Here,” he said, indicating the spot on the map, “specifically.” “What?! That’s ridiculous! She would never dare to do such a thing!” Odin shouted. Morrigan remained silent, still thinking about the possibilities. “Well, Morrigan? Do you have any input?” queried Balthazar, raising an eyebrow. “Hm…I completely think it is possible. If I were her, I would.” “And why is that?” “Well, I suspect she’s still suffering from having to put her sister away. Think about it. She’s been with her sister for who knows how long, and it is going to take some time to adjust. A significant amount of time for something that drastic. I highly doubt that she is going to hesitate to make difficult decisions she would normally have consoled her sister about. I personally think that we should prepare for an attack,” finished Morrigan. Odin looked at her with a slight amount of anger. “Exactly, my dear.” Balthazar looked at Odin smugly. “There’s a reason Morrigan defeated your brother. She’s brilliant.” Odin mumbled to himself while Morrigan beamed. She was young for a warlord, but Balthazar was right: she was absolutely brilliant and deadly in combat. “Now then. I want to know where exactly Celestia is going to come from.” The three griffons stared down at the map, isolating several ideal paths from which the Royal Guard and any makeshift army would likely come through. “No, I think that this northern passage is most likely…” “Perhaps, but they would charge right through Castle Aves. They could never take the castle.” “But what if Celestia herself was to fight personally?” “A good question….” “I highly doubt that, in one-on-one combat, even I could defeat Princess Celestia.” “King Balthazar! Don’t say such things!” “No, Odin. The king is right. She has the advantage of magical prowess and skill unmatched throughout the world.” “I suppose this is true….” Amidst the conversation, Balthazar appeared to have thought of something. The look on his face told of its brilliance. “My dear friends, I believe there is something we have forgotten.” Both Odin and Morrigan looked at their king, puzzling looks about them. “Come with me.” The trio exited the war room, Balthazar leading, and made their way through the various twists and turns of Castle Aves. Many stairs they descended, until finally reaching their destination: the dungeons. “My lord, whatever has brought us here?” asked Odin. “Yes, I find that I do not like being this…deep.” “Patience. Just a little further now.” Further through the tunnels they trekked, until reaching the very last room. “This is where I keep my….important….guests,” said Balthazar, opening the door. “Oh, very good!” “My…admiration…grows stronger yet, my king…” Balthazar’s figure loomed over the prisoner. The pegasus was bound to a torture table. Gashes and burn marks adorned his body. His wings were clipped, so that even if he were to escape, he could not fly. His eyes lazily turned to face Balthazar. “What….could you…possibly want…?” “Oh, I think you know what. It’s time you start talking again….captain.” Chapter 4“Well, you haven’t really missed a whole lot. Things have been pretty crazy since the attack. Soldiers running around hectically, trying to gather volunteers and making sure Canterlot doesn’t get attacked again. I…I’m thinking about fighting. I dunno yet. It’s not something I would have done before. But now…I just don’t know anymore. I’ve hardly eaten. I’ve hardly slept. There’s just so much I should have told you…and now I never will…” The pegasus’ words trailed off, leaving him standing silently in the graveyard. A whole new area had been added, dedicated to those lost in the griffon attack. There was a monument in the middle detailing it all. The official ceremony had already been held, the bodies identified and buried. “Anyway, I suppose I should get going. Since you’ve not got any family left, I’ve got to figure out what to do with all your stuff. It’s weird, ya know? Not having you around anymore. Especially with Ray missing…for all we…I know, he’s dead too. Maybe his cousin knows something. It’s hard adjusting to life right now, Rose. I dunno. I’ll try to visit soon. “ Storm Chaser slowly walked away from Rosebud’s tombstone and exited the graveyard. He moved rather slowly, still recovering from his injuries. There were three deep wounds on his chest, from where the griffon clawed him. Unicorn magic had healed most of it, but the damage had been quite severe. Magic could only do so much. Storm Chaser flew through the morning air, his vibrant yellow mane wildly flailing about. “Hey Ray! Keep up, would ya?” he shouted mockingly back to his friend. “Nochutup! You’ve always been a better flier!” replied Golden Ray. “Awww can it and fly faster!” Storm Chaser took off, leaving Golden Ray to desperately try to stay close behind. Not much later, the duo had arrived at their destination: a small tavern hidden away on the outskirts of Canterlot. Storm Chaser and Golden Ray had been going there weekly since arriving in Canterlot. “Haha! You remember that time back in flight school when you nearly killed yourself?” Storm Chaser shook his head, laughing. “Which time?” “When you set yourself on fire trying to get lightning out of that cloud.” “Oh jeez. I still don’t know how I managed that one…” The two pegasi silently stared off into the distance for a few moments, not sure of what to say. “So, I’ve been thinking…” “Yeah?” “I think I’m gonna ask out Rose.” Golden Ray downed the rest of his drink. “You’ve been saying that since we moved here two years ago.” “Yeah, yeah, I know. But this time I mean it. I really do.” “Mhmm. The day you find the courage to ask her out is the day I quit life and become a mare.” “Haha, very funny.” “Stormy, I’ll become Captain of the Royal Guard before you ask her out.” “That’d be the day. I can hardly believe you’re joining the guard in the first place. I mean, you’ve always been great at clearing the skies. I think your talents would be much better used in the Weather Patrol.” Golden Ray sighed, beckoning the barkeep for another drink. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. But it’s more than just the completely awesome uniforms. You remember my cousin?” “Creepy unicorn, right?” “Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve heard rumors about him. He’s gonna get himself into some serious trouble if any of them turn out to be true.” “Yeah, but Silver Tongue has always managed to talk his way out of just about anything.” “I suppose. Still, I’d rather be safe than sorry.” “But isn’t he packing up to move out with the caravans soon? Establishing a new city or something like that?” “Manehattan, yeah. Still, though…I don’t like what I’ve been hearing. I just want to make sure the kid doesn’t get into any more trouble than necessary.” The pegasus smiled and guzzled down his now fifth drink. Storm Chaser shook his head. “You probably shouldn’t drink that much the night before you officially join the Guard. It can’t be good.” “Bah! I’ve handled more stressful situations under significantly more alcohol. Trust me when I say that I’ll be fine.” “Fine, fine. Suit yourself. I’m off though, I told Rose I would go with her up to the castle. She’s supposed to host the Summer Sun Celebration in a few years. It seems so far off, but she’s already planning. Wants everything to go perfectly. Anyway, I’ll catch ya later.” “Aww, we’ve just started drinking! I’m still coherent and have yet to make a complete fool of myself! But whatever, go on.” Golden Ray laughed heartily while bidding his best friend farewell. Storm Chaser found himself lying in his bed, his vision still blurry from his sleep. He looked around his bedroom, trying to make sense of everything. That dream…seemed so real… he thought to himself. It had felt like he was back at that tavern almost three years prior. He crawled out of his bed and stumbled to the window. From there he looked out over rows of buildings to peek at the clock tower. It read 4:22 AM. For a brief moment, he contemplated going back to sleep, but ultimately decided against it. He prepared his miniscule breakfast while contemplating his dream. The bright sun shone through one of the windows, blinding him for just a moment. He turned away and continued on his task. As the day progressed, Storm Chaser could only seem to focus on his dream from the previous night. Certainly there was something hidden away in that memory he needed. Or so he thought, anyway. Still, one name seemed to reverberate throughout the chambers of his mind. It was a name he probably only heard once or twice. Perhaps this individual knew the whereabouts of Golden Ray. After all, they were cousins.
Prologue“Sir, we’ve found him. He was holed up in the mountains west of here, almost to the border.” “I’ll assume you’ve…detained him.” “Of course, sir.” “Then bring him to me at once.” “Yes sir. I shall return within the hour.” The scout stepped through the door and departed. The captain simply returned to his work. He meticulously studied the parchment in front of him. If this was to work, there was no room for error. On paper, the plans seemed foolproof. However, there was always a possibility of mistake. It wasn’t much longer until the scout reentered the captain’s quarters. “As you have ordered, sir.” On the floor next to the scout writhed the mangled body of a white unicorn, though the color was barely discernible through the blood and dirt covering the majority of his coat. “Ah,” spoke the captain, “very good. You are dismissed.” At that, the scout left the room. “Now then, whatever shall I do with you?” the captain said to the unicorn. The unicorn’s eyes rolled around for a moment, trying to focus on the captain. He tried to speak, but no words could escape his mouth. There simply was not the strength left in him. “Can’t speak then? Very well. I shall do the talking.” The captain circled the collapsed pony as he spoke. “You see, Silver Tongue, I simply cannot let you go back to the safety of your home.” Panic and anger flashed in the unicorn’s eyes. “Oh? I see. You thought that I had intended on keeping my end of the deal. Let me tell you something…pony.” The captain spat the word out with loathing and anger, as if the thought of even saying it would defile him. “I’m a griffon. That’s reason enough for me to kill you.” Tears welled up in Silver Tongue’s eyes. He wheezed, still unable to find the strength to form coherent words. In the back of his mind he knew that there was no way out of this. “Even worse,” continued the captain, paying little attention to Silver Tongue’s futile attempts to talk his way to safety. “You betrayed your own kind. Because of you, we griffons will leave Canterlot in ruin.” He slammed his claws down and brought his face within inches of Silver Tongue’s. “You are the lowest form of being. Betraying your own friends and family at the opportunity of wealth. You are pathetic.” Silver Tongue’s tears ran down his face, mixing with the blood and dirt as they fell. The captain continued to circle Silver Tongue. Whimpering, he could only manage a single word. “Please…” The captain shot him a look of disgust. “Please what? Spare your life? Now why ever should I do such a thing? Let’s just look at it from my perspective for a moment. If Celestia’s Royal Guard were to catch wind of what you told us, then my plans would be ruined. And you are the only loose end that needs tying. But from a moral standpoint, you are a disgrace to life everywhere. You’re a thief and a liar who came to me with information compromising the safety of the very sovereign who works every day to protect you. She sent her very sister to the moon barely a decade ago for you.” The captain laughed. “This is how you repay her.” He grabbed Silver Tongue around the throat and lifted him up. “You truly are a pathetic being.” Silver Tongue was slammed against the wall with such force that the room shook. The captain only tightened his grip around Silver Tongue’s neck. “I almost feel like I should thank you for your assistance, but I simply cannot. It would be wasted breath. Goodbye, Silver Tongue.” The griffon took his free claw and dug it into Silver Tongue’s body, painting the walls with his blood.
Chapter 1“And…Perfect!” exclaimed Rosebud as she finished aligning the banners inside the hall. Rosebud was in charge of making sure the Tenth Summer Sun Celebration came together properly. Now that the last banner had been put into place, she could finally relax a little. “And to think, after all that work, in two days it will all get torn down…Oh well. It will still be amazing.” “Hey Rose!” shouted a crimson pegasus entering the hall. Rose jumped as she turned around to face Storm Chaser, her best friend who was also helping her with the preparations. “Oh, Stormy! You startled me!” “I noticed,” he replied, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Anyway, I just thought you should know that the courtyard is as ready as it’s going to be.” “Fantastic. I can’t believe that we are actually in charge of the festivities.” “I know. It’s an honor. Anyway, are you all done here?” The beige unicorn stopped to think for a moment, thinking through everything. “Did your cousin get that rainbow order taken care of?” “Yeah, it will be ready as soon as the princess has raised the sun.” “I still can’t get over the fact that Cloudsdale is manufacturing rainbows now. I would love to know how they do it…” “I’ll ask my cousin tomorrow when I see him.” Rosebud beamed. “Then I suppose we are all done. I want to make sure we get there early. I really don’t want to miss anything. ANYTHING.” Storm Chaser sighed. “Fine, fine. Whatever you want.” The two ponies casually walked out of the Grand Hall, a building almost as majestic and beautiful as the Royal Castle itself. The hall was built after Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, partially because Celestia wanted little to do with the castle anymore. It reminded her too much of her sister. They made their way to one of the many cafes that lined the streets of Canterlot, desperate for a meal after many hours of tedious work. “So, there I was,” started Storm Chaser in between bites of food, “and the two unicorns picked me up with their magic, and just flung me like a sling shot. IT WAS AWESOME.” Rosebud just sat across from him, slightly disgusted with his manners. “Ugh. Must you talk while you eat? It’s just…nasty.” Storm Chaser filled his mouth with food. “Yesh.” “How are we even friends?” Storm Chaser shrugged. It was then that they were approached by one of the royal guard. “Hey. You were friends with the captain, right?” the guard asked, the question directed to Storm Chaser. He spoke up. “Oh yeah, we go way back. I tell ya, he was trouble when we were colts. Lying, stealing, you name it. He really turned his life around when he joined the guard.” “Have you any idea where he might be?” “Uh….Last I heard he was taking care of some family matter out in that new settlement…Manehattan I think. Why?” The guard shifted nervously. “And that’s what the record shows. However, he was supposed to have been back by now. When he didn’t report in yesterday, we all had thought he may have gotten lost or held up from weather. When he didn’t report in today…” “You mean he’s missing?” “It would certainly seem that way.” “No…No, that can’t be. He wouldn’t just…disappear.” Storm Chaser looked off in the distance, not really focusing on anything in particular. He was worried, that much was clear. One of his closest friends was missing. “If you find out anything, let us know.” “Um…Yeah. Okay.” The guard left, his business finished. “Stormy? You gonna be okay?” asked Rosebud gently. “Yeah…I’m sure he’s fine. The stallion can barely find his way around Canterlot. I’m sure he’s just lost. That’s all.” “You still want to go to the Summer Sun Celebration tonight? I would understand –“ Storm Chaser cut her off. “Are you kidding? After all the work we put into it, I am NOT missing it. Don’t worry.” His was careful not to let his true emotions show upon his face. “Hm...Fine then. Let’s start getting ready for the festival.” Rosebud and Storm Chaser paid for their meal (though neither of them actually finished). The news just delivered to Storm Chaser kept floating around in the back of his mind. He and the captain had always been close, almost like brothers. Sure, they were troubled colts, but they turned their lives around. One had become the captain of the royal guard and the other the head of Canterlot’s weather patrol. Since relations with the Griffon Kingdom had become so tense the last few years, they saw each other even less. Storm Chaser could hardly remember their last conversation. “Hey. Storm. You all right?” “Huh?” Storm Chaser was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized that he and Rosebud were already at his home. “Yeah, I’m fine. Go on. I’ll meet you there in a little while.” Rosebud looked at her friend with a worried expression. “You’re sure?” “Yes, yes. Now go get ready.” “Okay then. I’ll…see you there.” Rosebud trotted off, worried about Storm Chaser. After having bathed and taken a quick nap, Storm Chaser made his way towards the Grand Hall. He was determined to have a good time, despite the news he received earlier that day. After a short walk, he found Rosebud standing near the gate of the courtyard. “Hey! You doing okay?” asked Rosebud. “Oh yes. Now, let’s make a night of this, shall we?” responded Storm Chaser, a hint of excitement about his voice. He was determined to make a night of it. Bad news was bad, but a party was a party. No point in going to a party depressed. The Tenth Summer Sun Celebration was full of ponies, of classes high and low, with many various events happening at any given time. In the courtyard a small band was performing various pieces, some jazzy, some classical, all genres. There were games and activities for the fillies and colts (and Storm Chaser). All in all, Rosebud had put together what many considered to be the best Summer Sun Celebration yet (and the opinion would endure for years to come). As the night progressed, many of the ponies found some place to rest, as they did not want to sleep through Celestia’s raising of the sun. There were those who were able to stay up through the night. Storm Chaser and Rosebud were among them. “So, Sunny Day, I’ve been dying to know. How is it that the weather factory in Cloudsdale is able to manufacture rainbows?” Storm Chaser asked his cousin. “Oh, uh…I don’t really know. They don’t let us into that part of the factory. All we know is that liquid rainbow comes out, and all we have to do is set the thing up,” responded Sunny Day, an unnoticeable amount of caution and anxiety in his voice. “Darn. Me and Rose wanted to know…” “Yeah, sorry about that.” “Anyway, that rainbow is all ready to go, yeah?” “Oh yeah. As soon as the sun comes up, the rainbow gets deployed. It is gonna be our best rainbow yet I think,” said Sunny Day, beaming. “Awesome. Well, I’ll see you later, after the raising,” replied Storm Chaser, leaving to go find Rosebud. “Yeah, catch ya later.” Storm Chaser found Rosebud over by one of the many concessions that she had arranged. “Why am I not surprised you’re at the cake stand?” Rosebud gave him a disapproving look. “Ha ha. Very funny. So? Did you find out about the rainbows?” “Nah. He said he didn’t know anything. I don’t buy it. He always knows something about everything in that factory. He’s the freaking assistant director. Oh well. I tried.” “Darn. At least you tried.” Rosebud mercilessly devoured the cake she got from the stand. “Geez. Are you hungry?” “Nope.” “Uh…huh.” Storm Chaser looked over at the clock tower. It read 4:09. “Hey. We’d better make sure the courtyard gets cleared so we can all watch the princess.” “Yeah, you’re right…” The duo gathered the crew who “volunteered” to clear the courtyard and got everything in order. The sun was to rise at 5:30, so they only had a little time left. First came the rolling, thunderous sound that gradually got a little louder with every passing moment. Not much longer, thousands upon thousands of ponies from across Equestria had gathered in and around the courtyard of the Grand Hall in anticipation for this event, now only minutes away. Though nopony even noticed it to begin with, the rumbling sound was all but gone. At exactly 5:30, the sun floated majestically into the sky, the silhouette of the princess visible in front of the sun. There was a monstrous applause from the crowd. The most beautiful rainbow one could imagine shined luminously, arcing perfectly over the sun. It was a sight that few would ever forget. Of course, there would be only a few able to even remember. At that moment, the deafening roar of tens of thousands of griffons washed over the crowd and echoed through Canterlot.
Chapter 2Silence fell immediately. There was a moment of confusion, as the ponies still hadn’t realized what had caused the noise they had all just heard. “What…What was that?” “I dunno…” “Is everything okay?” “Was that supposed to happen?” “Um…What’s going on?” Hushed murmurs were going about the crowd. Nopony knew what was about to happen; if they had, they wouldn’t have stood around whispering. They would have fled as fast as they could. Even the royal guards were perplexed as to exactly what the source of the sound was. All were on guard, ready to defend the citizens of Canterlot against any threat that may dare to cause harm. That’s what they thought, anyway. Though she would never allow it upon her countenance, especially in front of so many her little ponies who loved and adored her, a wave of fear shook Celestia to her core. Not for herself, but for the other ponies. She had immediately recognized the griffon’s war cry. Of course, she also recognized that there may be little she could do in such a short amount of time. There was no time to react. The guards were caught completely unprepared. Years of training had done nothing to prepare them for what was happening. As if appearing out of thin air, the griffons began the attack on Canterlot. By the time the first few had realized what was happening, they were already dead. Screams of terror erupted from the startled crowd. The guards immediately sprang into action, fighting off hordes of griffons. The guards were tough and able fighters, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. The griffons attacked mercilessly from all directions. Ponies ran in all directions trying to escape the onslaught. It was to no avail. Razor sharp talons slashed through the helpless ponies. Jagged, powerful beaks shattered bones and severed limbs with ease. Visceral gore flew through the air. Ponies were crushed beneath the sheer strength of the griffons. Those pegasi who thought to fly away only plummeted back to the earth, raining blood down on to those below. There was no escape. It was a complete massacre of ponies. Princess Celestia did all that she could to protect her subjects, but even with all her power she could only do so much. There seemed to be no end to the griffon army. Worse still, there was no way to contact the main bulk of the royal guard; nopony had even begun to plan for such a catastrophe. Still though, Celestia thought to herself as she fended off masses of griffons, where is the captain? He was supposed to be heading the guard for the event and he is nowhere to be seen… The griffons departed as quickly and spontaneously as they had appeared. They were clearly the victors of this encounter; they needed no longer to stay. They had proved their strength and what they were capable of. The message was delivered. The whole ordeal took less than ten minutes. Nopony was shown mercy. Stallions, mares, fillies and colts all fell victim to the barbarous griffon attack. Blood poured out into the streets. In the morning sun, the grass shone crimson. The lifeless corpses of so many ponies were strewn about the courtyard. The few survivors were just barely so, having been left for dead. One of the few guards to survive the attack made his way towards the princess. “Your majesty,” he started, a noticeable strain in his voice, “What shall you have done?” “First, we need to get the survivors treated at once. Send word to the barracks of what has transpired here.” The normally cheery and playful princess was somber and serious. Her ethereal mane was dripping with the blood of fallen griffons. It was a side of her that not many ponies had seen before, and it almost caught the guard by surprise. Out of context, it most certainly would have. “Then gather as many troops as possible. As soon as the preparations can be made, we shall head towards Eyrie.” “Yes…yes ma’am.” The pegasus took off and made his way towards the castle where news of the massacre had not yet reached. It took little time for an entire medical team had assembled at the courtyard. Most of the survivors were badly injured, barely clinging to life. Some of the guards were checking the bodies, making sure the dead truly were dead. The rest assembled into large groups of fifty to sixty ponies, patrolling the surrounding areas in case of another attack. Meanwhile, the citizens of Canterlot, the few who chose not to attend the festivities, had started to gather. Many of them were scared that their friends or family had perished. Most of them knew that they had lost somepony close in the massacre. Friends, family, neighbors, all gone. Within the next week, word had spread across Equestria of what had happened. Ponies from all corners of the map made their way to Canterlot, wishing to help strike back against the Griffon Kingdom. The citizens of Equestria were outraged that something like that could happen. They weren’t upset with Celestia or the royal guard, they couldn’t have known. During this time, only lists of the living were distributed. The royal guard thought this would be the best way to handle the situation, considering the overwhelming number of deceased. In addition, they would only release the names of those ponies that were conscious and confirmed to be survivors. There were a great many of those who survived long enough to begin receiving medical treatment, but were still fighting for their lives. It would have been cruel to tell somepony that their family was alive, only to have them die days later. The medical ward itself was absolute chaos. A great many ponies were very nearly on their deathbeds. Using the word “survivor” would almost have been a joke. A majority of the injuries were not healable. Despite having lived through the initial attack, ponies died every day. It was gruesome. Doctors were rushing back and forth doing their absolute best to ensure the survival of the few who lasted throughout the assault. “Excuse me, what are you doing?” one of the doctors asked a particularly suspicious tan earth pony. “I’m making sure the universe and the entirety of time and space stays intact! What did you think I was doing?” replied the stallion, waving around an odd silver rod with a glowing blue tip. “Yes, that’s all fine and dandy, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You’re disrupting us doctors.” “Oh! I’m a doctor!” “Then why are you wasting your time with this silly contraption?!” “Wait, not that kind of doctor.” “Then please get out.” The medic was starting to lose his patience. “Okay, fine. I’m done here anyway.” The tan stallion quickly turned and departed, his tie flailing around wildly as he dashed out. The doctor (and those who became distracted by the encounter) quickly got back to work. There was so much work to do. “Blast, there goes another one…” muttered one of the doctors. Despite their best efforts, some of the ponies were beyond saving, even if they had managed to survive the last week. One of the ponies began to stir. “Hey, somepony get over here! This one’s starting to move!” The pony continued to move around. “What’s…going on?” slurred the stallion as he started to regain consciousness. “Do you remember anything?” “Ugh….My stomach…” “You were stabbed by a griffon and left for dead.” “Was…I? Wait…what happened?” He was slowly returning to a state of lucidity. More or less. “You don’t remember?” “I…was sitting with Rose…just after the sun…then nothing.” “Griffons massacred the whole celebration. Almost nopony survived.” Storm Chaser looked at the doctor, his eyes still hazy. No, that can’t be…she was right there next to me. “Where is she?” he asked, his voice still smeared slightly. “Where is who?” Storm Chaser focused hard, struggling to speak clearly. “Where is Rosebud?” In the back of his mind he already knew.
Chapter 3High in the mountains of the Griffon Kingdom sat Castle Aves, from which the king of the griffons gazed upon the magnificent city of Eyrie. I do wonder, thought the king, if Celestia has the gall to retaliate. She has always taken a pacifistic approach to things… One of the five warlords of the kingdom entered the chamber, interrupting the king’s thoughts. “Your majesty.” “Ah…what pleasure do I owe you this evening Warlord Ares?” The harsh basso of the king reverberated throughout the chamber. “King Balthazar,” started Ares, “I am here to report to you that the attack today was more than successful.” “Fantastic. Ares, walk with me.” The two griffons walked down the dark, twisting halls of Castle Aves. Ares was quite large for a griffon, yet he was dwarfed by the massive king. There was a reason no griffon had yet challenged Balthazar for his crown. “So, your majesty, what is it that you want?” “I want your personal opinion.” The massive king stopped and looked at Ares. “Do you think that Celestia will retaliate and attack us back?” “Of course not, your majesty.” “Hm….I would have to disagree. A decade ago, I would have thought the same thing. But then she sent her own sister to the moon. We should not assume anything.” Balthazar’s fierce eyes shone with intelligence and wisdom, his voice riddled with caution. “Your majesty –“ “No. As much as I want to raze the fields of Equestria and reduce the towns and its citizens to ash, I feel that we should proceed carefully from here. For the time being, at least.” Ares looked at his king with a mixture of disapproval and disappointment. “You’re not scared, are you?” Balthazar narrowed his eyes and stared down upon the warlord. Balthazar towered over Ares, and was at least twice his size. “Never,” he hissed, “would I be scared of a pony. Do not confuse concern for my subjects with fear. Remember this well, lest your head become a trophy upon the walls of my throne room.” “Ye-yes, your majesty.” The warlord cowered beneath his king, realizing the folly of his words in a state of sheer terror. “Now be gone. Give the orders to my soldiers to be prepared to fight on either Equestrian soil or our own. I shall let the princess make the next move.” Ares simply nodded his head, afraid to speak once more. The griffon quickly departed, leaving the king alone in one of the many halls of Castle Aves. The king continued on his walk, headed towards one of several dining rooms. As he walked past paintings of his predecessors, he began to contemplate the coming war. As of now, there are two possibilities…Either Celestia attacks outright or she plays a diplomatic card. Only now, the likelihood of an attack on Eyrie is quite high. The banishment of Princess Luna quite took me by surprise. I honestly hadn’t though it possible of her. However…now knowing what she will do for her subjects, there is no guarantee of anything. I shall have to be careful…His thoughts continued on and on until he had finally arrived at his destination. The chefs prepared him something unmemorable, and as he sat picking the bones of some dead animal an idea had come to him. “SAWYER!!” bellowed the king, summoning a smaller yet still intimidating griffon to his side. “Yes, your majesty?” The king’s chief attendant stood in a dignified manner. “I need you to gather Warlords Odin and Morrigan. Immediately. And tell them to meet me in the war room.” “It shall be done, your majesty,” replied Sawyer. The servant turned and slowly left the dining hall, headed towards the castle gates. Almost an hour later, Odin casually entered the war room. He was covered in scars, and was missing an eye. “Your majesty,” he growled. “Ah, Warlord Odin. How pleasant to see you again. Please, do make yourself comfortable while we wait for Morrigan. I suspect it to be another half hour until her arrival.” “Ugh, she’s going to be here?” Odin made a face of disgust. “Yes, she is. In case you’ve forgotten, she defeated your brother for her title. A feat even you could not accomplish.” Odin grunted. “Don’t remind me. So, why exactly have you summoned me?” Balthazar walked over to a map of the world, staring at it intently. “Patience, old friend. Patience.” Odin grunted again. Balthazar ignored him and continued to study his map. There were many possible paths Celestia could take should she indeed decide to invade. However, the mountainous terrain of the Griffon Kingdom made it easy to discern such paths. Soon enough, a rather small figure appeared in the doorway. “Good evening, gentlemen. Have I missed anything?” The griffoness’ mellifluous voice echoed slightly throughout the room. She sauntered into the war room, shooting Odin a quick, arrogant look. “Ah, my dear Morrigan. How are you?” replied Balthazar. “Mmmm….quite well, considering that I am to be in the same room as that…buffoon.” Odin sprang up from his seat, eyes fiery with rage. “You little –“ “Odin! Calm yourself!” roared the king. The walls seemed to shake from the force of his voice. “Yes, your majesty…” Odin hung his head in shame, and Morrigan smirked in satisfaction. “Now, for the reason I called you both here,” started Balthazar, lifting a talon and placing it on the representation of Eyrie on the map. “I am quite certain that Celestia is going to strike back. Here,” he said, indicating the spot on the map, “specifically.” “What?! That’s ridiculous! She would never dare to do such a thing!” Odin shouted. Morrigan remained silent, still thinking about the possibilities. “Well, Morrigan? Do you have any input?” queried Balthazar, raising an eyebrow. “Hm…I completely think it is possible. If I were her, I would.” “And why is that?” “Well, I suspect she’s still suffering from having to put her sister away. Think about it. She’s been with her sister for who knows how long, and it is going to take some time to adjust. A significant amount of time for something that drastic. I highly doubt that she is going to hesitate to make difficult decisions she would normally have consoled her sister about. I personally think that we should prepare for an attack,” finished Morrigan. Odin looked at her with a slight amount of anger. “Exactly, my dear.” Balthazar looked at Odin smugly. “There’s a reason Morrigan defeated your brother. She’s brilliant.” Odin mumbled to himself while Morrigan beamed. She was young for a warlord, but Balthazar was right: she was absolutely brilliant and deadly in combat. “Now then. I want to know where exactly Celestia is going to come from.” The three griffons stared down at the map, isolating several ideal paths from which the Royal Guard and any makeshift army would likely come through. “No, I think that this northern passage is most likely…” “Perhaps, but they would charge right through Castle Aves. They could never take the castle.” “But what if Celestia herself was to fight personally?” “A good question….” “I highly doubt that, in one-on-one combat, even I could defeat Princess Celestia.” “King Balthazar! Don’t say such things!” “No, Odin. The king is right. She has the advantage of magical prowess and skill unmatched throughout the world.” “I suppose this is true….” Amidst the conversation, Balthazar appeared to have thought of something. The look on his face told of its brilliance. “My dear friends, I believe there is something we have forgotten.” Both Odin and Morrigan looked at their king, puzzling looks about them. “Come with me.” The trio exited the war room, Balthazar leading, and made their way through the various twists and turns of Castle Aves. Many stairs they descended, until finally reaching their destination: the dungeons. “My lord, whatever has brought us here?” asked Odin. “Yes, I find that I do not like being this…deep.” “Patience. Just a little further now.” Further through the tunnels they trekked, until reaching the very last room. “This is where I keep my….important….guests,” said Balthazar, opening the door. “Oh, very good!” “My…admiration…grows stronger yet, my king…” Balthazar’s figure loomed over the prisoner. The pegasus was bound to a torture table. Gashes and burn marks adorned his body. His wings were clipped, so that even if he were to escape, he could not fly. His eyes lazily turned to face Balthazar. “What….could you…possibly want…?” “Oh, I think you know what. It’s time you start talking again….captain.”
Chapter 4“Well, you haven’t really missed a whole lot. Things have been pretty crazy since the attack. Soldiers running around hectically, trying to gather volunteers and making sure Canterlot doesn’t get attacked again. I…I’m thinking about fighting. I dunno yet. It’s not something I would have done before. But now…I just don’t know anymore. I’ve hardly eaten. I’ve hardly slept. There’s just so much I should have told you…and now I never will…” The pegasus’ words trailed off, leaving him standing silently in the graveyard. A whole new area had been added, dedicated to those lost in the griffon attack. There was a monument in the middle detailing it all. The official ceremony had already been held, the bodies identified and buried. “Anyway, I suppose I should get going. Since you’ve not got any family left, I’ve got to figure out what to do with all your stuff. It’s weird, ya know? Not having you around anymore. Especially with Ray missing…for all we…I know, he’s dead too. Maybe his cousin knows something. It’s hard adjusting to life right now, Rose. I dunno. I’ll try to visit soon. “ Storm Chaser slowly walked away from Rosebud’s tombstone and exited the graveyard. He moved rather slowly, still recovering from his injuries. There were three deep wounds on his chest, from where the griffon clawed him. Unicorn magic had healed most of it, but the damage had been quite severe. Magic could only do so much. Storm Chaser flew through the morning air, his vibrant yellow mane wildly flailing about. “Hey Ray! Keep up, would ya?” he shouted mockingly back to his friend. “Nochutup! You’ve always been a better flier!” replied Golden Ray. “Awww can it and fly faster!” Storm Chaser took off, leaving Golden Ray to desperately try to stay close behind. Not much later, the duo had arrived at their destination: a small tavern hidden away on the outskirts of Canterlot. Storm Chaser and Golden Ray had been going there weekly since arriving in Canterlot. “Haha! You remember that time back in flight school when you nearly killed yourself?” Storm Chaser shook his head, laughing. “Which time?” “When you set yourself on fire trying to get lightning out of that cloud.” “Oh jeez. I still don’t know how I managed that one…” The two pegasi silently stared off into the distance for a few moments, not sure of what to say. “So, I’ve been thinking…” “Yeah?” “I think I’m gonna ask out Rose.” Golden Ray downed the rest of his drink. “You’ve been saying that since we moved here two years ago.” “Yeah, yeah, I know. But this time I mean it. I really do.” “Mhmm. The day you find the courage to ask her out is the day I quit life and become a mare.” “Haha, very funny.” “Stormy, I’ll become Captain of the Royal Guard before you ask her out.” “That’d be the day. I can hardly believe you’re joining the guard in the first place. I mean, you’ve always been great at clearing the skies. I think your talents would be much better used in the Weather Patrol.” Golden Ray sighed, beckoning the barkeep for another drink. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. But it’s more than just the completely awesome uniforms. You remember my cousin?” “Creepy unicorn, right?” “Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve heard rumors about him. He’s gonna get himself into some serious trouble if any of them turn out to be true.” “Yeah, but Silver Tongue has always managed to talk his way out of just about anything.” “I suppose. Still, I’d rather be safe than sorry.” “But isn’t he packing up to move out with the caravans soon? Establishing a new city or something like that?” “Manehattan, yeah. Still, though…I don’t like what I’ve been hearing. I just want to make sure the kid doesn’t get into any more trouble than necessary.” The pegasus smiled and guzzled down his now fifth drink. Storm Chaser shook his head. “You probably shouldn’t drink that much the night before you officially join the Guard. It can’t be good.” “Bah! I’ve handled more stressful situations under significantly more alcohol. Trust me when I say that I’ll be fine.” “Fine, fine. Suit yourself. I’m off though, I told Rose I would go with her up to the castle. She’s supposed to host the Summer Sun Celebration in a few years. It seems so far off, but she’s already planning. Wants everything to go perfectly. Anyway, I’ll catch ya later.” “Aww, we’ve just started drinking! I’m still coherent and have yet to make a complete fool of myself! But whatever, go on.” Golden Ray laughed heartily while bidding his best friend farewell. Storm Chaser found himself lying in his bed, his vision still blurry from his sleep. He looked around his bedroom, trying to make sense of everything. That dream…seemed so real… he thought to himself. It had felt like he was back at that tavern almost three years prior. He crawled out of his bed and stumbled to the window. From there he looked out over rows of buildings to peek at the clock tower. It read 4:22 AM. For a brief moment, he contemplated going back to sleep, but ultimately decided against it. He prepared his miniscule breakfast while contemplating his dream. The bright sun shone through one of the windows, blinding him for just a moment. He turned away and continued on his task. As the day progressed, Storm Chaser could only seem to focus on his dream from the previous night. Certainly there was something hidden away in that memory he needed. Or so he thought, anyway. Still, one name seemed to reverberate throughout the chambers of his mind. It was a name he probably only heard once or twice. Perhaps this individual knew the whereabouts of Golden Ray. After all, they were cousins.
