The sun rises on another eventful day of the ruined castle town of Canterlot. Not a single noise could be heard as the birds and various animals that once roamed the streets of this desolate place they used to call home no longer decide to show their faces here. After all, things have become more eventful.

What used to be rubble and dug up cobblestone roads now house the bodies of both Griffons, Griffins, Pegasi, Earthponies, and Unicorns. The blood either freshly shed or caked across buildings, grass, and roads. Such a gruesome sight is welcomed to add a dash more color to the grey and rotted Canterlot of legends.

Yet, despite it all, there will always be time to ponder and think. A time to forget the exhaustion building up within ones body in order to find some solace of rest despite the death and destruction all around.

"Have you ever wondered what life would be like on the other side? Like... think about it, right? We're enemies sure, but have you ever wondered how they view us and our history with them? Like if we were them, would we be doing the same thing as them if our positions were switched or do you think Ponykind would have just let everything be."

"Can't say I've put much thought into something like this honestly. Never seen a point in asking questions. I just blindly follow orders like the next bloke and let everypony else deal with the consequences. I think if we ask too many of questions we'll wind up second guessing ourselves in the most important moments."

"I think we're viewing this differently honestly. Like... I've been doing some reading-"

"That's a first."

"Shut up! Look, I've been doing some reading and you won't believe the type of stuff I found in the ancient libraries. The restricted section has all sorts of forgotten or unknown knowledge. This is all stuff that Twilight Sparkle would have learned and things the princesses knew from the start. They could've even started to work on better diplomatic deals with the Gryphs to stop this from ever happening."

"You don't know that really. Honestly, this might be the best outcome. You would think that with their long lives they would have done something more to prevent something like this happening. No, I think something out of their control happened. That eerie darkness and the nightmares everypony was having. I don't think this was something they could've predicted."

"So why didn't they tell anyone until it was war?"

"How do you think you would've responded? Calm and collected or panicked and scared?"

Silence returns to the darkness of the building.

"You see? You can't just claim that you know something would be for the better without actually thinking about it. Yes we had knowledge, yes we had the resources and the power to back it, but when force comes to shove we tried diplomatic relationships instead of militaristic. I'm not gonna say whether one way was right or wrong, but we are where we are and we shouldn't keep asking what if questions.

"Don't misunderstand me. I get where you're coming from. What if we were them and how do they feel about all of this as well. Do they want this war as much as us or are they being forced to partake into something they don't wanna do either. Its ridiculous yes, but we are here despite the multiple options that were covered."

"Soldiers don't ask questions huh?"

"Damn straight. We just go along with what the hell others say."

"... I just can't believe it."

"Than you are a better pony than me Silver Streak."

"I don't really think I can take that compliment, if I'm to be honest the only reason I've made it as far as I have is because of you and your unwavering devotion to what you know and do."

"That is true. You are pretty lucky to have a pony like me at your side."

"Even in the dark I can still see your shit eating grin you know."

"Haha! This is why I love being with you. Despite our differences I always manage to bring out the best in you!"

"You're such a dick you know that. To be able to even laugh in this situation..."

"What can I say. I have a dark sense of humor!"

"You are something else you know that?"

"I can still hear the smile in yours~."

The two chuckle before returning to silence once more.

"Hey, Stolen Breeze?"

"Yea, Silver?

"You wanna get a drink after all of this? Like none of the fruity stuff you like but like the hard stuff that they've been making. It's suppose to burn like Tartarus going down but make you feel like you could take on an entire platoon by yourself. Once heard that Molly got hit by that stuff so hard she managed to tear down half an entire building on her own by accident."

"Horseapples man. You know I don't believe in that stuff. Besides, I'd rather have something tasteful in my body. Not something that could probably kill me after the first sip."

"Pansy."

"Himbo."

The two return to chuckling but find it cut short as the door holding them within the room opens bringing light into their small room. Stolen Breeze finds himself covered in blood matting down much of his dark brown fur while Silver Streak finds himself with blood all over his face with a black band wrapped around his eyes.

While one turns towards the sound of the door opening the other looks up and rolls his eyes at the sight before him. A Griffon stands looking at the two with bored expressions. It twists its head and motions with it for them to follow it before patting the blade at its side.

Breeze sighs before forcing himself up onto his hooves before helping Silver to do the same.

"Where are we going?" Silver asks confused at the motion of them walking.

"Who knows. Just don't think about it alright? I got you." Breeze tries to reassure him as he glares at each Griffon and Griffin he passes, "Beside, you wouldn't like the sight anyway. Nothing but a bunch of ugly birds. They don't even sing either let alone chirp."

A nearby Griffin returns the ponies glare before fluttering its wings and smiling at the de-winged Pegasus. Breeze only chuckles, "Better enjoy them while they're there. I'll be coming for them soon."

A quick smack from the Griffon they're following silences him. They find themselves walking out of the makeshift barracks made from several abandoned homes of ponies that once lived there before the war.

"Celestia... I've missed the feeling of the sun..." Silver breathes out his body shivering from the slight winter breeze.

"Yea... I know how you feel. Though I'm glad you can't see what they've done to this place..."

Wooden walls can be seen erected allowing the Gryphs to have some form of protection from their attackers on the ground. Several patrols could be seen flying over head to make sure that Pegasi don't get the drop of them. To think the Gryphs have become this entrenched into their positions, its ridiculous. But a war camp is a war camp.

And every war camp needs its form of entertainment. Silver and Breeze are stopped before a gated ring where several Gryphs have gathered around eating, laughing, and cheering at whatever is taking place inside. A familiar grunt and cry is heard by Silver as he turns his head and flicks his ears towards it.

"I could sworn I heard-"

"You misheard. Now close those ears of your Floppy. You'll wind up making a dust storm if you keep that up."

"Get inside" The now known female Griffon states pointing at Breeze, "You already know the deal. Do well and everything will be the same. Don't and well, some of the Griffins have already started picking out parts. And holes."

Breeze spits on the Griffon's talon causing her and squawk indigently before attempting to strike out at the offender. Her claw is stopped by a nearby Griffin who simply shakes its head at her before putting its full attention on Breeze.

"Make it interesting." He speaks out before lifting him up on the throat, "Because I've got a hell of a surprise for you today."

The Griffin than proceeds to throw Breeze into the ring before leading Silver off to sit beside him.

"Fucking hate that Grim Claw..." Breeze says pushing himself up mumbling all the way.

He looks up in front of him to see something he never thought he would see here of all places.

A Timberwolf. Covered in blood and holding organs within its sap dripping teeth. Several dead bodies lie around it, all pony in origin, which causes Breeze to panic all the more. No weapon was given to him this time and the only thing he can really tell about today's battle is that it's life or death. Or more like death or death given the situation he's in.

"Come the fuck on..." Breeze says starting to do the circle dance he's grown used to ever since becoming a POW.

The Gryphs begin cheering for the Timberwolf to tear him to pieces. Much to Breeze's enjoyment. He's going to enjoy disappointing these bigoted Gryphs if it's the last thing he does. Breeze rolls his shoulders before popping his neck knowing full well this was going to take some time. But boy would he try.

The Timberwolf grows impatient and lashes out running quickly to topple him over. Despite the lack of wings, Breeze still remains fast as she quickly moves out of it way but not before kicking up dirt to try and blind the creature. It seems to work as the beast begins to shake its head. Breeze makes his way over to a nearby Earthpony body before yanking out its spine with as much force as he can muster, all the while asking to be forgiven by it's soul, and faces back towards the Timberwolf that's already recovered.

The Gryphs laugh and make crude comments about using his once comrade's spine as a make shift weapon. He ignores them, as usual, but he can feel his soul shaking from this type of defilement he's never considered before. But he has to survive. If not for himself, but for Silver. He'll be damned if he lets anything happen to him. His grip tightens upon the spine his hooves already bleeding from gripping the bones too tight.

"Bring it." Breeze whispers as the two make their way towards each other.

Breeze on his hindlegs and the Timberwolf on all fours looking to take his mobility out.

"So tonight is the night, right?" Twilight asks while moving her arm up and down holding the solid piece of enchanted stone within her grasp.

Weeks have already gone by since the start of the "light" skirmishes. The were supposed to take place and force the Gryphs out of their lands but something had gone inexact. A fallacy of thinking that the Gryphon would plan accordingly to them. That he would just go about ransacking everything without thinking to be challenged.

That was proven wrong on the first pincer attack. The dastardly Gryphon forced his soldier to rig everything to explode incase something like this were to happen. Several were taken with the suicide bombers, but other areas where the same plan had been put into action were not as malevolent. This Gryphon's malicious intent goes beyond just lives. Total annihilation of everything is what he most likely seeks.

Many Pony lives have been lost, but equally so on the Griff side as well do to his silly planning. Than again, life is more precious on the Pony side seeing as there aren't many to be given. Despite it all, moral stays higher than ever. The fact that the Gryphon would force his troops to give their lives to readily without thought has stirred something deep within everypony. Almost every mentally strong Pony has stepped forth to take a part in this war one way or another.

Twilight considers that this would all be over if it wasn't for the fact that their leader is nothing more than a coward who refuses to put his life down when it matters. He shows up suddenly and as soon as Twilight appears, he decides to duck out when things get rough. The few bouts they've had, he's always managed to slip out between her fingers. Its entirely frustrating!

She glances down at her arm where several claw marks have been left by the bastard in her mind. The ones on her face also flare slightly, but she ignores it for the moment. There are other things she has to focus on.

But this has led to another advantage that her fellow Ponies have begun to take advantage of. Several Gryphs have began to give up on their leader and have chosen to defect or completely give up whenever he turns tail or nearly fall in battle. They see it as an easier way out rather than a meaningless death.

Well... for those that don't end up dying at least. Several of the Gryphs have gone... "missing" on several routine walk throughs. Nopony says anything and nopony asks anything. Twilight slightly wonders if she's turning her comrades into savages. But than again, even before now they had managed to pull the worse out of themselves to find an all or nothing war. Especially the Earth Ponies. Strap them to the bottom of a Pegasi and you have the best destructive force aside from the Horde itself.

"Yes. Just as long as you hold up your end of the bargain, Twilight. We know how clever your Ponies can be and how vicious you can be when things take a turn. So we would rather not feel the back lash."

"Yeah yeah. You'll get your Queen... I've been doing research for long enough to know the failsafe. So as long as everything goes the way it's supposed to, you'll be able to get whatever you want. We'll even talk about trades. After all, we'll probably have more Gryphs than what we'll know what to do with.

Despite the dim light within the personal workout room, Twilight is unable to see the smile, but she can certainly feel it and hear it within the creature's voice.

"Good! I look foreword to doing more business with you! Oh, and do be sure to keep that temper under control. All the magic leaking off of you is quite slickening. Especially the yellow bits."

She says nothing as she continues her training, muscles straining under the enchanted weight, until the presence is gone. She grits her teeth and slams the stone into the nearest wall nearly causing the entire section of the cave to crumble under her power. She uses to magic to suppress her aura as well as the aura of Celestia. She sighs and quickly moves out of the room and out into the hallway.

Twilight knows she can't let her anger take hold of her. Else it'll be their destruction. She's so close to setting a stake in this world for everypony else. It might not be the greatest place, but a foundation can lead to so much more than just a hovel in the ground. Despite all of her anger, stress, and inner doubt, she won't let this be the end of her no matter what.

She stops as her eyes catches something in the corner of her eye. She reaches out and picks up the picture of her old princess self with all her friends. Unchanged by war, anger, and magic. All of their wonderful smiles and energy that seems to radiate off the picture itself. Its kind of unfair when she thinks about it...

This war, the rift, the Horde and all of its Demons. She places the picture back down and wipes away the tears she hadn't realized had started falling. She was doing this for them. She had to remember that. Keep focused and stay centered. It'll all be worth it to see them again. This was nothing more than a stepping stone in the path she had to walk.

Than why does it all hurt so much? She forces herself to move away from the distraction so she can go get ready for tonight. This is her make it or break it moment. And she would be damned to miss her own party.

The darkness is a comforting place. Even to those that are not as naturally drawn to it as his and his brethren, it still comes out as a sort of comfort unlike any other. Despite how dark it is, none of them are burdened by much of what the surface dwellers call the lack of sight. In fact, many of them see better in this darkness than they do on the surface. It is, of course, do to the fact that many of them were born into the darkness. Though, not as of late. There haven't been any larvae in quite a while.

Too long of a while. A misdeeds placed upon the hive do to the lack of foresight by their former queen. Their brood mother more like it. She forced others to submit to her, but now they have become much stronger than they were before. They would force her to obey instead. To birth more larvae in order to continue the lineage of the Changelings.

Yes. Yes. This was the way the course of nature had to progress. It was either that or stagnate and die out much like the other hives had done in the glass wars that made the badlands in the first place. Recovery from ancestor's mistakes still have not been felt. Perhaps many years before even the start of that. But in time, perhaps, there will come a time to be free of it.

After all, there are the Givers as well as the Takers. Despite them not seeing eye to eye, they still coexists providing to one another needs and purposes the other can not. And with the queen returned, both sides will hopefully see an increase in their ranks.

Though he’s sure there are those that wish for their race to fail. Though one that he once thought would have wanted it to be so has chosen instead to strike a deal to insure their survival.

Twilight Sparkle… Even just her name radiates so much power. She was fearsome when angered within her Alicorn body, but now she is just fearsome. This… amalgamation of spirits into one being. The various radiating power and yet something darker lurks beneath.

It’s slowly rising to the surface though. She seems to realize this, but not exactly what “it” is. She’s suppressing it heavily but it’ll soon break free. There is currently a betting pool amongst the Takers to see if the form she takes on will be worse the last.

“You’re nervous.” One speaks out to Twilight, “and yet excited at the same time. I’m sure you’ve made proper planning on your side?”

Twilight snorts at the question, “I’m no Pinkie, but I do know how to organize, plan, and manipulate. I’ve had many years of practice, thank you very much!”

“Ah, yes. You’ll have to forgive me for my tongue.”

“I know you mean no offense but… I’m worried about the way this will turn out. I know I’m doing my best and this is the best for everyone. But… what if everything goes wrong?

“ You worry too much of that which will go wrong. You must focus on which that may go right. Do not let your confidence erode because of your doubts. When the time is right, everything will click together.

“ After all, the best laid plans are often unseen.”

“Yeah you would know all about that, wouldn’t you.”

Twilight could feel the collective smiles behind her, “Guilty as charged.”

“We are almost here.” A digger speaks out causing many of the Takers to prepare themselves for the fight that is to come.

“Good. I’m itching to get my hand around that bird’s neck.”

“Patience is key. Never forget that. But if that fails, unleash hell.”

Twilight smirks and rolls her shoulders, “Sounds fine to me!”

Minutes pass by in silence once more. Tension could be felt through the tunnel until the moment finally came.

“Ready yourself, Twilight. We are in place to strike.”

Twilight focuses on the spells that will alert the other know that the dual strike of both the Changelings and the Ponies will commence.

“Ready.”

“Now!”

The Changelings proceed to shoot up into the ceiling ripping the earth apart with focused ease. Twilight follows shortly after through the falling earth to the pathetic cries of the Gryphs around her. Her hands shoot up into the air firing off a spell that forms a magical image of her cutie mark for all to see.

Thus the final assault was on as Pegasi rained from the sky taking out those confused by the sudden appearance of Changelings and the burst of magic. The Pegasi make quick work of the throats of those that don’t catch on quick while Earth Ponies come rushing into the camp quickly taking out the more heavily armored soldiers who grasp toward their weapons. The other are less prepared as other magical signals begin to light the air signaling the success of the secret assault.

Twilight smiles as her direction is turned towards the real reason she came here. The Gryphon stands in anger and silence as he watches he troops suddenly get torn to shreds. Their eyes lock and they both seem to come to an understanding that this is their final moments.

The Gryphon screams and rushes forward with the few soldiers that managed to survive the surprise attack and those that hadn’t been in the area.

Twilight runs at the Gryphon through the piling bodies and various strikes against her to full on body check the Gryphon before her. He stumbles back only to catch an glowing fist to the face causing him to lash out with his claws taking some of Twilight’s clothes and blood with him.

Twilight takes up a brawler’s stance as the Gryphon steadies himself and eyes her.

“I’ll have your liver for breakfast, your heart for lunch, and your brains for dessert.” The Gryphon grumbles out licking the blood from his claws.

“I’m going to break every bone in your body, reset them, and do it all over again you bastard.”

The two move towards one another. The Gryphon goes high while Twilight keeps low, arms tight, and body loose. She sways to her own rythme keeping an eye more on his body than the strikes coming at her. Her fists glow with power causing the rest of her to seem dim in comparison.

The Gryphon jumps and lashes out with his wings in an attempt to blind her, but she moves in quick taking the opportunity to aim for a vital. The Gryphon is quick to move and slams a paw into her arm to throw the blow off and give a glancing blow. She winces as she feels his claws dig into her as he tries to take off.

Using her I grabbed arm, she grabs the offending legs and yanks him to the ground. She quickly rushes to take on a dominant position over him on the ground, but he uses his own body weight and talons to fend her off causing her to back and rise from the ground. The Gryphon tires to as well but quickly catches a foot to the side sending him skidding likely cracking bones in the area.

She is about to follow up when two Griffons nervously get in her way to buy their boss some time. Rage feels her as she growls, “Not. Again!”

She’s had it with these interruptions! Every time she grows so close, something stops her! Every fucking time! She’s tired of the near constant interruptions! She’ll have that Gryphon’s head!

The Griffon on the right lashes out with a sword only to watch it break against the hand of Twilight as he hand takes hold of his lower beak and yanked his face closer to hers. The Griffon skwawks in fear before it quickly turns to silence as a second hand grabs the back of his head and twist sharply causing him to look behind him in a near instant.

The other Griffon drops his spear in fear and attempt to take off only to find himself held in magic.

“ No running.”

Every part of his body screams in pain as he can feel his insides becoming increasingly closer to one another at a frightening pace. Not a sound is made from him aside from the cracking of bones and squelching of meat being pressed together like a compactor.

“You’re a monster!” The Gryphon yell.

“Rich coming from you! You know what the hell i had to go through to be here! To see you! To finally put a end to at least this! How many children, how many lives, how many slave!”

The Gryphon tries to react with a talon strike as Twilight is suddenly before him only to find the length of his arm firmly held by the hand of hers before being ripped out of at the base of his shoulder. He screams for an instance before her fist smack into his beak shattering the protective shell and skewing it on his face almost comically if not for the blood freely pouring from both his offices and the lack of an appendage.

“Shut the fuck up! I'm tired of those stupid noises you make!” Twilight yells reaching into his gaping mouth and learning what amount of his tongue as she can from his mouth and throat causing him to gurgle on his blood.

“You won't die from this much. I've made sure of that. You birds are tenacious and I'm sure you more so than them. Oh no. I'm going to have my fun with you.”

A smirk, unlike any usual one, appears on Twilight’s face. Something darker was in her eyes. Something he's never seen.

Despite his mind telling him to beg for his life, his body is unable to. A talon reaches out to force her off of him, but his energy has already gotten weak.

He would smile if her could as his saving grace come in the form of a spear through her back and out her front. Despite it newly spearing him in the process, hebcoulsnt help but feel triumphant in the thought she would go down with him. Though the thought was vanished as the Griffin behind her simply evaporates spear and all.

A sense of fear fill him as her eyes meet his again. Twilight Sparkle was no longer there. What was left was something filled with hatred? Or could it be seen a pitty?

“You lonesome creature. Your spirit cries out for release. She truly made you suffer more than you would have thought.”

He could feel something caress something deep within him. It wasn't painful. There was no discomfort. He manages to glance down to see a portion of her arm had entered his body.

“Sleep now, caged bird. Your time to rest is now.”

And it was so. Vacant eyes met her own as he slipped into slumber. A hush had overcame the battlefield. The aura that once stirred them all to fight to the death had suddenly stopped. In it's wake, tranquillity followed.

It's consequence is confusion and revulsion. Many couldn't comprahend what had happened until now. Other understood it all to well. The feeling of being swept by emotions only to realize the mistake too late. Each of them had to realize they had been turned to savagery. Sure they wanted the Gryphs out. But to annihilate them all? To secretly take out their aggression on the captured? Was that truly who they were?

What had broken them from this thought? Was it Twilight all along? Or was she just pushing forward the thoughts that wanted action?

It was too aick of a thought to entertain. A few hoped that it was all a sick dream as they looked into the eyes of the Gryph they had speared or cut down in order to preserve their lives and take back what was theirs. It was only fair, right?

They had decided who lived and who died so why not the Ponies in return? It wasn't like the world was fair to anycreature.

The creature who was known as Twilight releases the slumpped body of the Gryphon who only fought because he thought he had to. She turned to the Gryphs too scared to fight back and allured by the thought of treasure and glory. The Ponies who believed they had taken up a righteous cause to take hold of a world they had lost.

Were they all right? Were they all wrong? It was hard to tell and everycreature will tell a different story.

The one thing that will remain the same is the description of the figure that had taken Twilight’s form. No longer were there taunt muscled legs and arms. They had been replaced by slender smooth tanned skinned. The dirt and grime that once clung to her disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Her face, while gentle, held a stern set of emotions. Anger and sadness radiated from her glowing emerald eyes. Her face, sharp, still holds a sort of elegance other could look up to. The pull her body holds leaves others captivated and lost within the vision that seems to hold 1000 years of experience in what seems to be such a young form.

She says nothing as she walks past each creature silently. She makes her way with no heed of the bodies before her gracefully stepping past each one until she reached what felt to be the center of the battlefield. There, she raised her arms and dropped to her knees.

She opened her mouth and everyone waited with baited breathe for what would happen next. She inhales heavily...

And proceeds to scream causing those closest to reel back at the sudden shift of demeanor. Tears fell and the cry of desperation and frustration cupuld not be mistaken for anything else. The rattle of despair from such a beautiful creature caused all those nearby to feel guilty for what they had done.

Author's Note

So uh a lot has happened just know that I'm back again. I'm currently writing out season two and we should be getting back into the swing of things soon.