I am War.

“Celestia!”

“Excolotis.”

Celestia stood outside of Sugar Cube Corner; her characteristic mane fluttering in a nonexistent breeze; at her side Twilight fidgeted, uncertain of what to make of the fact that Excolotis seemed to know Celestia. Twilight and Celestia’s heads were tilted upwards to look at Excolotis, who seemed more than happy to see one of the royal Alicorn sisters.

“Look at you!” Excolotis waved his hands at the princess, “Your hair has grown long! I remember back when you had kept it cut close!”

“Really?” said Pinkie Pie, she scrunched up her nose as she studied her ruler, trying to imagine her with a cropped mane and tail, “Nope, I can’t see it.”

“Oh yes, and back then it was a bright pink,” continued Excolotis, “I must admit, the new look is far more regal, if not impractical.”

Twilight blinked. The concept of Excolotis knowing Celestia so well blew nearly anything she had known about the situation out of the water. There was no mention of an Excolotis in the books, not even in legends.

“What do you intend to do now that you have returned,” asked Celestia, a stern visage passing over her face, “Do you plan to carve out some empire to satisfy some need for conquest?” Her wings flared, and Celestia moved into an attack position. If Excolotis had come for vengeance, or had gone mad, she needed to take him out quickly; in a prolonged fight, he would win.

Excolotis stopped at the question. He looked up, a heavy sigh coming from his helm. He looked back down at his feet and crossed his arms, tapping the fingers of his right hand against his left bicep with a dull clanging noise. “Nope” he finally said. Raising his head to look Celestia square in the eyes; he continued “I do not want to rule some empire.  I do not want to start some war, or battle, or anything like that. If I am needed, I shall defend the realms as I always shall, but I have no desire to go out and start a fight.”

Celestia breathed out, and visibly slumped.

“However, why was I sealed away for four thousand years? Surely the deal would of have been fulfilled?”

Celestia tensed again, and Twilight took a few steps back; expecting a fight at any moment, “The political climate...” Celestia said slowly, “Did not allow me to keep our arrangement.”

“Hmm.” Excolotis slid his hands back to his sides, “I never did understand politics... but even I find that hard to believe.” Celestia raised her wings again, which began to rustle like a tree caught in the wind, “But still, I doubt you would betray me like that, Celestia. You were always such a kind soul.”

“Yes,” Celestia said, settling back onto her hooves, “I kind of am, anyway, much has changed in four thousand years, you may want to brush up on things.”

“So, what?” Excolotis asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice “No tales of bloody battles, or the early days of the kingdom of Equestria? Heh, you always did expect the worst, Celestia, do not worry about it. I know enough on how to interact with others.”

“Uh, Celestia?” asked Twilight, “My friendship reports might be of...”

“NO!” snapped Celestia, before calming herself, “No, that wouldn’t work Twilight. Excolotis is much too large for the Library; he will need to stay elsewhere.”

“But I know he couldn’t...”

“I said no, Twilight, don’t make repeat myself again. Now please be quiet, we’ll talk later.”

Twilight promptly shut her mouth closed after that. She did not know what was wrong with Celestia, but she seemed upset. One thing Twilight did not want to do was to upset her teacher, mentor and mot... childhood friend.

“Is there any pulding... building, why did I say pulding?” Pinkie shook her head before continuing; “Building in Ponyville big enough for him?”

“Ah, Pinkie Pie; I like you, straight to the chase!” Excolotis nodded his approval, “No muss of fuss about if you should, first things first you want to know if it is possible.”

“Excolotis,” piped up Twilight, getting a quick glare from Celestia as she did so, “The saying is ‘muss or fuss’ not ‘muss of fuss.’ Just, thought I should say that.”

“Thank you... Twilight,” nodded Excolotis, holding his finger upright, “I am always happy to be corrected when I make a mistake.”

“We are getting off track!” reminded Celestia, “The only building large enough for Excolotis is the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, and I doubt Applejack is able or willing to empty it out for him.”

“We could always ask,” pointed out Pinkie Pie, “Applejack isn’t one to turn away someone who needs help. She’s way too nice for that.”

“Fair enough,” said Excolotis, “But I should mention that I don’t really need that. Just give me some heavy, strong cloth and I can craft myself a tent.”

Pinkie Pie shook her head. “No one should have to sleep in some mouldy old tent when a solid roof is there. That just isn’t fair.” Pinkie punctuated the last sentence with a stomp of her hoof. Twilight had never seen Pinkie take anything so seriously, except when Applebloom was sick with Cutie Pox.

“If it really upsets you, Pinkie,” said Excolotis gently, “I’ll see what can be done.”

Pinkie Pie cheered, and began to bounce towards Applejacks orchards, Excolotis strolling along behind her. Twilight began to follow, when Celestia held up a hoof to stop her. “I owe you an explanation, Twilight,” she told her student,

“I’d really like to know what’s going on Princess,” said Twilight, “Who, or WHAT, was that, and how do you know him so well? And why did it look like you were going to attack him?”

Celestia sighed. “Excolotis is, and always will be, quick to anger. If he wanted revenge, he would of have stated it. He is never one to hop around the subject; if he wants you dead, he’ll tell you before he sticks a blade into you.

Excolotis is not fond of the weak or foolish. If he knew that you were writing friendship reports, he would think of you as an invalid. He’d treat you gently, as you might treat a cripple. But you need to know a few more things about him. And me.”

Ponies milled around uncertainly, some crying, others giggling as they rocked back and forth on their hooves, others just staring at nothing. Celestia and Luna stood some distance away, staring sadly at their subjects. Celestia’s hair was cut short, bright neon pink, her tail nipped close. Luna’s hair was a bit longer, but still nipped close; Luna’s colouration was a bright blue. Their finery was nowhere to be found, for it did not exist yet. Excolotis hadn’t forged it.

“Excolotis made your finery?!” exclaimed Twilight, “Did you commission him? How much did you give him?”

“It was a gift,” explained Celestia, “He made it after the kingdom was born. Now, don’t interrupt.”

“It is done, for now till the end of all things.” Sighed Luna, “The foul beast that haunted us for many an age is now long gone.”

“Perhaps, but we must continue our work.” Frowned Celestia, “Many of our subjects are not healing. They will not forget his torments for some time yet.”

Luna and Celestia’s heads whipped round at a screech from above, griffins swooping down upon the camp to attack and eat; as they did in the days of old. Most of the Ponies fled, running about in every direction. Those too far gone just sat in their own bodily waste, not even flinching as claws and hungry beaks ripped into their throats and stomach.

Luna and Celestia did their best to defeat the griffins, but they could not be everywhere at once. Yet even what they did was not enough. With every kick they gave, the griffins just rolled, or dodged. The royal sister’s skill in combat was not enough. Eventually, cuts and scraped lined their backs; and more than once they had to roll about to dislodge a griffin that had landed on their backs to rip at their necks.

Eventually, the griffins had over run the camp, and Celestia and Luna had gathered their charges back in a safer plain some distance away. Over six thousand scarred, traumatized ponies cried for their lost, grazed, and did their business. Twenty six had been lost.

“GIFFINS ate PONIES!?” shrieked Twilight, “They actually ATE ponies!?"

“Yes, Twilight,” sighed Celestia, “They ate ponies.”

“We cannot continue.” Luna shook her head. “We require a fortress, within which we can defend against these brigands who seek to harm us.”

“That is true;” agreed Celestia, “But these Ponies are not craftsmen. They are not warriors. Beasts roam in the forests, and griffins dwell in the rocky plains. We cannot survive this. I fear that we have delivered them from Discord and his evil, only to condemn the innocents below us to death.”

“Wait,” started Twilight, “So after you defeated Discord, we faced death, disease, and we had nowhere to call home?”

“Yes, Twilight.”

“So how did you rebuild Equestria?”

“It was because of Excolotis.”

“Why should I help you?” asked Excolotis. A claymore was slung across his back, nearly scraping the ground. A shield was strapped to his left arm, a bastard sword hung at his waist. Bandoliers of throwing knives were slung across his chest, and his robes and tabard were gone, for they did not exist yet.

“Because we require your aid to survive!” shouted Celestia, “without you, our ponies are doomed to death!”

“That is not my concern.” Stated Excolotis, “The Gryphons interest me more than your subjects. They are proud, strong; true warriors. Your ponies are weak, soft, broken things; nothing more than Prey.”

“So that is it then,” cried Luna, “You doom us because your amusement lies elsewhere?!”

“Aye.”

“Then we are doomed.” Luna hung her head, and began to cry softly. “It was not meant to be this way. We were supposed to be free from the nightmare.”

Celestia wrapped Luna in her wing and held her close.

“Walk with me, Excolotis,” said Celestia, “I would have words with you.”

Excolotis stood on a rocky outcrop, staring out over the grass plains. He sighed, and shook his head. “Very well Celestia, you have succeeded. I will help you.” He stared at his feet, and Celestia nodded.

“Thank you,” she whispered, “Thank you.”

“What?!” shouted Twilight. “What did you say?!”

“That is between me and Excolotis.” Said Celestia, “Not even Luna knows what happened.”

“Wait... you didn’t...?”

“No!”

“So what happened next?”

“NO! Keep your guard up!” shouted Excolotis, his stick thwacking across the Earth Pony’s back. “Remember, light jabs to stun, heavy jabs when he is slowed!” The pony growled across the staff clenched in his teeth, and stabbed and japed with the padded end.

Earth Ponies had paired off into groups of two, hundreds of them. Excolotis stalked back and forth across the ranks of sparring ponies. Above, Pegasus wheeled and turned in complicated manoeuvres.

To one side, Unicorns practised offensive spells, hurling bolts of magical force at griffin shaped bags filled with straw. Most were just knocked over by stray blasts, a few actually exploded when struck by direct hits by the magic missiles. One Unicorn used beautiful displays of pyrotechnic wonders, multi coloured blasts arcing and striking multiple targets. The Unicorn was already sweating, while her colleagues were still fresh. She cried as a stick went across her flank.

“You do not need to do anything impressive,” admonished Excolotis, waving his stick for emphasis, “Pure fore is all that is required. Blast flesh from bone and your foe will fall as readily as any other. Look at yourself. You are exhausted. Look at your companions. They are still fresh. Endurance is what matters here and your spells are draining too much. You need to be able to cast at a moment’s notice, and if you are tired you will not be able to. A moment of inattention is all it takes to be split from collar to nape.”

The Unicorn nodded, and began to use colourless blasts of magic that struck straight and true, blasting straw dummies apart. She began to sweat less, and her spells cast more frequently.

Hundreds of Earth Ponies marched in perfect lockstep, the crash of their hooves thundering as they advanced over the rocky plains. At their sides, they held wooden poles, iron blades six inches long held at the end by the tendons of slain animals. Hardened leather covered their flanks and shoulders; boiled, soft leather covering their forelegs and bellies. From a distance, magical blasts from Unicorns crashed into the griffins eyries, scattering stone and hurling shredded carcasses into the air.

Celestia and Luna stood in a tent made from tanned hides, staring at a map carved into soft vellum made from the belly of a griffin. Markers were moved about by their magic, and Excolotis stood nearby. “What do you plan to do now?” asked Excolotis.

“The Spearponies will move up to the caves, and then switch to short swords.” Celestia said; her eyes focused on the map. “They will clear them out. The Pegasus will keep the Gryphons away from the Earth Ponies using hit and run tactics, keeping them safe from overhead interference. The Unicorns will cease their blasts when the Earth Ponies move in, as the area will be too unstable.”

“Good. You are learning quickly.”

“There will be no prisoners, we cannot spare the resources.” said Luna flatly. Celestia whirled her head about in shock.

“Are we to simply slaughter them all?” whispered Celestia, “To kill young, old, and weak?”

“Luna is correct,” said Excolotis, “If we drive them out, they shall return. We must end this here and now. If they flee though, we cannot afford to run them down. Celestia, you must surround them, and hem them in with the Pegasus.”

“I am aware of that.” said Celestia, hanging her head low, “Without condoning, or condemning, I am aware of that.”

“You killed them all...” whispered Twilight. Her head swam, and she felt faint. The concept of what she was hearing was too much for her to bear. Her mentor, her friend... had committed an atrocity. “Why? Why did they deserve to die?”

“We couldn’t do otherwise.” whispered Celestia, “It was... a different time. Crimes like that were needed. We had to do terrible things, because if we didn’t, we would die. ‘If you kill, you die’ is one of our laws, but back then... the law was ‘you kill, you live.’ I am sorry, Twilight, but that’s how it was back then.”

“I... I need to think about this.”

“I understand, Twilight.”

“No!” shouted Twilight, startling Celestia with her sudden fury, “You don’t! You don’t get it! IT WAS WRONG! What... it was MONSTEROUS! I can’t... I need to go.”

Twilight turned and ran, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m so sorry, Twilight.” whispered Celestia, tears running down her face, “Forgive me.”

“Broken down till your hope has died; kneel down to my victory tonight! Stand up and show me some pride, and now are you ready?” Excolotis walked out the barn, singing a rather aggressive song, and carrying a pallet full of apples in his arms. “I’m one with the warrior inside; the evidence can’t be denied, your entire world will turn into a battlefield tonight! As I look upon you, though the warrior’s eyes now, I can see the fear that will ensure my victory this night!”

Applejack stepped around the corner, two baskets full of apples hanging from her shoulders, and paused to listen.

“You can’t hide now, I am the warrior!” Excolotis sang, “So decide now; how they will remember you! You can’t hide now, act like a warrior! So decide now, and solidify your place in time!”

“Not a bad tune,” smiled Applejack, “Bit darker than I’d like, but my tastes probably ain’t nothing like yours.” Excolotis chuckled at that, and nodded.

“So then Applejack,” Excolotis looked around, “Where do you want these?”

“Just over there,” Applejack pointed over at a clearing nearby, which was covered by a heavy blue shade cloth, “The apples can wait there to be taken to market later. I got to admit, you’re more help that I’d thought you’d be.”

“Appreciate the compliment... I think.”

“So that’s the barn, then.” Applejack nodded, “Now we just need some furniture, like a bed or something, and then you’re all set.”

“And don’t forget the PARTY!” With a burst of confetti, Pinkie Pie launched out of the pale of apples and blew a horn right into Excolotis face, who promptly dropped the pallet, and Pinkie, onto the dirt. “Ow. That wasn’t that bright of an idea, huh...”

“Pinkie,” scolded Applejack, “Now the apples will be bruised!”

“No, they won’t silly filly,” giggled Pinkie Pie, hopping out of the apples, “I put light padding between the apples.”

“Beg pardon?” said Applejack, “How long did that take you?”

“Oh, not long.” smiled Pinkie Pie. Applejack got the same feeling she got from time to time; that Pinkie Pie knew far more than she was letting on.

“How did you do that?” asked Excolotis, poking at the apples with a finger, “There isn’t even a hole where you used to be. That’s... not impossible obviously, but very unlikely at least.”

“I make physics my bitch.” giggled Pinkie Pie.

“What does a female dog have to do with anything?” asked Applejack, “And how do you turn physics into one in the first place?”

“Oh, don’t worry Applejack.” nodded Pinkie Pie, “The others get it.”

Excolotis stared at Applejack, who shook her head. It was best not to question how Pinkie Pie was able to do things. Just accept it as part of her quirks and move on. Excolotis picked up the pallet and carried it over to the shaded area, gently putting it on the ground.

“So, the party’s in a few hours Excolotis,” said Applejack, “We’ll get some furniture for you later. Twilight can probably magic something up for you. In the meantime, let’s go to Rarity’s boutique. You’ve been wearing that dress...”

“Robe,” Interrupted Pinkie Pie.

“I knew that!” snapped Applejack, making Excolotis chuckle, “Any way, we’ll see if Rarity can make something better than those, robes, to wear to the party.”

“So let’s go!” cheered Excolotis, “I get to spend time with good company, and everything else is a bonus!”

“Mighty kind of you,” smiled Applejack, “I think we’re going to get along just fine!”

“We’re gonna be bestest friends” shouted Pinkie Pie, “And we’re gonna to have the best parties! Hey, look its Twilight!”

Twilight flung herself into Applejack’s embrace, sobbing into her mane. Applejack shifted uneasily, and held up Twilight up uneasily. “Uh, Hey Twi.” She soothed, “are you okay?”

“How could she do that?” cried Twilight, “I thought she was better than that.”

Applejack held Twilight close, and shushed her. “It’s okay, Twi, just tell me what happened, did she hurt you?”

“She killed them,” Twilight sobbed, her face buried in Applejack’s mane, “She just killed them. Like they didn’t matter.”

“Who did, sugar cube?”

“Celestia...”

“Celestia?!” asked Pinkie Pie, shock in her voice, “Did she turn evil, and become Nightmare Sol?!”

Applejack and Twilight stared at their hyperactive friend. “It’s a legitimate question.” said Excolotis.

“You!” snarled Twilight, “You’re no better! You should of have stayed in that cave!”

“Ah,” Excolotis nodded, and knelt on one knee, “I take it Celestia told you of the first few years of the second Equestria then?”

“Yes!” Twilight growled, “How could you do that?!”

“Twilight,” said Applejack, “Would you mind filling us in?”

Excolotis sighed, “We slaughtered a few hundred griffin marauders, and tore down their eyries. I imagine Twilight is upset about the lack of mercy we showed back then.”

“I get it,” nodded Applejack, “I’ve had to get rid of a few vermin in my life.”

“A few vermin...” said Twilight, shoving away her friend, “What is wrong with you?! How can you talk about killing innocent creatures like that?!”

“Sometimes...” said Pinkie Pie, nudging the ground with her hoof, “You don’t have a choice. My dad taught me that.”

“Then your dad was wrong!” shouted Twilight, “It’s never right to take a life!”

“If my dad didn’t, I wouldn’t have grown up with a mom.” said Pinkie.

“Oh Pinkie...” said Twilight, “I didn’t...”

“Don’t say a word.” said Pinkie, her hair deflating and becoming straight, her neon pink coat darkening, “Not one word.”

“Does this often happen?” asked Excolotis.

“I’ve only seen it once before,” Whispered Applejack, “and it’s never good.”

“You grew up sheltered in a city,” snarled Pinkie Pie, “Personal student of the Princess, huh? When did you go hungry? Did you ever sleep huddled against the cold, sharing a bed with your sisters because you couldn’t afford the space? Did you ever have to work though rain, because if you didn’t, you’d lose the gem harvest?”

“Pinkie, I...”

“Not. One. Word. You don’t know hardship or anything like that. It’s nice that you have such morals, but make no mistake Twilight, it’s a luxury, and when the nearest guard is two days away as the Pegasus flies, a lot of things can, and do, go wrong. So why don’t you go live as I did, and when you have? Then you can say whether or not killing is needed.” Pinkie Pie stared intently at Twilight, before she began to stalk along the road to Ponyville, “And if you don’t mind, I have a party to plan.”

Twilight sat by the road, stunned into silence by her friends uncharacteristic outburst. “That was scary,” said Applejack, turning to face Twilight, “But Pinkie’s right. The world ain’t always kind, or fair, and bad things do happen.”

“I get that. I think I really do.”

“Okay then. Want something to drink?”

“Sure. Got any salt water?”

“...It’s three in the afternoon.”

“I know.”