I am War.

The four Gryphons stepped forwards. They wore armour; a breastplate, a face covering helmet, greaves and vambraces. Each of them had a heater shield, with a variety of cruel maces in their hands. They stood on their hind legs, balancing perfectly so that they could use their weapons and armaments. The leader stepped forwards, his mace over his shoulder as he looked around the barn. His gaze lingered on the banner welcoming Excolotis to Ponyville.

"Sie heißen diesen Mörder willkommen?” he said, “Sie sind alle Dummköpfe.”

“Excuse me,” said Fluttershy, “who are you, and what do you want?”

“We are rache made flesh.” sneered the leader, “And we want Excolotis.”

“I won’t tell you where he is.” said Pinkie Pie.

“Wir haben einen tapferen dummkopf.” smiled the leader, “And why not?”

“Because I don’t know where he is!” smirked Pinkie Pie.

“That will not be a problem; we will make him come here. Er interessiert sich soviel für seinen ponies.”

“So what’s with the language,” asked Rainbow Dash, “I thought that you wouldn’t be able to speak Equestrian.”

“Well that’s quite simple.” said Excolotis, leaning back on his stool.

The lunch had wound down, empty plated and bowls in front of the group. Excolotis had drained the water mug, and devoured all the fruit salad. Twilight had left the crusts of her daisy sandwich on her plate, having gently nibbled away all the bread and ingredients, while Rainbow Dash had not only eaten her salad, but had gone on to eat a tulip thick shake, devoured a raspberry tart, and had washed it down with a bottle and a half of a Griffin Hofbräuhaus beer; claiming that it was because she spent a lot of energy all the while.

When the waiter Stylo came by with the bill, he had done so with a flourish and a smile. Twilight had boggled at it, and Rainbow had paid off her share.

“What you’re speaking, let’s call it Late Modern Equestrian,” continued Excolotis “is rather similar to, ah... Early Modern Equestrian, which is what I spoke back then. Of course, it’s not as bad as Middle Equestrian, you’d never understand me if I spoke that.”

“So why not give us a try?” asked Rainbow, “We might be able to know what you’re on about!”

Excolotis shrugged, “Fine then. This is the Canterbury Tales, ‘bout, what... a good six or seven thousand before your time, during the Republic of Equestria.

Wan that Aprille with his sure-es so-tuh. The drewgt of march hath paer-said to the rowtuh, and bath-ed every vane in sweech liquor of wheech ver-too; of wheech ver-too en-jen-dred is the flu-er...”

“Whoa whoa whoa...” said Rainbow, “What the hay does that mean?”

“Oh Rainbow Dash,” giggled Twilight, “That was what they spoke back then. Translated quickly, it means: when fair April with his showers sweet, has pierced the drought of March to the root's feet and bathed each vein in liquid of such power, its strength creates the newly springing flower.”

“Well why not simply say that?” demanded Rainbow, “Why go on some long winded rant about it?”

“Because Rainbow,” said Excolotis, “I’m trying to prove a point. Modern Equestrian isn’t that different from what I spoke before I was sealed away, and as such I can understand it quite well.”

The argument would of have continued on for some time, if Appleboom had not at that moment decided to leap up on the table, “Excolotis! Ya gotta come quick!”

‘What’s wrong, Applebloom?” asked Twilight, “Where’s Applejack?”

“There’s some mean Griffins at the barn, and they’ve got mah big sis, and Granny, and Big Mac’ and Applejack told me to run as fast as ah could an’ go get help!”

“This is not cool.”

“Be silent.”

“We shouldn’t be doing this, we’re meant to be going after Gefürchtet, not some dweeb ponies.”

Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and the apple family sat in a group not too far away. Applejack had a large gash on her face, a few of her teeth next to her in a pile. She wheezed on her back as Fluttershy tended to her. Granny Smith sat some distance away, a frown on her face as he looked at their captors. Pinkie Pie’s hair had deflated again, and the glare she was giving was enough to turn away the griffins when they tried to stare her down.

“Ich sagte sei leise, du ärgerliches geschöpf,” shouted the griffin leader, “wenn nicht, töte ich dich gleich hier!”

“Speak Equestrian you moron!” shouted the griffin, “To hay with this, I’m getting them out!”

The griffin took a step towards the ponies; before the leader took a smart step forwards and brought his mace across his former lackey’s head. Hard. The griffin went down with a sigh, the helmet rolling into a far corner. Her head feathers were white with a long bang sticking out in front, dyed purple towards the end. Her eyes were golden, and Fluttershy gasped as she saw who it was.

“Gilda,” she whispered, “What have you gotten yourself into?”

“Das ist was geschieht wenn du ungehorsam bist.” The griffin said, turning away from Gilda’s limp body, “Kein seien sie gute littile Dummköpfe und tun sie da ich zu sagen.”

“Chefmann!” shouted a griffin by the door, “Gefürchtet kommt. Er ist sehr groß! Er wird wie ein Steinrückständehaus errichtet! Es sind andere Schwächlingsponies mit ihm, und ich denke dass sie etwas vorhaben!”

“Wir werden folgendes machen.” said the leader, “Ihr zwei, Bleibt bei den Gefangenen, ich gehe heraus und spreche mit Gefürchtet."

The griffins ran towards the ponies, brandishing weapons and growling. Fluttershy scrambled back and Big Mac’ moved forwards to defend his family and friend. The leader simply cracked Big Mac’ across the face, sending teeth and blood splattering across the floor, while the massive farm pony hit the ground hard, his shredded cheek hanging off his face and leaking red fluid onto the sawdust floor.

The leader then grabbed Fluttershy by her fore-hoof and dragged her towards the barn door, Fluttershy screaming all the while until a crack to the ribs with the flanged mace stole her breath. Taking the breathless pony, the leader hefted her up and threw her through the barn door, causing the wood to splinter from the force. As Fluttershy hit the ground outside she heard Twilight shouting her name.

‘Why is Twilight here?’ Fluttershy thought, ‘Was she hurt too? Is this a dream...?’

“Und so die gefürchtete…” started the leader as he stepped after the broken form of a yellow Pegasus, “Heilige Scheiße, bist du groß…”

“Let her go!” shouted Twilight.

“He won’t.” said Excolotis.

“That... foul...” growled Rainbow Dash.

The barn sat on a flat stretch of land, a dirt path lined with apple trees leading away and splitting some fifty feet from the barn, one road leading to town, past the house, and another leading to the rest of the orchards. The griffon had Fluttershy pinned with a paw on the back of her head, his mace raised to strike at a moment’s notice. Almost thirty meters away, Excolotis, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight stared at the scene in front of them.

“So you are Excolotis,” smiled the griffin, “I will avenge my ancestors for your crimes!”

“That happened over three thousand years ago,” said Twilight, “Fluttershy did nothing, let her go!”

“I paid the price for what I did.” Said Excolotis, “Stop this. Du entehrst dich durch deinen Hass.”

“You foul dog,” said the griffin leader, “You are no more than a beast. You do not wear clothing; much like a hound does not sit at his master’s table. Take the clothes off.”

“Oh that’s too much...” fumed Rainbow Dash, “you come here, hurt our friends, and now you-“

“Rainbow Dash.” Excolotis interrupted, “Its fine. Twilight, take the suit back to Rarity.”

Excolotis reached up, and undid the buttons on his dinner jacket. He slipped his arms out and gently folded the jacket before giving it to Twilight, who took it with her magic. He pulled up his sweater, and slipped it over his head; joining the growing pile of clothes in Twilight’s magical grip. The belt came undone, and the pants. The shoes came last, placed gently on top of the pile.

Excolotis stood naked, his head bowed. “I have done what you wanted. Let her go.”

“Oh, but I have not yet begun.” the griffin smirked, “You are a mongrel, so you should speak like one. Bark, like the dumb beast you are.”

Excolotis clenched his fists but did as he was told, letting out a loud bark.  “That is good,” laughed the griffin, “but you are not big dog, you are a weak, small, annoying dog! Yip like the bitch you are!”

Excolotis snarled, but did as he was told again, a loud yip echoing along the road. “He’s done what you wanted!” shouted Twilight “Stop this!”

“Oh, but the fun is only beginning,” said the griffin, “Let us continue. He sounds like hound, but he does not act like one.”

Excolotis thudded to his knees, letting his hands stop his torso from thudding into the dirt. He began to pant, and occasionally yipped, while Rainbow became even angrier at the cruelty and mocking laughter of the griffin.

“You JERK!” Rainbow lifted off at great speed, only to jolt to a halt as Twilight grabbed her tail.

“Rainbow, stop!” said Twilight, “We can’t do anything while Fluttershy’s in trouble, she’ll get hurt.”

Rainbow snorted and shook her head, hot tears running down her cheeks. “Twilight,” she said, “I’ll go get help.” And with that, she lifted off in the opposite direction, towards Ponyville.

Twilight turned away too, unable to watch as Excolotis debased himself for Fluttershy. But as she walked down the dirt path, she began to get an idea.

Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could. The cyan Pegasus was a mean flier, and as the only Pegasus in over a thousand years to achieve a sonic rainboom three times, let alone once. She knew she was the fastest thing alive (Save for the Royal Sisters, of course). She left off another great burst of wind as she propelled herself even faster, letting her full wing power come into play.

She began to move even faster, her eyes beginning to tear from the speed, while Ponyville became a blur below her. After a while the town vanished to make way for green plains, and Rainbow’s destination, Canterlot, began to loom large ahead of her.

It was a three hour train ride to the royal capital, but while the train would clock in at 35 KPH, Rainbow could reach up to one hundred and twenty KPH when she was cruising across the distance, but this time she let loose and pushed herself to her top speed of one thousand, three hundred and thirty six KPH.

Or about five miles per three seconds.

While she was now moving at the speed of sound, a feat that could only be copied by the Royal Sisters themselves, the problem was that it could not be kept up for very long, and if she did keep it up, she would suffer wing cramps.

It took Rainbow a little under a minute to reach where she was going, the Guards moving up to try to stop her, but relaxing when they saw who it was. Rainbow Dash had become a celebrity after what she had done and the Guard sent up a Pegasus as quickly as they could.

“Lady Dash?” asked the white guard, “What seems to be the problem?”

“I need to see the Princess right away!” said Rainbow, “Where is she?”

“Princess Luna is currently in the green room, dealing with parliament.” answered the guard, “Celestia is in her study, which princess is it that you want to see?”

“Celestia!” shouted Rainbow.

The guard gave a curt nod, and flew off, Rainbow not far behind.

The thick doors muffled any sound, the oak acting as an effective sound blocker. The guard rapped on the wood twice, then waited for an answer. The door opened and Rainbow did a double take as a bald pony with mismatched eyes opened the door.

“Ah, the good lady Rainbow Dash,” he said, “I thought that I smelled egotistical showboating. And no young mare glued to your flank? Progress!”

“Yeah yeah, is the Princess in?” asked Rainbow, “I don’t have time to help a lonely Stallion find acceptance.”

“Please,” snorted the pony, “We all know you’d rather spend time with the young mares at the salon, get your hooves sucked clean.”

The two ponies stared at each other for a few moments before bursting out in laughter.

“Good to see you, Rainbow,” laughed Spider Script, ‘The princess is inside.”

“Sure thing Boss.” Rainbow said, “It’s been too long.”

The study was open and warm, the thick carpet swallowing Rainbow’s hooves as she walked towards the desk. The walls were covered in book shelves, tomes on history, law, and regulations covering nearly every shelf. Many of them had been pulled out and put back many times, on some of them the leather was so worn that the titles had become nearly unreadable. Celestia had simply used permanent ink to write out the words again, making the royal Librarians extremely angry.

The desk itself was a deep red hard wood. A segment of the desk had a length of worn, threadbare green felt installed, which was barely visible beneath the mounds of paperwork. Yellow files were piled as tall as Rainbow. It was a desk made for work and nothing more, making the crude clay penholder with ‘στην καλύτερη αδελφή’ crudely painted on stand out in an extreme contrast.

Behind it, visible between twin peaks of paper work, Celestia sat in a chair, looking at Rainbow with a slight frown on her face.

“I had expected it to be longer than that.” said Celestia, “What has happened?”

“Some griffins have showed up,” said Rainbow, “and they’ve started to torment Excolotis. They seem to know him, and they’ve got Fluttershy hostage!”

Celestia eyes widened, “That’s something I feared. Luna can help you; I’ve got to handle things here and send a few messages out. I think she’s in the green room. Grey Feather?”

“Yes, your highness?” said the Guard, snapping to attention.

“Take Rainbow to the green room.” Celestia instructed, “And if you are stopped, use the command phrase Double Take.”

The guard paled, “Yes, your majesty.”

“Wait, what’s Double Take mean?” asked Rainbow

“Miss Dash, Please come with me.” said the guard, putting his hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder.

The two of them trotted out of the study and down the hall, the guard leading the way.

“What does Double Take mean?!” demanded Rainbow.

“Command phrase,” explained the guard “Means to prepare for trouble. Below that is Fade Out, what we spend most of our time at, and then it goes up to Round House, then Fast Pace, then Cocked Elbow. Cocked Elbow was last used when Discord returned.”

“So how can Luna help, and why isn’t Celestia helping?”

“Celestia has her limits,” explained the guard, “and Luna is the only other one who can handle this. So... You know who that bald pony is?”

“Ah, yeah,” smile Rainbow, “He’s my old boss; I used to help him around, pull his chariot for him. He’s a moral vacuum, but you couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend.”

“I can’t see anyone working for him.”

“Yeah, well I got my brutal honesty from him, and my sense of loyalty. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably never be a bearer of an Element.”

“Hold on, My Lady,” said Grey Feather, sticking out a hoof, “we’re here.”

The door to the Green Room was a simple black wood and iron affair, the equestrian flag picked out in bronze on the front. The raised voices of ponies could be heard beyond it, with an occasional rap of a gavel, and a cry for order.

“Please wait here, Lady Dash.” said Grey Feather. He opened the door and went in, leaving Rainbow Dash in the hallway.

Rainbow dash huffed, and began to examine her surroundings. The hallway was made from the same white marble that was so common in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash had heard once that the whole city sat on top of a massive deposit of the stuff, and that it had been the cheapest building material, right next to stone, which made sense to Rainbow. Why haul wood a massive distance when the stuff you need is right there?

She began to fidget, and rolled her wing joints, wincing as they popped and cracked. Rainbow Dash spent her life on the edge; the idea of sitting still and doing nothing chafed at her, and the whole situation back at the barn made her feel helpless. The concept of leaving Fluttershy to her captors left a bad taste in her mouth.

Eventually, the door opened, and Luna stepped out; a gavel floating behind her.

She wore a black robe, the cloth hanging from her and covering nearly everything, leaving only her tail poking out. Perched upon her head was a long powdered wig, the whole thing framing Luna’s head in twin falls of white curls. She turned to look at Rainbow, head low and eyes hooded, “What has happened this time?” she asked, “Is there some sort of bizarre emergency that has gotten completely out of hoof because Twilight has been too much of a coward to ask for help?”

“Uh, no, your majesty,” said Rainbow, “It’s Excolotis, he’s in trouble!”

“Is he in trouble because of the actions of others, or is his trouble caused by himself?” said Luna.

“...its griffins?” said Rainbow after a moment.

Luna sighed, and shook her head. Luna blinked and the robe and wig vanished in a pulse of ultra violet light, leaving a harassed and tired Luna flapping her wings once or twice. “Very well, Rainbow Dash. Let us go and get the God of War out of trouble.”

Twilight snuck behind the barn, listening closely for any sort of noise. At times like this, she was thankful for the sensitive hearing that all ponies had, and while Pinkie Pie may of had once decided to play her drum set at one hundred and thirty seven decibels she could still hear very well.

Her ears flicked back and forth as the sound of arguments reached her.

“Warum schützen wir hier die Gefangenen?”

“Hast du gesehen was er ihr angetan hat? Gilda verdient das nicht.”

Twilight crept closer to the barn wall, trying to find a hole or gap she could peek through.

“Wir können ihn nicht verärgern, dazu stecken wir viel zu tief mit drin. Wir können aus dieser Geschichte nicht mehr raus”

“Er ist geisteskrank, er wird und gefangen nehmen. Oder töten. Gefürchtet soll nicht angred. Erinnerst du dich an die Geschichten, was er getan hat?”

Twilight crept closer to the wall, but as she glanced over it, she knew that Applejack had done her job too well. If there was one thing that the Apple family knew, it was running an orchard, and that meant that there were no peep holes into the barn.

"Wenn eine Prinzessin auftaucht könnten wir uns schlimmeres ersparen indem wir aufgeben und ihnen alles erklären, dass wir nicht mit dem Plan einverstanden waren und nichts damit zu haben wollten, meinst du nicht auch?"

"Nach den Legenden sehe ich nicht die gefürchtete hören zu Ihnen aber, warum wäre es nett zu uns." "Gilda könnte gut sein, aber wir nicht."

Twilight focused her magic, and the barn wall became transparent. The Apple family were huddled in a corner, Applejack still unconscious, and Big Macintosh had a strip of sack cloth holding his face together. Blood still dripped from it. Pinkie Pie held Granny Smith close as she stood over her granddaughter and tried to keep her safe.

Four ponies, two of them injured. That was not that difficult for Twilight.

Again, she focused her magic, a light shining from her horn as he began to cast another spell.

“He, littile horse, can help you us?”

Twilight jumped, releasing the magic in a fizzle as she whirled around. The two griffins, which should of have been keeping guard, were right behind her. “You won’t hurt our friends!” Twilight said.

“I would not like to injure your friend.” said the griffin, “This is from our control. We do not like this at all.”

“Then why did you try to hurt us?” demanded Twilight, “You came here, and took my friends hostage. Why did you do that?”

“We wanted to injure Gefürchtet.” said the other griffin, “But our leader is spirit ill. It is dishonourable and innocent ones damaged.”

Twilight blinked as she translated what the griffins had said, then frowned as she planted her hooves in the dirt.

“Then let me get them out of danger.” said Twilight. Once more, she prepared her teleportation spell. With a flash, the Apple family appeared next to Twilight, blinking as they tried to comprehend what had happened.

“Thank you, Twilight.” said Granny Smith, “For a moment there I thought that we were in real trouble.”

Well, were not out of it yet,” said Twilight, “we still need to rescue Fluttershy.”

“And what is that Ex-co-lot-is feller doing?” asked Granny Smith.

“Embarrassing himself so that Fluttershy doesn’t get hurt.”

“Still one indication of our leader mental disorder.” said the griffins.

“I don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing,” Granny Smith said to the griffins, “but I recognize regret when I see it. This got a bit out of hoof didn’t it?”

The griffins hung their heads in shame, and nodded.

“We need to get Fluttershy out of danger,” said Twilight, “We can worry about these two later.”

Princess Luna sped along in the air, Rainbow Dash struggling to keep up. As Luna pumped her wings with a great crack, the air in front of her began to distend as she reached the sound barrier. Flight muscles straining, Rainbow Dash beat her wings even more furiously.

“So what’s going to happen?” asked Rainbow, “Are we going to have to fight?”

“If I know Excolotis,” said Luna, “And I do, we probably won’t have to do much. Probably just bury some bodies.”

“You can’t be serious!” shouted Rainbow, struggling to be heard over the wind.

“I am. If Excolotis is attacked he will not hesitate to destroy his foes, ripping them limb from limb. Literally.”

The trees and mountains became but a blur, and the wind began to wet Rainbow’s eyes as she kept pace with Luna. Luna, on the other hand, was barely breaking a sweat, her graceful wings moving with strong beats.

The trees gave way to thatch and tile roofs in a flash, then for a split second it turned into dirt and trees, then with a tremendous crash Luna impacted right in front of the barn, between Excolotis and Fluttershy.

A moment later Rainbow thudded into the grass and slid a fair distance before she came to a halt, bumping gently against a tree.

The griffin leader scowled, and hoisted up Fluttershy. He held her tightly by the scruff of her neck, keeping the Pegasus between him and Luna.

Luna glanced at Excolotis, still on all fours, before turning her attention directly to Fluttershy and her captor. The griffin tensed, and began to move around the side of the barn, Luna keeping pace with his scuffing paws.

Twilight led Pinkie around the back of the barn, the whole group tense at the idea of combat. Pinkie was still flat and dark, and had found a knife which was now tightly clenched in her teeth. Twilight was still nervous about that, and had tried to convince Pinkie to leave it behind, but the dark pink pony had flatly refused. The look on her face was scaring Twilight, and she didn’t know what to make of it.

As they moved along the wall as quietly as they could, the griffin leader backed around the corner, holding a limp body in front of him. Twilight couldn’t see who it was, but from this angle she knew it was a pony. As the griffin backed towards them, Pinkie took a running leap towards the griffin, knife glinting in the sunlight.

Luna moved around the barn, determined not to let the griffin and Fluttershy out of her sight. She was quite fond of Fluttershy, and though she was quite timid, Luna found it impossible to hate the buttery Pegasus.

Luna began to charge a spell, but stopped as a pink blur leapt onto the griffin.

Pinkie Pie leapt up onto the griffins back, and wrapped her froe legs round his throat. With a twist of her neck, she sent the knife plunging into the griffin’s wind pipe. The griffin’s reaction was immediate. He dropped Fluttershy, who landed with a thud, and staggered backwards, Pinkie Pie still clinging to his back. With a growl, Pinkie drew back and let the knife slide out with a wet slick, before plunging it back into the throat.

Twilight couldn’t believe her eyes. “Pinkie stop!” she shouted.

Pinkie Pie heard her, flitting her eyes to her and back. She drew out the knife again, and pushed herself back from the griffin, doing a backwards roll as she landed on her hind hooves. She came to a stop with a thud directly behind Twilight; blood matting her hair to the side of her face and her right eye squinting against the red fluid.

The griffin staggered against the barn wall, claw scrabbling for purchase as his other claw was pressed against his throat to stop the bleeding with littile success. He coughed up a red splatter, and began to hobble away from the ponies. Before long he fell onto his front again, weapons dropped and ignored beneath him.

Twilight chased after the griffin even as he scrabbled away on three legs, before falling over.

“Just stay still,” said Twilight, “And I’ll try to stop the bleeding!”

She concentrated with her horn, and the flesh of the griffin’s neck began to knit, the blood flow shuddering to a halt.

“I’ve stopped the bleeding, so you should be fine now,” breathed Twilight.

“Twilight?” said Pinkie Pie, “That was a lethal wound. He’s dead.”

“What?” said Twilight, “No he isn’t, I healed the wound...”

Pinkie took a limp claw in her mouth, before dropping it with a thud. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” she said, “But he died of blood loss before you finished.”

“But...” said Twilight, “But I stopped the bleeding...”

It wasn’t long before Law Ponies had arrived, peaked caps upon their heads and belts around their middles; seven of them all total, two of which pulled a large enclosed cart with bars on the doors. They had been taking statements for the better part of an hour, and had told no one to leave.

“These are the Griffins that kidnapped you?” asked a sergeant, two other officers holding them in place.

“Yes,” said Granny Smith, “Them’s the ones, but they seemed mighty scared of that dead fella over there, I think he bullied them into doing it.”

“We’ll take that into consideration ma’am.” said the officer, before placing a heavy hoof on each griffin’s shoulder, “I arrest you, under charges of assault, illegal imprisonment, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and trespassing upon private property. More charges may be placed at a later time. You have the right to a magistrate, if you cannot afford one...”

“I’m just glad that’s over.” said Fluttershy, "I can’t imagine why someone would be as mean as to do that.”

Gilda was wheeled past on a gurney, an officer and a nurse next to her and leather bands holding her down. “There’s no need for that, surely?” said Fluttershy, “She tried to help us, and that’s how she got hurt.”

“She’s still unconscious,” said the nurse, “So she can’t say anything, but the officer here asked that I put her here because she’s still a suspect.”

Another officer was dabbing at Pinkies face with a wet cloth, “Are you alright, Pinkie?”

“Yeah, I’m fine Brass Bars,” said Pinkie, “It’s not my blood.”

“You mean you...?” said Brass Bars, pointing to the shrouded body, “You’re the one who killed him?”

“Yeah.” said Pinkie, hanging her head and sniffling, “I’ve never had to do something like that since I came to Ponyville. I wish it’d stayed that way.”

“Hey, c’mon now.” said the officer, “It’s over now, and you did it to save Fluttershy, right?”

“Yeah...”

Luna waited patiently as Excolotis did up his belt. “I do not understand why you behaved like a hound.” she finally said.

“It’s rather simple.” Excolotis said, “If I did not, he would of have hurt Fluttershy.”

“I don’t understand why you didn’t just kill him,” snorted Luna, “That seems a bit more like your methods.”

Excolotis sighed, “I made my last mistake when I lost my temper, and these ponies nearly paid the price. I don’t want to do something like that again... I’ve caused too much pain as it is.”

“Hey Twilight, are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked, “You’re kind of quiet.”

“Applejack and Big Macintosh just went to the hospital, Fluttershy has a bruise on her chest, and I just saw Pinkie kill a griffin.” said Twilight, “I really don’t think I’ll be jumping around for joy.”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow, rubbing her fore-hoof, “Things got a bit crazy there. But I think that it’s all something that just happens. Griffins can hold grudges for hundreds of years.”

“So they’ll be more?” said Twilight.

“No,” said Rainbow, “These guys were idiots; we should be in the clear. If you want, we could all go up to my place. I can make those cloud walls harder than stone if I hit them just right.”

“Isn’t it a bit small?’ asked Twilight.

“No, I can make it twice as big in a few hours, I’d be more than happy to do that.” said Rainbow, “I’ve always had your back, Twilight. Except for that time Discord hypnotized me, but that wasn’t fair.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, “It’s good to have a friend like you.”

“Heh, damn right.”

After Applejack had gone off to the hospital, along with her brother, the remaining mares decided to meet up with Rarity and explain what had happened. Excolotis had decided to stay behind and try to sort out the mess once the officers were gone.

Fluttershy had some bruising on her chest, and tried to walk a bit more gently, the others keeping to her pace so that she would not be too badly hurt as she walked. Twilight had red eyes, still fresh from tears. After the initial shock had worn off, she had spent a good five minutes crying while Rainbow held her tight.

Pinkie Pie was still in her depressed state, slowly moving along behind the others, face glued to the ground. They had stopped to get something to eat, but all of them had eaten very littile, Pinkie Pie eating almost nothing.

After their early dinner, they had continued on to Rarity’s, the sun setting and casting an orange glow over everything.

The boutique itself was still open, with a pair of young ponies standing out front.

As Fluttershy approached, the two peeled themselves off the wall and ran forwards.

“Like, oh my gosh!” said the younger, “Aren’t you, like, Fluttershy?”

“Oh, um, yes.” said Fluttershy, nodding quietly, “I am, uh, and you are?”

“Oh, my name’s Beehive.” Beehive was a young Mare, only a bit younger than Pinkie herself. Her cutie mark was of a beehive, and she had a beekeepers jacket on, but without the hood or pants.

“And I’m, like, Hair Snips.” said the other. This one had her hair done back in a pony tail, and her cutie mark was that of a comb and spray bottle.

“Oh, well it’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Fluttershy, “But me and my friends wanted to talk to Rarity, so if you don’t mind, we’d like to go inside.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” said Beehive, “Feel free.”

The four mares went inside the boutique, and almost jumped right back out as Rarity seemingly appeared out of nowhere. “Oh good heavens!’ she said, “Whatever happened to you?”

Pinkie Pie jolted out of her funk as Rarity looked out of the door, and grabbed on to her tightly, letting her tears come freely. Rarity herself was taken aback, but let the Pink pony hold on to her tightly. She shushed Pinkie, and gently rubbed her back.

“Rarity, where’s sweetie Belle?” asked Fluttershy, “we need to talk to you, and this isn’t something young fillies should hear.”

“Sweetie Belle’s with my parents,” said Rarity, “What’s wrong?”

After Pinkie Pie had cried out her last, they had settled in the centre of the boutique, Rarity having found cushions for all her friends. Pinkie Pie had returned a bit more to her normal self, though her hair still slightly flat. Twilight had become a bit more alert to her surroundings, and Fluttershy was still nursing her bruised ribs, Rainbow holding her around the shoulder, providing what comfort she could simply by being there.

The explanation had gone on through the night, and at the end of it, Rarity was struck nigh speechless. “I can’t imagine what you went through...” said Rarity, “Applejack’s in the hospital... Fluttershy held hostage... and all for Excolotis...” Rarity floundered, her mouth opening and closing before settling on: “Why?”

“Do you remember what the griffins called him?” said Rainbow.

“Yeah,” said Pinkie, “Gerfoochet, or something, wasn’t it?”

“It’s pronounced Gefürchtet,” said Rainbow, “and it roughly translates to The Feared, or Dreaded.”

“Then it was all over Excolotis?” said Twilight, “But anything he did was over three thousand years ago!”

“If there’s one thing about griffins,” said Rainbow, “they have long memories, and they keep grudges for hundreds of years. Whatever Excolotis did, it would have to be pretty bad for them to hold a grudge for three thousand years even though he’s been punished already.”

“How do you know all this?” asked Rarity.

“You remember Gilda?” asked Rainbow Dash, “She told me a few things about griffins. She might’ve been born and raised in Cloudsdale, but her grandparents were as Deutsche as any other griffin.”

“Somehow,” said Twilight, “I think that whatever happened has something to do with Excolotis. I think it’s time we asked him a few questions about what happened exactly.”

“Yes,” said Fluttershy, “But I’m just thankful that the griffin that was behind all this is in jail.”

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy, when skies are gray. They’ll never know how, much I love you. So please don’t, take my sunshine away.”

“I’m not a littile filly anymore, dad.”

“Mares never grow up to their fathers; they stay littile fillies running around in the mud, with snotty noses and scraped knees. Now goodnight, Diamond Tiara.”

“Tell me about mom.” said Diamond.

“Alright,” said Filthy Rich, “She was a smart, wonderful Mare. Her coat was the colour of gold, and her mane shone like polished brass. She had a kind smile, and she was always there for others. She may not have been the prettiest mare, but to me, she shone brighter than all the stars in the sky.”

“Goodnight Dad.”

Filthy Rich nodded, and leant down and kissed her daughter’s head, before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

Every time he walked into that room, his world turned bright and pink. Come rain or shine, he always made sure that Diamond tiara was in bed by eight ‘o clock, with a glass of milk and a bed time story. If he was busy with paper work, well that could wait an hour. If there was a meeting running late, he would excuse himself and read the minutes later.

His daughter came first, and nothing would stop him from being home at seven ‘o clock.

Everything he did was for her, and he knew that it was all worth it, just to see her smile.

Filthy trotted down the hall of his house, his hooves clattering on the white wood floor. He stopped by a photograph of his deceased wife, Pish Posh. The photo was taken at a society dinner in Canterlot, on their second anniversary. Her smile was calm and knowing, and she wore a fine dress and a large hat. Filthy took the picture from the wall, and held it close to his chest.

“I wish you could see your daughter,” he whispered, “She’s got a ways to go, but she’s becoming a fine young mare.”

Filthy sat in the hall, eyes closed and both fore-legs holding the framed photo tightly.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “But if I do this right, no pony else will have a loved one taken away by those beasts. I miss you, and I wish you were here again. I think I’m headed the wrong way, but I don’t know what else to do... I don’t want our daughter to grow up in a world like this.”

Filthy sniffled, and let his tears hit the floor. He sat there for longer than he should have, before taking the photo graph in his mouth, and continuing down the hall way. He walked up to an oaken door, and put the photograph in a hallway table drawer.

“You shouldn’t have to see this.”

Filthy Rich squared his shoulders, and walked through the door.

The inside was dark, heavy curtains closed over the windows and a table set in the middle, three chairs arranged around it. Prince Blueblood sat on the left, nursing a glass of cider. He glanced up as Filthy walked in, but quickly settled back down. “We should wait for our third member.” he said.

“I can’t believe you’d do this,” said Filthy, sitting down, “I thought that you and your auntie got along famously.”

Blueblood breathed deeply. “Auntie sees the good in everyone, even where there is none to be found. She tries to be kind to everyone, but she doesn’t understand the harshness of reality. Equestria has become weak under her rule; too polluted.”

“Not the whole ‘lesser races’ thing again...”

“What else are they?” said Blueblood, “She lets in griffins and zebras and all other sorts. Mules and donkeys, pah! Equestria used to be proud, we didn’t need these foreigners. We’ve become too dependent upon other empires; it’s time we stood on our own!”

Filthy raised his hoof, “Mind keeping it down,” he asked, “My daughter is trying to sleep.”

“Sorry.”

“There was a recent incident with griffins.” said Filthy.

“Yes, that was... interesting.” said Blueblood, “A few more of that, and we’ll have our war.”

“Grab the mob by its heart strings, that sort of thing?”

Blueblood nodded, and took another mouthful of his cider. “Pity that the Apple family got involved, but sacrifices must be made.”

Filthy set his jaw.

“That Applejack may have saved Equestria,” continued Blueblood, “but she shouldn’t get ideas ahead of her station. Have a nice fat pay check, and we’ll call you when we need you.”

“Ideas above her station...” said Filthy.

“She’s just a common farm pony; she should stay with farming, not this whole, high society thing.” frowned Blueblood, “It’s almost as bad as this Rarity; just a dress maker and she has the gall to call herself a lady? If she’s a lady, then I’m a banana.”

“Listen, you stupid...”

“Hey everypony, hope I’m not too late!”

Blueblood groaned and took another gulp of his cider, while the new comer bounded into the room. The earth pony was running to fat, easily hitting obese, with his chest and flank wobbling like a tub of jelly stretched into a sausage skin. His fur was a deep, chestnut brown and his mane was long, dark and unkempt. His cutie mark was a simple factory, and it stretched and pinched as the rolling folds of fat juggled with every step.

This was Horsefly, the factory monopoly pony; steel and iron magnate.

“So sorry I’m late, everypony,” he said, dabbing at his multiple chins with a silk handkerchief, “I’m afraid that a meeting with the unions ran a bit too long. Those blasted rapscallions were on about, pay rises and OHSA compliances... Pish and tosh, I do that sort of thing, don’t I? The law is quite clear.”

“Yes, but I rather feel that the problem is that you pay minimum wage,” said Filthy.

“Not to mention that I have heard stories about the conditions...” said Blueblood, “I think that heat exhaustion is rather common?”

“Well it’s hardly my fault that it gets so hot in the smelters...” said Horsefly, pulling up two chairs, “And if they don’t like my work... why they can just leave! No pony is forcing them to work, after all.”

‘Don’t you provide employment for... oh, 20% of the population in the poor districts?” asked Filthy, “I don’t think that there’s any other option.”

“My point exactly.” laughed Horsefly, his jowls flapping as he giggled.

Filthy and Blueblood shared a look.

“Well then,” said Blueblood, “I take it that the... agitation of the griffin workers was a success?”

Filthy blinked.

“Oh yes,” said Horsefly, “It was really rather simple. Just mention the description, and they’ll fall over themselves to avenge their ancient tribes. Bunch of savages if you ask me.”

“Didn’t quite work though,” said Blueblood, “Instead of doing what he does, Excolotis simply embarrassed himself. He was hardly the fearsome warrior from Auntie’s tales.”

“If memory serves...” said Filthy, “Doesn’t he care about the innocent? He’s hardly going to start a fight if some young idiots annoy him. Last time... well I’d rather not talk about what set him off last time.”

“Oh, yes...” said Blueblood, “That they could sink so low... well Excolotis just flew off the handle...”

“I’m sorry,” said Horsefly, “What did the griffins do, exactly?”

Filthy and Blueblood both turned green. Filthy shook his head, and looked at the table, tracing a knot hole with his hoof, while Blueblood opened his mouth and closed it again, shaking and bobbing his head as if he was trying not to vomit.

“Well, that’s kind of beside the point...” said Horsefly, “so to get our war, we need to set him off, big time. But we also have to get the ponies on our side...”

“That might be easier than it sounds,” swallowed Blueblood, “Most nobles feel the same way we do, it’s just that Celestia’s tolerant policies make it so that they don’t do anything about it.”

“I think I have an idea...” said Horsefly, tapping the table with a hoof.

German edited by Silly Mare