An Extended Holiday

by Commander_Pensword

173 - The Branding

Extended Holiday
Chapter 173: The Branding

---

“So, let me get this straight. You found a spell that could potentially work, at the prompting of a dream that led you to Binding?” Yharon asked.

Celestia nodded. “It’s a variation of the contract magic Binding uses to keep order in Unity.”

“And you haven’t wondered what force might be trying to direct you toward that?”

“I could care less if it was the devil Asmodeus himself directing us,” Luna said. “If it means we may save our father, then I’d embrace it willingly.”

“You’re aware that if we go through with this, if I help you, we’re going to need to do this behind Father and Mother’s back.”

“On that, we are agreed.” Celestia nodded. “The nature of this bond could have a profound impact.”

“You’ll need totems to help forge the pact,” Yharon noted. “The closer to a proper embodiment, the better.”

“We shall use our souls,” Luna said.

Yharon flared his wings, and a silencing spell quickly surrounded them. Then came the roar. “You’re going to what?”

“The soul is the base of all power, the channel of all beings’ magic past, present, and future. Celestia and I have agreed if that is not enough power to accomplish the task, nothing else will suffice. We shall mimic Father in this venture and go in ‘all or nothing,’ as they say.”

“You realize what you’re saying, right? If this fails, it’s over. We’ll never see you again in this life or the next. Are you two really fully committed to this? I can’t condone it otherwise.”

“Yharon, you know Father raised us. Do you really think we would be saying this if we didn’t mean it in the first place?” Celestia pressed.

Yharon breathed out a cloud of smoke mingled with sparks. “I still don’t like it.” He sighed heavily. “But I can’t stop you either. We all said we’d do whatever we could to help Father.”

“Now, then, we only have so long to make the preparations,” Luna said. “I don’t think we can trust Binding or Ainz to keep this quiet, so we’ll have to do this ourselves.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’ve been poring over all their tomes.” He smiled weakly. “And that I have a photographic memory.”

“Shall we split up, then? Each take a third of the list of requirements and meet back here?”

“I’ll see about getting the reagents. Mother already knows I’m looking into experimenting on potential spells. She shouldn’t get too suspicious, provided I ask her permission to enter her stores first.”

“Good. Luna and I will look into designing our magical circles. This is a pact that’s likely never been attempted before in the history of Equis.” She turned to her sister. “Luna, is there anything else you can think of that we might require?”

“A drink,” Luna said. She teleported a tankard to her and drained it.

“Save some for the rest of us, after we finish preparations.”

“And for the celebration after,” Yharon added forcefully.

Celestia nodded. “Of course.”

---

It was a dark and stormy night. Or at least, that’s what the Unicorns who would record this legend would have you believe. No, the night was neither brooding, fearsome, menacing, nor foreboding. Hammer Strike laid in recovery, and Clover laid by his side as the two slept together and held each other close. The sky was crystal clear, and the stars shone brightly on the three siblings as they gathered in the far meadow beyond the city’s walls.

“We’re going to have to time this just right,” Yharon noted. “Otherwise, Father will interfere with the spells. Luna will have to start first, since you agreed she’ll take the moon as the younger sibling. When she pulls the moon below the horizon, the sun should follow, though it will also drain on her magic, which means you’ll have to act quickly. At that point, you will engage your half of the binding, Celestia.” He produced two stones, one in each of his clawed hands. The first shone with a silvery-white light, and was perfectly smooth. The second was jagged and dull, but revealed elements of gold, orange, red, and brown that flickered in the lesser light generated by the first. “These should work well enough for totems to help forge the initial connection, assuming you’ve worked enough symbolism into your circles.” He passed each stone to the respective sister, then pulled them both toward him with his wings in a rough embrace. “You two had better pull this off,” he said. “Or so help me….”

“We will be fine, brother,” Luna promised as she broke the hug and pulled back. She smiled reassuringly as she lit her horn. Blue light rose from the ground around her as she forged the magic circle. A scrawling artistic calligraphy bound her within, followed by the drawing of a crescent moon in its center at an angle. Stars formed the outlines of constellations to accentuate the outer circle. Then she raised the moon stone, and the circle’s light shifted from dark blue to silver. “Spirits and forces above, lend me your ears to make this sacred contract heard.”

Luna closed her eyes and concentrated. Unseen by any who would be watching, her will reached out across the sky, like a tether, to wrap around the moon. At first, it touched the surface gingerly, but after a moment, it dove into the sphere. As yharon and Celestia watched, Luna’s body began to alter. Scars and markings from battles long past vanished as her dark blue fur smoothed out. Her bearing drew back, becoming taller, more regal. Suddenly, Luna felt her will penetrate through the moon and splinter outwards infinitely, as it was pulled toward every star in the night sky. She couldn’t stop it as she felt each one contact her rapidly. And as Celestia and Yharon watched, her blue mane grew out into a long ethereal mass billowing in an unseen astral wind. It deepened to almost black as pinpricks of silver appeared one after the other.

For a moment, it seemed as though her consciousness would be lost, but then, all at once, Luna tilted her head forward. Her horn blazed as her eyes opened to reveal pure silver light. In the night sky, the moon moved along its course, sinking low over the horizon. As it vanished, there was a flash on Luna’s flanks. A black splotch covered nearly her entire back end. And on it appeared a single silver crescent moon.

Luna broke the connection. And as the light in her horn and eyes died away, the now lifeless stone fell to the ground and crumbled to dust. She didn’t fall to the ground, however. Luna didn’t look tired or worn, as Yharon had anticipated. Rather, she looked renewed and healthier than either of her siblings had ever seen before. Her mane still billowed in the same astral wind with the night sky imprinted upon it, even as the circle beneath her slowly faded.

The dim perpetual gloom of twilight hung over the sky as the stars shone brightly, almost beckoning. A mixture of silver and muted orange and purple blended across the horizon.

Yharon nodded grimly and motioned with a claw. “The dawn beckons.”

Celestia nodded and strode next to her sister. She breathed deeply, then nodded again as she brought her own magic to bear. The golden light of her heritage rose slowly up her horn, and a pair of tears rolled down her cheeks as painful memories still fresh in her mind rose with the power. Yet as the water trickled, her eyes hardened with resolve. She tossed her mane and flicked her horn forcefully as golden light carved a swath through the field around her. A simple circle glowed, broken into four quarters. A great red dragon wrapped its form around the edge, its scales each bedecked with chain upon chain of runes. Its wings spread wide, and a sword was clutched between its talons. Celestia slowly raised the stone higher in the air. The more it rose, the more magic she pumped into it. The circle flared, then blazed as the sunstone flashed. Red and gold streamed from the edge of the circle and the dragon’s maw to dance around Celestia’s mane and tail as they lengthened. Her coat became resplendent as the power coursed through her.

For an instant, she felt a terrible cold strike her. Her heart trembled, and the light of her circle flickered. Frost caked the flowers around her, followed by thick ice. The nobles of the fractured Unicorn court had been too late to stop the first attempt, but they had rallied to attack Celestia.

“You wish to break me, break my spirit?” She hissed as the grief that had worn into her features contorted into fury. “I’ll not lose another loved one to petty politics!” The frost that had struck so fiercely began to steam as the initial beauty of her mane contorted into a flaring orange mass that grew stronger and stronger in its intensity. Her teeth snapped as she brought her rage to bear. “You woke the beast. Now face the breath of the dragon.” Her horn flared, and her voice rang with authority as she spoke. The circle flashed all the brighter. “Anál nathrach, orth' bháis's bethad, do chél dénmha.” Thrice more she spoke those words, each with rising force and strength.

What had been but a flicker erupted into searing fire as the circle blazed with white light. The frost vaporized as Celestia cried aloud. Flame soon joined the sigil’s design as the wyrm unleashed its withering breath. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and light consumed her eyes while mana leaked behind to join her mane as all the colors of the rainbow flickered and streaked over the blazing white canvas of incandescence that her mane had become. Like her father before her, fire now burned without and within. Yellow and gold blazed from both flanks as the sunstone melted and divided, then flowed to her skin. The scent of burning hair and searing flesh filled the air as Celestia’s horn grew longer. Raw power flowed from her horn, and the very stars seemed to flinch back as the sun practically jerked above the horizon to bathe the land in its glow.

When the first rays of dawn touched Celestia, the corona of light and heat she generated shattered to reveal a flowing rainbow that waved in the air behind her. Her tail billowed above scorched earth. There was no sign of the grass, nor of the wildflowers that had been frozen. Everything within and surrounding the circle by a foot had been vaporized. Finally, the circle broke. The dragon rose from the ground and nosed her gently, then ascended and disintegrated in a final burst of magic that cast dew over the clearing and birthed a rainbow above them. The sparkles born from that dew seemed to merge in her mane, adding a crystalline twinkle not unlike the stars that now shone in Luna’s.

Celestia looked on the orb and smiled as her legs buckled. Unlike what had happened in the union forged by her sister, the magic that Celestia had invoked insured the forging of the bond by force. While she now felt the warmth of the sun blazing within her, rather than the instant renewal, there was a sense of grudging respect and mutual exhaustion. It took her almost a whole minute before she noticed her siblings’ wings wrapping her, and half a minute longer to make out the words they spoke.

“Are you well, sister?” Luna asked.

Celestia looked back on her flanks to the sign of the radiant sun that now sat there with its blazing arms. She smiled weakly. “To tell you the truth, I feel like I could sleep for a year.” She chuckled. “But I did it. We did it.” She nuzzled Luna, then Yharon. “Father is safe. He’ll never have to risk his life again.” Tears of gratitude rolled down her cheeks. “We won’t lose him.”

“What was that spell, Celestia?” Yharon asked gently. “That language, the power. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

“I would be surprised if you had, little brother.” She sighed. “It is an ancient spell, one not of this world, and not to be invoked lightly. I learned it … from a dear friend.” She leaned against his feathers and sighed sleepily. “I really am so very tired.”

“Come, sister. Let's get you to bed,” Luna said gently.

The siblings brought their sister to her hooves, and together, they trundled slowly home.

---

“That's Arthurian imagery,” Grif said, a bit shocked as he traced on a close-up of Celestia's magic circle with his finger. “Thats the red dragon of Uther, and the sword. That's the sword, the sword to end all swords.”

“Where’s the scabbard?” Pensword asked before pausing, “You don’t think…” He trailed off. “Grif, I think we have a clue where she was for forty years! Because that was Gaelic. I love language, and I wouldn’t forget something like that.”

“You realize what this means?” Grif asked. “Arthur, Camelot, Excalibur. It was all real!”

“You’re right. I should be geeking about Luna and her connection, but … this is King Arthur. The legends of what could have been a utopia.” He shivered, “I—we should broach this carefully, if we do, though. Notice her eyes. It wasn’t just the spell that hurt her. Her heart’s been broken.”

“What are you suggesting?” Grif asked warily.

“Can somepony please explain what’s going on here?” Twilight asked.

“In human, well I guess I could say history now, as it’s not really mythology anymore, there exists a tale of a king, a king unlike any other to ever live. He, for a short time, united the nation Britain under his banner and ruled what could be considered the perfect kingdom. Laws that were fair to all, incorruptible nobility, and an order of peacekeepers known as the Knights of the Round Table.”

Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “Why did they name themselves after a table?”

“Royal decorum dictates a king must always sit at the head of a table. Arthur wanted him and his knights to sit as equals when they sat together. Thus, he chose a table that had no head. No man was greater than his fellows. Well, almost no man.”

“Save one, he who bore the right to take the seat Perilous. In some lore, it’s said that the knight Lancelot laid claim to that chair. In others, it remained unoccupied. For any who claimed it and were unworthy would face death,” Vital continued.

“Not Lancelot.” Grif shook his head. “In the end, it would be his son Galahad who claimed the honor.”

“That is if we take the French legends with the English,” Pensword noted. “Lancelot came from France.” He paused. “This is very confusing with the muddling. And as the stories came down the ages, folks would add their own characters and interpretations. Grif, how many knights did you tell me King Arthur had? Over a hundred or something?”

“Over a hundred, yes.” Grif nodded.

“That must’ve been one big table,” Twilight noted.

“It also happened to be a product of magic. And if Grif is to be believed, which he is, being one of our biggest Arthurian enthusiasts, it was also an artifact of incredible magical power that was linked to the seat perilous in the first place,” Vital added.

“Is there a way to study that magic, then?” Twilight asked.

The room rang with the resounding, “No!”

“Twilight, the cost for that spell can literally mean the destruction of its caster. It’s not meant to be invoked lightly, if at all. It calls on primordial forces capable not only of generating magic, but also destroying it,” Vital Spark said. “Believe me. It’s better to be left forgotten.”

“It could very well hold divine attributes, if other legends are to be believed,” Pensword added. “And surely you know we don’t mess with the divine.”

“Not to mention the fae,” Grif added with a shiver.

“Fae?” Twilight cocked her head in confusion.

“You use magic, Twilight. They are magic, the literal descendants of two gods, or fallen divine servants, depending on the interpretation of their origins you go with. If you don’t want to have a bad time or worse, never, ever get on the wrong side of a fae. And never, ever give them your true name,” Vital warned.

“How come we’ve never heard of them before?” Twilight asked.

“You have. The knowledge was just lost to most Ponies, thanks in large part to Discord,” Vital said. “I’ve met a few of the nicer ones since coming here, but the majority of fae that live in Equestria are likely in hiding, and I can’t guarantee which ones are kind and which aren’t. In short, you shouldn’t go looking for them.”

“Can I at least ask about them?”

Vital shrugged. “Sure, if you want. You can check with Clover. She might have the knowledge you’re looking for. But I wouldn’t go asking anyone else.”

“Especially fae themselves,” Grif noted.

“Indeed. So, getting back on topic, we have the sisters now in control of the sun and the moon. I hope Hammer Strike isn’t too mad at them for too long,” Pensword said.

“He knew they were going to do it, Pensword. I doubt he’ll be that upset,” Vital said.

“If anything, he was banking on this.” Grif chuckled.

“Still, can I talk to you one on one, Grif? About my thoughts from earlier, I mean.”

“Of course.” Grif nodded. “Let’s go. We can work on dinner while we talk.”

Vital’s mouth watered. “Grif, you just said the magic words.”

“Thank you, Grif.”

And together, the two traversed the corridor to the kitchen.

---

Pensword closed the door. “TARDIS, Ma’am, could you make sure Grif and I are not disturbed for the moment?” The oven buzzed, and Pensword felt it was safe. “Grif, you saw how Celestia acted. She is heartbroken. And how her eyes lingered on the Dragon… I feel we may have one of the legends living with us.”

“I kinda figured,” Grif said as he began to pull ingredients from the different areas and retrieved some dough he’d placed in the fridge a few hours ago.

“I wanted to make sure you saw what I saw.” He frowned. “The question I have,” he said as he pulled pots and pans from cupboards, “is whether he’s still on Earth or hidden here on Equis?”

“If that's when the veil made travel impossible, then he couldn’t have left,” Grif noted as he coated his hands in flour and began working a ball of dough.

“Unless she brought him with her,” Pensword retorted. “Still, we need to be careful. Between the two of us, we shouldn’t broach the subject unless she does, okay?”

“I figured as much. Still, that means Arthur’s end was when magic failed. I wonder why that time?”

“I don’t know. My first guess would be due to the fact that a lot of the artifacts of Canterlot were magic-based. Maybe the death of Arthur killed magic?” Pensword proposed as he filled a large pot with water and pulled out some pasta to cook.

“Still, that means Celestia has a second name.” Grif sighed. “And that's going to take some dancing around to ignore.”

“Agreed, but which is it? An unnamed wife to one of the knights?”

“You’re smarter than that, Pensword.” Grif sighed again as he spun the dough.

Pensword nodded grimly. “So, you’re thinking the same thing.”

“Arthur was involved with only two women. And of them, he only loved one. I’d rather believe Celestia is the one than the other.”

“Should I say the name in this room?” Pensword asked. “It sounds like you and I are on the same page. We just need to be careful not to spill the beans.”

“The walls have ears,” Grif noted. “Let's leave it there.”

“I thought as well, but wow.” He looked to Grif. “Thank you for confirming that I’m not jumping into the deep end again.”

“We hit the deep end years ago, Pensword.” Grif chuckled. “Lets just hope this pool we’re in hits a bottom before we drown.”

“Agreed. Now, … where is the alfredo sauce?”

“Check the back of the fridge.”

“Thank you.”

---

Hammer Strike groaned softly as his augments alerted him to the time. He shifted in his bed, sitting upright as he mentally prepared himself for the soon-to-come day. He made sure to keep his movement and noise to a minimum as he shifted off the bed, leaving Clover to rest a little longer.

Sighing gently, he looked around his room, noting a difference in light levels before he even raised the sun. He frowned before making his way toward the window. One look outside revealed that the sun was already up.

He couldn’t help but smile, knowing what had occurred already. “Behind our backs, huh?” he commented softly.

“What happened behind our backs?” Clover asked through a yawn as she rose to join him.

“It appears Celestia and Luna figured out the alternative method,” Hammer Strike commented as he moved the blinds out of the way, letting light spill into the room.

“Well.” Clover smiled as she approached. “Is that the solution you were hoping for?”

“Very much so.” Hammer Strike sighed. “The medical cube couldn’t handle much more.”

“How long can they handle it?”

“Let me let you in on a little spoiler for the future.” Hammer Strike leaned closely. “They’re still raising it from when I come from.”

“So, then, this is a permanent solution?”

Hammer Strike nodded simply as he looked out the window once more. “Well, I get the feeling they’re potentially downstairs waiting for us. Shall we?”

“How do you want to do this? Act hurt? Disappointed? Angry?”

“I’ll go with pleasantly surprised, and determine more after I learn the risks they faced for it.”

“Okay.” Clover nodded as they headed for the stairs.

Celestia lay atop Yharon’s body, cuddled between his wings. Her breathing was soft and steady as she slept. Her new cutie mark stood prominently against her flanks as the daylight streamed through the windows.There were still some signs of scarring, but it appeared what flesh had been damaged by the branding was slowly regenerating. Yharon flicked a finger and brought it gently to his lips as the two parents entered the living room. Meanwhile, Luna lay next to the Dragon and nursed a massive tankard of cider.

“You three appear to have had a long night,” Hammer Strike commented as he took in the trio.

“Relatively speaking,” Yharon agreed softly.

“I feel perfectly fine,” Luna said.

“I’ll assume, since the two of you currently bear new marks, appearances, and increased power levels, that instead of following standard procedure, you connected yourselves to the sun and moon.”

“It seemed the only means to ensure you didn’t kill yourself,” Yharon said.

“It also seemed like the safest way to keep this from happening again. It would take an immensely powerful being to move them without our consent now. Or to stop them from moving,” Luna added.

“What form was the connection?” Hammer Strike asked with a raised brow.

Luna looked to Yharon, then sighed. “We tied the sun and moon intrinsically into our beings. In short, we used our souls.”

Hammer Strike frowned as he thought it over. After a few minutes, he sighed. “While I’m not thrilled at the risk you three took, I’m certainly not upset.”

“Good.” Yharon chuckled. “We were just doing what you taught us, anyway.”

“When in doubt, double down.” Luna chuckled before taking another drink.

Hammer Strike smiled gently as he looked over the three before turning his attention toward the door. “If this ensures our grasp on things, I think it’s time I do something I don’t normally do.”

“And that is?” Yharon asked.

“I’m going to start preparations.” His brow furrowed. “We’re done playing defensive. Unity is going to war.”

“Someone should tell Anderson to pray,” Clover said.

“Somehow, I don’t think their souls will be missed all that much in the afterlife,” Yharon noted.

“Maybe, but it would still be the right thing to do,” Clover noted.

“You really think it’ll make a difference?”

Clover shrugged.

“Well, I’m a living pillow right now, so someone else is going to have to do it, unless anyone wants to risk waking Celestia.”

“Can we ask him after we get some rest?” Luna asked.

“I suppose so,” Hammer Strike said. “But don’t get used to sleeping in.”

Luna rolled her eyes and smiled. “Yes, Father.”

---

The heavy tromp of hooves carried through the streets as box after box and sack after sack of food was systematically packed, checked, and processed. Arrows were fletched and barbed with sharp metal tips, some designed with ridges to force blood to flow all the more quickly after impact. Others were jagged to catch and tear at flesh and nerve. Gear was distributed to each of the soldiers to pack as they practiced setting up and taking down their tents. Gryphons were swift to assist their brothers and sisters in arms, teaching knots and other techniques to hasten the process and help speed their efficiency.

The battle mages were taking shifts between checking their equipment, sparring, and transferring excess mana into prepared gems for use on the battlefield. Clover watched everything with a critical eye, even as armoured robes were handed out slowly by rank of proficiency.

Fletchers and smiths worked tirelessly creating armor, arrows, and javelins in large bundles to be transported with the troops.

Hurricane worked with his officers, setting up how the army was to be grouped, who would lead which sections, and what to do in fringe situations.

For image’s sake, Ainz, Tarefson, and Lord had been left behind to defend the home front. However, with the combined races each donating their part to the army, they’d quickly assembled just over fifty thousand soldiers. Luna, Hammer Strike and several other smiths had worked for the past week straight cranking out arms and armor to equip them. A legion of Ponies, Gryphons, Diamond Dogs and Thestrals stood clad in armour of various high quality metals.

The Thestrals had taken some time to prepare. Unused to the idea of battlefield warfare, it had taken time to organize them among the other ranks. For one thing, they were arrayed more based on their jobs and not their clans. Another was their use of standardized and mass-produced weapons. It was strange seeing the Thestrals in the armor produced with their clans and specialized artwork over said armor, a sticking point they would not budge on. They also had to get used to the heavier armor as well. One thing they took to much better was the arrows and weaponry. The hybrid bow was their favorite weapon now, to the point that most of the archers were Thestral. Another was what Earth would call the Roman short sword. Even while the other Ponies were lining up, the Thesrals were doing last minute practices in combat and attacks. Having to also get used to the idea that they would be battling, not against invaders of their lands, but by the sides of all races and species. A few of the older Thestrals grumbled about this being unnatural and even against the Moon’s wishes. The youngsters were more apt at adapting and soaking in other forms of combat as well as maintaining their peoples’ traditional battle tactics.

Skilled talons carved at wood or scrawled over blueprints as Gryphons and Unicorns put their heads together over various plans and innovations. Trebuchets, catapults, mangonels, and other more physical designs were left in the capable hands of the master craftsmen while Unicorns and Earth Ponies worked to imbue runes and fit various cogs and pieces together on models. Others worked with artisans to craft crystal vials and bottles to hold various potions, concoctions, and ingredients from alchemists and potion masters for use in the field.

Wall’s small order of knights had expanded greatly over the years. His willingness to accept any race had led to many seeking the path of chivalry for themselves. Covered in thick heavy plate mail and armed with no small variety of weapons from greatsword and shields to massive double-bladed axes, the entire order was armed to the teeth and ready to sink their fangs into the enemy. Their mail had been painstakingly enchanted with magic dispersing runes just for this campaign.

Anderson stood among a large array of clerics, all of whom were preparing themselves to go forth and pray for Faust's blessing among the troops. Silver symbols and emblems were given the various rites. Water was sanctified, and scriptures were recited.

Not far off, another sect was meeting. The week prior, Hammer Strike had finally found a priest of Sleipnir he was willing to allow into Unity. The cleric was a large Earth Pony with brown skin and white hair and a large cross-like scar on his forehead. He seemed to prefer answering to Scar, and no one pushed him to give any more information than that. But he’d amassed a small following in a relatively short time. And even now, he was reeling them up as the adherents of Sleipnir prepared to go to war.

Poultice Solution, now a graying stallion, had started to reach past his middle years. He spent many hours putting herbs and potions together in kits with his extended family. His son would be leading a wide group of Earth Ponies and Unicorns solely devoted to healing under the mark of the red cross.

Hurricane approached Hammer Strike and removed his helmet to reveal a mane so gray-streaked that Hammer Strike could hardly tell what his original mane colour was. Despite this, the Pegasus grinned proudly as he gave a short bow of the head.

“Fifty thousand. This is the largest army I've seen in all my days. They’ll be ready to go in another day or so, I believe.”

“Good.” Hammer Strike nodded. “Though I didn’t plan on this being our course of action for dealing with the Unicorns in the beginning, they risked the planet to deal with us. I won’t let that stand.”

“I’ll be honest. I'd have expected us to have needed this step against the Pegasi, not the Unicorns.” Hurricane laughed. “From what our spies tell us, they’re buying up any soldiers they can get their hooves on. I think they're genuinely concerned.”

“They should be.” Hammer Strike frowned. “This will be the only time we will deal with them like this.”

“That's probably why so many voluntarily came for this,” Hurricane noted. “You worry for them; don’t you?”

“I don’t like sending anyone out to their potential death. It’s why I spent so long ensuring every unit we have has the utmost gear they can work with.”

“I’ll say.” Hurricane laughed. “The common soldier here has armor made from materials you might give a hero. It’s that concern that spurs them onward. You care for them. Hells, you burned your own life energy for them. And even now, at the head of the largest army on Equis, your first action is to worry for them. You truly are one of a kind, my friend.”

Hammer Strike gave a faint grin. “Here’s hoping to more some day.”

Hurricane nodded, then sighed heavily. “Hammer Strike, we both know this is likely my last campaign. I hope you’ve given thought to who’s going to take my place.”

“Your son, Storm Squall, most likely. He’s been working nearly as hard as you to work his way up the ranks. Seems like he wants to be the one.” Hammer Strike chuckled.

“He’s like me when I was young.” Hurricane laughed. “Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, personally, but he’ll do you proud.”

“I’m sure of it.”

“You know, at one time, my people thought I'd end up a king amongst my people.” He looked at Hammer Strike and set a hoof on his shoulder. “I’m glad I found a better stallion for the job.”

Hammer Strike smiled. “I’m glad to have you around as well.”

“Well then, I have checks to make, and you have a speech to prepare.” Hurricane laughed. “Let's give them blood and vinegar out there.”

Hammer Strike nodded. “Show them the reason you don’t toy with fire.”

---

“All right. By this point, it’s fairly obvious that the usual tactics aren’t going to work. We need options, people, and we need them fast,” Baron Volcan said as he crashed a massive hoof on the floor. Sparks flew from the stone as he peered at his allies with fiery eyes.

“It’s not so simple as that. You saw what that witch did to our mages. I’m not certain how many of them will be able to even use their horns again.” The mare that objected was lime-green with orange streaks through her mane.

“And what would you recommend, Countess Wyrmwood?” A black Pony with a purple mane and vivid green eyes gazed calmly from his place around the table of their council room. “I doubt that Pony will simply wait and twiddle his hooves after what we’ve done. If he has the power to break our hold over the sun and moon, then we are rapidly running out of legitimate options. Barring divine intervention or an infernal contract, it’s likely we will be tracked and then overwhelmed one by one.”

“Given the evidence we’ve seen already, I’d say he possibly has both on his side,” Lord Brass Tax admitted as he looked over the reports.

“Then what do we do?” Volcan demanded.

“How many troops do we have?” Brass tax asked. “What are our numbers like?”

“After all the skirmishes we’ve had with one another and the self-proclaimed lord, we’ve lost much, but even with our incapacitated members, totals indicate upward of five thousand operable troops waiting to mobilize between our factions,” Wyrmwood said.

“Then perhaps it’s time we draw our forces together. We can’t fight over a nation we don’t have the power to hold. We’ll gather our strength and crush this usurper. Then we can decide the true ruler,” Brass Tax stated.

“Given the intelligence our units have given, is that altogether wise?” the black stallion asked. “They obliterated siege forces without any casualties. Do you really think we could fare better?”

“Clearly, they have an advantage in their lands, something special about the properties or some such idea. We’ll simply bring him to us.”

“We’ll need to choose a place to take our stand,” Volcan noted. “Build our defenses, ward it, the usual precautions.”

“I can’t believe we’re actually considering allowing ourselves to be besieged,” Wyrmwood said through clenched teeth.

“While they’re besieging us, we can send out messengers offering gold to any mercenaries they can find, and messengers to any other noble factions that remain. The chance to flank the usurper’s army would prove an apt opportunity for them. As for our own forces, we levy peasants and do whatever else may be necessary to stall.”

“It may require magical domination to get them to comply. Are you willing to go so far beyond the bounds set by King Bullion?” the dark lord asked.

“The old fool is in his grave. What, is his churlish spawn going to punish us?” Tax asked.

“Last I checked, you were the loudest to denounce the use of such arts, Tax. I wonder. Will you be so eager to lick the horseshoes of the Earth Pony, assuming he overwhelms your forces?”

“And tell me, then, of your superior plan,” Tax returned.

“Oh, I never said I had a better one. I just wanted to point out the hypocrisy you’ve been displaying.” He smirked. “My family’s been guarding those spells for generations. I would have used them on that brat, if it weren’t for her pet, and then her paranoia.”

Tax sniffed and turned his head aside. “Sometimes, for the greater good, sacrifices must be made.”

“In that case, the question remains. How do you want the bond to be channeled? A totem they wear, or something more … permanent?” The black pony sneered as he rubbed his hooves together.

“What are some ways this thing is done?”

“There is branding, of course, or a totem like a trinket or armor piece. Helmets could do the trick, if that’s what you desire. Then there’s the more complex form of what equates to a mana network. The compulsion spreads and reinforces itself through a multitude of relays in the form of their horns. Any that fall out of the network can easily be reconnected again, simply by proximity. Very effective.”

“And for our situation, what would you suggest?”

“There are pros and cons to each method. Regardless, it will likely raise the ire of this Hammer Strike when he discovers it. However, it does also allow us a certain amount of leeway in the form of hostages, should it come to that. He cares for the common folk. We’ve seen that time and again. If we have enough resources, I would recommend the helmet route, but given how pressed we are and how we intend to seek out other mercenaries as well, this will likely be the best bet.” He smirked. “Of course, we could always try to dominate the mercenaries, too, but that would lead to trouble, in the fact that we require at least some who are aware enough to lead and implement proper strategy.”

Volcan smashed his hoof into the floor. His face was bleak as his voice bellowed through the chamber. “Enough talk! It’s time for action.”

The dark Pony’s smile widened into a confident sneer. “I couldn’t agree more.”

---

The expressions on the reconnaissance team’s faces were bleak as they alighted at the camp. The tents were neatly laid in rows in accordance with military protocol. The sun filtered through the vibrant leaves of the trees and offered what equated to a beautiful golden afternoon. This was not the time for bad news. But this was war. And in war, one must come to expect it.

The Gryphon scout approached and saluted Hammer Strike. “Pierre reporting, Sir.”

“What are we looking at?”

“The enemy has opted for entrenching themselves and building a strong defense. They have many working tirelessly on embankments and other barriers and strategies to deter direct assaults. We couldn’t get a clear reading from our height, but it appears they are also working on enchanting the surrounding area with various spells. A black stallion was seen weaving among the people to assess their work. It also seems that a certain number of mercenaries are camped nearby. I would assume they’re attempting to recruit a force sufficient to stand against us. I’d wager no more than about six thousand troops at the moment.”

Hammer Strike hummed as he thought over the information. “Where is the heaviest concentration of forces?”

“For now, they’ve distributed them evenly throughout the surrounding grounds and holed up in a miniature keep. We’ll have to be careful, though. There are a lot of civilians we’ll have to deal with.”

“We’ll need to lure what we can out before storming in.” Hammer Strike sighed. “Give them time to deal with civilians, or we work against the issue and hope the training everyone received was enough. While I trust everyone, there is still a risk of uncertainty or accidents.”

“Farseeker should be back soon with the report on the types of magic active in the area. Did you want me to inform the troops to prepare for mobilization or wait until after his report?”

“Wait for the report. Then we’ll determine our course of action.”

“Yes, Sir.” The Gryphon saluted. “Permission to dismiss?”

“Granted.”

The troops filed out, leaving Hammer Strike to ponder his next move.

“It should be a quick fight, at least,” Celestia said. “That’s a relief.”

“Don’t underestimate your enemy,” Hammer Strike warned. “It’s a quick method to overconfidence, and that is a steep hole to fall in.”

“Yes, Father,” Celestia acknowledged.

“Perhaps we should send the sappers out, make them believe we’re going right for the kill? See if we can’t make them pull in deeper,” Luna suggested.

“Has potential, but I’d like to hear what the rest of our scouts have to report first.”

“It’s a safe bet that they’ll have a bevy of magical traps waiting to be tripped,” Yharon noted. “It’s just a question of which ones we’ll have to deal with, and then neutralizing them.”

“I’ll be applying our mobile seal, disrupting the magic channels of the area outside of those of Unity.”

“Then regardless of what they have planned, we should be able to move forward without too much difficulty other than physical opposition.”

“The problem, however, is magic traps. Based off the properties of magic itself, it becomes a bit more … complicated when it’s set on itself.” Hammer Strike frowned. “So, they could still work. Not all, but some of them.”

“I wish we’d brought Ainz.” Clover saighed. “We could just send his undead at them until the way is clear.”

“Wouldn’t that lead to casualties, Mother?” Yharon asked.

“Even if they could kill the undead, Ainz can just make more. They’re not alive.”

“I was referring to the civilians, Mother.”

“I’ve seen the control Ainz can have, Yharon. I’ve watched him have several dozen death knights thread needles and sew with living people around them without issue.”

“And again, I meant in regards to the traps that might be triggered, assuming there are civilians in the vicinity. But, knowing the strategy you and Father tend to employ, I assume such attempts wouldn’t be made while civilians are present to be affected in the first place.”

“Honestly, we can’t be sure.” Clover sighed. “Not every nation handles a siege like Unity. You’ve been blessed in that you’ve never seen war aside from the way Unity does it.”

“You’re suggesting they’ll use them as hostages?”

“Or as labor force. Food supply, if they get really desperate,” Clover said.

“That’s despicable!”

“That’s war,” Hammer Strike commented simply.

“Is there a way we might liberate them before we press the assault?”

“Depends. How fast do you think you could draw a gateway rune and draw them into it before they skewer you with arrows and spears?” Clover asked.

“As well as convince them of us being just,” Hammer Strike added. “Remember, they’ve spread so much slander against us that their subjects have me in their mind as a dark lord, ruling over everyone using forbidden contracts, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Unfortunately, Yharon, this is war.” Clover put a hoof on the Dragon’s leg in consolation. “Maybe this battle will show you how lucky we are.”

Yharon frowned. “I admit I’m not looking forward to it. But I understand it’ll be necessary.”

“This is why I tried to avoid it.” Hammer Strike sighed. “But sometimes, you can’t let things stay their course.”

“When the reports come in, we’ll know better,” she told Yharon. “Perhaps we can save some.”

“Not bucking likely.” The Pegasus spat after it landed. Unlike the other troops, this one had been outfitted with goggles that carried special lenses formed by Hammer Strike, himself, to see magic. “It ain’t pretty, Hammer Strike. Not by a long shot.”

Hammer Strike frowned. “What’s the situation we’re dealing with?”

“Black. Lots of black.” He scowled. “Most of it around the workers. There’s compulsion at work here.”

“Delightful. They’ve made a pact.” Hammer Strike sighed. “Clover, ideas?”

“Send Lord in? I mean, he outranks almost anything they could bring in, right?”

“It’s a possibility, but we lose some power on the home front. We can’t be stretched too thin there. How dense was the magical field you witnessed, Farsight?”

“Right now, more like a spider web, but the miasma is building.”

Hammer Strike hummed. “If it’s not that built so far, then I should be able to deal with it.”

“What do you recommend?”

“Ensure our devices work, and prepare for the assault.”

“I’ll filter your orders through the ranks. Got a time in particular you wanted to strike?”

“Middle of the night. They’ll be miserable after all this work with no rest.”

The Pegasus nodded. “Yes, Sir. I’ll alert the rest of the troops. Permission to depart?”

“Granted.”

The flyer was off like a shot.

“So, what method did you want to utilize for dispulsion?” Celestia asked.

“Simple. I’ll rip the power out of it and leave it to die a mortal death,” Hammer Strike replied.

“You’ll have to find it first,” Yharon noted. “And you’ll need to know what it is, won’t you?”

“Easy enough to track down, since I got an idea of what I’m looking for.”

“... You’re not going to go looking for it alone again, like you did with the vampire, are you?”

“I never said that, did I?” Hammer Strike asked. “But yes, I’ll probably fight it alone. If it’s still in a weaker stage and gaining power, it still has time before it reaches full potential. So, if I cut it off before it can reach its final stage, then we’ll have less to worry about. Of course, I’ll probably have Clover as backup, just in case. Lord would notice if something’s going wrong and appear practically instantly. So, I’ve got most ends covered.”

“Then I suppose we’ll hold back and tend the troops,” Yharon said. “Luna’s practically bursting with excitement at the thought.”

“To battle and to glory.” Luna smiled, swinging her mace. “I’m looking forward to paying back those nobles for what they tried to do to Celi.”

---

“Pazuzu,” the black stallion called as he peered over the workers from his tower. A cold wind blew through the keep as the shadows lengthened surrounding the room and drew toward a mirror. A large bipedal figure coated in feathers with taloned hands and feet and four wings on his back materialized.

“You called, and I have answered, Ferasi. What do you want?”

“An update. The others are getting nervous. We know the invading force is near. We wish to know of their numbers, their equipment, anything that you might be able to tell us.”

Pazuzu’s eyes glowed bright red as he stared at the Pony. “Circumstances are grim, indeed,” he warned in a deep voice. “The one you call Hammer Strike is well known throughout the infernal planes. He is not to be trifled with. My power will not be enough to destroy him. At most, I may be able to delay him, and I am not of an inclination to do so.”

Ferasi’s eyes widened. “You what?”

“You heard me, Ferasi. He cowed some of the greatest lords of the hells. I suggest you either bend the knee or flee this land, because he cannot be bought, and he cannot be stopped. I guarantee he would kill me in a matter of seconds. Return me to my home. This contract is no longer profitable.”

“That’s unacceptable!”

“That is reality. You contracted with me, Ferasi, and I answered your call because I did not know your enemy. Had you told me, I would have severed the contract before allowing you to call me to this world.” The image of the bird creature began to fade, though a hint of a smirk seemed to pull at the corners of its mouth. “Farewell, Ferasi. Know that your opponents vastly outnumber you. That is the last kindness I will offer you. Now send me back.”

“I won’t!”

“Then consider our contract formally severed. You and your allies will die alone. No demon alive will help you when they learn who you wish to fight.”

“But the price!”

“I can find my own way back to hell. And your soul is not nearly so precious as the time it will take me to reconstitute my losses after this battle. Goodbye, Ferasi.”

The sound of shattering glass and the shriek of outrage that emanated from the towers below proved more than satisfying to the demon as he closed his connection. The severance of his contract left him feeling more sick than well, but at least he would live. Assuming he could avoid rousing Hammer Strike’s wrath.

Pazuzu turned from his place on the clouds above the settlement and eyed the enemy camp warily. Without his summoner to send him back, he would need one of equal or greater power capable of creating a path back to the Abyss. And, regrettably, the only ones capable nearby resided in the enemy camp.

Now he just had to figure out how to make his request without getting permanently destroyed.

Until he suddenly found himself no longer hovering in the clouds, but standing on solid earth hemmed in by forest. The clearing was not natural. The remains of trees and saplings dotted the area in the form of crude and jagged stumps. The creature that had conquered all the lords of hell now stood before him.

Honesty would likely prove the best course. “You pulled me from my perch,” he noted. “Impressive. Though I had hoped to approach you of my own volition, once I assured a means to do so without you killing me.”

Hammer Strike hummed. “Considering the situation, I took a more direct approach.”

“And you intend to kill me?”

“Considering who you work for, yes.”

“Worked for,” he corrected. “Had I known you were Ferasi’s adversary, I would never have come in the first place. Assuming you have a means to determine such things, you will note that my contract to him has been severed.”

“Noted,” Hammer Strike replied simply.

The avian creature folded his arms. “Given our mutual interest in certain goals, I have a proposition to make that will be to our mutual benefit, assuming you are willing to entertain one.”

“Mutual … interests?” Hammer Strike hummed questioningly.

“I want to return to my plane in the Abyss. My summoner refuses to dismiss me, and since I have severed my contract, I have no means to return home easily. You, however, have the resources that would allow me safe passage. I, on the other hand, have intelligence that I can offer you and the ability to strip Ferasi of all dark powers I and other lesser demons have granted him, up to and including curses, traps, and the all-important compulsion that even now drives those Ponies to obey without question or complaint. Indeed, that particular process has already begun.”

“Dispelling powers such as that are simple enough,” Hammer Strike replied flatly. “What else do you have to offer?”

“Intelligence, my speed, and the means to ensure that no other troops can be found to reinforce what has already been gathered at the staging grounds. I can also summon all manner of creatures to reinforce your troops and take out your opponents without having to shed the blood of your own servants.”

“Let me be clear with you.” Hammer Strike looked at the demon disdainfully. “I trust you as much as I trusted the Alicorns. Which is to say, I’d rather kill you to ensure you hold no threat to me or my subjects.”

“I am no threat when they don’t know my name. That is how I am summoned. And as to your not trusting me, I am not asking you to do so. Frankly, you’d be a fool to in the first place. My self-interest, on the other hand, is trustworthy. And I would be willing to bind myself to a pact to that effect, if necessary.”

“With how easily you broke your previous? I’d rather not.” Hamme Strike raised his hoof off to the side as thaumic fire surrounded it. Next to the two of them, a small rift opened. “Leave. I’ve already ensured you are no threat to my subjects or myself.”

Pazuzu smiled and bowed. “A pleasure doing business with you, Hammer Strike.” And then he stepped through the rift.

Hammer Strike cut off the rift before brushing his coat off. “Enjoy yourself, Lord.”

---

Ferasi pawed frantically through his collection of tomes as time continued to pass. With the severance of Pazuzu’s support, his dark powers were significantly weakened, but not altogether gone. The charms and totems he had given to some of the workers would hopefully keep them in line, at least. Regrettably, the others would likely be waking soon enough, and the other nobles weren’t willing to pool their collective mana toward that end, even with the direness of the situation. They might succeed in compelling lesser fiends to their will if they did, but alone, there was little to be done.

“Hello, seeker of dark secrets.” A voice old and dusty as time, yet dark and evil as the Abyss filtered through the study. The air became cold, and a feeling of dread passed through the Unicorn’s spine as a bipedal figure appeared behind him. What creature the being was, he’d never been sure. It had long since rotted to a skeleton with only thin white hair on its head. The entity held a book in its left hand, a tome covered in leather of a creature the Unicorn didn’t wish to know. Its left hand was gone from the wrist, and its right eye socket was crushed and empty. It wore a black circlet with a vicious spike on its head. Its face was a laughing skull.

Ferasi jumped and turned around, his horn flaring with dark energies. “Who are—?” He stopped and gaped, then began to tremble. While the shape was not familiar, the magic emanating from the creature left little doubt as to what it was.

“Do you not remember me?” the lich asked in a cold neutral tone. “Do you forget the pact we made? Come, the time has come to embrace Lord Vecna.”

Ferasi’s scream of terror reverberated through the corridors, and then cut off into poignant and immediate silence. A dry rustling chuckle stirred the dust in the corners of the corridors and whispered of things unspeakable and best forgotten. The lesser deity had claimed his prize. As for what fate lay in store for the Unicorn, only Vecna and time would tell.

---

Two thousand five hundred random soldiers camped before the Unicorn fort. Their species varied, though they were primarily Gryphons. They were dressed in a mishmash of colors and had a variety of arms and chosen warriors to bear their mercenary company standards. Currently, most were asleep, and the few sentries put out sat by the fire trying to stave off the cold of the night.

They heard nothing as Hammer Strike’s Thestral forces formed the first ranks. Velvet wings flapped noiselessly as they moved in. Blow pipes were produced, and a wave of thousands of poisoned darts rained down on the camp. Most of the sentires only felt a prick before they began convulsing. Many in the tents would never wake up. After the darts, the Thestrals charged with tomahawks raised, taking out as many as they could before the alarm sounded. Several minutes after it did, they vanished into the night.

The survivors gathered themselves up, still paranoid, but thinking their enemy had fled. They began taking tallies of losses and preparing to report when the rumbling was heard. The thunder of hooves and wingbeats filled the air as a massive host charged their camp from the dark.

Clouds brooded overhead with flickers of lightning and rumbling thunder while the warriors crashed against the regrouping mercenaries with the force of a tsunami. Those that were quick enough to respond were able to guard against the oncoming blows, but their defense was not at full strength, and holes had been opened as a result of the previous assault, leaving the fighters hard pressed to hold the line. The task became even more difficult as lightning began to rain from the sky, striking only the defending forces. Any time it would jump toward one of the invaders, the bolt would split around their bodies and arc to another mercenary, instead.

Gryphons sought to take wing, only to find themselves bound to the ground. Any attempts at spellcrafting by the few loyal Unicorn troops were completely suppressed by a higher force of unknown origins. And due to the mysterious disappearance of Ferasi, what few dark magical defenses they had managed to raise crumbled easily. In short, this was not to be a proper conflict. This was a slaughter. And the mercenaries were just the appetizers.

As the bloodbath commenced, the engineers moved up with their heavy siege engines. Trebuchets and siege towers rolled nigh-undetected toward the walls in the darkness. By the time the city knew about the attack, the walls were beginning to swarm. Mercenaries and battle mages jumped to repel the invaders, but with weak to no magic and flight unavailable, the battle quickly became one-sided as Hammer Strike’s forces tore through the opposition.

At that point, many soldiers began to take their leave of combat, or at least tried to. What few may have succeeded soon found their way blocked by the Thestrals that had hidden in the trees. Those who did manage to scream didn’t for very long.

“Damn it,” one of the Gryphon generals growled. “We’re being overrun.” He smote valiantly with his talons, cutting the throats of multiple aggressors. “Someone, get those no good nobles outside and ready to fight!” he roared. “If we’re going down, then they’re coming with us.”

“Sir, nobody’s really available right now,” another Gryphon said, then grunted as he fought back against a broadsword’s blow.

“Do I look like I care? I took money to protect this outpost, not to die.”

“Sir!” the soldier cried, scandalized at the implications behind that sentence before he was fatally stabbed.

Back in the fort, the nobles gathered in their chamber to discuss the progress of the invasion and their attempts to allay the siege. None had been able to locate Ferasi, not even with a powerful spell. This meant either he was dead or something worse and more powerful had made it so he could not be found or seen.

Wyrmwood gazed around the gathering and nodded her head grimly. “We’ve lost Ferasi and are about to suffer a protracted siege. Does anyone have any ideas on how best to proceed?”

Volcan growled. “Isn’t it obvious? Ferasi has either abandoned us or the price for his magic caught up with him. Either way, we’ve been left to fend for ourselves. You’ve seen the way they cut swaths through the troops. We need to either counter these intruders’ magics to level the playing field or we need to retreat to fight another day. Brass Tax! You know the numbers and odds better than any of us. What’s the most likely outcome for us to survive at this point?”

“Not good,” Brass Tax admitted.

“I said outcome, not odds, colt!” Volcan bellowed.

“Volcan!” Wyrmwood snapped. “Get your temper under control. Like it or not, we’re all in this together, and fighting or berating will get us nowhere!”

Volcan glared at the mare. “Neither will wasting our time. Our troops are dying. Our flanks are getting handed to us and shoved down our throats. And unless our de facto analyst and I can devise a strategy that will allow us to survive, we’ll all be facing a higher power within a fortnight!”

“What strategy?” Brass Tax asked. “They’re already swarming the walls.”

“Then what are you suggesting, that we curl up like cowards?”

“I don’t know,” Brass Tax said.

“Well, if I’m going to die, it won’t be here.” Volcan turned aside and stomped toward the door. “Cower or run, if you wish. I intend to fight.”

Just as he reached the front doors, they burst inward, sending him flying back until he slammed into the conference table. Volcan groaned heavily as Hammer Strike walked in flanked by a party of three individuals, one Gryphoness, one Pegasus, and one Thestral.

Hammer Strike simply hummed as he scanned over the opposition.

“Volcan!” Wyrmwood cried, this time in dismay. The mare glared at the intruders. “You filthy little—” An arrow zipped past her cheek, leaving a thin trickle of blood in its wake as it embedded itself into the wall behind her.

“I’d watch your tongue if i were you, lady. And I use that term loosely,” the Gryphon said in a level tone. A second arrow had already been nocked in her longbow.

Wyrmwood glared, but otherwise remained silent. Without her capacity for magic, she had no means to fight, and Volcan had already been incapacitated.

“Honestly, I had expected more,” Hammer Strike replied, then sighed. “So, your lot have been running this garbage fire you call a war.”

Wyrmwood maintained her silence. She wouldn’t give Hammer Strike the satisfaction of any further acknowledgement.

The Earth Pony was unphased. “Makes my job easier.” Hammer Strike shrugged before gesturing toward them. “Capture for trial.”

“Do they have to be in pristine condition?” the Gryphoness asked.

“While I would say no, let’s keep things clean this time. If they fight back, however, have fun.”

A sinister toothy grin beamed unsettlingly on the two nobles that were still conscious. “Please tell me you have at least a little fight in you,” she said.

Brass Tax said nothing as he assumed a neutral stance.

“So, who wants who, just in case?” the Gryphoness asked as they approached the Unicorns to take them into proper custody, including fitting each of them with a magic dampening ring to ensure none would cause any trouble after Hammer Strike lifted the field he’d cast over the area.

It didn’t take long to divvy up the initial assignments. As the largest member of the party, it fell to the Gryphoness to carry Volcan until such time as he could return to consciousness and then be dealt with. The other two calmly led Wyrmwood and Brass Tax out in front of Hammer Strike. They saluted their lord as they passed and nodded their approval. Without the head that these particular nobles had formed, the other parties that adhered to this faction would likely be tripping over themselves to either pledge loyalty or try to take each other out in the ensuing power struggle created by the vacuum.

Regardless of the outcome, Hammer Strike would be ready for them.

---

The throne room at the former seat of power for the Unicorn kingdom was an opulent structure filled with great wooden supports painted in a variety of colors to highlight the rich nature of the court, or what had once been the court. The room was vastly underpopulated, and the vaulted ceiling left an uncomfortable feeling of open space and a harsh echo to every action that made it ring with a sense of dreadful finality. Queen Platinum gazed upon the empty room and sighed. Few, if any of the nobles that had been loyal to her father had remained. Her throne, while an excellent blend of gold and other precious metals, was an empty symbol without the support of the people who once served it.

A shining crown forged from the metal that was her namesake sat atop her head. It had been bedecked with precious sapphires, polished lapis lazuli, and a series of pearls each carefully mounted to offer a beautiful aesthetic. Unfortunately, that was all the crown could offer; that and the weight it pressed on her brow every day. Dust sifted thickly through the halls, and the spaces where many a banner had once hung now were empty or carried the smallest remnants of a burnt tapestry that had borne a rebellious house’s coats of arms.

Eventually, the doors opened, revealing Hammer Strike as he looked upon the room. “And here you are,” he commented.

“Hammer Strike, I presume.” She inclined her head wearily. “I believe this may be the first time we’ve actually met in person.”

“You would be correct,” he replied, finally directing his attention to her. “But, given the letters and what I have looked into, I know how you operate.”

“Then you know it would have been nicer to send a letter and give me warning.”

“You had less than two weeks to live at that rate,” Hammer Strike replied flatly. “They were all on the move, and plans were drafted to … shift control, to put it lightly.”

“I was referring to your intent to visit, but yes, I am not ungrateful for the role you played in defending my sovereignty.”

“No, no. We’re not continuing this.” Hammer Strike shook his head. “This whole ‘Kingdom of Unicorns,’ isn’t going to continue being a thing. The blatant disregard of life and rights, the countless hours of plotting behind backs, knives in the dark, it’s done. As of this moment forward, I am taking charge of everything. My lands, and these, are to be absorbed into one nation.”

“And if I were to refuse?”

“Do you expect me to say, ‘I’ll have to kill you?’ No, you can go live out in the woods, for all I care.”

“I am still queen.”

“No, you aren’t,” Hammer Strike replied bluntly as he started to walk toward her. “If you really find yourself to still be a queen, then you are completely blind to the world around you.”

“I swore I would carry on my father’s legacy.”

“You did.” Hammer Strike nodded. “You carried it to his grave. You didn’t carry it a trot away from it. Your subjects conspire against you. Others starve, and afterwards, die.”

“And you think I’ve done nothing? You think I haven’t tried to keep the peace, to negotiate?”

“You ordered everyone to do your bidding for you. In the entirety of your rule, you have paid such a minor amount of attention to the world around you. You think you spent your time trying for peace, but you didn’t put anything on the bargaining table. You brought nothing and made demands to each and every noble in your kingdom. Trying to ‘negotiate’ peace was you telling them to stop what they’re doing or else,” he replied flatly. “Your attempts to negotiate peace with my kingdom was to try and arrange a marriage where you still had power and were left along to continue this cycle day in and day out while I would have to pick up the scraps that you call a nation.” By this point, Hammer Strike had reached the throne and stared down at her unopposed. His voice was soft, controlled, and filled with contempt. “You let everyone down, and still claim yourself to be in the right to satisfy your own foolish pride. In short, you’re no better than a child threatening to throw a tantrum when she doesn’t get her way.”

Platinum drew herself up to her full height on the throne. It wasn’t that impressive a display, since she was still shorter than Hammer Strike, even then. “I do not have to answer to you.”

“Then you can leave. I’ll even throw in an extra favor. I’ll have your previous guards help you out,” Hammer Strike replied simply. He stomped his hoof against the ground, and the clang of the metal horseshoe rang imperiously. The doors flung open, and Drakenfeller strode in flanked by the silver-garbed guards.

“Ah, Drakenfeller. You have returned. Our court has been poor company of late without your council.”

Drakenfeller offered a slight nod of the head in deference to his former monarch. “I’m sorry, your Majesty, but you brought this on yourself. I serve my people. Would that you had done the same for yours.” He motioned sadly with his horn. “If my lord would allow a small indulgence. May we be gentle with her?”

“I hold no ill will against her. Should she resist and act violently, respond accordingly. If not, do what you will.” Hammer Strike strode purposefully toward the door. “Should she change her mind, keep me posted. I won’t turn away those who can be redeemed.”

Drakenfeller bowed. “Thank you.” A few seconds later, the guards approached their former princess and queen.

“Drakenfeller,” Platinum said. A hint of desperation edged its way into her voice.

“I’m sorry it came to this, Majesty. You may keep the crown. It should give you enough to barter with for supplies and other necessities, though I advise disposing of it as soon as possible. There are many who would not take kindly to the sight of it.”

Platinum’s screams reverberated through the hall and Drakenfeller’s ears as the monarch was shepherded from the room. His name echoed last of all as the doors shut with a dreadful finality, and the noble looked upon the ancient throne he had served so faithfully in his formative years. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he bowed his head in hollow deference for the last time. “I’m sorry, my king,” he whispered. Then he, too, left the crumbling remains of the hall, and the once great throne was left to sit forever preserved within its tomb. No other soul would claim it.

Drakenfeller sighed as he exorcised those feelings of guilt and left them behind. He had a duty to fulfill to his new king, after all. Hammer Strike may not have been born a noble, but he truly was Noble.

“Keep an eye on her, would you, Drakenfeller?” Hammer Strike requested.

Drakenfeller started only for a moment, then immediately regained his composure. “In what capacity, Lord?”

“Keep her from getting herself killed out there.” He sighed. “She still is a child in her perspective of the world, and it will be abused outside of our kingdom.”

“Do you think there’s hope for her?”

“She’s naive, but not a lost cause.” He shrugged. “It may take up to a year for her. At most, it’ll take roughly sixteen months for her to realize how much easier and better things would be for her to accept the deal.”

“And if she is attacked?”

“Have someone assist from the shadows, if necessary.”

Drakenfeller bowed his head. “Thank you, Hammer Strike.”

“I’ll let you see to that. I have to go round up the stragglers.”

“It will be done,” Drakenfeller promised and strode purposefully down the halls.

---

With the retrieval of vital documents from the stronghold, it was a simple matter to identify the remaining co-conspirators and their locations and fallback points. The war, if it could even be called that, would be over in a matter of weeks, once these disparate elements were either eliminated or incorporated into the rapidly developing kingdom. A few dramatic displays from Celestia and Luna proved powerful motivators to the nobles.

Getting them to stay in line, however, was a different challenge. Rather than deal with the drama of trying to keep them in their lands, the nobles were systematically captured, bound, and carted to Unity, where they would languish in prison under what they would believe to be unbearable conditions, despite the relatively comfortable accomodations Unity’s prison cells provided compared to most noble dungeons. In time, the captives would be given the choice to either agree to the terms of Binding’s contracts or continue to remain imprisoned.

Many wouldn’t even think of agreeing at first, until they had to endure a fiendish combination of yodels from the Earth Pony guards, poor two-dimensional jokes that hurt almost as badly as a sword to the belly from a couple of Unicorns, and the constant bellows of drill sergeants coming for inspection. By the time the month was over, they’d all practically begged for Hammer Strike to let them sign.

Binding peered over the notes on his desk and nodded in satisfaction, then tapped the communication crystal Hammer Strike had provided and waited for the magic to activate. “Hammer Strike, do you have a minute?”

“What’s up?” Hammer Strike asked.

“Just wanted to give you an update. It seems the majority of the nobles in custody have agreed to the contracts. There are still a few holdouts, but I’m confident they’ll see the benefits of joining Unity in time. I just wanted to ask for an update on any of the newer prisoners. Do we have many more coming in or are my services going to need to shift toward other duties?”

“Currently, we’re coming clear of prisoners. I’ll still need you to keep an eye on things until those cells are clear, however.”

“We’ll keep a close watch. Don’t you worry,” he promised. “Though, in other news, Celestia sent a relay that was somewhat puzzling. Something about fire and birds? She was rather incoherent when the message came through. You or Clover may want to speak with her when she returns to the city.”

“I’ll keep that in mind and alert Clover.”

“Thank you. You may also consider giving her and Luna some time to focus on control again. Their newfound power is … somewhat overwhelming when they get excited.”

“Probably for the best.” Hammer Strike hummed. “I’ll see to it. Any further updates?”

“Not so many on my end at the moment. I may have something to discuss with you later on, but I need to run a few more tests before I do.”

“Understood. Keep me posted.”

Binding nodded. “Will do. Binding out.” He silenced his communication crystal and peered at the focus Hammer Strike had given him. It hovered in a stasis field as lines of arcane script and other symbols circled around it in a holographic display for him to analyze. He rubbed his chin curiously as he looked over old notes, citizenship records, and other documents he had helped to draft and file over the years. He had hoped to find the answer there, but other than proof of time passing, there was little else to be gleaned. He frowned as he looked back at his focus. “Just what did you do to me?” he murmured.

---

Celestia looked shamefaced as she presented the egg in Clover’s lab. The orange shade at its base licked up in a simulation of the flames that would become the creature’s element, and were highlighted by the bright yellow at its top. “It happened on the way to one of the keeps. I was … startled by the birds’ approach and reacted instinctively.”

“What type of bird did you encounter?” Clover asked as she studied it.

“I felt a certain connection to them, however brief, before they … died. I suppose consumed might be a better descriptor.”

“Phoenixes,” Hammer Strike spoke up as he looked the egg over. “You’ve encountered phoenixes.”

“The legendary fire bird?” Celestia asked.

“Well, it’s at least that for the egg we have here.” Hammer Strike hummed. “As for your encounter, well, it’s most likely the case.”

“And I killed them.” Celestia managed to maintain her composure, but a slight tremor worked its way into her voice when she spoke. “If that had been one of ours….”

“They’re not dead,” Clover said plainly.

“But I didn’t see any ash,” Celestia objected. “If I had, I would have left the egg be.”

“Phoenixes are known for having an impish nature,” Clover explained. “It’s entirely likely you were the victim of a prank.”

“Should I expect them to come looking for their egg, then? I don’t think I’d know where to return it.”

“That, in turn, is the problem.” Hammer Strike sighed. “They’re unlikely to track things this far.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Well, you’re about to learn a new lesson.” Hammer Strike shrugged. “Someone will have to take care of that phoenix, and neither Clover nor I have the time. So, you’ll be the one to look after it.”

“Me? I don’t even know how to hatch it, let alone raise it.”

“You’ll have to learn.” Hammer Strike gave a small smile. “Last I recall, one of the tablets we came here with was a bestiary. It’s likely to contain logs on them. If not, Clover may have something. And if neither work out, I’ll give you what information you need.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to be a mother,” Celestia said as she stared at the egg with wide eyes. “But … then again, I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

“You do, but one comes with an amount of disappointment.” Hammer Strike shrugged.

“And we both know I can’t afford to do that to the one who raised me.” Celestia smiled weakly. “Where did you say that tablet was again?”

“In the stockpile, second basement.”

---

There was a knock at Hammer Strikes door.

Hammer Strike hummed to himself as he looked towards the door. “Clear to enter.”

“Father are you busy?” Luna asked as she opened the door.

“Not at the moment. What’s up?”

“I’ve finished the set-up of my workshop. I was hoping you’d be willing to take a look,” she said in a display of bashfulness not entirely in character as she blushed and bowed her head.

“Of course.” Hammer Strike gave a gentle smile. “I assume you located it somewhere out of Unity?”

Luna chuckled. “About several hundred miles north by northwest, if I have my guess right.”

Hammer Strike hummed as he thought over the world map for a moment. “Near or within a crater?”

“The crater of a somewhat extinct volcano.” Luna nodded.

“Makes enough sense. I’ll assume you have your teleportation spell mastered enough for transport of more than yourself. So, whenever you’re ready to leave.”

“I actually have a somewhat different approach.” She grinned. “Follow me.”

Hammer Strike simply nodded and followed as requested.

Luna led him through the house and down several halls to one of the lesser used corners of the house. At the end of the hall stood a tall archaic-looking mirror with a face of black volcanic glass. Hammer Strike could feel it brimming with a unique magic that seemed to burn and yet feel cold even at a distance.

“It’s a corridor,” Luna explained. “I created a tunnel through a seperate area. I’m not entirely sure what its nature is, but there was nothing in it.”

“Somewhat risky, but certainly effective.” Hammer Strike nodded.

Luna tapped the mirror and the surface rippled gently. “After you.” She gestured with a hoof.

Hammer Strike gave a brief chuckle before moving through the surface of the mirror.

The corridor was cold, and while Hammer Strike was breathing something, he wasn’t entirely sure it was air. Still, the area did seem truly empty. The only aspect outside of the corridor which had magic infused into it was only void, true emptiness. In a few moments, he felt himself encounter something, and he stepped through into a different area entirely.

The crater was massive. The walls of the cone reaching upwards towards the summit seemed to dwarf everything beneath them with impudence. At the caldera, struts and reinforced supports had been fashioned and connected inwards. Hammer Strike could see places where the supports could be adjusted for the mass of the center. In the center, cradled carefully on all sides, was the crystal he’d given her. It sat directly above a large anvil on a dais in the center.

Geothermal heat pulsed beneath a large metal furnace that stood red hot and ready to go. Charcoal was placed in a bin nearby, but was clearly not necessary for its operation. Around the outer surface, empty racks for armor and weapons covered the southern lip while tough crates of various ingots covered the north. To the east was a large board of various tools, and to the west were stations for related but non-smithing work regarding weapon crafting.

“Well, now,” Hammer Strike commented as he looked around.

“I used magic to pull up the geothermal energy. As this was a volcano, it was significantly closer to the surface than anywhere else. I’ve stabilized it to the point it’s not likely to erupt, and then placed the focusing stone to where the moon will hit it full on.”

“Very well done.” Hammer Strike nodded as he scanned over everything. “Place should be good to run for a long time with that mindset.”

“Well, I am going to live a very long time.” Luna laughed. “It will be nice to have somewhere apart from Celestia.”

“And that’s what I was waiting for.” Hammer Strike chuckled.

“Waiting for?” Luna asked.

“The ability to get away from your sister.” Hammer Strike smirked. “Figured you’d mention that bonus.”

“It’s also a place to create,” she noted. “To work on my own projects.”

“Which is great. Having your own space is definitely a way to clear your mind.”

“Who knows? One day, I may be making things as great as your works in here.”

“Well, I can’t let you have that so easily.” Hammer Strike chuckled. “But, who knows?”

Luna smiled softly. “Thank you for coming to see this. Your approval means a lot.”

“I anticipate seeing what you create here.” He smiled. “For now, I probably should return to Unity. Divine knows that I’m probably needed for something. Remind me to show you my personal forge someday.”

Luna’s smile widened. “I look forward to it. I think I’ll stay here, finish setting up.”

Hammer Strike nodded as one of his gates opened at his side. “I’ll see you at dinner,” he commented before walking through.

---

The ring of pickaxes and other tools was complemented by the scrape of claw and paw digging steadily into dirt and stone. The mine had expanded significantly since its initial tunneling, and the Diamond Dogs had expanded with it, building a prosperous den and pack to support the lord above. For some reason, Hammer Strike shuddered every time he heard that phrase, and repeatedly asked them not to use it to the point where it finally became an order.

Cart after cart of gemstones and earth clods were rolled out in equal measure to either be shipped to Unity and surrounding settlements and duchies or kept within their own dens for use in various technological endeavors. Most of their tinkering came to little effect, but certain tools were adapted for use, including hand drills and other devices designed to help with more solid earth and rock.

The benefits of working under Hammer Strike had allowed the pack to flourish and even integrate with the Gryphons, despite what had happened off the continent. Yharon strode casually through the tunnels to observe the process.

“You know, it never ceases to amaze me the way magic weaves through these tunnels,” he said.

His guide smiled as she pulled her work goggles off. The Diamond Dog had to be around her early twenties. Her fur was longer than her fellows, and her features were more akin to that of a collie. “You should’ve seen how we reacted after Hammer Strike made these lenses for us. The job is so much easier when you can actually see the best places to dig.”

“Your den mother couldn’t thank him enough.” Yharon chuckled as he pulled a small gem shard from a nearby cart, then frowned upon closer examination. “This one looks like it was cleaved.”

“That’s the one downside of our current toolset. We’ve managed to free several gem deposits without difficulty, but the quality is questionable when it comes to the finer aspects of removal.”

“You know, you could ask some Gryphons to come down and help. They specialize in stonework. They’d probably have some tricks that could increase the quality of raw material for us to process.”

“There are some of us who fear losing our ability to contribute properly if we do that,” she admitted sheepishly.

“When we have so many who still favor the guard over other trades?” Yharon raised a skeptical brow.

“If they know how to make the tools, and it doesn’t involve their beaks or talons, I suppose we could always submit a request.”

“I’ll run it by Father next time I see him,” Yharon promised. “You know how he is. He admires working hard, but not if you work stupidly.”

The guide chuckled. “Too true. Well, while we’re down here, would you like to see some of the new geode formations we’ve discovered?”

“Of course. Lead on, Eleanor.”

---

The years passed on as they are wont to do, and with the joining of the Unicorn nobles came the birth of prosperity under Hammer Strike’s guiding hoof. The great walled city had expanded to the point where it had developed two more great walls, each with their own segments housed within the rings. Since Hammer Strike wouldn’t tolerate any citizen holding themselves above another, he made sure that each sector of the city would be built equally. Housing codes were introduced to prevent any Pony from exceeding a certain amount of space in their dwelling.

The merchants’ quarters and other trade segments of the city were each carefully divided for maximum efficiency to aid in the development of the city. Those who dared to show any form of tribalism or racism were dealt with swiftly via the guard. A delegation from Zebrica had even come to open a dialogue after word of the dragon turtle’s defeat had spread.

The great tomb of Nazarick had been expanded into a proper fortress in its own right with a number of floors and artificial environments designed to help its undead, demonic, hellish, and other forces feel at home as they went about their duties in service to their lord.

As great as the tomb had become, so too had the church of Faust grown into a mighty cathedral built to house the many patrons who had chosen to attend and worship there.

The house of Sleipnir was what many outsiders might consider an oddity. Its outside was lined with a series of thick wooden pillars, each embedded with various symbols for war: shields, swords, coats of arms, battle axes, and more. The doorway was framed with a triangular arch at the top that housed a massive shield relief with a greatspear behind it. Inside, the hall was divided into a series of wings including an infirmary, emergency bedding, a fully functional kitchen with independent food storage, a feasting hall, a fully stocked armory, and an outdoor and indoor combat arena. A great statue of Sleipnir watched over the entry hall, which doubled as the mess hall for feasting, fighting, and preaching alike.

The Thestrals had become the equivalent of a special ops branch for Hammer Strike’s forces. As nocturnal creatures and hunters, they had the unique advantage of being able to perceive and counteract various threats that branched from the world of night. To aid them in this, Hammer Strike had forged special suits of armor and other weapons while also allowing certain delegates to join the guild as teachers to help future monster hunters learn of the dangers that dwelled in the night and how to combat them. What had once been a motley group of tents and roughshod villages had now developed into a series of lodges and other structures designed to house the warriors and grant them the ability to focus on their roots from the time before the corrupted Ursa had become the focal point of their worship.

There had been an attempt to create a shrine to Hammer Strike himself, after the sacrifices he had made for them, including moving the sun and moon on his own, but he had firmly denied those attempts. That didn’t stop the occasional cryer and zealot from preaching in the streets, however.

Clover’s school of magic evolved into a proper college, where many a student were encouraged to pursue new avenues of magical application. Strict laws were enacted to ensure that credit would go where it was due. Any Ponies that dared to break that law would find themselves ejected from the school and would have to pursue any further education on their own.

True to his word, Hurricane retired and was replaced by his son, who ushered in a new age for Ponies and Gryphons by accepting the application of the newest race to ever walk the earth or grace the skies, the Hippogriffs. Hammer Strike had named the new race himself, and with the birth came the blessings of Faust as abundance poured over all of the kingdom, making fields richer, mining more productive, and lowering the number of dark creatures that might otherwise seek a foothold.

In short, the kingdom had become, for all intents and purposes, one nation under Hammer Strike. Now, it was simply a matter of coming up with a proper name.

And fortunately, Hammer Strike already had that prepared.

Thus, Equestria was born. And so came the dawning of a new age.

---

The room was stuffy and hot as Hurricane lay on the infirmary bed. His body was propped up on a set of pillows, and he sighed as he looked over the room. This was not how he’d wanted to go. “At least open a window,” he grumbled.

“Can’t,” a voice answered. “Unfortunately, my job doesn’t allow for it.”

Hurricane rolled his eyes. “Another well-wisher come to coddle me?” he asked spitefully as he looked around the room, only to see no one there.

“Not quite,” the voice responded as a figure covered in a ragged cloak appeared at his bedside very close to the head.

“All right, so either you’re a new person in the kingdom or you’re something above the power of Binding’s contract magic. Which is it? I’m too old to care about niceties.”

“You should have figured that out by now.” Death sighed. “I’d think you’d be expecting me.”

“Not really. More expecting a last flight first, but I guess invalids can’t be choosers.” He raised his wings in a shrug. “You here to kill me, then? Or do you prefer harvest?”

“You’re not an invalid, Hurricane.” Death sighed. “You’re just old.”

“Equates to the same thing in the end, doesn’t it?”

“Only if you can’t appreciate what you’ve done.”

“You mean aside from being an arrogant colt that nearly drove his people to extinction?” He chuckled. “I’ve lived my life trying to make up for my mistakes. I just don’t know if that life was enough.”

“I imagine you’ll have time to find out.” Death sighed.

“That so? I thought Ainz said the dead move on to another place when they go.”

“He doesn’t know everything.” Death chuckled dryly. “Moving on requires you to allow yourself to do so.”

“So, if I want, I can stay here indefinitely?”

“Yes, but I wouldn't suggest it.”

A weak smile pulled at the Pegasus’ lips. His eyelids felt so heavy all of a sudden. “Do either of us have a choice?”

“Not really.” Death sighed. “Are you ready?”

“I think so.” He frowned as he laid back in his pillows. “Do you … do think they’ll be better than I was?”

“I’d answer that,” Death said as he summoned his scythe. “But I doubt you’d believe me.”

Hurricane chuckled. “I suppose I wouldn’t at that.” A hint of his teeth glinted in the daylight as a soft rattle carried out his throat. Death’s scythe hooked the breath and soon pulled the Pegasus’ spirit fully into the metaphysical plane. Hurricane looked down at his far younger projection and flexed his wings. “Now that’s loads better.” He turned to face Death. “Guess I’ll be seeing you again in the future. Come visit. We can play some chess.”

“I may.” Death chuckled. “Fare well, Hurricane.”

“A ghost can try.”

---

Hammer Strike placed a small stack of papers on the table before him. Nearby, Clover, Ainz, and Lord sat. “All right, I’ve been going over this mentally for the last week. With Hurricane passing and a new Commander in play, I believe I’ve determined a project worthy of being made.”

“What's the plan?” Clover asked.

“I’ve gathered a list of names and potential applicants for a unit that I believe would prove beneficial to Equestria. A unit dedicated to the study, understanding, and ability to deal with abnormal creatures. Vampires, werewolves, poltergeists, etcetera. While we have the knowledge and we have the capability of dealing with them, it isn’t always within the realm of our reach at a moment's notice. This would be a unit dedicated to dealing with such threats the moment they arrive.”

“So, like your adventurers’ guild, but more specific, more … hunters?” Ainz asked curiously.

“Precisely.” Hammer Strike nodded. “Adventurers take tasks and such that appear within their realm of possibility. This would be a unit dedicated to threats way beyond standard means.”

“It’s not unheard of. Most cultures have their socieities who attempt to cull such issues. The problem is, to my knowledge, no one has dedicated resources to supporting them.” Ainz nodded. “It would take time, but it is very possible.”

“The reason I called you three is I would appreciate the three of you compiling your knowledge of creatures for said team, or at the least be prepared to answer questions and potentially assist in training them.”

“Perhaps we could make a new bestiary?” Clover suggested. “With our combined knowledge, we could easily make one more detailed than current publications.”

“We’ll potentially need more than one.” Hammer Strike hummed. “I believe I can make something to help with that.”

“You’ll need a face for this,” Lord pointed out. “I doubt anyone will feel at ease without one.”

“Hence the list of applicants. The top seven on there would fill into that role well, in my personal opinion. It’s just a matter of selecting one now.”

“Are there any particular criteria you have in mind?” Ainz asked him.

“Besides the willingness part, I just need to ensure they’re of a strong body and mind.”

“We’ll work out our own requirements and add them to the list then.” Lord nodded. “How soon do you want this in effect?

“Take your time. I don’t want this rushed.”

“We’ll begin working on this right away, then.” Clover nodded. “Is there anything else you needed?”

“Not off the top of my head.” Hammer Strike shrugged. “Should anything else come up, I’ll bring it up.”

“Very well. Then we’ll get to work,” Ainz finished. And so the meeting parted, and each began their task.

---

The great red stallion sat at his desk and growled in frustration as he signed off on yet another form and rustled his mane as his race’s natural instincts to fly and act raged through him. His head thumped against his desk in a heavy sigh as he shuffled the next paper weakly onto the pile of finished documents. His ears twitched at the sound of the knock at his door, and he managed to groan out an, “Enter,” before drawing himself back up.

A Gryphoness clad in leather armor entered the office. “Don’t tell me the job’s breaking you already?” she asked as she approached and set a glass full of amber liquid on the desk in front of him.

“The job, no. The hours not being able to move, however, is another story. I swear, this has to be one of the worst battles I’ve ever fought, and I don’t even have a sword to fight with.” He chuckled and took a sip of the drink. “Thank you, Angelise. Now tell me, what brings you to my little dungeon?”

“A few things,” she said as she traced her talons gently through his mane. “Unfortunately, I have to make some of your issues worse.”

“Well, let’s get the formal stuff over with, then.” Storm Squall Hurricane stretched and groaned as he popped his neck. When he returned to a more formal position, all signs of levity and fatigue fell away from his face in favor of a serious mask. “Report, special agent.”

“Unrest in the empire.” She sighed. “Gryphons are dying of old age a lot sooner than usual, and it’s causing a lot of upheaval. There is likely to be a new emperor by month’s end, and there is already talk of invasion for glory.”

“Less than a generation, and they’re already contemplating breaking one of their gods’ most sacred edicts?”

“Gods they haven’t spoken to in decades.” She sighed again. “And after a war they never fought to what would be considered a proper end.”

“So, you’re suggesting as a means to unite them, this new emperor will propose a crusade in the vain hope of somehow either bringing your gods back or gaining significant resources and magic?”

“Or they can all gain enough glory to satisfy what they can no longer achieve. They don’t believe in another way.” She grinned as she leaned in and kissed him. “My parents were similarly misguided at one time, you know.”

Storm Squall sighed. “I guess that means Binding won’t be stopping with his contracts any time soon.” He smiled weakly and kissed the Gryphoness on the cheek. “Thanks for being so supportive of me. And so patient.”

“That's what love’s about.” She grinned. “Now, how about you finish up for the night and I steal you away before one of your other wives decides they want you tonight?”

Storm Squall smirked. “That is a tempting offer.” He pecked her on the cheek again. “Ten more papers?”

“Two more.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Three, and a kiss.” He flapped over his desk and laid one full on her beak. “That one was a freebie.”

“Two and a half and I’ll—” She leaned in, whispering slowly and carefully into his ears. When she’d pulled away, the commander of Unity’s army was redder than usual.

“Sold!” he squawked, then cleared his throat as he struggled to regain his composure. “Would you be willing to be my escort, fair lady?”

“Of course.” She gave him a smile. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

In those last few minutes of paperwork, the office learned just why Storm Squall bore the name of Hurricane.

---

The sun streamed easily into the Guildmaster’s office at the hall. Monster hunting and various other gigs had led to a steady source of income for the institution while allowing its members an opportunity to vent instinct or seek out adventure as wanderlust demanded. A fine checkerboard top hat sat on the corner of the desk as an older stallion with a bright yellow mane worked. A prominent scar traced from the bridge of his nose all the way down his left cheek. His suit coat and cravat were well worn by years of use. Of all the Ponies to assist in running a guild, Speedy Wagon was definitely the best qualified. Seated across from him, one of the many Gryphons who worked for the guild now stared patiently as he watched intently. Finally, after allowing his gaze to linger on the top hat, he returned his attention to the Gryphon and spoke.

“What we have to discuss is something that I must ask you to keep a secret, until such time as my interviews are completed. I hope you understand this, Bernard,” he said pointedly.

“Of course, guildmaster.” The Gryphon nodded.

“Good. I’m not one to mince words, so this will be fast. There’s word of aggression coming from your people’s empire, and indications of a possible invasion into our lands. While our lord is confident in the military and its capacity to deal with most threats, he’s asked me to start speaking with you all discreetly. If push comes to shove, would you be willing to offer your services to Hammer Strike and the military in the event of a Gryphon invasion?”

“Without question,” the Gryphon answered. “I have no ties to the empire. My duty is to Unity.”

“And you would have no qualms about possibly killing those of your own race, including potential relatives?”

“Those relatives didn’t protect my father when he was made clanless. And I’d consider those Gryphons my race in the barest of terms.”

“What role would you believe to be most ideal for you and your skillset, should you be recruited for such an endeavor?”

“Long range scout,” Bernard noted. “My vision and hearing give me an advantage, and Gryphons aren't likely to fire first if they see me. They’re more likely to mistake me for one of their scouts, instead.”

Speedwagon nodded and scrawled the answers on a sheet of parchment. “Your suggestion is noted. Thank you, Bernard.”

“Will that be all, guildmaster?”

“For now, yes. We’ll be in touch if anything changes. The usual means.”

“I’ll keep alert, then.” The Gryphon nodded as he got up and left.

Speedwagon stared at the sheaf of papers to his right and added the one he’d just filled to the stack. “Forty and still counting,” he muttered. “Hammer Strike’s not going to believe this.”

---

The simple storeroom Binding had first started out in had long since evolved over the years. A great orrery moved in the vaulted ceiling high above. Shelf after shelf of books, scrolls, and documents were neatly organized according to a unique system of his own devising. His greater focus hovered in stasis within a spell circle as Binding stared pensively at it. So deep was he in thought that he didn’t even notice the clop of Hammer Strike’s hooves as he entered.

“You said you had something to discuss, Binding?” Hammer Strike asked as he glanced over the room.

Binding’s head rose sharply at the voice. Then he relaxed. “Oh, Hammer Strike. Please, come closer.” He nodded. “It’s something I’ve been worried about for some time, but for the first time, I can’t seem to figure it out on my own. I find it … upsetting.”

Hammer Strike raised a brow as he drew near. “What seems to be the issue?”

“Frankly, with how closely you watch everything, I’m surprised you haven’t noticed.” He frowned and looked at the staff again.

“The lack of aging on yourself and close allies?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “So, you did notice, after all. What I’m looking for is understanding. What’s happening to me? Why aren’t I aging? By all the rules of magic, it shouldn’t be possible. Even an aging spell would leave me feeling the years as they pass, but I don’t.”

Hammer Strike gave a brief chuckle. “You’re a rare breed in these lands, to put it simply. There’s something deeply ingrained within your being that is causing this.”

“Something planted there?” he asked suspiciously.

“Technically yes, and no. It’s been with you since before your birth. Best way I learned to explain it is simply calling it a ‘Divine Seed.’” Hammer Strike smiled softly. “It manifests itself in many ways. Yours just happens to expand out to your close friends as well.”

“And what, exactly, is this seed’s purpose?”

“It depends on how you look at it.” Hammer Strike shrugged. “Whether you nurture it to the point where you could ascend or use its power to enhance your own. In your case, it keeps you from aging. And from what I can see, it reached out and is tethering itself to Wall and Swift.”

“So, we’re functionally immortal….” Binding frowned. “I’m … not certain how to feel about that.”

“Unaging, it’s quite an…” Hammer Strike frowned for a brief second. “Experience, I guess I could say.”

“One you’re familiar with?”

“To a point, yes. Though, as you’ve noted as well, I have a different way about it.” Hammer Strike gestured to himself.

“What will that mean for the three of us in the long run, then?”

“Well, besides stay alive, whatever you really choose to do. Whether you continue to work for me, or eventually change your path.”

“And this … latching you mentioned. Does it have a range?”

“Considering the nature of said ‘seed,’ probably farther than you can possibly reach.”

“So, I won’t have to worry about my friends suddenly turning to dust if we have to part ways for a time.” He nodded again. “Good to know. Though it begs the question. What prompted this ‘seed’ to start working in the first place?”

“Have you considered how much magic you’ve been channeling for Equestria since its founding? Those contracts don’t work off thin air.”

“The initial binding requires magic, but the continued sustaining of the contract doesn’t require a drag on my magic.” Binding shook his head. “If it did, I’d never have tried to change the system in the first place.”

“Still,” Hammer Strike commented flatly. “You’ve done tens of thousands of contracts. While it may not seem like it was a grand procedure to you of magic, it’s more than standard. That’s all it needs.”

“And that mention of ascension?”

“Either to a different form to handle the excess power you will wield, or literal ascension into divinity.” Hammer Strike shrugged. “I’d suggest neither.”

“Are you telling me that all the gods we know were once mortal?”

“Not quite. Some are made naturally. Others ascend.”

Binding was quiet for a time as he processed all that information. “Where did you learn all of this?” he finally asked.

“Through an interesting mix of study from here and somewhere drastically far off.”

Binding nodded. “I won’t bother you with more questions. I can tell this isn’t a subject you want to delve into.”

“To put it simply, yes. I’m … a long way from home.”

“Do you think we might have the chance to see this home of yours someday?”

“One day, perhaps.” Hammer Strike gave a gentle smile. “You’ll find the company interesting.”

“You do seem to have that effect on people.” Binding smirked. “Well, while I have you here, how about I treat you to some tea? We can go over the initial census results while we drink.”

Hammer Strike hummed for a moment, then nodded. “It’s been awhile. Sure.”

“I’ll get the kettle started.”

---

“I’ve done a lot of changes since you were last here,” Ainz told Hammer Strike as he led him through an entrance made from a familiar giant bear’s skull and into a corridor of dark stone lit with torches.

“So I can see.” Hammer Strike scanned around the area. “I know I authorized expansion, but I didn’t anticipate this much. No complaints, just observations,” he clarified.

“I’ve been able to contain it all within its own dimensional space,” Ainz assured him. “We are very nearly finished with the tenth floor now.”

“Ten floors?” Hammer Strike noted with some surprise. “All at this scale?” He gestured around them.

Ainz chuckled. “Some much larger.” He continued to lead Hammer Strike down the hall. “With the added help, I’ve had more options as of late.”

“It certainly seems that way.” Hammer Strike hummed. “Any notable additions I should be aware of beforehand?”

“Depends. What are your thoughts on a volcanic landscape with rivers of molten magma?”

“Curiosity certainly comes to mind.”

“Some of my aids have gotten a touch creative.” Ainz chuckled. “They’ve created floors with strange terrain themes, golems, and other unlife to guard important areas and other such changes to areas. We even have an arena.”

“You’ll have no end to the entertainment.” Hammer Strike chuckled. “Or, at the very least, no end to the creativity.”

“Well, we take those you send us, interrogate them, then get the best use out of them before they join us in unlife.”

“Certainly an unending workforce.”

“And an army that grows faster than it falls.” Ainz chuckled.

“Without a doubt.” Hammer Strike nodded. “You also mentioned meeting a few of these higher individuals you contracted?”

“Yes, the contracts worked as expected. Many of them returned to their sanity after signing them”

“Which ones in particular did you want me to meet?”

“That depends how much time you have.”

“I cleared the entirety of today for this, since I didn’t know what to expect, but gave a rough estimate towards it being big.”

“We have forty-one people for you to meet.”

Hammer Strike blinked a few times. “Well, that’s more than I anticipated.”

“So glad I could surprise you.”

---

Celestia smiled as she tended to the little chick in her study. The young phoenix had only hatched a little over a week ago, and it was already strong enough to start flapping its wings and hop around. The first few days had been trying as she carefully ground up various pieces of meat and worms into a mush the hatchling could digest more easily. Now that the gestation period had passed for the development of the chick’s digestive tract, the phoenix could eat small portions of various foods as Celestia helped it to develop its strength.

“I still need to give you a name, too, don’t I, little one?” she asked as she levitated three more small chunks of flesh to the chick.

The chick peeped its hunger and appreciation as she gave it one piece at a time, then ran its beak through her mane.

Celestia smiled. “I love you, too.”

“Just wait till you have to teach it how to fly.”

“Her, Yharon,” Celestia noted calmly. “I see you’ve been working on that silencing modification to mother’s teleportation spell.”

Yharon chuckled as he approached. “Don’t you mean you heard?”

Celestia smirked. “Fair enough. The light is going to be the other problem.”

“That part of the formula is going to take a lot longer,” Yharon agreed. “I think it has to do with the nature of magic itself. As a tool, it almost seems to want to leave a visible trace of its use.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Celestia said supportively. “So, did you want to come say hello to your adopted niece?”

“You’re going to make a phoenix your daughter?”

“Part of the family, Yharon.” She rolled her eyes.

“Just so long as you don’t end up misplacing affection.”

“Yharon, I know I’ve been through heartbreak recently, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to fall to pieces or have some psychotic break. Besides. Look at her. She’s adorable.”

“You won’t mind if I still keep an eye on you all the same, will you?”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “So long as you don’t get intrusive about it, I suppose I won’t mind. We are family, after all, and I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same for you if I were concerned for your welfare.”

“Speaking of which, that’s something else I wanted to talk about with you. The Unicorns are being stupid again, well, at least the nobles are.”

“How so?”

“They want to venerate you as a goddess.”

“They want to WHAT?”

Yharon suddenly found himself pinned against the side of the wall by the force of Celestia’s shout. “That’s … new,” he groaned, then gradually slid to the floor.

“Yharon!” The mare raced to her brother’s side and quickly administered some healing magic, then helped him to sit up.

“What was that?” Yharon finally asked.

“I … don’t know,” Celestia admitted.

“You’re telling Mother and Father about this,” Yharon said.

Celestia raised a hoof to object, but the glare he leveled against her silenced her. Her shoulders and wings slumped in defeat. “All right.”

“Good. We should probably get Luna, too, just in case. If you’re developing new and strange abilities, then she probably is, too. And I’m going to guess it has something to do with your bonds to the sun and moon.”

“Because?”

“Because I grew up most of my life with you two. The odds of you two suddenly and spontaneously having this manifest as a part of your original magical makeup are vastly less than remote.”

Celestia sighed. “Fine. But at least let me finish feeding the chick before I go.”

“Still looking for a name?”

Celestia sighed. “Yes.”

“We can ask Father if he has any ideas when we see him.”

Celestia nodded as the fragments of food levitated again in her magic and floated toward the chick. “Though I already have a pretty good idea what he’s going to say.”

Yharon chuckled. “You and I both. But we’re still doing it.”

---

Luna’s workshop rang with the steady tempo of hammer on metal as the lunar Alicorn worked. Since taming the moon and her growth, she’d noticed her armor had become ill fitting and awkward. With war possibly on the horizon, she dedicated herself to making a set of plate mail more fitting for her. Lunar steel and ebony had been carefully combined to form a sturdy purple metal that seemed to maintain an almost metaphysical quality, able to easily switch between physical states with Luna's own body and resonating and amplifying her magic significantly.

She’d already created a set of armored boots that connected to horseshoes. High pointed guards sprouted up to protect her legs right up to the first joint. She’d also created a plated peytral that looped around her neck with ease, covering her chest in a wide plate with her mark inscribed upon it.

She was currently working on the helmet. The piece was simplistic in nature, a rounded plate shaped to guard her skull and come down in a tapered nose guard around the front of her face between the eyes. She’d bored a hole for her horn and was carefully working the joints in the neck guard, so they would allow movement without biting into her neck. Luna imbued each piece with magic as she worked to enhance their properties and make them come when called to her.

Had she looked into the metal, she might have realized the sinister element to it, the dark gleam on the purple finish, the way it seemed to avoid the brighter light, or the single cyan slitted eye that stared back at her every now and then when she wasn’t looking.

---

The air filled with the smell of sweet sugary confections and the sizzle of meat searing on the pan as Yharon directed the various measuring tools, pans, and flames with all the skill of a seasoned maestro. His wings glowed as he hummed to himself and occasionally sampled the food to ensure it was properly seasoned.

He smiled as he ignited the alcohol over some of his vegetables to create a proper flambe. He may not have had the wanderlust, like his siblings, but that had left more than enough time to broaden his horizons in other areas, like the world of cooking. Glaze spread in a fine blanket that gradually wrapped itself around a large hock of ham before the two were levitated into the oven in a pan and left to baste and cook.

“And that should take care of that,” he mused.

“Hooey! Something smells good.” The kitchen window swung open to reveal Wall’s familiar smile.

“That would be tonight’s dinner for Mother and Father. It’s their anniversary, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.” Wall shrugged. “The gang’s been working their tails off to get the right gift for them.” He stuck his nose a little farther in. “Do you … mind if I maybe try some of that?”

“... I suppose one small bite couldn’t hurt. But why the sudden interest?”

Wall shuddered. “It’s Binding’s turn to cook this week. Everything he makes literally tastes like tree bark. It can be perfectly executed down to the last grain of salt or sugar and the result would be the exact same. It’s torture.”

“Have you told him?”

“He already knows. Even went and did an experiment on it.”

“And you still have him cook?”

“You underestimate the power of laziness.”

A sweatdrop formed on the side of Yharon’s head as he levitated a small bite to the waiting Pony’s mouth. “I might have known.”

Stars appeared in Wall’s eyes as he savored the sample and milked it for all it was worth.

“You know, you could just order out when it’s Binding’s turn. It’s not like you don’t have enough saved up.”

“And let him get by without having to clean the dishes? Not a chance!”

“Then it seems to me you’re at an impasse.”

Wall sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

“So, were you here for any particular reason or were you just drawn by the smell of my cooking?”

“A little of both. The Thestral tribes wanted to send a gift of their own, too. I’m supposed to let your parents know when to expect it.”

“They’re sleeping in today.”

“Sleep?” Wall asked sceptically.

“Use your imagination, Wall. Honestly. You’re older than me.”

“Ohhhhh…”

“Exactly. You can wait in the living room, if you’d like. But I get the feeling if I let you stay here, I’m not going to have a proper meal ready for them.”

“That’s cruel!”

“Fair, though,” Yharon added coolly.

Wall frowned, and his lips wobbled as his stomach growled. “Just one more sample?”

Yharon rolled his eyes.

---

The attack happened in the year of Hammer Strike’s Patience, June 15, 3045 PDE. An army of a hundred and fifty Gryphons bearing the empire’s colors appeared on the horizon. They offered no terms, save total surrender and sixty minutes to respond. When no response was forthcoming, they charged the walls of New Unity. The attack was neither long nor successful as the attacking force was brought down nearly to the last warrior in a hail of arrows. One Gryphon made it out, and their own scouts claimed he’d delivered his report to a sizable war camp a little over five miles out from Unity’s borders.

“I think it’s safe to say this was simply to feel us out,” Ainz said afterward as the inner circle sat at their table. “And possibly a message that they could send so many to their deaths without issue.”

“A waste.” Hammer Strike sighed. “I swear, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another.”

“Well, given how prominent we’ve become as a nation, it was only a matter of time before someone was going to come along to test us,” Binding noted. “This time, we have the upper hand.”

“It's a little more complicated than that.” An older Gryphon sat nearby Hammer Strike, having been requested into this meeting to add what they knew to their intel. “This isn’t a fight for territory or resources.”

“It’s for glory.” Hammer Strike frowned.

“In other words, Hammer Strike’s reputation has grown to the point where they believe taking him down and claiming his lands will make them legends?” Binding asked.

“Once again, I don’t think you understand.” The Gryphon sighed. “They don’t need to succeed to achieve glory. This is the army that beat the Pegasi almost without losses. Your leader was the last person to see the Children of Faust alive. To die at the hands of a worthy foe still is a way of achieving glory.”

“So, there’s nothing we can do to convince them to stop or deter them?”

Hammer Strike shook his head. “It’s unlikely. The only way would be a grand display to instill some fear, but that isn’t something easily done, and isn’t going to guarantee anything.”

“Then what do we do? These aren’t the Unicorn nobility.”

“Fight.” Hammer Strike sighed again. “On and on, until they cease their aggressions. It won’t be short.”

“Perhaps I could simply overwhelm them?” Ainz offered.

“Perhaps thinning them out a bit would work, but as many as you have, I have doubts to how long they’ll last.”

“Still, no blood would be spilled on our end.” Ainz shrugged.

“For the beginning.” Hammer Strike frowned. “I’m not disapproving the idea, but we need to keep an eye on numbers and progress for them, and eventually prepare our units to move in.”

“All of the tribes are ready and able to serve, Hammer Strike,” Storm Squall said.

“Have everyone prepared, but keep movement to a minimum until Ainz’s units are at a low count.”

“Are we planning on nocturnal attacks as well?”

“Definitely.” Hammer Strike nodded. “We’ll need to go full assault for the Gryphon Empire. They’ll come at us to the last.”

“Then should I also alert Tarefson?”

“Keep him informed, yes.”

“I’d suggest passing around the heavy shields,” Lord noted. “From my understanding, all Gryphons are archers by nature.”

“And damn strong ones,” Squall agreed. “We should see about building more wards around Unity as well. Though if they do attack, at least they’ll be earthbound. That’s a form of warfare that should cause them some trouble.”

“They’re not Pegasi,” the old Gryphon said. “Sometimes you can’t just fly up to the enemy.”

“I grew up with Gryphons, Old One.” He nodded respectfully to the Gryphon. “I am aware that they know how to fight on the ground. However, by limiting them to battle on the ground, it does give us a greater advantage, especially if we can keep up a proper ward against projectiles while we’re at it.”

“Just be ready. It’s still going to be costly.”

“Given your extensive knowledge of your peoples’ tactics, would you be willing to advise us on viable strategies?”

“My people are here.” The Gryphon growled. “What are attacking us are a bunch of decadent unenlightened fools. My people will do our part for Unity.” He looked to Hammer Strike. “You can trust us, my lord.”

“I know.” Hammer Strike gave a smile. “I trust and appreciate each and every one of you, whether you fight in the battles to come or not.”

“Thank you, my lord. I know your trust is a commodity. It’s one we won’t waste.”

“I know you won’t.” Hammer Strike nodded. “I’ll have to look into preparations. Some new null fields. Though, that may take some time.”

“I’ll help you with that,” Clover added. “Perhaps together we can cut the time needed down.”

“Would certainly be a positive.” Hammer Strike nodded as he thought it over. “I’ll need to ask for a few Gryphon volunteers to get a general read of their field and energy to adapt it to those not a part of Equestria.”

“You’ll have them, Lord,” the old Gryphon answered immediately.

“Anything else that needs to be addressed?” Hammer Strike asked the room.

“The Diamond Dogs, definitely,” Binding said. “If these Gryphons are remotely as strategic as our own, then we’ll need to ensure the mining tunnels aren’t exploited.”

“Definitely.” Hammer Strike frowned. “Ainz, direct some protection into the tunnels after this meeting. Our opponents are bound to be highly aggressive towards them, and…” His frown deepened. “They’re doubtlessly going to be more hostile toward the descendants of Gryphons and Ponies.”

Ainz nodded. “I’ll have some flesh golems and gargantua posted in the tunnels.”

“How should we address the remainder of the kingdom? The Gryphons will likely come here, yes, but won’t Gryphons trying to build up their reputation want to take out some of the other settlements before they attack Unity directly?” Squall asked.

“We increase the guard across the kingdom. Alert level beta, at least. The populace will know what is going on and be prepared. But until the action draws near them, they’ll be on mid-guard. Those closer to the Gryphon Empire or branches separated from it will have the alert level raised higher.”

“There is one more issue,” the older Gryphon said.

“Go on.”

“What about the airship fleet?”

Hammer Strike couldn’t help but grin. “Now that Is something I prepared for on the side.”

Comments

[Dravkwn]

A bit in the story had me thinking 'That's so Sombra-like".

[yakopak]

Very good

[vustrunreyth]

after all that bluster and attitude. the great unicorn kingdom fell faster then a sand castle to a tidal wave. poor platinum. her whole world came crashing down around her and she was to stubborn to admit she did almost nothing to stop it.

Farewell hurricane, may the wind beneath your wings never falter, may the sun light your way and the stars be your guide.

to an honorable life, and a glorious death. To a great warrior who knew victory, who lead his comrades in battle, and even in defeat, left betrayed and broken by honorless cowards, had the strength to pick himself up, Reclaim his honor and help usher in a new golden age for his people.

May he be forever remembered for his accomplishments, for his trials, for his victories, and his defeats. for the legacy he left behind and the bright future he helped create.

[Booster Spice]

At least Celestia and Luna have finally bonded to the Sun and Moon, though still trying to work out how Creepy McCreepyson managed to get infused into the armor without Luna deliberatly doing son, unless its an enviromental condition that Hammerstrike didnt pick up on, a World Wound Miasmic Entity?

At least teh first lot of daft Unicorns were dealt with, though I take it that lich didnt want to waste time in the area or else others would looking to consume him? The Empire Gryphons are effectively taking out their own remaining civilisation in one last ending, no matter what few residents prefer to keep going think?

Ainz has transitioned The Great Tomb to dimentional space, leaving only the surface construction as the access portal encapsulation, is he building, or going to see Hammerstrike about building other such structures elsewhere, that he can just transfer the whole Tomb by closing the doors on one, and opening the doors on another, to deny attackers etc? Any current thoughts, such as Binding, linking Unities encapsulating wards to The Great Tomb, so that instead of evaculating into the Tomb, Unity itself is rotated out, but leaving what behind? pulling the landscape into the point, leaving a crater to fill with water, or a prepared displacement mass of random materials or even preprepped section of Island etc?

If Hurricane decided to stick around as a Ghost, why didnt he call in on Hammerstrike?

Or is it, after Adventurers, and Monster Hunters, you get Ghostbusters?

[Charedfirescale]

When it comes to myths and legends theres always a grain of truth. However the Modern Arthurian Legend of today is far, far different than the original.
Many events were allotted to Arthur than what he actually did. Characters were changed, merged together or created to make the stories more interesting and enthralling. Add Rose-tinted glasses and romanticize it and you've got a golden age.

For example Mordred was merged with Amr or Amhar a villainous son of King Arthur from 2 references in surviving ancient texts.
How Mordred became the Villain In this website, the author Ms. Yarde goes into detail on this. Mordred went from the son of Arthur's sister Morgause who was married to King Lot of Orkney; which makes Sir Gwain his brother. To the illegitimate son of Morgana and Arthur. Mordred was one of Arthur's most loyal knights so when it says that they died together at the Battle of Camlann, you'd think they died fighting together. Mordred's transformation into a villain started in 1136, by Geoffrey of Monmouth who wrote The History of the Kings of Britain.. You can read the rest of the article yourself. But shortly after this Lancelot was added into the story.

There was an article that talked about how Arthur and Mordred battled against each other due to their beliefs about the Divine Right to Rule. I unfortunately can not find this article. Arthur believed in the divine right to rule. Mordred on the other hand did not. So when Arthur went off to fight the Roman Emperor or whoever, he put Mordred in charge. Mordred shared out power among the common folk during his rule and signed something similar to the magna carter. When Arthur returned he was enraged and went to battle against Mordred.

I'm not saying King Arthur wasn't a good man, but everyone has their flaws.

[Knight of Mind]

I think it would be nice if it turned out that Celestia was King Arthur ala Fate/Stay night.

[Charedfirescale]

10531874
It wouldn’t surprise me if Ferasi (can’t find any references tying him to DND) is a relative of Sombra’s. He did say his family has been safeguarding those spells.

[DoctorWhoooves]

Hammer Strike couldn’t help but grin. “Now that Is something I prepared for on the side.”

Chuckles Their in Danger.

[Grif_Bladefeather]

10532487
as always details and such are generally mixed around. I consider myself a reasonably well versed Arthurian and have read and researched several versions of the story including the hundred and some canonized knights. that being said a good deal of the lore well be patchwork based solely on my own bias towards the story. what that means has yet to be shown.

[Charedfirescale]

10535596
Have to say looking forward to how your personal bias shapes Arthurian legend in the story. Due to how fragmentary the base material is and everything added to it over the centuries you can really play around with it.

Though I'm pretty sure Celestia brought him over when she returned. I wonder if its gonna end up as a reverse Snow White/Sleeping Beauty situation.

[notAperson]

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Hammer Strike SOMEHOW managed to ACCIDENTALLY ascend into Godhood

[Vital Spark]

10548740
Hey, lainverse. Thanks for pointing out all these errors you're seeing. I just wanted to warn you that you'll be seeing many more, since I wasn't brought on to edit until around the 30s for the chapters. The earlier ones are unedited, and so will have many errors. We are working to address this right now, and will be posting revised chapters after we finish working on them. Thanks for sticking with the story, and I hope you continue to enjoy it as we work on and post the next chapters in the story.

~Vital Spark, Head Editor of An Extended Holiday

[Teraunce]

Goodbye Hurricane. May the wind ever be beneath your wings.