//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 
// Story: My Little Pony: Retrieving the Elements 
// by BlackFeather 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 9


          “But we have to go after her” Twilight said. 

“No, we have to get back to the Princess with the case then we will go and get Ms. Shy” Black Feather said. 

This arguing had been going on for an hour or so after the sun had risen. Twilight had been motioning that the group go back for Flutter shy. Everyone wanted to but Black Feather gave a valid point when saying that the mission was to get the Elements of Harmony back the Equestria then they would go back for Flutter shy. “Look Twilight if we don’t have the Elements on us then the Griffons won’t be able to try and steal it or something” Black Feather said. 

“Maybe but every minute we wait Flutter shy could be tortured or worse” Twilight said.

          Having enough of this the mother of the group stepped in. “Alright y’all enough of this here bickering, Twi we want to get Flutter shy back just as much but Black Feather has a point. If we get the Elements back they’d be safe then we could get Flutter shy without having to worry over them” Apple jack said. Twilight took into consideration of Apple jacks point of view. She looked over at everyone else and they nodded with Apple jack. 

“‘sigh’ alright we’ll head back to Equestria first”

          The group had been riding for a whole day and with only one left till they reach the rendezvous point that Celestia had made. The Great Plains. While riding Rainbow Dash brought up a topic mostly forgotten. “So Black Feather how come the Griffons were able to fly when I can’t” Black Feather shrugged his shoulders. 

“Beats me, the Legionaries have always been hard at training so best guess is that they worked their wing muscles to make flying easier again” Rainbow Dash sighed. 

“Well I miss flying around, I want to fly again” 

“Speaking of hard things to do, Spike how did ya breath fire that large anyhow” Apple jack asked. 

“I actually don’t know; my first impression was to keep Twilight safe and that was the result” Spike said. 

“The same thing happened at the treasure room, when the guards were upon us you burned like four of them” Black Feather said.

          Through all this conversation one specific pony didn’t even look up from the ground of the cart. Twilight had noticed this and spoke up. “Rarity, are you ok” Everyone turned to look at Rarity and saw her shoulders were shacking. 

“Rarity what’s wrong” Pinkie asked. 

“I killed them” everyone’s eyes were in shock. “I killed those men like it was nothing” Rarity had been whispering it but it was quiet enough that everyone heard her talk. 

“Ah shucks Rarity I honestly don’t know what to say” Apple jack said. 

“Hey I burned at least five” Spike said. 

“Yeah and I got one with the spear remember” Rainbow added. Rarity didn’t respond. 

“I’ve seen this before” Black Feather said. “Back in the Rebellion many Eagles were not used to killing or seeing someone get killed. Many of them left or huddled in the corner after taking a life. Doing so affects everyone” Black Feather said and made the horses go faster.

          After another day of traveling the main six, Spike and Black Feather arrived and the Great Plains. When they looked down upon it they saw what they didn’t expect. The Royal Guard was everywhere. Tents had been put up and one giant barricade had been formed to cover the entire army. “Well, when Celestia said she was bringing the Royal Guard, I expected just a convoy” Black Feather said. 

“Well come on let’s get down there” Twilight said. Black Feather pulled the Rains and the cart began moving again.

          As the group pulled into the camp many of the guard stopped what they were doing and looked at them. Some guards were forging weapons, some were fine tuning armor, a big group had been training either with each other or practice dummies. As Black Feather ushered the cart through it all the guard came to follow them forwards. They kept at it for a little longer until one guard came up to them. Twilight had been sitting in the front with Black Feather for most of the ride and the guard directed towards her.

          “Your highness, Princess Celestia is in the command tent just up that way” The guard said and pointed to a much bigger tent. 

“Thank you” Twilight said. As they reached the front of the command tent they all hoped out of the cart and handing it to two guards who boarded it and drove off. They all entered to see Celestia inside viewing a map with Luna.

          “Princess” Twilight said and rushed over to her mentor. 

“Twilight my faithful student, where you successful in your mission” Celestia said while she and Twilight shared a quick hug. 

“Yes Princess, we recovered the Elements and came here in hast. But I’m afraid Flutter shy got captured” Twilight said that last part looking down. 

“Well then we’ll have to rescue her” Celestia said. 

“But how, it was hard enough escaping from the Legionaries that came after us. How can we get to her” Rainbow asked? 

“Why do you think we brought the Royal Guard with us” It was Luna who answered this question. 

“You’re not actually thinking about open war with the Griffons are you” Black Feather asked. 

“Maybe we are, but we have to get the Bearer of Kindness back otherwise we won’t be able to use the Elements in defense of our army or country” Luna said. 

“But that’s exactly what Iron Wing wants” Black Feather said. 

“Well at the moment we see no other way” Luna said. Black Feather thought for a moment before looking like he had an idea.

“there is one way” everyone looked at him. “it’s called a lordly challenge. Leaders of both respective sides duel to see which is the stronger fighter” Black Feather said. 

“But Celestia can’t fight hand to hand” Twilight said. 

“neither can any Griffon noble, which is why the rules changed to whoever had the stronger champion” realization dawned over the Princess’s face. 

“You wish for me to challenge Griff Beak to a duel so you can fight Iron Wing” Celestia said. “I haven’t payed him my revenge yet, but we should wait till we rescue Flutter shy from the Griffons” 

“Why” asked Pinkie. 

“Because the challenged gets to pick the terms for the fight. Griff Beak or Iron Wing could say Flutter shy for the Elements” 

“But that’s what we want” said Rainbow. 

“No what we want is to avoid a war, so if he has nothing to give it must be that the Griffon army will be withdrawn” Black Feather said. 

“I like this plan so far” Celestia said. “Tell us in detail what you want to do” Black Feather nodded. 

“OK here’s what I think we should do”