//------------------------------//
// S1 Prologue: The Mysterious Hippogriff 
// Story: SWWC: Something Wrong With Canterlot 
// by Lighttone GryphonStar 
//------------------------------//

Twenty days before Canterlot fell...

Thousands of miles in the far north of the country, the mighty brown and black airship floated gently into a port town near the side of a massive mountain. A minotaur's voice echoed over the intercom, announcing their arrival. Among the grouping of ponies were two in particular who had come here for an important mission. They unload multiple machines much to the minotaur's annoyance as he had to stand guard. Nopony was paying him by the hour, rather he needed to empty out the space.

The two ponies couldn't care less about his anger, they only needed his transportation. The unicorn; orange with a darker orange, messy mane, and curly beard rushed over to the edge of the port's balcony. "Quibble Pants, it's incredible."

"Yes, it is, Sunburst." The pegasus placed down the last of it and paid the minotaur. After which he joined Sunburst at the edge. Both peered over the view of their destination. "This is why I brought you."

"Graviton Falls!" Sunburst admired the scene. It was the site of the largest dam in Equestria. Standing just outside of the border of the Crystal Empire, near the very top of the highest mountain in the land. So high that its silhouette blocked out half the sun's light and warmth. The only light came from the torches that tourists brought.

"According to Daring Do's notes, this was created by wendigoes, thousands of years ago, before Equestria was even founded." He pointed out that the entire dam was forged out of giant permafrost. "Made from the same kind of stuff we found in the ruins of the Giant Blue Hourglass."

"Yes, but the ones you and Rainbow Dash found were maroon red, this is blue." Sunburst pulled out a periscope and zoomed in for a closer look. "Wait a minute." He noted the strange discoloring happening all along the edges.

"Exactly, for thousands of years it was maroon red, but recently several parts of it have been changing purple, indigo and blue." Quibble Pants took a step back to it all and stood by the machines. "When I saw the other one with Rainbow Dash, I couldn't believe it, but now..."

Sunburst turned back around and found his friend covered in sweat. "You can't back out now. You brought me here because I'm the foremost expert on magic."

Quibble Pants gave a huff. "We've come so far already, I don't want to fail now."

"Don't be so negative."

"I'm not negative, I'm realistic." Quibble Pants crossed his arms.

"Really this coming from the comic nerd!" Sunburst laughed.

"They are graphic novels!!" Quibble Pants raised his voice.

Sunburst lowered his volume to match Quibble Pants'. "And that is your greatest contribution to our magical society, you write fanfiction, I'm the one with the actual power!" He pulled out dozens of blueprints in a glowing aura.

"I'm also a historian!" Quibble Pants raised his finger. "That's the most important thing."

Sunburst shrugged his shoulders. "True." He raised his finger up to his temple. "The more knowledge you have, the better... That's why Twilight is better than all of us."

"Well, truthfully the princesses aren't ready to tell Twilight. So, you're the next best thing." Quibble Pants straightened up. "Well, you and Jack Nox... the batpony."

"Oh yeah, I know him. Created a massive blaze that nearly consumed the school when we were colts." Sunburst rolled his eyes. He walked slowly over to the machines. "Where is he anyway?"

"At the top of the dam." Quibble Pants narrowed his eyes at that location. "Celestia wanted the best. And we are the best."

"Not a good assurance." Sunburst raised an eyebrow. Feeling rather worthless now, the unicorn turned the machines on. Pulling out a scanner and aiming it at the dam. "What's the magic pulse rate at this range, or do we need to get closer."

"Getting to the top should suffice." Quibble Pants cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "There shouldn't be any this close. Reports were saying the closest spike was right at the foot of the dam--" He was stopped as the scanner blared loudly. "What?!" Rushing over to Sunburst and grabbed the scanner. "It can't be going off now."

"Oh, but my machines never lie!" Sunburst sounded offended now. " We got a pattern, my friend."

"This said a two point two"

"One is the base level of a unicorn." Sunburst turned on other machines. "Right now, it's showing a magic pulse equivalent to a supercharged unicorn."

"Try again!" Quibble Pants shouted. "It just jumped to a two-point five."

"Impossible." Sunburst turned on all his machines. "That's... getting close to alicorn level."

"Are you serious?" Quibble Pants

"Yes, I'm serious!" Sunburst flicked out the wheels and pushed the machines over to the ramp. "We need to get to Jack Nox as soon as possible."

"Agreed." Quibble Pants grabbed the other of the machines. "You know he won't listen to us."

"He won't have to with these ratings!" Sunburst was now the one sweating in fear. "It's steadily growing higher."

With that final word, the two left the port. There was a rough shaking that followed which knocked the minotaur off his footing. Luckily he was caught in the arms of a tall hippogriff wrapped in the finest business suit. This was a confusing sight since despite his height being taller than the minotaur, the hippogriff barely looked frail enough to hold of his own body let alone catch such a strong and big minotaur.

"Careful, Iron Will." The hippogriff straightened the minotaur upright and exited the airship.

Iron Will's eyes widened. "Sir Night. What are you doing off the airship?" He stopped at the bouquet of flowers on the ground. "I'm sorry, someone as royal as you shouldn't have to drop stuff to pick me up."

"It's okay..." The hippogriff leaned down to grab the flowers. His bones were so old and frail that each one popped loudly as he leaned down. "Just be more careful when I'm around."

Iron Will took the flowers and placed them in the hippogriff's hand. "No, it's my fault." Just as his skin touched the hippogriff's hand, the frail creature shivered away. "Sorry."

Sir Night gave no more responses to it and turned to the sight of Quibble and Sunburst in the distance. "Keep the airship here a little longer. I wish to place these flowers on my brother's grave before we go back to base."

"I..." Iron Will was originally thoroughly annoyed with the requests of the two sent by Celestia. But this request came from someone that all of his kind respected for millennia. After everything this old hippogriff had done for his species, a few lost hours of gas were only a minor inconvenience. 'Sure, take as much time as you need, my lord."

******

Thousands of miles away in the land of the kirins. The winds kicked around the kirins' manes as they stood guard. Their resolve was good, and their stance was bold against the beating heat of the Sun.

Along an all too accurate path, a carriage surrounded by unicorn and kirin guards rode forward. Its movement was unheeded by any stones or rocks that dare attempt to stall it. Inside were four creatures: two kirins in fine uniform and two unicorns with trim clean suits devoid of any creases and seams.

The older kirin, a stallion, white in color with a black mane looked toward the yellow unicorn with a blue mane and spoke first. "I'm glad to see that your training has paid off. I’ve never seen my soldier so clean and proficient. Now my country will be ready for anything. I thank you, Comet Tail, from the bottom of my heart." He held one hand out of the carriage and sighed in relief.

“No problem, President Sable.” Comet Tail was glad. It had been so much hard work, but it paid off perfectly. He knew now they would be ready for anything.

"Indeed, honey," the slightly younger kirin noted as he placed his hand in the older kirin's free hand. At first, though, the younger kirin pulled back at the sight of the unicorn. "Sorry," he whispered under his breath.

“No, it's okay to be a little romantic?” Comet laughed.

The younger kirin turned away, wanting to hide his face. President Sable placed his fingers under the chin of the younger kirin and brought his nose to his own, making the young one smile. “Yes, this is my fiance.” President Sable spoke up. “Once peace has been brought to our land, I am planning to take this wonderful creature as my own.”

“Maybe you two, me and my coltfriend can have a double date.” Comet’s words only confused them. He waved his hand to calm them.

"Sounds fun..." The young kirin answered.

"Back onto topic, Comet Tail." President Sable interjected. "I hear this Princess Celestia wanted all the nearby countries to be ready for something. Yet we still do not know what?"

"Yes, her draconequus friend said, that something will happen this month that could affect every country around Equestria."

"Does this have to with that attack on the hippogriff capital--" He was stopped at the carriage abruptly halting its movement.

"What's going on?" The younger kirin's face filled with paleness once more.

"Don't concern yourselves." Comet held up his hands to them before looking at the unicorn beside him. "Watch over President Sable... and his future husband." The unicorn took up his sword while Comet pulled out a long gladius and leaned his head out the window.

Outside the heatwave had been replaced by a cold stickiness as a lone creature in a black coat stood in the way of the carriage. He was holding out a long katana and aiming it forward. Up in the sky, the Sun had gone pale. It not only twisted the feeling of this scene but gave a greater feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"Hmm, it's a black dragon... I think." Comet Tail looked to the guards surrounding them. "Ace, Drone, take him in, alive."

"Yes, sir. " The two guards nearest to him left the group and charged forward. The black 'dragon' pulled his katana back into his sheath as they got closer. Comet could only smile at what seemed like a perfect victory.

However, with a single draw that seemed far too fast for a dragon, the guards were cleaved in half. A coldness increased in the air as blood poured from their wounds and toward the carriage.

"Shit," On Comet's words, the others charged in. Comet pulled his head back in and hit the ceiling, "Grape Vine, get us out of here."

"Yes, sir." On that, the carriage heavily turned and raced in the other direction.

"What's happening?" President Sable questioned.

"I don't know... there is no way a dragon could move that fast." Comet concentrated magic in his horn. "Hmm.."

"What are you doing Sir Comet?" The younger kirin questioned.

"Contact spell. I need to know if this was what Discord was warning us about." He closed his eyes. However, seconds later his eyes opened and his magic faded. "What? That makes no sense?"

"What is it?"

"I can't contact Canterlot at all... nor anything in Equestria."

"Could they be blocking us?" the other unicorn commented.

"No... it's like there is nothing there." Comet waved his head back and forth in denial before pulling on a different spell. "I'll try a searching spell. I need to see if there are any more attackers coming." Comet closed his eyes once more and the outside world was revealed in his mind's eye.

He could see everything around the carriage for up to a hundred meters in a circular spread, "Damn it, your guess was correct there are magic dampeners in the area." He placed his hand on the shoulder of the unicorn beside him narrowing his sense to find the source. The unicorn matched his power and output.

However, the two felt their mind being yanked far harder than they ever felt. They shrieked in agony, feeling their magic raised far up into the sky and racing toward the source. It lay far outside of the land of the kirins, across the celestial ocean, and into the snowy north. "Is that a... hippogriff?" Comet Tail was thrown out of the spell and crashed back into his chair.

"Hold on," the other unicorn answered. "I've still got the signal..." The kirins leaned back as the unicorn's eyes started to bleed. "No, no, no, what are you?!?!" All three jumped back as the unicorn screamed in agony, twisted, and convulsed.

"Break the connection!" Comet Tail shouted.

"They... won't... let me!!" the unicorn was stopped as his head exploded.

"How could a hippogriff do such a thing?" President Sable tried to get answers.

"Hold on, President Sable. I see something else--" Comet stopped his words and his eyes popped open. "Look out." He threw his hands up and pulled a shield of magic over the president as a giant shockwave burst through and tore the carriage in half.

"Kind!" The president reached out to his fiance as the two were separated by the attack.

Comet Tail and the president's fiance were sent to the far right as the other half of the carriage was pulled into the air by a yellow aura of magic. Another 'dragon' landed between them. This one was white with two giant saws.

******