//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Griffons and Magic and Nightmares, oh my! // by bahatumay //------------------------------// The Lunar Guard regrouped, walking up the field, swiping what they could from their fallen enemies—and finishing those that had not fallen completely with a well-placed hoof or wingblade. The griffons had been blinded and magic-less; it had been nothing short of a slaughter. Nightmare Moon walked across the field as well, healing what guardsponies she could, giving a lunar blessing to those few she could not. Casualties were surprisingly low on the side of the Lunar Guard. Nightmare Moon felt herself swell with pride at her loyal subjects. Having finished the walk-by, a guard bowed respectfully. “Your eminence, what do we do now?” came the question. Nightmare Moon turned and stared at the one who had dared to ask the question. “How did this war begin?” The Lunar guard tried to calm his breathing. The battle may have excited him, and the Lunar energy may have thrilled him, but Nightmare Moon still frightened him. “The griffons leveled a border town as warning, your grace.” Nightmare Moon nodded. “Then, my dear soldier, don't you think it would be fitting to return the favor?” The guard's eyes widened. “Your eminence...?” “The griffons are a proud race,” Nightmare Moon stated, in a very formal, regal voice. “If their fighting spirit is not crushed completely, they will retaliate. Our purpose is naught but the assured and continual protection of our land.” Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, and I'm still mad about my stallions being gelded.” * * * As per their empress's orders, the Lunar Guard lined up in one straight line facing the town, each guard being one wingspan apart. “Lunar Guards!” Nightmare Moon commanded from behind the line. “March in a straight forward motion. Do not deviate from a direct path.” One stallion raised a hoof. “What if something gets in our way, your eminence?” Nightmare Moon's eyes twinkled playfully, even as her words came out harsh. “Then knock it down, imbecile. Or burn it, whichever you prefer.” A few guards could not prevent their wings from flaring out in excitement. “You heard our empress,” captain Farsight barked. “March!” * * * Surrender was almost instantaneous. Much like the citizens of Riverton, these were not warriors. Nightmare Moon had the villagers line up all in a row, facing the town, rearing back on their haunches, claws clasped behind their heads. She raised her head. “Lunar guard? Count off, in threes.” Quickly, the guard obeyed. “Ones and threes, guard the prisoners. Kill any who attempt to escape, or you will take their place. Twos...” her mouth curled in a twisted smile. “Finish leveling the town. If you get tired, come find a replacement. Don't stop until the land is as smooth as a foal's flank.” It wasn't long before the only remains of the border town were black patches of ash and burning piles of wood and whatever else happened to be in the houses. Nightmare Moon cast an eye over the prisoners, and turned to the closest guard, the female she had seen earlier. As there were far fewer females, the memory of her name was easy to find. “Sky Dancer,” she called. The mare turned and bowed. “Yes, your eminence?” “When the griffons attacked our border town, what was the result?” Sky Dancer knew that Nightmare Moon knew perfectly well what had happened, so for her to be asking meant something truly sadistic was in store. She swallowed and composed herself before speaking. “All our citizens were killed, your majesty. None were left alive.” “Really?” Nightmare Moon asked, a hint of faux surprise in her voice. “No mares or foals spared?” “That is what I meant by 'none were left alive', your grace.” A collective gasp ran through the guard. Nopony had yet dared to talk back to Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon, on the other hoof, smiled; a real, genuine smile. It's not that she liked yes-ponies—she despised them. But the most important part of power is presentation. Why else appear in the middle of the Sun Celebration, in a place surrounded by Royal guards, in the tiny back-water town of Ponyville? It was to make an impression, nothing more. Presentation is everything. And this pony, she did more than just parrot her sentences back. She liked this pony. She would use her later. “Indeed,” she said. “So, Sky Dancer, would it be fitting to… shall we say… return the favor?” Sky Dancer felt her heart start racing. Would her oath force her to kill foals tonight? Not wanting to risk another smart comment, she licked her lips and went with a much safer and theoretical, “It… would be a fitting retribution to the atrocity committed against us, your eminence.” “So it would,” Nightmare Moon mused, beginning to pace again. “But it would be quite barbaric, wouldn't it?” Sky Dancer tried to not let her relief show. “Quite, your majesty.” “And we ponies are not so barbaric, are we? No, no... we are much more... civilized. As such, we understand the meaning of entertainment.” That made Sky Dancer pause. “E- entertainment, your grace? I'm afraid I don't understand.” Another point for this mare! No blind following answers. Nightmare Moon was pleased, but kept her face an expressionless mask. “Yes, Sky Dancer. Entertainment. As in, for our amusement. Like playing a game.” She stopped pacing when she arrived in front of the prisoners. She held up a normal bit. “This is an Equestrian bit, with the engraving of the Royal Pony Sisters-” she paused to spit derisively here, “-on one side, and the denomination on the other. If you have any of these, keep them—they are soon to become collector's editions. The new money will have a more... shall we say, ‘night-friendly’ theme. However, this will serve for now.” She walked behind the row of prisoners. One tried to turn to look at her, but quickly received a buffet from a wing of one of Nightmare Moon's guards. “You were not given permission to turn!” Farsight barked. “He is quite correct,” Nightmare Moon agreed. “That would ruin my fun. Now, we're going to play a little game.” She rested the bit on her hoof and flicked it up, flipping the coin. It gleamed in the moonlight, and she caught it expertly. “Heads, you live.” She stepped behind the second prisoner and flipped the coin again. “Tails...” CRACK! Her hind hoof shot out and connected right in the middle of the griffon's spine. Or more accurately said, her hoof had so much power behind it that it went through his spine and penetrated through his body, sending a small spray of blood, flesh, and bone chips into the air. He collapsed, dead before he even knew that he had been struck. “...you die,” Nightmare Moon finished. Her hoof had struck and recovered so quickly that her leg barely carried a trace of blood. She smiled, ignoring the gasps and shivers coming from the griffons, stepped behind the next prisoner, and flipped the coin again. Sky Dancer watched as Nightmare Moon continued flipping her coin, dealing out life or death depending on the outcome, with no feeling or hesitation whatsoever. She stepped behind a griffon mother, holding a chick. “For the mare.” She flipped. Sky nodded. She was using classic intimidation. By using the pony term “mare” instead of the proper griffon term “dam”, Nightmare Moon was cementing her superiority. She caught it and smiled. Then her expression hardened again. “For the foal.” She flipped again. Sky Dancer shuddered. She wouldn't... would she? A black hoof shot out and connected with a sickening crunch. She would. Ignoring the cries of anguish from the former mother, she stepped behind the next griffon and flipped her coin again. Only Sky Dancer's strict training kept her expression stoic. Equestria under Nightmare Moon would be quite a different place indeed. * * * Nightmare Moon stood before the prisoners. Sky Dancer noticed with some surprise that her back hoof was clean, and briefly wondered if it had been magically cleaned, or if she had just kicked so quickly that she had kept it clean. Her eyes wandered from one end of the line to the other, enjoying the flinches, whimpers, and squeaks of fear her gaze elicited. “Thank you for your participation,” she said finally. “You are dismissed.” “What of our dead?” Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed, and she retrieved her bit again. Ignoring his pleas for mercy, she flipped. She scowled in disappointment as it came up heads. “I said, you are dismissed. I do not wish to repeat myself a third time.” She looked up. “Lunar Guard! Move out!” Some flew, some walked, some hovered, but every Lunar Guard swarmed around Nightmare Moon like a group of bats, and then dissolved into the night, and when they had cleared, Nightmare Moon was nowhere to be seen. * * * Nightmare Moon stood proudly on the dark cloud, surrounded by Lunar Guards. Some walked with a slight limp, and it was clear that all had been taxed fairly heavily. “Well done, Lunar Guard. Your empress is pleased. Rest yourselves.” “Your majesty,” Captain Farsight interrupted, standing as best he could on an injured foreleg. “We still stand ready to serve. Just speak the order, we can go right now.” Nightmare Moon smiled at his loyalty and gave him an affectionate pat on the head. “I know you would. But now, we rest.” She turned to look out over the night again. “And we let the rumors spread.”