//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Fear Itself 
// Story: Martin: Chronicle Of A Hero 
// by CrypticMetaphor 
//------------------------------//

		Now as I said in the previous chapter, this chapter is going to be told from Gilda’s point of view in Avilon during Phobos’ attack and what REALLY transpired leading up to Phobos arriving in Canterlot.  Then Chapter Twelve will continue where Ten left off, so enjoy
*
The sun rose high over the royal city of Avilon, the city that was the same size of Canterlot rested at the top of the tallest mountain within the griffin kingdom as a shining beacon to all who resided within the glorious land.  The city was composed of very high buildings with the occasional landing pad, and in the center was a castle composed of white marble and gold adornments.  It was high noon when Gilda awoke from her nap; she had managed to get a few days off from duty thanks to her two partners and friends Onyx and Mariah.  She let out an annoyed sigh for two reasons, one was because she wanted to sleep more and the other was because she had to run some errands which she wanted to hold off on but couldn’t due to the fact that she needed the food.  She then walked to the edge of the landing pad porch and casually glided down to the ground; she touched down with ease and then bumped into a random tourist pony.

Gilda cast a look that could have burned the paint off of a wall at the pony, “You had better watch where you’re walking, or ill make sure that every time you take a step you’ll have a constant reminder of this day, GOT IT?”

The pony nodded in absolute fear as he ran away, Gilda smiled in slight satisfaction at the threat hitting home her smile vanished however when she heard a male voice with a smug tone to it, “You know Gilda, that is the exact reason why you never get promoted”, Gilda turned her head and saw a griffin that had black streaks on his white feathers, much darker brown feathers and his left eye was ruby red whereas the right was dark blue.  The weird thing was that one of the black streaks went straight down over his left eye almost like a scar.

Gilda just grinned as she mocked examined her talons for dirt, “nah, I get asked all the time Onyx, I just keep turning them down because I can’t stand a bigger work load”

Onyx touched down as he shook his head, “why I put in a good word for you I will never know”

Gilda then looked at Onyx with a skeptical look ignoring the intended jab, “I thought you were on duty, what gives dude?”

Onyx just shrugged, “I WAS on duty, but they gave me the day off due to the fact I barely take any”

Gilda nodded as she started walking with Onyx chatting of days past and the occasional skirmishes they had participated in, each griffin trying to make it seem that the other was a bit more incompetent than the other.  After a while of walking they came to the market and began to examine various stands and the goods they sold.  After a while Gilda had almost gotten everything on her list, but she was currently “debating” to a local shop keep whether or not if the fish she was going to buy was good or not, and this soon escalated into a screaming match to which Onyx turned away from. 

Onyx then noticed a group of griffins and tourist young and old gathered around someone near the entrance of the market, Onyx nudged Gilda in the side and pointed, “Hey G, check out the fan club”

Both Onyx and Gilda, who swore to the shop keep that there discussion wasn’t over, flew into the air and got a sky view of whatever the crowd was gathered in front of.  The creature was featureless and looked like it was composed of a mixture between black smoke and oil, and it also had eyes that were orbs of glowing white energy.  Gilda just raised an eyebrow in confusion as did Onyx, they both continued to stare at the creature in utter confusion; however they were immediately on guard when they had seen the thing.  Their preparations were well placed because what happened next was a complete gong show; the creature turned its head and grabbed a griffin’s face causing a discharge of some strange black energy to emit from its hand, and the griffin dropped with completely black eyes that were devoid of light and began screaming in absolute terror.  This soon caused every griffin and tourist to run away in terror, the weird thing was that when they ran the thing seemed to inhale sharply before giving chase, almost like it was breathing in the fear around it.

Gilda stood in complete shock unable to move, Onyx remedied this by smacking her upside the head, and she shook herself free of her fright and charged at the thing with Onyx backing her up as they both roared in unison.  Onyx slashed at the things chest causing it to reel back…only to follow through with a backhand causing Onyx to hurl into a nearby roof.  Gilda growled and went to take the things head off only for the creature to grab her, she then felt a sensation that could only be described as a cold force devoid of any felling pushing itself into her very being, and at the same time having her very soul consumed by it.  She then began to see the very world she had known since she was young, starting to darken and warp itself into something else.  The last thing she saw was Onyx hitting the thing over the head with a board before blacking out.
*
Gilda woke to find she was lying in the middle of a chaotic market with Onyx trying to snap her out of it, she smacked his talon away, “I’m fine dude, I just got a very bad headache, where did that weirdo go?”

In response Onyx pointed to the farthest side of the market, the thing was still there terrorizing the civilians, except it looked much more solid and it seemed to actually have a rough impression of a face forming.  It turned and looked at Gilda who immediately held her right eye in pain, she noticed its eyes were now fully developed, the whites of the eyes were pitch black, the irises where an unnatural white, and its pupils were silted.  The thing then turned its attention to Onyx and Gilda and began advancing, until Onyx grabbed Gilda and flew both her and himself away at break neck speed toward Gilda’s home.  They soon arrived and Onyx deposited Gilda on her bed as he shut the windows and all the doors.

Gilda immediately hopped off the bed and walked to her closet and opened it revealing armour made of chrome and bronze along with a helmet and special armoured gloves that would make her talons even deadlier as she began to fit individual armour plates on her wings to give them optimal protection Onyx was busy pacing.

Gilda let out an irritated sigh, “Keep doing that and you’ll wear a groove in my floor dude”, Onyx stopped, “well sorry if I’m a bit worried for our personal safety here, and I don’t think you should be suiting up, your eyes almost the same as the civilians the creature attacked”

Gilda looked in the mirror fixed into her closet door after she donned the last armour component for her body, she saw that her entire right eye was blackened like the others in the market, but he left eye was blackened at the left corner.  She just shrugged as she donned her helmet with the T shaped visor and opened the windows and took flight, Onyx followed reluctantly behind her.

Onyx yelled in Gilda’s direction, “G, where are we heading anyway!!”, Gilda looked over her shoulder, “I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, we have to go back up the other guards in protecting Lord Highwind!”

Onyx nodded as they landed at the barracks, he ran inside to get suited up as Gilda flew to the throne room.  When she arrived, the other armoured griffin guards let her pass, when she did a griffin without a helmet swept her up in a tight hug with a female squee, “Gilda!!”

Gilda put on a very reluctant smile, the griffin that was hugging her was a bit leaner than most females, and her white feathers were longer in the back than the front, and they also had fiery red highlights along with edges to match, she also had very bright green irises that sparkled with juvenile mischief.

Gilda was put down by the griffin, “Heeeeey Mariah, how’s it hanging”, even though Gilda didn’t overly like Mariah’s default personality, she sort of grew on Gilda after a while, especially when they pranked.

Mariah smiled as they talon bumped, “not much, just got the okay to sound the alarm for palace lockdown….”, Onyx landed beside Gilda fully suited up, “…Hey Nyx”, Onyx nodded at his nickname

Soon the throne room doors were sealed tighter than a tomb, and they all waited in silence.  Minutes ticked by transitioning into hours, and Avilon grew deathly quiet.  Every griffon knew that the palace would be where they would make their final stand; it was there priority to make sure that the palace did not fall to this creature.  After a long while of waiting the doors smashed inwards sharply causing all the griffons to jump into action, the vast majority stood their ground and tried to keep the doors in place, one of the captains ordered Gilda and Mariah to go to the king’s aid in the ballroom.  As they turned to leave the doors exploded into splinters scattering the forces, Onyx then roared and led a charge straight at the invading force which revealed itself in earnest.  The creatures ran in on two legs like the thing from the market with lanky limbs and a skinny torso to boot, they were all black with weird spikes jutting from their joints and backs; they had no lips, just teeth that were sharp, jagged and resembled black glass, and it almost looked like they were grinning.  Gilda ran instinctively away toward the ballroom with Mariah in tow, soon they arrived and saw an old griffon clad in red royal robs and a gold crown.

Lord Highwind approached Gilda immediately upon entering, “Gilda, I know I do not ask much of you, but in case Avilon falls, tell of what transpired here today to the Princesses of Equestria before it’s too late”

Upon saying this, a person clothed in a cloak of shadowy smoke emerged from the doorway now carrying a black eyed Onyx who he then threw at the feet of the King, “Any resistance henceforth is now futile, Avilon is mine, submit to your new lord”, the tone the creature spoke in was cold and devoid of all emotion.

Mariah growled as she rushed the creature, “NOT IN THIS LIFE!!!”

The creature easily grabbed her in mid-flight and threw her to the other things that were behind him, her screams were heard until the doors shut by themselves.  It then looked at the king and raised its hand, the king was then dragged into the waiting hand and was black eyed, but not before telling Gilda to run.  She immediately dashed out a nearby window and flew as fast as she could; ditching her armour as she went to give her more speed.  She knew what she had to do, she just hoped Dash and her loser friends wouldn’t screw things up more than they already were.

*

Phobos absorbed the last bit of fear in the kingdom as he felt himself almost back at his full strength, he looked at his now revived solid form which he had not been in for eons.  He turned to the creatures he used to lay siege to the castle known as Moniums and ordered them to watch Avilon until his return.  He let loose his wings and ascended through the broken window to give chase, smelling the griffins fear as he went.