//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Twilight Sparkle vs. the Yaks 
// by Silver Letter 
//------------------------------//

Since the Yaks from the distant north had come to Ponyville, it had felt like days had passed in the span of a few hours. The town hadn’t suffered this kind of wanton aggression since Trixie took over. And it hadn’t been since then that Twilight had been put into such a bind over the safety of her own town. Not until that point anyway. And as Twilight stared helplessly despite all her efforts to help the Yaks see reason, the creatures lumbered forward, driven by the several brain cells that must have been working in overdrive to spark their exaggerated anger. Everything Twilight tried to do had failed. By all appearances, they seemed to be going home and all hope for negotiation and diplomacy long since passed. But if that wasn’t enough, the leader, an especially volatile prince, turned away with a furious expression on his long face. Like children, they had demanded that things be their way in every instance. Not once giving so much as a ‘thank you’ in return. But the second the prince threatened war on her ponies, Twilight’s sense of formality snapped. For once in her life, she had enough. 

Twilight wasn’t about to stand by and let these filthy creatures threaten her pony friends without consequences. How could she? She had a duty too as a princess to defend her pony subjects and to sacrifice herself if need be, even to the point of harm. She felt a rush of anger, of humiliation and shock that boiled in her blood in a way not since she fought Lord Tirek. 

In a flash of light, she stood in front of them. They snorted in reply to Twilight’s sudden shift in stance as if they believed her to be as insignificant as an ant to them. But surely they came to realize that Twilight was a boulder and there was no budging her that time. Not by words nor by actions. Her voice was as piercing as a rapier. 

“If you refuse to behave in a dignified manner and respect the crown that so graciously offered its hospitality to your people then I must indeed refuse your friendship! For the time of talking is over and anytime any creature threatens my ponies, I will not tolerate them any further!” Twilight said. 

The stupid creature obviously had never had anyone talk back to it in such a way. So used to violence that it had no words to say. It merely stared at the other two yaks. It was fine by Twilight. It was suddenly so clear that to converse with him, at least at that moment, would be as futile as debating with Pumpkin Cake on the merits of high class society. 

“I want you to leave. Now!” Twilight demanded. “And take your threats with you!” She pointed at the train to emphasize the point. “And don’t worry about the sheep. I’ll move them from the tracks so you can return to your home.”

“You…you ponies! Stand against Yaks! We are no friends! Never return…no… we return with Yaks for war!” the prince declared. His facial expression was unyielding. Eyes as angular as a dragon’s. Steam and saliva blew with each word and it fell upon Twilight’s invisible magic barrier. It would have been enough to turn any pony’s skin white but not her. Not that day. 

Twilight opened her wings. She had been brought to bay and she had no choice but to confront them. 

“Then it’s war!” The princess stood firmly as the three yaks slammed their hooves against the ground like a buffalo would in preparation for a charge. She didn’t let them start and focused energy into her horn but only as much as needed. Before he could react, the prince felt his legs fold as if he lost all feeling. His body fell to the ground from the force of Twilight’s kinetic magical blast. He uttered a guttural gasp, both in pain and in confusion. Mere seconds after his regular gloating, he was somehow forced to eat dirt like a worm. The last thing he saw was Twilight soaring into the sky to avoid his brothers’ desperate assault. His vision turned blurry and then after that, black.