//------------------------------// // The Hunt Begins // Story: Twilight is Banished from Death // by Sunsette //------------------------------// The Wraith mused himself by gazing at the beautiful landscapes of Griphonia. He continued looking off to the distance for some time now, unsure what to do, for a certain purple Alicorn is sleeping right beside him. He thought about the future, a what if scenario; 'If Sauron succeeded in his mission to conquer all of Middle Earth', what would happened then? Would the race of Man face extinction and slavery and both Elven and Dwarf kind complete annihilation? These are questions that would need to be answered later, for he knew deep inside, that the courage of all species will prevail and Sauron will be defeated once and for all. He can feel it already, with the ring leaving a peculiar hole as of yesterday. As he watched a pair of Griffons fighting over for some food, Twilight woke up from her slumber and yawned. "Morning" The Wraith nodded and he pointed at the pair of Griffons still fighting over that one hunk of meat below. "See those Griffons down there, I want you to kill them stealthily and if you're pinned down, you know what to do" And with that he disappeared. Twilight blinked unceremoniously, and she blinked several times before standing up and pull out her Elven dagger. Before she jumped however, she looked around her and wondered; 'What are these towers of silver?' "They are beacons of Light in the void, where all lights falter." She nodded in response and looked down below her, gulping. She asked the spirit within her; "How am I suppose to survive a fall like that!?" She swore she could hear a facepalm somewhere in there. "You don't need to worry, but know this; You will survive." She smirked sheepishly and looked down below again, before jumping. When she jumped she could feel energy pulsing throughout her body, making her near invulnerable to fall damage, a God's bless if there is one. She slammed the ground, and cracks were formed below her. She slowly rushed over to the bush nearby them, but this did not go unnoticed. "What was that?" Asked one of the Griffons, as he turned around to find the source of all that ruckus. He eyed the crack on the ground curiously and touched it with his claws. "Hey-" Twilight put her hoof on the Griffon's beak and stabbed him at the back several times, before his body falls to the ground. She panted heavily and searched the body, but much to her dismay, she found nothing. "Badoc? What is it? What happened?" The Griffon looked around her and see's his brother's lifeless corpse. Her eyes teared up and she picked up his brother's feather and put it in her pockets. She sat there for several more minutes, and rage consumed her. Her eyes were pulsing red, and she drew out her sword, and she shouted on the top of her lungs: "WHERE ARE YOU COWARD, LET MY BROTHER SMITE YOU WITH HIS FALLEN SWORD!" Twilight popped out from the nearby bush and drew out her Elvish sword. Twilight's eyes glowed white and the pink streak on her purple mane went white as well. Her voice was grim and low, the very representation of the Wraith; "LEAVETH NOW GRIFFON, BUT KNOWEST THIS; IF'T BE TRUE THAT THY WILL CROSS PAST WITH EACH OTHER, THY HEADETH FALL OF THY CORPSE" The Griffon was petrified to say the least, the very Alicorn that defeated god's was threatening and sparing her. And with utmost haste, she ran like a group of Timberwolves were chasing her. But little did she knew, that she won't see the next light of day; for an arrow was soon lobbed into her head, passing through her skull and puncturing her brain. Her body falls to the ground, and a pool of blood is formed under her. Twilight panted heavily and put back her dagger to her holsters, and proceeded to scavenge the female Griffon's equipment. Several bits and sheet's of paper regarding the captain of the pair- wait. She picked up one of the papers and read the words carefully, while at the same time, quickly reading through the papers like it was just a brochure. She cleaned the blood on her dagger and the Wraith formed up right beside her. He looked around him and told her; "The Griffon captain is not far ahead of us. We should be able to catch up to him by the day's end." Twilight looked up at him and asked; "How are you so sure Spirit" The Wraith told Twilight to close her eyes and she did so. As she opens her eyes, she could see the world from a different perspective. Unlike the vibrant colours she was used to, this was completely devoid of any colours other than White and Turquoise. From the Wraith perspective, Twilight's perspective was godsend compare to the empty colours of the void he and his eyes has to endure for thousands of years. Twilight panted and looked up at him. "What is this?" "It is the world from my view, you could see thing's that other mortal's struggle to fine with relative ease. Now empty your mind and concentrate on the Griffon." Twilight nodded and exhaled some air from her mouth. She entered her mind and cleared out any troubled minds within it, and concentrated on the matter at hand. She could feel the Griffon's energy pulsing and his life force bound to the planet, and as she get's closer to the source, the energy grew even stronger. She opened her eyes and finds out that she was hiding in a nearby bush, near a Griffon encampment. She eyed the Griffon's neared the fire; a good dozen Griffon's cooking raw chicken. There a tall and muscular Griffon popped out from his tent and walked over to the group. He ceased the fire and grabbed the chicken and ate it, and his soldiers frowned deepened when he shouted orders and insults at them. She could even see one of them clenching they're fists before doing what they were tasked to do. Slowly, she approached the Griffon captain -- whom is still enjoying the taste of meat, as he munches the chicken time and time again -- and drew out her sword. The Griffon's sharp ear heard a sword being unsheathed behind him and he drew out his own sword and turned around to see his attacker. Twilight clashed her sword against his and the Griffon snarled grossly. "I'll show you harmony... In death!" He pushed Twilight off him and encircled her. He thrusted forward and instinct took over Twilight's mind, dodging the attack and she slashed her sword at his claws but missed. More swordplay ensues and the Griffon's nearby her just watched the fight and eating what little food they have left. Twilight thrusted her sword at him but missed again, leaving the Captain an opening for his sword to slash against. He slashed his sword at Twilight's wings, and she cried out in pain. She stepped back a few steps and glared at the Captain with her sharp and beautiful eyes and he smiled cockily. He leaned closer to Twilight and put out a faint whisper to her ears; "Too bad a 'princess' couldn't even defeat a mere Griffon-" She slashed her sword against the Griffon's chest and he screams in pain as he holds his newly formed wound with his claws. An opening; just what she needed. She ran to the down Griffon and slashed a few more attacks on the Griffon before jumping over him and gruesomely decapitated his head off, and the blood that flowed to the Griffon's brained pour out small droplets of blood as the head falls down to the ground. The Griffon's that were watching the fight, gasped as the head rolls over to the ground. Twilight panted heavily and looked around the amassing army of Griffon's around her. She slowly drew out her sword again and goes into a battle stance; but attack not the Griffons did, for some of them were slowly clapping. Confusion overtook Twilight and she see's that the entire army was clapping at her -- even screams of joy were heard in the loud claps the Griffons were producing. Slowly, she returns her sword to her holsters and eyed a Griffon slowly approaching her. Unlike the Griffon captain she just recently fought, this one was completely battered with deep wounds, bruises and scars. He pulls out his crusdish helmet to the ground and bowed lowly at her. Slowly he say's; "Thank you my mistress, we have tried for so long to stop his abuse and now you have given us the chance to escape." Twilight raised on of her eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean 'abuse', I thought you were his men" The Griffon shakes his head in disagreement and sighed heavily. "Unlike the other regiments in the army, most of us do not wish war against your kind. Word spread quickly of this rouge regiment and they sent the most qualified captain to the job, Rakata the Mad; and oh Celestia was he mad. He would send us to do insane orders such as overpowering a dragon with only our bare claws and with very little armour whatsoever, and he would constantly harass the female Griffons around here." He pointed at the female Griffon in the crowd -- whom was traumatised after a certain event. "Poor Greta here got rape by him when she was asleep, my brother - Jawir - tried to stop this madness, only to be brutally beaten up by him" He sighed sadly and looked away from her. "Sadly that was only a few nights ago and he is in no condition to fight whatsoever. I pray to whatever God there is up there, that he would fight another day" "What do you know of the Black hand?" The Griffon looked up at Twilight with fear and his feet trembled in fear. "B-B-Boromîr? The Black Hand of Sauron, and the chief general for the Griffon army?" Twilight nodded and the Griffon gulped loudly. "H-He's a monster. There were rumours that he could defeat demons and dragons with a single slash of his sword—and honestly, if you ever cross path with him, then I wish you luck." He said sincerely. The Wraith took form and inspect the Griffon on front of them. He looked away from the Griffon and whispered to Twilight's ear. "If this is indeed a rogue regiment, then we could use this to our advantage; start an insurrection within the army, and the pieces will soon fall" Twilight gave Jawir's brother a calm and genuine smile. "What is your name Griffon?" She asked politely, slowly the Griffon looked at her and gulped. "Jon, my madame." Twilight giggled when Jon called her 'Madame'. She gave the Griffon a reassuring pat on the back and said; "No need to call me Madam Jon, we're all equals here" The Griffon smiled weakly at her and sighed contently. "Yes, ma- I mean Twilight" They both share a hearty laugh before silence shrouded upon them. "So Jon, I was wondering if you want to start, I dunno, a rebellion against your kind? Try helping Equestria and her allies at the process" Jon was about to counter that offer, but he thought about the terrible deed's Griphonia has made to their new ally, Sauron. "After seeing what terrible things we have done over the past years, I have no love for the council or Sauron -- yes, me, alongside the 8th regiment, will gladly rebel against our own kind, no matter the consequences." Twilight smiled at him as she pulls out her sword. "From this day fourth, I, The princess of Harmony and Magic, shall dub you; Sir Jon... Snow of the Concordant Alliance!" She pat his shoulder with her sword and returned it to her holster's quickly. The Griffon bow down to her and gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you Twilight, I shall announce this to my company" And with that, Jon ran off to the campfire and announced the Regiment's new allegiance.