> The Twilight Empire
>  by AimlessPone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Waking Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight, awoke to an immense amount of pain.

She was not a stranger to pain as, contrary to popular belief, most unicorns built up at least a basic tolerance during the course of their magical training. Causing an explosion, or two, inches from your face tends to do that.

She had to admit, that she had received more than her fair share of explosions to the face. If she was really honest with herself, she had received more than her fair share, and very likely had knocked more than one screw loose.

Fortunately for Equestria, Twilight was not relied upon to wield the Element of Honesty.

After several unsuccessful attempts to restore her ability to think through the pain, she decided to go about categorizing it. After a few moments, she eventually concluded she had either been hit in the head with a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick, or she had gotten so incredibly drunk that she almost died of alcohol poisoning, with either her status as an Alicorn or her magic being what preserved her. After half a second, she acknowledged that it was possible that she had been poisoned outright instead of getting drunk. She was a princess after all, and assassination attempts were always a possibility. Although given how well Equestria got along with it’s neighbors, that wasn't likely. Thanks to Celestia, Equestria held a longer track record for peace with it's fellow nations than any other nation in history.

Distantly, she heard what sounded like a large group of ponies talking amongst themselves. 
Unfortunately, finding out exactly what they were saying would require a great deal more focus than she was currently capable of.

Twilight slowly opened her eyes a crack, and was betrayed by her beloved, former teacher’s sun as it cheerfully stabbed her brain, with what was supposed to have been a loving embrace.

She groaned as her eyes slammed shut in self preservation.

'Ugh, sweet Celestia what hit me?' She asked of the pain, which to her growing horror responded with vicious intent.

Pain, it seemed, sounded like a thousand voices in your head, all yelling at you in a garbled mess. In vain she begged respite 'Please... No more... Stop.'

To her tremendous surprise, it instantly did and suddenly the garbled mess seemed to grow very distant. This had the pleasant effect of reducing her pain to little more than a gentle agony. Cautiously she resumed her self-diagnosis based upon what she was able to tell with her eyes closed. She shifted her body slightly, the movement bringing new sensations which were  decidedly not good.

Apparently she had at least one cracked rib, and had taken at least one severe blow to the head. This, Twilight rationalized, could explain the voices she heard which seemed to be triggered by her attempt to recall what had happened to her. She pushed the wish to remember to the bottom of her mental checklist of things to do. Returning to her examination, she noted bruises, and general aches all over. A few drops of blood dribbled down her face, it seemed to be coming from her horn. Although, surprisingly, it was one of the few apparent injuries that didn't hurt. Most hornless ponies would worry a lot more at the sight of a bleeding horn than a unicorn would deem necessary. Unicorn horns rarely get injured seriously, due to being made of magically reinforced ivory, but other ponies tended to ignore this because Pegasus wing injuries are almost always serious, although temporary. Thus both Earth ponies and Pegasi automatically attribute horn injures operating in much the same way.

Honestly though, a horn injury was about on par with a bloody nose. A Unicorn’s horn has a very fine lattice of inlaid vessels and nerves, this makes it possible for even a small crack to cause bleeding, and a horrendous amount of pain. It was very peculiar that Twilight’s horn didn't hurt a great deal though. Twilight noted the injury along with the anomaly, and would think twice before she used any magic more strenuous than simple levitation, until she could get a look at it.

'What in bucking Tartarus was I doing?' Twilight wondered, almost in spite of herself, while she regarded her injuries. Realization she had once again thought about the origin of her injuries made her brace for another wave of pain. But to her relief it didn't come.

She had a very valid question however.

She opened her eyes a crack once again, and allowed her vision to adjust to the traitorous sun’s light before she opened them fully. Once she was certain her head was not going to explode, she looked around to began to piece together what happened.

'Let's see, the edge of what appears to be an overly large bed, likely belongs to somepony very extravagant or alicorn. A majestic view of Canterlot, that one is obvious. A dark purple color palette of room based upon small section visible. Lack of excess ornamentation implies the owner is not ostentatious .' 

'Hypothesis: I am in an alicorn’s bedroom. Available alicorns are limited to Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and myself. As my brother and sister-in-law moved to the Crystal Empire, the view of Canterlot argues against it belonging to her. The colouration would indicate this room is likely my own, but I have no memory of receiving it nor deciding upon its decor. Conclusion: I am likely in my own room and have either a severe concussion, or amnesia. Possibly both as I have no recollection of it…'

Twilight didn't like her findings to say the least. Most ponies wouldn't.

She turned her head slowly to try and view a larger portion of the room, she categorized the contents. The dresser with her cutie mark more or less confirmed that this was her room and she that was indeed suffering memory loss. The furniture was all to her personal preferences. Everything was practical, well made, and enchanted for durability and resistance to damage. There was also an abnormally high number of heavy set bookshelves which covered most of the visible walls. All of them appeared overladen with books, despite the heavy make and reinforcement.

She turned a bit more and saw what appeared to be a pony on the ground. A pony that wasn't breathing. A trail of blood from his chest traversed across what was once an unstained and beautiful rug. Twilight's dilated eyes slowly followed the splattered trai, as it meandered lazily right up to just above where her head had been lying.

Horn injuries are always painful. The blood that was dripping down her face, wasn’t her’s.   
It was from pony that had been injured. A pony who had died, because of her. She began take ragged breaths if only to fuel attempts to exhale, as she attempted to push aside the facts.
Her eyes, against her will, fell upon the empty-eyed, surprised face of the ex-pony who lied feet away. Their proximity hit her with an instinctual desire to distance herself from both death and her deeds. With unthinking need, she drove her magic into the air between them trying to will distance between her and her victim. 

Rapidly a mass of power crackled into being, fueled by her fear, and in an eruption of arcane light exploded launching both her, and her unflinching foe into their opposing walls. She heard the sound of a bookcase falling over as she herself was driven into what she assumed was an end table, a small pitcher of water tipped, spilling the majority of its contents onto her before rolling off to her side, its mass thankfully missing her and not adding, yet another bruise to her collection.

Pain reasserted itself at her sudden movement.

'Ow, sweet Celestia, it's like I'm following Pinkie Pie all over again.'

The sound of her beloved, former mentor's voice fill the room as the door opened with a small click.

"Twilight, are you alright? I heard an explosion."

Celestia walked into Twilight’s field of vision and Twilight’s brain refused to process what she saw. Celestia was shorter than she remembered, she was also pink, and lacked her aurora-like flowing mane. To top it all off she was wearing what Twilight’s brain recognized to be, just shy of, a full on sexy maid outfit like one of the ones Rarity had shown her from her private collection.

On a side note, the pictures of Fluttershy in a more modest version Rarity had re-tailored, were far more adorable than anypony had any right being. Twilight never did find out how Rarity talked the shy pony into letting her take those pictures, even if she did look fantastic.

The not-quite Celestia finally seemed to notice her former student, and froze dead in her tracks.

Twilight tried to say something along the lines of "Hi there! If you are who you look like, you seem to be having a very strange day as well. Do you think you could lend me a hoof? I believe I may have a concussion, and amnesia. I also appear have stabbed a pony to death with my horn, but I'm still really in denial about that. Also I might be going into shock about the whole ordeal. "

What came out however, was a pained whimper, and an incredibly pitiful look which, fortunately, seemed to have about the same effect.

"Empress!" Her beloved mentor's doppelganger shouted.

'Huh, Maybe she's a body double or something, that's a funny way of saying "Princess"...' She thought belatedly, not really recognizing all the problems with that particular line of thought.

"Guards, the Empress has been attacked! Send for help, Go! Now!" Celestia-clone shouted.

She rushed over to the lavender alicorns side. "Twilight, help is on the way, I'm going to put you on the bed and perform first aid. I want you to try and stay with me."

“Hnn” was all Twilight was able to get out in reply.

Twilight felt a familiar golden energy surround her. As she was lifted up she glimpsed a very familiar looking cutie mark.

Only half lucid from the continual abuse, Twilight continued trying to rationalize,. 'huh, same magical signature and cutie mark, both would be way too hard to fake, practically impossible, especially for long term. I guess it is Celestia. I bet she will think it’s really funny when I tell her I thought she was her own imposter later on.' the realization was quickly lost to the relief as she was lowered into the soft, warm embrace of the unfairly comfortable mattress.

By far one of the best perks of the whole princess gig, was the creature comforts. Although she still didn't feel comfortable with the respect and adoration she didn't feel that she had earned it yet.
A soft caress enveloped her as familiar magic formed itself into, what she vaguely recognized as, patterns of various high level medical spells. She didn't know how to cast these as well as she would have liked, but Twilight could tell what most mortal level magics were doing by feel. The warm, loving sensation of Celestia’s magic, and the divinely soft bed, made falling back to sleep a forgone conclusion.

.

> Zebra Cures
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flashes of images flew before Twilight's vision as she awoke for the second time in a strange location.

This time however she felt a pleasant fuzz all over her body like she was wrapped in hugs on a cold day. It didn't fully chase off her pain but it did wonders to make it easily ignored.
She didn't even need to open her eyes to know where she was.

'Smell of anesthetic, slight pinch in left foreleg, rhythmic beeping noise that is... exactly in time with heart.'

She shifted slightly feeling the fluffy give of an only recently familiar supernatural surface beneath her

'Bed cushions are made out of cloud, very expensive to use as long term bedding, as it either needs be enchanted  to stay in a static formation, or you have to pay for a pegasi for its upkeep.  Based upon preliminary findings I'm going to guess I am in a medical ward this time.'

A small portion of her mind recognized that she should be concerned with how she became injured, Her apparent memory loss, and why she ran into a miniature Princess Celestia. Also who the pony was she apparently killed, and it should probably get around to the fact that she'd taken a life at some point.

This small portion was politely told politely to shut the buck up, by her self-preservation which was already freaked out by having woken injured, in a strange environment, twice in a row.

Eventually her subconscious had processed enough that she felt ready to try and look around again.

The mare ventured to crack an eye open and was greeted by the sight of an expensive ornate ceiling far that vaulted high above with intricate craftsmanship worked throughout its structure. Large windows where nearby that had curtains drawn to filter out most of the suns light keeping the room dim. She glanced around the room and saw she was the only occupant though there was another bed nearby. Upon catching sight of her medical equipment she felt a numbed surprise.

'Oh wow, I must really be messed up for them to put me on that' The pain suppressants they had her one where the same kind she had talked a young nurse into putting Rainbow Dash on when she injured her wing.

Most wing injuries heal at an amazing rate even by the already rapid pony standards. Complete recovery from a totaled wing is possible in a month or so in most cases. That being said, they are extremely sensitive due to the need to be able to detect the finest nuance in the air by the lightest breeze.

Rainbow had managed to tear up hers up fairly badly, nothing was broken so it would a quick heal, but the speed at which they recovered would of been all the more painful because her magic didn't have to divide itself to the relatively painless process of healing bone as well.

It was also the only time Rainbow asked her not as just Twilight, but as a Princess to help her out. She may of been half joking, but it ended up more or less put the purple prestidigitator on the warpath to help her chromatic friend out. In the end she managed to pressure some staff who put her on, a tiny amount, of first class magically enhanced painkillers.

Twilight learned something very important that day as well. Some ponies are hilariously talkative while on painkillers.

She hadn't mentioned anything afterwards but Dash had let it slip that she apparently found all of her friends physically attractive, not to mention a large number of stallions and a few mares outside of their group. Her explanations of why where very detailed and explicit. Twilight would have taken notes for future good natured blackmail and teasing if she'd of had the presence of mind at the time.

Honestly though it was an interesting insight into RD that she hadn't had before. The mare tended to play her feelings close to her chest, and never would openly admit when she was scared or worried, or anything too emotional. She ended up losing the whole day too a deliriously happy Pegasus, who wanted nothing better than to chit-chat with her princess and friend. Well other than flying of course, but that goes without saying.

Twilight was now on the same painkillers, and at a much higher dose based upon the speed of the drip. She'd have to watch what she'd say lest she give some pony ammunition to use against her later on.

Especially Rarity. Her special talent would have been making indirect embarrassing references, if not for the fashion thing. Pinkie wouldn't do so intentionally, Fluttershy and Applejack were too compassionate or polite, and she had plenty of ammunition against Rainbow should the need arise.

She'd apparently spent a lot of time reminiscing because a voice caught her off guard and caused her to jump which sent a jolt of pain that was quickly swallowed by the warm fuzzy feeling.

"Twilight Sparkle, I'm glad you're awake. Now we can see what potions, you should take." Said Zecora, Ponyville’s resident witch doctor and zebra.

She tried her voice, which slurred out a workable, "What happened?"

The zebra paused before responding. "If you don't know then we can only guess, But from what we've found you were put into distress."

A strange look passed the exotic mares face as she continued. "In truth we were afraid that you would leave us, as at first glance your injuries appeared so Grievous"

Zecora frowned in concern now. "If you don't know how things came to fall, Please tell me whatever you recall."

Twilight took a moment to consider her words before replying. "The Last thing I remember is Celestia telling me how she wished for me to join her in meeting the Griffon king for an updated treaty, " she said trailing off as the memory escaped her.

The zebra’s eyes widened for a few moments in surprise before hardening. "This is a matter of great concern. For your people, your memory, must be returned."

'My people? I suppose they are technically mine as much as Princess Celestias or Lunas. Still that's an odd reaction even for Zecora'

She didn't have much say in the matter being drugged up, and seriously injured, not to mention out of the loop. She could hear Zecora in a nearby room. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Twilight hadn't ever actually needed to go to the castle medical ward. Celestia was always very good about countering most of the damage her spells would of done when she lost control. Now however that translated to a very shaky idea of the layout and working procedure of the place. Twilight hated not knowing the proper procedure as she now had no idea what to expect.

Half an hour later Twilight was all but ready to buck someone had she the capability when two figures came into the room. One she recognized as the Celestia look-alike. The other was Zecora, who responded to her look. "My apologies for leaving you alone in this place, but it was most important to move at our fastest pace."

Almost-Celestia chimed in cheerfully "I had to teleport her to her home in the Everfree, so she could get what she needed to fix you up."

Twilight was a bit at a loss, she thought she knew everyone who could. Then she realized something she should have earlier but hadn't, likely due to being in such a sorry state.

'Just a bucking moment, shes an alicorn. They're only the four of us last I checked, and the only one who looks like Celestia is, well... Celestia!'

"Celestia? What happened to you, you look so different?"

The pink mare looked confused, "I do?" she asked turning around trying to get a better look at what her faithful student was referring too.

It was true, the Celestial royal had undergone a vast change; her coat was now a soft pink ,and her mane, while still somewhat technicolor was mostly pink and only had highlights of its alternate hues. She was also a few feet shorter, bringing closer to Lunas height just after she recovered from The Nightmaret. Gone where the Regalia of her office instead replaced by what looked like a very stylish winter wrap-up vest of the Pegasus make that she had left open in the front. It was the same darker purple of Twilight's hair, but it had the princesses Cutie Mark in brilliant gold contrast on center of the back, as well as similarly golden trimming on the edges, A seamless gold band was sitting around her neck which only added to the overall look.

Twilight continued awkwardly, "Umm, yes, your mane isn't flowing, and you're pink... and shorter"

Celestia didn't seem to be surprised at the assessment but more half in awe, as an cheshire smile threatened to take over her face. "You really don't remember..." That was not a good Celestia smile, that was the 'You will soon be messed with by a slightly crazy immortal' smile. Smarter ponies have surrendered just before battles upon seeing that smile. Even moderately intelligent ones have run away at full sprint before such ill intended glee.

Zecora decided to interject eying Celestia warily, but speaking to Twilight. "Before this conversation, you continue. It would be best for all, to get this brew in you. To return your memories this will aid the task, as for what's inside it... best not to ask" she added to Twilights discomfort.

Still when she held to potion up to her lips she drank it. It tasted like pop-rocks, glitter, and soap. Pinkie would enjoy it most likely.

"That was... interesting, I don't feel any different... and I can't say I recall anything new," The purple mare said feeling a bit let down.

"The mix was made,to not work all at once. Forced recall of too much, would leave you a dunce."

Twilight didn't like where she felt this was going. "So... just how much have I forgotten. Did I miss anything important?"

This was apparently the wrong thing to say as Celestia pounced upon the lead in wearing mad grin. "Oh, I wouldn't say too much, just two years." Twilight gasped but the solar monarch didn't give her a chance to recover. "Don't worry you didn't miss too much. You only conquered three nations, and ignited a war with a fourth. Thrown down with some primal magical threats. Enslaved Luna, Cadence and Myself to your will. Oh and you've regularly taken advantage and order me to do all sorts of naughty things with you... lover," Celestia ended in a sultry tone  that left no room for contemplation.

The warm fuzzy feeling was completely gone. Twilight held so still she could of passed for stone as the heart monitor told a different story as the pace dropped for a moment before spiking to rapid and unhealthy levels. Her breathing tried to match the new pace however this only lead to Twilight hyperventilating.

She didn't have coherent thoughts so much as the portion of her brain that takes in new information argued with the portion of her brain that said the new information had to be wrong, and the two had gotten into a shouting match, where name calling, and unfortunate insults to each others lineage and suggestions the other perform anatomically impossible actions were made.

It only took a second for the youngest of alicorns state to reach the pinnacle of panic and stress as she both tried to swallow her tongue in a fit, all the while attempting scream in a pitch well beyond her actual capacity to do so resulting in a eery gurgling high pitched keening noise. Fortunately after a few seconds, she relived the terrified zebra and amused alicorn from any further responsibility in the matter, as her brain finally came to an agreement that this argument would be best done while she was unconscious, after which she promptly passed out.




> Pinkie Listens
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Twilight Sparkle found herself sitting on a bench in a crowded train cabin, as books and official document littered the floor, and all but filled the compartment. For once a distraction greater than a room full of books was present as a doppelganger Twilight sat in supreme focus, examining three separate documents and a reference book floated in front of her gaze.

Twilight was feeling a bit beside herself to say the least.  Before she could try to get a hold of situation realization hit.

"Oh no. Oh sweet Celestia what have I done. Celestia just dropped a massive proverbial incendiary incantation on her, just abject moments before she found herself in the cabin. She had enslaved her fellow alicorns! She had started wars and conquered countries! She had enslaved Celestia and made her do..things!" She was all set and ready to engage in a full on panic when suddenly an cacophony enveloped the cabin, as the overhead compartment exploded.

With confetti and balloons.

"Suprise!" yelled a crazed pink mare who ejected herself out of the very same compartment.

The other Twilight recovered first.

"Pinkamina Diane Pie what the bucking hay do you think your doing?!" her reading twilight screamed, while the no longer panicking Twilight was still in shock.


"Hi Twilight! Hi Twilight! We're on our way to the Griffon Empire for diplomatic talks with High King, Blacktalon," Pinkie Pie bubbled loudly ignoring the question.


"Pinkie, I know that. In fact, I  was the one who explained that to you just a couple of days ago,"  she reminded the bouncing earth pony, who hopped into an open sliver of bench near the panicking mare and across from her.

"What I don't know is why you felt the need to scare the daylights out of me." Book-Twilight demanded.

"Oh that's easy silly. My Pinkie sense told me to." Pinkie chirped.

"Why would your Pinkie sense tell you that?" Pinkie's extraordinary senses had always been constructive in the past, Both Twilight's disliked the idea of them suddenly turning on anypony.

"Hmm," She hoofed her chin in thought, "Maybe you suddenly got amnesia and had to come back in time using one of Zecoras potions to learn about stuff that happened, and you where panicking for some reason, and I had to shock you out of it?"

Twilight, both past and future, stared dumbfounded at the pink disciple of crazed saneness. Twilight had seen her friend do something similar to this when she met an alternate version of her in another dimension, it was still disconcerting.

Past-Twilight spoke up, "Was that why you felt the need to say hello twice?" she asked tentatively.

Pinkie Pie beamed while bouncing like a tiny joyful spring in her seat. "Don't know, just felt like the thing to do."

Past-Twilight sighed,  "This is going to be an odd conversation isn't it," she asked resigned.

"Yep, " Pinkie chimmed in cheerfully, "So whatch'a doing?" she continued.

The memory alicorn began to re-organize the books and papers disturbed by her friends explosive entrance, as well as clearing up the confetti spread around the room.

"I'v been studying up on our politics regarding the Griffon Kingdoms,"

"Wait I thought you said they where the Griffon Empire?" Pinkie interrupted curiously enough that Twilight coulden't really get annoyed with her.

"It's complicated." Twilight began as she shifted into lecture mode.

"The Griffons are organized into a collection of hundreds of tiny kingdoms that cover a vast area of the continent just to the east of Equestria across the Eastern Equestrian Straight. The most powerful Griffon is the High King, in this case High King Blacktalon. As a general rule, someone who takes over and rules multiple kingdoms is also known as an emperor, or empress if female. So in this regard both terms are correct. As such, you would refer to them as The Griffon Kingdoms when working out minor dealings any number of the multitude of kings, or as reference the multitude. The Empire always refers only to dealings with the High King, or with the empire as a whole."

Twilight wished she had a notepad to take notes, it wasn't often you got to listen to a lecture of new information from yourself, and she'd hate to disappoint herself later by forgetting anything.

"Anyways, " The past self continued, " I've been studying our policies with the Kingdoms and Empire, as well as a few other countries, just for reference purposes so I would have a basis to compare. So far I've gotten through the last two hundred years of agreements for the griffons, and the previous fifty for everyone else." Her past self smiled with satisfaction, which the present felt herself mirror in pride.

Pinkie tilted her head, "Is something wrong?" she asked, which caused the alicorn to slump

"Unfortunately yes, I've been reading through these agreements and well. They're frankly terrible, and they just get worse as time goes on." Twilight sighed exasperated.

"I think I know why Celestia wanted to go in person now instead of just sending delegates. Based upon what I've read thus far its like the Griffons simply want to fight us, and Celestia has been throwing away bits left and right just to meet their demands so we wouldn't have to. On an individual level they push us so they don't send raiding parties, or more politically, so they can 'afford to keep unaffiliated factions within their respective kingdoms in check so they don't raid us'. I guess I just never really though of Equestria really having all that many problems, yet now that I'm a princess im finding out all kinds of ugly little truths."

Her past self slumped down in her chair looking depressed.

Twilight felt terrible that she had forgotten, and worse that she didn't know the current state of affairs with the Griffons. She would have to re-research anything her past self missed just to be sure she had a good handle on the political field. Wait, she was told-

"Don't worry Twilight its all going to work out okay in the end." Pinkie said interrupting her thoughts.

Past-Twilight perked up "Did your pinkie sense tell you that?"

"Nope!" She continued in a completely serious tone, "mares intuition." she said sagely while crossing her hooves, and nodding.

Both Twilights snorted. Then they laughed, which Pinkie joined in readily.

Equestria had lucked out when the Pink mare of laughter discovered her special talent for making others cheerful, as the only party the joy championing mare wouldn't allow was a pity party. Unless she was invited, in which case expect it to be hijacked into a more traditional one shortly thereafter.

"Thank you Pinkie Pie," Twilight past self said.

"Yea, thanks Pinkie" addendum the present.

"Your double welcome!"

Twilight froze, "Pinkie," she paused  "can you hear me?"

The pink mare had a series of odd spasms for a moment, thereafter she paused in thought before saying. "Hey Twilight I just want you to know, that I'm always willing to listen. Even if I can't hear you!"

Twilights past self looked confused, before she accepted the comment at face value.

"Thanks Pinkie, if there is every anything I can do in return, please let me know."

"Actually there is!" she spoke up immediately before continuing, "My pinkie sense also told me that you're going to have a super cake party, and I want you to promise to invite me. "

Both Twilight's paused, "A super.."

"-cake party!" The other mare finished nodding seriously. "Please promise you'll invite me!"

Twilight chortled once before giving in "Okay, okay, I promise ill invite you to my next super cake party"

"Pinky Promise!" she jumped jovially in her demands.

Twilight sighed, "Fine, I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye" she finished ending up actually poking her eye.

'I never could get the hang of that'

"Yay super duper cake party! I feel like I can leave now so, I'll let you get back to your studying, 'cuz it seems like its super important and princess'y "

And with that pinkie left the compartment and Twilight's view of the world blurred into an entirely new visage.
> Royal Meetings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight watched as a new room formed into vision, as her surroundings formed she ventured a guess that she was located inside of a ship, she could vaguely smell the sea air, even in memory as she watched the scene unfold before her.  Sitting across from her past self was Princes Celestia in all her ethereal maned glory.

Before Twilight could really take measure of the situation however, she felt a wave of heat bubble up from her chest as her view of the world shifted and she suddenly found her reliving her pasts perspective and feelings. Words flowed from the gestalted mares mouth.

"Celestia, Please stop avoiding the argument! There are some serious problems that need to be addressed here," she said shaking what looked like a small ream of paper being held aloft by her magic.

"Twilight, there is no need to shout," Celestia deflected lightly.

Twilight took a deep breath, to calm herself before continuing.

"In the time it took for us to get to Baltimare and meet up with Shiny, I've managed to go over everything I could find between us and the griffons for the last hundred years, and almost as long for the other allied nations. To be completely blunt, we are hemorrhaging money, and thats just the most pressing problem. Trade, Law, Economics, pretty much everything is a colossal mess, If this where a footrace Equestria has been doing its best to assure it comes in last. I don't even know how something like this could happen, Its like no pony has ever really bothered to simply gather everything together and just take it all in as a whole."

'given how much everypony trusted Celestia, they very well may not of, If they had they would of noticed that our government is being held together by bits of string and paper clips' Twilight found herself thinking, unsure if it was her past or present self who had the thought. It made an eerie amount of sense too. Luna was a thousand years behind in everything and wouldn't know the first thing about current politics, and Cadence never showed much political acumen. They would let Celestia take care of the business end on most political dealings.

"Twilight, I appreciate your concern but I really don't think its nearly as bad as you're making it out to be," Celestia attempted placatingly.

"Princess It's likely worse, other nations literally don't need to mint money, they are getting so much from us its easier for them to just use ours. Literally the only three reasons I can find that we haven't collapsed financially is your vast experience somehow pulling us just above the red year after year, 

Then there’s the inherent desire ponies have to use their special talent which ensures that most ponies will remain productive regardless of how much they make, which coupled with the kindness most ponies show towards each other ensures our citizens almost always have what they need.”

"Lastly there's the residual magics ponies produce which as a side effect increases Equestrians inherent wealth. Ponies are wishing to find gems in their back yard long enough, that gems eventually gets pulled up by the residual magic of all the ponies in the area."

"We are literally being held afloat by last minute saves, kindness, and wishful thinking." Her emotions a mix of mounting frustration and turmoil.

Twilight hadn't been this frustrated since Cadence was kidnapped and no pony would believe her that something was off. Actually this was even worse because with Chrysalis, some small portion of her mind honestly had thought she had been wrong. In this however she was quite entirely positive.

"The worst part is that this is just what i've found peripherally while researching Griffon related policies, and its already as bad as my report states" She finished while indicating the paper packet.

"Who knows what I'll find when I can get into the Canterlot archive," she added gloomily. Her pasts anger subsided, and Twilight found herself no longer re-experiencing the event from her original perspective and was instead standing nearby her past self, unsure if she had been doing so the entire time.

"Okay Twilight, If it is that important to you I can at least read over your report, and we can talk about this later."  Celestia said regally, to the young mares apparent joy that she appeared to of gotten through to her mentor.

She continued, "In the meantime however, I'm sure your friends have begun to miss you seeing as you've been spending all your time researching. Again." she finished with a smile.

Twilight blushed before nodding as she walked out the door, leaving her packet on a nearby work desk.

Her future-self watched the room dissolve as her previous-self walked out the door in much lighter spirits, as the room faded into another area of the inside of the ship.





Past-Twilight was sitting in a chair in a corner reading while her friends, lounged about around the room. Rarity was going over numerous outfits, on what was likely Twilights bed, given the size. While Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack , and Fluttershy were playing some sort of card game.

Twilight might of joined but ever since she learned about counting cards she hadn't been allowed to play due to doing it subconsciously. Incidentally both she and her friends were banned from a number of gambling houses in Los Pegasus..

Her friendship report from that little episode reading along the lines of; 'Just because something isn't against the rules does not necessarily make it automatically okay to do. Also its a bad idea to mix drinks.' Although they all did manage came out quite ahead in the bits for their efforts.

Applejacks voice rose taking hold of the conversation. "I'm tellin ya, we're lucky to of made it to the boat alive. Sometimes I think those fillies ain't got a lick of sense. No disrespect to Big Mac, but I'm glad your parents volunteered to help keep an eye on them for a bit before taking them back to Ponyville. It might not be our busy season, but Big Mac would of been run ragged trying to keep up with 'em all by himself. And there's no way I'd be wanting to take ’em with us just to cause a diplomatic incident."

"Of course Darling, they were happy to help. The fact they didn't have to cut their trip short and could pick them up on the way home made everything work out for the best. ",she said  while she divided her attention to  look over various outfits .

"Although, while Cutie Mark Crusader Train Conductors was a bad idea. You must admit though, we did make excellent time." Rarity commented, causing the assembled mares to giggle. It went unsaid that they also proved that the safety protocols in the stations against runaway trains, worked just as well in practice, as in theory. Needless to say getting scolded first by Twilight, then by their sisters, or sister figure in Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo case did much to get them settled for the remainder of the trip.

A moment of peace took hold

"Arrg, I simply can't decide what to wear!" Rarity had been stressing  over it for the entire trip.

Twilight rolled her eyes "Rarity I told you before we left that the Griffons don't wear clothing. Wearing it to any events would just make you stick out, and not in a good way. Did you bring your Jewelry like I told you to?

Rarity nodded, not really listening, "Of course darling, however I cannot simply go in unprepared, fashion is fickle darling, you never know what may become a trend, especially in  a foreign lands. Besides wearing them could make us appear exotic. Sometimes fitting in is simply the last thing you want." Rarity finished passionately as Twilight rolled her eyes.

Rainbow decided to speak up however "By the way Twilight, Why did you tell us to bring whatever Jewelry we have? I only have some wing clips, and I only have those because rarity got them for me, we hocking them off or something?"

"No Rainbow, we're not going to be selling them," Twilight began. "Griffon fashion typically consist of wearing various types of jewelry or gems. One of the greatest advantages Griffons have over ponies is their physical endurance. Aside from certain special cases the average griffon can out-endure most other species. They have been known to even beat dragons in long flights. Its one of the reasons we have to travel so far south by boat, they only have a few port cities, one being their capital, simply because they can fly to just about anywhere. Nobles often overladen themselves as a statement of strength and wealth in that they can fly even overburdened and that they can afford precious metals and gems in the first place. We won't be wearing as much, but going unadorned is unacceptable in the higher social circles. Also I hate to say it Rarity, but Griffons are known to look down on non-fliers even the nicest ones have to watch themselves to make sure they don't do it. They almost see pegasi and non-winged ponies as separate species."

Rarity looked disheartened for a moment before she shook herself out of it. "I see, thank you Twilight, I think I might have to put something from scratch, but I can work with that I believe," she said as she began to gather some of her emergency supplies, as well as Fluttershy who was now having her wings examined by the fashionista"

Losing the pony who had almost all the bits in their little game caused the rest to lose interest it, apparently being able to look intimidated by everyone no matter what makes for rather effective poker face. 

Curiosity would seem to win the day however as Rainbow Dash turned to Twilight looking pensive for a second before asking.

"So how are things going with Celestia?" she asked as the rest of the group flinched slightly.

Apparently her past self was not currently getting along.

Past-Twilight placed a bookmark in her book before closing it with a snap, followed by  a sigh.

"It's fine" she said addressing her friends reaction before shifting to face the chromatic mare.

"And ‘not well’ to answer your question," she grumbled.

Rainbow continued undaunted. "I know we've been trying to not butt in , but what's the problem, you've always been almost attached to the hip"

Present-Twilight was curious as well, due to not actually knowing all the details.

The moment drew out before the question was answered. "What would happen if a griffon committed a crime in Equestria?"

Dash blinked, "Err, I dunno, they'd get arrested or something?"

Twilight responded immediately. "Nope, they'd get deported back to their home kingdom where they would pay a minor fine as a deportment fee."

"That doesn't seem so ba-" Twilight cut her friend off, her temper warmed a bit causing her future self to feel the words coming out even though she wasn't moving her mouth.

"That is what happens more or less regardless of the crime. Anything short of getting somepony killed has the same punishment. If a pony does the same crime in the Griffon kingdoms however they are tried to the full extent of the law. And they almost always get the maximum sentence allowed even for minor crimes.  By the way the documents that allow for this were signed within a month of each other. I asked Celestia about it, and she said it was because 'we need to try and practice understanding' or something along the lines" Twilight petered off.

Surprisingly Fluttershy spoke up, though less so than if they would of been in a group outside her immediate friends. "Umm Twilight..That doesn't really sound all that fair.." she observed quietly.

Twilight's past sighed before agreeing, "No. It doesn’t, and that’s just a sample from a preliminary reading. I've been finding all kinds of problems left and right. If you read just a few agreements it doesn't seem that bad, but if you sit down and compile them its a colossal mess. To make matters worse I've found some evidence of similar practices internally as well." Twilight finished letting silence fill in the wake of her words.

The somber mood was broken by Pinkie before it could get comfortable, "It'll be okay twilight, Now that the Princess Twilight Sparkle is on the case, I'm sure you can work out a way to start getting everything back on track just as soon as we get back! Celestia might even agree with you, its just she doesn't wanna get worried over things she can't do anything about right now and want's to wait until we get back! " she exclaimed jubilantly.

"Yea besides Equestria never had an egghead like you as a princess before, I'm sure you'll figure something out sooner or later" Stated Dash as though it were a foregone conclusion.

"Sounds about right to me, ain't no good worrying about things you can't do nothing about. Best to take care of things as opportunity arrives instead of gettin' all riled up." Applejack added her two bits..

Rarity and Fluttershy simply smiled and nodded agreement.

Twilight felt the shimmer of her past selves feelings, joy, relief, love for her friends that she herself was sharing, as the room shifted once again.





Twilight found herself on the top deck looking on at events as the ponies aboard the boat finished tying the dock as a small group of griffons. Her past-self along with her friends, as well as Celestia and her brother where all on board and awaiting the meeting. Rarity was wearing an adapted dress that had been toned down , folded and ruffled to give the vaguest impression of folded wings on her back, without actually appearing to attempt to do so. Her brother was wearing full royal guard regalia armor. instead of his normal dress shirts. Twilight was  disconcerted that her past self wasn't standing next to her mentor. It was the first place she would of been when waiting to meet foreign dignitaries, if not only for advice but for comfort but instead she was standing next to her brother who took the opposite end of the line.

The Griffon city had both a familiar and alien beauty to it. The first thing the lavender alicorn noticed was that the buildings seemed to be made primarily of stone walls, as well as heavy looking logs similar to the forested area surrounding it. The cliff face was pocketed with hundreds of almost grid like  stone caves that were cut straight into the rocky outcropping. The largest feature was the tremendously oversized palace in the heart of the city. The entire thing seemed to be made primarily of giant stone fragments, cobbled into a beautiful mosaic of fortification.

The whole city was a hive of activity, the sheer number of flying bodies was somewhat daunting, however before she could begin to work out flight patterns both twilight and her past self where jogged out of their likely similar musings.

"Greetings and welcome to the Griffon Kingdom, Celestia, young Twilight!" a rich voice cut across the harbor.

"Majestic" was the only word to describe the creature before them. Lithe and large, he was a good half again the size of the average Griffon putting him around the same size of Celestia herself. His feathers all flowed smoothly like pitch black cloak he had wrapped himself in at all times. If he held still he could pass for a beautiful sculpture of Ebony,betrayed only his golden eyes and foreclaws, both where tipped with alabaster claws that darkened to pitch at the tips. Intimidating as he may of had the capacity of, it was somewhat belayed as he waved in a casual, but friendly manner towards their party.

The assembled ponies departed down the pier towards the High King and his small entourage of comparatively bland griffons.

Twilight noted that the Emperor seemed to be given an extremely large amount of space for his meeting.  Twilight heard her past self whisper to the shy pony who was next to her. "No Fluttershy, you can't take one home" she heard accompanied by suppressed snickers from her nearby friends.

Twilight looked to see what they were talking about, when she noticed Fluttershy looking somewhat embarrassed as she watched at a couple of tiny young griffons rough housing in a bout of adorable, if ineffectual, chirping and growling. They seemed to only be partially affected as their bout rolled them in about a third of the way into the bubble of the High Kings personal space, before it spontaneously broke up and they chased after one another down a nearby street.

Before either mare knew it they were upon the High King, who spread his wings slightly to keep balance, as he gave a traditional bow between peers, lowering his just only slightly  with his fore talon behind his back, while the other took Celestias hoof when offered, touching his beak lightly to it.

"Ah good to see you yet again Celestia, and how is our favorite goddess of the sun?"

Celestia looked distinctly uncomfortable for once.

"Please don't use such titles with Us, Blacktalon, we have never claimed them." she said with whatever shyness and modesty she could muster both real and feigned.

Blacktalon guffawed, "Ha, you have claimed them by way of your nature and deeds, my dearest Celestia, my people remember very clearly how the first Griffin Equestrian war was ended.  However I suppose while maintain your mortal form you can technically say the claim is false." he said as though making a great concession.

The other ponies aside from Twilight and Shining Armor looked shocked at this line of conversation, while the others looked uncomfortable, but none said anything. "And this is the young Twilight, I must admit, by the stories that have reached my ears I would have thought you would be taller. Although I must admit, if you were proportioned to the mockeries of truth that normally assault my court, you would seven feet tall and your mane would be made of fire! " He laughed. However Twilights friends wondered just how much of said mockeries were spot on. "Our Carvers will be pleased they won't end up having to enlarge all the guest quarters and halls to hold such a mythical warrior" He laughed cheerfully

Past-Twilight couldn't help herself. "Carvers?"

The griffon king looked vaguely surprised she'd decided to speak but answered readily enough. "Ahh but I forget, you are both unfamiliar with Griffons, and are a scholar at heart, An excellent figure to have in any pantheon I must say." he said as a throwaway comment which made the other elements of harmony steal curious looks at Twilight and Celestia.

"You see my dear," he said in a tone that could be either paternal or condescending "Griffons, just as we appear, have a dual nature. We all have magics of both Air and Earth. The Air as should be obvious allows us to fly even though our forms are too sturdy by far to normally allow for flight, This is similar to your Pegasi, he said nodding to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in quick succession. One of which puffed up and the other seemed to try and collapse into themselves with the attention.

"Although we don't have the level required to actively control our weather, it is a bit unfair for most creatures to compare their magical abilities to that of Equestria." There the slightest hint of annoyance in his tone before he continued. "In addition to Air, there is Its opposite of Earth, this gives us our tremendous endurance. Some Griffons however hone this secondary ability which when channeled gives them great ability in working with earth and earth based magics, They are actually the ones who Carve out much of our mountain homes and even allowed for the construction of Our imperial palace." He finished with flare.

He paused a moment before smiling slyly at Twilights past self. "If you'd like I could see about letting you meet a few. I'm sure they would be overjoyed to get to meet the equestrian goddess of magic herself." Both Twilight's felt off balance just from the information dump and sharp change in topic.

Celestia however saved her from having to respond. "That is most kind of you Emperor Blacktalon. However I believe it might be in everyone's interest to continue at a more appropriate setting."

It was true, by now they had gathered a large crowd of Griffons who were busying themselves with not obviously watching what was going on.

Blacktalon looked annoyed for the briefest moment before smiling and nodding amiable "But of course you are correct my dearest Celestia. Come, let me show your apprentice my kingdom as we make our way over to the palace," he said as he began walking towards the largest building in the middle of the city.

Twilight only noticed after he was done and the scene was fading away that he never once looked at any of the non-winged ponies in their party.


> Quiet Conversation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

From an indistinct mass of haze within Twilight’s memory, the vista faded into a new room. 

The walls were made of giant, interlocking stone plates of varying materials that came together to extend beyond the scope of the room. It was like standing between the faults in a colossal mosaic. Twilight had the oddest sense that the entire palace looked much the same, however her attention was taken in by an argument between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, of all ponies.

"How could you defend them?" the pastel yellow mare demanded.

"Fluttershy, it's what they eat! Griffons can't live on just plants, they have to eat meat sooner or later."

"They are taking innocent lives!" Fluttershy cried.

“Ahem” came a familiar voice from the doorway and Twilight saw her past self.

"I couldn't help but overhear you two arguing, what's going on?" past-Twilight asked her friends, causing her future-self to snort in disbelief.

Couldn't help but overhear my flank, they are arguing right outside your/my door.

Her status as a Princess had delegated her friends to stay in adjoined quarters. Thus the room her companions were staying in acted as a buffer between hers and the rest of the castle, likely as a feature to protect her from potential harm.

Interesting, it appears they are being housed in servant quarters she noted with a tinge of trepidation. She had never really considered any of her friends servants, technically however, as citizens they were bound to serve the crown, and thus her.Therefor, It would make perfect logical sense from a foreign perspective to house them thusly, however uncomfortable she was at the notion.

I wish I could remember how they reacted to the setup, or if they cared at all. They most likely didn't, seeing as they would either be amused at her discomfort over being treated as royalty or apathetic, aside from Rarity, at least. The mare acted as a force neigh unto nature when it came to romanticizing a situation, and had taken to doing so with Twilight’s princess-hood at every opportunity. It still would have made her feel a lot better to know she hadn't offended the ponies closest to her.

Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted as Fluttershy, having spotted a potentially sympathetic ear, bolted to her past-self, wrapped her hooves around Twilight’s neck, and began to cry, her quiet sobs muffled by Twilight's mane.

Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. "Shy found out what griffons like to eat for lunch," she muttered.

Her past self only made the slightest wince of understanding which was mirrored by the present. That would certainly explain why Fluttershy was as upset as she was.

The memory of herself lifted Fluttershy in a magenta aura and placed her gently on one of the beds in the quarters before speaking.

"Shh okay, okay, why don't you take a deep breath and start at the beginning."

The shy mare quietly began. ""W-w-well, th-they offered to let m-me and Rainbow v-visit the kitchens when she comp... m-mentioned she w-w-was hungry. When we got th-there, they had a cage of cute little bunny rabbits and... and.." Fluttershy began to tear up again, hiding her face behind her mane as she did.

Twilight hopped up beside her on the bed and draped a wing comfortingly over her back.

"I think I understand" she said so her friend wouldn't have to continue.

Rainbow Dash meanwhile took the opportunity to appropriate a chair from a nearby work desk and plopped it in front of the two so she could sit as well.

"Fluttershy," Twilight began, "What did you know about Griffon eating habits before we came here?" She asked as gently as possible.

"Umm, they can eat desserts...and apples according to Pinkie."

Twilight nodded, "Fluttershy, Gryphons are omnivorous, meaning to meet their dietary requirements they nominally eat both meat and plants to meet their dietary needs.. The energy return between the two however is slanted heavily towards meat, as it has a much higher yield. Because of the greater energy and due to their large size, return they place a greater focus on their carnivorous aspect. "

Rainbow Dash chimed in to both the other mares supplies."Yeah, It's one of the reasons there are so few Griffons in Equestria.The only thing they can really eat there is fish, and thats just as bad for them as eating nothing but hay is for you."

Fluttershy looked at Dash in a mildly accusatory manner, "You already knew?"

Dash shrugged, "Found out a lot about Griffons from Gilda when we hung out over summer. She complained all the time about how all she ever got was fish. She used to mess with me saying how it’s too bad pony taste terrible, but that it was probably for the best, because I'd probably be too chewy anyways.

The shy pony shook a bit at the thought of being eaten but seemed to steel herself, willing to give them at least that much of the benefit of the doubt, for her own sanity at least. "But they were talking about eating them right in front of the poor bunnies!" She Flutter-shouted in distress, placing it at just below normal speaking volume.

"And those bunnies probably didn't have a clue what was going on, nor why you were upset" Twilight cut off before continuing. "Fluttershy, there are a lot of species in equestria that are only intelligent because pony magic has made them that way."

"We tend to Equi-morphize them and over hundreds of generations our magic starts slowly making them able to understand us to a degree. It's why Applejack helps keep an eye on the local cows. It’s also why your local forest animals tend to understand you better than the ones further away. Your own personal magic affects them and makes you especially easy for them to understand."

"Outside of Equestria most quickly lose any higher functions magic might be helping them attain, right along with their ability to speak." Both mares seemed surprised by this.

"Fluttershy I understand you're upset and why you might have reason to be. But the griffons haven't really done anything wrong. They have dietary needs to be healthy, and they really shouldn't be considered doing anything bad for keeping themselves healthy. It's up to us to be understanding and recognize that different species have different needs, even if we don't like them. The problem with being friends with a snake and a mouse is sooner or later you're going to lose a friend. " Fluttershy seemed to be mulling it over for a bit before eventually nodding in understanding, if not agreement.

"Now I'm going to guess that you ran out on the chef and probably left them very confused. If you feel up to it, why don't you head back after dinner and explain what happened. They make desserts so why don't you ask if you can see the cows and chickens they have for milk and eggs?" Twilight suggested, causing Fluttershy to brighten up abit before she took off with Rainbow in tow.

As the two Pegasi left, the room quickly melted away, only this time an eerie wisp of purple light leaking into the edges of her vision.

The light receded as the room misted back into existence. The stone walls, this time, looked sharper and more detailed than they had before.  

Twilight watched as her past self walked back into the adjoining room where the rest of her friends had gathered around the blue pegasus who was lying on a bed against the far wall.


Twilight quietly entered to room before asking "How is she doing?" Before the assembled mares could answer however the chromatic pegasus spoke up angrily. before turning herself rightside up to meet the purple pony with a wince. "She's fine!" she shouted in the third person.

Twilight felt a bit chagrined about speaking as though she hadn't been there but she simply smiled apologetically before pressing onwards into the room.

Rainbow's left side and up to the base of her left wing were wrapped in white strips of bandages. which made Twilight wonder if was even a good idea for her friend to be sitting upright. She realized however that there wasn't much she could do as she was viewing something that had already happened.

Rarity however decided to respond to her earlier question as well. "She isn't taking it well" she stated offhandedly, to Rainbows ire. "That jerk cheated! I would have won no problem but then he decided to attack me mid race out of nowhere!"

"Ain’t he gonna at least get into trouble Twi?" Applejack questioned.

"Unfortunately not." Twilight stated unhappily. "Griffons traditionally allow full contact during most competitions where everyone is acting at the same time." She trailed off before looking at Rainbow, Twilight felt her past selves regret surge, as the lavender mare apologized. "I'm sorry Dash, I had no idea he would actually attack you even after we made it clear that no physical contact was to be allowed. He broke a verbal agreement even though he didn't actually break any rules. He might have lost face, but he won't likely get in any direct trouble."

Rainbow simply lets out a sigh before adjusting herself to a more comfortable position. "Nah, it's fine Twi. He barely even clipped my wing so I ought to be able to fly by tomorrow.

Fluttershy quietly interjected, "Dash, Um, the Dr. said you shouldn't do any flying until you fully recover" Rainbow smirked before replying. "Actually  he only said I should keep off my hooves, didn't say anything about staying off my wings." She replied in mock of an actually valid argument.

Twilight felt she should at least try to intervene on her friend’s behalf. "Rainbow, he clawed you fairly deeply. You're really lucky nothing got infected, or you would be much worse off. Fluttershy's right Dash; you really should stay in bed."

Rainbow looked like she wanted to argue however between The two mares pressuring her, and the rest of their friends nodding in agreement she eventually caved. "Arrg... fine, it's not like there’s anything else to do. I just wish that jerk hadn’t won. Now you and Celestia are going to have to deal with that smug jerk."  she said looking a bit despondent. While it was clear the pegasus wasn't happy to have lost, it was now apparent that it was bothering her more that she ended up creating trouble for friends that losing to a cheating Griffon.

Twilight's past self interrupted the pity party before it could get started. "Rainbow I really hate seeing you get hurt, but if that’s what is bothering you then politically the way things turned out actually might be even more beneficial than if you had won. Granted it would have been nice if you had actually managed to pull out a win despite your injuries." Rainbow let slip a look of hurt that had nothing to do with her injuries but Twilight barreled onwards.


"The fact of the matter is that even after breaking his word and injuring you, he almost didn't win . It looks really bad, especially once it became public knowledge that we had agreed to no physical contact. Blacktalon is really cheesed off about the entire thing, because it makes the griffon nobility look bad from a lot of different angles.” Twilight gives off a smirk that had very little to do with positive thoughts towards the Griffon ruler.

"Is that a good thing?" Fluttershy asked, to which Twilight gave a curt nod while smiling preditorially.

"It's a very good thing. It gives Equestria a better stance next time we return to negotiations. Blacktalon is at least indirectly responsible for his peoples actions and one of his people attacked a foreign party unprovoked during a contest. Even if it's against normal Griffon practices, it was well understood between everyone that aggression would not be acceptable.  It could be a massive boon to negotiations if properly utilized. "

Rainbow seemed to be placated, and even slightly smug. She might have hated losing, but she didn't really consider it a fair contest so it didn't bother her nearly as much. Twilights mood however took a moment to turn sour, before she continued.

"That is, of course if Celestia actually decides to use it to our advantage..." she trailed off, a muddle of negative emotions weakly leaking over to her future self.

Pinkie Pie was the first to notice, "Everything okay, Twilight?" she asked, hoping they could help.

Twilight let out a sigh, "I just wish they would listen to me more. I know I don't have much experience in politics but it’s so aggravating. The Emperor treats me like a filly who wandered into the room whenever I try to add to the negotiations. And Celestia just lets him do it!" She crescendoed as she went, on ending in a low shout which unnerving her friends.

Twilight wasn't prone to yelling and was generally very even tempered and analytical.  She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead with a hoof as she settled herself, letting out a sigh. "Sorry you two, I've been trying to keep it from getting to me but it hasn’t been going well, and I didn’t want to make anypony to worry about me." she ended smiling apologetically.

Rarity spoke up "Why that sounds simply terrible darling, didn't you say earlier Celestia was doing better at negotiations? "

Twilight nodded, "That's the worst part because she was! but then the High King started getting just a little too aggressive for comfort and she just sorta eroded back to her old self as I watched!" Twilight fumed.

Fluttershy walked over to sit right next to her friend, nuzzling her slightly, to offer physical as well as moral support "It will be okay Twilight. You can't really expect her to change after just a few weeks. Just keep on trying your best and you can work out a better plan next time."

The purple mare let out a sigh "I suppose you're right. I just wish I could do more." she said, as the conversation seemed to peter off while her friends watched the young spellcaster sympathetically. They all wished they could help, but there wasn't really anything they could do.

Purple haze filled her brain, and magenta light eroded into the edges of her vision, as the memory shifted once more from one to another.

'Strange, is the light getting stronger?' Twilight wondered briefly before watching the memories pass before her.

Twilight saw her mirror self walk into her room where all of her friends were all chatting on her, admittedly softer, oversized bed. Rainbow seemed to be back to full health, and although the tiniest of scratches were still visible, they were healing cleanly.

"Applejack darling , I simply must ask, where did you learn to politic? You've been handling the griffon peerage better than even myself!" Asked Rarity only slightly in awe.

Applejack adjusted her stetson, which she had been forced to leave in the servant's room of late. "Well, I might have mentioned before that when I was trying to find my cutie mark I moved to Manehatten. I ended up having to go to a lot of fancy fru-fru parties, and its more or less the same thing. I just try to keep from drawing attention, and if I do, just get them talking about themselves, and then act as interested as I can."

Twilight realized she hadn't ever actually seen how Applejack would compose herself at a fancy party. At the Gala she had opted to try and do business instead of actually socialize. It was a nice surprise but Twilight felt the tiniest twinge at having forgotten what apparently had been Applejack doing so. Rarity seemed to find this new side of her vastly interesting to say the least, as they had butted heads before on matters of sophistication.

Twilights memory-self was apparently an escape from the conversation as Applejack called her attention to Twilight.

"Hey sugarcube, ya got a minute?" asked the rustic apple farmer said, drawing attention away from herself.

The memory smiled at her friends "Sure thing AJ, just let me put away some notes," she said as she slid away a rather sizeable pile of papers. Rainbow let out an impressed whistle, "So what were you doing that needed you to write a book for?"

Past-Twilight rolled her eyes good naturedly, "I was talking with the Gryphon Carvers, they had a lot of material on earth magic. Actually I even learned some things that I might be able to use to help Equestrian farms in the long run. Although it will be a long time before they will be anywhere near ready for actual testing. First of course I’ll need to prove some of these papers and get them put to the scientific community for review, then I-" Applejack decided to cut her off before she accidently signed herself up for a two hour lecture on the process for advancing a field in Equestria, magic or otherwise.. "That sounds interesting and all, but we actually all had a question we've been meaning to ask you ever since we got off the boat." she stated, apparently the impromptu leader of the conversation.

Twilight finishing storing her work, hopped up to a chair that she pulled up to the now semi circle of mares on her bed. "Of course, I'd be glad to help in any way I can" She beamed.

"Well, the thing is, we was wondering what the Emperor was talking about when he kept referring to you and Celestia as goddesses. he seemed to be speaking a bit more than just tongue and cheek. And we've noticed a few of the nobles hinting at it as well."

Both Twilights flinched slightly, and her future self suddenly was very glad she didn't have to do any explaining, however she then realized she had to worry about how her past self had handled it.

"Oh um...well... are you sure you wouldn't rather talk about something else?" She asked weakly.

Twilight's her forehead in exasperation, 'Ohh buck me, theres no way Applejack would let that one go.'

Applejack might lie so poorly that anyone half paying attention would catch on, but if she thought someone was trying to be deceptive, she'd immediately go on the offensive.

Applejack narrowed her eyes, "Nope. I already asked your brother but he said he couldn't say. Then I asked Celestia and she said it would be best to ask you instead. I don't like how no one will give me a straight answer. What was he talking about Twilight."

"Applejack, I really..." Twilight buffered weakly

"An why won't anyone answer me when I ask."

The other girls quietly watched on

Past-Twilight sighed, looking away and mumbled.

"What was that?"

Her past took a deep breath before nervously meeting her friends eyes. "They didn't want to tell you that it's technically true..."

Applejack nodded before double taking, "Thats what Ah...Wait, what?" Her assembled friends seemed just as completely stunned by the revelation as their spokesman.

"Alicorns are the physical manifestation of entities who, when outside of the physical plane, could be classified as deific in nature." Twilight repeated.

Rainbow dash chimed in "Man, sure wasn't expecting that!" she remarked.

Rarity nodded as well, "I must admit, I was caught a bit off guard myself" she said unsurely as she still processed the statement.

"Well what were you expecting?" Twilight asked curious and still unsure

"For you to say no you’re not, and then have some really interesting story about something Celestia did long ago for the Griffons to think that or something" Applejack replied before pausing "So...should I start up a religion or something"

"There are already a few, please don't start another." she deadpanned

"We could have Fluttershy sing your praises!" Rainbow added unhelpfully.

"No, Rainbow Dash."  Twilight replied exasperated.

'Perhaps a little shrine?" added Rarity only half-joking, and not quite suppressing her smile at her friends expense.

"Please, enough!" Twilights memory half begged, half demanded.

"Sorry Twi, I guess it's jus’ a little hard to believe. We weren't exactly waitin here expectin’ to find out one of our friends up and turned immortal and we just didn't realize it. Sorta feelin’ a bit unbalanced by the whole thing. Why do y’all keep it so secret?"

"Theres not really a good short answer to that question Applejack," said Twilight

Applejack adjusting herself to a more comfortable position and replied, "Well I came ready for a bit of a yarn anyways, might as well get to it." she remarked.

Both Twilights saw their friends seemed quite ready to wait her out, so her past self sat up in what her assistant, Spike, would call her 'lecturing-posture' and began to expatiate.

"I guess it all started when Celestia was born and took hold of the sun. Before she came into being, a day could of lasted for only a few hours, to months.  People would worship her, but she couldn't really do much to help ponies with their problems. She controlled the sun. Unless you wanted her to add or take away a couple of hours from a day she wasn't able to do much, because anything else in her domain would either trouble or hurt everyone in the area. When Luna came along Celestia was overjoyed at the company because she'd been lonely for who knows how long. But Luna had the same problem; unless you wanted her to do something with the night sky or the moon, she couldn't do anything realistic to help ponies either,all for the same reasons. And unfortunately ponies back then had a lot of problems. Predators, Food, Evil Entities."

"So both of them eventually decided they should make physical forms and simply live amongst the ponies so they could improve their lives. It worked really well for a long time, ponies were very practical in that time period. Befriending a goddess wasn't that strange a concept compared to not having to worry about finding food and shelter, and there were who knows how many evil entities running about that could probably qualify as gods or goddesses themselves if they had merely gotten their act together. Some may have even been in a similar situation."

"As society grew they became ever larger and more prominent figures, and more distant in the eyes of their subjects. It's fairly difficult to be friends with somepony who literally worships the ground you walk on."

"This is what, in the long run, eventually lead up to Nightmare Moon. Celestia spent the following century attempting to reduce those kinds of views in any way she could, including removing as much information about alicorns and their immortality as she could from the records.”

"Her influence however ends more or less at the equestrian borders, so anyone living beyond them, such as the Griffons, likely remember, or at least know of, the old stories. Most likely don't believe them and just think she's been put upon a pedestal or something like that. It's not like there aren't a sizeable number of unageing creatures, and ponies have always been highly magical, so they don't see it as much of a stretch."

"Some ponies know, Shiny was informed, as his status as the head of the Royal Guard means he’s of equal rank with the other heads of our military. Also Cadence wouldn't marry somepony without telling them beforehoof."  Twilight finished leading to a somewhat protracted silence as her assembled friends assimilated the change in their world view.

"So do you hear it whenever ponies invokes your name? " Fluttershy asked to pierce the silence.

"If they're in the same room, and are speaking up, then yes." Twilight replied promptly.

Her friend snorted before giggling, or in the case of Rarity and Fluttershy let out small bits of laughter.

"You're all taking this rather well" Twilight noted both happy, and annoyed for some odd reason. In no way did it have to do with how “badly” she reacted at first. Screaming and running around in a circle for three minutes straight in a gibbering panic is a perfectly reasonable reaction to finding out you're now responsible for influencing a fundamental part of your worlds existence and some of the most important figures in your life have been immortal goddesses all along.

Applejack explained, "Well after making friends with Discord, who seems to be in charge of Chaos, the idea that you are in charge of magic doesn't really twist my tail too much. Kinda weird though."

Twilight smiled, "yes, Discord is a special case. We're fairly sure he is a god of chaos, but he doesn't tell anyone because he would be weakened by an organized following. "

This got a few snickers as well as the thought of a church of Discord was amusing to say the least.

"I can't say I recall any organized religion of princess worshipers." Applejack noted commented.

Twilight sighed "Yeah they are called the Worshipers of the Great Alicorns. They aren't doing anything illegal by meeting, and the only time Celestia can try to dissuade them is if they make images of actual alicorns because of some kind of 'ownership of image' nuance in the law. "

"Cadence, my old foal sitter. probably had the best way of handling her would be worshipers. She nonchalantly said that if anypony wanted to make her happy they would show love to others. If they didn't have someone special then they could help out with charitable projects. That was a couple of years ago and there was a noticeable spike in the activity. In a roundabout way it came back to help her because a lot of those organizations went in to help the crystal empire start getting back on their whooves. "

They all shared a comfortable silence that was interrupted by Rainbowdash. "So Twilight, any other deep dark secrets you want to share while we're all here?"

Twilight chuckled "No I think I'm done for the day. I don't think I could take another" she said before continuing. "Honestly you don't know how much I was dreading telling you, I was afraid you wouldn't want to still be my friends"

Rarity cut her off. "Twilight dear, I think by now you needn't worry about our being friends. We may not always be able to spend time with one another like this, but we will always care for each other." She stated with a finality that seemed to touch the assembled ponies, and filled her future self with a warm fuzzy feeling.

Pinkie set aside her bowl of popcorn, 'Wait, how long had she had that popcorn?'  Twilight asked, and by the face of her former self, she wasn't alone as the pink party pony hopped out of bed and walked over to where her past self was sitting. With seemingly supernatural speed she  enveloped Twilight in her hooves and called out, "Group hug!" After trading looks her friends got up and joined in the impromptu bombardment of affection. Pinkie was, after all, just being Pinkie.

Emotion surged through Twilight as the memory faded once more, the rush of joy distracting the mare from noticing the now growing glow tinging the edges of memory.

The light eventually receded and she found herself once again in her friends adjoined room. Twilight noticed that the room's stone walls now appeared more rugged and detailed.  

'Huh, I never thought about it before, but I bet as experience is accumulated more details become apparent. I wonder if I forget details as well?' She pondered before her memories began to take action before her.

Twilight saw her past self dressed sharply in a well matched assortment of jewelry as she wandered into the room.

"Pinkie are you here? I never thought I'd say this but if you don't hurry you'll miss the party."

"I'm over here Twilight, I was just looking at the necklace my sisters gave me!" she said with an odd reverence in her voice.

Twilight blinked at the strange response, at least for Pinkie. Her past self walked over Pinkie what do you mean your..." she trailed off, as her future self gasped. "Oh Pinkie, it's beautiful!"

Pinkies necklace was one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry she had ever seen.

Dozens of masterfully shaped semi-precious stones had been carefully laid out to interlock with each other in a very simple band necklace. The stones themselves were all gorgeous shards of rippling color, each shaped in such a way that they acted as pivots between each other like stone hinges. Each and every surface was rounded to perfection and smoothed to the point that unless bent the stones looked as though they had been fused into a single stone.

"I didn't know Maud could make jewelry." she commented.

Pinkie shook her head energetically while waving her hoof in a tut-tut motion.
"Oh no-no-no-no, All three of my sisters made it, not just Maud." she corrected with no small amount of joy and pride.

Twilight smiled and decided to have some fun as the two began to make their way to the ballroom down the winding stone corridors.

"You know, griffons have a well known fondness for stone-working. I'm sure they will all Marble at the sight of it." she said playfully. This was apparently a minefield as Pinkies grin threatened to explode.

"I Shale certainly hope so Twilight." She responded almost teasingly.

'Oh? I'm game if you are Ms. Pie.'

"I wouldn't want to think myself at Fault for putting you under Pressure" Twilight remarked amiably. 

"Thats very gneiss of you Twilight and while I appreciate the sediment, I can slate with the greatest a-shear-ity I wont be cracking anytime soon" Pinkie stated regally.

"Of quarts, I know your a tuff mare, but the thought of those Griffons taking any of you girls for granite aggrigates me no end. " said Twilight with a sigh before continuing, "I'm also worried that a cobble of Griffons might decide to not be pelite and try and start a quarry with one of you. We've received lot of negative reactions of late, the whole ore-deal is leaving me feeling a bit petrified." Twilight finished dramatically. Pinkie let out a brief snort, before breaking way into a peal of laughter, which quickly lead to Twilight losing her decorum as well.

"There were some real gems in that one Twilight, honestly Instant clastics." She snickered before continuing more thoughtful than normal "While this is certainly going to be the halite of my day, I'm curious how much of that was sar-chasm?"

'Leave it to Pinkie to joke with a serious question.' Twilight thought as she finished chortling at her past antics.

Twilights-pasts’ voice grew a bit strained however before letting out yet another sigh as she stopped walking. "I'm afraid caving-in to answer is going to erode the mood a bit." she chuckled weakly.

"There was some truth to what I was saying, but hopefully the Peerage will act with proper decorum. This is supposed to be the largest gathering of the year, their version of the Gala.”

Pinkie nodded before continuing with a smile. "Just remember the other day. I know what I said, I meant it. We will look out for each other so we should be able to head off all but the biggest meanies. And you just said, they are supposed to be on their best behavior, so everything should be fine!" Pinkie burst with optimism.

Twilight smiled as they resumed their trek to the ballroom.

"Well, I hope all this talking hasn't thrown you off your apatite"

"Nope, but if we keep digging for words, I’m afraid our jokes are schist going to start hitting bedrock.

Twilight nodded, “True, to think we could keep it up much longer would be the plateau of shelf flattery." They stared at each other straight faced for a full two seconds, before they both broke down in giggles before walking the rest of the way in a comfortable silence.

Twilight was happy to hear the exchange as she watched on, however light violently rocked her vision as her memory rammed against her conscious, not as it had been, but in a jumbled haze.

...Seeing Rarity in a beautiful gown...

...Talking with Celestia...

...Rarity crying as she ran out of the ball...

...Talking with the crying mare...

The light pulsed angrily as the memory that had been fighting its way to the front finally burst into her consciousness, dragging Twilight Sparkle’s mind into the moment that went down in history as the event that marked the end of the Empire of Griffons, and it’s kingdoms…
 


 




> Empress Awakens
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the magic receded, Twilight found herself reliving a life changing moment, just over two years prior.

Twilight Sparkle found herself sitting within the massive chamber that acted as both the Emperors throne room, and the royal banquet hall for the last time, and Twilight was completely elated. The entire trip had been an aggravating, stressful, mess. She could honestly say the only reason she hadn't simply thrown up her hooves and hidden away in the Griffon archives was because her friends had been brought along. Twilight was positively giddy that this would be the last state dinner she was obligated to attend for the foreseeable future.

The young princess was currently seated about mid way down the side of one of the heavy stone tables that formed a large ‘U’,  putting her far away from her mentor, and thus the head of the table. It was a slight to her as a princess being seated so far away from the king. However,  over the past month, Twilight had been slighted so often that she had begun to regress to her mindset from when she was living in Canterlot.

Even as a small filly, Twilight had been highly intelligent, and although her sincere humility would cause her to claim to have only slightly above average intellect, her intelligence coupled with the tremendous amount of studying she committed herself to had left her confined to an almost hermetic status as she exiled herself to dusty tomes and frayed pages. Despite her reclusiveness, no one ever really picked on her directly. Between her brother, her royal foalsitter, and later her mentor and teacher, she always had someone to help keep her safe in her ivory tower, a great deal more literally once she moved into Celestia’s castle proper.

Her isolation, however, led many to believe she was snubbing them which, in turn, caused them to snub her right back. After a lifetime of practice it was very easy for her to ignore these slights. It wasn’t until much later, sadly, that she realized that she likely did indeed snub ponies in her constant neglecting of social activities, but that was neither here nor there, and there wasn't really anything she could do about it now. The skill was invaluable here as verbal sticks and stones simply flew past her, diligently ignored.

The meal had been served shortly after Blacktalon and Celestia each gave a little speech that Twilight hadn’t truly cared enough to really listen too. They were both just spouting empty niceties at this point anyways, so she wouldn't miss much and while she recognized that it wasn't part of her usual behavior, at the moment she simply couldn't muster the will to care.

Between her complete inability to affect any positive change, Celestia’s utter lack of effort in securing anything other than Equestris borders, and the Emperors Court which as a whole gleefully abused these facts… yes, It had been a tiring month by any standards.

Dinner had gone peacefully enough. She was positioned between two rival griffon kings, who were bickering between each other, and she had made a small game of politely asking innocent questions which would incidentally be worded to obliterate one or the others arguments, sometimes both. By the time dinner ended they had become significantly quieter, much to the amusement of those seated nearby who were having a fine evening indeed  as they gleefully watched their more annoying peers ego’s punctured by the tiny mare.

It was actually a trick she figured out when dealing with the equally thick headed canterlot nobles. The vast majority of their arguments could be easily defused simply by pointing out how nonsensical and flimsy their position actually was. Celestia had made it a habit to not sit Twilight near the ones who could make good points as they were the ones who could actually make trouble for her student, or worse “corrupt” her.

Once dinner was cleared from both the sides, the adjoined head table entertainment began.

Griffons Entertainment normally revolved around partially-aerial acrobatics accompanied by music. For the most part the instruments tended towards stringed affairs which were easily handled by their dexterous claws, plucking in particular was a favored aspect of their playing. It was something that ponies would have great difficulties in reproducing due to their hooves, magic notwithstanding. Even unicorns rarely had the capacity due to the precise manipulations involved.

Their party was fortunate enough to get to hear one of the griffon singers the first night they arrived. Griffons usually avoided singing as their natural vocal projections tended to have a lot of sub-context, and singers had to learn to remove that in order to do so professionally. Twilight still didn't know the name of the song, if it even had one, but it was truly beautiful, almost as though someone taken the voice of a magnificent songbird, and decided to give it both grandeur and finality. 

Sadly such artists are in exceptionally high demand and the cost to keep them on didn't make it reasonable to do so for more than the first evening, even for the royal court. Twilight believed they might also be protected by some sort of traditions, or taboos, as Emperor Blacktalon was certainly arrogant enough to gang press one into his court.

Over the course of their visit he had been a subtle thorn in their side, more so once he found out she wasn't an idiot. Apparently if he couldn’t use you as a pawn, he didn't want you to become a valuable piece for his opponents. Thus she was now seated between two annoying griffons, who still spat cutting remarks at each other instead of letting her enjoy the music.

'Oh well, at least some of their remarks have gotten fairly whitty. Apparently having me as the unofficial referee is at least forcing them to step up their game...' 

Her thoughts were interrupted however, as a guard approached the head of the table in the middle of the performance to numerous squarks of protest, which were silenced by a wave of the Emperors talon.

"Sir I bear news regarding the missing items you told us to quietly investigate two nights ago."

'Uh oh, Someone was in a lot of trouble. A quite investigation could only mean either something important was taken, or someone important was robbed. Worst case scenario, both.'

Griffons are a predatory race and, if their table manners are to be taken as any indication, they don't generally don't mind making messes. They would have embraced a griffon-hunt and a massive stir would have been kicked up if something went missing in the Imperial Castle. It would have been considered a error on Blacktalon’s part to have not found the guilty party within the day, and he ought to be outright murderous if it took a full three.

Blacktalon lifted himself up to address the assembled parties. "Three nights ago a theft was found to have taken place in the royal treasury. An item of great historical value was removed, and it has now been found." He nodded to the guards who brought in a set of beautiful polished black griffon armour with a large matching set of scorched holes perforating it right where through where the heart would be.

Only one thought entered her mind at this point. 'Somegriffon is going to die.'

It wasn't a question. Her conclusion was based upon history.

The Solar Monarch was almost a total pacifist by way of her actions, and had only actually fought directly against the Kingdom of Griffons a single time, to Twilights knowledge.

It had been during what was both the first, and last war with the Griffons. King Silvertalon, who Blacktalon idolised to the point that when he reached adulthood he fashioned his titular name after him, sent an army cutting across eastern Equestria until he met their forces head on. Months of fighting had left no few dead, and countless wounded. It all culminated in the demand that Celestia turn over her lands and people to serve the Emperor of the Griffons.

Twilight had a much better understanding of the princess than most so she wasn't particularly surprised with what had followed. Celestia viewed each and every pony she met in person as their own stallion or mare, and tried to see them in the way they wished to be seen. Her guards wished to protect her, so she viewed them as protectors. Even if they both knew on some level she was not likely to need physical protection from harm, at least they could protect her privacy, which after a certain point became more valuable and difficult to secure.

If a pony wished to be her friend, she would be overjoyed to oblige, though those ponies by her own accounting have been very few and far between, by her own admission no one had sincerely tried in the last three centuries. The default position she takes when thinking about the masses is a maternal one. There is a reason she tends to refer to groups as being her little ponies after all.

When the ultimatum was given to choose between having her little ponies enslaved or killed by the foreign power, the Griffons learned an important lesson on the difference between a total pacifist and an almost total pacifist. Without a word she teleported directly to the griffon’s throne room and killed their King on the spot with a single spell. She then grabbed the body and teleported directly back to her hall where the messenger was sitting in shock, and hurled the body across the hall to skid to a rest in front of his talons, before she issued her reply. "And which king would that be?"

The historical accounts kept by the Griffons were a mess for the following year. Without their charismatic king to lead them, all the minor lords and nobles began one of the bloodiest civil wars in history, as they all vied for power. 

After a time however, problems began to show up for Equestria. The civil war had run its course and the hundreds of new griffon kings had attacked each other so often that they didn't take into account that they would need to grow and harvest food to take care of themselves.  It was when the Griffons began to raid Equestria that things came to a head. While they were invading they were brutally efficient, not cruel. However starvation and anger fueled the earliest raids, and the Griffons became the stuff of nightmares.

Celestia then did something that would transition her from a reviled foe, to a reviled legend. She traveled into the land of the griffons and went directly to the tombs of their past kings, simply avoiding or detaining anyone who attempted to stop her. She cast a shield around the structure and after eighteen hours of fruitless attempts by the griffons to get her out the barrier collapsed, and out walked both Celetia and the formerly deceased King Silvertalon, still wearing the very armor the Goddess next to him had punctured the previous year.

Twilight couldn't find anything in the Griffon side of the records, accounting of what Celestia spoke to him about, and the sun-mare herself left it simply that they talked about what both of them could realistically expect for their countries futures and left it at that.

Twilight made the mistake of asking how she did it. It was a very uncomfortable silence that stretched over half an hour while her mentor kept her pinned won with her gaze, before Celestia answered. Sending Shiny to apologetically cancel her meetings for the day, and to stand guard until he was relieved.

Over the following ten hours Celestia explained the exact mechanism she and her sister had discovered for doing so, along with a great deal more information on the subject than Twilight had ever thought even existed, much less been available. It was the culmination of both Celestia, and her sister Luna's knowledge on an aspect of their world that they found they could affect, but hadn't any real demesne over. In many ways Twilight was more skilled with magic than Celestia, both due to dedication, finesse, and raw talent. But there was something to say about experience that measured in centuries.

The resurrected Silvertalon was not universally welcome, despite how historically he was far and away a superior leader to the disorganized rabble that had taken his stead, more often than not those in power wish to remain so. 

In the end, he ran a five year campaign against his once united kingdom forming it into the Griffon Empire in its current incarnation. Most Griffons would say Celestia had bided her time for far too long, as the damage had already been done.

Even hundreds of years later. Silvertalon was the Griffon who brought them to the precipice of victory, and saved them from their own self destruction. A near save that even in the present, was still crippling the Griffons both culturally and economically.

And someone had stolen the armor of Silvertalon himself, which brought everything back to a single conclusion. 'Somegriffon was going to die.'

The air of the room had grown tense and abnormally quiet with rising anger.

Blacktalon lifted himself regally and walked to the raised dais where his large stone throne sat. "Do you have an identity for the person or persons who attempted to take it?" He asked cutting across the room.

The guard simply nodded, "Yes my Emperor."

"Then bring them forward to face judgement."

A full complement of guards walked in completely surrounding their charges as surged forward to comply, swiftly depositing the accused in the center of the stone chamber, displacing the acrobats and musicians who awayed themselves so as not to be in any way indicated.

Twilights brain then did a trick it had never done before. It stopped.

'I-do-wah-huh?'

Five ponies had been set manacled together in a confused knot, all muzzled to prevent their speaking. Twilight knew these ponies. They were her friends, and the Elements of Harmony.

A regal voice spoke out from the head of the table, "Blacktalon, what is the meaning of this" Demanded Celestia drawing attention from the accused shackled mass. Celestia was wearing a look of complete and utter incredulity.

Twilight felt as though she was seeing the only other Pony who seemed to be aware at how rapidly the evening had begun to descend into madness.

Blacktalon simply glanced at the Princess of the Sun before instruction. "These ponies stand accused of theft of artifacts of a griffon who was, twice over, our greatest and most revered Hero princess, it ‘behooves’ us to hear the evidence against them." He stated with finality and a grin at using an Equestrian turn of phrase, as he nodded to his guard to continue.

"Our Emperor, and assembled peers, and… guest. These individuals were the only ones who were shown the correct vault, where our most valued of treasures where. At the request of the Princess of Magic no less." He added sending accusing glares at Twilight from all over the room, while her dinner companions did their best to subtly move away from her. Twilight felt her stomach drop away. She had indeed asked to see it, along with every other historical artifact, and history scroll. It was just an afterthought on her way to the archives.

"Three days ago the most valuable piece was found missing, and this evening it was relocated, disassembled and stored amongst the personal belonging and gifts they had after their stay amongst our people. After careful examination, no one else has had access to both their rooms and knowledge of the correct vault during the duration of their stay here. The only reasonable conclusion is one of their party is responsible for the theft." He stated factually.

The room was filled with harsh whispers as the bound ponies attempted to yell in their defense, though their words were muffled by their gags as they pulled against their bindings fruitlessly.

Blacktalon leaned back on his throne and held up an ebon claw to signal for silence.  "These crimes are truly grievous, and we cannot set them aside despite how we may feel. The sentence in the case of theft from a noble is to be ‘lightened’ by the stroke of an axe. That the crime was against the Emperor’s house itself magnifies it twenty fold. However in deference to our guest and the peaceful nature of our talks, we will offer leniency and spare their lives, although we will not reduce the sentence." Twilight numbly heard the surrounding griffons angry at the fact that they were being let off easy, however Blacktalon continued.

"In addition, we do find it difficult to believe that all of these ponies are truly capable of committing such a crime, however we do not pretend to know their character well enough to make such a judgement on an individual level. Thus the sentence shall be carried out upon the pony or ponies whom Princess Sparkle believes to of been responsible for the actual crime. The rest shall be spared, though they shall no longer be welcome in our lands."

This gave way to outrage by the griffons who demanded blood, however Blacktalon quickly cut them off. "Be silent! We have made our decision as Emperor. It shall be abided by.” He turned to Twilight ”Princess Twilight, please make your choice, as we wish to put this matter behind us." He said flippantly, as if he wasn't demanding the impossible.

Twilight looked at her friends, she saw shock and  fear in their eyes as they looked at her. They were terrified. Maybe not of her specifically, but what was in store for them. Their wide eyes told her all she needed to know.

"Emperor Blacktalon. None of them could have committed this crime, I have complete faith in all of them."

"Your faith" He spat, "has been misplaced. I have actually sat on this for the last two days as my men have attempted to find anyone else whom could even of possibly done it. There are none whatsoever Princess. I do not care if you do not enjoy your options, these are the kind of decisions you have to make as a ruler. Sometimes your choices will hurt the Griffons, or Ponies in your case, whom you are responsible for." He demanded imperiously.

Twilight hesitated as her hair began to frazzle from the stress. "Then I choose myself, I was privy to both the knowledge and I had the needed access." she said in hopes of taking a hit to her own credibility in exchange for their wellbeing.

Blacktalon leered. "At no point from the time you arrived in our port have either you or Celestia gone unobserved outside of your rooms by those I know to be loyal. Your friends however have not been so observed and thus, did have the opportunity." He paused in apparent growing anger. 

"I understand you may still be squeamish to such courtly task, You are of course excused just as soon soon as you make a decision, we shan't take offense. Celestia has never been known to be able to stomach violence, I'm not terribly surprised her peers wouldn't be able to either." he said with mockery and a hint of disdain.

Twilight looked between each of her friends rapidly, memories of all the joy she had shared with them. From the day she arrived in ponyville all the happiness she found sharing a part of her life with others.

"I can't" she stated.

"You mean you won't!" Accused Blacktalon. "Fine. Then I shall make the decision for you if you are too weak to stomach it yourself. They shall share the punishment. Twenty blows between them, starting with horns and wings and thereafter moving to forehooves."

The guards were quick to begin carrying out the grisly task. Dragging in a large heavy block of wood with ominous rust stains set within a metal base. The top of the wood had no few cut marks in it.

The reality of what was happening hit Twilight.

She looked onto her friends taking in what she saw.

Rainbow dash was crying, she had never thought she would see such a painful sight as the prideful mare breaking down.  She understood why.  Wonderbolts never took on ponies beyond a certain age. Fully removed wings would take years to recover, years of losing her physical fitness. It would mean years without flying, and a slow agonizing recovery as she had to completely relearn how to fly.

Rarity had a look of complete blankness. Among all her friends Rarity had by far the best mental buffers. It was necessary for what she did. Fashion unlike most callings tended to be hit or miss and ponies could have severe mental anguish if they can't live up to their special talent. It might show up as her being a drama-princess, but it was incredibly effective as a coping mechanism. Now she would lose her horn and forehooves and wouldn't ever be able to engage in her passion for creativity on the same level again, and her mind was attempting to shut everything out in reaction.

Applejack was fighting fiercely, three guards dedicated themselves just to the task of keeping hold of the pony a little under half their size. To her the loss of her limbs would mean she couldn't be of any help on the farm. Much worse was the fact that she could be an active burden on her loved ones, as well as forever forcing them to add her own sizeable load to their own, and then some, just to help take care of her.

Fluttershy was heartbreaking, as she just looked at her captors with hurt soulful eyes that screamed that she simply didn't understand why they were doing this. She was by far the most sensitive pony Twilight had ever met. While she might understand on an intellectual level. She was like her beloved forest friends at heart, and like those animals, would be completely unable to understand the malice being aimed towards her. Animals tend to stop trusting others if they come to harm...

Worst of all was Pinkie. Twilight saw her looking at their friends just as she had been, and when their gazes met, she simply smiled, as though saying, 'You did your best. It’s not your fault.'

The emotional pain that had been building reached a crescendo as she met the gaze of her teacher. Her every hair and muscle screaming for her to please do something, anything.

And then she did something Twilight hadn't expected. Celestia gave her the saddest most helplessly accepting look that Twilight had ever seen upon her face. And then she looked away. She refused to meet her student's gaze and had closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to watch what would come next.

Twilight looked around wildly as axes were being brought in from a nearby room, these were her friends! They were the ones that showed her how to live. These where the ponies who gave her a life worth living. A life they all shared, all the happiness, sadness, joy, tribulation.

WIthout them she would have slowly devolved into an empty shell that desperately filled an endless void of loneliness with nothing by empty facts and figures as everyone gradually left her side. She would have been an unequaled master at her art, and would have had nothing to show for it. All that was about to be destroyed, because they had all committed the crime of being her friend, and she was just expected to watch!

If somepony would have had both the ability, and foresight to listen carefully, They would have heart a smallest of crackling noises coming from the little purple mare sitting on the sidelines, as the unjust justice took place in front of them.

"Now. Carry out the punishment." Blacktalon ordered smoothly, with the smallest of grins upon the edge of his beak.

The Imperial Guards began their gruesome task.

Their weapons swung.

'No.'

Then all was still.

The Griffonic axes held their edges in place, inches above their marks.

"What are you doing? Take your weapons and carry out your orders!" Called the Emperor

"Your Highness. We cannot budge them." The griffon guard let go and the weapon floated stoically in mid-air as a dim magical aura surrounded it. For a brief moment Blacktalon looked exceedingly happy before schooling his mask into an angry glare which he  turned to his left accusingly "Celestia what is the meaning of this?!"

However Celestia was looking down the side table, towards the pathetic, miniature alicorn he had placed far away from both himself and Celestia. Both as a slight, as well as to make her uncomfortable so far from the wisdom of her teacher.

His plan to goad the sun monarch through her student and peer seemed to have fallen through, she was just as simultaneously completely unyielding, and utterly compromising as the journals of his forebearers said she was. But the foolish little would-be-deity would now undo centuries of her work, as there she sat her horn glowing dimly in open defiance.

"You failed to make your choice so it was made for you. Let the sentence be carried out or you will be in violation of many of our most ancient treaties, forcing our Empire to break diplomatic ties with Equestria, ending the lasting peace between our nations."  He threatened.

Twilight didn't say anything as bulky guards attempted in vain to move the axes. Her friends just watched on on confusion, grateful for whatever reprieve that had gotten.

Blacktalon’s heart roared in triumph. Centuries of planning finally to be of use! "Very well then Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria. If you refuse peace," He emphasized smugly,  "Then you shall have war."

"It would seem now however your diplomatic status has run its course. You and your diplomatic party may leave. Return to your ship and leave peacefully as we do not wish to accused for breaking the rules of convention. Should you fail to do so, you will treated as active enemy soldiers in the newly reignited Pony/Griffon war" he said smoothly as Celestia turned to him in complete shock. The tiny mare had bunched her muscles up and was preparing to leave when his voice interrupted to strike the final blow.

"I'm afraid” he continued smoothly “It is my unfortunate task to inform you however, that under no previous agreement or stature, were your servants actually recognized as a part of your diplomatic immunity. They were in fact here only as the guests of the Emperor, simply because you brought them with you, and made no other provisions for them. As such they will be retried properly as enemies of the state and shall likely be publicly executed at dawn tomorrow." Blacktalon looked beside himself with pleasure.

His joy was cut short however, as a sound of an electric crackling grew continually louder, his eyes scanned the room until he realized it was coming from the deliverer of his triumph. He was about to demand that she stop with the theatrics when all of a sudden the noise cut itself and a rapid series of loud pops took its place.

The flames in the candles around the room, dimmed as though they were being squeezed down into their wicks, and a sense of great foreboding filled the majority of the assembled peers as the lights dimmed down to pinpricks. Darkness didn't have a chance to claim the room however for the light was soon replaced, as large glowing eyes opened and filled the room with a harsh lavender light. After only a moment of hesitation, the smallest of the seated dinner guests spoke, her voice was echoing with barely contained power as the words seemed to gently vibrate the room and all held therein with its undulations.

It was said at just above a whisper but it projected to fill the furthest corners of the room.

"No. They. Shall. Not."

Magic poured from the mare and a little over two years later, a young alicorn was ejected from a magically induced memory.


> An Armored Interlude
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moments earlier...

Shining Armor was an exquisite example of unicornhood. He was the youngest guard in history to make Knight Captain of the Royal Guard. The only ones who outranked him were wartime generals, and the princesses themselves. If there was one pony whom he would say had the greatest influence on his life, he would say his beloved wife, Cadence. Mostly out of self preservation.

If he was honest, however, he would have to answer his little sister Twilight.

Being the older brother of Twilight Sparkle was likely one of the most harrowing experiences a pony could undertake, for no small part that when most fillies are young and their magic was unstable, they would levitate their foal sitters out of the room to get out of being scolded.
Twilight would catch fire and launch volleys of destructive, class two, arcane bolts. To his and his household's great fortune, he discovered his special talent was perfect for dealing with it, as he was a prodigy at defensive magics, specifically magical shields. He was among the scant few ponies alive that could successfully overpower immortals outside his weight class.

A fact that his adorable wife found great appreciation of.

Armor had more records in the guards training grounds than any other pony in history, holding just shy of half of them, even etching out some that were previously thought to only be achievable by earth ponies.

Despite all his talents, rank, and achievements, there was one thing that never failed to trip all his mental warning bells, and frankly scared the hay out of him. It came down to two words that over the years came to terrify his fellow guards, and send a jolt of adrenaline even to his own system. Twilight Incident.

As much as he loved his sister, he had to agree that it was best to avoid putting her under stress because her first instinct is to fight back, using as much magic as possible. Her second instinct is to throw exponentially more power at any problem her first instinct didn't fix.

Standing immobile, invisible in plain sight, near Celestia, he had been horrified when he had heard the King Blacktalons’ punishment. He didn't know the mares as well as he probably ought too, but he knew they had become integral to his sister's life.

Then he heard it, the distinct crackling sound that he had listened for most of his life.

He looked at Twilight for the signs.

'Hair is frayed. Pupils shrunken despite poor lighting, okay Shiny remain calm it's not-'

Blacktalon then issued the order for her friends to be hacked up regardless.

'Oh hay bucking horse apples,' he thought as he began mentally wording his official report, assuming he would be able to file it.
'Time of Incident number 237, approximately two hours before scheduled sundown. Location, Heart of Griffon kingdoms. Reason for incident: Implausibly stupid griffon.'

Despite being almost completely sure sure of what was going to happen, is breath still caught when the axes fell...

The moment they stopped, he began to act.

Ignoring the idiot at the head of the room Armor stealthily lifted a salad fork off the table, and begun trying to twist off the tongs as he readjusted himself in his chair. He worked his magic diligently, managing as he listened to the train wreck happening.

Blacktalon wasn't putting her under pressure, He was hoping to crush her. Shinings stomach dropped as he listened to the griffon continue what was likely a pre-prepared speech. Shining would bet his bedroom privileges with his goddess of love for the next decade that blacktalon probably set the whole thing up himself.

'Celestia, if there was ever a time to show that you were lying about being able to hear us when when invoke your name, to make us comfortable. Now would be the time to debunk it because I’m begging you. Do something!' he mentally yelled at the large immortal mare next to him, his face remaining stoic and out of the way, the glow of his horn suppressed through will has he furiously worked to the first metal bit.

Celestia might have a lot of things going in her favor, but she didn't always have realistic expectations. To Shining’s shock, he realized she didn't actually expect this bad of a reaction. A quick guardsman's scan of the room cause him to sudden realize he was the only pony who realize just how big the powder keg was.  

However other seemed to be catching on at least, as the buzzing began to reach fever pitch. Then a sound that he had never heard before was heard. A series of loud popping, which made him drop the fork just as he freed the second tang. His heart began to beat a mile a minute as the lights in the room dimmed and his beloved Twily issued her first edict as the Goddess of Magic.

"No. They. Shall. Not."

'I'm asking Celestia for a raise.'

Twilight unleashed whatever hold she had as magic burst forth filling the chamber with her aura. Armors instincts kicked in as he grabbed Celestia and pulled her down, just in time, as a purple aura wrapped around one of the solid stone tables and flung it so hard at Blacktalon, that the air whistled as it tumbled overhead.

The Griffons who didn't have the presence of mind to duck, took a blow from the masonry and were sent toppling end over end, as it flew through the air, crashing through the throne and embedding itself into the solid hewn stone walls behind the dais.

To Armors’ annoyance Blacktalon was among those who managed to dodge the massive stone projectile.

Blacktalon called out in a panicked rage. "Guards! Sound the Alarm! The Equestrian Ambassador has attacked! Send for reinforcements!" A flurry of activity sprang forth as guards began attempting to rush the purple unicorn only to be pummeled lazily by the axes she’d stopped from harming her friends, levitating them around her, as they twisted and spun madly.

Most were struck poorly with flat ends or shafts of the weapons, but some weren't so lucky and were halted in their advance by the business end of the sharp instruments.

He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should stick with his original objective, or not, but Celestia solved this issue for him, shoving him with her magic towards the captured mares. "Grab. Boat. Go!" She ordered, snapping Armor into motion.

Shining leaped towards the mares who were all enraptured by the enraged form of their friend who was pressing her attack, tossing the rest of the massive tables one after another at the evasive emperor, before she ran out. Switching to magic, the enraged mare started to fire off crackling arcane bolts that grew progressively larger with each passing moment.

Shining didn't take time to gawk as he landed, sliding across the stone floor to rest beside the captured ponies, taking advantage of the excellent distraction of his enraged little sister. Jamming the fork tongs into the lock he began picking at the tumblers furiously, before some griffon realized there was actually a plethora of available targets outside the obvious glowing one.

'I hope I never have to explain to Twily where I learned how to do this.' He thought humorously as he finished popping a lock.

His thoughts, however, were interrupted as the yellow mare, Fluttershy he believed, cried out wordlessly against her muzzle. Armor turned around to see two very large, angry griffons coming up behind him.

Training kicked in as he slammed forward with most basic of unicorn attacks, jamming his horn into the side and shooting a burst of unshaped magic which exploded internally jettisoning the suddenly very dead griffon away.

His fellow half-avian gaped in shock at the sudden violence of the purported "peaceful" creature.

Armor, however, didn't waste any time, twisting himself gracefully around on his forehooves for a full body buck right into the griffons chest, which released a pleasant crackling sound as he joined his fellow in resting on the floor.

He turned around to see the mares stare at him wide eyed.

'Geez, it's like they've never seen an actual fig-' The realization hit him. Bearers or not these mares were technically civilians. They'd solved problems by shooting ancient magical artifacts at things.

The only organized foes the mares had ever fought were changelings, and from what they could uncover after the attack on Canterlot, the entire species is incredibly weak combat wise, instead preferring sabotage, mind manipulation, and cloak and dagger surprise tactics.

An explosion from a nearby room, partially visible thanks to the table induced hole, shook the floor beneath him as he looked around. The room was rapidly being vacated by the griffons in light of Twilight's attack.

Taking advantage of the chaos, he continued working the locks as another blue aura being cast by the white unicorn, Rarity, who had her eyes scrunched in concentration, joined his and began undoing the locks by directly manipulating the tumblers from the inside.

'Impressive control' He thought as together they finally removed all the manacles.

He did a quick scan of the room before spotting an exit. "Follow me, before the guards realize we're missing." he said, and not waiting for the mares to remove their muzzles to argue, bolted towards the nearby kitchen, where he lead them to an out of the way section so they could get ready for their next move.

"Everypony’s okay?" Armor asked, as he forced off the heavy leather muzzles from two of the mares, while Rarity skillfully undid her own and the other pair.

The cyan mare, Rainbow Dash, stretched her mouth and after looking over the rest of the group who were likewise checking on each other responded. "Yea, I think so. Hey thanks for the save. So now we can go and help Twilight out right?"

The room shook violently, as multiple pots and pans fell off hooks as, once more, the giant monolithic stone structure was shaken to it’s foundation.

"I have the feeling Twily is going to do fine without us, this one time." Armor deadpanned, "Anyways, Celestia told me that we all need to get to the boat, and she is right. If we get captured we can be used as hostages against Twilight and Equestria."

The mares looked uncertain, however, a more violent explosion shook the ground, almost unbalancing them.

"Dang Twilight, you trying to bring the place down on top of us?" Applejack asked the air nervously.

Armor answered seriously wishing he could just order them to follow his lead, but between word of mouth and experience he knew that could backfire. "I'm afraid it very well may come to that, Miss Applejack. If I know my sister she's going to keep escalating until she feels the situation is resolved or somepony stops her, and the Griffons have made it very clear how high the stakes are, and have already called for reinforcements. Celestia is likely going to run damage control as best as she can, but we need to get somewhere safe." he said in his best 'Captain-Tone'.

The mares looked like they were going to argue when the pink one, Miss Pie, spoke up.

"We need to go." She stated, which threw everypony off balance.

Applejack spoke up. "Pinkie what do you mean? We ought to be looking out for Twilight."

However, Pinkie Pie just shook her head. "No, my pinkie sense has been going crazy from ever since she saved us..." A shiver went around the assembled mares at the close call. "We need to follow Captain Shiny, and leave." Pinkie restated, as an odd series of spasms took her body. "Soon." she pressed on, for emphasis. The mares exchanged looks before nodding and turning back to Armor.

"Okay, so where’re we going?" asked Rainbow.

'Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor says "move", everyone argues. Pink mare spazzes out, everypony’s all of a sudden rearing to go...' He thought just a touch agitated.

"I have my Guards armor in my quarters if we can get it I think II'll be able to cover our retreat. Do any of you know how to fight?" He looked at the assembled mares.

The rainbow-maned mare raised a hoof "I had some basic pegasus combat training" she said to the group's general surprise. "A Wonderbolt has to know how to fight." she continued in way of explanation.

'Not terrible, though most of the traditional styles are from back before the uniting of the tribes and tend to be less effective. Better than nothing though."

The orange mare chimed in "Mah brother taught me a bit before I went to Manehattan when I was a filly. I'm a bit out of practice but I reckon years of applebuckin’ might make up fer it." Armor just nodded. He'd received plenty of earth pony kicks to know better than to dismiss one who bucks trees for a living.

He looked at the dainty unicorn. "I learned how to fence when I was younger"

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked shocked at the revelation, but Armor waved his hoof to cut them off. "Were you any good?"

"Second place regional finalist, young mare division." She said with just a tiny tinge of pride.

Armor nodded, it was better than nothing.

"Okay here is the plan: we are going to head to our rooms. If there is anything you absolutely cannot leave, be ready to grab it, otherwise leave whatever you can. You two," he indicated Pinkie and Fluttershy who didn't volunteer any combat ability. "will be in the center of the formation. Miss Applejack will be in the back, as her best form of attacking has her positioned to retaliate there."

"Miss Rainbow will try to cover our airspace." He turned to the mare in question. "I need you to focus entirely on pushing them downwards. Standard pegasi tactics won't work in this group because you are the only combat ready pegasus we have so we can't fight them in the air. I know it's against your instincts as a fellow flier, but I want you to go for their wings whenever possible, it could cost our wellbeing if you don't" The cyan mare cringed slightly at the dirty tactic but didn't argue, to Armor’s relief.

"Miss Rarity when we get to our room I'll lend you my sword. I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell every recruit I hand a sword. One: The pointy end goes into the other guy. Two: unless your cutie mark say otherwise, don't parry. You'll just break the sword. Three: No showing off, the only ones who will notice are going to be trying to hurt you."

He then turned to face his draftees and charges as another tremor distantly shook the ground. "I'm going to tell you all something I've told everypony I've ever trained. If you are willing to get injured for something, then you should be willing to cause injury too. If you are willing to give your life for something you should be willing to take a life for it as well. Your life and wellbeing is just as precious as any others, and so are the lives of those you care about. I promise you right now - it's better to feel bad about hurting someone you don't know, then to wonder if you could have done something more to save a loved one from harm. I'd prefer to avoid conflict if we can, but worse comes to worse, it's always a better idea to act."

'As speeches go, I'd give it seven out of ten' Shining though, as the mares gave him odd looks.

A sense of realization hit Rarity. "Wait just a moment dear, if I'm to use your sword, what will you use?" Before Armor could answer, a voice cut across the kitchen. "There you are" accused an armed and armored griffon with two more unarmored guards in tow.

Armor snapped into motion as he nonchalantly grabbed and flung a dozen knives and utensils hanging around them with his telekinesis at their newest would be assailants, peppering them.

The suddenness of the attack dropped the two unarmed soldiers and knocked off balance the third as a few lucky tosses managed to spear his hind leg as he reared back in alarm in what appeared to have been an attempt to take off. Armor was on him in an instant, snatching a large pan on the way just to wisp it through the air to bludgeon him in the side of the head, knocking the griffon out cold.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, he sauntered over to one of the long shafted axes and broke off a little over half the shaft into something a bit more manageable for a pony as he commented. "Well, it seems that I will be using an axe." he stated cheerfully to the slightly stunned mares. The reactions were mixed overall. Rarity and Applejack looked unnerved. Pinkie Pie seemed sad, but was doing her best to embolden Fluttershy who was on the brink of tears. Rainbow Dash looked like she couldn't decide how she truly felt, but seemed to settle in the range of approval.

"Okay, let's get a move on, the fact that these guards," he kicked the unconscious griffon for emphasis, "showed up, means they are starting to get their heads in the game, which means we need to move out if we are going to keep our head start. Miss Pie, I'm going to leave you in charge of Ms. Fluttershy." The pink mare nodded and moved in next to the timid mare trying to encourage her through the upcoming ordeal.

'Celestia, if I found one of my officers doing something like this with a bunch of civilians I would dress them down until my voice broke.'

"Okay, let's get a move on"

The group exited the back of the kitchen with Armor leading the way.

Armor did everything in his power to avoid the patrols, taking every out of the way shortcut he could remember working out during their stay, and avoiding the ones everyone used.

They made remarkably good progress as they went, a guard had all but walked into them as they snuck their way through a poorly lit corridor, to his great misfortune, as he badly startled the orange farmer, which triggered a knee-jerk reaction of bucking him right in the face, sending him tumbling end over end to land slumped upside down against an opposing wall.  

Armor had almost thought they were home free when they found a set of half a dozen guards, fully armed and waiting for them just outside of his sisters, and her friends rooms
.
Unfortunately the guards found them at the same time and combat immediately ensued as the griffons took flight in the spacious hallway. The combat trained avians jumped upon the initiative, tossing javelins down at their party. Armor threw up a frontal shield catching the bulk of the projectiles. Before he could say anything a chromatic blur shot up in a corkscrew, wing clipping the duo, forcing them to lose balance and fly into each other sending them end over end into a nearby wall. The other four scattered as they gave chase immediately, trying to corner Rainbow in the narrow hall.

Armor never gave them the chance as he began to return the griffons projectiles with extreme prejudice, catching one griffon on the side as he grasped before clumsily landing against a wall. Soon, Rarity joined in, however, she did more to harry them as her tosses lacked any real force behind them. However, in their haste to deal with the newest threats they had forgotten their original quarry, whom now made her presence known, hitting one squarely in the center of his back sending him downwards in a tumbling mess. The other two took to talon and landed. After they realized they no longer had the numbers to corner the nimble mare.

A cry of pain came from behind the group. Armor shifted himself behind his shield to see the orange mare being grabbed painfully as a talon sunk half a inch by one of the guards who was supposedly taken out earlier, his companion apparently having absorbed most of the hard impact. She wasn't taking her mishandling lightly as she was bucking madly at anything in the griffons direction, who was now unfortunately holding on purely by instinct as magically reinforced mare's hooves repeatedly slammed into his half conscious form.

The remaining griffon who was likely only still standing because of his now dented chestplate, was beset upon by Shining Armor as he hefted his stolen axe and begun to swing it in orbiting attacks in a flurry at the beast. 

The griffon not used to having to defend against the rapid onslaught eventually let himself be overwhelmed by a magically adjusted blow, which ended in a sickening thud as the weapon finally hit home. He hafted the reddened weapon to check around only to see that the room was quite. To his chagrin he was the last to finish. Shining was going to say something but a distant loud whistling followed by a tremor that shook them all to the floor.

"Let's get a move on" He said as he pulled himself up and headed into the room.

The room was, to Armor’s surprise, completely untouched, apparently their would be assailants didn't have a plan outside of "Keep anypony out."

"Okay grab whatever you need" He instructed as he went into the adjacent room that belonged to his sister. If you took away the small mountain of books and scrolls Twilight had managed to finagle out of the poor griffin archivist, it would have been all but barren of personal effects. The only thing he grabbed was anything that was written in Twilight's horn-writing style. She could've written dangerous insights or ideas down that he wouldn't want to see fall into enemy talons. Also she wouldn't be upset at losing her notes. Win-Win really.

He was finishing up when he heard a scuffle outside. Snatching up his axe he leapt to their groups defense, only to see the cause of the commotion.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash where both arguing against Rarity.

"Rarity, ya can't take all yer cloths. We gotta try and hurry and we ain't got time to be lugging around a suitcase of frilly dresses."

Rainbow Dash had her earth pony friend back on this one. "Applejack’s right Rares, We gotta move fast and I can't see us doing patrols and who knows what else with everypony weighted down."

Rarity drew herself up dramatically. "I'm not trying to take all my clothes, just a few outfits that would be tragic to leave." She caught sight of Armor before pouncing. "Oh Captain Armor, you surely understand a lady's plight. How can I be expected to leave behind works I've poured my heart and soul into." she asked batting her eyes at him adorably.

'Sweet Celestia. Please give me the strength to deal with troublesome mares,' he thought as one of his forehooves went to his forehead.

"Miss Rarity," He began his tone tinged only slightly with irritation, "while I understand your plight both Ms. Dash and Ms. Apple are correct. As a group we are only going to bring three saddlebags. I'm taking observations My sister and Celestia have made once I get to her room. And whatever you laden Ms. Pie and Ms. Fluttershy with. The rest of you need to stay as light as you can as none of you have near the experience nor training you need that I'm willing to risk any of your safety by taking more."

The argument pierced the calming mood that had taken hold once they managed to get to the perceived safety. 'Good, we shouldn't be relaxing until we've gotten home free.' The group went around gathering their things. "While we have the time, Ms. Apple, please let me bind your wound." He hadn't forgotten a griffon talon sinking into her flank.

"No problem here, Shy already took care of it" She said a bit embarrassed at having somepony observing her flank, even professionally.

"Until you are safe on the boat you are my responsibility. I'm glad you already had someone look at it on your own accord, but I still have to check." This was apparently the right way to phrase it because the mare allowed him to inspect the bindings.

It only took a few moments to check them out. " You should be fine, at least until we can get a professional to look at them," He turned to the yellow pegasus, "You've a talent for this kind of thing Ms. Fluttershy" he said gently encouraging. The mare looked like she needed it, althought his words didn't seem to have much of an impact, she at least tried to put on a brave face.

After the girls sorted themselves out, he could honestly say he was proud with how pragmatic the group of mares could be, as in the end the only things they took where Ms.Pies Necklace. Ms. Apples Hat and Lasso, which she apparently did bring both with her whenever possible. Rarity, not to Armors surprise, filled out the remaining space with rapidly disassembled dresses in three pockets, and the tools of her trade in the last along with Pinkies necklace. They met his rules though so he couldn't complain.

Before he could rein them in, a large number of voices came down the hallway. "Captain more down over here, it doesn't look like the Princesses work" He snapped next to the door picking up a tiny mirror that likely belonged to the unicorn mare, and stole a peek outside. His heart sank. A full complement of Twenty or so Griffons horded around the area. He turned around in a flash and mouthed a single word, "HIDE!"

The mares all looked around as the group silently ran about looking for a way to keep themselves hidden.

Armor half jumped, half levitated himself to above a spacious nearby wardrobe, and drew an extra sheet around himself in such a way as to make it look like extra linens were being stored in his place.

When he turned around his heart filled with dreaded acceptance. 'We are so going to die.'

There had to be some kind of cosmic conspiracy in place, no one was this bad at hiding. Fluttershy was hiding behind a potted plant. Rarity was pretending to be a manikin. Applejack was under the bed while her tail was sticking out. Dash had opted to hide underneath a pile of pillows that she had gathered at the head of a bed. Pinkie Pie...was wearing a pair of glasses with a fake nose and somehow had a sign that said "Not a Pony" while striking a dramatic pose.

Armor readied himself to leap to their defense, but to his shock, and partial horror, the griffons didn't seem to notice.

"Hey I was thinking" Started the first griffon to which the other two groaned.

"Okay, what were you thinking?" one of his associates eventually asked.

"Well, I'm sorta wondering why we are still trying to find these ponies." he observed. As Shining's nerves frayed as one began looking underneath each of the five beds.

"Why the pluck would you wonder about that?!" he asked as the building shook as if for emphasis. To Armors relief and incredulity he completely skipped the bed Applejack was hiding under.

"The princess is pretty obviously an angry, powerful, and maybe slightly crazy goddess. She is willing to pick a fight with an entire imperial force to protect them. I just don't see any appeal in being the ones to actually find them. Did any of you see what was left of Blacktalon?" The first asked, as a shiver went through the group.

"Yea, I'd hate to be the guard who noted he was only 'almost' completely covered in bruises. Apparently she doesn't like doing things halfway..." noted the second.

'you don't say' Armor thought sardonically.

"That's exactly my point!" Said the first as he hopped up on the bed and leaned against the pillows concealing Dash.

"Apparently she's big on friendship or something. I don't wanna be the one she decides to implode for offing her friends." The first stressed his very valid point.

The third looked pensive as he leaned up against the Rarity Mannequin. "Think we should say something to the Captain?"

The other two shared a look before deciding. "No, he'll just yell at us and send us to the front lines. I'd prefer to not end up turned into a newt or something." said the Second dismissively.

"Does she do that?" asked the first fearfully.

"Yea, apparently you get better after a few minutes though." Replied the second with a shiver, "anyways we should finish up and report. So what is that thing?" he said pointing to Pinkie Pie.

Armor steeled his frayed nerves to leap into action.

The other two walked right up to the mare and took thinking postures.

"Pony Art?" offered the first.

"No accounting for taste," confirmed the Second.

The Third leaned forward "How do you think they got it in here?” He asked aloud leering at a completely immobile Pinkie Pie.

A series of tiny tremors shook the room.
"Nevermind, Probably with magic like how they do everything else." He smiled wickedly "Say did either of you get a load of the white ones get up at the fancy ball the nobles were running?" The other two snickered as the Rarity-Mannequin ears twitched slightly as if to listen.

"I wouldn't wanna be caught dead wearing curtains in my own home, much less at a fancy party." He snickered, as Shining noticed a twitch developing on the offside of the Rarity-Mannequin. The griffons continued "Get this. Apparently she was told beforehand not to wear the ugly thing by her princess, but she just blew her off and wore it anyways!" The other two began laughing in earnest as the Mannequin began to shake in anger.

'By Luna's moon, Please don't attack them...' He begged the mare silently. A voice cut across their laughter. "What in the world is taking you three idiots so long?!" The three Griffons snapped to attention right where they stood even though they couldn't be seen.

"Sorry sir, We've finished the servants room and are going to scan the Princesses room now." The second griffon reported. They went into the adjoining room where the six hiding ponies were treated to the exclamation of "What, was she trying to make a library or something? Hey either of you two find any notes? Damn, guess they must have grabbed them already, would have been a nice find." The three shifted through Armors sisters room for a couple more minutes before marching their way out. Distantly he heard them report in.

"Sir nothing of interest to report, just a bunch of personal effects and a small library of books. Looks like it was cleaned out already." 

The Captain gave pause before issuing an order. "Hmm, seems like they were all ready to make off with their prize. Okay let's continue our sweep, they might still be in the area." he ordered, missing the unenthused eyerolls, and sighs, from a large number of griffons in his contingent.

A few moments passed before the assembled mares began to slowly get out of their hiding places.

'You know, maybe this is what madness feels like. Everything is actually normal but it seems crazy because you're the one who is in fact crazy. I always suspected Twilight was a little off, It could run in the family...' he thought to himself as he jumped down.

"Well, that was...something." He commented. Before he could collect his thoughts the pink one suddenly stood rigid at attention before her body began twitching all over, causing everypony to take heed.

A moment passed after she settled and Armor opened his mouth to check if she was okay when she suddenly let loose a dramatic gasp.

"Everyone follow me, we need to hurry" and she shot out the door, followed almost immediately by the rest of the mares.

Little choice left Armor chased afterwards.

As they ran, a multitude of explosions began shaking the castle. Armor yelled forward only the tiniest bit out of breath. "Ms. Pie, We need to head upwards to get to our objective, this is the wrong way." To his befuddlement the pink mare continued her ridiculously fast hopping stride, but now in reverse, and still fully navigating the twist and turns of the corridors.

"I know that silly, but the fastest way to go up is to go down!" she said smiling chipperly, only to stop in the middle of a long narrow hallway.

'Finally' he thought, about to ask what the hay was going on.

Pinkie, however, spread her forehooves out wide and caught her friends who ran into her in an impromptu group hug. "Here we are! Now you just need to join the hug and cast your best magical stopping shieldy thing." She stated jovially as if throwing up protections in an abandoned hallway was completely normal.

"Ms. Pie could you please explain," His thoughts, however, were interrupted as a long series of violent explosions shook the building. "What was that?" The pink mare in lieu of response issued demands, "Hug. Shield. Now!" she stated eerily serious.

Her illogic was made clear as a unbelievably intense beam of white and lavender light gouged its way out the stone at the opposite end of the hallway and raced its way towards them.

He jumped at the mares and enveloped the group in the best shield he could manage.

The massive blade of lavender tinged energy cut its way through the room leaving white hot rock in its wake. The moment it touched his shield he felt his magical reserves being torn through as it protected their tightly huddled group from the beam.

"Keep the shield up!" the pink mare ordered which Armor fortunately decided to obey.

A brief moment passed before the rest of the hallway began to lower itself from their shielded portion of the floor, The roof slammed into the shield, which was fortunately still stronger than a couple of cracked feet of miscellaneous rock as a shield sized hole erupted its way into the next, which was filled with a platoon of very confused and slightly familiar looking guards, who continued to drop down as Armor's shield, held for another layer of hallways, followed by a room which reeked of magic and was filled with geode like formations, injured griffons with stone necklaces, and one kindred spirit who met his eye for the briefest moment.

'Are you having as weird of a day as me?' The griffon inquired.

'My friend, you have no idea.' Armor replied.

The moment passed as two more floors dropped in front of the group before the structure settled once more. To a very familiar room.

They were now in his quarters, and he could see Celestia's room nearby.

"What the buck just happened." Applejack asked the general audience.

To his growing headaches ire, the pinkmare responded. "Hmm if I had to guess I'd say that Twilight got in a fight with a bunch of those Griffon Carver mage thingys, and she got tired of getting held up ‘cause they got a pretty big advantage in a building made of nothing but rock, so she just cut the room and dropped them a few floors.”

'So my sister decided to cut the castle in half. Wait. My sister just cut a castle in half?!' Somepony slapped him in the face. He turned and saw Rainbow Dash looking passively at him before shrugging "You looked like you needed it."

"Thanks," 'I think...,' he finished mentally.

He looked at their surroundings, The only imperfection to the magical bisection was the uneven floor where the building had settled and the circular gouge he caused from their upheaving through the floor.

'What were the odds that we ended up here...Definitely going to update the pink mare's protocols.' He thought as he took a few deep breaths, to help filter out the adrenaline.

Armor looked through the similarly untouched room before going over to his personal belongings, took off his bags for a moment, and began dawning his purple Guards Armor.

It was a sight for sore eyes. While most guards had the standard enchanted armors, his sister in a fit of worry decided to enchant his herself. This had the effect of making it significantly more effective in pretty much every aspect. She also put a star on the front that they both had to represent the magical aspects of their talents.

That earned him extra snuggles from Cadence, who was always extremely fond of Twilight, as she thought it was adorable. Shining Armor, however, was far too entrenched in his stallion masculinity to be swayed by such things.

Unrelatedly he decided to keep the color palette so as not to hurt his sister's feelings.

Though the Element Bearers were taking a moment to collect themselves as well, they seemed to be able to take the...Unique method of traversing the castle in stride.

'Speaking of taking things in stride, note to self, when you get back write a new section of protocols for guards regarding Pinkie Pie.' Armor noted to himself while he put in place his protective platings, tightly pulling the straps so he could move more freely, and keep them in place if and when trouble struck again. Once his mane was properly set within his helm and the rest of the armor was locked snugly in place he returned the bags to his side and reattached them just as firmly.

"Okay let me grab Celestia's papers and then we can be off." Armor trotted briskly into Celestia's room. He hadn't actually been inside before, mostly for practical reasons. The room was barren in comparison to his sisters, oddly he couldn't find anything off hoof that signified it as the head of a country. He shuffled through what few personal effects were actually present, but instead of finding a packet of notes and observations like he had in his sister's room, he only found a thin journal, open to the last entry.

Curiosity got the better of him, as he read through the latest pages..

'...!' Armor couldn't believe what he was seeing.

All Celestia, Ruler and Diplomat to Equestria, and Guardians of Her Provinces and Protectorates, had written in what was apparently her latest journal, was about her co-ruler Twilight Sparkle and how to persuade her to simply, "leave it alone, and just give the Griffons enough to settle them down for another century or so" which was a direct quote.

To make matters worse, the quick notes she had jotted down in the margins where a little too blatantly manipulative for his comfort.

The room shook Armor out of his thoughts. 'Okay Shiny, internal dilemmas later, save everypony's flanks now.'

Moving back to the group of assembled mares he had to admit to a tiny bit of admiration. They looked like they had gone through their first day of bootcamp, dirty and tired, but they still looked so...normal. Bandages aside they could have just gone through a rough day of manual labor. Even now they were quietly chatting, the stress of their harrowing adventures seeming to drain as they drew strength from one another.

Gently clearing his throat to draw their attention, he levitated his thin enchanted blade over to the white mare. "Here is a blade Miss Rarity, again it's not designed for parrying, and while the enchantments might hold even if you did so, now might not be the best of times to test it."

Rarity gulped quietly before nodding and taking the blade into her field. She eyed it appreciatively. Standard issue for Knight Captains, The beautiful enchanted silver of the magical latencies inlayed within filigreed steel. The dedication of the craftsman transparent.

He'd left the one that Twilight enchanted at home, as while it was far more functional in design, which suited him, wielding it was exhausting, although admittedly the neigh indestructible blade setting itself on fire when held tightly enough by magic was a nice touch. It was very impressive work for the, then young, filly.

Keeping a hold on their attention he continued, "Now, if you ladies are ready, we need to get to our ship in the docks."

The assembled group took a moment to check with each other before nodding, as they headed back out to the torn hallway... Only to find dead ends.

'Ahh horse apples' It made sense in hindsight, the hallway they had arrived through was now nothing but a semicircle of different colored stone that had bisected the floor, the corridor leaving the room was cut off leaving them "trapped" until somepony, or some griffon in this case fished them out.

A small nudge on his ankle drew his attention.

"Umm excuse me, Mr. Armor", came a small voice from nearby, as the group turned to look at Fluttershy who was fidgeting under their attention. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, but I was trying to tell you that the only way out seems to be the balcony. You can go back to what you were doing, if you want that is..." she petered out mumbling.

Sure enough the large alicorn sized balcony was wide open and awaiting them. Unfortunately, looking out there was still fairly massive drop. "Okay here's the plan, Miss Dash, You and Miss Fluttershy take us both down one at a time."
The cyan mare looked uncertain. "Is something wrong?"

"I... may have 'tweaked' my wing a tiny bit, in our scuffle with the griffons."

Armor paled just a bit as he realized the habitually airborne mare had been running along with them the entire time. "Why didn't you say something sooner?!" he demanded, more annoyed with himself than the mare.

"I just didn't want anyone worrying about me okay! I figured if I could stay off it for a few minutes it might be fine so it wasn't worth mentioning."

He took a deep sigh, "Miss Fluttershy, would you look at it for her? I'm not overly familiar with wings past the basics."

The yellow mare nodded, and a quick examination had her not quite frowning as she addressed the pegasus. "The injury from her race has undone itself again. It’s not as bad but you won't be able to fly for a few days. Maybe glide down in an emergency. Dashie you knew this was bad, why didn't you say something?" She accused in a tone that made even Armor feel guilty, much less the cyan mare who looked suitably humbled as she mumbled off her excuse, too quiet for Armor to hear, but apparently Fluttershy could pick up as she hugged her.

It was all very sweet, and unfortunately out of place. They were safe from patrols somewhat, but only until they got their act together and started flying up to the balcony.

He was considering attempting to have Fluttershy lower him and then "catching" the mares as she slowed their fall, when Pinkie Pie had a sudden set of spasms and ran out to the balcony grabbing the ledge.

"Everyone grab on!" she ordered cheerfully.

Armor didn't even bother arguing, as he found himself hugging a somewhat simplistic rail and columns.

Before he could ask what was going on, a great shuddering shook the castle, as a purple light shot up through a roof, a dozen shapes following after.

"I told that mare that using unicorn magic to help her fly is cheating!" shouted Rainbow Dash.

Armor would have looked at her incredulously, but his attention was taken away both from his sister, and the pegasus as the massive slab of rock they were holding onto shuddered and began to slide.

Slowly at first, it quickly picked up speed as it sloped downward like a colossal out of control freight train, the 'front' end pushing up a wall of dust and debris as it crashed into a nearby section of the city. The sounds of panicking was everywhere, as a griffon who hadn't yet moved away already filled the air around them as they took flight all punctuated by a high pitched "Whee!" coming from the pink mare while Armor was holding on for dear life.

"Let's do that again!" said Pinkie Pie merrily, as Armor released his death grip.

"Maybe later." he said as an aside, mostly out of adrenaline.

The other mares, to his great respect, and slight annoyance, seemed to have taken their trip gracefully, looking none worse for the wear.

"Well... That just happened. For now let's get out of there!"

"Hey, I found the ponies, they're over here!" came a voice from above them, as a dirt covered griffon wearing armor, pointed a claw down at them. The sound of a dozen more armored griffons filled the air as they attempted to get sight of them.

In the span of a breath, Shining Armor came up with a brilliant tactical decision.

"Run," was all he said, as he and all the mares bolted down the cover of the city street, weaving between confused civilian griffons who were doing their best to get out of the way, many of whom were taking flight to avoid them, and becoming obstacles for their airborne pursuers.

They tore down the covered passageway, when Armor took a moment to look back. Flashes of purple light from high overhead threw stark shadows from the overhanging market stalls, and the griffon pursuers, while struggling, where still gaining.

"Left" he ordered, as he skidded to a halt before suddenly turned down a narrow passageway, the sound of crashing from above as they turned sharply.

"Door" he yelled back to the mares before ducking in. A sharp bolt of pain ran up his backside as a spear left a gash along his left hindquarters.

"Sir Armor!" called Rarity, as he slipped and fell half way through the doorway, flinching as he landed on his injured rump.

Looking up he saw his assailant spear extended, and sitting on the low rooftop of the alley, and out of the corner of his eye he saw another poised to strike.

Without a thought he threw up a shield to cover the blue Pegasus whose attention was drawn on his own assailant that the seconds spear was veering towards.

There was a brief moment of backlash as the light of his shield flared and collapsed, it’s job done, as the blue pegasus leaned up over the yellow, grabbing the spear in her teeth, joined by a deflated looking Pinkie Pie, to both Rainbows and Armors surprise, pulled sharply down. The griffon fell forward into the alley, and to his credit, he managed to catch himself.

A pair of orange hooves immediately caught it right in the metal chest denting the armor as griffon was sent flying the two remaining feet into a very solid wall.

A sharp clanging came from nearby as a spear drove itself into the ground right next to Armor a second later, as a blade hovered above him, clear wooden shavings from where it had pushed the weapon aside.

"I believe that is Quite Enough out of You." came an angry voice and the blade blured up the spear drawing a pained squeak as he was forced to release his weapon as the metal nipped at his talons. 

One eye closed in pain the griffon drew himself large in order to call out their position, only to be interrupted as a frying pan whistled through the air and smacked him right in the head.

"Woo! Bullseye!" came the pink mare's voice as she put two hooves in the air in celebration.

Armor was fully intending to thank the mares for the save, but instead, what came out was, "Miss Pie. Where did you get a frying pan?"

"From the kitchen silly, where else where you find a frying pan?"

That...he certainly didn't remember her having one, but at the same time he didn't remember her not having one. But how did he miss… "I see, Thank you for the save. And you as well Miss Rarity." he said, decidedly ignoring it, as he made his way into the building, the mares in tow.

He'd put it on the backburner for now, and would just ask his sister about the pink one later.

"Are you okay Sir Armor?" the white mare asked worriedly, likely due to his limp.

"Nothing that going home wouldn’t cure." he said rakishly. Assuming they get out of here of course, Cadence would certainly be willing to play nursemaid to the odd bruise.

Fluttershy seemed to have taken to cleaning and wrapping the gash.It was fairly deep but nothing life threatening.

"Good heavens, these are beautiful!" exclaimed the marshmallow mare, as she moved around the apparent backroom of the store they'd dodged into.

The room was packed with reams of what appeared to be expensive fabric. "I thought Twilight said that Griffons didn't wear clothing?"

"Technically they don't, as they seem to wear only things that complement crest feathers, which could be an avian thing...but that's not really helpful right now...sorry" commented Fluttershy as she gradually lost her nerve.

"Looks like a curtain shop" added Pinkie helpfully, looking out through the door to the front of the store.

Rarity gave a dramatic gasp as she clutched the fabric she'd been eyeing protectively. "Curtains, are you crazy?! They would waste all this potential on curtains! I think I feel faint," she said melodramatically, before falling into an especially large pile with a disarmingly quiet pomf.
The other mares politely suppressed a snicker at her antics.

'well at least they seem to be having fun.' Standing up to test his leg a sharp stab of pain shot up his back side as he moved around the small room a bit.

Might as well break the news. "Ladies, I think we may need to split up," he stated bluntly, to their sudden protest.

Applejack spoke up the loudest. "Now why in the Hay would we do something like that?" she asked.

"Because I have a duty to get you all to safety, but now I would only slow you down..." he said as he hobbled forward, his leg showing clear signs of injury. "I'll manage on my own easily enough."

"Nope, ain't gonna happen. No way we're ditching you like that." stated Rainbow Dash as she planted her plot firmly on the ground, and crossed her fore hooves, Applejack quickly followed suit followed by Pinkie Pie and Rarity. He turned to Fluttershy who demurely looked away, but sat herself down as well, eyes looking up every now and then nervously to check if he was still looking at her.

"I'm afraid she has the right of it dear. We couldn't possibly abandon anypony in this place all by themselves. Besides, you've done well to get us this far, and the harbor is in walking distance."

'Walking through an army of griffons, but sure, walking distance.'

"Ya'll wouldn't leave one of us to fend for ourselves, no way we'd do the same" the rustic mare stated firmly.

He let out a sigh 'You know, my sister has some pretty good friends.' he thought only mildly annoyed. "Thank you." he said with a smile.

"Although we still have the problem of how do we get to the docks? We're not going to be able to get there in a hurry." he commented, open for suggestions.

"We should sneak there! Like Spies!" suggested the pink one.

"That would be nice, but unfortunately we sort of stick out"

"I think I may have a solution" suggested Rarity a bit too happily, as a pair of scissors and thread found themselves floating in the air around them.

In a furor of fabrics Armor soon found himself with a new cloak that did wonders to cover the bright colors of their party with softer tans and greys similar to a griffon. To his surprise wing like waves of fabrics lay on the side, making them stand out even less. . To his far greater surprise, he realized his cutie mark had also somehow been stealthily embroidered onto the side, albeit in the same muted color palette.

The white mare was finishing up the last cloak on a fidgeting Rainbow as she let out a slight sigh. "I know they are quite crude, but they will have to do, at least until I get a chance to fix them once we get back. Be a dear Sir Armor and leave a note for the proprietor that he can contact me in equestria so I can reimburse him later" she said absentmindedly.

Armor long having reached the point of 'just go with it' nodded, and scribbled a note to the effect and added that the crown would also be willing to pick up the tab. Technically it was a crown mission anyways.

'Huh, maybe I should put Cadence in contact with her. They're both Twily's friends, they probably would hit it off.'

Their bright colors muted, the next several minutes passed tensely for the ponies, as they made their way down to the docks. Bright purple arcs of light shot across the now night sky, as elsewhere in the city Twilight seemed to be continuing her taking on anygriffon who thought to oppose her.

The boat was in sight, as the party quietly moved towards it.

Unfortunately it was not to be,

"That is quite far enough I think," came a familiar voice.

The Mares and stallions turned in a rush, to see a small squadron of full geared griffons.

"I'll admit, you did well to come this far. But our patience has ran out. You will turn over the mares, so they can be used as bargaining chips in stopping that mad mares rampage."

"You can't honestly expect me to turn them over?" he said, positioning himself between the mares."

"Not really. But your cooperation isn't exactly required either."

The griffon Captain gestured, and a bolt flew into Armors side as he fell down.

"Mr. Armor!" came the distraught voice of a yellow mare as she rushed over to him, a crossbow bolt sticking out the side of the cloak as she wrapped her hooves around his head, and began to cry.

Armor blinked stupidly. "Miss Fluttershy, while I appreciate the sentiment...I think I'm fine?" he asked as confused himself as everyone else seemed to be. Tugging off the cloak, he saw the bolt, firmly planted in his saddlebag in a large ream of papers looking badly damaged.

'Yea, never making fun of Twily's note-taking again.' he thought absentmindedly.

"How...Oh for plucks sake, Shoot him again!" he began.

"THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH!" came the voice, to almost everyone there's surprise, from the small yellow mare.

Armor moved to say something, but the look on her face caused him to snap his jaw closed.

"Why?!" she demanded, her cloak falling back, her gaze piercing the griffon captain to his very soul, as it burned malevolently.

"What could you possibly be trying to accomplish! We've done nothing but try to be peaceful and friendly from the moment we got here." she accused, most of the griffons looking nervously at one another.

"T-That-"

"Do you just enjoy hurting others is that it?!" she demanded.

"Well I-"

"Princess Twilight is only fighting because she doesn't want the people she cares about to get hurt, but that means that Griffons are getting hurt"

"Yes th-"

"And instead of actually trying to help those griffons, or even get innocent ones to safety, you are trying to hurt us instead!" A large number of the griffons had taken to hiding their weapons behind their backs.

"I had orders..."

"FROM WHO!?" she demanded.

"Blacktalon..."

"Blacktalon is nothing but a big mean bully!" she said as if that alone was enough to send him to Tartarus, and given the general reactions, it may as well have.

"We are going to get on that boat. We are going to wait for our friend Twilight. And you are going to make sure that we stay there nice and safe. Am I understood?" she said, having moved closer with each sentence until she was right up next to the captain who looked like he would prefer to be anywhere else.

"Y-Yes ma'am!" he agreed.

"Good." she nodded before walking back.

"Sorry about that," she murmured to their group her presence deflating by the moment. "Umm please don't forget your cloak Mr. Armor. It's just that Rarity would be sad if you left it behind without her getting to finish it." she said, blushing crimson at the amount of attention on her.

"Sure, no problem" agreed Armor, as he folded it and placed it over his back.

Without any more to do, the rest of the ponies got back on the far more fanciful boat, and unpacked their bags before coming onto the main deck once more.

The squad of griffons seemed to have elected to keep the vessel secure and a moderate distance.

An ominous cloud on the horizon was looming ever closer...


AN: 
Well, this was posted in a short and timely manner :D...:D....:P  
As the chapter name describes, only partially edited,  At least its long? 
That is a good thing right? Quantity has a quality all its own?
At any rate, I sent it off to several people to edit, but I'm no longer certain who actually did so. 
If you did help with making it less terrible, my thanks! 
(Put a note on the g-docs link, and send me a PM so i can add you name xD)

AN2: NOW EDITED THANKS TO RequiemForHope!