Epilogue 2

> You rub your hands nervously as you stand outside the simple wooden door
> Your palms were sweaty, your heart beating rapidly in your chest
> A wild mixture of emotions ran through you, excitement, apprehension, joy, fear, hope…
> You took a deep breath, you knew this day would come
> You were looking forward to it, but now that it came, you were plagued by worry and doubt.
> Would you be able to do this? Were you capable of seeing this through?
> You realize it’s too late for those kinds of thoughts, you’ve already committed to this
> Steeling yourself, you slowly push open the door, stepping into the bedroom
> Gilda lay curled on the bed at the far end of the room, raising her head as you enter
> She gave you a deep, warm smile as you walked in, her eyes filled with joy
“Where… where is…” you stammer, trying to find your voice
> Gilda chuckles at your nervousness, lifting her left wing in response
> Underneath, a small ball of brown fluff nestled against her body, barely the size of a football
> All the doubt and worry inside you instantly melted away as you finally gazed upon the child… your child.
> You tentatively stepped over to the bed, your chest swelling with pride and unbridled joy
> “Is… a boy or a…” you stutter, your throat tightening
> “A girl,” Gilda answers, gently preening the chick with her beak, “Healthy and strong.”
> You crouch down at the edge of the bed, inspecting your daughter
> Her coat lacked true feathers, she was covered in a soft, thin down.
> Her wings were tucked tightly to her sides and her eyes were closed shut, blind to the world around her
> “She needs a name.” Gilda said, snapping you out of your inspection
“You’re right.” You agreed, scratching at your new beard
> You hadn’t given much thought on a name yet. To honest, you didn’t know that many Griffon names yet, you had barely been in Gryphonia for a year.
“What about Ingirun?” you propose
> Gilda chuckles, “Wow dweeb, you even suck at giving out names.”
“Well what did you have in mind?” you ask
> “I was thinking ‘Beata’” Gilda answers, looking down at her daughter
“Beata…” you repeat, testing the name, “Yeah, I like it.”
> You gently reach out to your daughter, running two fingers over her small head
> She flinches away from your touch, emitting a small ‘meep’
“Hey there Beata, I’m your Dad.” You softly coo, gently stroking her head, “My name is Anon.”
> She slowly grows used to your touch, giving her tiny wings a small flap in contentment
“I love you so much little Beata.” You choke out, tears of joy forming in your eyes
“I promise I’ll always protect you.”

> You slowly wake up, the morning sunlight streaming through your bedroom window
> You roll away from the light, smiling from the remnants of your dream
> Gilda was still sleeping soundly next to you. You drape one arm over her and bury your face in her soft coat
> Twilight may have tainted your old memories, but you could always make new ones here.
> You began to drift gently back to sleep, before being jolted awake by a small impact on your body
> “Get up Dad! It’s morning!” Beata exclaims, standing atop your shoulders
> You groan and roll over, hiding your face in the pillow
> Beata jumps off from your shoulder, standing beside your head
> “Come on Dad.” She pries, gently pulling on your ear with her beak, “You promised you’d make pancakes this morning.”
> You quickly shoot your arm forward, grabbing Beata and wrapping her in a tight hug against your chest.
> She giggles and squeals in protest, trying to free herself from your embrace
> She eventually gives in, snuggling into your arms
> You lay there for a couple minutes, enjoying the lazy morning and the affection from your daughter
> “Alright Dad, can you let me go now?” Beata asks
“Hmmm. Nope, don’t think so.” You tease, pulling her close
> “Daaaaaad.” Beata whines
> “Alright, alright.” You relent, releasing her from your grip, “Let me just get dressed and I’ll make you those pancakes.”
> Beata quickly leaps off the bed, excitedly running out the door and gliding down the stairs.
> You rise up out of bed, gathering a set of clothes from the nearby dresser.
> Gilda stirs as you get dressed, rubbing her eyes with her talons
“Good morning.” You say, donning your rabbit skin vest
> “What makes it a ‘good’ morning?” Gilda groans, plopping back down onto the pillow
“I’m making pancakes.” You offer as you slip on your boots
> “Then save me a few.” Gilda sleepily replies, “I’ll be down in an hour, maybe two…”
> You can’t help but smile at Gilda’s typical behavior, she never liked mornings. Unfortunately for her, your chipper morning spirit rubbed off your daughter.
> You head downstairs into the kitchen, Beata sitting expectantly at the table.
> You set a large pan on the wood stove, retrieving the batter from a cupboard
> You had to make the mix yourself from scratch, pancakes weren’t a typical Griffon dish
> You throw a few sausages alongside the bubbling cakes, the aroma of cooking meat filling the small kitchen
> After a few minutes, you set a large stack of steaming, golden flapjacks down on the table, flipping several onto your daughter’s plate
> She eagerly dives into the syrupy pastries as you grab a few for yourself.
> The homemade mix wasn’t as smooth and flawless as the pancakes back on earth, but they were still delicious
> Gilda joins you as you finish making the second batch, piling several of the sausages on her plate.
> After breakfast, you go your separate ways for the day.
> You grab your bow and quiver and head out into the forest to collect game for your market stall
> Beata went out with Gilda. Griffon’s didn’t have a school system, it was up to Gilda to teach your daughter the ways of a griffon.
> You felt bad you were unable to help teach your daughter how to fly, or how to hunt with her talons, but you could still love and protect her.
> It was midafternoon when you returned with your collected kills, a few rabbits and assorted game birds
> You were just finishing cleaning the meat and tossing away the refuge when Gilda and Beata returned
> “Hey anon, anything big today?” Gilda asked, dropping down into the yard
“Nope, just small game.” You answer, washing off your knife in a nearby bucket
> “What’s wrong, losing your touch?” Gilda teases, softly punching your shoulder
> Your grumble in response, preparing the meat to be taken to the market. It was your turn to run the stall today.
> “Hey Dad?” Beata asks, walking toward you, “Can I come with you to the market today?”
“You want to help me with the stall?” you ask, hefting the bad over your shoulder
> “Sure!” she affirms, looking up at you expectantly
“Alright fine, but I can’t promise it’ll be very exciting.”
> “This is boring…” Beata complains, sitting atop your shoulders
“I told you it wouldn’t be very fun.” You remind her, watching the various griffons make their way through the market square.
> Beata slumps her head down atop yours, letting out a bored groan.
> You would probably let her leave if she asked, but she said she would help with the stall and refused to leave. She definitely inherited her mother’s stubborn pride.
> You watched the sun grow close to the horizon, there was only about an hour of sunlight left.
> Some of your catch would probably not be purchased, but that was alright. You could always just eat it yourself.
> “Hey dad, what’s that?” Beata asks, pointing off into the distance
> You shield your eyes from the setting sun, squinting your eyes against the glare
> It looks like a large flock of birds, but that can’t be right, they’re too large
> Giant eagles perhaps? No, they’re too small, and the eagles never travel in groups larger than two.
> Something about this feels familiar, like you’ve seen this before…
> You suddenly remember, that day in the market, the pegasi aerial attack
> No, it couldn’t be… you were done with that. You put this behind you! Why couldn’t they just let you go?
> “Dad? Are you okay?” Beata asks, feeling your body shake beneath her
“Beata,” you answer, your voice firm and commanding, “Run home. Run home and hide until me or mom find you.”
> “Dad?” Beata’s voice quavers as she jumps from your shoulders, she’s never seen you like this before.
“Go! Now!” you shout, pointing towards your house
> She takes off in a flash, flying as fast as her small wings can carry her
> You dash over to the smith’s stall. You left your bow and home, and you’ll need a weapon soon
> You quickly snatch a woodaxe from the counter, gripping the sturdy handle in your hands
> “Hey! You’ve got to pay for that Anon!” the smith shouts, surprised by your sudden actions
“Sorry Ivan,” you reply, hefting the weapon, “That’s going to have to wait”
> You run into the center of the market, jumping atop a large wooden podium used for announcements by the local jarl.
> Several Griffons turn toward you, curious about your strange behavior
“Griffons of Vhalestead!” you shout, pointing at the approaching flock in the distance
“Prepare to defend the village!”
> Every eye turns toward the distance, spotting the approaching pegasi
> With a chorus of screeches and battle cries, the griffons leap into the sky, heading off to intercept the p0nies
> No griffon was a stranger to conflict. Between the natural predators of the mountains and conflicts between jarls, knowing how to fight was a necessity for everyone.
> You leap off the podium, dashing down the streets toward the fray
> The chariots begin to peel off from the main group, unloading p0nies into the streets or beginning to strafe the building with magical bolts.
> You pat the small pouch on your belt, feeling the small black stone still inside. You made a habit of always wearing it even after all these years. You would need it today
> The pegasi and griffons clash in the sky above you, swirling in a massive churning dogfight. The wounded and the dead crashing into the roofs
> You wish you had your bow instead of this bulky axe, you couldn’t help from down here.
> You hear hoofbeats coming from just up the street. You quickly dive out of the street and hide behind a nearby building.
> You hear the p0nies getting closer. Bracing your foot against a windowsill, you pull yourself up onto the thatched roof.
> Three guards come into view below, two earth p0nies armed with spears and a single unicorn
> “Alright boys, get those torches out and lit!” the unicorn orders, “Light up these houses and smoke ‘em out!”
> They’re planning to burn the village? Oh no they don’t, not if you can help it.
> As the two earth ponies fumble with their packs, you ready your weapon and leap from the rooftop
> You swing down the axe as you fall, striking one the earth p0nies in the back, severing his spine
> The unicorn and remaining guard stare in shock as their comrade slumps to the ground
> The unicorn recovers his wits as you pull your axe free, lowering his horn.
> “That’s the human you fool! Get him! Celestia wants his head!” he shouts, firing a bolt of magical energy
> The blast fizzles out harmlessly a few inches from your chest, it seems the stone’s protective properties still work
> You swing the axe in a horizontal cleave, splitting the unicorn’s helm and embedding the edge in his skull
> You struggle to free your weapon, but you’re interrupted as the final guard bucks you in the side
> The impact sends you sprawling into the street, landing on your face
> You push yourself up with your arms. You see the last guard charging at you with his spear, gritting his teeth in determination
> You roll out of the way, the spearhead impaling into the dirt mere moments after you move
> The guard rears back and thrusts the spear at you again as you lay on your back
> You grab the shaft in your hands, stopping the point inches from your face
> You push with all your might against him, but he’s using his weight to bear down on you, the gleaming spearhead slowly creeping closer
> You struggle to force the spear to the side, but that serves only to accelerate its movement toward you. The guard grins in triumph as the inevitable slowly draws near.
> Suddenly, the guard disappears from above you in a grey blur. You quickly rise to your feet as your savior slashes the guard’s neck with his talon
“Espen!” you exclaim, recognizing the dusty griffon, “Thanks for the save, but couldn’t you have gotten here a bit sooner?”
> “I was a little busy.” He replies, finishing off the guard you knocked unconscious, “Besides, this way was more dramatic.”
> You move over to the dead unicorn, bracing your foot against his body and pulling the axe free from his skull
 “How bad is it up there?” you ask, checking the axe for damage
> “Not bad, we scattered most of the individual pegasi, but the chariots got in a lot of runs before we chased them down.” He answers, gesturing to the pillars of smoke in the distance.
> It looks like several of the buildings in town have caught flame. That would need to be put out before it begins to spread
“What’s left to deal with then?”
> “Just the earth p0nies and the unicorns, they’re scattered in small groups all over the place.”
“Let’s go then.”
> The two of you take off, running through the wide streets
> “This is insane…”  Espen comments, passing a group of griffons fighting to put out a burning house, “Why would the p0nies attack now?”
“Have they done this sort of thing before?”
> “Not often, usually only after a stupid jarl thinks it would be a good idea to grab some land south of the mountains.”
> “But that hasn’t happened in years,” he continues, “there’s no reason for them to do this.”
“I think they came for me” you reply, “One of the p0nies recognized me.”
> “Really? I knew you were a fugitive, but all this is really for you?”
> A horrible realization came to mind. If this was because of you, how would the other griffons react?
“You’re not going to turn me over are you?” you ask, worried
> Espen shakes his head, “No way. Griffons don’t abandon their comrades.”
“Thanks, a lot.” You reply, grateful you wouldn’t be run out.
> The buildings were more densely concentrated here, forming alleys between their walls
> You come to a halt as you approach a corner, signaling for Espen to stop behind you
> You hear voices and hoofbeats nearby, slowly coming closer
> You raise the axe, waiting for the opportune moment to strike
> When you hear the p0nies only a few feet away, you round the corner, swinging the axe sideways
> The earth pony guard ducks on reflex, the axe edge embedding in the wood wall to your right. Behind him, a unicorn guard jumps in surprise
> You’re forced to abandon the troublesome weapon as the guard thrusts forward with his spear
> You leap backwards, barely escaping the reach of the deadly point
> Before he can attack again, Espen pounces on the guard, tearing into his neck
> The unicorn retaliates with a blast from his horn, impacting Espen in his side
“Epsen! No!” you shout as his body lands sprawled on the ground
>In a fit of rage, you tear the axe free form the wall, heaving it over your shoulders and hurling it at the unicorn
> It spins around once, before smashing into the unicorn’s shoulder
> He briefly walks forward, stumbling before collapsing into the dirt
> You rush over to Epsen’s side, inspecting his wound. A large patch of his coat was singed off, the skin underneath badly burned.
“Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead,” you plead, turning over his body
> “Relax, I’m not dead yet.” Espen wheezes, giving you a weak smile, “It’ll take more than that to put me down.”
“You had me worried there you bastard.” You grin, “Who would I drink with if you kicked the bucket?”
> He chuckles shortly before grimacing in pain, “Ah! Jeez, don’t make me laugh. My skin feels like it’s made of birch bark.”
> You hear the soft flapping of wings above you. Looking up, you see three griffons glide down into the alley.
> “Hail Anon, staying busy I see.” Ivan greets you as the other two tend to Espen.
“Just stretching my arms.” You reply, holding out the axe to the smith, “You want this back? I think you’ll have to sell it as ‘used’ from now on.”
> “You go ahead and keep it.” He answers, pushing it away, “I think you’ve earned it after today.”
“Is there anything left?” you ask, leaning the weapon against your shoulder.
> “Just the fires, we’ve put most of them out, but there’s still a few left.”
“I’ll see if I can help out.” You suggest, leaving the alley as the two griffons hoist Espen onto their backs
> As you enter the main streets again, you’re greeted by a hustle of activity
> Griffons run back and forth, carrying buckets of water, tending to the wounded, or escorting prisoners.
> The horizon is hazy with smoke, dark rising pillars marking the locations of the building still aflame
> One column of smoke catches your eye, just on the edge of town. Judging by the distance and direction, it would be…
> No. Oh god please no…
> You drop the axe and sprint off, running as fast as your legs can carry you
> All rational thought left your mind, replaced by desperate denial
> Please, let me be wrong. Don’t let it be too late. Please, oh please no…
> You skid to a halt as you near your house, your worst fears confirmed before your eyes.
> The building was completely ablaze. The flames towered high into the sky, you could feel the searing heat even at this distance. No one could have survived in there.
> A cold realization washes over you. Your entire body suddenly feels heavy.
“Beata…”
> You fall to your knees as the roof collapses inward, sending a blizzard of embers up into the air
> It feels like your heart had been ripped out of your chest, leaving a cold empty void. You had never felt pain like this before, it was unimaginable.
> You promised Beata you would always look after her, that you would protect her, and you failed.
> She was gone, your little Beata was gone…
> Hot tears ran down your face as you threw your head toward the sky. You unleash a pained cry of anguish and grief, echoing throughout the hills.
> You knelt there in the dirt, doing nothing to halt the tears dropping from your face
> You were broken, utterly and completely.
> You feel completely helpless. If you were asked to save her from a dragon, or travel to the ends of the earth for her, you’d do it in a heartbeat
> But this… you couldn’t fight against this. This was final.
> You buried your face in your hands, your body racked by your sobs.
> What you wouldn’t give just to see her one more time, to tell her how much you loved her, to hear her sweet voice again…
> “Dad?...”
> You raise your head, not believing your ears
> You turn to your right, wiping your vision clear
> Beata stood a few feet to your right, her light brown coat stained with soot. She shifted, your bow and quiver sliding off her back
> You stared, dumbfounded, your brain refusing to accept what you saw
> “It’ll be okay Dad,” Beata said, giving you a weak smile, “We can always get a new house.”
> You snatch her up in your arms, hugging her tight as if she would disappear at any moment.
> The tears started up again, but not of sadness and grief, but of relief and joy.

> That night, you gathered in the town square along with all the other griffons
> Gilda stood by your side. You were grateful she wasn’t harmed, other than the occasion nick or scratch.
> Large funeral pyres were constructed in the streets, the bodies of the less fortunate griffons lay upon them
> One by one, the bases were lit by the deceased’s family, the smoke slowly curling into the starry sky
> The only sounds came from the crackling of the flames and the ambience of the night.
> Griffons grieved in silence. There were no speeches, no elaborate ceremonies, and no open displays of grief. Their souls were dedicated to Valhalla in a noble silence.
> You watched the flames slowly rise, consuming the bodies of the Griffons you once knew. They were your neighbors, your friends…
> You were an optimistic fool to think Celestia would just let your go, especially after what you did to her student.
> You were prepared to forget, you were willing to move on, but clearly she wasn’t
> Your hatred of Celestia had shrank into a smoldering ember after all these years, but as the flames of cremation rose, that ember grew into a raging inferno
> Your fists clench at your sides as realize this would never be over, not as long as one of you still lived
> You know what you have to do
> You turn around and walk away, leaving the funeral behind you
“Anon?” Gilda asks, seeing you leave, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to kill Celestia.”

> You open the door and step inside the small smithy, looking around the dim room.
> You’re going to need weapons, lots of weapons.
> Various tools and equipment hung from the walls. A large section of the roof in one corner had collapsed during today’s fighting.
> As you searched for something suitable, you hear Gilda open the door behind you.
> “You know, you’ve had a lot of dumb ideas,” she said, “but this is by far the stupidest.”
“I have to put an end to this.” You reply, “She’s not going to stop unless I do.”
> “So? If they come again, we’ll kick their ass just like we did today.”
> You pick up a pair of hatchets that had fallen to the floor. You test their weight in your hands, making a few experimental swings. These will do.
“What about the others though?” you ask, slipping the axes onto your belt, “This isn’t their fight, can you honestly drag them into this?”
> Gilda opens her mouth to answer, but stops. Looking down, she answers slowly, “No. I can’t.”
> “But that doesn’t mean you need to do this.” She continues, “We can move. Find another village farther from the border…”
“And how long until they find us again?” you turn around, facing her, “How long until another day like today? And then what, we find another new home? We just keep running all our lives?”
> “But you’re plan is suicidal!” Gilda shouts, growing frustrated, “She’s surrounded by guards! She’s practically a god! What happens if you die?”
“Then they’ll have no reason to come back.”
> Gilda slaps you across the face, her talon cutting three bleeding lines across your cheek.
> “How could you possibly think like that?!?”
> She glares at you, seething with fury.
“Gilda,” you reply, your voice calm, “I thought I lost Beata today.”
> Gilda seems to calm down a bit. She waits for you to continue.
“It was horrible. It was…” you shudder, even the memory of the pain sent a spike through your heart, “Never again. I can’t let that happen ever again.”
“She deserves better. She deserves to live free from all this. I want to give her that life, even if I’m not going to be around to be a part of it.”
> You turn around, selecting a pair of knives and resuming your search through the rubble.
> After a few moments, Gilda moves next to you, beginning to shift through the debris
“What are you doing?” you ask
> “Helping.” She replies

> The first rays of the morning sun peek over the horizon as you load the last of the supplies onto one of the abandoned chariots
> You modified the harness to accommodate Gilda’s size. She agreed to fly you to Canterlot instead of walking.
> You also packed plenty of provisions so you wouldn’t have to hunt on your journey, so sense in taking longer than you have too.
> As you finish securing the supplies, you see Beata slowly walking up to you
> Gilda had arranged for her to stay with some friends for a while. She would be well cared for while you were gone.
> You step off the chariot, a sad smile on your face
 “Hey there Beata, you doing okay?” you greet, crouching down
> “Where are you going dad?” she asks
> You smile a little more. Straight to the point, just like her mom.
“I’m going to Equestria. I have to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” You answer, trying to obscure the details.
> “You’re going to fight Celestia aren’t you.” She says, looking down at the ground.
> You should have known you could hide this from her, you raised her better than that.
> “But you’re going to win, right?” She looks up, her eyes full of hope, “You’re going to beat her and come back.”
> You pause, trying to formulate your response in your head.
> The hope in her eyes slowly turns to despair as you struggle to reply.
> “You’re going to come back, right Dad?” she repeats, her voice quavering.
 “Beata…” you answer, pulling her into a tight hug, “I’ve never lied to you, I’m not going to start now.”
> That was it, she broke down. She starts crying into your shoulder, tears soaking through to your skin.
> You pet the back of her head, holding her close and offering what little comfort you could.
“Beata.” You say, holding her by the shoulders and looking into her eyes, “Before I go, I have to tell you something. This is important, you need to listen.”
> She nods her head, wiping her eyes clear with her talon.
“Always remember Beata, you are free. No one controls your destiny but you. Never let anyone take that away from you. Protect it. Fight for it. It is the most precious thing you have.”
> You lean forward and kiss her forehead, ruffling her coat with her hand like you always did.
“I love you Beata, and I’m so very proud of you. I know you’ll do alright.”
> You let her go. Standing up, you board the chariot.
> You look back, your eyes watering.
“Goodbye”

> You lean over the side of the chariot, watching the scenery pass by beneath you
> You remember the long journey you took years ago across Equestria. It was a novelty to see the same land you spent months trekking over literally fly by beneath you in a matter of weeks
> You definitely weren’t comfortable at first with being hundreds of feet above the ground in an open chariot, but you slowly got used to it.
> The chariot seemed to have some small magical properties. Even if Gilda hovered, it remained perfectly level behind her.
> Furthermore, there seemed to be a faint field holding you inside. Whenever you neared the edge or leaned over, you felt a small tug holding you back.
> It wasn’t very strong, you could probably break through if you wanted to, but at least you wouldn’t fall out accidentally.
> You made good progress as the days went by. Without having to stop and hunt for food, you were able to travel much longer per day.
> Slowly but surely, your destination begins to peek over the horizon. A single lonely mountain, a castle perched on it’s side.
> Your hands tighten over the railing, the wind blowing through your hair. You never thought you would ever go back there willingly.
> But that was then. You were going to make sure Celestia paid for what she did. For Beata, for Gilda, for Rainbow Dash and all the fallen.
> One way or another, this was the end.

> You worm your way through the scraggly brush, working your way to the cliff edge
> Far below you lies the city of Canterlot, looked over by Celestia’s castle
> You and Gilda had been camping on the mountain peak above the castle for a few days now, quietly observing the routines and patrols of the pegasi guards.
> There were hundreds of them. They swarmed around the castle like bees around a hive.
> But they were sloppy. The guards routinely arrived late at their posts, or wandered off at the slightest distraction.
> With so many guards, it’s no wonder they grew complacent. They were in the center of the p0ny nation, far away from the slightest threat.
> You and Gilda had found an opening you could exploit. As the guards changed shifts around noon, there was just enough time for a single fly-by.
> It was the only opportunity each day, there was no way to squeeze in a pickup later. You doubt you would need one anyway…
> You scan for any unusual movement, any discrepancies in their usual patrols. You needed to be sure you were still unnoticed, tomorrow was the day you made your move.
> Satisfied you’re plan would still work, you slide away from the cliff face, heading back towards camp.

> You sit by the small campfire, eating a small roasted rabbit.
> It wasn’t flavorful by any means, and was actually rather dry, but after weeks of dried meat it seemed positively succulent.
> Gild sat across from you, tearing into her own meal
> You smile to yourself. It was the moments like this, of quiet companionship, that reminded you how you fell in love with Gilda
> “What’re you grinning about?” Gilda asks, finishing her rabbit looking up.
“I was just thinking,” you answer, “This is just like old times isn’t it?”
> “I guess it is,” she agrees, tossing away the bone, “Your cooking is just as bad as before too.”
“A dish is only as good as it’s ingredients.” You retort, “You always seem keen of snatching the stringy and tasteless hares.”
> “That’s not a ‘dish’, dweeb.” Gilda snaps back, “You just turned them over a fire.”
> You wave your hand dismissively, returning your attention to your meal.
> A silence formed between you, slowly growing more tense and awkward.
> Gilda stares into the crackling flames. You could tell she was preparing to say something, and you knew better than to try and force it out of her.
> You busy yourself by working with your arrows, ensuring each one was in prime condition.
> You pay particular attention to one arrow in particular. For your plan to work, you needed this arrow to be flawless.
> After several minutes, Gilda breaks the silence
> “I’m going with you.” She announces.
“No.” you immediately reply, your voice stern.
> “But we’re a team Anon.” she pleads, looking up at you, “We always stuck together, through everything, I can’t just leave you to do this alone!”
“Gilda,” you say, moving next to her, “You can’t come with me, you have to go on.”
> “But I can’t lose you! I already lost Rainbow Dash, I don’t want to lose you too…”
 “Gilda…” You drape an arm over her shoulder, looking into her eyes, “You have to head back. Beata needs to have a mother.”
> “But… maybe I can pick up you up later.” She desperately reasons, “I can get you out after you…”
You shake your head, “You know that’s not possible.”
> Slowly, she begins to accept the situation. She throws her arms around your shoulders, clamping her beak around your mouth.
> You return her embrace, feeling her warm tears spill onto your face. You both sit there, holding each other for what you knew would be the last time.
> As the sun sank below the horizon, you broke the embrace, gently pushing Gilda away.
“Alright, I think I should get some sleep. I’ll need it fo-“
> Gilda roughly pushes you onto your back, positioning herself above you.
> “No, not tonight.” She seductively grins down at you, “You don’t get to sleep tonight.”

> You step onto the chariot as the sun rises high into the sky, giving you weapons one last check over.
> Your bow was slung over you back, two hatchets hung from your belt.  Two large knives were slid into slots on the front of your vest.
> Satisfied with your preparations, you signal Gilda. With a might flap of her wings, she leaps over the edge of the cliff, pulling the chariot behind her.
> Your stomach churns as she dives downward. The wind whips past you as she builds more and more speed
> You castle looms closer with every passing moment. Gilda heads straight for the throne room, an immensely large room at the top of the castle.
> Even over the howling wind, you can hear the surprised shouts of the guards and p0nies below you. Still, by the time they organized a chase, Gilda would be long gone.
> As you near your destination, you grab a long rope secured the front of the chariot, wrapping it around your hands.
> “Anon!” Gilda shouts above the wind, turning her head back toward you
> You meet her gaze, her eyes full of determination.
> “Kick her ass.”
> You smile, stepping backwards off the chariot
> You’re struck by the awkward feeling of weightlessness as you fall over the edge.
> The rope catches on the edge of the chariot, suddenly becoming taught
> Your free-fall turns into a massive swing, propelling you sideways towards a massive stained-glass window.
> You smash into the glass feet first, releasing the rope from your hands
> The ornate window shatters with a resounding crash as you fly into the throne room.
> You land rolling on the smooth stone floor, multicolored shards of glass raining around you.
> Well-dressed p0nies scream and run at your sudden entrance. It reminded you of the first time you arrived here unexpected. But this time, you weren’t going to run.
> As your rise to your feet, pulling your hatchets free from your belt. Numerous guards quickly surround you, leveling spears and charging spells in the horns
> You ignore them, your business was with the mare sitting on the throne before you.
> “Anon,” Celestia said, her voice showing neither surprise nor compassion, “You survived.”
“Celestia!” you shout, pointing one of your hatchets at her, “I’ve come to end this once and for all!”
> Celestia rises from her throne, looking down at you like you were some sort of offending insect.
> “Leave us.” She commands the guards surrounding you.
> “Your highness?” asks one of the guards, looking back at his sovereign, confused.
> “I will deal with him personally.” She continues, her spiteful gaze never leaving yours.
> Reluctantly, the guards pull away their spears, slowly exiting through the large wooden doors behind you.
> The doors close as the last guard departs, leaving you and Celestia in solitude.
> “I must say, you confuse me Anon.” Celestia begins, slowly descending the steps in front of her throne.
> “You were always so desperate to escape from me. You hid in the wilderness, you fled across my country, and you fought my guards.”
> “And now, after all these years, you come walking right back.” She continues, “Why did you fight then? Why struggle to escape your death only to come right back?”
“The difference, your highness,” You answer, spitting out the title with contempt, “is choice.”
“I’ve chosen to come here, I’ve chosen this fate. This isn’t something that you or anyone else has forced upon me. This path is mine, and I’m prepared to see it through to it’s end.”
> “So, you have come here prepared to die?” Celestia asks
“Yes,” you reply, hefting your hatchets, “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to drag you down with me.”
> “Oh please,” Celestia laughs, “I’ve lived for thousands of years, there have been countless attempts on my life. What makes you think yours will be any different?”
“Because,” you answer, “I’m your greatest weakness Celestia.”
“I have destroyed countless kingdoms and dethroned kings.”
“I have brought empires to their knees and toppled regimes.”
“I am the ultimate bane of oppressors and slayer of sovereigns.”
> “Do not toy with me Anon.” Celestia sneers, her horn glowing, “You are no god.”
“No, I’m not a god.” You reply, readying your stance, “I’m a free man.”
“Let’s end this.”
> You both stand there, unmoving. You stare at one another, searching for the slightest weakness, waiting for the other to begin.
> Neither of you spoke, the only sounds came from the wind through the shattered window.
> You studied the room around you. Two sets of supportive pillars ran parallel to the walls on your left and right.
> Large Tapestries and flags hung between the intricate stain-glass window, each portraying a pivotal moment of Equestrian history.
> You return your attention to Celestia, making a small adjustment to your footing.
> Celestia moves first. With a barely imperceptible flick of her horn, a stone block is ripped from the floor, hurtling at you with blinding speed
> You swing forward with your right hand, intercepting the masonry with your hatchet. The stone bursts apart in a cloud of dust and debris, the impact shattering the axe head.
> You drop the useless handle and step forward, hurling your second axe over your shoulder and sending it spinning at Celestia.
> She throws up a shield without flinching, the weapon shattering against the magical barrier.
> You rush forward, sliding your knives free from your vest. You learned a lot from your fight against Twilight. Magic required concentration, you couldn’t give her time to focus
> You can see the field weaken as you get close, the stone’s nullifying properties clearly at work.
> With a quick thrust from your dagger, the shield shatters, allowing you to get within striking distance of Celestia
> She lowers her head, deflecting your attack with a quick movement of her horn.
> She stabs forward with the sharpened point, forcing you to awkwardly twist and dodge away.
> This is something you didn’t expect. Her horn was far larger than any other unicorn’s, making it a clearly deadly weapon.
> The two of you duel back and forth, exchanging blows and vying for position.
> You weren’t experienced in this sort of melee combat, if it wasn’t for the inherent awkwardness of Celestia’s weapon, you would have been eviscerated in seconds.
> “You will suffer for what you did to my student!” Celestia threatens, parrying your attacks and thrusting forward with her horn.
“You’ll pay for threatening my daughter!” you shout back, dodging her thrust and slashing forward.
> She rears back, escaping out of the reach of your weapon. She slams back down into the floor, a magical shockwave erupting from her hooves.
> The blast shatters the ornate windows around you and sends cracks running through the floor stone floors
> You’re sent flying across the room by the force, your daggers knocked free from your grasp.
> You land on your hands and knees, sliding across the smooth stone surface.
 > Celestia slowly advances toward you, more bits of masonry tearing free from the floor and orbiting around her.
> The magnitude of your situation finally sinks in. Twilight had to visibly focus and strain to lift even a single large object, Celestia did it without even seeming to notice.
> “So, you have a daughter, how quaint.” She said, a twisted smile on her face, “Perhaps I’ll pay her a visit after I’m done with you. After all, you cut off my pupil’s horn, clipping her wings seems a fair don’t you think?”
> You glare at her, sliding your bow off of your shoulders
“I’ll die before I let you touch her.”
> Celestia scowls at you, the glow of her horn intensifying.
> “Terms accepted!”
> With a flick of her horn, she launches the masonry at you with enough force to shatter bones.
> You roll out of the way, seeking the cover behind the marble support pillars
> As Celestia gathers more ammunition, you quickly nock an arrow and fire at her neck
> Celestia simply looks at the arrow, reducing it to dust inches before impact.
> She resumes her bombardment as you duck behind the pillar. The stone above you shatters under her attack, sending debris over your head.
> You sprint to the next pillar as Celestia prepare her next attack, snatching another arrow from your quiver.
> You fire the arrow, diving behind the pillar as Celestia throws the massive projectiles at you. She effortless deflects the attack as your cover is reduced to rubble.
> You continue your sprint, firing as you race from pillar to pillar, each one reduced to rubble under Celestia’s onslaught.
> Finally, you run out of cover. You stand in the center of the room, panting for breath as Celestia grins triumphantly at you.
> “It seems you’ve run out of places to hide.” She sneers, “I think it’s time we ended this little game.”
“You know,” you reply, matching her grin, “You and Twilight really need to watch where you’re throwing stuff.”
> She raises an en eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. You point up at the ceiling, multiple large cracks expanding outward.
> She looks up, mouth agape, as the entire roof suddenly comes crashing down in a deafening avalanche of stone and masonry.

> You push with all your might, sliding the heavy stone off of your chest.
> You pull yourself free from the rubble, your entire body aching in protest.
> Flashes of pain pounded inside your skull as you surveyed the damage around you.
> The entire roof had fallen inward, leaving only the walls still standing. The blue sky was open above you, a cool breeze blowing around you.
> You retrieve your bow from where it fell, looking around for any sign of Celestia, but there appeared to be none.
> Could it be over? Did the collapse finish her off?
> You hear a section of the rubble begin to shift as something large moves underneath it.
> No, of course not. That would’ve been too easy.
> Celestia bursts free from the debris, sending wooden beam and chunks of stone flying/
> Her tiara was missing from her head, her jewelry hung from an awkward angle. Her pristine white coat was stained with dust and dirt.
> She glares at you, eyes burning with hatred and rage. Her bane billowed chaotically behind her like the flames of a wild inferno.
> “Enough!” she bellows, rising slowly into the air, “I will not be undone by some hairless ape!”
> Incandescent magical energies swirl her, slowly building heat and power
> It’s like a hurricane is forming within the throne room. The air whips around you, the damaged walls collapsing outward.
> The heat intensifies, the air around Celestia bursting into flame. Dark clouds form in the sky above you, churning violently and spewing lightening.
> You stood awestruck. This wasn’t the anger of an insulted ruler, or the rage of some powerful unicorn, this was the unchained fury of vengeful goddess.
> The fire spins around her body, forming a towering cyclone rising high into the sky.
> “I have lived for thousands of years! I have ruled since time immemorial!” Celestia shouts as she rises through the vortex of fire and fury, “I am immortal! I am a god among mortals!”
> The heat was unbearable, it was like the sun itself was surrounding her. Even with the stone’s protection, you could feel your skin blister and burn.
> “This world exists upon my whim!” Celestia voice booms forth, resonating around you, “You live only to serve my wishes, and you will die because I command it!”
“I am no one’s subject!” you shout over the howling wind and thunder, reaching over your shoulder for an arrow, your last arrow.
> You nock the arrow, gritting your teeth against the driving wind.
“I will not bow to you, or fate, or anyone else!”
> Your draw back, the muscles in your back straining against the bow.
> Your form was perfect, your hands moving without thought, only focus. All the practice and experience of your life come down to this one crucial shot.
> You steady your aim. The glossy, black stone arrowhead trained on Celestia’s chest
“I. AM. FREE!”
> You release the arrow, sending the sharpened black stone streaking at Celestia.
> It passes through the fiery vortex, punching a hole through the flames.
> The arrow strikes Celestia in the center of her chest. The fire dissipates immediately, Celestia’s falling down from the air.
> Celestia stumbles awkwardly to her feet, staring dumbfounded at the arrow shaft protruding from her coat.
> “What… what did you do?” she asks, growing hysterical, “What did you do!?!”
> You scream in defiance and rush forward, dropping your bow and tackling into Celestia
> She stumbles backward, unable to steady herself on the uneven debris. Your momentum carries the two of you forward, tumbling over the broken walls.
> You spin and turn as you plummet through the air. Celestia tries to shake you off her back as you pound your fist into her side.
> You smash into a roof with a tooth jarring impact, sliding down the slope with a small avalanche of broken shingles before resuming your free-fall.
> Celestia flaps her wings desperately, trying to slow down your rapid descent. You wrap your arm around her wing and begin to twist
“This is for Rainbow Dash you bitch!”
> With a sickening snap, the wing breaks free from her socket. Your grip is torn away as Celestia  tightly spirals to the earth.
> The ground and sky spin wildly in your vision as you twirl and flip through the air.
> You smash into the unrelenting earth, the breath knocked out of your lungs before you immediately lose consciousness.
> Your eyes flutter open as you lay face down in the dirt and grass
> Everything about you hurt, it felt like your entire skeleton had been shattered. Your mind feels fuzzy, you found it hard to focus or think properly
> The darkness slowly crept back into the corners of your vision. It would so nice to just sleep, just let it all fade away… you were so tired too…
> No! You force your eyes open, groaning as you push yourself with on your arms. You’re not done, not yet!
> You slowly rise to your feet, you entire body stiff and screaming in protest. You hold a hand to your head, trying to ease your pounding head.
> You examine your surroundings, your vision blurry and swimming. It looks like you were in some sort of large garden.
> Large, impressively lifelike statues surrounded you. Large flowerbeds were scattered around the neatly trimmed trees and hedges.
> You wince in pain as you breathe, each breath sending a sharp blade of pain through your chest.
> Running you hand gingerly over your chest, you feel your ribs broken and misaligned inside you.
> You turn around, searching for where Celestia landed. You spot her behind you, rising awkwardly on her legs.
> Her right wing hung broken and limp at her side. Her white coat was soaked in blood around the broken arrow shaft embedded in her chest.
> She spits out mouthful of blood, glaring at you.
> You stumble toward each other, both limping heavily. You raise your arm in a weak guard as you near Celestia
> As you enter striking distance, you wind up and strike your fist across her face. It was a pathetic punch, your entire body working against you
> Even so, Celestia staggers under the blow before returning with a flail of her front hooves.
> You took the hit into your shoulder. You couldn’t dodge, you didn’t have enough strength left. At least the attack was weak, clearly she was injured as well.
> You repeatedly pound your fists into her face, your movements weak and slow as Celestia does nothing to evade or protect yourself
> Celestia returns to the offense as you tire out, pounding into you with her hooves
> The two of you were beyond strategy or tactics. You weakly brawled into each other like drunks, simply enduring each attack.
> As you swing another right hook, Celestia backs up out of your reach.
> You stumble forward, off balance as Celestia spins around on her front hooves.
> She bucks you in the chest, sending your body crashing against the castle wall behind you.
> You stagger, trying to move as you see Celestia charging toward you, her head lowered.
> She collides into you, her horn impaling your abdomen and pinning you to the wall behind you.
> You heave, expelling a mixture of blood and vomit into the earth
> Celestia grins triumphantly, driving her horn deeper into you
> “Enjoy Tartarus.” She sneers
> With one last burst off strength, you wrap your arms around her neck and chin, twisting her head to the side.
> “What… what are you doing?” Celestia demands, struggling against you.
“I told you,” you reply, blood dripping from your mouth, “I’m taking you down with me.”
> She fights against your grip, but you hold her tight, slowly twisting her neck further and further.
> She bites down on your fingers. You feel your bones begin to crack and grind between her teeth.
> You finally come to the breaking point, the final resistance of her vertebrae. With a cry of pain, anguish, and rage, you give Celestia’s neck one final pull.
> With a loud crack, her neck snaps. Her body goes limp, her horn sliding free from your body as she slumps down into the grass.
> You cup your hand over your wound, blood seeping around your fingers. You look down at Celestia, her eyes wide with shock and her neck hanging at an unnatural angle.
> It was over
> You did it
> You won
> You limp away from the body. You weren’t sure where you were going and honestly, you didn’t care. You simply walked on, leaving the scene of battle behind you.
> You walked slowly through the gardens, looking around you.
> The trees rose high above you, casting a cool shade over your path. The air was thick with the smell of wildflowers and freshly cut grass.
> Small birds fluttered and sang in the branches above you, their songs blending together into a harmonious melody.
> You always liked that about birds. Even on the darkest days, even after the fiercest storms, they always kept singing, always bringing some small amount of simple pleasure into the world.
> You had to admit, this world was beautiful. It had taken you song long to realize that when you first arrived here.
> Back then, you had been so focused on what you had lost in your old world. You never thought about what this new life could bring you.
> You suddenly gag, spewing another volume of thick blood into the dirt at your feet.
> That was it, you couldn’t go any further.
> You spot a statue not far from you and slowly work your way over. Your entire body felt heavy and sluggish, the pain of your wounds oddly absent.
> The statue looks like Celestia, but not quite. The frame was smaller and thinner, perhaps it depicted her in her younger years?
> You sit down at the base of the statue, propping your back against the stone surface
> Your thoughts drift over your life here since arriving in Equestria
> Your capture by Celestia, your imprisonment by Twilight, regaining your freedom thanks to Rainbow Dash…
> Rainbow Dash. If you had any regrets, that was it. She didn’t deserve her fate. You wished you could’ve done something, anything to help her.
> But you suppose she chose her own path, much like you chose yours. She knew the consequences of her actions, and was willing to risk that for you. No wonder she an Gilda were friends
> Gilda…damn you love that griffon. You love everything about her, her attitude, her pride, and her competitive nature. She was just so very much alive, so full of energy.
> Meeting her was probably the best thing that ever happened to you. She led you to a new life you shared with her, and with your daughter Beata.
> Beata… she was so precious to you. You loved her dearly as her father, and you were so proud of her. She was strong, independent, and spirited.
> You still cherished the years you spent together, watching her grow from the tiny chick she once was.
> You wish you could’ve seen what she would grow to become, but at least she would be able to do so in peace, you made sure of that.
> You wish you could’ve been around longer, but you enjoyed the time you had here
> You eyelids grow heavy, your arm sliding down to your side.
> You had a good life. You fell in love and got to be a father, what more could you want?
> Yeah, you could live with that.
> You sigh and close your eyes, letting the birds sing you softly to sleep.

> It was dark… so very dark...
> There was no noise, no smell, no touch. It was empty, so completely and totally empty
> But it was peaceful, serene.
> You float through the void, your mind blank and empty
> You simply drift along, resting.
> “…Anon…”
> What was that? A voice? It was so far off… so distant…
> You ignore it, returning to your slumber
> The darkness was comforting, it wrapped and enveloped around you you like a thick blanket.
> “…Anon…” the voice returns, louder and closer.
> You groan. Why could you just be left alone? You were so tired, you just wanted to sleep…
> “Anon!” The voice yelled in your ear, forcibly tearing you from your rest
> It sounded familiar, you could almost remember it... You fought through the fog, trying to reach your memories.
> The darkness slowly began to lift, light retuning to your world.
> That voice… who was it? You almost had it…
> “Anon, if you don’t wake up right now I’ll kick your ass!”
> Gilda?

> Your eyes slowly open, pupils burning from the bright sunlight
> Gilda’s head was in front of yours, a wide grin on her face
> “About time dweeb, you have a good nap?”
“Gilda?” you ask, confused
> You sit up, surveying you surroundings. You were in a wide grassy plain, the blue sky open above you. In the distance, you could see the city of Canterlot perched on the mountain.
> You run our hand over your stomach, checking your wound. The gaping hole Celestia tore was gone, replaced by smooth new skin.
“What the heck happened?”
> “You nearly died is what happened.” Gilda answers, poking you in the chest, “Luckily I was able to pull you out of there.”
 “But how?” you ask, incredulous, “What about the guards, or my wounds?”
> “Well…” Gilda responds, looking behind you, “I may have had a little help.”
> You slowly turn around, not expecting what you see.
> A tall blue alicorn stood before you, her starry mane billowing in the breeze.
> “Hello Anon.” she greets you, “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
> SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT
> You scramble away from the mare, desperately searching for a weapon
> “Calm yourself Anon.” the alicorn tries to reassure you, “My name is Luna, I am Celestia’ sister.”
> If that was supposed to help calm you down, it certainly didn’t work
> “Cool it dweeb.” Gilda places a claw on your shoulder, “She’s alright.”
“How can you be sure?” you ask, glaring at the mare.
> “Because she helped me get you out of there,” Gilda explains, “And she patched up that hole in your gut.”
> Luna nods in confirmation as you slowly begin to relax. You still were suspicious of her intentions however.
“Why though? Why would you suddenly help me? I did just kill you sister after all.”
> Luna looks down at the ground, a slight frown on her face.
> “Because I know what it’s like to best the monster, to be condemned.” She explains, “Do you remember the statue you fell against in the garden?”
“I sat against it as I recall.” You reply, folding your arms
> “Believe me, it wasn’t anything nearly as refined.” Luna smiles
> “Regardless, you’re lucky you chose that spot.” She continues, “That statue has been my prison for a thousand years, ever since my ill-fated coup long ago.”
> “After my sister…passed, the spell was broken, and I was freed.” She continues, “I had just finished healing you when Gilda returned.”
> You turn back toward Gilda
“I told you not to come back for me.” You scold.
> “Come on Anon,” Gilda shrugs, “When have I ever listened to anything you said?”
> Ok, yeah, she got you there. But there was still one question lingering on my mind.
 “How do you know who I was?” you ask Luna
> “Even imprisoned, I still retained my awareness as well as some of my power.” She answers, “I saw you when you first arrived here, and watched you for some time afterwards.”
> Okay, that was a bit unnerving, as well as creepy. Just how closely was she watching you?
> “In fact,” she continues, “I sent you a little gift while you were in the Everfree.”
> A gift? You never received any gifts. The only things you ever found were a bottle of wine on a dead p0ny and that meteo-
“Wait, you mean the ‘Goddess Bane’? You sent that to me? Why?”
> Luna nods, “I did. I wanted to ensure you could escape Equestria, you needed the protection. I certainly didn’t expect you to turn into a weapon.”
> You turn to the west, watching the sun set below the horizon. Gilda walks to your side, gently leaning into you.
“I didn’t expect a lot of things.”
> “What will you do now?” Luna asks
> You turn to your right, the three northern stars just barely becoming visible.
“Me? I’m going home.”