Thread 104: Stories 16-30

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NC
>Chrysalis
‘Spike’

>So you weren’t serious?

‘It would be completely insane.’

>Point. But I feel it should be my turn now.

‘Uh oh.’

>Why do you use guns? You’re a dragon! You have fire breath! You area living, magically inexhaustible flamethrower! What point do guns have?

‘Well…range for one?’

>Can’t you hork fireballs like, really far? I’ve seen dragons hork them for like…well I was running for my life at the time so I didn’t exactly measure the distance, but pretty damn far!

‘Er…penetration? I mean not every creature is susceptible to fire y’know?’

>Pretty sure that’s just dragons. I hear you like to swim around in lava? Pretty much nobody else does that. CHITANIA had to be saved from an active Volcano. CHI-Frickin-Tania. …you could probably just have barbequed the entire horde I called down and avoided this whole mess.

‘…’

>Spike? Why are you stopping?

‘M…MY whole life is a lie! A-BLOOOOOO!!!!!!’

>Ha- …Actually, not that funny this time.

‘BLOO-HOO-HOO-HOOO’

>What? You’re expecting me to comfort you? I didn’t laugh this time. C’mon, that’s huge!

>…Spike? Spike you gonna stop?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Trixie
"Cheerilee"
~~~

>Ha ha! Trixie has conquered the demon! Now, beast, give to Trixie all of your spells!

"Congratulations."

>Trixie thanks you!

"Yes, very impressive of you, you've soundly defeated my skeleton."

>Skeleton demon! Made of skeleton!

"Plastic skeleton."

>Trixie thought that was weird, but she knows little of the biological processes of demons.

"They're not made of plastic."

>...Then Trixie is confused.

"I-ugh... it's just a display."

>...not a demon?

"Not a demon."

>Well, than bring Trixie a demon to fight!

"That's not how this works."

>Trixie can defeat them!

"Seeing as *I* regularly do so, I'm going to give you at least the benefit of the doubt on that, but that's not the issue. They warp time and space in this area, they won't come out until they want to, when it will be most physically or psychologically damaging to you."

>...that sounds horrible.

"Yeah, no kidding! Now, if you please leave so I can continue with my CLASS-"

>Nay! Trixie is not leaving!

"I'll call the guard."

>Go ahead! There are no guards in ponyville! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHH!

"...That's actually really depressing."

>You know, it kinda is.

"...Why."

>TRIXIE WANTS DEMON MAGIC!

"Because the last time you got involved with dark arts magic, it went so well?"

>...Erm...

"Look, just... come on, really? I don't use demon stuff all that often, it's DEMON STUFF. It's not safe!"

>...Trixie concedes she may not have thought this through.

"Thank you! Now if you don't mind-"

>But Trixie has never backed down from an idea before, bring your demons!

"...sigh..."

>And also, your apples are awful.

"That's a brain."

>...Trixie thought it tasted a little high in sugar.

"I... I don't..."

>....

"...don'tsendertotartarusdon'tsendertotartarus-"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >2
"Twilight"
'???'
~~~~~

>... Can I tooooouch... this?

"No."

>Thiiiis?

"Nope."

>This!

"Nope."

>This?

"Nuh."

>This this this this this this this this this this this this this this this-

"You know, you're supposed to ask if you can touch it BEFORE you touch it."

>...this?

"No!"

>So what CAN I touch?

"...Here's a gun, I guess you can touch that?"

>AWESOME! BANG BANG BANG! BOOM! BAKOW! SHOOTIN' ALL THE BADDIES!

"Phew, now maybe I can get back to... Shiny! You're off early!"

'...'

"Oh don't give me that, it isn't loaded-"

BLAM!

>...
'...'
"...Will you feel better or worse when I tell you that wasn't the gun, that was one of my many systems exploding?"

'Depends heavily on what that thing controlled.'

"...You might want to run-OH SHIT!"

~SCREEEEEEE!~

"BANG BANG BANG!"

BANG!
THUP!

>...
'...'

"...Well, everything went better than expected!"

'...'

>Can I stay with auntie Twilight tonight?

'NO!"

>"Awwwww."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >SA
"Chrysalis"
~~~~

>... What are you carrying?

"Nuffin."

>That looks like movies.

"Ih isshn."

>Those look like a certain kind a movie.

"Thrr noh."

>... Still a fan of those cheesy romance-

"PTOO!"

>MY EYE!

"They are not cheesy! They are beautiful slices of pure, emotional cinema, and I will not have you besmirching their name like that! They're unrivaled controllers of emotion, THANK YOU!"

>... Really.

"Why don't stallions understaaaannnnnnnnnddddd........."

>... Pfft, because your taste is shit, that's why. Hoof Hold My Heart 4 is so much better than 3 it's...

[...]

>... You heard nothing, Celestia.

[...]

>You heard nothing.

[...I heard everythin-]

>IT'S OOONNNNNN!

*POW!*

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

{Rairty}
~~~

{Darlings, what are you doing!? Friends like you two shouldn't be fighting!

>She doesn't like HHMH 4!

[He thinks that pile of crap is better than 3!]

{... That whole series is just a bad ripoff of Lay Your Hoof On Mine, so you both suck.}

>...
[...burn her.]
>Burning her.

{NO WAIT-}

FWOOSH

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Pinkie)
~~~

(Oh no! Rarity! How did this horrible burning accident happen!?)

>She was talking shit about HHMH.

(... I understand.)

[Right?]

(Oh yeah, HHMH 2? Classic. Wayyyyyy better than the first.)

>... The sequel that killed off both the leads from the original and went in that crazy scifi direction?

(Yep! Amazing, better in every way. Unlike those dumb sequels that retconned the deaths. So stupid!)

>...
[....]

(....no.)

>But that was nothing like the original!

(No, it was way better!)

>... Her too?

[Her too.]

(Bring it! Story matters, PLEBS!)

Boom!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"No, you know what? I've got a bone to pick with you, Shiny! Where do you get off... Gah! What the fuck happened here!?"

>Debates.

"About what!?"

[Which HHMH is the best!]

(These fools have no taste! And I know fools, intimately!... Wait, that came out wrong...)

>Actually? You know what, break the tie. Which one do you like best?

[Decide!]

"... I like all of them."

(Weeeak!)

[Coward!]

"What? I do! The original had the best story, 2 had the best effects, 3 had the best female lead, 4 had the best action scene, 5 had that twist at the end I still can't believe, 6 made me cry when his mom died and 7... Okay, 7 sucked."

(... Huh, you know, she's right!)

[They all have strengths that attracted us to them, but that doesn't mean they're lacking or less if they don't have them!]

(They all have strengths and weaknesses, but they all have good parts!)

"Except 7."

[Yeah.]

(Hoo buddy, yeah. But the point is, we're all right!)

[We've all learned a value lesson today.]

>... Wait, what was that part about-

[But you know what the real best part is?]

(What?)

"[(Watching them! Yayyy!)]"

>... Yeah! Lets go!

(Wheeeeeeeeeeee....)

................

{I-I'm still in a lot of pain. Can someone take me to the hospital?... Hello?..... Oh.......}

"HAH!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-canon
>Sunset
"Spike"
'Gilda'
~~~
>Thanks again for taking me to this griffon barbeque place! I've been missing meat so much since I left the human world!

"Hey... No problem."

'Yeah... Just... Ummm.'

They watch Sunny wolf down piece after piece of grilled meats

>Whaf wrong? If goof!

'Well just because you're an omnivore as a human doesn't exactly mean you're still one as a pony.'

"And Twilight says while ponies can eat a bit of meat, too much and you'll get sick."

Sunset swallows

>Fuck you, I can eat all this meat!

A few hours later

At the hospital...

>W-Worth it... Ugh...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>Dash
"LD"
~~

"Boss? You almost ready to clock out?"

The captains room was dim, far dimmer than she could ever recall seeing it before. Quite the stark contrast from the bright, excitable atmosphere that normally glowed on most days. She seemed to be awash in that, a bit of a slump in her wings, and a touch of a tilt to her head as she looked down at something in her grasp.

"Boss?"

>You think they were always like that?

One part curiosity, one part honest need to know, drove the rookie to curl around the desk, letting her see just what it was the captain was staring at. A picture. A very old one...

The old Wonderbolts.

>You think they just were like that always? Was I just the first one to figure it out, or do you think that somewhere along the way things just got... different?

"Wouldn't know, Boss, I got into this same time you did. Well, technically after, but... we're not talking about that part."

Sad eyes lingered on that picture for just a bit longer, before the very first tellings of a smile crept onto her face.

>Yeah... heh, you really turned it around, Lightning Dust, I'm proud of you.

She bristled a bit with embarrassment at the compliment, but said no more.

>You really turned it around...

That smile faltered again.

"Boss?... Dash?"

>You think they could have too? If...

"Now, come on. You can't go blaming yourself for their actions, that's just not right. It's their fault, you don't need to take responsibility."

>...Isn't that what a captain is supposed to do? Direct ponies... and take responsibility when it doesn't go right?

She didn't have an answer to that.

>I never really liked her since day one, you know. I came in and I just... I hated she was getting away with it all, and especially her, after she tried to pull that stunt with me with the games... her. And I couldn't punish her, I couldn't do anything, I just had to step back and take it... was it obvious?

"...are... are you kidding?"

She didn't need to answer that either.

>Do you think she could have turned it around?

"She was a drug selling, cocky, egotistical and loud bitch who cared about her own self more than others."

>...you didn't answer my question.

She didn't need to.

Because aside from the drug part...

"They made their own bed, now they've got to lie in it. You did everything you could have, and they never respected you, why should you give the same to them? Come on, Dash... you're better than that."

Silence, for a long while, nothing but silence.

>...Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, LD. I guess... you just can't help some ponies, right?

"Sad but true fact of life. You coming?"

>Gimme a minute, I'll be out in a sec.

"Okay..."

A strong stern hoof met a cyan shoulder, and equally strong eyes looked to Dash's own.

"You are a good captain, okay?"

>...okay. Thanks, Lightning Dust.

"Anytime."

With a winning smile, sure the matter had been settled, the adventurous pegasi made her way out.

Leaving behind her captain to wait, and look down. Down to that picture, with so many smiling, happy faces. They were the old Wonderbolts, the ones who left so she and her new ones could take their place. She was left looking back, seeing the all falling behind...

... and wondering how many of them she could have helped move forwards.

A leader is supposed to command respect, a leader is supposed to inspire, a leader is supposed to solve problems.

But she...

>...I'm a pretty shit captain, aren't I?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >AJ
"Dash"
'???'
~~~~

>So, how do they look from the sky?

"I'm not seeing any fires."

>So, good? Ah'm feelin' good.

"Don't want me to elaborate on what they've done?"

>Nope!

"...Not even an update on how they're doing?"

>No fires?

"No, no fires, but-"

>Nope!

"..."

>...D-don't ruin this for me.

"Well, I'm not going to."

>Thank goodness.

"But he might."

>...

'Princess? A word about that changeling who does the gambling thing.'

>Uh-

'Uh... is he... looking for a job?'

>...y-yay....

'And will he accept what he just won off of me as the first... three months payment?'

>Nope.

'Damn... okay, so, I need to move some funds around, don't let anyone else hire him!'

>...Ain't exactly a problem... or somethin' Ah'm legally allowed ta' do-

'Great!'

>...

"...Why was he wearing a barrel? Even if he literally lost his cloths, why would he need to-"

>Ah' don't even question it anymore.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>42
"Spitfire"
~~~

>...

"...I... I think I might be cursed."

>That one is glowing, yes.

"More so than normal, you mean."

>Yes, more so than normal.

"...did... did you do something special when you trained them?"

>Didn't do much hitting, due to being low on love when not fighting Shining, but it's mostly just telling them what to do.

"I've tried that."

>Try... harder?

"..."

>...I am not good with life advice.

"Two stars, if I'm rating you."

>Please don't, that hurts my feelings.

"..."

>...Heh.

"heheheh. You can be funny when you want."

>And I'm sure you can be a great captain when you need. You simply need to find what works for them, not what you're used to.

"...thanks."

>I traded in my life advice points for military buffs.

"What?"

>OnO joke.

"...NERRRDDDDD!"

>...

"I'm sorry."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~~

It was a curious troupe of mixed species walking in a loose formation towards Ponyville at dusk.

The last rays of the day's sun basked Applejack, Princess of [INSERT PURPOSE HERE] in hues of beautiful gold, red and orange as she was spearheading the expedition into the unknown that was 'exposing Changelings to Equestrian culture and Changeling Culture to Equestrians', approved by no less than four princesses, one Queen and one prince-consort.

To her immediate right was Sunset Shimmer, her very own, very first student. A stubborn unicorn mare, prodigy in her field few could match, hot tempered, driven and former villainess, she represented some of Applejack's and her style of rule's most tenacious core weaknesses and strengths, all combined into one package of mental issues.

She was also dangerous closet pyromaniac, if the amount of burn-victims on this trip were any indication.

To her left, Haymaker. Ever dutiful, serious and normally entrusted with the fallen-from-grace Blueblood, he provided the necessary discipline and single-mindedness to the rest of the Guards.

At some point, PJ had joined his side. No one questioned how or why, and no one asked her to leave, leaving the two to their private conversation.

Steam Gauge and Quicksilver were mingling with a small bunch of Changelings, with the majority of them harassing the latter because of his appearance. Standard fare. That stallion seemed to enjoy getting embarrassed by his friend, despite his very vocal protests to the contrary.

The rest were here and there, between Changelings and at the edge of the road, keeping the main worrywarts and guests of the trip in line: The dozen of colorful, loud but otherwise quite amusing Changelings.

41, hawk-eyed, jittery but eager to be with them, who was strangely popular to the increasingly large number of random Equestrian mares and stallions who had spontaneously joined this journey after discovering its purpose and the potential for entertainment it held.

14, clearly in a self-finding phase independent of his Queen, exploring what it meant to be attracted to someone.

The Fiction-writing little novelist, keeping all and everything on paper that was done and discovered, likely highlighting or over-exaggerating some details to make it more read-worthy.

The numberless Changeling who seemed to have an affinity for luck, mood-making and numbers, who was speaking to his future employer in a away that made it questionable who would be the actual boss.

And so many, many more...

Applejack could spend all day naming them, attributing their strengths, weaknesses and development to each and every one. But as the rooftops of her former home crested over the near grassy hill, she chose to focus at the hope-inspiring sight ahead.

Ponyville, in all its simple country charm... and its citizens, waiting. For them.

Some anxious. Some elated. Some nervous. Some eager. Conversation around the princess hushed when Mayor Mare took the front and raised a single hoof, waving it in warm welcome.

Taking a deep breath, Applejack closed her eyes, smiled and raised her voice.

“Alright, Everypony and Everyling. We're approaching mah old home. Yer all gonna see some of the most stubborn, thick-headed, easily frightened, superstitious ponies you have ever seen. And yer gonna meet them, greet them and leave a good impression, ya hear?”

“YEAH!”

“Good!”

Turning her attention back to the front, Applejack could barely hide her nervous shivers. This would be one of the greater hurdles.

And yet, despite her anxiety, she couldn't wait to tackle it. Together, with all of them.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OOCO

'12'
>"Screwloose"
"QSS"
---

>"I still don't see why I'm back in a straight jacket."

'You tried to stab someone after they told you to stop disecting fruit. Think it was warranted.'

>"It was a nice clean way to eat my food."

'You shouldn't have had a sharp object in the first place. I told you you're really only allowed plastic utensils and such. Even then I'd prefer not.'

>"Ahh, still looking after me, Pervet~ Maybe you can feed me instead as I can't use all these utensils and such."

'You're very skilled with your hooves, I'm sure you can feed yourself.'

>"So mean~ Next you're going to throw me in a cell again and let the guards torture me."

"W-we wouldn't ever do that!"

>"Oh! Look, Pervert! Speak of the devil and she shall appear!"

"...N-not a mare..."

>"Oh my~ Aren't you... different."

'Down, girl. Besides, you'd manage to gravely injure them before that happened.'

>"Yes, but it's a nice thought."

"You're a strange mare, Ma'am."

>"The word you are looking for is 'Insane', my little filly~."

"...H-hey..."

'Just insane? Not 'bat-shit crazy'?'

>"Don't push it, Pervert, or I'll tie you down and find out if breathing is easier for you when your lungs have several lacerations in them~"

'Nah, you wouldn't harm me, I couldn't give you hoof massages that way.'

>"My kryptonite! Oh, foiled again! Hm, guess I shall have to settle for suffocating you with my thighs."

"..."

>"Oh, you're looking very red."

"I-I have to go!"

---

'You scare too many people.'

>"I know. I like to leave a lasting impression."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
~~~~
>Welcome to Not Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but you've got to know the territory! Now for our main segment...Mail Time!
Applause as she opens up a letter.

>Let's try answering some of your letters here on the show. Sweet Nectar writes "Dear Pinkie" Hey that's me! "I'm at the store and I'm trying to get some honey, but all I can find is soup. Can you help?"...um...maybe you should try another aisle.
Opens up another letter.

>Vanilla Puddinghead writes "Dear Pinkie, my dog is acting strange. He keeps meowing a lot and hates water. He likes to scratch up the upholstery and chases after birds. Can you help me figure this out?"...it uh...sounds like you have a cat instead of a dog...let's try one more time.
Opens a 3rd letter.

>This one says, "Dear Pinkie, I've decided to try out clothes. After a while they start smelling funny, so I throw them in a corner and wear another set of clothes, but the same problem comes up. They start smelling funny. The clothes in the corner are piling up and they don't smell any better. What should I do?"...how about washing your clothes? Because it sounds like you should wash your clothes...Hmmm maybe I should delegate mail time to somepony else. That's all the time we have everypony and thanks for joining Mail Time!
Waves

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~~~

"Come."

The call had been loud, it had been instant, and it had been obeyed. All acts, be they of mingling or strong political thinking, hunts for blood or favor, dropped suddenly, and without question. They gathered, amidst the humming of power and the roar of magic keeping the monstrous behemoth of steel and iron aloft as it slowly was brought down to earth. All of them, from the kingdoms far and wide, as grand as Gryphonia or as desolate as Griffonnstone, their citizens from far and wide gathered in a massive crowd, all waiting as their leaders gathered to take the forefront. As noble as the Cloudwings, as dark as the Blackfeathers, they were united as they gathered.

Weapons drawn.

This act was one of inexcusable, unforgivable insult. To breach the sacred command to be sealed from the world, to so brazenly shrug off the numerous commands to turn such a vessel around and land on such a holy, blessed spot as made so by the Seer herself, was an insult that held only one response.

Death.

"Is this that friend of yours, dearest?"

Among them, the current, perhaps only shortly so, Queen of the Gryphons gripped her husbands arm as the words stalled in her heart while she looked upon and recognized the airship as it descended, knowing the make and shape with little more than a seconds thought. Internally she cursed with a tongue so foul even her mother long gone would have chided her and been sickened. To think, there would come a time when one whom she began to see as an ally would do something so brazen, so sickening.

Her children were already forming around her, the same look of questioning on their faces. Some, such as her two eldest, a kind look of understanding. To one, her youngest, a look of annoyance that their talk they had been building so towards be dropped so quickly. She ignored them all, attention rapt upon the glimmering metal as it neared the earth, and threatened to cross the line of no return, and break hallowed ground with it's being.

A part of her that still rang out with loyalty wished nothing more than for her to have the means to save the poor, ignorant fool that had been sent, knowing that whoever had done so had been done from her allies foolishness, not malice.

Her heart, already still, seemed to freeze even more when the beast landed, and the landing gear opened up. She could scarcely believe her eyes, but there was no denying the face that looked down upon them with powerful, striking eyes. It was the mare herself.

Pennydrop.

A thousand curses became a thousand times worse as her tongue seized in her head. This was not a mere act of ignorance, for one such as her this was nothing less than a statement that could be taken no other way. She had made herself known, hidden behind no proxy or puppet. She, herself, had made this call. There was no saving her now.

"Part."

A single, raspy voice, the same that had called them all from their goings on and their debates, was heeded without pause or question. The strong, aged form of the Seer shifted past the kings and Queens who parted for her, respectful in their manner. As stubborn as Idris, as foul as the Blackfeather, none questioned her or disobeyed for even a moment.

The eye like a hawk loomed upwards, trailing with dedicated sluggishness before it came to rest on the pony looking down upon her from her perch above.

"You have disrupted a sacred ritual."

Her staff clacked down, and at once the kings closest to her moved to her side, weapons bared.

"You have soiled our hallowed ground with this... machine."

She clacked again, more joined her, surrounding the metal beast.

"You have insulted us with your mere presence."

One final tap, and they were ready to strike.

"Have you to say anything for yourself before we render judgement for this... unforgivable act? Have you anything to say, before the wrath of the gods come upon you? Speak to who sent you, and perhaps at least they will join you in-"

"Will you shut up!?"

The gathering, the kingdom, perhaps even the whole world went silent with her screech of annoyance.

"I'm not here for you, I'm here for... Ah ha!"

The widened lower beak of the Seer nearly broke off in abhorrent shock as the pony brazenly began walking down her ramp, seemingly uncaring to anyone standing in her way.

Against such an act, there could only be one reaction.

"...Take off her head."

Barnabus the Blackfeather, always the most eager for bloodshed, was the fastest to move. His blade drawn, his eyes wild and hungry as he hefted his weapon and sought out her neck.

She never moved, never even twitched, as lightning crackled all around her, sent out from above and gripping the mix of fowl and beast in it's inescapable grasp. He twitched, writhed and spasmed, before he was sent away in a hail of black feathers and screeches of pain.

The others wasted no time. Four kings, four weapons, four blades, all seeking her death.

Four kings, four weapons, all sent away by four powers great and varied. Magical force like telekinesis, balls of flame and force, a rush of cold wind, and a stone to the chest so powerful, all struck out.

"You ponies dare..."

Yet again, for the second time today, perhaps in her entire life, the Seer was left speechless. For it was not ponies, standing atop the airships ramp. No magic of a unicorn had cast those attacks.

It was gryphons. Gryphons of metal... and flesh and blood.

The crowd and remaining royals gasped at the sight, of talons brimming with magical might no gryphon should be capable. Their looks were stoic, yet their eyes were unspeakably smug as they looked down to kings, thought unstoppable by some, brought low by magic on their claws.

The Seer's burning eyes snapped down, glaring with a terrible sight to the pony still brazenly walking towards her, knuckles on her talons white as she gripped her staff.

"What... what is this disgusting sight!? You dare to go against nature, to insult the gods by bringing such abominations to our holy site, to-"

"I don't have time for this."

The world seemed to go quiet as the mare brushed past, not even bothering to look to the Seer. For a while, there was a stillness in the air, an unsettling silence that hung over the gaping heads of all as the Seer stared on straight ahead, to the spot where the mare had been, yet was no longer.

Her own neck, and the neck of all down below, twisted with a disconcerting slowness as they followed her as she strode with purpose past them all, guard, king or citizen, and made her way up to one in particular.

One who looked down with petrified eyes, and a whiteness to her skin that had not been a moment ago. One who came under the judging gaze of both spouse and child as the mare walked to her. One who felt fear, honest fear, unto a level she never had before. In that mare, she saw her end, the end of her life, the end of her line, the end of her family. The end had walked to her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"No time to explain, look!"

She remained frozen even as she robotically caught the binoculars tossed to her, remained locked in with timorous gaze and her iced breath that dried her tongue. She did not move, even as her grip narrowed so tightly that it threatened to break the optics in twain.

"Oh for the love of... I SAID LOOK!"

Brazenly, she stepped forwards, jerking the Queen down to her level and jamming the thing in her eyes. Her husband and children moved in insult to her defense, but a swift cackling of power put a stop to that.

Now, after all that transpired, those surrounding the pair thought nothing, positively nothing, could shake them. Nothing could possibly stun them, shock them, insult or surprise them more than the last minute or so of their lives had been.

They were wrong.

"SWEET EAGLE FUCKING A LION RAW, WHAT IS THAT THING!?"

All, even her family, reeled back in shock from her declaration, and her sudden rapt attention to something off in the distance. To the Queen, she could not care less to their thoughts. Hers, every part of her mind, was raptly drawn to the thing of flame with one eye, one claw, and a mouth as it moved towards her kingdom at a brisk pace, occasionally stopping to look down at something and speak before beginning again.

"Sad to say, this stupid 'nothing in or out' rule has backfired utterly spectacularly. That 'thing', is named Lavan. He was last seen heading towards Canterlot, but made a sudden and very sharp turn and headed straight for here. Now, I'm not one to judge without knowing all the fact, but..."

"What are you two babbling about?"

Long since past the point when any insult would have mattered, the mare added yet another drop to the bucket as she rolled her head back, glaring at the Seer huffing and sneering towards her.

"Shouldn't you know, you are the 'Great and all knowing Seer' after all."

Her feathers rustled as she stepped forwards, staff clacking to the ground with every pace.

"You dare to insult-"

"You're damn right I dare!"

The crowd, the royals, all gasped as she the mare challengingly stepped forwards. The response was as instant as it was powerful.

Armies from all sides gathered, their swords and spears drawn, their arrows knocked and ready to fly, their faces one of bloodlust for the one insulting their most holy figure. There were no sides, not in this conflict. All stood together as one.

Boom.

As such, when the sky lit up with a rapturous explosion, so bright it looked as though it could consume a mountain, they fell back, together as one, awed by the show of magical power unlike any they had ever seen before.

"You're damn right I dare, I said! You preach to be all knowing, you preach that the gods decide this, the fates decide that, but look at you!"

Only a few steps separated them now. Only a few steps, and Seer and Mare would meet.

Only a few steps, and the other dared them to make it.

"Look at you, about to be run roughshod over by a beast beyond your comprehension again! Where were these supposed Gods when that thing was closing in the distance... where were they when Chitania struck?"

A hush grew over the crowd, still and cold as the businessmare's words reached them all.

"These stupid rituals do nothing but cut you off and seal you up, and make you useless when danger comes! I'm here because I'm not waiting for your 'gods' to wake up already and clue you in to the fact that he was on his way, and I'm damn sure not going to leave the fate of more lives in the claws of someone who couldn't stop a really big, aimlessly wandering monster!"

The gryphon stepped forwards, her feathers bright on her skin as they rose.

"You presume to understand the endless power of our gods? You... ignorant fool. They see beyond this time we live within, they see beyond the sounds and tastes and touches your mortal body can perceive, they-"

"Blah blah blah they're so great and amazing and powerful. I get the point."

Outrage buzzed through swaths of the crowd, several of them already moving forwards to act on the disgust written across the Seer's face.

"You think them false, like so many others... fine, then I shall show you."

Her body, and her staff, began to rise. She began to call to them, just as she had before, speak to them, more directly than any before her. So many claimed them false, she had actually grown tired of hearing it. The look of shock on their face, on the other claw... was one she always would relish. The power began to come to her...

"No, see, that's the thing, I don't think they're fake at all. In fact, I'm completely convinced they're real."

...and faded away, amidst bewilderment like none the Seer had ever felt before. Bewilderment that only grew as the mare once again turned away from the gryphon's gaze, and looked out to the crowd.

"I think they're real... all of you, out there... they're real..."

Her voice had gone soft, just for a moment.

Before the thunder came.

"...and that's exactly why I'm here!"

She was speaking to them, roaring to the crowd with purpose, and need.

"We live in a world where gods are very much real, we see them plenty! Some of them even walk among us... one of them might be headed this way. Oh, they're real... and I am sick and tired of waiting for other gods or whatevers to deal with them!"

Her voice rose, and rose, until all far and wide could hear her.

"I'm sick of living in a world where I have to wait for 'the hero' to step up and stop them with the magical necklace of whatever! Where our fates are decided by someone who's lived so long they can't possibly know what it's like to be one of us! I'm sick of them having all of the power, and us, the normals, just being forced to wait and hope we're not the one 'fate' frowns upon next!"

She spun, dust kicking up as her hoof jutted out, pointing right to the stock still Seer looking upon her.

"You! You're the one who supports Gods that let gryphons die because 'they were being tested' or 'it was fate' or 'decided'! Screw that, I say! I say it loudly and for all to hear! You all!"

Back to the rapt crowd once more.

"You are the ones on the line, never the 'important ones' like this Seer. You're the ones who fall when someone is tested! No more! If they really wish you well, if they really are understanding and want what is best for you, then they will have no means to deny you defending your lives! You are not the chess pieces to some higher beings! Your lives mean something!!"

For what seemed an eternity, there was silence. There was nothing.

"...My son's life mattered."

As with any, it started with but a drop. A single voice, from one with a bent axe, and a hallowed look on his face.

"My son's life... it mattered. He wasn't some test..."

Then came the storm.

The roaring, the noise, the loud bursts and whirling winds, the rolling clouds that brought the rain.

The Seer, for the very first time in her life, felt her words slip.

"The Kingsmoot-"

"Was because the Gods wanted to know if they were ready, right? If they were meant to rule? If they could protect everyone? Well...'

Another, louder explosion of magic rippled through the skies, creating a wash of colors beautiful for all to see.

"There you go. I'm here, my company is here, and we're going to protect you... all of you!"

The murmurs, the questions, began to swell.

"Oh? You think yourself so powerful you can stop Lavan?"

Something had changed, in the Seer. Her voice had gone strange, lower than it had been, deeper. If she noticed, the mare gave no indication she cared.

"I know I can."

"Is that so... and you would do this only for those of Af Gryphonia? The Kingsmoot is to decide who is best suited to defend and rule this land, after all. There is no reason, say, Barnebus could not do the same in her place, no?"

The hackles of the standing royals began to rise against such an insulting statement, their cool swiftly leaving them in favor of the anger.

The pony had no such issues.

"I stand with the ally who proved herself, who saved my life, and who I trust... nobody else... so choose."

The last line spoke not to the seer, but to those beyond, the endless crowd.

"Choose, all of you. Tell your Kings and Queens. Tell them what their vote will entail. Because my power, my magic, my technology, it stands with only one family in these lands."

She looked to them all, seemingly every gryphon below at the same time, with deadly serious eyes.

"I stand with Af Gryphonia. If your Kings and Queens choose to vote them aside, they choose to deny me. They earned my trust, and that is why I, not a puppet, not a stand in, I, Pennydrop of Fawntaine Futuristics, am the one standing here. Tell them, what you think of their lives being toyed with. Tell them, what you think of being a 'test', and just what happens if they vote the wrong way. Because what they offer is blades, and sticks. What I offer..."

Metal roared against metal as panels upon the ship fell away, revealing to them a thousand cannons, each one more powerful than the last, all of them gleaming and humming with more magic than any below had ever seen.

"I offer you real protection. I stand with the house of Af Gryphonia, where do you stand?"

The royals, great and small, felt a chill as they tore their gaze from the mare at last, and looked to the crowd. There were words, so many words, all mingled together into a sea of incomprehensible sounds. They did not need to hear it, not a single word.

It was understood.

Fear had taken them, awe to such wonders they had never seen gripped them, the need had consumed them. For any royal, even now, could deny her, could turn against her, could vote against her side. Even now, they could have taken the crown.

"What of you, soldiers. Do you stand with those unprepared?... It didn't go so well last time."

The one truth, be it in all lands great and small.

"...Very well."

The truth, something the Seer knew quite well. To vote now, was pointless. It had been decided in fear, and in need.

"Then show us this... power, Pennydrop of Fawntaine. You say you do not need the gods, that you can equal them? Very well. Show us, Pennydrop. Show us all."

The smile upon her face was nothing less than brilliant. Glowing, like the sun in the sky, if not even more luminous still.

"Equal you?... I'm going to make you obsolete."

"Then it is decided!"

Her staff came down, shaking the lands to their very core.

"If the House of Af Gryphonia prevents the coming catastrophe, then they are forgiven for all of their failures to this point. They will have proven themselves grown, proven their allies strong, proven they are to rule as has been and shall be! If they fail once more, they prove beyond question they are failures, and shall be cast out as they should! This is the word of law!"

Even as the cheers erupted, and the land shook with their calls, the mare gave not a care to any of it.

"About time."

The final nail had been hammered when she turned her back to the Seer, disregarding her as she would any other not worth her time, and turned once more to the once proud, now struck silent, Gryphon Queen.

"Gwendolyn... we have work to do."

Rapt, breathless by what had been, she could not keep the shake from her bones as she looked to the thing looming closer, drawing to her lands as the monster had done once before.

"Are you sure you can handle this?"

"Last time, you relied on the "Gods" to come to your aide."

The smile upon her face twisted, becoming nothing less than wicked.

"And I'm all about upgrading."

The deciding fate for Af Gryphonia had arrived on an airship.

They knew not where it would carry them next.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________