When Twilight said "Epic Pony War", I thought "someone makes it happen". After a week waiting for someone else to do it, I decided to write my "War and peace" for little girls.
But the wedding came, guards now had spears and cities had shields, making a premise of my story irrelevant. What follows is the "pilot", the first four chapters which by chance were planned as a sub-story with their own happy ending. You will hardly notice 22 chapters are missing.
I'm still hoping for someone to finally write the Epic Pony War. This is what it could have been.
Once was a land filled with mistrust and unrest. Discord had ruled, and in its aftermath a bond true enough to repulse it was yet to be found. It was a land of many creatures, animals, beasts, monsters all alike, governed by none but themselves. There were unicorns, and there were pegasi. And there were ponies. The three battled endlessly, until their fighting attracted a never ending winter upon them. The more bitter their fight, the more glacial it was. At the coldest of time, all were driven on the flank of a mountain where but only a few escaped the ice. There, in a last desperate attempt to save themselves, they put their fate in friendship. A tiny spark warmed the air, melted the ice and freed the land of Equestria. It then became a part of everypony, and everypony would live to make it live for generations since.
With the snow gone the plain was green again, and of flowers colourful. It was muddy and as the sun high lavished its light, the humidity was dropping from grass and branches. Fields on the hills were already growing in imitation to pastures of free vegetation, bushes and trees at the entrance of forests yet to regain their coats of leaves. Around the plain were mountains far away, their tops white, from afar visible on one side a mount was holding the towers of Canterlot. It touched clouds in the sky, puffy and light, scarce up to the horizon. At this hour of the day the sky was clear, a mild wind flying in altitude. Wings large bending on currents, she was flying free through the distance. She was happy, especially today, her fly careless over the blooming land. A sudden gap in the wind made her stumble, so she quickly flapped to regain her height. But in her surprise she had opened her mouth, and let the letter she was holding go. The mare saw it disappear in a cloud, so she rushed to find it, buzzed around high and low without luck. The town was near, between woods and orchards the flocks of thatched roofs enlivened their surrounding.
Ponyville was quiet, full of its everyday hum of cheers from houses open to public places where grass mixed with paved streets. Bridges all along the town's river were rumouring of greetings and conversations, as inhabitants met, ambling to their occupations in quarters of close overreaching buildings and packs of tents, without much attention for the flying pegasus. She flew over their heads avoiding a few chimneys directly to the library, left with space a venerable hollow tree with its windows and balcony, that many entrances for her. She hesitated in her approach, and only then did some notice her gray silhouette poise on a few air jumps, before she decided she wouldn't care. She missed the balcony, trotted in her landing through the open window right into Twilight's sleeping room and stopped only at the edge of the floor.
Among other things, she had disturbed the two inhabitants. Twilight raised her head to see the clumsy face trying to recover from the crash. Before her hooves, emerging from the fallen pile of books, her baby dragon rubbed his forehead.
"Good day, Derpy!" Twilight said happily. "Is there any mail for me?"
The mare got up, shacked and answered: "A letter from the princess!"
"Couldn't she just have asked me to report it?" Spike grumbled.
She hardly could, somehow said the pegasus expression as the memory came back of the conditions in which it was written. Yet her attention had already shifted, and she stared at the librarian with a smile. Twilight tapped the ground, jolted her dark, indigo mane rejoiced by pink and purple locks.
"So..." she eventually asked. "Can I have the letter?"
"I lost it!" Was the simple, spontaneous answer.
Spike shrugged his shoulders, turning away: "She could definitely have asked me."
As he was picking up the books, her friend was still trying to react, stopped fast in the middle of her reaction. A bolt of worry had stretched her legs, carrying her one step forward while she stammered the first word. Derpy was now playing upstairs, in little leaps that made her wings flutter a bit. Hanged up by her haunch the mailmare had her saddlebag still full, weighing on one side. Why, she held that one letter especially apart. Saddened, Twilight looked around at all the volumes and parchments the library offered, on the table a few golden horse seals that made her gasp at the idea of what she lost, then she considered the stairs and went up quite hastily.
Once she was at the first floor, again she tried to ask the mare, only to sigh. It took a full breath, but when she reopened her eyes, a timid smile had come back on her face. She turned to Spike, who gave her a thumbs up, to which she responded by waving her hoof. Finally, patience had paid, and she felt good having dealt with temper. So she could finally ask:
"What do you mean you've lost the letter!" She yelled, making the gray pegasus roll. "It was from princess Celestia! This is a crisis. How will I ever know what she wanted to tell me? How will I answer!"
"Oh! That's easy!" Derpy answered. "She read it to me!"
It took a few seconds for Twilight to stop shivering, as she unmasked her face she realized why the mailmare was so calm. She had been there when the letter was written, so there was no secret in its content. So she stood up, still a bit abashed, and her face was explicitly asking why people let her panic before such revelations; to which Derpy bounced around her with joy, answering that it was funny; to which she frowned. She finally put a stop to her bouncing, and went on the bed near the open window to recite the letter in a very fluid and precise narration, as if the letter was there to be read.
The very first sentence was an apology, because the princess was about to ask a great burden out of her faithful student. There was no worry to have, yet neither she nor her sister princess Luna could attend a very important event. That was why she was turning to her most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. At this point of the letter, the unicorn sighed in relief, thinking of what would have happened if it had been lost. She was asked to depart for the Fauna Festival that was held for the week. There, she would represent the princess and ponies of Equestria in a game of chess. "A what?" But the pegasus continued. Her partner for the game would be empress Leone, a proud and respected subject. She would understand the circumstances, so her student could ease her fears. Yet princess Celestia asked one thing of her:
"And I don't remember the rest!" Derpy exclaimed, before staring to nowhere.
"Can you make an effort? It could be important..."
But she shook her head: "I must go!" And so randomly she did.
Already at the window, she let herself fall before catching up at the last moment, and depart. Behind her the mare was in distress, helplessly wanting to know what that one thing was. Turning back inside she began to trot in her room, trying to think of what to do. Spike had already joined her, with a sceptical look that she finally noticed. "You're right!" And she rushed through the stairs in front of her happy dragon, who then just remembered he didn't say a word, so he ran after her trying to stop her from whatever she had in mind. He gained on her as they were passing through streets, in direction of the town hall. "What do you plan to do?" She exulted at the question, and pointed to Sugarcube Corner. The candy house could only spell the name of Pinkie Pie.
When she uttered that name, she stopped and looked at her left, behind her, certain that her pinky friend was there, but the street crowded with ponies had no trace of her. So she turned back to find herself muzzle on muzzle with the happiest face of all of Ponyville.
"Hey Twilight! You look very happy! I know I'm happy because you're here and I am here and that makes us together and you said you were looking for me?"
"When did you grow so much?" The unicorn asked in return, as her friend dominated her by two to three apples.
"That's because she is over my head." Spike answered.
So she put her hooves back on the ground, and Twilight could finally explain to her the letter she received, that she had to go to the Fauna Festival and how she decided that it would be an easier task if all of her friends followed her. "Then," she said, she would have the rest of the day and a whole night to be anxious. "And?" Asked Pinkie Pie with excitation, waiting for the moment that arrived when she would be asked to join her to the fair.
But as soon as she did, the pink pony backed with an annoyed face, so suddenly that it startled the baby dragon:
"Why would anypony go to the Fauna Festival? It's the most boring party ever, and they have like, a thousand guests!"
"You know about that fair?"
"Of course!" And she began gesturing through her explanation. "It's a big place with tents and stuff where friendly creatures from all of Equestria come and make friends! They play and they race, they wrestle, they throw logs then there is this big puzzle game then people leave and it's sad but it's mostly ponies and griffons so who cares..."
"Wait, you've been there?"
"Silly!" She answered with a bright face. "I only heard of it yesterday! So when do we go? When do we go?"
Departure happened the following day, unusually late as the sun took its time to rise. When dawn officially arrived, at the edge of the town Twilight was already there, the purple unicorn under the blazing rays of morning, waiting on the muddy path. On her back still partly asleep Spike repeated for her to calm down, and to stop looking at the mill. He already had to bear with her reading through the night about that fair. She couldn't help it, the quiet pastures around them were only adding to her anxiety. It wasn't only her task, it was the late sun, it was all the unanswered questions.
Her thoughts quickly faded as she saw the rainbow trace through the sky in a straight line, cut sharp at its end then fall on her in a curve. That remembered her how humid the weather was, and she was waiting for a bit of time. Drops of water covered her mane and purple coat, a dew that Dash blew away in a few flapping of her wings when she landed. The blue pegasus had not yet put her hooves on grass, she was already grinning of confidence, five tickets on her that she quickly hid. She eluded her friend's question, nothing of concern. All she cared was that her talented friend was going to play at the Festival, and it was going to be great, and ponies in Ponyville were already picking winners. And eluded that question too. By chance from the town they saw Pinkie Pie coming, already near as she had spotted her two friends and was running to join them. Twilight stepped back to let the two enter a lively contest of expectations. The purple unicorn walked a bit, trying to find the others, but there was nopony else. Ponyville was awakening, as light was growing, its inhabitants were gaining the streets.
She finally saw Fluttershy, almost missing her until she was away from thatched roofs looking yellow in the morning. But there she was, trotting on the path wings shut with a fluffy white ball on her mane. The bunny only woke up when they greeted each other, at which point the pegasus explained she was afraid of crowds, and asked her pet Angel to accompany her. She kind of smiled timidly, then asked the bunny "if it's still okay with you". Then noticed Pinkie enumerating all the possible dishes at the buffet to a boasting Dash. That discussion ended, all found themselves waiting, without much to say but complain about the two missing ponies. Twilight however, her concerns shared, showed herself confident and patiently stood still, certain that they would come soon.
The Carousel was the nearest to them, among tents on this side of the river. They finally saw it open, and the mare getting out, turn around and concentrate. Her horn began to blow, then the door did and when she showed efforts, her luggage came out one by one to form a pile. "Tell me she isn't serious" Rainbow Dash warned. They all aligned as they saw her approach, pulling the vast pile of luggage behind her, slowing her much. They all began to wave at her, calling her aloud and the precious unicorn first thought they were extremely happy to see her, so she waved back at them. She quickly understood, however, looked at her adventure pack, then at them, then showed anguish. Pinkie Pie offered morse signals that finally convinced her to leave it all behind, and she came to them in a simple dress for the fair.
"I hope you all know what you're doing!" She complained. "I'm not sure I'm going to survive without my wardrobe!"
"Come on!" Dash could but only argue. "At this rate we'll never reach that festival! Let's go already!"
"Rainbow Dash is right, Rarity." Spike, on hearing Twilight begin, opened an eye before returning to sleep. "We must show pragmatism, and let practical concerns take priority over fashion. Also, we're only away for the afternoon and it's muddy. Don't take it wrong, but you should take example on Applejack."
Speaking of which, Fluttershy was pointing them the direction of the farm, where their friend pony was making her way to join them. She didn't have passed the fence yet, as she was pulling a carriage of apples, serving as a selling cart, whose wheels were driven by the weight in the mud.
"Somepony. Please. Tell her."
All finally found themselves on the road, six friends as the day advanced discussing about little matters while their glances at the landscape unveiled past the fields tall grass on a vivid air, bringing to them the scent of blooms. The path had soon turned round hills, with the town quickly covered by little woods through which light filtered, along with a few lakes isolated at lower grounds. They were alone, a little group close in the wild, their voices for sole distraction to a sustained pace, yet none complained. Such was the day, the plain full of novelty with its rare foliages on embossed branches, before them after each slope a new sight of multiple shining colours that they couldn't feel the least bit of weariness.
This walk had made her last doubts vanish, and Twilight was now at the lead of the group, daydreaming through the immensity around them, at the same time a ear attentive to Fluttershy's imagination. "Of course there will be minotaurs!" Pinkie Pie confirmed rubbing against the shy pegasus's face, then kept jumping around too excited to stop, her fluffy mane barely following her. Hearing a squeak, the purple unicorn decided to turn and reassure her, only to notice one friend missing. "Where's Rainbow Dash?" The impatient mare, bored of the ground, had long gained her sky, and looking upwards she saw her silhouette shoot through clouds. It was pride, or she really wanted to reach the festival.
"I don't see why!" Applejack continued. "Tis just a fair for griffons to' pat themselves!"
"Oh, it's not like that!" She left her leading position, slowed up to her friend's height. "The tome of ancient history is clear about that, there will be creatures from all over Equestria."
"Not what I heard! If ya hear pony wisdom, only griffons care 'bout it! They go there like 'tis their fair, and they're competitive! Not that I'm against it, but I heard they rig the games!" Some gloom on her: "Even the one of chess."
"Girls. I mean, maybe rumours are fals-" and the pink mare finished for her: "Meanie rumours make ponies sad so let's make happy thoughts happen with a lot of balloons and a lot of love!"
None could argue against balloons, and Applejack nodded, yet with her sharp hat sketching shadows on her face she kept her doubts. It was telling, the way she trotted was nervous, a lot on her mind balancing her tailed straw crest on each side of her wither. It was about then that the unicorn noticed Rarity way behind, occupied at picking flowers to embellish her dress. As they slowed down for her she gained on them, adding the most beautiful one she could find to Fluttershy's hair, a flower that her bunny Angel quickly began to nibble.
Sun had caught on with them, at its highest peak it told them the middle hour of the day, precisely noon at the very moment they met with an intersection. The sign, of old wood with plants rampant on it, had its letters erased. "Now what!" Before they could even discuss, the pegasus mare softly reminded everyone of Rainbow Dash and they all searched the sky for her rainbow mane. With a pair of opera glasses on her muzzle Rarity found her first, and they all gathered just in time to see the mare plunge to the ground and disappear behind the relief. She had descended by the right path, all followed and let the sign behind. It was noon, they discussed, a hope that the fair was close by now.
Yet elevation after elevation through all curves of the path it kept going, even more in that the blue mare was still nowhere to be seen, expected at every turn, always deceiving. At one point Rarity made her voice heard, for her hooves were dirty and she wanted to pause for a bit. "One last effort, we're almost there!" And it finally realized, before their eyes downwards on a large field dozens of large tents pickets extended to all directions, tissues of all colours crowded, over which creatures flew and landed. It was the Festival, numerous flags battling at a mild wind, carts and fences disposed towards alleys of grass, in front of the largest tent of all, huge, it's shadow alone impressive, fortunately thrown over the barriers on the desert field. It suddenly became real before their eyes, that fair they only heard about, and approaching they noticed other groups, mostly ponies, arriving too.
Rainbow was there, at the entrance, facing it without a word or move. She'd just left, after wandering in it, and now from here she could grasp it all in one sight. She looked under her wing, then decided to turn away and go back to the others. That made her aware of her surrounding, and she noticed all those arounds. Ponies and griffons walking side by side, young and old alike, stallions looking fierce, red wings humble. And there she thought she had seen Gilda. Chasing that from her mind, the mare saw that griffon approach, not yet ready to cross the eyes. She had that look, that attitude.
"Hey. Rainbow Dash!" She had that voice, yet softened. "I didn't expect you there…" Now rough again: "… with your friends."
The group had shown on the path, not a minute or two from them. The griffon scratched the soil of exasperation. Things not to be said, not to be heard. Dash had shown some temper, wings turbulent, before she calmed.
"I still prefer their company to yours!" A strange choice of words.
"Yeah, I know. Look, I won't apologize, okay?" A strange trail of thought. "So."
"Yeah! So!" Defiantly. "Know anything about the game of chess?"
"Wanna take bets?"
"I'm way ahead of you!"
Not a minute or two, but as they discussed memory came back that they had been friends, they were no more, knowing each other so well, Gilda's beak clacking when challenged, the way she held on her moves was telling. So just before the group of ponies was within the reach of voice, the griffon turned away to disappear in the crowd.
Then they were all together again, the six friends at the entrance of the fair. Pinkie ecstatic let shy Fluttershy quiver as she leaped into the crowd, among so many who wouldn't bother to pay her some attention. Applejack didn't lie, it was mostly ponies and griffons yet they could still pick some animals from the region, and creatures that looked savage in diversity. "It must have been good to see her again" the purple mare couldn't help but say, touching, and Dash had to ask her who she was talking about. About Gilda, she summed up their encounter in a few words: she thought Twilight would lose.
Rumours of games would come from every tent, laughs and yells along the battling flags. The nearest place was open, with tables where dices never ceased to roll and roll when the opponent was already shacking its own goblet. There were a few cheers despite rare spectators, a detail to convince the shy pegasus to follow them despite this atmosphere of heavy voices and moves. Angel on her head upset that she stalled seized tufts of her long sleek mane and with them obliged her legs to move, in disarray. As the group reformed in front of the players they felt their thrill and glances at each other before luck decided the winner. Once there it was actually looking quiet, not far was another tent exposing statues in a fine art. "Now that, I can appreciate!" And when others wouldn't follow Rarity went her own way, promising to catch them later for the chess game. After another throw of dice it was Rainbow Dash finding an excuse and with Pinkie lost with new friends the group felt the need to move to other attractions.
They crossed other entrances of tents with new games of strength and wit, some frightening, some so very simple as a large hopscotch. Further was the throw of logs, actually boulders, a disappointment for Pinkie joining them there while they watched beasts raise masses of stone bigger than them, in a strong move project them in the air and make the ground tremble at their fall. A griffon took its turn throwing the boulder with an amazing might, not far enough. He walked away, humiliated. "Those games seem sound" Applejack recognized, still suspicious. "T'was me not being fair I reckon." But they were already moving to new games of ropes before races began, through soil lanes and in the air by large poles that folded at each passage. The afternoon was well advanced when the crowd turned to the biggest tent and voices called for the game of chess to soon begin.
"Twilight?" Her timid voice was hard to hear in the fair. "Me and Angel, we will support you all we can."
"We'll be on the tiers don't ya worry!"
That made the purple mare feel lighter, as her baby dragon finally chose to leave her back and on its feet assured he would encourage her even if she lost. A scream of indignation forced him to turn, Rarity coming back then nodding that she would be there too.
"Thank you all!" She couldn't express her feelings any better. "I know Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie will be there too… so I won't disappoint any of you!"
"You will do so much more! That much we know and you don't even suspect. You will be a styled mind to your moves, and a radiant mare in your looks!"
She was about to say more when a call from inside the tent forced them to get each their own way, from the tiers Pinkie Pie calling them where sufficient places awaited them, among all the friends she had made in a couple hours. It was as if the entire Festival had united under this one tent, all sit on wood banks held up high over the center where a trunk cut its roots still firm stood empty. Twilight walked in, still on a corner to see the sides, ponies here, griffons there, and a few mixed. She glanced at her friends, all four on their place waiting as everypony else for the game to begin. Something inside her was in alarm, and she looked everywhere among those assembled, in vain.
Calls were made for silent, and her opponent made her entrance. It was empress Leone, looking old and fierce, her eagle eyes piercing not just minds but a pony's emotions. A collar of many-coloured feathers was her whole attire, rocking when she approached the trunk. Her tired wings, large, were rubbing the soil like a natural dress to her.
"Celestia won't come." Her tone razor sharp.
A voice from the tiers: "She forfeits!"
"I don't."
All this time the unicorn had thought to study the Festival but she realized she knew nothing about that Leone. It was a fury only age could calm, but Twilight made up her mind.
"I'm here on behalf of princess Celestia!" And with those words she approached.
The griffon, feathers like the rays of dusk, seized her in her eyes, never to let go until they were face to face.
"Surely you're joking."
"I am not! She apologizes for not being able to be there herself, and she sent me to play for her."
"You." Cold voice. "You don't look much."
"Eh! Watch your tongue! She's the princess's most faithful student, and my friend!"
Not even one doubt the moment her heat raced, a look to find the blue mare almost at the first rows and defiant. When, she didn't care, she was so happy to see her. "Twilight Sparkle" Leone muttered, her distant behaviour now gone. Yet she still showed disdain.
"So be it. But don't seriously expect to win."
"Why not?" She asked, a bit offended. "What player would I be if I didn't offer a bit of challenge?"
From the crowd emerged a rumour, hums of griffons and ponies talking to each other. Her friends had noticed it too, a reaction she didn't expect. Twilight's thoughts were for the princess, and all in her behaviour was partly forced, humble and royal at the same time, with so many looking at every of her acts. But Leone had turned, laid down on the grass and snapped her claws. Flows of birds from the tiniest to large and proud came with the board and all pieces. Once the game was in place after flocking on the trunk birds flew away, minus one who idled a bit over the crowd, before Angel forced him to leave. Leone, all along, hadn't left her sight from the unicorn. She extended her arm, picked a pawn and, slowly, put it two squares further.
All under the tent became silent, interrupted only by short exclamations when a piece was threatened, or taken. It wasn't the Festival atmosphere anymore, and the mare had a hard time to concentrate on her game with all this attention. She was also moved every time the griffon would put a piece further. Yet soon, Twilight realized she had no trouble at all. The king was exposed, pawns neglected and no clear strategy at all. She tried to discern in her opponent's face what intentions could be behind such a play, to catch an apparent certitude in a behaviour, that made her ignore the game entirely. She was really convinced she would win no matter what, and showed it. Maybe she thought the pony was no match, so as with her two hooves caring to move the piece directly she slowly strengthened her advantage, gaining no reaction but this disdain, she decided to go for the king.
"Checkmate."
There was still a silence, but bit by bit spectators began to comment and the atmosphere broke, to return to those loud voices of the fair. Leone had turned her eyes, with the same strong expression, to the game. Finally her eyes opened of surprise, as if she just realized, as if it was just then that she understood she was losing all along. Twilight couldn't help but grin at that face, even if she wanted to hide it, all the satisfaction it was. Now, she thought, she had called it on herself. It was short lived, as the griffon returned to her cold harsh glance, and added in the deepest part of her eyes a tepid, wavering anger.
"I'll concede that defeat." Every word was dealt to cut with her past puzzlement. "One word of advice, though. Don't redo it."
"Don't redo what?" It was her turn to be puzzled.
"Don't try me. You will lose the next game."
A brutal distress grasped her, leaving her unable to respond. The crowd was now friendly, just appreciating the game without that stare that made her unwell, yet the tension was worse. Birds had come back, to Angel's dismay, all the pieces found their place again, aligned, this time white on Twilight's side. She hesitated, still trying to understand what was going on. It showed, when with her hooves she moved a pawn by just one square. This move had calmed the griffon who, at her turned, made one of her pawns go one, but she suspended her move, and made it two squares. Then the opponent pulled back, letting her in her thoughts. What was happening? A memory kept coming back, an alarm that finally reached her. Applejack saying games were rigged. She refused to believe that little bit of recollection in her mind, a change in her behaviour so discreet even she didn't notice it.
Her play had become more aggressive, trying to win, showing it. Some in the crowd were reacting, and she began to see a few leaving the tiers, then the tent. She was troubled, but her friends were there showing all they could that they were behind her. As long as they smiled, it was confidence that she made the right decision. Facing her, the griffon was paying more attention, yet still unaware, playing without care or strategy. It was the skill of an amateur, almost insulting. When the left rook fell, only then did she notice she had lost grounds, and was threatened. She frowned, for a couple second the beast didn't do anything anymore but contemplate the situation.
"What. Are you doing."
"You should really move that knight to cover your queen."
It was all she could answer at the moment, with mixed feelings.
"I hope you know what you are doing, little one."
But she moved the knight, exactly as Twilight had proposed, and the game accelerated. At each move a new glance, a new tension, her opponent trying suddenly to prevent the oncoming defeat, castling the king then staring at the mare with all of her pride. It was so simple, it was so clear, yet she refused to see it and kept playing, all of her game in place and the noticed she could provoke a draw. Why think of it, this look at her she wanted to end it along with the horrible idea that there could be cheating. There was only one last bishop to move to end it, and she took if between her hooves, moved it, just to be stopped in her moves by the griffon's claws. She was holding her leg, then released it, and let her knock over the king. Somepony in the crowd said checkmate, and cheers followed.
"Happy?" Leone hissed through her beak.
"Very!"
"You foal. Put your pride away and learn your lesson."
This was the last drop. Pride? On all the words she said, all the insults, this one was the one that made Twilight's ear whistle. Pride? The griffon was standing there, unable to admit defeat, her feathers playing on the chest like coloured notes of a discordant music. Birds separated them for a moment, a flock through which they could still feel how much had built for this one last game. Once away claws immediately took a piece to displace it, followed soon by the mare's horn glowing, and her pawn levitated to its new square. She grinned confident at her enraged opponent. Each after the other swiftly answered the previous move, with short times of planning and this time she could notice how the other player was actually trying to play, offering challenge finally. Too late, she moved her bishop into position, gained an edge. Suddenly Leone's claw ripped the trunk.
She felt fear at the sight of those marks in the wood, for just a nervous move her opponent furious, and that made the mare's resolve waver, then break completely. Maybe losing was better. She felt alone, so alone at that moment, she didn't even think to look for her friends. A exclamation came from the front tiers: "You can do it, Twilight!" And it was so genuine, so spontaneous that it caught on. As if revealing a long silent emotion among ponies, cheers broke everywhere, the entire crowd encouraging her. Hues answered, from the few griffons left, and she couldn't hear those. As she regained a composure, she saw Leone in complete disarray. Yes, the game was rigged. Now she knew it and the unicorn decided to make that griffon learn a lesson, a good lesson she would remember. Two moves, three, it was desperate, when pieces aligned.
"Checkmate."
Ponies exulted, full of joy, clapping around here, stopped short by Leone's strong voice freezing them inside:
"This is felony! No! This is a cause for war!"
She had stood up, roaring of rage, her gaze alone reducing everything Twilight felt to pure fear. But then she turned away, humiliated, and left the tent. What was left of the crowd, was a few griffons, a few creatures, and stunned ponies. During the time where all tried to recover from those threats, all was so quiet that they could hear that young pony whisper in a trembling voice: "She… she wouldn't… please, somepony tells she won't…" So Twilight turned to the crowd, or at least where her friends where, and began to talk, to reassure all, that it was just an empty threat from a bitter player, and princess Celestia wouldn't let it happen. She kept talking until spectators began to leave, and the tent turned almost empty, with only her, a few remainders and her friends around her. They all approved, even Applejack, but with unease, and for all Fluttershy's question remained a frightening reality.