Ch.9: Lionwing to the Rescue

Kaa and Hiss jumped with yelps and turned with a start when a light flashed behind them. Behind them stood Discord and a cage holding Princess Celestia and Rainbow Dash.

"Ma-Master," Kaa hissed. "We can explain. We were ssstanding watch over the prisonersss asss you have told usss to do when—" He stopped when his superior held up his hand to silence him.

"I'll listen to your excuses later," he said with a glare, "but right now, I want you to guard someone else for me." He then snapped his fingers, and the cage opened up. He then held his lion paw out to Celestia with a flirty grin on his face.

"Shall we, my princess?" he purred. Rainbow shot out between the two deities, anger in her eyes at the chaotic demon.

"Don't you DARE touch the princess!" she yelled. Princess Celestia then placed a comforting hoof on the blue Pony's shoulder.

"It will be alright, Rainbow," she said to her assuringly. She then took her hoof off to place it into Discord's paw. He then led her out of the cage before closing it and locking it again. He then turned to Kaa and Hiss sharply.

"Keep watch over Rainbow Dash," he ordered them. "Knowing the traitor Lionwing, he'll be coming here to save her. So be on your guard."

"Right," Hiss replied with a nod. Then Discord and Celestia left for the other room. Once in it, Discord snapped his fingers again to close the doors, leaving Rainbow and his snake minions inside.

"Well, that went well," Hiss said to Kaa with a bit of relief.

"Oh, shut up," Rainbow spatted, turning her back to them. She didn't want them to see her tears that are starting to form in her eyes. She was having a hard time with Lionwing working for Discord. It's like he never liked her in the first place.

"That'sss no way for a lady to talk!" she heard Kaa reply indignantly.

"Well, how would you feel if someone you fell in love with turned out to be working for your enemy?" she yelled, turning to him sharply despite her tears. Kaa slithered back in surprise, not expecting that kind of outburst.

"You…fell in love with Lionwing?" Hiss replied in confusion. "I didn't think it was possible sssince he wanted to fit in by ssserving sssomeone." Now it was Rainbow's turn to be confused.

"He's working with Discord to be accepted?" she asked. "Wherever did he get that stupid idea?"

"Well, he probably never told you thisss," Kaa answered calmly, "but Lionwing, like usss, wasss from another world. He ssserved thisss guy and he never felt lonely because of it. With hisss master gone, he then felt alone…until Discord had usss bring him here and convinced him to work for him." Rainbow couldn't believe her ears. Lionwing only wanted to be accepted, and servitude was all he knew.

"Personally, I didn't think you two would fall for each other," Hiss confessed to Rainbow. "I had alwaysss thought gryphonsss and poniesss to be mortal enemies." The rainbow Pony arched her eyebrow at him. That's not how the gryphons and Ponies are in Equestria. Sure, she got ticked off at Glida, but that was only because how she treated her Pony friends.

"How long did you say you've been living here in Equestria?" she asked him.

BAM! Before the two snakes could answer her question, Lionwing flew into one of the smashed open windows and crashed into the two snakes, knocking them out cold.

"Nice sneak attack, Lionwing," Cornwall said as he, Devon, and Ayden flew in after him. The two-headed dragon then went over to the cage and used their dragon fire to melt the lock and free Rainbow. As she stepped out, Lionwing looked away nervously. He's still unsure of what Rainbow thinks of him now that she knows his secret.

"Lionwing…" Rainbow said to him, causing him to turn to her again.

"Rainbow, I'm sorry that I lied to you!" he cried out, tears starting to sting his eyes. "I never meant to hurt like I did. I just…I just never expected to fall in love with you like I have started to when we found ourselves…in that position at the flowery hill."

Rainbow gave him a soft smile. She can tell that he's not lying to her. His tears even backed up the truth. She walked up to him and brushed his tear away with her hoof.

"You can explain everything to me later," she replied softly, "but right now, please help me save Princess Celestia." Lionwing smiled back in reply, feeling in his heart that she has forgiven him.

"Anything for you, my love," he said. "Where is she?"

"Discord took her with him into the other room," she answered, pointing at the closed doors.

Meanwhile, Discord and Celestia were lying on his divan together, Discord holding her while kissing her neck softly. Celestia made no attempt to pull away. She's powerless against him without her wings and horn. And she really enjoys this sort of wooing.

"Dis…Discord," she whimpered softly. "You know that…they'll come to…to save me." The Draconequus just lifted his head up to look into her eyes softly.

"Oh, I know, my little Pony Princess," he purred, nuzzling his nose into her blushing cheek. "That's why I'm making it good while it last." He then pressed his lips into hers for a kiss…just before Lionwing broke down the doors to bust them open! Rainbow trotted up to his right side, Ayden flew onto his shoulder, and Devon and Cornwall stood behind his left.

"Oh, my goodness!" Devon cried, covering his eyes.

"Aw, gross!" Cornwall cried with disgust. "Couch make-out!"

"Get your lips off of her NOW!" Lionwing roared, anger in his bright green eyes. Looking up at him in annoyance, Discord obeyed.

"You know," he said irritably, "there is such things as knocking and please!"

"You have a lot of nerve kidnapping Rainbow and taking away her wings, demon," the gryphon growled.

"Yeah?" Discord shot back, sitting up straight on the divan with his arms crossing his chest and his tail wrapped around Celestia. "Well, consider it payback for betraying me back at Ponyville."

"I don't care about that now!" Lionwing shot back. "All I care about is getting Rainbow back and making up for what I have done!" His former master then smirked at him.

"Is that a challenge?" he asked. The gryphon is really starting to hate his smirk right now.

"You bet your claws it does," he answered.

"Alright, then," Discord replied. "We'll use physical combat since I'm low on chaotic energy. Last one standing is the winner, and no backup. If I win, Celestia's all mine forever."

"And if I win," Lionwing added, "you must let her and Rainbow Dash go."

"Deal," he replied, getting down on all fours. The gryphon then turned to Devon and Cornwall.

"You two watch Rainbow and Ayden," he said to them. "And don't interfere; this is between him and me." Rainbow then rubbed her head into his neck as Ayden then flew over to the dragon's shoulder.

"Be careful," she whispered to him. Lionwing then rubbed his beak into her nose.

"I'll be alright," he whispered back, "as long as you are safe and out of harm's way." All but the gryphon then stood back, and Lionwing himself stepped forward to face Discord in battle.

The battle then started with Discord charging at him and vice versa. It was vicious but incredible. They fought each other like a pair of male lions fighting over leadership over a pride. Former master against former servant, former servant against former master. Talons against claws/talons, and beak against snaggletooth. Both were in great fury and appeared equally matched. Lionwing can feel pain from the Draconequus' claws/talons in his side or the teeth against his neck, but he kept fighting. He can hear Rainbow cheering him on over the others' voices, and it made him feel stronger. Soon the fight was over, and Discord was down for the count, unable to fight anymore. Lionwing stood on all fours with still strong legs, panting from exhaustion.

"Fight is…over…" he panted to the Draconequus. "I…win…"

"Lionwing!" Rainbow cried, trotting up to her side. Suddenly, she felt herself lifting up from the ground like a kite. She turned to her back and saw that her wings are back.

"My wings!" she cheered happily before turning to Princess Celestia. She has also gotten back her wings and her horn. Lionwing's victory must have won them back for the two Ponies.

"Rainbow," the Pegasus Pony heard Lionwing say to her, "are you alright?" She turned to her gryphon lover. He was quite a mess. There were missing or ripped feathers on his neck from where Discord bit him, and the same goes for the feathers on his upper body were his opponent clawed at him. He also has cuts and bruises on him, and his fur is a ruffled mess. There was a scratch on his beak, and Discord came close to leaving a scar over his right eye. Rainbow just wanted to cry in front of him.

"Me?" she cried as she started tearing up. "You got beaten up all over! I should be asking you that question!" Lionwing just chuckled a little bit before hugging her, and she cried quietly into his soft chest.

"I apologize, my love," he purred. "I just wanted to be sure."

"I'm just so glad that you're okay," she whimpered with a smile. The two of them then felt a powerful presence and turned to see Princess Celestia approaching them.

"Princess Celestia," Lionwing said to her with a low bow, "I hope you can forgive for what I have done."

"Of course I do," she replied with a smile. "Now let us return to Ponyville…" She then concentrated on a teleportation spell. As she was, she sent a message to Discord alone via mental spell.

"I will see you again soon, Discord. I promise…" Discord smiled in reply, but the others didn't notice.

"I'll see you later too, my little Pony Princess." Celestia smiled before her horn glowed as did herself, Rainbow, and the others (save Discord). And they've vanished in a flash of light. When they did, Discord slowly rose to his feet, his body aching all over. Just then, Kaa and Hiss burst into the room after waking up.

"Master!" Kaa cried. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now," the Draconequus answered. "Right now, I need some ice."