Twilight Sparkle was astounded when Princess Celestia showed her the method of travel across Equestria and the eastern ocean to land of the griffons. A magnificent airship suspended high in the sky by an enormous series of balloons. A full complement of her pegasus guards and unicorns trained by Shining Armor were there to provide a royal escort. In addition to the guards, Twilight was informed that Spitfire, Soarin' and Fleet Foot were coming. She wasn't sure why, but was too enamored with the trip and had too many questions for the Princess to care.
"I've never seen this ship before Princess, did you have it commissioned for this trip?"
"No, Twilight, the Sky Chariot has been around quite some time, it hasn't seen use for ages, in fact I believe the last time we used it was when I had to see Lord Graywing regarding Nightmare Moon."
"Princess?"
"You see, Twilight it was our responsibility to raise the sun and moon, and when Nightmare Moon kept the world in the dark, let's just say that I needed to explain the situation to Lord Graywing." The Princess explained with a smile.
"That's what I really don't understand Princess, why would you have too? I needed to scour our library for even the slightest hint of Lord Graywing, but it sounds like, well, forgive me for sounding so bold, like you work for him." Twilight said sheepishly.
Princess Celestia warm smile eased Twilight's demeanor. "Not quite my little pony, you see a long time ago, Princess Luna and myself swore and oath to him. That we would raise the sun and moon for him. This was our promise, in exchange he gave us the lands to the west, what you know as Equestria, for our race to grow and thrive in peace under his protection."
"Protection, from whom?"
"The other great races, which all had eyes on Equestria's lands but were forbidden to take it from us."
"I don't understand Princess."
"That will be a lesson for another day, my pupil I suggest now you rest and in the morning we will be in the lands of the griffons and you might be able find the answers you seek in his libraries."
"Yes Princess," Twilight acknowledged as she curtsied and made her way to her quarters. She was indeed tired and had and exciting day tomorrow. As she prepared herself for bed she couldn't wait to tell her friends what she learned. She wondered just what they would say and considered what they might be doing themselves.
Rainbow Dash bobbed and weaved in between buildings and Ponyville citizens, swerving hard while maintain a low altitude, occasionally flipping sideways and galloping across the walls of buildings when she veered close to them. Gusts of wind followed her as a colorful rainbow followed in her wake. All the while reaching into her side saddle, grabbing letters and stuffing them in mailboxes as she went. She had proven to be the fastest mail carrier that Ponyville had ever seen, partly because she saw the town as one giant living obstacle course.
"Annnnd done!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she slammed home the last letter in bag. "Time?!" She said as she turned up to the sky and another pegasus that was watching her with a stop watch.
"Four minutes and seventeen seconds, a new record!" A bubbly voice called out, Derpy been timing her to see just how fast she was able to clear the southern route through town. "That was amazing, I have no idea how you do this so quic-Whooah!" Derpy's praise was cut short as her fluttering in the air waivered and sent her tumbling into a high hanging clothes line which through her off and sent her sputtering strait for the ground.
"Watch out!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she bolted under her and broke her fall before she hit the ground. "Ugh, you really need to watch out."
Derpy blushed, "I'm sorry, I have no idea how I didn't see that there."
"That's alright; Rainbow Dash's always got your back."
Rainbow Dash had been dealing a lot with Derpy lately, she figured it was punishment in conjunction with losing her cloud job but she didn't really mind. It took some getting used to, but she had managed to strike an easy friendship with her, it meant saving her from herself every now and then, but doing it made Rainbow Dash feel good about herself. A lot of ponies have always given her a hard time, Rainbow Dash was guilty of it herself, but after working with her for the past few days she had grown to like her and often ran routes with her.
"Well that's all for today, do you wanna go and pick up Dinky?" Rainbow Dash asked not sure of what to do, not having any plans of her own.
"Rainbow you got the routes done so quickly, we'd be their waaay to early, we should do something else, and I don't waiting around by the school house for her."
"Why?"
"Don't like the other waiting ponies, I'm pretty sure they all laugh at me when I'm not looking, probably cuz I ran into the trash bins outside three times."
"Aww come on, don't let some dumb ole' ponies get to you."
"I know they're just teasing, it's just I kind of wish they would take me seriously, at least in front of Dinky and her pals."
"Hmm, I see what you're saying. Forget it, let's grab something to eat then and kill some time."
Derpy's eyes lit up, "WE CAN GET MUFFINS!"
When Twilight awoke the next day, the airship had arrived in the land of the griffons, a place Twilight had only read about in books. As she stepped off the ship beside the Princess and the Wonderbolts she lost her breath at the sights of the city before her. There was a great city wall made of a dazzling white marble which protected a busting town far larger than Canterlot. Great stone buildings with exquisite masonry towered in every direction. Deep in the heart of the city laid a grand castle, such was its size Twilight couldn't fathom just how such a structure could be made. The inside was just as elaborate as the exterior, fine tapestries lined the walls, statues were strewn about, expansive murals spanned ceilings, and expertly designed glass window art consumed vast hallways.
Heavily armored griffons escorted the Princess and her entourage through the castle. Twilight felt exceedingly humbled before them, as they were much larger than the stallions that guarded the Princess and looked far more formidable. The only griffon Twilight had known was Gilda, but now surrounded by them she noticed that pony folk were dwarfed by them, save for Princess Celestia.
They were lead to high atop the castle via an exceptionally long staircase, and to a vast balcony that over looked the kingdom. In the center of the balcony there was a large stone table but aside from it and the views of the vast rolling vistas below they were alone.
"Will we be expected to wait long?" Princess Luna asked impatiently to one of the griffon guards.
Princess Celestia chuckled allowed, "Dear sister, has it been so long that you have forgotten Lord Graywing's desire for an over the top entrance?"
"Forgotten no, hoped he'd grown tired of it? Well, one can dream."
"Somethings will never change sister," Then turning to address Twilight. "Now my pupil today you hopefully will learn a great deal, after our meeting I'm sure you'll want to visit the castle library,"
"Oh yes Princess, I never seen such a place and I'm dying to find out how such a place came to be." She responded with wide eyes.
"Good, I want you to take record as much as you can here during our stay, perhaps it is time Equestria knows more about the world, and I think I know just the pony to document it."
"I would be honored to Princess."
"I expected nothing less," suddenly her ears perked and her head craned to the sky, "You can start taking notes now."
"Careful…Careful…"a worried Filthy Rich exclaimed as Rainbow Dash and Derpy as well as two other pegasus worked in Barnyard Bargains. They were delivering a large package to his store and he was nervous that they would be unable to get it inside safely. As the four of them huffed and wheezed and slowly set it on the floor of his shop, Derpy accidently kicked over a table knocking over knick-knacks, and shattering a glass bauble. "Oh dear now look what you've done, that cost money!" He advanced on Derpy, "You're going to pay for that, you can't just go around breaking anypony's merchandise and not pay for it."
"I'm, I'm so sorry; it was an accident I swear." Derpy eked out, shriveling away from his advance.
"Sorry? You know what I hate about sorry? It's a lousy excuse that everypony gives. Well you know what? It doesn't make things better does it? All it is an excuse. You know who gets by on excuses? Noponies that's who! Anypony whose somepony will stand up and admit what they done and not offer excuse. So which are you? Are you a somepony or are you a nopony?"
"Back off buddy, it was an accident nothing more!" Rainbow Dash interrupted him. She then reached into her saddle and cast out four bits on the floor. "There's your money now let us go and stop being a bully! Come on Derpy were out of here!" The blue Pegasus snatched up her friend by hoof and stormed off out the building with the others. As soon as they were short distance away from the store the other pegasus offered their farewells and went off to complete their routes. Once they were out of ear shot, Rainbow Dash began to complain out loud to her friend. "Geez what big jerk, can you believe the nerve of that guy. I know he's got a lot of money, but that doesn't make him better than the rest of us. I'm telling Derpy there is nothing I hate more than a bully. You know what I mean?" Rainbow Dash waited for the answer to her question but it never came. "Derpy, you know what mean?"
"I'm not a nopony…" a weak response came from the grey pegasus.
Rainbow Dash turned to see tear welled up in the eyes of her friend and rushed to comfort her. "Hey now, listen that guy was just being a jerk, of course you're not a nopony. He was just upset you broke his stuff."
"It's not just him Rainbow Dash, other ponies, all over town, at work, all over, they always talk about me. I'm never given any important jobs. Sometimes I feel like I will be doing this forever, and no one will give me the chance to do anything amazing. You know what that's like?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I can relate to it. Come on, let's head into town and take our break."
The two wandered into to town and made their way to an outdoor café that over looked some construction, some ponies were setting up a booth across the street and they were in the process of putting up the sign.
"So you're saying that you didn't get into the Wonderbolts just because Spitfire was jealous that you would steal Soarin' away from her?" Derpy asked eyes wide with amazement.
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said nonchalantly. "Truth be told I didn't even know they were a couple, it's okay though, just means she thinks I'm a threat. I believe that she thinks that I not only could take her stallion but probably her job. I mean if you ask me Spitfire really isn't that good." Rainbow Dash lackadaisically lied. She found that the best way to deal with her sorrow of that day was to make light of it. She still tossed and turned at night every so often but she tried her best to not let it get her down, or at least not show it to the world that it bothered her. "It's like, whatever, and don't get me started on kickin' clouds. Those guys in the weather factory are the biggest bunch of mor-"
"Rainbow Dash LOOK!" Derpy yelled interrupting her while pointing to the booth across the street.
The banner poster had been erected showing Twilight's brother Shining Armor pointing outwards with the royal guards standing behind him as well as the Wonderbolts flying in the background. Superimposed in the background were the words 'Are you ready to be somepony? Equestria needs you…be the pony she needs you to be!'
Twilight stood dumbstruck. Lord Graywing descended from the sky with the sun at his back so as she looked up to see, she was blinded to by the streams of sunlight that pierced between his wings. He landed gently on the ground before them, clad in brilliant armor that gleamed with a silvery radiance. He towered over the griffon guards that had led them to balcony, Princess Celestia only came up to his chest. Then to even further her shock, she saw something she had never seen before, Princess Celestia bowed low before him. The Princess had never knelt to anyone before.
"PSST!" a loud whisper followed by a swift jab to her leg brought her attention away from the sight. Princess Luna, who was also kneeling, had given Twilight a kick and gestured with her head for her to kneel as well. After realizing what was happening, and that by not bowing she was disrespecting him, she dropped so quickly she accidentally banged her head on the floor.
He acknowledged them with a slight tilt of his head and once everyone rose he addressed them, his voice strong with undeniable authority. "I trust your travels found you well," He paused waiting for the Princess to nod in agreement. "Am I also to assume that your presence here means Equestria will answer my call?"
"Equestria heeding the call of her true king? Ha!" A dark raspy voice echoed from behind the doors the lead them to the balcony before being flung open. Yet another imposing figure came forth a tall bipedal creature reminiscent of the diamond dogs that plagued the lands on the outskirts of Ponyville, however the one the entered was taller, and far fiercer looking and clad in armor of his own. "I'm sure they don't even know your name or the weight it carries. From the tales I heard, Celestia does not even let her subjects know that it's your armies that protect its borders."
"Fenrir, charming as ever I see." Princess Celestia responded to his brutish slander with poise and elegance as Luna offered the wolf a smile. Then turning back to Lord Graywing, "My Lord …" Celestia paused for a moment searching for words, yet another thing Twilight had never seen before. "If my Lord wills it, Equestria will stand beside him. I come here today though, to try and better understand, what it is that would move my king to request aid."
This was political talk if Twilight had ever seen it, never before had she seen the Princess tip toe over her words. Lord Graywing was slow to respond as if he was deciding they dignified a response. The dog-like creature she had addressed as Fenrir stood aloof as if he was annoyed by her request.
"A fair question," the griffon king responded. "One that deserves fair answer," He placed one fore claw on the round table and it instantly hummed alive with a magic Twilight was not familiar with. Instantly the depiction of the continent appeared on the table. "Southeast of us we are involved in a conflict that is growing large at an alarming rate. An enemy came forth close to a year ago with an army to challenge my rule in my own kingdom. At first they were of no major concern, as it seemed we were easily able to repel them, but with each defeat, they return stronger with more and more troops." As he spoke the table reacted to his voice and displayed with little apparitions to demonstrate the battles. "Therein lies the problem, the army seems to feed off of us."
Rainbow Dash looked down at a sheet paper before her. She had agreed to walk over to the booth with Derpy to just talk to them. Problem was, once they started talking, Rainbow started liking. The more they talked the more she liked. Now a contract was in front of her. With a few strokes of pen she'd be in the Equestrian Military. Everything moved so fast, but Derpy was right next to her and was already signing. She didn't know if it was the right thing but deep inside her, the need for excitement started building up in her again, she might not be a Wonderbolt, but she could still fly for Equestria. She, could still be a..
"Rainbow Dash! I'm in, I'm not gonna be a mail carrier anymore, I'm finally gonna be somepony!"
"That's awesome Derpy!" Rainbow responded. Something about Derpy's enthusiasm got to her. Something deep in her clicked. She looked at the stallion across the booth that sat in front of her. "Where do I sign?"
"I beg your pardon Lord Graywing, I'm afraid I don't understand," Princess Luna said. "What do you mean feed?"
"At first I thought the enemy to be traitors to the throne, but my troops tell me that after the first few battles they noticed some the troops they were fighting were our own comrades, fallen from previous battles. This has been confirmed, if one them is captured or falls to anything save the most grievous of injuries, they return to the battle field and fight against us. Once more, they will still return if grievous injury is not dealt to them. There numbers have swollen and they have grown countless. We believe they have fortified themselves with more troops by taking them from the wild tribes in the far east."
"My Lord, how is it that you have not been able to contain them and prevent their spread? I believed your nation's strength inexhaustible," Princess Celestia prodded.
"This foe," Fenrir interrupted. "Is like none other, its troops fight without fear, without regard for pain and strike out with no regard for their own lives. It is as if the whole army moves as one, and strikes as one. Each troop driven to complete its task weather it lives or not. I have seen my soldiers inflict wounds that would strike anyone down, yet they will not falter all the same."
"Who would do this?" Twilight spoke out. All eyes turned to her and immediately she felt as if she spoke out of turn. "I apologize if it is not my place, but who would want to hurt so many?"
Lord Graywing focused hard on her, then his gaze softened, he turned to Fenrir and nodded. Fenrir spoke and the table responded depicting a figure.
"We have very few contacts with him but those of us who have and have lived have told tells of a creature vested in blue armor, whose red eyes burn so bright they pierce your soul. His body is is coverd in blades sharper than sword; He flies so fast he shatters the sky and sets it on fire in his wake. He strikes as quick as lighting and as hard as thunder." The description given was illustrated in the magic table, so that they all might see the one responsible for all the pain.
"How do you propose victory my King, against such a terrible thing?" Princess Celestia asked appearing troubled by the news that was revealed.
"With your help" Lord Graywing said solemnly.
Twilight couldn't remove her eyes away from image, the only thought racing through her mind was just where such a monster could have come from.