A/N: Again, Ace Combat and My Little Pony belongs to Namco/Bandai and Hasbro respectively

Chapter 1: Exile

Beware the ghosts from your past...

2 Miles east of Sudentor, Neue Gryphus

April 21st, 2349hrs

Black Star nearly arrived at the city. His stomach is growling furiously. He needs to get into the city and find himself a decent meal, hopefully unnoticed. Since he left the Kingdom, Black Star left all of his money back home. He had reduced himself into a simple food thief just to stay alive for the last ten months.

Because of this, he had his fair share of close calls with the local authorities on each town he stopped by, one time he nearly got caught by the Equestrian guards in Stalliongrad.

Yep, good memories alright.

The sounds of thunder roared in the darkened skies above the city. Black Star can feel several water droplets hit his face. He needed to speed things up, the last thing he wants to do is spend the entire night drying and preening his feathers.

Suddenly, his flight was interrupted when a hot air balloon is flying on his flight path. Out of instinct or his military training, he evades the balloon but before he could recover, he saw a large blue griffin heading straight for him.

This time, he couldn't avoid it in time and a mid-air collision between the two griffins was inevitable.

Riddle found himself falling from the air after something hit him head on, he tries to regain stability but his wings still won't respond correctly. He saw the other griffin falling beside him but he's able to slow down in time while he was falling to his death.

In a last ditch attempt; Riddle flared his wings to slow down his descent but it's too late. The ground was already near when he tried to glide his way down, he soon found himself tumbling on the soil before stopping on a foot of a hill. The other griffin landed nearby and rushed to his crash site.

"Hey!" He called out, "Are you alright?"

Riddle groaned as he picked himself up but thanks to the fall, his feathers are dirty again. The other griffin arrived and Riddle was finally able to take a good look at him.

The griffin's feathers blends him well with the night while his gold eyes stood out from the darkness. He seems to be in his twenties to mid-twenties and by judging the hardened expression on his face, he's a soldier of some sort.

"Are you alright sir?" he repeated,

"I'm fine." Riddle groaned as he stands up. He gives his limbs and wings a quick stretch before turning his attention at the young griffin in front of him.

"You should have payed more attention at your front."

"I'm very sorry about that," the dark griffin apologized though his expression remains the same. "It was my fault. I didn't saw that blimp until the last moment."

"Well we're still alive and that's what matters." Riddle spoke. "Where are you going anyway?"

"I'm heading to Sudentor." The griffin replied. "How about you?"

"That's classified." Riddle responded. The two went silent for a minute before Riddle realized something.

"Oh where are my manners." Riddle chuckled sheepishly as he offered his talon for a handshake, "I'm Riddle Wonderfalke, former member of the Neue Gryphus Defense Force."

"Black Star." The young griffin replied as he grabbed Riddle's talon and shook back.

"Black Star?" Riddle repeated, his eyes narrowed a bit.

"Yes and I'm sure you've heard of me." The griffin, Black Star said gravely before turning away.

"Yes. I've heard of you." Riddle began, Black Star could hear Riddle's disgust from his voice. "You along with that arrogant fool Red Cyclone assassinated Lightbeak and started a war that nearly burned Equestria to the ground. You and him are a disgrace to the griffin name."

Black star didn't responded as the blue griffin glared at him. Riddle hated griffins that are too proud of themselves and looked down on other species, especially the ponies. Riddle himself didn't have any problems with those multicolored equines.

To him, the ponies are a peaceful race in contrast of the griffins. He was amazed on how the Royal Princesses and the so-called the Elements of Harmony managed to keep Equestria out of harm from various threats.

Especially the threat that nearly decimated the Griffin Kingdom and a nation west of Equestria.

But Red Cyclone was nothing but an arrogant fool who wanted to challenge the Princesses' rule, his death was caused by his own doing. Even if he did succeeded winning the war, Riddle seriously doubted that he along with his blind followers would win against the alicorn sisters.

Riddle suddenly remembered something, he checks at the direction from which he come from before turning back to face Black Star with a slight worry written on his face.

"Well, it's been nice meeting you but I have my own problems right now and I won't turn you in to the authorities."

"How can I trust you?" the dark griffin said.

"I give you my word." Riddle replied as he stretched his wings and turned away. "Farewell."

Riddle flaps his wings and took off into the air but he froze when the Black Star called out to him.

"Who are you running from?"

The blue griffin didn't turned around.

"I can tell by your body language."

Riddle sighed as he faced the Black Star again,

"Listen, I don't have time to explain the situation right now." He spoke. Black Star's expression didn't change a bit. "But let's just say you and I shouldn't be here right now."

"I see." Black Star nodded. He flapped his black wings and flies to Riddle's current altitude. "Then you better explain it fast so we can get out of here."

"And why should I tell you?" Riddle asked him.

Black Star just shrugged,

"I give you my word. Besides, I will gain no profit by betraying a word from a knight such as yourself."

Riddle wasn't convinced by his words, he's still doubt that Black Star could be trusted but he still need to get out from the city and he's not getting anywhere with a curious griffin tailing him with all sorts of questions.

"Alright." Riddle sighed, "Long or short version?"

"Short." Black Star answered.

"OK. Some company wants something from me and it involves some new weapon they're trying to create."

"And you refused to take part in it?" Black Star concluded.

"Correct." Riddle sighed. "The weapon's usage contradicts my views. Unfortunately they won't take no for an answer."

"I see. Very troublesome indeed." The griffin nodded. Suddenly, something in the skies caught his attention, it's a small red object that's heading for their current location and it seems to be diving towards them. He pointed at the darkened skies and yelled;

"Watch out!"

Out of muscle reflex, Riddle jumped clear out from the path of the unknown attacker. Both griffins lose their balance and falls into the ground. He could feel the ground shake as the attacker landed with sheer brute force; throwing bits of dirt and pebbles from where the attacker landed.

The two griffins gazed at the newly formed crater in front of them. When the dust cleared, they can finally see who their attacker was.

It's a pegasus, it had a red coat and it wore a red armor which somehow had a pulsating glow around it's ridges. The two griffins could swear they can see the same glow emitting from the pegasi's bulging veins underneath it's blood red coat.

The pegasus glared the two griffins with its empty red eyes, sizing up and analyzing the two half-eagle creatures. Black Star couldn't help but to feel intimidated by the pegasi's lifeless gaze. The pegasi's glare is nearly equivalent to that ace, Mobius during the war and he knew by judging the pegasi's appearance and behavior that this is not an ordinary pegasus.

An eternity seems to have passed until the pegasi stretched his wings and flew directly into Riddle, the griffon manages to evade the attack, allowing the red pegasus to hit the hillside. The impact sent soil and rocks flying everywhere. Before debris cleared, the pegasi charged at the blue griffin again and this time, Riddle can't evade in time.

He could only put his talons in front of him in a last ditch effort to defend himself.

The pegasi punched Riddle head on, sending him flying to the next hillside. Black Star can only watch as Riddle disappeared from his view. He knew it's impossible for a pony to send a griffin flying with a single punch. If he decides to intervene, he wasn't even sure if he could stand a chance against this pegasus but Riddle needs help, and he's the only one around who can help him.

Black Star stretched his wings and flies towards the red pegasi, the pegasi noticed him and ascends into the skies, evading his attack. Black Star flew upwards and locked his gaze into the pegasi. The two circled around for a moment before Black star makes his first move by bringing his talon straight into the pegasi's face.

The pegasus dodged the claw swipe and retaliated with a punch to Black Star's gut. The pain was unimaginable, Black Star gasped as he felt some of his guts being thrown back and the air inside his lungs being forced out. He cringed in pain as he slowly flaps down to the ground. This gives the red pegasus an opening for an attack. But before he can deliver it, Riddle tackled him from below and tossed him away.

"Try harder scum." He growled.

The red pegasi stabilized and glared at the blue griffin. Without any delay, he charged again but Riddle was ready for this. When the pegasi was close, Riddle flew upwards and when the pegasi is directly underneath him, he grabbed the pegasi's wings and tossed him down to the ground. The pegasus shrugs off the attack before flying up to face Riddle again, this time Riddle waste no time bringing his talons into the pegasi's head but the pegasi evaded his attack and retaliated with single kick aimed at Riddle's neck. The griffin evaded it but to his surprise. the pegasi launched another attack directed at the his right arm.

Riddle couldn't evade it in time and the hoof make contact to it's target. Riddle growled in pain when he felt the bones on his arm cracked by the blow. Before he could recover, the pegasi lunged at him again and Riddle didn't have time to react. Both combatants are locked in a brawl as they fell down from the skies. Riddle noticed that he's in a very bad position for a landing. He grabbed the pegasi and placed him underneath, planning to use the pegasus' body as a cushion.

The two struggled some more before landing hard into the ground, Black Star who had just recovered from the punch covered his eyes from the debris. When the dust cleared, Black Star saw Riddle crawling out from the newly made crater, inside the crater he saw the red pegasi lying face up, not moving a bit.

Riddle coughed as he limped towards Black Star, he immediately ran to him to assist the wounded griffin.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"No. I can't feel my right arm." Riddle croaked as he coughed again. Black Star sighed as he helped Riddle sat down, he didn't know how bad Riddle's injury was and he felt that a few of his ribs were cracked when the pegasi punched him. The only option left for him is to head for Sudentor and get medical help.

"Come on, we need to go to Sudentor." Black Star spoke. Riddle thought about this for a minute before nodding in agreement.

As they prepared for the long journey ahead of them, both griffins heard something moving from behind. Black Star turned around and saw the red pegasi lunged directly at them. He throws Riddle aside and grabbed the pegasi's front hooves in time.

The two are now locked in combat.

Black Star tried to push the pegasi back but the pegasi kept pushing him back inch by inch, with his talons locked on the pegasi's hooves; he can only depend on the his retractable claws for a solid grip on the ground. Riddle managed to recover and saw the him struggling against the red pegasi.

"No!" he yelled as he tried to stand up, his right arm gave out immediately and he fell back down. "That pegasus is beyond your level. Don't fight him! Run while you still can!"

Black Star already knew what Riddle meant, he's no match for this pegasus' incredible power but if he tried to run, there's no doubt the pegasi will take Riddle away and drag him back to his own problems.

Thinking that his warning fell into deaf ears, Riddle groaned and picked up a small pebble and throws it at the pegasi's head. The pegasi growled like a Manticore as he turned around to face Riddle, his empty red eyes glared the blue griffin. This gave Black Star an opening he desperately needs. With a mighty heave, he pulled the pegasi towards him and punched his face with all his might.

He felt like he just punched a brick wall but the blow was effective, the red pegasi was thrown back about three feet from him. But soon he's back to his hooves, growling in anger as he starts flapping his wings. Riddle noticed this and used every ounce of his remaining strength to fly straight for the red pegasus, the two beings were thrown back on the crater.

Riddle coughed in pain but before the dust clears, the red pegasi tackled him and pin him down on the ground and starts choking him, completely unaware of Black Star whose armed with a rock behind him. The dark griffin hits the pegasi's head with the rock, dazing him until Riddle gained enough strength to kick him off from him. The pegasi stood up again but Black Star continued to pound him with the rock until the pegasi managed to block one of his attacks and retaliates with a single head-butt to Black Star's chest. The griffin cringed as he felt more of his ribs cracked from the blow.

Riddle was getting sick of this but he knew that the pegasi is virtually unstoppable when he's wearing that armor and taking the armor off will be hard with their current condition. He gazed around the crater, hoping to find something to stop that red juggernaut. Finally he spots a rock with a pointed tip and a new plan popped up into his head.

"Kid bring that pegasi here!" he yelled out,

"What's..ugh…your plan!?" Black Star replied as he continued struggling against the red pegasi,

"Just bring him here and I'll fill you with the rest!"

"I need a distraction first." Black Star replied back. Riddle quickly grabs another pebble and throws it at the pegasi's head, Black Star took his chance and pushed the pegasi towards Riddle's position. Once he's close, Riddle grabbed the pegasi's wings placed him to a path straight for the rock.

"Now push him forward!" Riddle commanded in which Black Star obliged, the two griffins are now pushing the red pegasi towards the pointed tip. The red pegasi struggled when he sees the pointed rock inched closer and closer towards his back, but the two griffins kept pushing him back until his coat and skin contacted the tip.

"PUSH!" The two griffins poured every last piece of their strength to impale the red pegasi on to the rock. The tip went through the pegasi's back and resurfaced in his stomach; soon dark red blood came out from the hole. The pegasi neighed in pain; struggling in vain to free himself but after a few seconds, he stopped moving and his hooves fell limp. The pulsating glow on his veins and armor died out along with his life.

The two griffins can only stare at the corpse in silence before Black Star fell down and coughed in pain.

"Oh no."

Black Star needed immediate treatment after all he's been through and he too needs his right arm to be examined for any bone fractures. There's only one place for the two griffins can go.

"C'mon kid." Riddle said as he placed Black Star's right arm around his neck, "We're going to get you some help."

"B…*cough*…but what about…"

"Shut your beak, you're in a bad state and so am I. We don't have any choice but to go to Sudentor and get medical help."

Black Star pondered, Sudentor was his current destination until he met Riddle and that red pegasi. But if he's brought inside a hospital, there's no doubt that some ponies and or griffins will recognize him and report back to the Griffin Kingdom.

But he's in no condition to hide from those eyes, he needed urgent medical help or else he'll die from his injuries.

He really didn't have any choice.

"Sudentor it is." He thought before everything went black.

Cranked up the Rating for obvious reasons.