Alright, critters! Due to circumstances beyond my control, I've been delayed in finishing this latest chapter in a time I'm comfortable with. So, to show you I'm not slacking off/ still interested/ still alive (WHATEVER) I'll whet your whistles with what I got so far. Remember at the end of last chapter I mentioned about foreshadowing something BIG? Prepare your bodies, bronys...

=======================================================================================

Ground Zero: Canterlot: Prelude

The griffon and the diamond dog sat across from each other in the royal carriage, neither one regarding the other with much interest since they both climbed in outside the palace gates. Though the interior was large enough for several ponies to be comfortably seated on the plush, red cushions, the two creatures still sat as far from each other as possible while the carriage made it’s way through the city streets. Hidden behind the tinted glass, the diamond dog watched the happy world of the ponies as they went about their day. Foals playing, mares and stallions happily trotting down the street together. His mind wondered back to a certain white unicorn mare with a purple mane he and his fellow workers had taken prisoner quite a while ago. It seemed to make some bit of sense then. But for the life of him, he couldn’t justify taking a happy pony like her away from a life like this.

Occasionally, the diamond dog would glance back at the griffon, just in time to see her turn away, feigning interest in whatever was outside her own window at the time. He noticed side glances and quick, curious looks out of the corner of her eye, knowing that his race had only themselves to blame for the suspicion that other races held for them. Resolving himself, he took a breath and decided to speak to her.

“Hello, Miss Griffon. My name’s Rover.” he said, extending a paw.  It was short, sweet and to the point, and not at all expected by the noble female. Caught off guard by this sudden show of interest, she tentatively reached out and gripped his paw in her own, shaking gently.

“Gilda Grizelda. Ambassador of the kingdom of Althera. Nice to meet you.”she said, releasing his paw and turning a bit to face him better. “So... what brings a diamond dog all the way from the Swayback mountains to the steps of the Royal Palace?”

“I came to speak with the pretty princess ponies. I am something of an ambassador, too. I needed to tell them about trouble in my tribe’s mines. It seems that a group of metal ponies and other beasts were attacking us.” he said bluntly. Gilda raised an eyebrow, leaning forward in her seat.

“Metal ponies and beasts attacking your mines?” The thought of her own encounter with a pair of ponies acting violently outside their nature sprang to her mind. Could his tribe have had an incident with the same ponies? “Say, Rover...they wouldn’t be-” Gilda’s thought was cut off mid- sentence by a loud BOOM and a hard tremor. The carriage came to a sudden stop, the chauffeur ponies suddenly halt shaking them in their seats. Rover opened his door, peeking his head out the and looking at the two stallions hooked to the harness, their mouths open in shock. Gilda stuck her head out over his, looking up the road.

Far ahead, near the gate to the city was a large, black billow of smoke. Muffled screams from the pedestrians around the area could be heard all the way back by the carriage. In the distance, pegasi ponies scrambled through the sky to get away. But above all the commotion from the crowd around them and the disaster near the gates, one single sound in particular proved to catch the attention of Rover; the loud, tell-tale howl of a wolf.

“... the Beast...” Rover hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowed. Gilda leaned away from him, surprised by the canine’s sudden change in demeanor. The diamond dog sprang from the open door of the carriage, forgoing any attempt at civility as he took off on all fours. Shocked by his actions, Gilda bolted from the door as well, taking flight for the first time since her attack to pursue the creature.

“Hey! Just what do you think you’re doing?! Where are you going?!” she shouted, catching up to the spry creature with more than a little effort. He answered her without looking, continuing to run through the streets, hopping over obstacles and ponies alike as he navigated the panic around him.

“That howl was the Beast! He’s here, attacking the ponies! I have to stop him! I WON’T LET HIM!” Rover growled loudly, picking up speed. Gilda found the tightness in her wings fading, the workout this scruffy canine gave her being just the thing they needed. She looked ahead, almost losing altitude as a shocking sight caught her eyes. Swerving around in the sky above the plume of smoke was the Fireball. The same red and orange attacker that burned her and knocked her out of the sky into the Everfree Forest. Inside her, she felt a rage build up, rivaled only by the rage she felt towards the pink earth pony who stole her former friend from her. Beating her wings harder, she dove down on Rover, her talons grabbing him by the shoulders. He gave a sharp !YELP! as he felt himself being lifted off the ground by the powerful hybrid creature.

“Lady Gilda?! What are you doing?!” he shouted above the roar of the wind around them. Gilda barely gave him a downward glance.

“You wanna help the ponies get away from this ‘Beast,” that’s fine by me! But personally...” Her eyes narrowed, the Fireball growing larger in her vision as they approached the area above the marketplace. “... I have a score to settle.”

===

The train from Ponyville pulled into the station, screeching to a halt as the conductor announced their arrival at Grand Canter Station. The doors to the passenger cars sliding open and dozens of ponies filed out eagerly entering the pony capitol city. Baggage was gathered, friends and loved ones were met and schedules were kept. However, for one group of friends, the true test was just waiting to get off the train.

“Heheheh. C’mon now, darlin.’ It’ll be our turn soon enough. Just cool yer hooves.” the large red stallion said, shifting his shoulders as he adjusted large the large horse collar around his neck. Beside him, a young buffalo cow fidgeted in place, her gaze turning back and forth between the windows overlooking the train platform and the slowly shortening line between her and the exit.

“I can’t help it, Mr. Big Mac! I’m just so happy to be here! I mean, I loved Ponyville, but this city is so much bigger... I just want to go out and see everything!” When she and her beau, Breaburn, received a letter from Applejack at the royal palace regarding learning more about the Apple family history, the two left to gather Brea’s older cousin as soon as possible. Greeted at the Ponyville platform by Big Mac, the two were given a quick tour of the town by the large farm pony as they all waited for next train to arrive. However, what should have been a quick walk around town soon turned into a point-by-point visit to every shop, café and public building, the young buffalo usually leading the way and leaving her two stallion escorts behind in the dust. In Little Strongheart’s eyes, Appaloosa was a beautiful place. Peaceful and quiet, with the most exciting event usually being the raising of another barn or a new family moving to town. Growing up traveling the planes with her herd, there were no buildings or trains or travelers passing through, bringing stories of other lands or amazing places. To her, Ponyville was already bigger than anything she could have hoped for. But now, seeing Canterlot in all it’s shining, towering glory, the young chieftain’s daughter was beside herself with excitment.

“Lil’ Strongheart, y’all can stop callin’ Big Mac ‘Mr.’  Yer practically one of the family, now. And I know this is excitin,’ but please, PLEASE just stay by Mac and me, ok?” Breaburn pleaded with his mate, already know he’d have to wrangle her back, the same way he had to when they went to gather Big Mac. “This here’s a might bigger than Ponyville, darlin.’ Y’all could get lost if ya take off on us. Why, I remember when I was just seven, and came to visit our Uncle and Aunt Orange. Heh. It took my Ma and Pa an hour to-” Breaburn’s reminiscing was interrupted by his cousin’s heavy hoof, tapping him on the shoulder.

“Um, Cuz? Look.” Mac said, pointing out the train window. Breaburn turned to see Little Strongheart, already outside and galloping down the platform.

“Aw, for the love of apples...” the frontierspony exclaimed under his breath. With a bit of shoving and bumping, the two stallions made their way through the crowd, following the path their buffalo friend took moments ago. After turning down some dead ends and blind corners, the two found themselves in the lobby of the Grand Canter Station. The inside area was huge, full of modern stonework and statues. In the center was a large pillar with six sides, detailing all the daily schedules for the different trains going to all the different terminals around Equestria and beyond. All around them were creatures from all over the world; griffons, zebras, deer, diamond dogs, and even a small dragon or two. However, in all this commotion, there was only one young buffalo cow to be found. Well, that is to say, to be HEARD.

“Breaburn! Big Mac! Come see this! This is AMAZING!” Little Strongheart’s voice carried over the din of conversations in the large, open building, drawing stares and an off-color comment from some of the parties disrupted by her excitement. As Breaburn made his way past the crowd to her, the occasional dirty look from his large red cousin quieted any and all less-than-flattering rumblings from the various pedestrians around them. Together they came upon Strongheart in front of a pair of gigantic glass doors, standing on her hindlegs with her front hooves and nose pressed against them.

“Oh, wow... Breaburn, Big Mac... can we go... exploring? I really... REALLY wanna see this city...” she said, her amazement making her talk slower than usual. The cousins looked out the glass door at the city before them. The doors opened at the top of a tall set of stairs, giving those exiting the building a grandiose view. Before them, the marketplace section of the city stretched out, leading from the base of the stairs to the city gates, more carriages and trailers still entering, despite it already being just past mid-day. Breaburn trotted up beside Strongheart, placing a hoof on her shoulder. He leaned over and gave her a quick, gentle kiss on the cheek. As if being released from a magic spell, the buffalo snapped out of her stary-eyes daydream.

“Darlin,’ I promise you now; as soon as we get the info on the Apple family’s history, we’ll take the time to go walkin’ around town. But you gonna promise me.” he said, stroking a hoof on the side of cheek. “you gotta stick by us and keep outta trouble. Think you could do that, my lil’ buffalo gal?” Strongheart grinned at the pet name her beau had given her, her eyes glancing over to Big Mac as he tried to remain stoic and fight against his forming grin.

“Oh... alright, my stallion. I’ll keep calm and stay by you.” she said, standing again on all fours. Together, the three travelers exited the doors of the large train station and began to descend the stairs. Even though they had been here before, Breaburn and Big Mac still could see how Little Strongheart was so mesmerized. Besides the usual hoof traffic, the city itself seemed to have a life all it’s own. Thinking back, Breaburn remembered the tour Auntie and Uncle Orange gave him and smiled. If he liked it all those years ago, Strongheart would, too.

“Hey, Big Mac. Remember that tour of the city we got back when we were just lil’ colts, and Auntie and Uncle gave us that tour?” Big Mac chuckled, giving him his usual affirmation of ‘Eeyup,.’ his yellow mane bobbing as he nodded. “I think we should take my lil’ buffalo gal here out for her very own tour. After we meet the Princesses and see my cuz and her friends again, that is.” Strongheart’s eyes went wide, her ears and tail perking up at the thought.

“The PRINCESSES?! You think I could meet the princesses? I’ve  dreamed of that since you’ve told me about them!” The idea made her head spin, the importance of this perhaps meeting not lost on the young chieftain’s daughter. “That would mean so much to me, darling! Thank you!” She lunged forward, wrapping her forelegs around his neck. Breaburn caught his hat just before it fell off his head, patting Strongheart on the back.

“Anything for you, sweet thang. But for now, let’s just make our way to the palace, alright?” He let her down, motioning with his head towards he far end of the city. In the distance shined the Royal Palace of Luna and Celestia. The spires and parapets stretching high into the sky, pointing straight up towards the heavens. The sight was breathtaking, to say the least. The three started walking from the train station, ready to begin what promised to be an exciting, memorable day. “Trust me; you’ll never forget yer first time in Canterlot, believe me. This city always has somethin’ interestin’ going on.”

From behind them, there was a sudden loud “!BOOM!”, followed closely by a thundering shockwave, causing all three companions to jump. Looking back towards the main market place, the three gasped at the sight of a large, black pillar of smoke rising up from the area. In a moment, the rumble of the blast gave way to the faint din of screaming and panic slowly rising from the area. Around them, the ponies and other creatures were all paused in place, not knowing what to make of the strange sight rising into the Canterlot sky. The crowd remained silent enough for Brea and Big Mac to hear a lone set of hooves taking off towards the event.

“Breaburn, Big Mac! Come one! Let’s go see what’s happening!” Strongheart yelled as she took off through the crowd. The two cousins just looked at each other, then took off after their young companion.

“I tell ya what, Mac,” Breaburn shouted out as they ran to keep up with her. “... onnna these days, I’m gonna have to nail that cow’s hooves to the floor!”

===

“Whoa! Watch it there, hot shot!” The yellow pegasus mare hollered, having just been a victim of a quick fly-by. High above, a off-white stallion paused, looking down at her.

“What did I do, boss mare?” he said. Spitfire put a hoof to her face, shaking her head.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Hot Shot! Sorry! I meant Soarin.’” she said, pointing a hoof at the rapidly ascending stallion, still streaking up into a cluster of clouds. The team leader sometimes forgot that her and all of her team looked so similar when they were all in uniform like this, but that fact really didn’t matter to her. Hot Shot resumed his routine while Spitfire gathered her bearings and headed toward the clouds, breaking way through the center of the small cluster. Floating in the open air above them, she spotted her target. Sitting on his haunches on the end of a rain-filled cumulus was Soarin,’ casually staring at the palace. The list of curses and harsh words she had for the stallion were quickly forgotten as she saw the dreamy look on his face. Spitfire dove down beside him, landing and sitting close.

“I know what you’re thinking, and... I’m sorry. You KNOW we can’t just bump her to the front of the line. It wouldn’t be fair to all the secondaries and other ponies on the reserve roster.” Spitfire pulled her flight suit off her face and repeated the same line she had to the light blue stallion a dozen times before, figuring it would just be better to say it and get it out of the way. Soarin’ sighed, shaking his head, not bothering to put up an argument to what he already knew was true.

“Yeah, I wasn’t gonna ask you again. I guess I’m just... day dreaming. Sorry, boss.” he said, pushing a lump of clouds around in front of him. Sliding up his goggles, he let them hang around his neck like a necklace. “She just seems so dang dedicated and qualified and ready and...”

“And hot. Don’t forget hot.” Spitfire interrupted with a grin. Soarin’ just slumped his head more, wings drooping as his thoughts turned again to his crush. Spitfire realized quickly she touched on a sensitive topic and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Heh... Sorry, big guy. Didn’t mean to hit ya that hard, there.” The stud put on his best fake smirk, meeting her gaze.

“I know, I know... I don’t usually get this hung up on mares. But... Rainbow Dash is different. Remember that Best Young Fliers competition? She did that Sonic Rainboom and managed to scoop up me, you, Hot Shot and her friend all at once. And when we all hung out with her after that, she was just so different than the usual groupies we attract.” Soarin’ sighed, looking up into the clear blue sky. “Even at the Grand Galloping Gala, I was speechless when I saw her again. I couldn’t even look at her in that beautiful gown.”

“HA! Yeah, I know! You shoved your face right into that pie to keep her from seeing you blush!” Spitfire tried to stifle a laugh as Soarin’ shook his head, placing a hoof to his face.

“Don’t remind me... And she tried to save that huge statue in the ballroom, too. Now THAT took guts.” He stood up, taking a breath and shuffling his hoofs on the vaporous surface. “I know we can’t give her special treatment. But when she and Midnight and Fluttershy hung out with us the other day, I just couldn’t take my eyes off of her.” Spitfire bumped her rump against his playfully, her orange mane shifting slightly in the gently breeze around them.

“I remember when you felt that way about me, stallion.” she said with a tone of seduction in her voice. Soarin’ couldn’t help but smile at the not-so-subtle reminder of their short relationship.

“C’mon, Fire; you had this young buck so ‘wing-wowed,’ he couldn’t fly straight. I kinda felt like our fling wouldn’t turn out to be anything but that, anyway.”

“Well, that makes ME feel wonderful.” Spitfire said, faking hurt feelings.

“Sorry. What I mean is... unlike all these other groupies we meet, she really seems like she wants to be a Wonderbolt for all the right reasons. Wowing the crowd, being an inspiration to all the young colts and fillies out there, giving our fans something to remember for the rest of their lives.” Soarin’ looked listlessly up at the clear blue sky, breathing in the crisp, cool air. “She kinda reminds me of how I was.”

“Yeah... I wonder if she’s a good kisser like you, too.” Spitfire joked in a weak attempt to cheer him up. The stallion’s eyes opened wide, head turning quickly towards his teammate.

“Fire, I swear to Celestia...” he started. Spitfire quickly put her hooves up, waving them defensively.

“Kidding!!! Just kidding! Believe me, I have my pick of plenty of other stallion AND mare fans. I’m practically a foal in a candy store. I won’t try for RD. If you got a crush on her that big, I won’t interfere. Junior Speedster’s honor.” she said, hold one hoof to the air, the other pressed against her chest. Soarin’ stretched his neck and wings, looking down at his fellow Wonderbolts, streaking and looping and hovering below. He let his crush on the multi-colored mare totally take over his entire practice.

“Alright, Spitfire. I’m sorry I haven’t had my head in the game, lately. I’ll give it my best for the rest of practice.” he said firmly. “Maybe I’ll... I’ll talk to her later. Maybe make up some excuse like I wanna talk about her friend, Midnight or something. But I’ll handle it.” Spitfire gave him a firm pat on the back, spreading her wings as well.

“That’s the spirit, stud. Don’t worry; I’m sure everything will work out swimmingly for you two lovebirds. But for now, let’s just fly.” The orange-maned mare prepared to hop off the cloud, leaning down as she looked down at her teammates. As she tensed her legs to spring forward, a sudden shockwave vibrated the cloud they stood on. The Alpha team leader lost her balance, stumbling head first off the cloud, having to catch her balance in mid-air. Soarin’ peeked his head over the side to check on his friend.

“Spitfire! What the hay was that?!” he shouted, having barely kept his balance. Spitfire zoomed back up to the cloud, running over to the far side and gazing over the edge. Far below and across the city, her eyes falling on a huge plume of black smoke.

“Soarin?’ You better come over here...” she said, turning her head slightly back, motioning him closer with her hoof. The light blue stallion trotted over, the horrible sight at the far end of town freezing him in place.

“W-w... what happened? Did something... explode?!” he shouted, stunned at the sight. The other members of the Wonderbolts landed on the cloud behind them, each exclaiming at the rising pillar of smoke as it spiraled into the sky. Quickly, Spitfire went into ‘leader mode,’ her voice taking on an air of authority as she spoke.

“Alright, Wonderbolts! Time to get to work!” Recognizing her tone, the other ponies stood at attention, falling into their training as Celestia’s premier flight team. They raised their heads, waiting for their flying orders, knowing seconds mattered in this moment of life or death. “Hot Shot, Rapid fire; get to the palace and alert the Royal Guards! They need to mobilize and get to the blast zone as soon as possible. Fleetfoot, Surprise; get to the main streets and help herd the civilians away from there before the fire spreads and traps them. Soarin’ and I will fly down and help with rescuing any trapped ponies in the blast zone!” Spitfire turned with Soarin,’ taking a stance on the edge of the cloud. “Let’s move like we got a purpose, Wonderbolts! Let's fly!!”

The ponies all took off, each streaking towards their assignments. High above, Spitfire and Soarin’ surveyed the damage from the initial explosion. Squinting, the two saw the flickering flames as they danced across rooftops and out of store windows. However, through the fire and smoke, the two noticed strange. It almost looked like there were ponies in the crowd... destroying things?

“Spitfire, you see that?” Soarin’ shouted through the hot wind.

“Yeah! It looks like there some sort of fight going on down there!” Before she could even finish, the daring stallion swooped down, heading straight for the panic below. Quickly, she caught up with him, shouting as they doth dove into the blackness.

“Soarin’! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“There might be more to this than we first thought. And if there’s some kinda trouble, then our fans need us to help put a stop to it! I’m goin’ in!” With that, he pulled his wings close, straightening himself to gain speed. Despite the danger, Spitfire did the same, following him down into the smoke.

=======================================================================================

First off, some explanations:

'Grizelda,' Gilda's last name in MY story was actually her ORIGINAL name in the show. null

Also, Althera, the name of the Griffon kingdom comes from a combination of the scientific names of lions(Panthera leo) and golden eagles(Aquila chrysaetos)

I had some messages asking me where I came up with that info lately, so there it is. I try to add a good mixture of research and creativity in my stories to give them what other fics might lack: a base in reality(wow, did I just use that word?).

Anyway...

Uh-oh, colts and fillies; do you dig what I dig? Right now, I can't help but find myself giggling like a school girl as I write the villain's parts in the upcoming chapter. As the city starts to burn, the Killjoys make their way through, blasting, stomping and generally obliterating anything and anypony in their path. And guess whos right in the middle of it? I hope this holds you over for a while as I buff and polish the mane event! Stay tuned, true believers, cause it only gets crazier from here on out. See you all in the next exciting installment of...

STAR CROSSED!!! Next Chapter: Ground Zero Canterlot: The Mane Event Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 39 Minutes