It was a dark day in Canterlot.

Literally.

The sun went down like Pinkie Pie on an ice cream sundae, not even giving Luna time to raise the moon properly, throwing the entire landscape into a sea of inky darkness.

“... Alright,” Lord Niceington's voice could be heard from the pitch black blanketing the world. “Stalemate it is then.”

“Lay down your arms,” Princess Celestia demanded in a powerfully loud voice, imagining very hard that she could see in the dark better than anypony else. “Surrender now and you and your army shall not be harmed!”

“Oh, goodness!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Oh dear, oh dear! Princess, I didn't mean it – I mean, of course I didn't mean it, but I'm sure the griffons didn't mean it either they're just a little confused-”

“We are not confused!” Niceington insisted.

“Fluttershy,” Celestia asked wearily. “Why are you on their side again?”

“The Avatar was drawn to the love and acceptance of her followers!”

“Well, they sort of forced me at crossbow-point,” Fluttershy said.

“The Avatar was drawn to the love and acceptance of her followers, and forced at crossbow-point!”

“Alright,” Celestia frowned. “You have ten seconds to get out, Niceington.”

“Ha!” the cassocked griffon mocked her; or, rather, mocked a spot about fifteen feet away from her, it was still very hard to see. “Again, ha! We fear not your wrath!”

“Well, we kind of do,” a griffon near the back piped up. “I'd rather not be sent to the sun today.”

“Don't you mean tonight?” someone else quipped.

“Hold on, WHO'S being sent to the sun?”

“We're going to be sent to the sun?!”

“I'm too handsome to die!”

And within moments, the entire mob had fallen into chaos and shrieks of terror.

“Now-now, hold on...!” Niceington desperately tried to save face. “We can do this, we practiced!”

“How do you practice foalnapping somepony at crossbow-point?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

“Oh, you know,” the griffon shrugged as his entire crowd went absolutely berserk, the sound of shattering glass mingling with the screams. “We go through a lot of rabbits.”

“Oh, okay. Wait, what?”

“Niceington,” Celestia approached. “You had one chance.”

“Ha!” the cassocked griffon barked humorlessly back. “As if we're afraid of the likes of you! If there is a single griffon in the Kindness Battalion with an inkling of fear, speak up now!”

Niceington was met with silence.

“Told you so,” he said smugly to thin air.

Then the sun came back up.

“Is that the best you've got?” Niceington scoffed. “Ha! And again, ha! Your parlor tricks are nothing!”

“Oh, no,” Celestia was busy setting up a small tea table in front of him, conjured from nowhere. “Please, do go on. I was just about to have my morning tea.”

“Are you mad?” Niceington mocked her. “You're going to lose your kingdom, and you're having tea?”

“Really?” Celestia cocked an eyebrow. “You and what army?”

“THIS arm-” Niceington threw out a claw toward his army. Unfortunately, his Kindness Battalion had long since left, leaving only a small note that read 'Union members left for break, be back never'.

“... Well,” Niceington coughed uncomfortably into one claw after a few moments of quiet contemplation. “I see that your kingdom is doing well enough on its own. Good-good on you, then. We'll call it a stalemate.”

“I play to win,” a golden glow grew from Celestia's horn.

“DRAW, DRAW, IT'S A DRAW!” Niceington squealed in fright, fleeing as fast as his griffon wings would take him.

Fluttershy was left sitting in confusion.

“... Can I go home now?”