I yawn as the last petitioner for court leaves and I stand up, stretching my limbs and getting a few satisfying pops from them. Cadence is still in bed with Hope along with Valiant, Mavis, Vespula, Galaxia, and my mother. My father is at the training grounds just reliving his guard years with Shining while Luna is raiding the Kitchen due to a new talented staff member she's hired, or so I've heard.

With that, I clap my hands and make my way out of the Throne Room to pick up Cadence and wheel her down to the Dining Hall.

I arrive and enter our room where Cadence still has a slightly tear stained face along with the massive smile she's had since I left her here. She's hugging her foal gently and carefully rocking her back and forth.

"You all ready for dinner?" I ask them and smile seeing Galaxia and my mother playing with the other three foals.

"Is it that time already?" Galaxia asks surprised.

I grab the wheelchair at the side of the room and bring it over to the bed. "Yes, so let's go and get something to eat. I'm intrigued by this new baker Luna has been so excited about," I say and carefully help Cadence into the chair as she keeps hold of Hope while Galaxia picks up both Mavis and Vespula.

My mother takes Valiant and we all head down to the Dining Hall.

We arrive and I see Luna at the table where it is covered in the usual fair of food, but this time, Luna has a large plate of scones and other baked goods on a tray next to her that she's eagerly eating with a happy smile.

She doesn't even notice us as we all sit down and Galaxia has a smirk on her face as she sits down next to Luna.

"Those must be good," Galaxia says and picks up a scone.

Luna yelps as crumbs and a bit of jam fall out of her mouth and onto the table. She swallows and glares at her mother. "Mother! Do not startle us like that!" she complains as Galaxia giggles.

Galaxia takes a bite of the scone and her eyes widen as she looks at it and chews slowly. She then swallows and smiles widely. "This is the best thing I have ever tasted!" she says and scarf's the rest of it down her throat. I don't think she even had time to taste that.

I look out to the table where I see another plate just with less on it and pick up three scones, one for myself, one for my mother, and one for Cadence. I hand it to them and Cadence takes a dainty bite from it before her eyes bug out and she cutely noms on the rest of it with a moan.

Intrigued, I take a bite and close my eyes as a rich taste of strawberry jam assaults my tongue. I take my time to savour the flavour while Cadence levitates more over to herself.

So now all three mares are gorging themselves on the baked goodies, while my mother and I just slowly eat the ones we have. A poof sound along with pink smoke signals the arrival of Discord but his grim expression is what catches my attention.

"Discord? What's wrong?" I ask him.

"We have elves in Equestria. I went to their Capital for a little spying and their own king confirmed that the elves have set up a base somewhere in Equestria, where they'll try to foalnap Twilight and take her tomes, along with any of the ponies they can safely capture," he tells us and sighs. "They could already be in the city. I'm going to check on Twilight and warn her," he tells me and poofs away again.

I frown and put my half eaten scone down and think. "So what do we do?" Cadence asks with worry in her tone, a bit of jam stuck to her upper lip.

"We art not sure, but we will increase security around the Castle and Twilight's tower," Luna says and then turns to the doors. "GUARDS!" she yells and as one, all the foals start crying from the loud noise.

The others glare at her as Luna blushes and apologises. A female guard runs over and bows to Luna.

"Yes, my Queen?" she says still bowing.

"Triple the patrols and guards around the Castle as well as an elite team to watch over Twilight Sparkle constantly. We have elves in Equestria with hostile intentions. Alert the Captains and inform them to come here at once," Luna tells her and the mare salutes.

"At once!" she replies and runs out the room.

Discord reappears with a worried looking Twilight next to him, holding her staff tightly and wearing a robe that looks like one of the unicorn guard mages robes. The hood raised over her head and hiding the top half of her face.

"Why is Miss Sparkle wearing a guard's robe?" Luna asks confused.

"For protection! It's enchanted to prevent her from being teleported so the elves can't just snatch her and teleport away. It's also enchanted to resist magic spells cast at her. So if the elves do attack, she'll be prepared. I'll also be training her constantly to help increase her power and magic as well," he says making Twilight look at him in shock.

The doors open and Shining Armour along with the other captains run in with a squad of heavily geared ponies and a changeling behind them.

"TWILY!" Shining yells as he runs over and hugs his sister.

"Shining!" Twilight replies and returns the hug.

"Right then, we can begin this meeting," Luna says as Shining sits down next to her while the others sit in empty chairs. "Discord has discovered the elves are here with the intention of foalnapping Twilight and her elven books along with any pony they can find. We need to increase Canterlot's security and find the base of these elves before they can cause too much damage or foalnap anypony," Luna says and the captains nod.

Spitfire frowns as she speaks up. "I'll have pegasi in the air at all times. I'll also send out teams to find this base with magic detectors. We'll need Miss Sparkle to imprint her magic into the detectors as her magic is now elven as well, it'll make finding the base easier," she suggests to Luna.

"Very good, thou shalt report thine findings to the other captains where a team shall be put together along with Discord to raid the base," Luna says and looks at the other guards. "We want the thestrals to keep a heavy watch on the Castle and Miss Sparkle's tower at night. Hammer Strike and Bright Mind, thou shalt manage the guards in the city and keep watch for anything suspicious. Shining Armour, thou shalt be in charge of the Castle's security. Also send out more guards with at least one changeling to the surrounding towns to bolster their defences," she then tells the others.

They all salute and make their way out but Shining stops at Twilight quickly. "Stay safe," he tells her.

"I will, just be careful yourself, you still haven't got the hang of your new magic just yet," she tells him and he smiles at her.

"Of course. Discord, watch over her please," he replies and then tells Discord.

"I'll do more than that, when I'm through with her, the elves will be running in terror from her!" he says with a smug smile.

Shining nods and walks out the room with the others.

"We take it thou art the elite force we requested?" Luna asks the heavily geared team still here.

"We are, your Majesty," the earth pony stallion in thick plate armour replies and salutes.

"Then thou know that thy task is to protect Miss Sparkle correct?" Luna asks him.

"Correct," he replies.

"Then follow and protect Miss Sparkle until these elves are dealt with," she orders them.

"As you command," he replies and the team spread out around the room.

Twilight sits down next to my mother with a worried expression. "This is too much... I just want to learn my new magic in peace... why are they so upset with me?" she asks sadly.

Discord changes into his human form wearing a suit coloured with his original limbs colours and sits next to Twilight. "They've kept their magic a closely guarded secret for centuries, the only people I know of who know or knew their weaknesses are three of us aspects, along with Starswirl and a few other humans who managed to study the magic who have long since died from assassinations by the elves. So right now, I'm the only one who knows their weaknesses here," he says and sighs.

"I will be teaching Twilight the weaknesses as I train her to be stronger, she'll inform the rest of you when she's done. As for me, I think I need to cash in a few favours from the other aspects, specifically Infernus," he says as he picks up one of the scones and smiles as he eats it.

He then goes wide eyed and grins before choking a bit and swallowing. "I know! Twilight, how do you feel about going on a field trip?" he asks the confused elf.

"Field trip? To where?" she asks with a bit of worry in her tone.

"What do you say about taking your training to a little, secure, and safe location on Terra called... Starswirl's Laboratory? No one knows where it is but us Aspects, and perhaps you can make use of his old experiments and relics?" he tells her making Twilight's jaw drop and her eyes nearly bugging out.

"S-S-Starswirl's Laboratory!?" she yells in shock.

"Yup. So, are you interested?" he asks her again.

"Yes yes yes yes yes yes YEEEES!" she screams hopping up and down excitedly on her chair.

"That also means I'll need to bring the guards here with us. A little extra security never hurts," Discord says making the guards around us look nervous.

"Then while our sister and father deal with the gryphons, we shall focus on the elves," Luna says getting agreements from all of us.

My father and I stand on the deck of the E.A.F Nightingale looking towards the mountains that we're quickly approaching. We're powering an invisibility spell over the whole ship so we're not spotted by gryphons as we make our way to the pass leading into the back of the city.

"Get the portal ready!" I command as a team of unicorns set up the portal frame. "Helmspony! Bring us as close to the pass as you can!" I then order the helmspony.

The airship slows to a stop next to the cliff face as pegasi secure the pass' entrance. The portal then comes alive and after confirming the pass is secure, reinforcements pour through the portal. Word is then sent through to Terra and after an hour of gathering our forces, Vortigan and his own forces have arrived and we've set up a war camp in a large damp cave just in the pass. This is the first time I believe that Vortigan has met my father since he came back home. I smile as I watch them greet each other with a firm handshake.

This place must have once been a dragon's nest as a few gems and coins litter the area.

In a tent stands my father, Vortigan, and myself around a table with a neatly drawn map of the area by the gryphoness Venna. Along with other drawings of locations and a list of forces and strongholds Hagriff warned us about.

The pass leads into the back of Aries Peak, my father will lead the main force through the City and up towards the elder council's chamber as a distraction while Vortigan and I will take the cloaked airship up to the chamber and ambush the council.

Once everything has been agreed to, we make our attack.

"Be careful, Father," I tell him with worry.

He chuckles and gives me a tight hug. "Worry not, my little sunshine. I may not be as strong as I was before giving Adrian some of my power and armour, but I'm still more than a match for these buzzards," he tells me and gently kisses my forehead.

I smile and let go as he heads out of the cave and starts yelling at the gathered soldiers and guards.

"Well, then. I suppose we should also head out, Celestia," Vortigan says.

"Yes, and thank you for aiding us in this battle," I reply with a small bow.

"I did promise to aid you against the gryphons, and I hold to my word," he says and smiles.

"You've done enough for us already, the Changelings, the dragons, and now the gryphons. I can't thank you enough," I reply and return the smile.

Before anything else is said, a guard comes in and salutes. "Queen Celestia! I have a report from Canterlot that came with the reinforcements!" he says and holds a scroll out to me.

I take it and unroll it.

Dear Celestia.

I'm writing to inform you we have a problem back here. Discord had done some spying on the elves on Terra and that some of them have made it into Equestria and have set up a base.

Their goal is to capture Twilight and her elven tomes while also foalnapping any ponies they can quietly find, mainly unicorns.

Discord will be staying close to Twilight while helping her train, practice, and to keep her safe on Terra at Starswirl's old lab. The rest of us will be trying to find the elven base.

Good luck with the gryphons and come home soon.

Love, Adrian.

P.S. Cadence, Shella, and Luna send their love as well.

P.S.S. Give that so called sphinx god a good plot thrashing! Also, keep your father safe, he's not as young as he used to be.
Lots of love, Galaxia.

I frown at the bad news but smile at the end of the letter and roll it up before teleporting it to my Cabin on the Nightingale.

"It seems the elven King is trying to make an enemy of Equestria," I say to Vortigan making him raise an eyebrow.

"Pardon?" he asks confused.

"I've just received word that Discord did a little... scouting in the elven capital and found out the elves have set up a base in Equestria without our approval and not arriving through the Terra portal. Their goal is to foalnap Twilight and take her elven tomes, as well as to foalnap any of my ponies they can find as well. My herd along with my guard are starting their hunt for the base," I tell him making him go wide eyed.

"He wouldn't dare, not after the time he denied the accusations of moving unannounced troops within my kingdom," he replies shocked.

"Discord is many things, Vortigan. A liar isn't one of them," I say and sigh. "Let us get this over with so we may return and find out what is going on. Because if the elven King so much as takes a single pony, he will be sorry he provoked us,"

I watch as Celestia and Vortigan head back to the airship. Once out of sight, I turn back to the gathered three-thousand troops of mixed races, and after barely hearing Celestia talking about hostile elves in Equestria, I can't help but suspect the elven enchanters and mages here with us right now.

"Listen up!" I shout out over the mumbling. "Prepare yourselves for battle! Human mages, get ready with your nullify spells to shatter the gryphons barriers! Juggernauts, you'll lead the charge and push the gryphons back! Be careful as they are twice your size!" I tell the large armoured humans who slam their shields together in reply.

"Do not kill any young or elderly unless they make an attempt at your life! We're here for the council and their so call god, not civilians! Clerics, keep everypon... one alive. Battle-mages, keep the clerics safe! Gunners, keep the skies clear of gryphons, we don't want them diving at us!" I then order getting acknowledgements from them all.

After explaining the rest of the plan, I order the troops to move out.

If you find any errors let me know and I'll fix them ASAP.

Also got my hands on the Revenant Warframe today and while okay, the first and second powers were a let down. power #1 is just single target Nyx mind control (Max 4 targets) with a twist and power #2 is boring. Also the beyblade light show of the 4th skill is fun.

Although the new Prisma Twin Grimlens Baro sold today are so fun and much better than the basic version.

Also, I know I said I'll focus on this story, but I have to get the next AoD chapter out of my system as I'm dying to write the meeting with Twi's parents.