"Big brother! Why are you so big?!" a little filly whined from underneath the wing of a tall Griffin. Her little form nuzzled against his side, seeking warmth from beneath his large appendage. Her mismatched eyes filled with unconditional love, and wonder for her protector.

"I'm not big," he replied with a chuckle, rubbing her side with his wing lovingly. "You're just small."

The little filly gave a little pout. She didn't like that answer. No one would tell her why everyone was taller than her. It was like they were hiding a secret to reaching the cookie jar without needing to use her wings to get to it. Momma could reach the cookie jar, same with Daddy, but every time she tried. She always knocked something over when she flew in the house. She wants to be big too.

"I don't like being small," the filly grumbled. Big brother giggled at her puffed out cheeks and pulled her closer with an affectionate nuzzle. This caused her puffed out cheeks to brighten with the most beautiful shade of scarlet.

"Sure you do!" he laughed. "If you were any taller, then you couldn't use me as an Umbrella."

"N-No..." her blush glowed brighter. "I just don't like looking up all the time..."

"Whatever you say, Winny... the midget," he snickered.

"I'm not a midget!" she cried. "You are a giant, Rexy!"

The clock went tick and tock in an obnoxious rhythm. Each note was grating on my ears. No one would spark a conversation while we waited for Blueblood to return from his sudden departure, leaving Cadence, Fleur, Sassy and I all alone in the same room. All three of them refused to make a sound, and it was starting to bother me.

Before, we would talk about the good stuff: politics and gossip. It was the one thing we were all interested in. I don't like the celebrity scandals all that much, but I was interested in how the country was fairing. Sassy or Fleur would say something, Blueblood would add to it, and Cadence and I would give our opinions. Our first little debate was on the status of the Wonderbolts, which, of course, my hooves were all over.

Sassy, in particular, wanted to know when recruitments were happening. I, in return, told her when the roster opens up or when someone spectacular gets recommended. When Sassy asked if it was possible to get in without all the red tape, but when I replied: "The last time someone asked that question. They ended up in a ditch, and their pony was predominately banned from the Wonderbolts," she kept quiet about the topic afterward.

Fleur, on the other hoof, wanted to know about Cadence's relationship with Shining Armor. To which I replied with a look of concern when Cadence gave the mare a fake smile. The kind of smile that told anyone that it wasn't fine, but thanks for your concern. I didn't want to add my two cents into that mess, but Blueblood just had to say: "That ruffian fucked one of the maids a while ago. I don't understand why you stay with him when clearly your heart doesn't matter. Princess Cadence, it would be wise just to end it and find somepony else before you get hurt."

Her reply saddened me. She knew that Shining was cheating on her with other mares and didn't care. If I had to guess, I'd think that her way of "love" will prevail in the end, but the way things are going with the two. That wasn't going to happen. Thus, I added my two cents.

"Caddie, even though our views of love are different, I agree with Blueblood," I said bluntly, earning a few gasps from the other two mares at the world-ending news that I've agreed with Blueblood on something. "Just because of the Love Thread, as you call it, connects you two together. Even I know it's a one-way street. All he cares is that you are a Princess, and nothing more."

Cadance didn't like that.

"And how would YOU know, Rose!" Cadence spat in my face, with pure, unrelenting rage in her eyes. Her wings flared out as she stomped her Alicorn hooves onto the table, and glared at me with pure venom. The ponies around her gasped when the table that we were using snapped in two, but that didn't matter. With a sip of coffee, I raised a brow in response.

"Because I looked up the spell?" I replied matter-of-factly. "It does not say anywhere in the book that the Love Thread points you to your 'true love.' It only shows you who YOU love at the time."

"I'VE STUDIED LOVE MAGIC FAR LONGER THAN YOU ROSE! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Cadence shouted in the legendary, and ear-raping tone of the Royal Canterlot Caps-Lock.

I took another sip of coffee, unimpressed with her attitude. Long ago, she wouldn't dare shout at me or anyone for that matter. The fact that she was yelling now shows how distraught her heart was feeling. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what was going on in her mind, however. I knew better about the whole situation. 'Long ago, we were very close Cadence. We used to cuddle, sing, tell stories, and bug Sunset when she got too into her books. As much as I want to blame you for the fire, and I do try. I know when to drop my grudge and be the pony that you used to cry on every night. Literally.'

"Cadence?" I said calmly and prepared to say something that I haven't told her in a long time.

"WHAT?!" she boomed.

"Later tonight, I want you to come with me to the room. We haven't gone there in a long time, and you need to calm down. So, will you come with me tonight or do I have to drag you there... again?"

"WHAT ROOM?!" she shouted even louder with another stomp of her hoof, turning the table into tinder. "I don't know of.... oh," she spoke quietly, earning a few jaws to drop to the floor. "I... I haven't been there since we were fillies."

"I know," I lamented. "It has been a long time since I've been there too, but we both need something to calm our nerves, and our little hiding spot in the Castle is just the place to talk."

Cadences eye twitched.

"Talk about what?" she sneered. "My relationship? HA!"

Letting out a sigh, I stood up in front of our frozen company that watched the spectacle in silence and walked right up to the seething Alicorn, even though she looked ready to kill me. With a weak smile, I buried my face into her soft, fluffy, chest. "Sunset would have kicked your ass if she saw you yelling at me, and I would have been there for you when you cried. Now, shut up Crystal, and give me a hug."

"C-Crystal," Cadence sniffled as I felt her entire body wrap around mine, wings and all. I returned the gesture with a full-body hug of my own. "You haven't called me by my first name in... years."

"I know when to drop my anger when one of my best friends needs help, and you, Crystal. Need my help," I comforted to the best of my ability and earned a river of tears dripping down onto my head.

"Please?" Cadence sobbed quietly.

After that whole emotional event, our little tea party continued albeit in fucking silence. Cadence won't look at me for obvious reasons. Fleur was too terrified to make a sound. Sassy and Blueblood had the right idea to leave, but only one followed through. Our pleasant conversation went downhill rather fast, and nobody dared to speak. If Hell was awkward, then this room was it.

Not all of my time spent in Hell was wasted: I did manage to learn what was going on with the Griffins from Blueblood. Apparently, they were getting antsy. He described them as a bunch of Termites ready to attack at any sign of danger. He talked about it in such way. That he made it sound like they were waiting for something to happen here in Equestria, and whatever it was. I need to look out for.

Strings from a beautiful orchestra filled the Gala Hall with their heavenly music. Ponies danced like swans with sticks up their asses in the center, while the more social talked near the tables or food stands. Of in the corner, I saw Mom and Aunt Footy converse with Fancy Pants and his wife, Lady Evergreen. In the other corner chatting up Cobalt Blitz was my uncle, Soarin, looking to score a donut for this evening, which isn't all that surprising. He has been swinging for both teams on the short term for a while now. When he came home with a rather cute stallion and proceeded to makes sounds in the guest room without a care in the world for my sanity, I made a few bits from Mom.

There were a few ponies that I didn't think would show up here, Vinyl and Octavia included. Octavia I could see sitting the first chair in the cello section, wearing a black suit with her adorable bowtie around her neck. Vinyl, who sported a dark purple visor that looked like it came from the future instead of her regular shades, leaned against the wall closest to Tavi.

At the other side of the Gala Hall was Blueblood and the two stooges. They were chatting up another upcoming business pony scavenging for favor amongst the higher class echelon like a vulture. He wasn't all that important. Now, I can go on and on about who I knew, and who I hated, but they didn't matter. They were only minor inconveniences to my sanity and social status amongst the rich and famous. Sure, Mom wanted me to be buddy-buddy with them tonight, and I was inclined to do so, however. There were two ponies hiding in the castle, waiting for my meeting with them tonight. Looking around the Hall once more, I made sure everything was in place. I didn't want to suddenly leave from the event. It would only draw unwanted attention to myself and my patrons.

'Well, let's get this show on the road,' I told myself with a hefty sigh, the party dragged longer than I would have liked. Sometimes I think the Nobles only cared about who can drink the most without passing out on the dancefloor. I know I would have. There was only so much dancing I could do before I required a nap from the monotony. I know Octavia couldn't play for more than Grand Concert, which sometimes lasted for over six hours straight. I was not envious of that fact.

Pushing from my wall of solitude, I trotted down one of the many identical corridors of the castle. For most, trying to find your way around this labyrinth would seem impossible, but not I! I have spent many weekends running, playing, and laughing through these halls with one of the few friends I made in my life. I knew where each door led, where all the guards were stationed, even all the servant alleys that the maids used to hide from tourists. With this knowledge, I made a good time to my destination.

It was a small door, snug in between marble pillars and only accessible to the staff. No one would suspect anything out of the ordinary about this door, nor the contents held within. On most days, the door led to a small alley with bathroom for the servants, but tonight it served another purpose. Without a care in the world, I pushed open the door and walked right in. My objective was the bathroom where one of my two patrons was waiting.

"When our souls call out to the Grimoire..?" I said calmly as I entered the bathroom once the door closed shut.

"...Our hearts answer the call," replied a voice from within one of the stalls. I cracked a smile at the response. My informant was on time and in my desired location for conversation. Quickly, I walked over to the opened stall, making sure to bar the door with the trashcan before hoof, and asked another question.

"Were you followed, Night Blade?"

"No, my Mistress. I made sure no one knew of our meeting," he answered calmly.

"Good," I mused as I sat down on the toilet, ignoring the fact that I could see Night's hooves touching the floor. "Now, what do you have for me?"

"You were right about Raven. She is dangerous," he began.

"How so?"

"Her speed rivals your own, as well as your lethality with Lightning. I've seen her dispatch three Griffins with Lightning Fang, and only that spell. Not to mention that she managed to close a one-hundred-meter gap in a split-second...."

"That's... rather interesting, but why did she kill those Griffins?" I inquired. After all, it wasn't every day that you find someone so willing to end someone else's life casually. Period. Pony-kind is not a vicious race like the Griffins. We try to subdue our attacker, not end them. Of course, there are the rare exceptions like myself, but ponies like me and Raven are few and far in between. It's good to know who I'm up against if a fight were to break out. 'Plus, if Raven is as good as Night is implying, then I wouldn't mind sparing with her every now and again. Slaughtering Timber Wolves stayed challenging for so long.'

"...I was getting to that," he paused for a moment as if what he was about to say would upset me, which was odd. Night Blade never said anything that would come remotely close to make me loose my shit. The closest he came was when he told me that we were out of Black Crystals for a Death Level Raid in Drakens Maw. I only threw a few swears... and spears. I didn't bend Nix—My second in command—Over my bed in my tent and skull-fucked her with a futanari potion. Nope. I let him continue in silence.

"Well, you see..." he paused again, making me a little annoying for the stalling.

"Get on with it," I grumped.

"...Raven, um, when she entered the Lightning Cup and her first race was in a small town called, Wingshire. Rainbow Dash was also there, along with Thunderlane and.... Razor," he choked out, earning a raised brow from my end through the wall. 'Why was Rexy in Wingshire?' I wondered. 'He wasn't supposed to race. He was done so that he could pursue his career in the Militia this year. Strange.'

"Go on," I motioned on.

"There was a bomb it... killed a few ponies in the stands. The Griffins were responsible, and your brother was a part of their group. He was the only survivor of Ravens rampage, and she is currently hunting him down."

The world went silent. Nothing dared to speak: not the air, not the earth, nor the heavens. It was like everything around me hid in fear for what was about to happen. Of course, my thoughts were darker, troubled, and broken. I didn't want to believe Night Blade, not without solid proof, but I knew better. If there was an attack on Equestria, then Celestia would have instantly covered it up. Anything to fuel the Griffin war we were in would be disastrous.

Those were the thoughts that I had after I ripped open the bathroom stalls and proceeded to murder-fuck Night Blade out of existence for bringing me the news.